I wish I could call my parents and tell them I applied for a big promotion at work and was offered the job. It will be a big challenge and a lot of work, but I'm excited about it. I think they would be proud of me. And I know they know, etc, etc, but sometimes I wish I could see their faces light up with news of the accomplishments of me or my kids, and sometimes I wish I could hear them say, "Way to go, Bec! That is great news!".
They would also be proud of my little brother, Joel. He was also given a big promotion at work. He went from a sales position at Simply Mac in St. George, to managing an entire store in Layton almost within a year of starting. He is an amazing dad and husband, and friend.
I know they are proud of my sister, Jenn, too. She has been a very dedicated city council woman in Gilbert. She stands up for what she believes in no matter what criticism she gets for it. She is a fun loving mother to her 3 boys and now her little princess, Kate. I'm sure my mom sent her baby Kate, just like she promised she would before she left.
I think my mom and dad would be most proud of my sister, Val. She has really taken on the role as matriarch of our family. She has become the one that I call for advice, to share exciting news with, and the one who calls to check up on me when more than a few days have gone by when she hasn't heard from me. Before my mom died, she asked Val to be PTA President at their elementary school. Val did it this year, and did an incredible job. She worked very hard all year long.
I am so proud of all of my siblings and I love them so much. I am so grateful for how close we all are. They are my best friends. I don't know if I could have gotten through losing my parents without them. I am so lucky to have them and I am so proud of where we have all come in the past year. It's really amazing! My parents must be proud. They made us what we are!
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Tennessee - Day 1
I don't really want to remember my nightmare of a journey to get to Tennessee yesterday, but I do want to remember all about my first day here!
Tennessee is:
---The Walking Horse Hotel---
We are staying in this cool little hotel with a lot of history! It's in the town of Wartrace, population 610. The hotel was built in 1917 and was recently purchased and renovated by a man in memory of his wife who died from cancer. She was an amazing singer and loved music so he is trying to bring that into the hotel. In her name, he constructed the Chais Music Hall where he has aspiring musicians come and entertain on weekends.
Downtown Wartrace. It's right across the street/railroad tracks from the hotel. Everything closes at 5pm so I probably won't get the chance to do some shopping, dang it!
Have you ever seen a World Champion Tennessee Walking Horse? Today was my first time too! Not much of a horse person, but I never even knew what that was before touring Joe Fleming's Stables. He has 90 Tennessee Walking Horses and 2 World Champions! Shelbyville is the Walking Horse Capital of the World! Every year, for 10 days before Labor Day, the whole town of 17,000 goes crazy with the Walking Horse Festival. Schools even close as their population triples when people come from all of the place to show their horses. The locals take off to Florida for the week and they rent their houses out for like $7,000 for the week! Pays for their whole trip! So, anyways, walking horses have these special platform shoes on their front two...feet? hooves? Whatever, like I said, I'm not a horse person. Anyway, they raise their front two legs really high when they walk and their back two kind of sway like an elliptical does. They are very smooth and the riders don't even bounce up and down when they...walk? Anyway, cool to see, but I think I'm allergic to all animals!
---Beautiful Scenery---
This is pretty much what the view consists of...rolling hills and lots of trees. Everything is SO green and beautiful! I couldn't get enough staring out the windows.
---Bell Buckle---
Cute little row of shops, don't you think? I loved it!
So obviously I took this picture from the car, while we were moving, with my phone. But, you get the point. Beautiful country homes, a lot of them plantation style like the Carmichael Plantation on Sweet Home Alabama. They are all acres from each other and no joke, as we drove past, people were sitting on their porches in their rocking chairs just watching the grass grow. I just want to experience that life for one long day!
Tennessee is:
---The Walking Horse Hotel---
We are staying in this cool little hotel with a lot of history! It's in the town of Wartrace, population 610. The hotel was built in 1917 and was recently purchased and renovated by a man in memory of his wife who died from cancer. She was an amazing singer and loved music so he is trying to bring that into the hotel. In her name, he constructed the Chais Music Hall where he has aspiring musicians come and entertain on weekends.
Downtown Wartrace. It's right across the street/railroad tracks from the hotel. Everything closes at 5pm so I probably won't get the chance to do some shopping, dang it!
---Cicada Bugs---
We were so lucky to be able to experience Cicadea Bugs since they only come out ever 13 years! The come out of the ground once ever 13 years and fly around and make tons of noise for about 5-6 weeks before they all die, make a mess all over the place, and nobody sees them again until 13 years later. They are HUGE UGLY bugs! And I don't do well with bugs! Pretty fascinating little life though.
---Tennessee Walking Horses---
Have you ever seen a World Champion Tennessee Walking Horse? Today was my first time too! Not much of a horse person, but I never even knew what that was before touring Joe Fleming's Stables. He has 90 Tennessee Walking Horses and 2 World Champions! Shelbyville is the Walking Horse Capital of the World! Every year, for 10 days before Labor Day, the whole town of 17,000 goes crazy with the Walking Horse Festival. Schools even close as their population triples when people come from all of the place to show their horses. The locals take off to Florida for the week and they rent their houses out for like $7,000 for the week! Pays for their whole trip! So, anyways, walking horses have these special platform shoes on their front two...feet? hooves? Whatever, like I said, I'm not a horse person. Anyway, they raise their front two legs really high when they walk and their back two kind of sway like an elliptical does. They are very smooth and the riders don't even bounce up and down when they...walk? Anyway, cool to see, but I think I'm allergic to all animals!---Beautiful Scenery---
This is pretty much what the view consists of...rolling hills and lots of trees. Everything is SO green and beautiful! I couldn't get enough staring out the windows.---Bell Buckle---
Cute name for a little town, don't you think? Bell Buckle was established in 1852 as a railroad community. I can't find the population, but I do know that it is home of the RC Cola and Moon Pie Festival coming up here next month. We had dinner at the Bell Buckle Cafe...true downhome southern cooking. Everything was fried...fried okra, fried corn, fried chicken, etc, and for dessert we had grit cake and oatmeal cake. It was actually really good, and you can bet I bought some moon pies to take home to the kids!
Cute little row of shops, don't you think? I loved it!---My Dream Houses...for a day---
So obviously I took this picture from the car, while we were moving, with my phone. But, you get the point. Beautiful country homes, a lot of them plantation style like the Carmichael Plantation on Sweet Home Alabama. They are all acres from each other and no joke, as we drove past, people were sitting on their porches in their rocking chairs just watching the grass grow. I just want to experience that life for one long day!---To End the Night---
I found this beautiful park with a walking path right around the corner from the hotel. I was so excited to take a quick run before the sun went down. It is a lot more humid here than I'm used to so I was dripping sweat, but the air felt good. So much easier to run at 700 feet instead of 4000. I even saw lightening bugs! So cool to see their blue lights flicker in the fields!
It was a great day! I like Tennessee as a place to visit. It's...charming. Makes me want to see more of the East and definitely makes me want a southern accent. I'm just not going to come during tornado season next time.
Oh yeah...and I worked a little bit...cuz that's why I'm here!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Dance 2011
Lyrical : True Colors
Jazz: Single Ladies
Hip-Hop: Whip My Hair
Brooklyn started Hip-Hop this year and LOVES it! She likes being a little extra sassy and being encouraged to have attitude. She loves getting her hair and make-up done and hanging out with all the other dancers in the locker room in between dances at competitions.
Recital is this week! Yeah!
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