Catch up? No... no time for that.

So, it's been a while. I have thought about blogging, but knowing my husband would be on the couch waiting for me to join him and having "Driver's Ed" online in the back of my head to complete obviously made me rethink my priorities! Well, Russ left Tuesday and is in NYC until tomorrow, so I finished Driver's Ed last night. I should be preparing my Bible Story for the kids tomorrow, but it's still early. :) I'll still have time for that. I think what happened was I got on here (as usual) for something else, but I decided to play music while I sat here. I don't want it to end!

Music. What IS it about music that captures me and is so delicious that I don't want it to end. It was always a staple in our house growing up. Food- not so much, but music certainly was. Obviously, if you don't have enough food or a car, you don't really have a TV! However, come hell or high water, my mom would never have thought of giving up our record player. As inappropriate as it was, I was in 6th grade listening to Eddie Murphy's "Delirious" for entertainment at night. Mostly, it was just music, though. Eagles' "Take it Easy" was one of the first 45's I remember wanting to put on by myself... and "Margaritaville." BEFORE that, even, we regularly walked to my aunt's house- less than a mile from ours in Pensacola, FL- to spend our Friday nights at the disco that on every other day was her living room. However, it transformed for us once a week into a dance floor. My mom would lift me up, spin me around, dance with me, do the bump on her knees with me while I stood, and laugh. We laughed a lot. We'd make up funny moves, "Put the biscuits in the oven, take them out. Repeat." Much like the lawn sprinkler that came out 15 years later, it was one of those demonstrative dance moves. I loved that about my mom. I loved that she would dance with us. I LOVED that we were allowed and encouraged to sing out loud to any song, anywhere. I hear a song and immediately have a memory attached- or several. I can feel that memory, smell it, hear it, and live it all over again physically. There are literally thousands of songs in my head of which I will never forget the lyrics. In fact, it began at such a young age, our singing, that I seriously cannot listen to a song without singing it. While I run or bike, I am either singing if I'm outside or at the very least mouthing the words- with full expression of emotion, of course. I can't NOT do it. (Nice double negative... I needed it for emphasis.) I love the rise and fall, stop and start, crescendo, and journey through the whole song. Lyrics are awesome, but I think starting so young in life a love affair, that I loved the music more than the lyrics. I didn't understand what they meant; I just knew that I loved the way it sounded and made me feel. I should just stop trying to describe it. There's so much to love.

Anyway, I cannot tell you how comfortable I feel on a dance floor. I feel free, I feel energized, I feel young, and I feel at home. I am in no place in life to go to a dance club. I certainly was more of an alone dancer or group dancer rather than a grinding dancer. (Unless of course, it was the right guy.... most often my husband in college.) :) I just love to move. I move ALL day. I am more comfortable moving than sitting still. I prefer constant motion. I know that I will one day not be able to move as much or will not love it like I do now, so I have to take advantage. Let's experience all we can whenever given the chance. "Want to go skydiving, V?" I did. "Want to drive to another state for no reason?" I did. "Want to move across country?" I did. "Want to go a concert?" I did- about 50 times.... anything from Toad the Wet Sprocket to George Clinton and P Funk All stars to Hootie (of course) to Alice in Chains to Van Halen to U2 to Metallica to Paul McCartney to Jimmy Buffett to Bush to No Doubt to Heart ... it goes on and on. If there was an opportunity, I took it if I had never done it. Why not? God gave us this great big world... let's really appreciate, admire and experience it. I'm not afraid.

Anyway, I know my mom was all about the sponteneity in life and doing whatever and any time. On a Saturday, we decided to leave about 2pm to Gettysburg, PA from our house in central Ohio. We arrived at midnight, woke up, saw the town and museums/stores until about noon and drove back home. I will NEVER forget that. There were no excuses or complaints about the time. It was about the journey. That is a part of MY DNA. Life is about the journey. I could get hung up on what a pain it is to haul stuff to the beach and back home with the extra special addition of sand on EVERYTHING. It's not about that. It's about being there, making a memory, enjoying the beach, and loving our time together in an incredible place- coveted by those landlocked. It's not about how much time we will spend at the park. It's about getting there, talking, discovering, and spending time together. Kids have no idea the difference between 30" and 2 hours at the park most of the time. It's about being together as a family. I love that about them. So, I'm up for anything. I may dread it a little bit at some point, but I get over it quickly if there's a journey involved. I was THRILLED to have the opportunity to drive to Oklahoma this summer. My kids would be in the car 12-14 hours each day for two days coming and two going. I didn't see that as horrid.... and neither did they!
I have no idea how that tangent began, but it's worth a blog in and of itself!

My music stopped, and suddenly my thoughts did, too. I wanted to write down what happened between Russ and I a couple of weeks ago. It was a conversation I'd wanted to happen for MONTHS, but God kept me patient and not pushing for it to happen. It finally happened, and I feel so peaceful inside. I would like to say there was an outcome of tangible sorts... and new path of action. However, there was not. I am being shown to respect my husband in the scripture I read. My kids and I are being fed in other places than church. I will be ok with this. I am not a good Christian because I go to church every week. I am not a bad Christian if I do NOT go to church every week. I will miss the community and praise and worship with others. However, I get that every Tuesday. I get to lead and be in the word with children every Thursday. I may end up helping with Kids' Club. I am OK. I will keep praying! I am happy. I love Russ. He is the head of our house. I will pray for him to be under God's will. I know he is... even if he doesn't. :) I am amazed that I have such a wonderful husband, father and friend. I really enjoy him. I love him insanely. I am happy.

Well, Amy Winehouse has got me wanting a drink! Just teasing, of course! :) I only want water! I am going to study for tomorrow! I can't wait to meet my wonderful new kids!