Show and Tell: SCARY Tales

If you're visiting from Andrea's then you are in for a scary tale. I hope you are ready because what I am about to tell you will shock and frighten you in ways that you can't prepare for. 

Once upon a time there were three high school freshman girls. They decided to dress up for Halloween in  theme. One went as Snow White, one as the Evil Queen, and one as... 

AND THAT IS THE SCARIEST DAY OF MY LIFE.

Seriously.

Y'all. 

The story behind this genius idea is that every year for Halloween the cheerleaders dressed up in themes. The Varsity Cheerleaders went as these ADORABLE clowns that I had waited my whole life to be able to dress up as (and the dang tradition got nixed the year before I was on Varsity. I know. The worst.)  JV got to pick their theme and I don't remember how this theme got picked but I do remember that at one point, I thought this would be funny. 

Not funny. 

There is a picture of us all three somewhere and I spent a ton of time looking for it last night, but I couldn't find it. But you are welcome for that little gem above. 

A couple of years later a group of us got "dressed up" to go visit some haunted houses in town. We had access to some county issue prisoner uniforms and police jackets. Naturally this happened... 

(I'm not sure why Charis' wrist is glowing). 

We actually got stopped at the haunted house (which was terrifying) by some sheriff's asking where we got the prisoner uniforms and we assured them that we hadn't broken these lovely gentlemen out of jail. I'm not sure if my mom had made a call to tell these officers to scare us but at one point we thought we were all going to be brought to county. 

My senior year of high school we coordinated a prank with a bunch of our guy friends to drive out to a hill that was being haunted by a family that had died in a tragic accident. We loaded up our cars and  drove out to this random piece of land and once we got to a certain point, all the drivers pretended to make the cars stall. The guys were waiting in the bushes dressed all in black and once we stopped driving they ran up the cars and starting banging on the doors as if the family was forcing us to stop. 

I have never laughed so hard in my life!!! Mainly because I didn't think the prank would work, but holy cow did it ever. I can still hear the squeals!! 

And that concludes the most boring Halloween stories in the history of ever.

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InstaKings...

Whew - we have been busy bees around here which is what looks like stung Radley on the ear, but we think it was just a mosquito. He woke up one morning and his left ear was twice the size of his right. His sweet nurse at school was so concerned she called me that afternoon to bring him some Benedryl. The next morning it was back to normal(ish). 

I was a guest lecturer for a freshman athlete class and I recognized a hat that one of the students was wearing as a roofing company from my hometown. Turns out he graduated from Robinson and is playing baseball for A&M this year which means he played for Jenni's husband, Cotton. (Also known as Coach Kent).

#smallestworldever

The "dance moms" started working out while we waited for our big girls ... Around the end of round 1 this little bit joined us and totally rocked at mountain climbers, squat jumps and burpees... The fact that she was watching made me dig deep and keep going when I didn't really want to considering Texas missed the memo it's fall! Be strong, Mommas... They see us! #dancemom #stronggirls #burpeesaremyfavorite

So I naturally followed that up with bread and olive oil. Have you ever gone to lunch alone with just a book and craving for delicious food? If not, then you TOTALLY should. I honestly was running an errand and had about 25 minutes before I had to be at my next stop. I ordered as soon as I sat down, read a chapter and was on my way. It was still perfect. 

Unlike flu shot day.

#Emmysfacethough #drama

Landry laughed

Radley didn't know that it happened

Emmy cried when she saw the needle

The kids absolutely LOVE coming to work with me - and I love it, too. They get to see what I do, hang out with some pretty amazing college kiddos and **bonus** spend time with me!

Although something tells me they like spending time with people besides me... 

And I'll admit, I love hanging out with this crew, too. Year 14 with MSC FISH - how is that even possible?!?! 

I clearly picked this polish color for the name. 

So I'm completely obsessed with this boutique in town called Giddy Up Glamour. They have the CUTEST stuff and I try to avoid going inside because I always end up spending too much money. How awesome is the floor length kimono?! 

We spent a Sunday afternoon at our annual church festival - they insisted on unicorn face paint. 

Snapchat may have been my favorite part of the debate. 

After sitting out a year, we now spend our Tuesday's are spent at the dance studio. The starts didn't align so the girls classes are an hour a part and an hour-long each... So that's three hours. Rad hangs with his buds who have sisters here, too... Landry plays, I read or workout and Emmy soaks up all the goodness of these precious big kids that are willing to help her with homework. Anytime I can have my kids around big kids that care is worth the time!

It was finally my turn to get the flu shot and imagine my excitement when one of my former FISH execs turned bad-ass nursing school student was administering them. I asked her how many times I had made her want stick me with a sharp object and she was kind enough to say never. 

Landry had school pictures and I pulled out this darling Matilda Jane apron dress and turned it into a tunic. It's an 18 month. HAHAHA

Proof that God loves coffee?? He made it SIXTY-FOUR degrees on National Coffee Day! #practicallywinter#coffeecoffeecoffee

Holly and I headed to Roundtop with some of my HS friends and we just fell in love with this darling shop front. I now need disco balls hanging in my backyard. 

Also. Truth.

Saturdays mean soccer - we get there 30 minutes before games so I went for a run and then looked at myself and felt like I need to apologize to everyone around me.

Rad is on season six of soccer and he still has the cutest cheering squad around!

I can't remember what this soup was called but I can remember that I need it in my life every day. Short ribs, cabbage, corn, onions... amazing. 

On Saturday night we decided to try our hand at Andrea's Pumpkin Cream Pies... 

and the did not disappoint!

We ended the crazyness by switching out drawers for fall... 

and heading to church for a sweet baptism. 

And that's us in an instant!

Lessons from Landry...

By now I shouldn't be surprised by the lessons I learn from my children, and while I'm not really surprised that they each continue to teach me about grace, compassion, patience, grit, love,.... I am always amazed at when God decides to show up with a lesson.

A few weeks ago Landry was running into school just like she has done 1000 times. Except on this morning, as she was approaching the doors, another family was trying to walk in and Landry bumped into her friend and almost tripped the sweet momma holding her baby.

Me: Landry....say you are sorry.

And nothing.

She froze. She teared up. She hid behind my leg.

Me: Landry... say you are sorry. You ran into your friend and I know it was an accident, but you need to say you're sorry.

Nothing.

We followed them to his classroom.

Nothing.

We followed them to the baby's classroom.

Nothing.

And at this point I was just trying to talk myself in the follow through. I mean, she didn't do anything malicious, but she did run into someone and I'm just trying to teach her to say she is sorry.

And nothing.

We chatted for a minute and she finally worked up the courage.

Landry: I sorry for running into you.
Andrew: That's ok!!

And that was it.

But something in me just stirred and I wondered, "When did we switch from being slow to apologize and quick to forgive to being quick to apologize and slow to forgive?" When did "I'm sorry" just become second nature - no matter how big or small our transgressions?

Landry was afraid to say she was sorry. She was scared. She was worried about being in trouble (even though she wasn't at all) and nervous that her friend was mad at her.

Andrew just wanted to play with blocks.

Slow to apologize. Quick to forgive.

As adults we throw "I'm sorry" around like confetti at a party.

We also hang on to forgiveness as if it was our last possession.

Why do we do that?

One of the best lessons I've learned in life is that forgiveness doesn't just "free" the person you are forgiving... it frees us. We are released from anger, we let go of our grudges, we are no longer tied to the bitter. Letting go isn't always as easy as when we were young, and apologizing may come to quickly at times but there is such wisdom in what I witnessed.

And while this may not be revolutionary to anyone but me - I just loved that in that moment, I saw so clearly a beautiful reminder of what life can look like when we apologize with meaning and offer grace instead of anger.