9/11

I had always hoped that my children would never have to have a day that history made them remember exactly where they were because of a tragedy. I had heard my grandparents speak of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and where they were. I had heard where my parents were the day that President Kennedy was assassinated. I had marked days in my life; the day Elvis Pressley died, the news of John Lennon's death, and the Challenger explosion.

As with any other day I had gotten up and had gotten ready for work. I took the kids to school and because I still had some time to kill I went to the cemetery where my father in law was buried. It sits on a hill in a wonderfully quiet place. I sat there in some kind of meditation. On the hill across the way I watched a family of deer grazing. When I left there I circled the baseball field at Rock Creek Park. Naaman had been playing ball on that field that season. Everything was still as quiet as it had been on that hillside. The squirrels were doing their morning routines, the birds had their voices raised in their song, and a lone crow sat atop the backstop fence.

Because the time was coming close, I decided I best be on my way to work. As I had for many years, I was listening to Bob and Sheri on the radio. Their conversations that had been filled with happy laughter and joking suddenly turned serious as they announced that an airplane had hit one of the Twin Towers. It was so unbelievable and as they are trying to take this in, another plane appeared to have hit the second. That whole day stood still for us at work. I wanted nothing more than to find JW and hold our kids at home.

When I got home that evening and we had our usual 5 Story dinner, the kids told about their days and where they were. It had happened. History had given my children one of those days that they would always remember where they were and what they were doing. We stayed glued to the television and we held our breath with all of America. What could we do? How could we help? Why?

As the news reports droned on I was rethinking my day, the kids, the deer, the park, the squirrels, the bird's songs, the crow, my job. For some reason that crow stood out in my mind. It meant something. I did not know what and I did not know why I would know this. I had to know what it meant. I started looking and found that there was a meaning behind counting crows. The group The Counting Crows is named for this rhyme. One single crow stands for death. Had that one single crow on the backstop been carrying a warning? Who can say? Four years later I saw a single crow once again. The very next day my grandfather passed away. Call it superstition or hocus pocus. I just know that that single crow on September 11, 2001 will forever stand in my mind as the beginning of a day that changed our world forever.

Let us never forget those whose lives were lost, those who worked to help rescue and recover, and our soldiers who are still fighting for our protection and freedom. Our country, though we were bruised, was not lost. We are truly blessed beyond measure.

September 10, 2010

I guess to some today is as ordinary as any other day. The sun came up. People scurried to go to work or school. The daily mundane things are happening as usual. Somewhere there is a young man and woman in the hospital awaiting the birth of their first child. This is no different than what happened many years ago on this day only that young man and woman did not know the difference they were making in the world.

That little baby would forever change the lives of a family from the same hometown. That little baby would share his daddy's name. He would have his mom's brown eyes and be the oldest grandchild on both sides of his family. That little baby would be full of mischief and would have the most tender heart you could imagine. In a few years he would become a big brother to a little sister and then a little brother that he loves without end. That little baby would become a boy who idealized his daddy, but would always be his momma's boy. He would never be the best of students but did just enough to get by as long as he had a good time and made someone smile. That boy would work hard and someday he would find a girl. He would fall in love, get married, and then create his great works of art. He would find that his talents for building would lead him onto the stage but to always remain in the dark.

That little baby that was born on this day was to become my very best friend. He's the one that can make me the angriest, but he can then turn around and make me lose my breath from laughter. He is the shoulder on which I lay my head and the hand I reach for. That little baby is my 'Superman'. He has been the very best daddy a little girl could ask for and the best buddy to not just any little boy but The Boy. To some he is known as Daddy or JDub or The Favorite Son In Law or Dubby, but to me he is my hero.
Happy 49th birthday, J. I love you as I tell the kids and the pups...immensely and forever. I hope this is only the beginning.

Sisters United

God truly opens windows for us everyday. It's up to us to find those windows. I recently had a request from someone I met through Facebook for a photo shoot of she and her sister whom she had not met. Her sister was put up for adoption at birth. God opened the right windows for these 2 beautiful ladies and their families, but most of all he opened the window for me to be able to capture them in an unbelievable photo shoot. Thanks, Jennifer and Adrienne. I hope this will be the beginning of a wonderful relationship full of laughs and memories.

Quietness

Today has been a typical Saturday with no great adventures. It consisted of the usual morning routine of a shower and such. I decided that I would be more powerful than my very own kryptonite and do a 'bit' of cleaning. Cleaning is just one of those things that absolutely can drop me to my knees. I detest it!!! I don't know where or when this came about, but it must have started at a very young age because I've always hated it. Now mind you, I do love a clean house. I love the way it smells and feels, but...

Since cleaning was, and had to be, on the agenda I used the time to do alot of mental exploration. In that exploration I thought of the vast differences of what Saturday's use to be when I had to deal with my nemesis. Like any other time at the 5 Story House, there is ALWAYS music playing somewhere. I live my life to my music. As the kids grew and started to discover their own personal tastes in the art, I may have had to sacrifice mine for theirs as to not confuse my brain. Even with my always faithful songs in the background there is quietness to be enjoyed. I thought it so very ironic that even with that constant hum of 'the soundtrack of our lives' playing, I considered it quietness.

I then thought about the voices of the kids when they were small and would be somewhere, either inside or out, that I found quietness in that. Now I guess their voices have been replaced with the clicking of Mildred-Edith's toenails on the floor or the jingle of MacBeth's tags, and the gentle snoring of Shiva. There is a quiet-ness that perhaps only I notice.

As a small child I suffered through way too many ear infections to count and as a result I might spend weeks on end not being able to hear anything accept my own breathing. I can remember wondering if that was what it was like to be truly deaf. I would see everyone around me laughing at something on tv, but I truly had no clue what it was because I could not hear it. At the age of 19 I had my first set of tubes in my ears and the night after the procedure I heard a rumble. I could not tell what it was or where it was coming from so I had to ask JW. He asked if I had never heard it. He went onto explain that it was an airplane overhead. I never had heard that. To this day I still have some hearing loss due to the infections and I have different tubes now...thanks to photographing preschoolers and staying sick all of the time.

I guess that my quietness now includes everyday sounds because I so fear losing that gift. The dictionary defines quietness as the property of making no sound or the absence of sound; silence or hush; the absence of disturbance; calm, stillness or serenity. Kelly's definition of quietness would be those times when the music is on and I have the warmth of my memories to keep me company. I believe that in that quietness I have such great mental conversations with God...and sometime verbal. There's nothing there to inhibit what I need to say or know from Him.

My personal prayer tonight is "Thank you God for the quietness of my Saturday. Thank you for the gift of my hearing. Thank you for the people that make the music, for the sounds that fill our house, for the strength to overcome the 'kryptonite', but most of all, for the wonderful time we have spent together today."

Smiles!

I've added a special picture from my world to this entry. God truly is blessing me and I want to share this particular one. This is little Hayden Len Grubbs. I had the wonderful opportunity to photograph his mom and dad before he was born and here he is a couple of months old. This image was take last Saturday, 8/21.



Can you tell Daddy is a firefighter?

Thoughts and Dreams

I've had a long time dream of having a photography book published and have the idea tucked away in my heart and head. I've too often put it away and will occasionally take it out and ponder it. I think now I have to really put this into God's hands and let Him take control of this large task. As each year passes I look at how short life truly can be. If I keep procrastinating long enough I may never see this come to fruition so, with this blog entry, I will set forth on this great mission. Whether anyone will want a copy is beyond me, but I do know that with God in control ALL things are possible.

I've been totally lazy in my blogging. It's partly because I've been creating and the other part has to do with middle age eyes and waiting on new glasses. Now that the new specs are here I don't have that to delay me.

My newest addition to Story Tyme 4 Piggies is the Mabree's Monkey Suit. It's named for a cute little girl who was born into an awesome family. Mabree's aunts Erin and Jillian and her beautiful mommy all went to high school with our Madi. Now Madi works with Mabree's 'Nonnie', Kelley. I haven't met Miss Mabree, but I've fallen in love with her through her family's pictures.

Mabree's Monkey suit is made of 100% cotton and includes the ruffled pants and the knot top. It features the attached apron with an applique monkey with button eyes. It would be adorable with or with out a tee under the top. Mabree's Monkey suit will be available in sizes 6 months to size 8.

Ok, gotta get back to the chocolate strawberry room and create. Make today great because it's the only one you'll get until tomorrow.

It's official! I have sold 2 of my beginning pieces. I'm so excited! I have some ideas beginning for a little boy's outfit, too. Check back. Right now I am working on a piece named for a special little lady. Here's a sneak peak photo. Although it's not finished, I don't think it's too hard to see what it might be.

Please share my info with anyone who may be on the hunt for cute kids clothes for spring and summer.

Love Ya, Mean It!

As The Snow Fell

Snowfall in NC brings about the same excitement as Christmas or Spring break. The anticipation of the skies sending it's white splendor is unbearable. The only thing that makes it better is seeing 'Stanly County Schools' listed in the closings that flash across the bottom of the tv screen.

Until this year, snow at the Story house meant piles of coats, mismatched gloves, hats, and scarves all piled at the back door waiting for the next big adventure outside. It was cups of hot chocolate and the board games taken from their spot in the cabinet above the bathtub. (Yeah, how many can say they keep the boardgames over the bathtub?) It was extra blankets piled on the beds for both people and pups.

The winter storm of January 2010 brought less coats and paraphernalia at the back door, the excitement of our pups as they felt the icy coldness on their noses for the first time, and the loneliness of the undisturbed snow in the backyard. As I looked out today, I remembered a time when every square inch of it would have been churned up by our three Short Storys and our brown girls, Moses and Maezelle. Our prayers for many years for our children to someday grow to be happy, healthy, and good adults was granted. For that I am truly thankful, but in my heart I miss that pile of 'stuff' at the back door and the excitement of snow.

For the past couple of days, JW and I have had lots of time here by ourselves. We've enjoyed it, but even more enjoyed having The Boy home(when he's not in the kitchen at Harmanco's) for the weekend. As Sunday draws to an end, we'll see him pack up the 'Snot Rocket' and head back to G'boro. That's always quite bittersweet, but today will be a bit more unnerving until we get a text or call saying he's there and safe. I guess at that point I'll resume my position in my chocolate strawberry room with my crocheting or sewing and dreams of Story Tyme while JW mans the tv and makes sure it is thoroughly supervised.

Just When You Think

In this venture I have gone back and forth about leaving my job with a steady paycheck. So many times I have these moments of panic and think we can't live without that little money I bring home. I then have to step back and realize I'm not the one in charge. God has great plans for all of us. He saw me through several hard years while in school and He'll see me through this. He made sure my dream of that degree was earned.

Just when I think, "Kelly, you've lost your mind". He sends something to remind me He's the one driving. I am so thankful for every word of encouragement, every friend, every family member, and every word of advice I have been given.

The other night when JW and I were going to bed, we were talking about this crazy scheme. JW, as always, supports whatever my crazy mind thinks up. I told him that I just believe that God gave us talents for many reasons, but the main reason being that we should use them to support ourselves and help others. It's taken me 45 years to figure this out. At one point I thought that my talents were for pure pleasure. Now I know differently. I pray He will keep stepping in to remind me who's in charge. I tend to be a 'little' hardheaded....well, a 'lot' hardheaded.

The First of Hopefully Many, Many, Many

Here's the first item for Story Tyme 4 Piggies. It a size 4/5 peasant blouse. It's made of 100% cotton and is pink, orange, green, and light blue. The front and back both have gathers. It has long full sleeves that are gathered at the wrist. On the front are 2 gathered pockets for those extra treasures that little girls carry. I have this listed on Ebay. Give me some feedback on what you think. The address for it is http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320478553366&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_500wt_1182

Welcome Aubrey & McCall...Well almost!

Why just stick with the clothes for kids? Why not make something before they arrive? This flag is to announce the arrival of 2 very special little ladies. They are due any day now. They are the daughters of Monty & Genny Fast. I've known Genny since she was a little girl. She and our daughter, Madison, were very close in age. It's hard to believe that she will soon be the mommy to little Aubrey & McCall. She wanted something unique, like her girls. Since they are coming as a a pair and she loves ladybugs, what better way to announce their arrival. I built the flag with our collaborated ideas. Since the girls have a sign in their nursery with the saying 'They came 2 by 2' we went with that. I think it works great. With each stitch, I added a wish for their healthy arrival and happy life full of giggles. Congrats to the family.

Lord, lead me as I venture..

It is my dream to use the talents that God has given me to make the clothes I wish I could have worn as a child. I love comfy, loose-fitting, mis-matched things that speak for themselves. It is my hope to be able to build these clothes and to sell them at reasonable prices.

It is my belief that God gives us talents. You may have to search for a long time to find them, but they are there. Mine began as a skinny little girl with big eyes and a hunger for watching my grandmother as she sat at her sewing machine. As I watched her make the clothes that we wore, I somehow absorbed some things. Those things have stayed inside of me for many years. I have shared them with my children in the clothes that I made for them, the book bags they carried to school, and the unbelievable costumes they wore at Halloween.

Story Tyme 4 Piggies is a dream in the making...literally. As I write this, the first articles are in the sewing room on the cutting table. Story Tyme 4 Piggies is born from my love of a favorite time I always shared with my own children. The time when they would bring their favorite book, their Woobee, Bobo, or Doogie Dog and crawl up on my lap and we would share a story. (It also helps to have Story as a last name.) The number 4 is for the four most special people in my life, and Piggies is for the best Christmas we have ever had. It was the Christmas that Santa delivered a white pig with pink ears to our youngest daughter who was 4 at the time.

Now with the help of God, the knowledge of what my Grandmother and Mother taught me, and my trusty camera in hand, I will set out on this adventure. With Him in charge, great things will happen.

Check back in often because just like any good book, it gets better the farther we go into the Story.

~Kelly