Where I'm From

I am from red dirt roads along the banks of Turkey Creek, from small town state champions and dirty bare feet.

I am from the white house on the corner with a basement full of treasures. From the old black water pump on the roller rink porch and the fenceless yard full of the town’s children.
I am from the sycamore tree and the rose buds; the tiger lilies and the pecan tree, whose limbs held me many summers.

I am from Sunday lunch and stubborn, long-lived women, from Loraine and Ruby and “the Aunts”, from Barrs and Bensons, Beards and Fusons.

I am from the do-gooders and hardworkers. From generations of farmers and mommas, people who did what had to be done.

From “I’ll give you something to cry about” and “Because I said so” {from words I now hear coming out of my own mouth}

I am from old time Christians with hymnals and church pews.  Grandma playing the piano for decades, knowing the notes by heart. From the grace of God.  Hallelujah!  Amen.

I'm from Oklahoma summers, fried okra and sheet cake, lamb burgers and fish fries.  
From pioneers and travelers, windmills and deep roots. Cattle in the pasture and wool in burlap sacks.

I am from the boxes under my momma’s bed filled of generations remembered. Stories told and forgotten.  Family trees searched and unknown. The love of those before me fills my heart and keeps me whole.







I first heard about the "Where I'm From" poem from http://www.adventuresinbabywearing.com/. She wrote her own poem and I couldn't wait to create mine.

I noticed today that another blog I read, http://charpenette.blogspot.com/2011/06/where-im-from.html, also posted her "Where I'm From" poem.



In the process of writing my poem and thinking about my childhood and ancestors, I somehow ended up signing up for the two weeks free trial at Ancestry.com. SOO much fun! I've really enjoyed researching my mother's side since my father's side has already been pretty well documented by other family members. I definitely recommend it. I'm only into week 1 of the 2 free weeks and I've already found SO MUCH! GO. START. NOW.



Note: I don't know why the blog links are being weird and posting the web address but not displaying the "text to be displayed". I'm too tired to figure it out. Maybe it'll look right on your browser.

my mantra

30 Things Before I'm 30: The Check Off

A while back I posted my 30 things before I'm 30 list. We have marked some things off of the list!

Buy a bicycle

Find a signature perfume

Read 30 books

Learn to walk in high heels

Get a tattoo I love

Take more pictures

Adopt an angel at Christmas

Grow a garden

Skydive

Buy a stranger's dinner

Get a massage at a spa

Have another baby

Go to an exercise class

Throw a surprise party

Buy a house  (We bought a house in Moore, OK in November!)

Learn to order coffee (I no longer feel overwhelmed by coffee lingo)

Paint a canvas

Start a blog (YAY!)

See Grandpa Brady's grave in France

Go to a concert at Gruene Hall & Luckenbach

Be 125 lbs

Adopt a puppy from a shelter  (She's a black lab/jack russell mix named Tallulah. She is crazy.)

Learn to knit and/or crochet

Make exercising a habit

Research my Mom's family tree

See the Aurora Borealis

Run a 5k

Organize and beautify our home

Go on a wine tour

Figure out a way to make money from home **Just added**

I'm not sure if the travelling will happen before I'm 30, but they're still goals. I really need to pick up on the book reading. I'm not sure I've even read a whole book this year.

By the way, can you believe it's June??? Where is this year going? Does it feel like summer to you?

Only 3.6 years left. I better get busy! What's on your to-do list?

Mommas Helping Mommas

Oklahomans know tornadoes. Every spring we clean out our storm shelter/basement/hall closet/bath tub in preparation for tornado season. We find the flash lights, weather radios, and bottled water. We plan what belongings we'll take with us in case the storm heads our way. We watch the weathermen and storm chasers as they track the storm and keep watching as the news channel reports of the destruction and clean-up. This year was no different, but one story in particular pulled at this momma's heartstrings.

I can't imagine what this family is going through. Losing their two young sons. Their home. Everything. My sweet friend Sarah contacted me yesterday, wanting to help these people. We don't know them personally, but as mommas of little boys we needed to do something.

We are having a big garage sale June 10th, 11th, and 12th in Blanchard, OK at Sarah's house. We are taking donations for items to sell. Clothes, toys, electronics, furniture, etc.. We will even pick it up for you! Join our Facebook Event

If you'd like to donate money, a tragedy account has been set up at Midfirst Bank. The Hamil Facebook page gave this information: 

The "tragedy account" at Midfirst has been setup. You can go to any Midfirst Bank and donate money to the "Hank Hamil Family Support Trust" If your bank has the option of bill pay you can also send money directly from your own account.

You also can mail donations to Midfirst Bank, 835 E. State Highway 152, Mustang, OK 73064-4518. Or call 1-888-MIDFIRST to make a donation. Just make sure that you indicate it's a donation for the "Hank Hamil Family Support Trust."

I think coffee makes me sleepy

I want to write here more often, but I never have anything interesting to say. I just deleted 3 paragraphs of junk I typed out because I'm not that funny. Boo. I'll work on that.....

Mommy words

I try to not cuss. Growing up, I never remember hearing my parents cuss. When our teacher told us on the first day of kindergarten we shouldn't say "ain't" I thought it was because it was a curse word. Somewhere along the way I picked up some choice words.

My curse of choice is usually shit. It slips out of my mouth without any warning. Stub my toe, shit. Burn my hand, shit. Hit a big pothole, shit. That last one provoked Nate's first curse repeat. Jon hasn't let me live if down.

I've adapted other words to replace my cursing:

• Shiitake (I think I got this from Austin Powers)
• Son of a biscuit
• Oh, craptastic
• Frack (Thanks Battlestar Galactica)

I don't know if they're any better, but I won't get as many phone calls from school. I don't need my son being the kid to teach everyone the f-word on the playground. When the teacher calls, I'll have her call my husband.

My Resolution

Two years ago, my resolution was to brush my teeth before bed every night. I'll admit I wasn't the most diligent before bed brusher, but I stuck with it and now I can't go to bed without a mouth full of clean teeth.

Last year I resolved (resoluted is not a word, booo) to send cards for birthdays/anniversaries/illnesses. I did well at the beginning of the year, but fell short near the end. Sorry everyone with October, November, and December birthdays.

My New Year Resolutions for 2011 are:

• send more snail mail
• take more pictures
• write more blog posts
• comment more on other people's blogs
• BE MORE CREATIVE

In general, I just want to try harder. I feel like I spent a lot of 2010 being lazy, coasting. This year I want to be more deliberate with my time and my actions. No more procrastinating.

2011 THE YEAR OF THE MOUSTACHE