2011 in review!

My year in review---via my iPhone camera roll.

It's been a great year, and I'm glad I captured it all! Say cheese, and Happy New Year!

January!
My sister and I completed my biggest personal accomplishment to date. Disney's Goofy Challenge.

Half Marathon on Saturday. Full Marathon on Sunday. Yes. 39.3 miles!

*I can't think of anyone I would've rather crossed that finish line with!

February
A group of Girls dashed down to Orlando for the Princess Half Marathon! Fun times with the girls!!

March
We zipped down to Destin for a very impromptu Spring Break Beach trip!

April
To Chicago for our last-ever Oprah show!

And April, 27,2011
The day the tornadoes took Alabama "by storm" and our lives were all changed.

May
Mothers Day! I *heart* these cute boys!

June
We set sail on the Disney Wonder. Destination:Alaska
This pic is one of my faves! Kids in the pool. Snow-capped mountains in the back!

July
I fractured my leg, and Scott and I woke up that weekend with no kids and no plans! So down to the beach we went! Best 3 days!!!!

August
School started

Football season had us "all systems go"

September

My sweet Mason totaled his truck. And it reminded me, yet again, of just how precious life is.

Football. Football. Football.

And I wouldn't trade these minutes for anything!

Me and Susie took a break from reality and skipped down to WDW for a quick over-night "work" trip!

October
We did the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure. Always one of my faves.

We managed to squeeze in an Alabama football game!

More Panther Football!

November
Scott and I and our little anniversary rendevouz.

Lucy and I fly to Houston for a little bit of scrapbook fun!

Back to the Happiest Place on Earth for work!

And as football came to a close, we dove right into basketball season!

December
Took Macy and Alora for a fun night of girly shopping!

Lots of yummy gifts for the teachers!

Jingle Bell Run!

We took the most wonderful Disney Cruise Christmas Vacation ever!

And then our Christmas Card photo!!

All in all. 2011 has been fantastic!!!

I can't wait for 2012!

Fruit loops and popcorn! A family tradition.

As silly as it seems, fruit loops and popcorn have become a family tradition. Mix in a needle and some fishing line and you have Christmas Tree garland.

I'm not sure how it even started, but one year the boys and I ventured into the pantry to make garland. And this was what we came up with.

It adds the cutest bit of whimsy to our tree!

And we typically sit in the living room, on the floor in front of the tree. The lights of the tree light up the room. Christmas music on. No tv. No nothing else. Just us.

Making memories.

This year, we surfed Spotify for silly Christmas songs, I want a hippopotamus for Christmas, was the favorite of the night.

Now, don't get me wrong. The boys lose their attention for this tedious project quick. So we only did about 6 strands this year. Just enough for the front.

And I'm ok with it.

Again. It's real life. Just a tree full of memories. Nothing fancy, or over the top.

A family tradition.

Almost a month.......

Back in the day, when I started this blog, I started it because I thought it would be a great way to connect with other crafters, and to just put my thoughts onto "paper"....

And lots of times, I am really great about updating, but, since I have a "job" now, something that has just not been a part of most of my adult life, I am having to find that balance, between being a "stay at home mom" and a Disney Travel Planner, and then there are all of the little things....like this blog.

I love this blog. I love to be able to put my thoughts down, and then have them here so when I come back, later, I can see, just where I was at...today.

And, so, today it is.

Today has been a seemingly great day.

I've been busy about, with lots of "work" to be done, and a football banquet to prepare for. Lots of little details that go along with that, and well, I am not really a "football banquet" kind of person, so I am learning along the way.

Maybe just about the time Mason graduates, I will have figured it all out, and I won't feel like I am driving the Coach crazy, or that I am spinning my wheels.

Regardless, work to be done, and I had to meet a future Disney guest, to go over some details of their trip.

Anyways, I say all of this to day, it's been a busy day.

But, this morning, in the midst of it all, a quick chat with a sweet friend, only for her to tell me that she and her hubby are getting a divorce.

I felt like she kicked me in my throat. (um, imagine how she feels)....
I was just not prepared, and it saddens my heart to know that a wonderful marriage can get to that point, where it is just no longer worth working for.

And on my drive to Birmingham, it reminded me that none of us are exempt from this. None of our marriages are perfect, or spotless, or guaranteed.

And, it just hurt my heart.

And, then, Scott was busy in meetings all day, so we only chatted off and on, and that was just not what I needed. I needed to be one of those "whining wives"...you know, the one that calls, and has no regard for the fact that he's at work, because *I* am having a bad day, and I wanna whine.

Ok-well-didn't happen. And that's probably a good thing.

And then, later this evening, as I am just kicking into what should be a very productive rest-of-the-day, I get a facebook message from a friend, and he is sharing with me that he and his wife got sad news from the doctor, and their little sweet baby, well, that sweet baby has gone to be with Jesus. Even before Mom and Dad ever get to hold it.

Oh, what a break in my heart.

So many things I want to say. So many words I want to share. And none of them need to be said right now.

But, it's almost like my heart hurts for them so bad, because I know that grief so deep. And I know the heartache, and sad days ahead. And, I wish more than anything, that no one I ever know would have to go thru that.


So, I clicked over here to the trusty ole blog, just so I could jot it down.

And, I know that as soon as I hit "publish" it will all still be the same, and nothing will have been solved by this, but it helps my feelings a little bit.

And, one day, I will look back, and maybe both of these friends will be in a victorious day in their life, and I can say, "Wow, what a wonderful thing God has done in their lives"....

Star Wars, General Mills, and a Giveaway!

How fun is this! Have you spotted these yet in stores?

The backs of the cereal form the Star Wars picture!

So very fun!

I got a box of these in the mail from General Mills and needless to say, I was VERY excited!

So, I put them out on the table, and the boys had a fit!!!

**If you haven't seen these yet, run to your nearest Wal-Mart and check them out. VERY limited time on this one!

This incredible collection unites all six Episodes together for the first time in stunning high definition with the purest digital sound in the galaxy. With over 40 hours of thrilling special features, including all-new content created exclusively for this release, you can journey deeper into the Star Wars universe and discover more than ever before. Feel the Force of STAR WARS The Complete Saga on Blu-ray this September! In honor of the release, select General Mills Big G cereals have a limited edition Star Wars good versus evil image on their packaging, which when combined creates a full panoramic poster. Exclusively at Walmart, look for specially marked boxes of Big G cereals, including Honey Nut Cheerios®, Cinnamon Toast Crunch®, and Lucky Charms®. Collect all three to create a Star Wars panoramic poster showcasing your favorite characters, like Darth Vadar™, Luke Skywalker™, Han Solo™, Princess Leia™ and more. Marking the first time ever that the full Saga is available in one complete collection, the 9-disc STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA will be available on Blu-ray September 16th, courtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. May the force be with you as you check out these Star Wars boxes at your local Walmart for a limited time only!

**And, here's the fun part!

I have a giveaway!!!

Your prize pack will contain:
• One box of each of the following cereals to form their own Star Wars panoramic poster:
• Honey Nut Cheerios
• Cinnamon Toast Crunch
• Lucky Charms
• $25 Walmart gift card

All you have to do is leave a comment---and tell me why you wanna win?!
*And, if you want an extra chance, go "like" Main Street Memories on facebook, and come back here and tell me that you did!

Ok, ready, set....GO!

**this blog was made possible by MyBlogSpark and General Mills

Good game. Good game.

We always like to cheer on the guys as they come OFF of the field after the game. Even after a loss. To tell them we are proud of them and we stand with them, win or lose.

So, tonight, after the crowd had cleared out and most everyone was gone...I saw something.

Scott was chatting and I was just standing, watching the world go by and I noticed...I noticed one of the coaches call our QB over to him, and he said "you played a great game. Be proud. Hold your head up"

And they chatted some more and they were quiet.

But you know what, he didn't have to do that. He could've been the typical jerk-coach that lets that kid hold his head in shame as if it was all on him. NO. Not this coach. Nope. He gave him something to smile about and be proud of.

So I drove home, just myself, and it really made me think of what a difference a year can make.

Last year, our guys would've rode the bus home in silence and in defeat. But tonight. Their coaches told them they were proud of their effort and follow-thru.

Our guys know they lost. Believe me. They are beating themselves up enough.

I am so so thankful that we have some of the best coaches ever!!

Hey, our record is not stellar, but our guys are. And we are building an awesome football program, and some awesome young men in the process!!!

Go Panthers:-)

Beach Trip Shutterfly Book

Scott and I took a very unplanned trip to the beach this summer. Somehow, we found ourselves with no kids and no plans for the weekend, so we threw a bag together, grabbed our bathingsuits and out the door we went!

I did NOT even take my DSLR, so all of the pics are iPhone pics!!

I had a free coupon for an 8x8 from Shutterfly...so I just ordered it!

Can't wait to see it...IN REAL LIFE!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Jesus TOOK the wheel......

A mother's worst nightmare--

"Mom...I had a wreck"

Actually, it was a text:


Yes, a text.

**I had just left the doctor's office......two shots.....yep...one in each cheek......and was on my way to get my scripts filled. I have pneumonia. Lovely!

Needless to say, I was not in my right frame of mind.....and I was on the phone with my sister.....giving her the low-down on my sick-self.

When I get the TEXT!!!!!!!!

And the crazy part is, that was the BEST way. That kid of mine, he knows me.

He knew I would FREAK out.....so the text was a buffer. It let me know he had the wreck, and it let me know he was alive.

So-----of course...I FREAKED out. And I called him.

No answer.

Called again.

"Mom..I'm ok. I'm ok"

"Where are you?"

--He told me where he was and that a friend of mine from high school was with him. Already?! Wow! So thankful.

Anyways, I rushed BEHIND THE SLOWEST PAWPAW DRIVER IN AMERICA-----

And I turned the corner to a Fire Truck, lights flashing, his horn was stuck LOUD, police car, lots of traffic......

Where is he? Where is he?

Whew! I spotted him. Standing up. Away from the truck.



Goodness. My heart can resume beating again.

My sister in law, Chanda, was already there...taking care of him. And being the mother to him. Praise the Lord for sisters!

The long and short of it is:

He hit a piece of concrete in the road. Just a junk massive piece of concrete...in the middle of the road.....it popped his wheel and it folded under neath him. And he began his journey....into the ditch.

What a level head. He said "I just knew if I could keep it to the right, keep it to the right, I would not hit anyone else and that wall would stop me."

That wall...being a DITCH.

So, he said "I just held the wheel, and tried to keep it from going left into the other lane"

Then he finally got off the road and the airbags deployed (thank you makers of those) and ultimately, he hit the ditch.

The truck is totaled.

Mason is alive.

No one was hurt.

No others involved.

Thank you Jesus. Thank you til the end of time.

No, we did not have full coverage. Just liability.



So, the adventure for a new vehicle will be a painful one. But,that is ok. God is in control. It is just metal.

Anyways, I was reminded by my friend Amy, of this blog post......about when he got his license..just a few short weeks ago....and it all means even more now. Wow.

Again....tonight.....no sleeping because my meds have made me crazy, I can't breathe, my mind is in a thousand directions....

I am reminded that life is short. Kids grow up. Moments with them are precious and so much of the day-to-day crap does not matter.

I hugged him a few extra thousand times tonight....and just told him I loved him. Period.


***and so, was the lifespan of the White Ford Ranger***

It was fun while it lasted.....and now.....off it goes into little junk yard heaven. Poor Thing.