On My Heart

I’d be lying if I said every time spring rolls around in Texas that I didn’t greet it with a little apprehension. Along with the bluebonnets and warmer weather comes tornado season.

As someone who grew up in earthquake country, and who experienced a major earthquake as a teenager, I actually like that severe thunderstorms and tornados come with a warning. I like when we are told to take shelter that I can gather up the five most important people in my universe and hold them tight. That no matter what may happen, they are with me and I am doing what is in my power to protect them.

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But I won’t always be in the same place as them and this gives me major anxiety. Usually David is at work, and Irelyn is in school. I used to have this false sense of security that they would be safer should a tornado come our way because the buildings they are in are sturdier than our house. The EF4 tornado that ripped through Oklahoma yesterday has shown me how naïve I can be.

Like with all natural disasters, all you can do is be prepared. All you can do is tell your children that you will protect them to the best of your ability – that no matter where they are, they are on your mind and you are willing whatever forces that be to protect them with all your might.

I’m not sure why the tornados in Moore, OK have had a stronger effect on me than any other tornado I’ve heard of since moving to Texas, but it is weighing heavily on me this morning. My heart literally aches.

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Like with all tragedies, it is just another reminder to cherish what you have. Always be thankful for what you have been given, and never let those you love out of your sight without letting them know that you love them.

Please keep those affected by the tornado outbreaks in your thoughts and prayers, and please go hug your loved ones tight.

I Accidentally Joined the PTA Board

I have this thing where I want to help everybody. If I were an extremely wealthy person I would be donating to a bunch of different charities and helping fund a bunch of causes. But my pockets are quite shallow so I just help in whatever way I can – which means spreading the word via social media, giving a little bit of my time (I wish I hade more of that too!), and just plain being supportive.

Sometimes this makes me an easy target or easily swayed. Like I was last Saturday.

Spring Carnival

When Irelyn started kindergarten David and I both joined the PTA and put our name on a bunch of committee lists because we wanted to help. We never received any phone calls asking for that help. Which, in hindsight, was okay because I was a hundred months pregnant and then had a newborn – I couldn’t do much this school year.

Today the elementary school had a spring carnival. Before the carnival was the PTA meeting. We went early to attend it. The turnout was kind of sad. Maybe twenty parents, total, at the meeting. The PTA president covered his topics and then, before almost forgetting to discuss it at all, mentioned elections for next year’s board. Here’s where I start to let guilt take over my body functions.

The president went on to say they had not received any write in nominations. The PTA is in danger of having to disband if they don’t get enough board members. If that happens, the kids won’t get class parties, the art department loses money, and family activities like this carnival will no longer be able to happen. “Oh no,” my guilt said. “Suffer the little children! No class parties? All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy! They’ll go crazy!” Guilt quieted and I listened some more.

The president scanned the crowd, looked at me, and said, “Do we have any floor nominations?”

I quickly looked down at Flynn who was wrapped to my chest in the Moby. He was quietly snoring. Then, guilt took my hand and pulled it into the air.

“What the fudge?” I thought.

The PTA secretary spotted me and jumped up. “We have one here!” she said.

I looked to David. Had he seen the guilt pull my hand up? Was it working its magic on him as well? No. It was just me. Because I’m easy.

Long story short, there were not enough members there to actually vote. As of right now it sounds like I will end up the 5th Vice President and I’ll be the one “in charge” of all the room parents – in the whole school. Gulp.

Also, David volunteered to head the yearbook committee since he has experience with yearbook development, photography, and graphic design. So I guess guilt was whispering in his ear too.

Fort Worth Moms Blog

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You may have noticed the new button on my sidebar that appeared this last week… I was chosen to be a contributor for the Fort Worth Moms Blog! I am super excited about this. It gives me the opportunity to write about being a mom in Fort Worth, while giving my unique perspective as someone [...]

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Dear Grayson, Today you turn four, and you’re already looking forward to the day you turn seven. You have to be five and six first though, okay? Kid, you’re a hoot. I love the conversations we all have in the mornings while dropping Irelyn off at school and Daddy off at work. You have a [...]

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