Monumental

If you don't agree, then just stop reading now. If you're not on the same page as me when it comes to human rights, I don't understand you, but I'm not going to judge you. To each their own (even if I think your own is so very wrong...)

Today was...monumental. Amazing. Such a seemingly small step, but I hope it will be an enormous leap forward. I dream that 50 years from now all this debate surrounding same-sex marriage will seem as innocuous as interracial marriage. I dream that my children can grow up feeling safe in the knowledge that they can fall in love and get married and raise families without ever having to think of the sanctity of their marriage being questioned or challenged by our government. I dream of family and friends getting married --maybe even one day in sweet Virginia-- to the loves of their lives regardless of gender. I dream of acceptance, not tolerance. There is nothing to be tolerated. Full acceptance and love for our fellow human beings; being decent and kind and respectful and, above all, equal. 

In my mind, it seems like such a simple idea -- the notion that we shouldn't judge one another, that we should all be able to coexist in spite of our differences, in fact, because of our differences. My heart just wants to burst open and fill the world with love. Why can't we all just love each other? It may seem like a hippie thing to say, something childish or cowardly. I just want love. I want to witness love. Full, abundant, ceaseless, meaningful, equal love. 

A Randomly Sweet RJ Moment*

Last night, Rhealen and I are sitting at the kitchen table together, sharing a nugget meal from McD's (no judgment, this week has been killer!) when my sweet little gal looks up at me and puckers her lips.

"What are you doing, Rhealen?"
"Kiss!"
--smooch--
"Lub yew"

I mean, seriously? Heart melted. Last night was the first time she ever initiated a kiss or told me she loved me without having to be told "I love you" first. My day and night and week and year were made right there.

That little Nugget of mine, I sure do love her!

Eye-Patch Kid

For the next six weeks, our little dude will be rocking an eye-patch for an hour a day, every day. Hopefully, this will be all he needs to build up the muscles in his left eye and nothing further will need to be done...'cause surgery is definitely something we want to avoid if at all possible! 

This morning was his first time with the patch, and he seemed to do fine - of course, mornings are his best time in the world and his big sister was entertaining him mightily. All of that helped make his first eye-patch experience a good one. 

Here's to six more weeks of muscle working, and good thoughts/prayers that this will be all he needs! And at least he's in good spirits about everything!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all...

To the man who is the father of my children, I love you and respect you beyond measure.

To my own father, my step-father, my grand-father, the grand-father(s) of my children, to all the men who are called father, dad, poppa and such -- thank you for stepping up to the plate. For loving your children, wholly and equally and without question or hesitation.

For those of you raising children who aren't yours in the eyes of science, the eyes of the heart see all. And I'm so lucky to know so many amazing men in my life who are amazing fathers and grand-fathers and great-grand-fathers.

It's your day, so celebrate it any way you choose -- and remember, this momma right here is thinking and loving you all, each and every one, and again, I say, thank you.

Catch Up, Catch All

My kids are finally in bed, it's dark out and raining, and I'm sitting here in the "old" house hammering out what is going to be a long, heavy-worded, catch-up catch-all post. Hectic isn't even the right word for how life's been going lately. Batshit crazy insanely beyond hectic might begin to cover it, but I doubt it ... so here goes, the past few weeks caught up as much as I can. 

And maybe if we ever get our internet installed at the "new" house I can begin to blog again with some normalcy. 'Cause momma sure does miss it...

On the 6th, our sweet little nugget Rhealen Jo turned the terrible TWO -- she's officially a toddler and a officially a terrible one at that. But we love her so! At her two-year check-up, they said she's a skinny mini, just averaging in the 10th percentile, but overall a healthy gal. She's still in love with farm animals --cows in particular-- adores her big sister and is on the hugest Shrek craze you ever did see. I think we've watched all four movies with her at least 1,000 times...each. 

Jaxon is now five months old -- I call him fat and sassy! He's nearing 18 lbs and has the best belly and leg rolls ever. He's a total momma's boy --and even though Justin likes to tease me about him getting over it someday-- I hope he never changes. I believe he thinks Sidney is the funniest person ever, and he's rolling around the floor like a madman these days -- though he still hates tummy time! I love this fella, he's just the mostest. 

For Sidney's Kindergarten field trip, we went to the Knoxville Zoo (Jaxon didn't join us, it would've just been too much!) Poor RJ was sick as could be on our trip, but she made the most of it and we all had a really good time. The last time I was at the Knoxville zoo was when I was pregnant with Sidney on the Kindergarten field trip during my AmeriCorps years, so it was hard to believe time had passed by so quickly and now it was her turn! It's just unreal, ya'll...

Last weekend, Sidney and I got to participate in our dear sweet Dobby's wedding! The little ones stayed home with their Poppa (and Mamaw Shirley) while we girlied it up and did the bridesmaid/flower girl thing. At the reception there was amazing food, awesome dancing, and a pretty sweet photobooth! I think SidMo drug every single person she could talk into that thing for photos; there's a ton of her! It was such a joy to see Stephanie & Michael exchange their vows, and I'm so glad they let me and my sweet girl be a part of it all. 

We've also had a ton of other "happenings" happening, like Rhealen's birthday party (which I've yet to upload the pictures off the camera, yet), Sidney's summer school program, lots of time spent outdoors when the heat/humidity isn't unbearable, and movie-watching galore late at night -- no school nights for Sidney are the best! 

There's also a lot more fun things lined up like Sidney's trip to Michigan with Mom & Peanut, my grand-parents coming in from Columbia to see us (hopefully next weekend!), Poppa's Day, hanging out at the lake, 4th of July, and all the other joys of sweet summertime bliss. 

Here's to enjoying every second of it, however crazy wild it may most definitely will be!