George's place and shattered "Forrest Gump" dreams

May 3rd found us packed and on the bus by 7:00 AM for the trip into D.C. I wish I'd taken pictures as we cruised through beautiful Alexandria, Virginia, but alas, I didn't. I wish we could've squeezed in some time to explore around there...such a gorgeous, history-filled city.

We headed straight to Mount Vernon and had a much, much better experience there than last year. I was able to spend some time with things I had to rush through last year...the gardens, the tomb, the wharf, and the stables.

My favorite part of the morning, though, was sitting on George's back porch ("piazza") enjoying the view of the Potomac River and the breeze and pondering life.

{If I were George, I'd sit out here all the time and have my meals out here and, don't ya know it, probably even sleep out here.}

{pondering life in a shirt of the most offensive shade of yellow imaginable}

After touring the Washington homestead, we finally arrived in the big city. My heart started to pitter-patter just a bit. You see, one of my favorite movies of all time is "Forrest Gump". I've watched it more times than I can count and I know most of the lines by heart. Love. It. I dream of having my own "Forrrrrrrrrrest! Jenn-ay!" moment in the pool. Standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and looking at the reflecting pool and the Washington Monument is one of my all-time favorite sights to see. I got a killer picture last year and was hoping to repeat this year with my new camera.

I must not be livin' right. This is what I got instead:

What the heck, D.C.? What? The? Heck? Apparently, a filtration system is being installed in the pool. That'll be a good thing...when it's finished in two years. Gag. Shattered dreams, folks. I was bummed. I still am.

We walked 42 miles over the course of that afternoon, touring the monuments and soaking up the atmosphere. Aside from the dismal state of the reflecting pool, it was a lovely day.

{WWII Memorial...these reliefs are my favorite part}

{Each star represents 100 American military deaths. There are over 4,000 stars on that wall. Sincerely humbling.}

{sweet home}

{memorial to women in Vietnam}

{None of my other Vietnam Wall pictures were any good. Sad.}

We have a wondrous capital.

Randomness and my graduversary

I wanted to post about Day 3 of our school's Virginia/DC trip, but I just ain't up to it tonight. I'll get right on that tomorrow. In the meantime, here are a few things to chew on...

*My darling Bubba was recognized at a ceremony today for earning a pretty hefty memorial scholarship. I'm ridiculously proud of him, and I know he's tickled about his schoolin' money. He's only got one semester left in nursing school. So excited to see him walk across the stage in December!

*I really enjoyed my students today. It's the end of the year and everybody's starting to get a little sappy. I know they'll only miss me for a few days (if that), but it's nice to hear that they like being in my class. And I don't think they said that only because I'm the one in charge of the grades!

*I plan on sewing myself silly this summer. I'll be sure to post my projects (flubs and all) here so yall can see. Hopefully, knowing this is coming will help you get out of bed in the morning...you're welcome.

*It's gotten excessively hot here. It was nearly 90 degrees today, and that's a smidge too warm for my taste. I guess I should get used to it...it's here to stay until October! I'm trying to see how long I can hold out 'til I have to turn my air conditioning on. I'm nothing if not frugal.

*My lovely friend Suzy posted one of my very favorite breakfast recipes today. I'm one of those people who claims to not love breakfast foods, but this'll make a believer out of ya! Check her out.

*So far, I've ended nearly every one of my randoms with an exclamation point, although not on purpose. Would! You! Look! At! That!

*Four years ago today, I graduated from Auburn and turned into a grownup (debatable). That makes today my graduversary. As much as I like my real world life, I'm so thankful I have fun college memories to look back on. Read all about them in this post from last year.

{l-r...Laura, Kira, me, Rachel...senior roomies in front of Samford Hall...picture stolen shamelessly and without regret from Rachel}

*Tomorrow is Wednesday, which means the rest of the week is downhill. Enjoy it, friends! More trip talk tomorrow :)

Kickin' it (way, way) old school at Williamsburg

Last year, I wrote that I thought Williamsburg was weird. To be honest, I wasn't completely sold. I don't know what changed, but this year, I fell under Williamsburg's spell.

I don't know if it was the quaint outfits and the fact that the tradesmen/women actually make their respective items the colonial way...

{silversmith}

{jailer}

{blacksmith}

Or the charming sights around every corner...

{Overlook the fact that the wooden structure on the right is the gallows. The view is still charming, no?}

{proud mama ewe and her new babies...loved the little diva in the middle trying to steal the spotlight}

{Yes, please. One day, when I grow up and get a house, I want the roof to look just like this, ladder and all.}

Oh, wait. I know what finally sucked me under Williamsburg's spell! Finding out that many of the buildings there are...drumroll...original! As in, there during the Revolutionary War times. What a difference that made in my mind!

Last year, I spent my entire visit laboring under the delusion that all of the buildings are replicas. Some indeed are, but many of them are real, true colonial buildings. I don't know why I never thought to ask! The creaky, heart-of-pine floors, the beautifully imperfect wavy glass in the windows, the handmade bricks...they're real! Real colonial people walked on them and looked through them and laid hands on them. And they're fabulous.

Hey, I've never claimed to be a quick learner. After my lightbulb moment, I couldn't get enough of Williamsburg. I can't wait to go back. In fact, I'm kinda ready to relocate!

Mama's Day, and a little something I sewed up

I love Mother's Day, and I feel thankful that I have two lovely ladies to celebrate. My Mama and my Mimi are some of my favorite people on the planet. They've been wonderful examples for me of Christian wives and mothers. They've shown me how to handle illness, loss, and hardships gracefully. They've shown me how to have lots and lots of fun. They think I'm fabulous all the time, no matter what. They make me feel special, and I love them dearly.

{Mimi, I promise we'll try this one again soon. This was the only one out of the five we took where everybody had an entire head and at least one eye open!}

The Tuscaloosa family got together tonight to eat supper and celebrate Mama and Mimi. After all the tornado trauma, I praise the Lord that we could be together like this.

Daniel's dog Frazier joined us from the backyard. He makes that face all the time. He's one of the top 5 happiest dogs on the planet. Seriously, check the list...you'll find him there. He's also incapable of standing still for any length of time...hence, this picture.

Daniel was telling us about the scholarship ceremony he's going to Tuesday (woohoo...Bubba got him some schoolin' money!) and was searching for a tie. This led to a discussion about how he can't tie a tie. Daddy decided to give him a tutorial...again...for the fifty-seventh time. I've been witness to a handful of these tutorials, and I'm convinced that Daniel forgets on purpose, just to be difficult. That's the way he rolls.

{"What are you doing??? You're gonna run out of tie!"}

{Don't you untie that before Tuesday!}

{Still so thankful he's safe and alive and well. I say that so much that I know it gets on his nerves. I just don't care :)}

One thing I love about my mama is that, when it comes to presents, she's very easy to please. She says she'd rather spend time with us than get presents, and she truly means that. Still, you gotta get your mama something for Mother's Day!

She just loves those little rice heating pads you heat up in the microwave. Lately, she's been using one of Daniel's old soccer socks with a knot tied in it. Not cute. Not cute at all, and I couldn't let that go on a second longer.

I found a tutorial online, and just had to give it a shot. Truth be told, I deviated wildly from the tutorial, but it gave me a great place to start. I mixed the rice with chamomile/mint tea, and I really like the way it all turned out.

A couple of tips:

*I used a 2 lb. bag of long-grain rice for each heating pad...1 cup per section. I used 1/2 tea bag in each section.

*Definitely follow the directions and sew each section 3/4 of the way and then add rice. When I first started, I filled with rice first and then sewed, thinking it would be faster. It was an epic failure. Don't be like me. Accept that Darby is smarter than you, and just do things right the first time.

Check out the rest of Darby's blog if you haven't already. It's fabulous and so is she. Plus, she's a fellow Auburn girl. What's not to love?

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Thanks for letting me drag you through one of the most random and least-focused posts that's ever spewed forth from my keyboard. I'll get back on track with my D.C. trip recap tomorrow...I know yall have been waiting on pins and needles!

Happy Mama's Day to all those mamas and mamas-to-be out there!

Thomas Jefferson is our friend & scared silly

After spending twelve hours of April 30th on the bus (after waking at the frightful time of 3:30 AM), we arrived in Charlottesville, Virginia. We set out bright and early on May 1st to visit Monticello. Monticello is one of my favorite places on the planet. So much history there. The grounds and the views of the mountains are ridiculously beautiful. I also learned that 95% of the windows and 98% of the floors at Monticello are original. It amazes me how well-built many of these old houses are. I asked one of the boys in my group what he'd learned at Monticello and he said, "I learned that Thomas Jefferson is our friend." I'm not sure where he came up with that, but I like to think that Thomas Jefferson would be pleased!

{We learned that a Jefferson descendant was buried in this cemetery two weeks earlier.}

After touring the Jefferson homestead, we ate lunch 1/2 mile down the road at Michie Tavern. If you're ever in the area and don't eat at Michie Tavern, you might as well pack up and go home. The fried chicken there is absolutely to die for. It's hands-down the best I've ever had, and growing up in the South, that's a lot. We partook of the fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, black-eyed peas, biscuits, a peach cobbler that was so good I wanted to cry, and apple cider out of tin mugs. So, SO worth the stop.

We then loaded up the buses and made the journey further upstate to Williamsburg. That night, we went on a ghost tour of Colonial Willamsburg. The "whatever...I'm not scared" attitude of my group of boys changed drastically by the time darkness fell. We all stayed reeeeeaaaally close together on that walk back to the bus!

{I love this shot of the Bruton Parish Church with the single lantern glowing in the window. Martha Washington's great-grandfather was the first rector at this church, and she attended services here when she visited family in Williamsburg.}

Rain, a party of 300, and 12-hour bus rides...a trip to our nation's great capital

Two hours ago, seven charter buses loaded with 5th graders, parents, and teachers rolled back into town. With a police escort...we were big news in our small town. We've spent the past week journeying to Washington, D.C. and Virginia. We hit all the hot spots.

We hung out with the colonials at Williamsburg. We made like Presidents and wandered around Monticello and Mount Vernon. We saw the monuments. We heard a 21-gun salute in the 42 degree rain at Arlington. We ran into Nancy Pelosi at the Capitol Building. We walked our feet off.

We slept only a little bit. That's written all over my haggard face.

I've got tons of pictures and stories to share, but that's gonna have to wait for a hot shower and a long nap. I'll be back soon!

Helicopters, chainsaws, and obliteration

I made the journey to my hometown today because I just needed to see my loved ones. I've been a wreck since the tornado hit Wednesday evening, and I hoped seeing them and hugging them would make me feel better. Thankfully, it worked wonders.

After I visited with them, I headed into town. I needed to see it myself. Sure, I'd seen videos on the news and pictures on the internet, but my eyeballs needed to see the city for themselves.

I was rendered speechless. Several parts of the city are literally obliterated. I couldn't get to the worst parts: 15th Street past the McFarland intersection and Alberta City. There is so much debris everywhere that it's hard to get in and out, and those poor folks need help, not sightseers.

The area was eerily quiet. No traffic. No horns honking. No blaring radios. The only noises were chainsaws cutting through fallen trees, helicopters surveying the damage, and firetruck sirens.

It's just hard to take in. I hardly recognize the place where I grew up.

(on 15th Street approaching the intersection with McFarland Blvd.)

(intersection of 15th Street and McFarland Blvd...a shell of its former self...there's my favorite car wash {Tide Clean} destroyed on the corner)

(looking towards the hospital)

(looking down 15th Street...wiped off the map...about a mile down this road is where Olivia lives and where she and Daniel rode out the storm {you can just make out the apartment buildings at the very back}...God was looking out for them)

(We used to get our film developed here, and then it became a yogurt/ice cream place...no longer.)

(Daniel lives up the hill in the right corner of this picture.)

(across the street from Daniel and Curtis's house...the boys have a massive tree down in their backyard, but it blessedly missed the house)

(No trains gettin' through here anytime soon.)

(There's absolutely nothing left of this house on Holt-Peterson Road but its slab. Completely annihilated.)

(The trees on this hill used to be so dense that you couldn't see those mines carved in the hill. Now, they're all in splinters. The smell of pine was intense.)

(Cars and trucks thrown into the trees, and another vacant slab on top of the hill.)

(the entrance to Arcadia from Alberta City)

(This took up two pages in today's paper. I'm so glad The Tuscaloosa News is helping out this way since there is no cell phone service or electricity in the city's center. I cannot imagine not knowing where my loved ones were days after the storm.)

The day was not without its bright spots. I was amazed at the number of people chipping in to help their neighbors cut trees, haul limbs, and drape tarps. I saw smiling faces. I heard singing. I heard more than once, "Hey there! How ya doin' today?" Folks putting their own cares aside long enough to ask about passersby.

Tuscaloosa and all the other affected areas in Alabama will be fine, one day. In the meantime, your prayers are most appreciated.

Thankful Thursday, from the bottom of my heart

I'm not dealing with this beautifully. I keep seeing that tornado in my mind and cringe thinking about all the lives and property lost. I dreamed about it last night. I've been jittery and on edge all day. My stomach's been tied in a knot. I need to get my hands on my people and not let go.

Today I am thankful for...

• the incredible grace of God, the protection He provides, and the strength He gives us to get through such hideous times
• my family and friends, and that all my Tuscaloosa people are safe and accounted for
• that blessed moment when I finally heard that my Bubba was okay...utter relief
• early weather warnings
• resilience and strength
• James Spann and his absolute willingness to put in 20-hour days on a regular basis...love that guy
• the first responders who put their own lives at risk to save others
• the Alabama Power people who've worked 'round the clock to get power back on
• President Obama making a trip to Alabama tomorrow...the more publicity this gets, the better
• the call to postpone Auburn's National Championship trip to the White House...I've been excited about that, but I'm glad everybody has their priorities straight
• an early dismissal from school yesterday so that we didn't have to deal with this with the schoolbabies
• hearing from lots of friends I haven't talked to in a while
• Daniel and Olivia being kept safe at her apartment while the neighborhood across the street was leveled...praise the Lord!
• Mr. Bill Remmert being kept safe in his store...although the Montgomery Woodworks building didn't survive, Mr. Bill did...praise the Lord!
• Daddy being kept safe at work and Mom being kept safe at home...praise the Lord!
• Mimi and Grandad being kept safe while the tornado roared within a few miles of their house
• hearing from Brody, Haley, David, Jenny, the Hanninens, and many, many others...praise the Lord!
• the Meadows family being alive, even though they lost their home and Mrs. Meadows is seriously injured...please pray for them
• my Neeley and her family being kept safe as a tornado tore through Cullman...praise the Lord!
• the tornado coming late enough in the afternoon that Alberta Elementary School (which was completely destroyed by the storm) was empty of schoolbabies...praise the Lord!
• the Tuscaloosa/Pleasant Grove/Cullman family members and friends of everyone at work (that I know of) being safe...praise the Lord!
• realizing that one of two buildings still standing in Alberta City is Mimi and Grandad's church...Grandad said it's barely standing and will probably have to come down, but how awesome that of everything, a church was left standing! Praise the Lord!
• realizing what's really, truly important in life

HAPPY WEEKEND, friends, and please keep everyone in Alabama (and the Southeast) in your prayers. They are sorely needed.



Be still, my heart

I have never been so scared in my entire life, and I hope to never feel this way again. That tornado weather that I referenced earlier today? You know, the one I arrogantly said was inconveniencing me?

Well, it spawned tornadoes. Lots of them. Big ones. A mile-wide one hit my hometown of Tuscaloosa and absolutely leveled much of the center of town. You know, a couple of blocks from where my brother lives. I saw that one approaching the city on James Spann's SkyCam and nearly threw up. And then I immediately jumped in my car, headed to Wal-Mart to take shelter, and prayed like a crazy person.

It hit Tuscaloosa. Power is out there. Cell phones aren't working. Taco Casa? Destroyed. Krispy Kreme? Gone. An entire block full of stores and a whole shopping center? Leveled. Neighborhoods full of old people and college students? Wiped off the face of the planet. Alberta City? Doesn't exist anymore.

WHAT happened to all those people in those neighborhoods and stores and restaurants??? Were they in a safe place? Do they have anything left?

It was into the evening before I finally heard from Daniel and Girlfriend Olivia. I had seen that monster with my own eyes and I watched it pummel its way through their part of town. And then? My dozen or so phone calls all went straight to their voicemails. I pride myself in being level-headed and reasonable, but I very nearly had a panic attack. Heart pounding. Nausea. Sweating. Deep breaths. Pacing the floor. Lots and lots of praying on my knees.

We finally heard from him and I know next to nothing except there's a tree on his car, and he and Olivia are fine. As far as I know, his roommate is still unaccounted for. (Edited to add @ 10:20---Roommate Curtis is fine. Praise the Lord!)

We're less than an hour away but were thankfully spared. Praise the good Lord above that everyone I know in Tuscaloosa is accounted for. Please pray for all those in Tuscaloosa and throughout the state who have been affected by this. Twenty-five deaths have been reported in the state so far, and I'm sure that there will unfortunately be more.

I hate these evil things and never, ever want to do this again.

(This is the monster that tried to destroy my hometown and those I love. This is the video I watched on the TV at Wal-Mart, live, as it tore through town just yards from my brother, while I prayed and fought back the urge to vomit. I still can't believe this thing was on top of Daniel and Olivia and that they're okay. And I can't believe anyone would be fool enough to sit that close...in a car...filming that thing. It's like something from a movie.)

An open letter to tornadoes

Dear tornadoes,

Your presence in the springtime is nothing new 'round these parts. We're kinda used to you. Lately, though, it's too much. Way too much. You're crampin' my style!

In the past three weeks, I've had to post about you three times. Remember this and this? I do. In the past three weeks, I've had to spend more time in my bathtub, armed with a flashlight and prayers, than I ever care to again.

In the past three weeks, we've dismissed school early twice. Today was one of those days. Tornadoes, have you ever tried to dismiss a school of nearly 900 kids early??? Mayhem. Absolute mayhem. It makes this teacher very tired.

I woke up this morning because the sound of flying tree branches pelting my window was...I don't know...a little distracting. I turned on James Spann and immediately heard my parents' tiny hometown called out. Coaling isn't usually (or ever) a hotbed of excitement, but James was reporting trees down, power out, and a few houses destroyed. Thankfully, my family is fine, but that's much too close for comfort.

And now, dear tornadoes, there's more coming in a few hours??? Let's let this be it for the year, 'k? You're scary, and I'm over it. I'm ready to get my blog back. And really, I'm mostly just ready to get out of my bathtub!

Love (not really at all),
Julie

Camp Carrie

I've never been a gigantic fan of Carrie Underwood. I think she's beautiful and have always thought she was talented, but I've only loved a few of her songs. I've been a lukewarm fan...until now. I've officially set my tent up at Camp Carrie. My work friends have been passing this video around like crazy on facebook, so I thank them for introducing me to one of the most spectacular vocal performances I've ever been fortunate enough to witness. Holy heavens...you can't tell me her voice is not a gift from God. Amazing. I love how Vince Gill (who is just splendid in his own right) steps back and lets Carrie shine.

Our ESL teacher Cindy said this morning, "I want this sung at my funeral, just like this. And I want Carrie to be there to sing it." Let me know if you're as wowed as we are!

Easter rundown

What. A. Weekend.

I actually had a 3-day weekend, but it sure doesn't feel like it! I needed to go back to work today to catch my breath. This weekend was a complete whirlwind but was filled with family, food, and faith. I loved it.

*1...the number of Easter pictures I took, and it wasn't even of a living creature. Sigh. Maybe next year.

*3:30...the time our Easter meal was served. Sidetrack with me for just a second, okay? Tell me this. What would you call a meal that starts at 3:30? Since it's between lunch and supper, we came up with lupper and (my personal favorite) slunch. Yes, I think I'll go forward with slunch.

*14...the number of attendees at the Easter Slunch 2011. I love all of them greatly.

*2...the number of significant others making their first appearance at Easter Slunch. Our big ol' family may be getting even bigger someday...hint hint, wink wink...

*1...the number of weenie dogs in attendance

*10...pounds of potatoes for potato salad. I'm not kidding. Ten whole pounds. Daddy boils, Mom peels and chops, I mix it up. We're like a machine. And we love potato salad like it's a family member.

*13,471...the number of times I used my NetiPot in order to get through this pollen-filled weekend. This is morphing into an addiction. NetiPot is my life.

As fabulous as all of this was, my favorite part of Easter, always and forever, is spending time reflecting on why we actually celebrate. Because Jesus gave himself as a sacrifice, we no longer have to fear death. We no longer have to worry every moment about securing a spot in Heaven. He took care of all of that for us. What a gift. What a reason to celebrate, on Easter and every other day of the year!

Enjoy your week, friends!

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PS---My "followers" section is driving me crazy. Sometimes it shows up, sometimes it doesn't. I've noticed that on some other blogs, their followers don't show up either. What's going on? I want it back in my life and on my blog. Any ideas? If you help me fix it, I'll give you a virtual high five. Woohoo...you know you want one!

Thankful Thursday...Friday-style

Alas, Thankful Thursday didn't happen yesterday. I was too busying wallowing around in self-pity due to the declining function of my sinuses. I don't feel much better this morning, but my pity party is over.

Today I am thankful for...

• the tremendously huge sacrifice that Jesus made so that all of us sinners, including me, could live with Him forever and ever
• forgiveness and second (third, fourth, seventy-ninth...) chances
• my family and friends
• my simple little life
• my health...as grumpy as I am that I'm not feeling great, I am blissfully healthy compared to many folks, and I don't ever want to forget that
• the opportunity to celebrate Easter in peace and freedom
• sunshine and blue skies and a break from the rain
• the 10 hours of sleep under my belt this morning
• a much, MUCH-needed day off today
• my job, students, and coworkers
• a renewed desire to speak only encouraging words to others
• summer break approaching in a little over a month
• a fun return trip to D.C. to look forward to
• some great new recipes that are just begging to be made (see Suzy's here and Ashley's here)
• some great new sewing projects that I'll have time for once summer arrives
• a nice, long chat with my Bubba yesterday
• enough money to take care of my needs and just a bit left over every now and then for fun stuff
• clean, running water whenever I want it
• electricity, cable, a roof over my head, a dependable car, shoes on my feet, clean clothes, more than enough food

HAPPY EASTER, friends!