Friday, April 19, 2013
Thursday, April 18, 2013
His Greatest Contribution
"His greatest contribution is the ones he leaves behind..." ~Alan Jackson, Small Town Southern Man
Last week during Uncle Jody's funeral, Alan Jackson's song, Small Town Southern Man was played. It was a perfect and fitting way to remember my uncle.
After the funeral, we all went to the museum in town that honors our family's general store. The one opened by my great grandparents in the 1920s. It a butter churn, antique cash register, and a metal Bible from WWII.
Yet, as I looked around, the song rang even more true. Yes, the antiques were cool. But they were not what matters. Family is. We are his greatest contribution. We have been left behind and it is up to us to ensure that his legacy lives on.
What a great responsibility with which we have been entrusted.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Two Months of Pictures: Week 2
In case you missed last week's photos, just click here. This week brought lots (and by lots, I mean LOTS) of chaos. But I still managed to get some photos that I was pretty proud of. As always, I'd love to hear which was your favorite!
Saturday
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| Bridal Brunch Decor |
Sunday
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| Eastern NM Antelope |
Monday
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| My Very Own Green Grass |
Tuesday
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| Painting Project |
Wednesday
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| Aggieland Welcome |
Thursday
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| Fly Over State |
Friday
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| Dog Tired |
Monday, April 15, 2013
Leaving Town
“For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.” ~ Eric Roth
Today, I have all of my worldly possessions are loaded in a truck and headed for the Lone Star State. It's crazy to think that I lived in Albuquerque for almost 7 years. When I came here I was terrified. As I leave today, I am thankful. Because the girl who arrived here seven years ago is not the same girl who leaves here today. Not even close.
I learned to drive in traffic and to walk in high heels. I proved to myself that I was not going to flunk out of law school and that I could run a half marathon. I booked my first trip out of the U.S., and then my second, third and fourth. I survived a broken heart, got my first "real" paycheck, and reconnected with two of my best friends. I learned how to live alone and passed a bar exam and watched a sky full of balloons each fall. I saw 7 years worth of State Fair sheep shows, watched Logan win two state basketball championships, and mourned the loss of several great friends and one of my favorite people in the world. I made wonderful new friends, had amazing matchmaking success with McCain and College Roomie, bought my first home, and started this very blog.
I think that all we can ask for when we close a chapter in our lives is that are able to look back and realize that we have grown. That we have learned more about ourselves. That we have grown braver and stronger and more confident. Hopefully, that we have become a better person.
I can honestly say that the last 7 years have allowed me to do those things. So to Albuquerque, and to all of the people who had a part in this chapter of my life, thank you.
Today, I have all of my worldly possessions are loaded in a truck and headed for the Lone Star State. It's crazy to think that I lived in Albuquerque for almost 7 years. When I came here I was terrified. As I leave today, I am thankful. Because the girl who arrived here seven years ago is not the same girl who leaves here today. Not even close.
I learned to drive in traffic and to walk in high heels. I proved to myself that I was not going to flunk out of law school and that I could run a half marathon. I booked my first trip out of the U.S., and then my second, third and fourth. I survived a broken heart, got my first "real" paycheck, and reconnected with two of my best friends. I learned how to live alone and passed a bar exam and watched a sky full of balloons each fall. I saw 7 years worth of State Fair sheep shows, watched Logan win two state basketball championships, and mourned the loss of several great friends and one of my favorite people in the world. I made wonderful new friends, had amazing matchmaking success with McCain and College Roomie, bought my first home, and started this very blog.
I think that all we can ask for when we close a chapter in our lives is that are able to look back and realize that we have grown. That we have learned more about ourselves. That we have grown braver and stronger and more confident. Hopefully, that we have become a better person.
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| Photo via College Roomie |
Friday, April 12, 2013
The Day The Music Stopped
“Death is not the end of things, my sister. It is the beginning of a greater adventure than this small life you cherish can hold." ~ Douglas Clegg, Isis
My Uncle Jody could do pretty much anything. Branding calves. Baiting fish hooks. Hauling hay. Working on oil wells. He grew up in an old dug out, served in the army during WWII, and had a sweet tooth that I can only assume is genetic because he passed it right on down to me. He played dominoes, danced a mean two-step, and could tell stories better than almost anyone I know. He loved the same woman for over 60 years and celebrated the 100th year of our family's homestead. Like I said, he could do pretty much anything.
But there was nothing he did better than playing the piano.
When he would settle in on that bench and his fingers touched the keys, everyone flocked to him. People would literally run in from outside on the ranch or from the pool behind the house upon hearing the call, "Uncle Jody is going to play!"
The whole family--four generations--would gather around the piano. Sitting four deep on couches, piled into chairs, and lined along the floor. And this wasn't a one time thing. It happened at every single family event. At Uncle Jody's house, where the night ended with the enitre family singing Amazing Grace, and not a dry eye in the house. At a hotel in Roswell where Little Cowboy shared the bench. In my cousin Elaine's home last summer for the better part of an hour.
Then, today, the music stopped. At least here on earth. We lost Uncle Jody. He was 87.
But I'll bet you anything that somewhere in Heaven you can find our family crowded around a piano, where Uncle Jody and his music live on.
My Uncle Jody could do pretty much anything. Branding calves. Baiting fish hooks. Hauling hay. Working on oil wells. He grew up in an old dug out, served in the army during WWII, and had a sweet tooth that I can only assume is genetic because he passed it right on down to me. He played dominoes, danced a mean two-step, and could tell stories better than almost anyone I know. He loved the same woman for over 60 years and celebrated the 100th year of our family's homestead. Like I said, he could do pretty much anything.
But there was nothing he did better than playing the piano.
When he would settle in on that bench and his fingers touched the keys, everyone flocked to him. People would literally run in from outside on the ranch or from the pool behind the house upon hearing the call, "Uncle Jody is going to play!"
The whole family--four generations--would gather around the piano. Sitting four deep on couches, piled into chairs, and lined along the floor. And this wasn't a one time thing. It happened at every single family event. At Uncle Jody's house, where the night ended with the enitre family singing Amazing Grace, and not a dry eye in the house. At a hotel in Roswell where Little Cowboy shared the bench. In my cousin Elaine's home last summer for the better part of an hour.
Then, today, the music stopped. At least here on earth. We lost Uncle Jody. He was 87.
But I'll bet you anything that somewhere in Heaven you can find our family crowded around a piano, where Uncle Jody and his music live on.
For that, and for him, I could not be more grateful.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
30 by 30 List: Month 5
“Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Another month down. This little project only highlights how darn fast that 30th birthday is coming at me. Deep breaths, Tiffany. Deep breaths. Here are my accomplishments for April! (To see the full list, click here!)
#1: Cook 10 new recipes (15/10 completed).
This goal has already been accomplished, but I'm just rolling right on with the new recipes! This month I made the following:
Italian chicken tortellini soup. Holy moly y'all. This stuff was really, really good. I followed the recipe minus the onion (don't like 'em) plus I added about a cup of water for extra broth and I added a cup of cabbage because I just like cabbage. I topped with a little bit of parmesean cheese. It turned out to be realy good, really filling, and quite healthy. It has about 375 calories for a big bowl. Highly recommend this one.
Homemade chicken fried rice. I love me some chicken fried rice. This recipe looked easy and so I tried it out. Thumbs up again! It was really good. I used brown rice, left out the onion and added cabbage (sound familiar?) but otherwise followed the recipe. One fourth of a batch of this stuff has about 450 calories.
Taco cupcakes. For the record, these are actual tacos made in a cupcake pan. Not the cupcakes that just look like tacos. Cupcakes that look like other food are a total pet peeve of mine, so I will never be making those! Anyway, these were really easy to make and turned out to be pretty good. McCain gave them two thumbs up when he and College Roomie came over for dinner. I don't know that I'll add it to my list of recipes that I want to cook every week, but I'd make them again for sure.
Fruit Salad. Since I gave up sweets for Lent, I have had to get a bit creative with my desserts when I have people over for dinner. Enter this recipe. I added in some clementines (because they make you buy the big bag and I can't ever eat them all) and thought that it was delicious. It's super quick and easy to make and really tasty. This one is a winner for sure.
Mango Avocado Salsa. One of the girls at work made this stuff and it was seriously to die for. It's all good things mixed together--avocado, mango, mandarin oranges, pineapple, jalapenos. I whipped some of it up for a little double date bbq that we had at College Roomie's house and I think it went over pretty well.
#8: Send little gifts to my friends once a month (5/12 completed).
I knew that I'd do something St. Patrick's Day related for my March gift. I have loved this holiday since I was a kid and my Gran would put on her Irish pin and we'd go to the corn beef and cabbage dinner at the Catholic Church. Last year's Chicago trip for the green river only made me love it even more. So I decided to send little gifts to my friends with kiddos to celebrate the day. I went with little pots of gold at the end of a rainbow. It was just skittles organized into rainbow colors, marshmallows (the clouds) and the chocolates wrapped in gold. Easy and cute.
#9: Eat in 10 new restaurants (8/10 completed).
Restaurant No. 6: So College Roomie's family does breakfast every Sunday morning. It's quite the crew of her great aunts and uncles and cousins. They have sort of taken me in as an adopted family member and invite me to these breakfasts. They were pretty distraught when it was announced that I would be "abandoning them" and moving to Texas. In fact, Uncle Tom's response to my new location was, "It's hot, humid, they have mosquitoes everywhere and the highest drug use in America." Well, thank you for the support! :) Anyway.....one Sunday this month we went to Le Peep a cute little restaurant here in town. I had French toast, scrambled eggs and green chile turkey sausage. Thumbs up for this place and for family breakfast!
Restaurant No. 7: Some of my favorite ladies took me for a going away brunch at a joint in Albuquerque called Farm and Table. The food was amazing. Seriously, A-MAZING. I had eggs and green chile enchilladas. So yummy. I'd highyl recommend it, with the warning that it's pretty hippie/granola, so if you're a ranch kid like me, be prepared!
Restaurant No. 8: My amazing law firm took me out for a going away dinner to a place here in town called I Love Sushi. Most of you know I don't eat fish, so a lot of people were worried about this selection. But, they have a great Teppan grill and wine list, so it was totally acceptable. The food was amazing and I had the best glass of Riesling I've ever drank in my life. Highly recommended!
28. Get one of my photos printed on canvas for myself.
I spent forever trying to decide which photo to print. I went back and forth between pictures from my various trips---Golden Gate Bridge, Swiss Alps, side streets in Rome, volcano in Costa Rica---but after writing this blog, I knew that I wanted to frame a picture that reminded me of home. Enter these guys.
Now I've just got to decide whether I'll hang this baby in my new house or in my new office. Decisions decisions.
#29. Bring home a bouquet of flowers once a month.
I opted for an Easter lily for this month's flower bouquet. I absolutely love these flowers and think that I may be able to plant the bulbs in my new house!
Another month down. This little project only highlights how darn fast that 30th birthday is coming at me. Deep breaths, Tiffany. Deep breaths. Here are my accomplishments for April! (To see the full list, click here!)
#1: Cook 10 new recipes (15/10 completed).
This goal has already been accomplished, but I'm just rolling right on with the new recipes! This month I made the following:
Italian chicken tortellini soup. Holy moly y'all. This stuff was really, really good. I followed the recipe minus the onion (don't like 'em) plus I added about a cup of water for extra broth and I added a cup of cabbage because I just like cabbage. I topped with a little bit of parmesean cheese. It turned out to be realy good, really filling, and quite healthy. It has about 375 calories for a big bowl. Highly recommend this one.
Homemade chicken fried rice. I love me some chicken fried rice. This recipe looked easy and so I tried it out. Thumbs up again! It was really good. I used brown rice, left out the onion and added cabbage (sound familiar?) but otherwise followed the recipe. One fourth of a batch of this stuff has about 450 calories.
Taco cupcakes. For the record, these are actual tacos made in a cupcake pan. Not the cupcakes that just look like tacos. Cupcakes that look like other food are a total pet peeve of mine, so I will never be making those! Anyway, these were really easy to make and turned out to be pretty good. McCain gave them two thumbs up when he and College Roomie came over for dinner. I don't know that I'll add it to my list of recipes that I want to cook every week, but I'd make them again for sure.
Fruit Salad. Since I gave up sweets for Lent, I have had to get a bit creative with my desserts when I have people over for dinner. Enter this recipe. I added in some clementines (because they make you buy the big bag and I can't ever eat them all) and thought that it was delicious. It's super quick and easy to make and really tasty. This one is a winner for sure.
Mango Avocado Salsa. One of the girls at work made this stuff and it was seriously to die for. It's all good things mixed together--avocado, mango, mandarin oranges, pineapple, jalapenos. I whipped some of it up for a little double date bbq that we had at College Roomie's house and I think it went over pretty well.
#8: Send little gifts to my friends once a month (5/12 completed).
I knew that I'd do something St. Patrick's Day related for my March gift. I have loved this holiday since I was a kid and my Gran would put on her Irish pin and we'd go to the corn beef and cabbage dinner at the Catholic Church. Last year's Chicago trip for the green river only made me love it even more. So I decided to send little gifts to my friends with kiddos to celebrate the day. I went with little pots of gold at the end of a rainbow. It was just skittles organized into rainbow colors, marshmallows (the clouds) and the chocolates wrapped in gold. Easy and cute.
 |
| Photo via Super Mom's blog |
#9: Eat in 10 new restaurants (8/10 completed).
Restaurant No. 6: So College Roomie's family does breakfast every Sunday morning. It's quite the crew of her great aunts and uncles and cousins. They have sort of taken me in as an adopted family member and invite me to these breakfasts. They were pretty distraught when it was announced that I would be "abandoning them" and moving to Texas. In fact, Uncle Tom's response to my new location was, "It's hot, humid, they have mosquitoes everywhere and the highest drug use in America." Well, thank you for the support! :) Anyway.....one Sunday this month we went to Le Peep a cute little restaurant here in town. I had French toast, scrambled eggs and green chile turkey sausage. Thumbs up for this place and for family breakfast!
Restaurant No. 7: Some of my favorite ladies took me for a going away brunch at a joint in Albuquerque called Farm and Table. The food was amazing. Seriously, A-MAZING. I had eggs and green chile enchilladas. So yummy. I'd highyl recommend it, with the warning that it's pretty hippie/granola, so if you're a ranch kid like me, be prepared!
Restaurant No. 8: My amazing law firm took me out for a going away dinner to a place here in town called I Love Sushi. Most of you know I don't eat fish, so a lot of people were worried about this selection. But, they have a great Teppan grill and wine list, so it was totally acceptable. The food was amazing and I had the best glass of Riesling I've ever drank in my life. Highly recommended!
 |
| Going away dinner / I Love Sushi / 2013 |
28. Get one of my photos printed on canvas for myself.
I spent forever trying to decide which photo to print. I went back and forth between pictures from my various trips---Golden Gate Bridge, Swiss Alps, side streets in Rome, volcano in Costa Rica---but after writing this blog, I knew that I wanted to frame a picture that reminded me of home. Enter these guys.
Now I've just got to decide whether I'll hang this baby in my new house or in my new office. Decisions decisions.
#29. Bring home a bouquet of flowers once a month.
I opted for an Easter lily for this month's flower bouquet. I absolutely love these flowers and think that I may be able to plant the bulbs in my new house!
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Phillip from Milwaukee
“Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy. That is not our business and, in fact, it is nobody's business. What we are asked to do is to love, and this love itself will render both ourselves and our neighbors worthy.” ~Thomas Merton
This has been a bucket list item of mine for a while. For some reason, I just never got around to doing it. And then, when Super Mom and I were planning an idea for ND Friend's birthday, I knew I had found my opportunity.
See, ND Friend is hands down the sweetest, kindest, most generous person I know. By about a mile. For her 30th birthday she has been making a list of 30 acts of kindness to do on her birthday. So Super Mom and I decided that part of our gift to her would be to get in touch with 30 of her family and friends, and have each of them do one act of kindness in the 30 days leading up to her birthday. Once the act of kindness was done, each person would write a letter to ND Friend telling her about what they did in her honor. Pretty good, right? (Give me zero credit....it was all Super Mom's idea!)
So prior to the date that I was assigned (April 5), I got a $100 bill out of the bank. I wrote a little note telling the recipient all about ND Friend and why I was doing this. And I ordered four prayer cards from the St. Therese Society--The Little Flower is one of ND Friend's favorite saints. One for ND Friend, one for the stranger who will get the money, one for Super Mom who came up with this idea, and one for me.
And then I set out on a mission to find my stranger. Before I went, I prayed that God would put the right person in my path, and that I would be paying attention enough to discern that. As I waited for the right person, I focused on the Thomas Merton quote a top of this blog. It was not for me to decide who was worthy of the money, it was not for me to wonder what they would spend it on. It was for me to have an open heart and a desire to help.
On a random Tuesday as I was leaving the grocery store, I met Phillip from Milwaukee. I was running late and stressed out and in a hurry. He walked up to me in jeans and an old Raider hoodie. He had long blonde hair that hadn't been washed in a while that was pulled back in a ponytail. He asked if I had any change that I could spare. "Actually," I said, "I sure do." I handed him the prayer card with the note about ND Friend and the $100 bill tucked inside.
He opened it up, saw the money, and sighed the happiest, most relieved sigh I think I ever heard. "Are you serious?" He then said that another lady in the parking lot had just prayed with him that he would be able to find a way to get a room for the night. I told him that it was pretty clear that God was on his side!
I told him I was and that I was doing this as an act of kindness in honor of my friend's birthday and that I hoped it would help him. After hearing that, he said that he had been given four bags of Starbucks ground coffee and wanted to give it to me for my friend's birthday party. I explained that my friend lived in Chicago so we were not having a party (ironic though that he offered coffee to ND Friend who likes that stuff more than anyone I know!) and he got all excited and said he was from Milwaukee. Some sort of midwestern bond he felt to her in Chicago, apparently. Next, he asked if he could hug me, and being a hugger, I of course said yes. (For the record, I don't normally hug random men in the grocery store parking lot.) Before he left, he asked my name, shook my hand, and said he would pray for me and ND Friend.
As I left, I just felt thankful. Thankful for ND Friend for being such an example of kindness and charity. Thankful for Super Mom for coming up with such a great birthday idea. Thankful for Phillip from Milwaukee for being such a grateful recipient. And thankful to God, for putting the right people in our paths when we open our hearts to do good.
Give a stranger $100.
This has been a bucket list item of mine for a while. For some reason, I just never got around to doing it. And then, when Super Mom and I were planning an idea for ND Friend's birthday, I knew I had found my opportunity.
See, ND Friend is hands down the sweetest, kindest, most generous person I know. By about a mile. For her 30th birthday she has been making a list of 30 acts of kindness to do on her birthday. So Super Mom and I decided that part of our gift to her would be to get in touch with 30 of her family and friends, and have each of them do one act of kindness in the 30 days leading up to her birthday. Once the act of kindness was done, each person would write a letter to ND Friend telling her about what they did in her honor. Pretty good, right? (Give me zero credit....it was all Super Mom's idea!)
So prior to the date that I was assigned (April 5), I got a $100 bill out of the bank. I wrote a little note telling the recipient all about ND Friend and why I was doing this. And I ordered four prayer cards from the St. Therese Society--The Little Flower is one of ND Friend's favorite saints. One for ND Friend, one for the stranger who will get the money, one for Super Mom who came up with this idea, and one for me.
And then I set out on a mission to find my stranger. Before I went, I prayed that God would put the right person in my path, and that I would be paying attention enough to discern that. As I waited for the right person, I focused on the Thomas Merton quote a top of this blog. It was not for me to decide who was worthy of the money, it was not for me to wonder what they would spend it on. It was for me to have an open heart and a desire to help.
On a random Tuesday as I was leaving the grocery store, I met Phillip from Milwaukee. I was running late and stressed out and in a hurry. He walked up to me in jeans and an old Raider hoodie. He had long blonde hair that hadn't been washed in a while that was pulled back in a ponytail. He asked if I had any change that I could spare. "Actually," I said, "I sure do." I handed him the prayer card with the note about ND Friend and the $100 bill tucked inside.
He opened it up, saw the money, and sighed the happiest, most relieved sigh I think I ever heard. "Are you serious?" He then said that another lady in the parking lot had just prayed with him that he would be able to find a way to get a room for the night. I told him that it was pretty clear that God was on his side!
I told him I was and that I was doing this as an act of kindness in honor of my friend's birthday and that I hoped it would help him. After hearing that, he said that he had been given four bags of Starbucks ground coffee and wanted to give it to me for my friend's birthday party. I explained that my friend lived in Chicago so we were not having a party (ironic though that he offered coffee to ND Friend who likes that stuff more than anyone I know!) and he got all excited and said he was from Milwaukee. Some sort of midwestern bond he felt to her in Chicago, apparently. Next, he asked if he could hug me, and being a hugger, I of course said yes. (For the record, I don't normally hug random men in the grocery store parking lot.) Before he left, he asked my name, shook my hand, and said he would pray for me and ND Friend.
As I left, I just felt thankful. Thankful for ND Friend for being such an example of kindness and charity. Thankful for Super Mom for coming up with such a great birthday idea. Thankful for Phillip from Milwaukee for being such a grateful recipient. And thankful to God, for putting the right people in our paths when we open our hearts to do good.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Transformation Tuesday: The Oklahoma Girls
“The thing about old friends is not that they love you, but that they know you. They remember that disastrous New Year's Eve when you mixed White Russians and champagne, and how you wore that red maternity dress until everyone was sick of seeing the blaze of it in the office, and the uncomfortable couch in your first apartment and the smoky stove in your beach rental. They look at you and don't really think you look older because they've grown old along with you, and, like the faded paint in a beloved room, they're used to the look." ~Anna Quindland
Today our transformation series continues with the Oklahoma Girls.
In college I met these two tall sorority girls from Oklahoma. I thought Loud Oklahoma Girl was quiet and that Blonde Oklahoma Girl was just some barbie-looking city girl. I was wrong on both accounts. Fortunately for me, God (and Miss Pink Boots) knew what we needed. And that was each other.
We were friends during college, but somehow it wasn't until we left OSU that the friendship transformed into a sort of sisterhood. When we were states away from each other, our bond grew stronger.
We've grown up together--found jobs, found one husband (so far), chased our dreams, mourned the loss people who we love, and done a whole lot of yelling for the Pokes at football games. There have been girls weekends in Stillwater and San Francisco and at a post-wedding bash at the Hard Rock. I would not even venture to guess the amount of money that has been spent on airline tickets, the number of limees that have been consumed together, or the phone minutes spent between our cell phone plans. We've laughed, we've cried, we've left poor LOKG's house looking like a frat party aftermath, we've wrecked vehicles into apartment gates and other vehicles and garages.....but I wouldn't trade a minute of that for anything.
I cannot imagine my life without these girls. They make me -- and the world -- happier. What more can you ask for in a friendship?
Today our transformation series continues with the Oklahoma Girls.
In college I met these two tall sorority girls from Oklahoma. I thought Loud Oklahoma Girl was quiet and that Blonde Oklahoma Girl was just some barbie-looking city girl. I was wrong on both accounts. Fortunately for me, God (and Miss Pink Boots) knew what we needed. And that was each other.
 |
| Homecoming 2006 / LOKG's Wedding 2012 |
We were friends during college, but somehow it wasn't until we left OSU that the friendship transformed into a sort of sisterhood. When we were states away from each other, our bond grew stronger.
We've grown up together--found jobs, found one husband (so far), chased our dreams, mourned the loss people who we love, and done a whole lot of yelling for the Pokes at football games. There have been girls weekends in Stillwater and San Francisco and at a post-wedding bash at the Hard Rock. I would not even venture to guess the amount of money that has been spent on airline tickets, the number of limees that have been consumed together, or the phone minutes spent between our cell phone plans. We've laughed, we've cried, we've left poor LOKG's house looking like a frat party aftermath, we've wrecked vehicles into apartment gates and other vehicles and garages.....but I wouldn't trade a minute of that for anything.
I cannot imagine my life without these girls. They make me -- and the world -- happier. What more can you ask for in a friendship?
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