Flipping Through My Camera Roll

Posted on May 14, 2013 by bethp146

Photography is definitely not my thing. I admire and am in awe of those who can take beautiful photos! That’s my disclaimer I felt I needed to throw out there before I posted this tonight.

Because I need to do a better job at documenting some of our normal days and special days, I started flipping through my camera roll on my phone tonight. I was surprised at some of the moments I’ve already forgotten about from this Spring. For my own memory’s sake, here are some (not so spectacular) phone photos from our life lately.

Several weeks ago, I went with Papa, Ree, Laura, and Mama up to Sir’s Fabrics in Fayetteville, TN. It’s one of my favorite places to go, and I have so many memories of going up there with my grandparents. We went because Laura was looking for curtain fabric for her dining room, but I managed to find some fabric I may use to recover a rocking chair. I took the photo of the calico quilting fabric just because I thought they were so pretty on that table. It was a great morning!

That same Saturday, I read a little on the porch while M grilled for the first time this spring.

Another Saturday, Laura came with M and I to Lowes & Home Depot. The back of my car was quickly filled up with our purchases, so the ferns had to ride in the backseat with Laura.

I have a thing for Gerbera daisies.

My girls.

We went down to Mountain Brook for the wedding of one of M’s college roommates. It was a beautiful wedding! I’m just drinking Sun Drop

Laura and I had our Planner Party we have every other month.

My parents are the cutest! This was taken at my cousin Rachel’s graduation Friday night. I’m so proud of you, Rachel!

This past Saturday, we went up to Springfield, TN to see M’s grandparents. AND his mom and brother James were also in town for the weekend. It was SO exciting to get to see them!

I love the yellow finches that gather outside their window.

On Sunday, we went to the river for Mother’s Day. Laura gave mama and me gel manicures while we were there. Now I want gel nails all the time.

I feel like we have been going non-stop lately. We’ve also been to two softball games, to a fish fry at the river, on a date night, and to see Iron Man 3. I’m grateful for a chance to sit down and document some of these memories!

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Easter 2013

Posted on March 31, 2013 by bethp146

We had a great Easter! It was a chance to spend time with my beloved family and look forward to the coming Spring. The weather wasn’t the best, but at least it wasn’t as cold as it has been. We went to our church, to the river for lunch with my family, and then to church and to eat with my parents. I shared some of these photos on Instagram already, but I still wanted to record the day here. Here’s Easter 2013 in photos:

Smiley Face Pillow

Posted on September 25, 2012 by bethp146

For some unknown reason, I kept a cheap purple ballpoint pen on the windowsill of one of the dormer windows in my childhood bedroom. Sometimes I woke up in the middle of the night, walked across that gloriously ugly country blue carpet, and sat on the tv stand Mama helped me turn into a window seat. I would look out over our cul-de-sac into the still, silent, air. I still remember every detail of the scene before me – like how one particularly thick tree branch looked to me like it was being hugged by a baby bear cub or how quiet the world seemed. It was my midnight place for thinking and dreaming and praying. I made up stories set in that nighttime world. When the occasional car passed on the main street, I imagined where it was going and where it had been. Sometimes I hugged my fuzzy Limited Too smiley face pillow close and almost fell asleep sitting there. Before too long, I always picked up that purple pen with the clip bent in an L-shape from my fiddling and started coloring around the black eyes of that smiley face pillow. I didn’t know why I did that small act of vandalism at the time. Now, I think I was just coloring in a small part of my world. It was my story to write. All the details were up to me on those sleepless nights. I held the pen. My imagination held the stories. It was my place to create. I wish my imagination still worked like that. I miss that smiley face pillow.

Dear 9th Grade Me

Posted on August 15, 2012 by bethp146

Kids all over the country are getting ready to go back to school. All of the commercials about school made me think about my own days at school.

Dear 9th Grade Me,

You’re nervous. It’s natural to feel this way. You are about to start on a big adventure. It will be hard at times. You’ll get through high school just fine.

The next four years will be filled to bursting with so many things. You’ll march in band. You’ll work on the yearbook. You’ll be involved in student council. You’ll get a job. The days will be filled with laughter and learning. Heartbreak and happiness. Stress and hard work. Disappointments and successes. Discovery and reaffirmation.

There are lots of morally wrong things that go on in high school. Thankfully you have good parents to help guide you. In fact, you are pretty sheltered. That’s a good thing, though, and you’ll never once regret your conservative upbringing later in life. Keep your faith, and trust in the Lord.

By the time you get to your senior year, you will realize that you have finally started to find your place. Laura will be a freshman then, and you will enjoy having her in band with you. You’ll make the best memories this year. Remember to sign up for the Senior class play. You’ll be glad you did . This is just a brief moment in your life. Enjoy every minute.

Don’t chew gum in English class. Make more time for your friends. Lighten up some, and smile a lot. Study hard. Your hard work will pay off.

Have a blast!
Beth

Nothingness

Posted on June 12, 2012 by bethp146

It was a country blue and white plaid chair in the living room of my childhood home. I sat there one afternoon with my feet hanging over the side of the chair arms. I was young – probably only in first grade. I remember closing my eyes and contemplating. I thought about the darkness started to imagine what things would be like if all there was in life was darkness. What if nothing existed? What happened after life? These were deep questions for a little girl to ask herself. I had always had a big imagination, and I guess I was curious. I can’t remember what triggered all these thoughts. I only remember thinking them.

At that point in my life, my parents were Christians who had fallen away. We didn’t go to church.
I didn’t know much about God or Heaven. I think now that my young mind was searching for the meaning of life. I think I knew there must be more than dark nothingness. I’m glad there is. I’m thankful my parents returned to their first love. After we returned to the church, they taught me and my sister with a fervor. They made sure we didn’t take our faith for granted! I’m thankful for their faith and strength.

I am also thankful God sent light so we have the opportunity to not have to worry about a life of nothingness! To be continued…

Phone Photos – April 28-June 4

Posted on June 5, 2012 by bethp146

My favorite thing about my iPhone has to be the camera. I love always having it with me to capture our daily lives. I was looking back through my Camera Roll and realized I actually do take a bunch of picture. Here’s a “photo dump” of the last month or so.

{Bailey modeled jewelry at the Guy & Eva party I hosted.}

{a rare shot of yours truly. I wish my hair would grow!}

{We found this doxie puzzle at a craft fair.}

{I received lots of sweet cards after going through all the tummy trouble.}

{My parents planted their first garden this year. This is Eugene the scarecrow.}

{Mom fixed up her sewing room. Dad built this amazing craft table that I’m so jealous of.}

{Bailey has the pretty princess act down pat.}

{Charlie is a baby who still needs lots of sleep.}

{I started cutting hexies out of all my fabric scraps.}

{After 2 years and much research, I finally bought a sewing machine. Her name is Nina. She’s fabulous.}

{M and I shared this Saturday afternoon treat.}

{There’s nothing like hydrangeas in bloom.}

{We went to Outback for M’s birthday dinner.}

Wow. I guess it’s been a busy month!

Memorials

Posted on May 28, 2012 by bethp146

(World War 2 memorial in Washington, DC)

I am guilty of taking many things for granted. I am also very forgetful at times. So memorials are a valuable thing. They help us remember the past. They teach us lessons. They remind us to be thankful.

Today, I’ll try to be extra thankful for all who have sacrificed themselves for this country and for me. Because others have done so much, I have the opportunity to spend this day on the river with my family. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Memorial Day. God bless the U.S.A!

A Year Ago Today

Posted on April 27, 2012 by bethp146

Time is a funny thing. I can’t believe it has been a year. It seems like yesterday. Some of the memories are still fresh in my mind. Some have faded a little bit thanks to time. Still, I know that I will never ever forget April 27, 2011.

This is a topic that I’ve wrote about several times on Love You Muches. A year ago today, the entire state of Alabama and many other states in the Southeast were affected by devastating tornado. A year ago today, our house got hit. That was a life changing event. I have had many personal struggles during the past year, and I am still not proud of the way I handled them.

A year ago, I would have thought that the anniversary of the storms would send me back to a dark place of fear and sadness. I am thankful that is not the case today. I am still sad that it happened. I’m sad for those who lost loved ones and material posessions. Yet, I have gotten over my personal, selfish state of feeling sorry for myself. The view from the other side of going through this experience is so bittersweet. I have been changed. Time, prayer, and thanksgiving have all softened my outlook. All those crazy emotions I wrote about sometimes still come to the surface, but for the most part they have all been replaced with thankfulness.

I am truly thankful that my faith had a chance to be strengthened by this event. I know with certainty that God will always take care of things and that His will is greater than my own selfish desires. I know that my Heavenly Father protected us on April 27, 2011. I know that He has been patient with me since then and has helped strengthened me. I know I am stronger. I am thankful for all the lessons I’ve learned over the past year, and I am thankful that I still have the chance to praise Him even when life gets complicated.

It’s been quite a year, but we made it!

These are all the posts I wrote after the storms:

What are your memories of April 27, 2011? Even though I have a better outlook now, I still hate tornados!

Back in the Day (which really wasn’t that long ago)

Posted on February 3, 2012 by bethp146

Look how little my Aubree was!

There is a loud uproar that rumbles through various social media outlets every time Facebook makes a major change. Everyone then gets over it for the most part. The latest and greatest thing is Facebook timeline. I may be in the minority, but I like the timeline pages. Going through my timeline was like a digital walk down memory lane. It started with all the anticipation of starting school at Alabama. I was nervous and excited all at the same time. Apparently I was a social butterfly my first semester of college who metamorphisized into a social recluse obsessed with her studies after that. I remembered the giddy feelings of meeting someone special (M) through our wall posts to each other back then. I’m actually glad I have these records. In particular, I enjoyed looking through old photos. Here are some of my favorites from “Back in the Day”.

Besties

M graduated!

Awards day after being inducted in ODK and Anderson Society

I graduated!

These are a few of my favorite 2011 Things

Posted on December 30, 2011 by bethp146

It’s that time of year when you see “Best of” lists everywhere. People weigh in on their favorite movies, books, songs, celebrities, and moments of the year. I am exhausted just from thinking about everything that happened this year in my life. Consider this my personal Highlight Reel for 2011.

1. Bailey and Charlie

2. Being a Bridesmaid (3 times!)

3. Answered prayers

4. Blogging & Writing

5. Visiting new places

6. Anna Karenina – The first book I read in 2011 was also my favorite book I read in 2011.

7. Cooking and baking

8. Creativity – Sewing, Crafting, Decorating, Repurposing

9. New friends

10. Growing!

What’s on your highlight reel for 2011?

Love You Muches

documenting this lovely southern life

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