tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9529751639575287312024-03-19T01:13:11.951-07:00Come By ChanceDay to Day Life, Urban Homesteading, Poetry, Lyrics and the occasional Epiphany.Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.comBlogger208125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-65336683478702685982015-02-26T14:08:00.000-08:002015-02-26T14:08:18.081-08:00<br />
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<i>If you cant beat them join em'!</i></div>
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I hate chili. I don't know what it is about it but I just don't like it. Anytime someone has asked me what I like to eat or want for dinner I always say the same thing and they always reply with the same remark... <br />
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Them: {causually curious} <i>"Leigh, what do you want to eat, I mean like what do you like"?</i></div>
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Me: {causually dry} <i>"Ill eat anything and love it as long as its not chili or lima beans".</i><br />
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Them: {spunky attitude} <i>"Oh honey you aint never had my chili"!</i><br />
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Usually "said" people will be like, "oh you have to try my chili", and guess what!?!?!?! Usually I end up eating the one thing I stated that I did not like to eat. Wearily, I smile through every bite while being eagerly watched by pushy amateur chefs.<br />
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Through the course of personal history I have concluded that there is just something about chili that makes everyone think they have <i>nailed</i> it... Me, being the self proclaimed chili critic has yet to be dazzled. <br />
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Anyways, so last night I asked my husband Chopi, what he wanted for dinner today. He eagerly replied with a twinkle in his eyes "CHILI". But sadly I saw that twinkle fade as he recalled, "but you don't like chili, so what ever is fine", he said reassuringly. Ugh... his big brown eyes said, "I really want chili, but big heart said I want my wife to be happy". Well I like the sparkle in my hubby's eyes so I was ready to just blow his mind!<br />
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So I said "No, lets fix Chili. It'll be good". So after hitting the gym I ran to the store. I called my mom on the way, recalling that they were <i>chili people</i> and asked for some sound advice. <br />
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My dad answered instead, I guess my mom was off walking the dog or something. Anyways he rattled off a list of all the canned ingredients and seasonings that I <i>should</i> use. "<i>Naw</i>, I don't want to use that,<i> naw</i> I don't like that, this would be better. <i>Oh</i> what about this, that would be good don't you think", I asked... <br />
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Well just about that time my mom walked through the door. "Well Sis (my dad calls me that sometimes- might be a West Virginia thing). " Well Sis", he says. "Your mom just walked through the door maybe you can ask her what to use, she can tell you and you can tell her that you aren't going to use any of that stuff and then you can tell her how you are going to make<i> your </i>chili your way". I laughed and said "good idea"!<br />
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I talked to my mom about the snow that hit their area and then told her of the great Chili experience I was about to embark on. <br />
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Once I got home I was so super excited to make this chili! I couldnt wait to get started. I could feel my spirit filling with hope! I might just become a chili person after all, I thought! I could feel a new and unique sassy alter ego creeping into my personality "GUUUURRRRL YOU HAVE NEVER HAD MY CHILI"!<br />
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Ah...... I like this feeling! Is this what cooking chili feels like I wondered? No wonder people like this whole chili thing...<br />
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I was kind of taken back by this! There is something about chili that makes people nuts!<br />
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So I get to working my kitchen magic...chopping... sprinkling... sauteing... mixing... and.... VOILA! <br />
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Ok so after eating it, I will say I will happily eat this chili but I cant say that I am now <i>that</i> crazy chili person that loves to force feed non-chili eaters in hopes of converting them.</div>
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If you like Chili you might like this, you might not... <br />
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<i>BUT </i>in the spirit of the moment I like to call this recipe...<br />
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<i> GURRRRL YOU AINT NEVAH HAD MA CHILI,</i> chili. ;-)</div>
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2 tbls Olive oil</div>
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1 tsp Oregano</div>
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1 tsp Basil</div>
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1 tsp Garlic powder</div>
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1 lb +/- Package of ground Turkey</div>
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1 Sweet onion chopped</div>
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4 Garlic cloves minced</div>
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10 Diced Roma tomatoes</div>
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3 Packs of French's Chili-O seasoning</div>
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11/2 c Black beans</div>
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11/2 c Red beans</div>
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11/2 c Kidney beans</div>
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11/2 large containers of chicken broth.</div>
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salt to taste.</div>
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Fritos</div>
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Toppings:</div>
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Sour cream, shredded cheese, crumbled goat cheese, and green onions.</div>
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Sauté, onions, turkey, and minced garlic in olive oil with basil garlic powder and oregano. Add Chili-O seasoning powder and mix. Then add diced tomatoes. </div>
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Meanwhile pour chicken broth and beans into a crock pot and cook on low heat. After Turkey mixture is cooked thoroughly pour into crock pot. I cooked ours over night. </div>
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Serve on a bed of Frito's with desired toppings. </div>
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Enjoy!</div>
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Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-15382622470657920832014-03-05T14:10:00.001-08:002014-03-05T14:11:47.044-08:00Saying GoodbyeSaying, "Goodbye" is never easy...<br />
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Dec of 2000 I was just a teenager. I saw a photo of this adorable little puppy in the local newspaper. A teenage girl resisting the urge to at least check out these adorable little guys? I think not.<br />
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I instantly fell in love with Sam. I brought him home that night. Needless to say my parents were not very happy with me but I think that they had long accepted my weakness of bringing home strays.<br />
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I didn't realize the responsibility of having a puppy. My parents had always had pets, pets of all kinds; dogs, cats, horses, chickens, hampster's... well you get the point. Actually now thinking about it, most of those pets were brought home after the pleads of my brother and I. The difference this time was... they were not letting me off the hook.<br />
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It took just a few days of chewed up furniture and pee soak <i>everything</i> before we were all cursing that sweet little puppy face. He would howl all night unless I put him in the bed with me... And Oh when I did, I would wake to soaked sheets and holes in my bed linens. He would pull clothes out of their neatly folded piles and drag them around and I was trying to get them hung up. He chewed up an antique rocking chair and my favorite quilt. His favorite thing to do was to rip bales of straw open... this later became useful as he would spread his own straw when we had to kennel in the barn for a stint. He really was rotten but so playfully unique. That adorable little face, kept my love growing strong.<br />
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I remember my friends giving me a hard time because I had a new curfew based on my dog. Leaving early from a party to have to go walk your dog was not fun! I learned a lot from Sam. Dare I say, Sam was my first step towards adulthood. He taught me to love something unselfishly.<br />
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The worst days of my life Sam sat by my bed side. He was a stead fast presence in my mind and heart. There have been times that I have had to leave him but always with the promise of I will be back for him. No matter the distance we had between us, Sammy was always my protector and my friend.<br />
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I wish more than anything, Sams final days could have been resting in the house being pampered with home cooked meals and affection but that wasn't him. He loved living at the homestead, being outside, being one with nature. He was never much for cuddling not even as a pup.... I had to love Sammy the way Sammy wanted to be loved and that wasn't always easy for me. I know bringing him here to a small backyard on a busy army base would have been selfish of me... but God how I wanted him here.<br />
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About a week ago I drove out to the homestead, to say my final goodbyes to someone who was a much better friend to me than I was to him. The knot in my throat and the burning in my heart feels like it will always be here, replacing his presence... My eyes swell with tears...Nothing expresses how he is missed by us all.<br />
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Rest in Peace Sammy.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3CcEgVZpGog/UxCQ1yzfBpI/AAAAAAAABdY/PYU8UxlRKZ4/s1600/photo+3+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3CcEgVZpGog/UxCQ1yzfBpI/AAAAAAAABdY/PYU8UxlRKZ4/s1600/photo+3+(2).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a> I love you. </div>
Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-7655261193292453172013-10-20T10:41:00.003-07:002013-10-20T10:41:55.575-07:00Dropping in?Holy Jalapeno Skippy Jon! So much has happened since I last posted. If there are any readers left, let me give you an update. I had to privatize my blog for a bit, due to a long annoying custody battle. Although I didn't have anything bad on here when someone who wishes to do you harm is watching your every move its just a teeny tiny bit stalkerish and it creeped me the flip out! By the way, in case you are wondering, the custody battle went well. My husband and children are happy and doing grrrrrrreat!<br />
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So... catch up shall we? My husband is currently deployed. I honestly have NO IDEA WHERE HE IS!? He is out somewhere busy kicking butt and taking names but we hope to be reunited some time next year. I can't wait! We miss him! I am a little nervous though. Our son Andrew wasn't very old when he left. So... yeah I have that weird ridiculous fear, "what if they don't like each other"!?!?! But I mean whats the alternative? hahahaha Andrew craves male attention and bonding so I am sure they will be just fine once they are united...<br />
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In relevance to being fine... I one heard someone say "the easiest choice we have is to do this successfully". That's a pretty honest statement if you think about it. Choosing to be fine is such an easier alternative than choosing to not be. I mean it seems a bit presumptuous but if you analyze it, it is pretty honest. Failure is nothing more than the procrastination of success and from my experience (which I have a TON OF) , failure tends to take up a lot more emotional effort in the long run... the same as not being "fine"... So I guess what I am saying, be lazy like me AND CHOOSE TO BE FINE! ;-) <- day="" epiphany="" for="" my="" p="" the=""><br />
So the hub and I moved the fam bam before he left to save the world. I really like it here surprisingly. We live in a large 2 story house on post in a pretty child congested subdivision. Sounds appealing right!? It isn't too bad. We have a nice little fenced in yard which I dug up and planted a jungle in this past summer. I am not sure if housing is going to love me for it when we move though. BUT its my own little oasis of love and determination. I love the outdoors and I am determined to grow something darn it! I am not really a subdivision type of girl but when life hands you lemons, danggumit, you dig a hole and throw the seeds in it!<br />
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Speaking of lemons... Sammy my Siberian husky x is still living on the farm near my parents house. I had this fantastic idea that he would love to live with me again. Well after some prayers and some serious assessments, I realized that with Sams age and demeanor, this lifestyle here isn't conducive to his happiness. My parents agreed to care for him out at the old homestead while I love and miss him from afar. Sam is 13 years old and I know it wont be long before I have to return home to see my old friend off to meet the big guy in the sky. I pray for his health but I know his time is drawing near. I have faith that after this life, we will be together again.<br />
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AND.... Speaking of faith, as you can possibly see things have changed a bit for me. My life has taken on a different shape. For me to be in this place of spiritual/ emotional fine-ness it has only been by the grace of god. I don't like to use the word "born again", but yeah... my faith has "blossomed". So as I hope to get back on track with writing, you will also notice references to my spiritual walk. Please note, this is MY relationship with god that I am documenting... I have no expectations to beat anyone over the head because.... well, I am just learning and worried about myself (and children) right now, not to sound selfish. So if you are not on board with the Jesus train don't worry, I am not going to try to drag you along.<br />
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Well there is much more to come but I just wanted to say Hi and I am here and alive. I hope to be back in full swing soon. :-)<br />
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<br /></->Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-7948587753056644222012-09-03T06:48:00.003-07:002012-09-04T06:21:57.280-07:00The Reunion, Days gone by...<div>This morning I am laying in my bed sipping on a cup of watered down coffee reflecting like I often do when I first wake up. Sometimes I think about the kids, chores, or sometimes I meander through my memories. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The rhythmic rise and fall of my sleeping husbands chest has put me in a thoughtful tranquil mode. My little me and my adult self walk back in time, hand in hand... We are in the backyard of my one of my best childhood friends, Lindsey's house. It is right at dusk and the yard is littered with about 10 young girls running about, looking for the best place to hide. The world around us echoed with sounds of young laughter as the lightening bugs started to light up the evening sky. We just sat there and watched the young "us", play and run free. What a great night we all had, this morning! I am blessed to be wrapped up in those kind of memories on this damp dreary Monday morning.</div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2syL6BXThtM/UES0brdpLJI/AAAAAAAABYk/NGvcoyN1rjM/s1600/photo+(24).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2syL6BXThtM/UES0brdpLJI/AAAAAAAABYk/NGvcoyN1rjM/s320/photo+(24).JPG" width="240" /></a>It was about a month ago when those same girls and I got back together. Lindsey and I both married military men and moved away. It just so happens that our families are stationed at the same military base. Eventually, I know we will be separated again and when that happens we will stay in touch just like we do with the rest of the girls. But for now we have each other.</div><div><br />
</div><div> Through facebook we all had planned to meet up again. For some of us, 11 years had passed since we had seen one another. I really didn't know what to expect. We all met at a half way point for dinner one evening. It didnt take long before we were right back to were we all were before. Nothing fits together like best friends! After all these years the puzzle pieces that makes us<i> us </i>still fits perfectly. We all just picked up where we were so many years ago. </div><div><br />
</div><div> We laughed about the "remember whens". We gossiped about people from school. We talked about the roads we had traveled on with spouses and ex-spouses. We shared cute little stories about our kids. We giggled and laughed till we felt tears in our eyes. For a split second in time we were those little girls running through Lindsey's backyard again.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sIMiF4MsoMY/UES0bOKWt3I/AAAAAAAABYc/ZNh7nixEqK8/s1600/photo+(20).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sIMiF4MsoMY/UES0bOKWt3I/AAAAAAAABYc/ZNh7nixEqK8/s320/photo+(20).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div>At the end of the night we had planned to return again soon to have dinner but next time we would bring our families. We set our dates, hugged and said our goodbyes. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Well life happened and things didnt work out. When the dates rolled around to see each other again everyone had engagements that they couldn't get out of. Sad I know, but we all know how day to day life manipulates our plans. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Yesterday morning I woke up with Lindsey on my mind. I had even sent her a text. Within just seconds of sending her a text I ended up getting a message from my friend Kristie. She asked if I had spoke with Lindsey lately. I told her yes just yesterday morning. Even though Lindsey and I text/talk on a regular basis, I am no longer on facebook and I had missed her status update, that she had just lost her father.</div><div><br />
</div><div>With in an hour of getting Kristie's message, my inbox was flooded with updates from other friends giving me funeral arrangement updates and times they would be arriving at the viewing. We agreed that Lindz needed to have her girls there.</div><div><br />
</div><div>This morning as I procrastinate on putting on my finest church clothes, cold hard reality is hitting. Just like with all stages of life, its like sand through the hour glass... The monumental stages in life have just slipped by...drivers license, college, careers, marriages, babies and now... the passing of our parents? We all know whats next...</div><div><br />
</div><div>Today I will reunite with my friends, their spouses, children and even some of our parents. We will sit beside our friend in her time of mourning and loss and pay tribute to one of the great parents that made our amazing childhood memories a possibility. </div><div><br />
</div><div>But also reality is hitting hard... We are getting older. It is a cold hard fact that we wont ever be able to escape growing up and growing older.</div><div><br />
</div><div> I pray that even on the days like today when I<i> have</i> to be a grown up that I can still take early morning walks, hand in hand with the little me... and every once in a while I hope to have my girls travel along beside us. </div><div><br />
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</div>Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-70062506461101148592012-08-30T10:48:00.001-07:002012-09-03T05:32:28.843-07:00Um, There's a Dead Person in Your Kitchen...One Thursday afternoon I was sitting in my living room having a nice chat with one of my neighbors. Her children drop by on a regular basis and have became very good friends with our children. We talked about all kinds of things but mostly how nice it was for the children to have each other as our neighborhood is filled with mostly young men serving in the military.<br />
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Mrs. Haley and I visited for quite some time while the children played outside. Her little girl knocked on the door and asked if she could have something to drink. I offered for her to come in and fix herself a glass of water. Mrs. Haley's little girl walked towards the kitchen to help herself to a glass of water. I sat back down until I heard a deep gasp!<br />
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In walks Mrs Haley's daughter. Her eyes are as big as saucers... "UM, excuse me ma'am but you have a dead person in your kitchen"! She was frightened.<br />
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Mrs. Haley looked at me very confused and slightly nervous especially since this was our first time meeting. I just laughed and said "oh no she isn't dead, she was never alive per say".<br />
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Mrs. Haley looked at me very concerned, waiting for further explanation. I noticed my answer didnt really ease the anxiety on her face... I decided to sip on my lemonade a little longer instead.<br />
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Finally Mrs. Haley couldn't hold in her curiosity, " I am sorry but I have to see about this". The stood up and walked to the kitchen to see an only partially constructed "doll" sitting at our kitchen table.<br />
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I finally decided it would be a good idea to offer up some information...<br />
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"She is a trash woman. We have made her out of garbage that we have collected. Her legs are in the closet. We will finish the paper mache soon and then start painting her body."<br />
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Mrs. Haley looked at me with this sort of astonished still slightly confused maybe even slightly judgmental expression on her face and then said, "but why"?<br />
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The kids and I didn't know anyone when we moved here... she was our experiment and entertainment for the summer. "Oh, that's pretty cool", she said.<br />
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See, our trash lady is metaphorical... We can make something pretty cool out of a lot of really uncool stuff.<br />
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Life is definitively what you make it.<br />
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Stay tuned for the grand unveiling!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jPLoDgsik3o/UD-nRvzCLoI/AAAAAAAABX4/Cu18ZO75BJI/s1600/photo+(27).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jPLoDgsik3o/UD-nRvzCLoI/AAAAAAAABX4/Cu18ZO75BJI/s320/photo+(27).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-75886593576324189522012-08-24T12:52:00.000-07:002012-08-24T12:52:49.894-07:00Keep your trophy, I'm going for ice cream!<br />
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There is/are something(s) that have really been nagging at me. I just cant ignore it anymore! I am the kind of person that not only am I going to scratch an itch.... I am going to wear it out until it bleeds and after that I may even pick the scab! UGH... this metaphor just reminded me to pull my bristly hair brush close so I can really let the tick bites around my ankles have it! Anyways...<br />
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I am going to bit my lip and try not to use any names here but O MY GAH..... I am so itching too!!!! Grrr its like having a massive itch and someone putting mittens on your hands and feet then duct taping them together! You better believe I will hop and wiggle over to the nearest fence post and start rubbing like any four legged ass would do!<br />
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Pep talk; Okay, reel it back in Andrea.... Calmly... you are better than that... you are. you REALLY REALLY ARE SOOOOOO MUCH BETTER..... "THAN THEM"! CRAP!?! Did I just say that out loud?<br />
What would my minister say!?!<br />
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So here's the deal...<br />
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1. It hurts my feelings when close friends or family "misspeaks". I will use the word misspeak or misspoken because I personally like to believe that people who genuinely care don't mean to cause any harm but they unintentionally say things without thought (which would make them??? stuuuu...p.... Stop it ANDREA YOU ARE better! RISE TO THE OCCASION SISTA! RISE TO THE OCCASION! WWJD).<br />
Anyways...<br />
I have one family member who is a habitual offender and so sometimes I believe this person could benefit with an extra wide piece of duck tape. Next time I may provide some for her.<br />
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Just thinking about the way she says things makes me so mad I just wanna<b><i> KICK</i></b> something!<br />
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2. Then there is that person who is always the victim. You know the type! They are one of those who always makes a million excuses as to why something happened and why you are the one cleaning up their mess. Oh, its not their fault! Its NEVER their fault. In fact even though you weren't there and where completely oblivious to anything surrounding their life, you are still expected to grab the dust pan! And to really scratch the nails across the chalk board, although you would love to be the one that makes them take responsibility, there is too much at risk by letting them have any type of responsibility. People that are innocent and helpless are at risk so you quietly fix as many mistakes this person makes in order to protect those who can not protect themselves. Sometimes I just want to shake this person and <b><i>SCREAM</i></b> that the world doesnt owe them anything. I would greatly love to watch this person self destruct but I cant because I know it would hurt a few people that I love more than anything. So my love for the un-named little people makes me the trash woman... constantly cleaning up the mess and misfortune of someone who is always the victim. Boy I really want to stomp my feet right now! I wish I could just pout my way through life and have someone make up for my slack!<br />
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<br />
3. Then there is that other person in your life that you should be able to count on. They should be loyal to you because you play on the same team but no matter which side of the fence you are on they always intentionally choose to be your opposition. Even though I consider myself very loyal, I have this strong desire to dust my hands free of this person.... frankly not a very loyal thing to do so I guess I will try to lead by example but... BOY I AM SO FRUSTRATED I JUST WANT TO <i><b>STOMP</b></i> my feet and throw myself on the ground! Why do I have to be the better person when I just dont wanna be!?!?!<br />
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4. LABELS ARE ANNOYING! They are so itchy! Especially the ones on the back of the underwear. Dont act like you have never had an itchy underwear label. Labels suck... but whats worse is the metaphorical labels. I have so many types of labels that I want to discuss... lord have mercy it would take me all day! Like people who judge people from West Virginia or people who believe city people are smarter... and dont even get me started on the race and sex labels!<br />
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I have been to many places in my life. I have met a lot of different faces. I have been up and I have been down. I have been the one up high pointing that nose to the sky... until I was the one down below looking up the nostrils of some jerk!<br />
<br />
I have hurt and been hurt, so now that I have been on both sides, I like to think of myself as wise. I try to keep an open mind and watch my words. I DON'T know the path that my neighbors have walked. Before I speak I often wonder, not of the brand of shoes they wear but about the path that they had been on that wore those soles down. So when I try to be so conscious it hurts me when other people are not! It hurts when people dont recognize the fact that I have walked a million miles in my pair of off brands AND GUESS WHAT!? ME AND MY SHOES GOT SOUL/SOLE BABY!!!!<br />
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My sneakers and I made it through fire and ice but these people don't see that! They are still comparing my sneakers to bright and shiney Nikes that just saw soil for the first time. So walk around the block a time or two with me and by the time we are done...I guarantee you wont be looking at my shoes!<br />
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Sometimes your words hurt people and they make me want to <b><i>CRY</i></b>!<br />
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OKAY, SO I made it through this post with out using names... granted I have bit my tongue until it was barely attached...I have scratched my itch until it bleeds and tomorrow when I wake I am sure to pick the scabs... I have <b><i>kicked</i></b>. I have <b><i>screamed</i></b>. I have <i><b>stomped</b></i> my feet and I have<i><b> cried</b></i>...<br />
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My husband and I joined our church last week. We have really enjoyed our time there. We both take so much away from the services and try to apply them to our life and our marriage.<br />
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The Sunday before last our minister preached about "not everyone deserves a trophy" and how sometimes life just isn't fair. My husband nearly jumped out of his seat to AMEN during the service because he says that all the time! Then last Sunday my minister talked about the importance of forgiveness. Things hurt. We get mad but at the end of the day where are we left at? This coming Sunday he will be discussing the questions surrounding "unanswered prayers".<br />
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So as I take what I have learned from the sermons over the last few weeks I am going to try to apply them to the above. Eventually I am sure I will have to tactfully confront my thoughtless family member. I am going to have to use my patience with the victim and hopefully I will learn somethings Sunday about that unanswered prayer. I am going to have to turn the other cheek to those who are unloyal to me and I will have to lead by example to those who misjudge others. On top of all that I have to realize that though I feel like I should get a trophy for putting up with all this, life isn't fair. I wont be receiving a trophy.<br />
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BUT.... who wants a trophy when you have a pint of Ben and Jerry's!!!<br />
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Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-59272419332895229842012-08-17T09:12:00.002-07:002012-08-22T16:16:27.010-07:00Aug. 17th 2007Aug 17th 2012 the children were still asleep when I looked out of second story bedroom window to see if it was still raining. The storm had moved out and left the sky a silky gray. Some say its gloomy but I find it to be a quite nice and cool soothing morning. The water droplets gently moved down the window pane as I took a moment to reflect.<br />
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</div>Today is much different than the Aug 17th 2007. Oh, that day.... that day, I was so ready! I remember waking early but I took my time getting Alexandria ready. I bathed her and plaid-ed her hair in french braids. I had her "fun" bag sitting on the counter in the kitchen. I peeked through it real quick to make sure I hadn't forgot anything. I had her a coloring book with crayons, a small story book, some little crayola clay sticks, and a little baby doll wearing a baby blue hat. I wanted her to feel special as well as to have plenty to occupy herself while she waited.<br />
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My mom came over that morning and I reviewed the schedule with her. I had to be at the hospital by 10:00am or so. In order to not push our luck with the patience of a toddler my mom was going to stay a while at the house with Alex until I gave her the call.<br />
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It was a long drive to Nashville. Apparently it wasn't long enough though as I had filled out my paper work I had to wait about an hour or so before we could go up. I was starving and the hospital was filled with the aroma of breakfast.<br />
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I was finally escorted upstairs to prepare for the birth of my first born son. They laid the gown on the table and left the room from me to change. I stayed in that room for what seemed to be hours. I walked over to the window.<br />
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Middle TN was having the worst heat wave and drought that they had had in years. Temperature spiking as high as 111! The window pane heated my face as I watched the cars move 5 stories below me. The marble window ledge was surprisingly cool sending my body a mixed message of hot and cold much like my emotions.<br />
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I was ready to meet my new little boy but it wasnt a good time in our lives. The business was failing, a shaky marriage, another responsibility, a mouth to feed...I looked down and watched all the people hustling and bustling across the busy sidewalks of the Nashville Medical District and I felt so alone. But I remembered, "Its a boy"! He will be a good boy and grow up to be a great man. He will be strong but gentle. He will love and be so loved. I shook off my slumber and walked back over to the bed. I knew my son was suppose to be something special and amazing.<br />
<br />
<br />
The anesthesiologist came in to give me my spinal. As soon as it kicked in they would move me to surgery. Soon I would hold my baby boy.<br />
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I will never forget that moment I saw him for the first time. Its probably one of those moments that only parents understand... It was like angels singing. He was beautiful! He was everything I ever dreamed he would be. I was in complete and total AWE!<br />
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He had dark brown hair and the big beautiful eyes. I will never forget the moment that our eyes first met. I was cradling him in my arms and he slowly stopped nursing. He gently turned his head an with an inquisitive expression on his face, he look up at me. It was almost like he said, "Um... ok... uh wow, there is a person attached to these bottles".<br />
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All the craziness that had been worrying my mind previously faded away. My little boy was finally here! I had two beautiful precious babes!<br />
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Everyone was thrilled to have him in our lives. Our family congregated around to see this sweet angel. Alex wasn't sure what to think about her baby brother but he soon won over her heart.<br />
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Yes, this morning Aubrey and I have already looked through all of our photo albums and we went through his baby book. We ew and awed over the memories...<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I told him about how little his feet were...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LQJGW9H-SLI/UC5mVByQOHI/AAAAAAAABV8/fjHxRDf-rbk/s1600/photo+(56).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LQJGW9H-SLI/UC5mVByQOHI/AAAAAAAABV8/fjHxRDf-rbk/s320/photo+(56).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and how he has the most kissable cheeks....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1WYtdZdSrqI/UC5me6qAvPI/AAAAAAAABWE/uIfjnYqNLcM/s1600/IMG00866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1WYtdZdSrqI/UC5me6qAvPI/AAAAAAAABWE/uIfjnYqNLcM/s320/IMG00866.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>We talked about our memories of his birth together. I choked back tears as I told him my version of the story and..... then he told me his version.<br />
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He said with great conviction,"Momma I was so SCARED", as if he was recalling an event from yesterday. He asked me if I remembered him crying and I told him that yes I did recall that. He said, "Momma I was crying because I was scared. Here I was sleeping and then the next thing I know I'm covered in blood!" He scrolled through the albums to give me "proof". I laughed at "his version" and gave him a tight hug. "Aubrey, momma loved you so much she would never let anything happen to you". He squeezed me tight and looked up at me with his big brown eyes and said, "I love you and your always going to be my princess".<br />
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Everyday I am amazed by his inquisitive nature...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Hnp19YOd_8/UC5ovtLuXUI/AAAAAAAABWw/IlYT_GueqNE/s1600/Aubrey+in+the+snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Hnp19YOd_8/UC5ovtLuXUI/AAAAAAAABWw/IlYT_GueqNE/s320/Aubrey+in+the+snow.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>His gentle heart...<br />
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His deep thoughts...<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">His sense of humor...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GGCR7C5CCKQ/UC5ocD3i0oI/AAAAAAAABWo/vGN9Zy1Dv54/s1600/aubs+fishy+face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GGCR7C5CCKQ/UC5ocD3i0oI/AAAAAAAABWo/vGN9Zy1Dv54/s320/aubs+fishy+face.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the intense love he has for his family...</div><br />
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No matter how old he gets, he will always be my baby boy and I will always be his princess.<br />
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Happy Birthday! I love you!<br />
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Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-9991262099034650032012-08-07T13:14:00.000-07:002012-08-07T13:14:59.687-07:00Just roll with itBecoming a highly efficient household via technology...<br />
<br />
Growing up, I took technology for granted. We always had radios, TVs, telephones, cars, medical treatment, powered operated tools and all that other good stuff that technology made possible. When those things tore up we cursed them, had it fixed or replaced them. It was just something that we never had to think much about.<br />
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By the time I was old enough to have one, the pager was the latest advance and then when cellphones made it big, I had one of those too. Maybe I was just too immature to appreciate how these advances made everything so much more convenient but I can honestly say I just didn't really appreciate it at all. And my life was pretty dang convenient! (My husband is probably reading this and shaking his head. His childhood in El Salvador was very different.)<br />
<div><div><br />
</div><div>Perhaps my parents were just so thankful that their bratty kids didn't have to be? After all summer days for the most part weren't spent crying to mom and dad, "I am bored". We did spend most of our time playing outside but when the heat of the summer day got the best of us we had the convenience of going inside to our cooled air conditioned house and playing video games or watching the boob tube. We were sufficiently entertained. When we became teenagers and were out and about with our friends and the parents needed us, they would just send a page or give us a buzz on the cell and by god you better get your butt to that phone and answer it! My parents had it pretty good!</div></div><br />
<div><div><br />
</div><div>My parents liked technology but they were also pretty thrifty people... They were quite ingenious if I do say so myself! While other kids were sporting around their new flip phones my parents were working on keeping the phone bills down... So instead I inherited my dads old "brick". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MyfwCj6CMfs/UCDxGC6hgHI/AAAAAAAABUM/MsPCztT3Gec/s1600/old-cellphone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MyfwCj6CMfs/UCDxGC6hgHI/AAAAAAAABUM/MsPCztT3Gec/s320/old-cellphone.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>You better believe I wouldn't be caught dead on that thing!</div><div><br />
</div><div>I remember once pulling into the Piggly Wiggly parking lot weighing out the options. Which would be worse... leaning down in the seat and dialing my parents on the brick or using the pay phone? My empty ashtray where I kept my loose change decided for me. I pulled to the most secluded part of the parking lot and hunkered down in the seat of my 88 Toyota Camry. Right about that time my girlfriend Kristie spied my car and pulled in next to me. Mid-conversation with my momma, I unplugged the old brick, shoved it briskly under my seat and quickly sat up nervously trying to act casual by straightening the strands of my flustered hair. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I was ecstatic when my parents finally decided to give me an upgrade but I never really had the feeling of what a technological advance was or felt like because well you see I was a <i><b>spoiled brat</b></i>! It wasn't about how this item "<b><i>helped</i></b>" me, it was about how "<i><b>cool</b></i>" it made me look or what kind of bragging rights I would get from my friends.</div></div><div><br />
</div><div>Now that I am adult, I am appreciating these advances and I mean truly appreciating! Although I think it is important to role with the tide, I also believe that there are some significant draw backs to technology. Facebook for example. It is a great way to connect with friends and family especially if you live far away from them. It also allows your children to interact with family that they would otherwise not really know (like our little boy being able to connect with his extended family in El Salvador) BUT with that said, facebook is becoming the number one cause of infidelity in United States.<br />
<br />
My husband and I share a facebook account. It discourages people from friend-ing us with ulterior motives, helps sensor our postings, as well as keeps the doors of communication wide open. You really have to stay proactive about technology. Make sure that it is going to truly benefit you and your family and get the most out of it. </div><div><br />
</div><div>When Juan and I opened our joint facebook account we also opened up a joint email account because we couldn't link up the new one with our previously used email accounts. Besides the benefits listed on our joint facebook, there were a few added ones for the email, bill pay and news letters. We set up our bill pay online using our new joint email. We both get to see the bills upon arrival and confirmations when they are drafted. We also get News letters from our Church and from the childrens school. This helps us both to stay equally updated on the important aspects of our lives.<br />
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Most of you know that my husband is in the military and that we have a very rapidly growing family. Our <i>here one day gone the next </i>schedules are constantly changing. There are always new briefings events and need to know information coming and going. My husband and I were getting times and wires crossed. A usual conversation would be as followed....<br />
Juan: "FRG meeting tonight at 6"<br />
Andrea: "I thought it was tomorrow".<br />
Juan: "It was but they changed it because of X"<br />
Andrea: "Well I cant because we have open house"<br />
Juan: "Shit, I forgot about that, let me get back to you"<br />
<br />
Now things are changing a bit... Technology has advanced (for me)! I am not here to promote the Iphone or anything because well, most of my friends know that I boo who'd for months when I was forced to retire my blackberry pearl and accept the Iphone that my husband gifted me. I just couldn't get the hang of the touch screen and the novelty of "apps" and such seemed so frivolous since I was quite happy and content with what all that my BB could do. So what if I couldn't play "Angry Birds" or "Fruit Ninja" while waiting at the OBGYN clinic!?!<br />
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BUT wait... then I started to figure things out. I set up our joint email account on our cell phones and from there I was able to add important dates times and events to the Iphone calendar through our JOINT email account. AND because of the technology I am also able to set reminder alerts so when an important event is coming up, it automatically pops up reminders on both of our phones.<br />
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We both have access to add replace or remove dates and set the reminder alerts.<br />
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ALSO... the Iphone has a "NOTES" app that looks like this.<br />
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You can add notes through your email. I use our joint account to make notes for Juan and I. We are practicing the debt snowball right now. Every time a credit card is paid I put the new balance in our joint notes file. If he needs to know credits and balances while he is out all he has to do is check the notes. I also put the grocery list, baby registry and our Christmas shopping list in our notes app, that way if one of us is out shopping and comes across a great deal then we can make the purchase and mark it off. Plus pretty convenient for Juan to swing by the commissary on the way home.<br />
<br />
So you see our conversations went from the one above to...<br />
<br />
Juan: "FRG meeting tonight at 6"<br />
Andrea: "I thought it was tomorrow".<br />
Juan: "It was but they changed it because of X"<br />
Andrea: "When did they change it? Its not in the calendar"<br />
Juan: "I don't know, they just told me"<br />
Andrea: "Well I cant because we have open house tonight"<br />
Juan: "I didnt get the Alert for open house?"<br />
Andrea: "I set the alert to go off 2 hours before open house, review the calendar, you will get the alert in an hour"<br />
Juan: "Let me see what I can do"<br />
Andrea: "mmmhmmm"<br />
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Andrea: (note to self; first reminder the day before, set the second reminder 2 hours before hand)<br />
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ok, so we are still working out the kinks...<br />
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I have two kidos that will be at cell phone age before I know it... Does anyone know where I can get a couple of bricks? ;-)<br />
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</div>Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-68831891315611551532012-07-30T18:39:00.003-07:002012-07-31T08:01:41.732-07:00Looking for the Crack in the Pavement.<br />
<i>We have all seen the pictures of the dandelion growing along the crack of a sidewalk in a bustling inner city? The picture of a dandelion growing in the pavement is a metaphorical symbol of hope...</i><br />
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<i>So you see why this stings a bit?</i><br />
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<i>God, Its not roses that I am asking for... just a dandelion... </i><br />
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* Listening to James Vincent McMorrow, Higher Love<br />
<br />Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-83859086979659072012-07-23T07:21:00.004-07:002012-07-23T11:09:54.687-07:00I AM a manager of Chaos.<span style="background-color: white;">"</span><i style="background-color: white;"><b>I am not a control freak. I am a chaos manager</b></i><span style="background-color: white;">", I screamed almost sarcastically! </span><br />
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Ok so... I like to know stuff. {shoulders shrugs}<br />
<br />
My husband says my obsessive need for schedule, planning and knowledge has to do with me being a control freak... But honestly its not about control. I just HATE surprises! No seriously, I don't like them. I like to know what I need to do everyday in order to get from point A to point B. There is and should always be a plan!<br />
<br />
<i>I like my chaos management method... I like method... </i><i style="background-color: white;">possibly why I am a Methodist? Vice verse?</i><span style="background-color: white;"> Anyways...</span><br />
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I like to stay on target. I enjoy planning because I like to look forward to things and I like to see all angles so I may play interference if needed. I like to know exactly how high I have to jump in order to cross a road block. AND YES precise measurement and foresight is needed!<br />
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Frankly, to me the absence of schedule, planning and knowledge can create nasty mixture of combustibles... Some of which have been know to be filled with confetti and others well we have all seen what happens when stupid people get together? (who hasnt watched Tosh. O?)<br />
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Now you have to understand here, to me surprises equal chaos. I am a mother of three... my life is chaotic enough as it is thank you very much! I will pass on the unforeseen.<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Lets talk surprises...</span><br />
<br />
Granted some surprises are great especially if they are a true <i>surprise</i>! Like the kids receiving a special award at school. Its always nice to see their self esteems grow but I would like to know a head of time so I can plan to take pictures and make their day extra special. ;-)<br />
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My husband buying me flowers, another fantastic surprise! Granted I have to move the fruit bowl from the center of the table thus cluttering the kitchen counter top so the flowers have a beautiful place to sit. But in a few days the fruit bowl will usually be empty and I can hide it in the cabinet until grocery day. Now if I had just bought fruit... well I will have to do some minor arranging to the kitchen and refrigerator but... chaos in those terms are manageable and dare I say even greatly appreciated!<br />
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Waiting to find out the sex of your baby until birth? It takes me months to find the perfect name. I suppose I could pick out one of each but... wow, trying to wrap my brain around planning and dream of the future for a sexless baby is inconceivable to me. Its not my style of planning but to each their own.<br />
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Then there is the even bigger life altering surprises like hooligans setting one of your spec houses on fire or your car breaking down. Surprise, you under paid your taxes or one of your kids surprise you with a stomach virus all over the floor. Then there is the surprise your husband has a girlfriend or sudden lay offs at work! I mean come on people most of us have been there at one point in time, right? Those surprises suck!<br />
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What do we do to avoid life's little inconveniences? We build in respectable neighborhoods, you perform regular maintenance on your vehicles, you claim one less dependent on your taxes at the beginning of the year, you GermX your kids, and you choose a trust worthy spouse and you work on saving your nest egg!<br />
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So you see, you hate surprises too! Don't judge me. I am just a hope for the best and plan for the unexpected kind of girl... AND if I can get a heads up about the "unexpected" heading my way... Heck yeah I am on it and planning!<br />
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So now that you understand me, here is the low down. <br />
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Almost 61/2 years ago I had a girls night out with a good friend of mine. Being a little daring and slightly silly we decided to go to a psychic. Who doesn't want a little peek into the future, right? (I think we have established that I do)<br />
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It was suppose to be all in good fun. After our private readings we left and vaguely talked about what our futures were to hold. I say we were vague because the psychic encouraged us not to discuss our readings. Even from my girlfriends vague description of hers, they were nowhere near the same. Why we shouldn't discuss it, I have no idea.<br />
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It wasn't until 3 years later when our construction company collapsed under the pressure of the over populated housing market did I start to think, "Wow, that woman might actually be legit". But when I really started to believe, was when my girlfriend got pregnant with her first baby.<br />
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The psychic told her that she will have a child and to be weary. There would be a great risk of there being something wrong with the baby. I personally think its a horrible thing to tell someone but psychic have to tell you even the bad stuff (that's what she had said)<br />
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It was a big whoops when she had became pregnant within a month after receiving radiation treatment for a thyroid problem. The doctors had strongly warned her to be very careful as she should not became pregnant until after 12 months had past from her treatments. 9 months of pregnancy was filled with lots of testing and worries. Luckily she gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby girl.<br />
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As the years went by her predictions started to unravel faster and truer. As I started to see the manifestation of her visions, everyday of my life has since felt like a ticking of a clock.<br />
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The last prediction she gave me... My second son, the third child. He is suppose to be the last of my children (according to her) but that's not what Juan and I have planned!<br />
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Our son will be born in November and if we wait until after Juan deploys Andrew will be around 18 months old. We planned on trying for the next one after Juan returns home. BUT, wait! The psychic has been <span style="background-color: white;">right so far... So what is going to happen that changes the plan!? Everyday I wonder. Every second the clocks ticking away the minutes until the future is revealed to me. Who wants to live like that!? What have I done!?</span><br />
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What a horrible mistake it was to "peek" into the future! As it seems I have a good two years to worry about the hurdles that may be lurking ahead. As my pending c-section rears closer... as Juans deployment slowly creeps near.... Panic! Why will there only be three? What will happen????<br />
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I have been up since about 3am with all these worries about an unpredictable destiny!!!! It was a huge mistake but oh now how I need the questionable future to hold answers for my family and I. Oh how I wish I would have never known!!!!<br />
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I have tossed and I have turned... and I have paced and I have bit my nails down to the quick!<br />
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So after much deliberation, I decided this morning that I would seek council with God. (Unlike the psychic, he didn't tell me that I needed to keep our conversation a secret)<br />
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This is what he said...<br />
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He understands my desire to see into the future, to plan for each beautiful day but if I had spent more time practicing on my faith... the faith that he will lift me over the road blocks verses how<i><b> I am</b></i> going to jump them... If I had been practicing my faith to prepare me for the future instead of <b>straining</b> to see it, I would have never wandered through the doors of the psychic.<br />
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He confirmed, years worth of straining to see into the future has left me very blinded too blinded to embrace the day, too strained to relax and trust that things will be okay.<br />
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He said knowledge is power and too much power is a dangerous thing! I don't have the power to control the hand of God. I am just a human! Too much power and now look, I may have just out smarted myself.<br />
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Instead of trying to discredit the psychics credibility (fingers crossed though) or obsessing over the "why's"... that energy is going towards a different kind of education, one that's truly empowering, that puts order to the chaos...<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">After 61/2 years of straining, planning, and worry.. Lets try this whole thing again...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b><u>Today, </u></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b><i>Lesson one Chapter one... Practicing faith. </i></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">So perhaps instead of letting God handle things... maybe I was just a bit of a control freak... Only now, am I a chaos manager! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” ― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/44566.Eleanor_Roosevelt" style="color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Eleanor Roosevelt</a><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/future#" id="_GPLITA_2" in_hdr="null" in_rurl="http://www.textsrv.com/click?v=VVM6MTk2OTg6MTM1NDpiZWdpbjpmMWY5ZTdmYjJkZDQxMjU2MGYyNjFkNjBlOTMyZjhhYjp6LTExOTEtNTA4Njc6d3d3Lmdvb2RyZWFkcy5jb20" style="color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" title="Powered by Text-Enhance">begin</a><span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">.” ― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/838305.Mother_Teresa" style="color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Mother Teresa</a><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">“When did the future switch from being a promise to being a threat?” ―</span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2546.Chuck_Palahniuk" style="color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Chuck Palahniuk</a><span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">, </span><i style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/849507" style="color: #666600; text-decoration: none;">Invisible Monsters</a></i><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">“Knowing too much of your future is never a good thing.” ― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15872.Rick_Riordan" style="color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Rick Riordan</a><span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">, </span><i style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/3346751" style="color: #666600; text-decoration: none;">The Lightning Thief</a></i><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">“The future depends on what you do today.” ― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4467789.Mahatma_Gandhi" style="color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Mahatma Gandhi</a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">“Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take responsibility for making it so.” ― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2476.Noam_Chomsky" style="color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Noam Chomsky</a><br />
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<br />Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-27250873995949746452012-07-18T08:00:00.000-07:002012-07-18T08:00:58.643-07:00Share the happiness!<div style="text-align: center;">
I love pretty things...</div>
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Like RED BATTER!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gHvBkR7YbDs/UAXB9x184GI/AAAAAAAABSU/y1fqjfAe1TY/s1600/photo+(9).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gHvBkR7YbDs/UAXB9x184GI/AAAAAAAABSU/y1fqjfAe1TY/s320/photo+(9).JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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Who ever came up with Red Velvet Cake... GENIUS!</div>
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I just love bright colors....</div>
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So now you would know that confetti sprinkles make me smile!</div>
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I love to share pretty things...</div>
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And if you found this in your lunch box... wouldn't it make you appreciate pretty things too!?!</div>
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<br /></div>Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-72584459191131885742012-07-16T15:48:00.000-07:002012-07-16T15:48:30.531-07:00Capturing the Monster!It has always been my arch nemesis... The one thing I fear... The one that makes me move to the other side of the road when I see it coming... The one that sends me crawling under the covers.... That puts the chills up my spine and hair stand on edge!!!!!<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>What is this <i>dark shadow</i> that I fear so much? </div><div><br />
</div><div>Homemade Sourdough starter... and its failure, that is.<br />
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Just the mention of it would turn my stomach. I have always pride myself on having a good thorough culinary back ground. Making sourdough starter was the one thing that I have always failed miserably at. And well... failure is scary, sucks and I tend to shy away from it.<br />
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And so here is how our dark history began...</div><div><br />
</div><div>It all started out on a rainy Tuesday many moons ago. (I am not sure if it was actually a Tuesday or if it was raining).<br />
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Anyways... It all started out on a rainy Tuesday many moons ago... I was thumbing threw recipes and feeling a bit ambitious. I decided I would make a batch of sourdough starter. After all, <i>how hard could it be</i>, right?<br />
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I boisterously whistled through the kitchen enthusiastically mixing water flour and yeast into my large mason jar. Just and FYI... from what I have gathered the use of yeast in your starter has seemingly been dubbed as a cheaters move and is frowned upon among the more devote sourdough bread makers. I said PASH, to them and added it anyways. After all was mixed I sat back feeling quite fine! I fed my pet everyday! O how I loved her!<br />
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Every day I would check on her progress... loving and nurturing my little one. Every day I would take a good whiff and Nada! It didn't do a darn thing except collect dust on top of my counter before growing a pretty pastel pink mold. My love turned to disappointment. "BE GONE WITH YOU!" Disgusted and feeling a lot less ambitious, I threw it out. Years later a second attempt... the same outcome but instead of the pretty pink mold it was an ugly grey. Frustrated again I tossed it out and vowed not to attempt it again.</div><div><br />
Then one day one of my girl friends talked about starting a batch. Her enthusiasm was contagious! I mean this girl thought she was going to make something great and she made me think I could too! So I figured what the hey, I will try it again!<br />
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I mixed my ingredients and there it sat on the counter for a week... doing NOTHING. BUT. SIT. It didn't mold into a pretty pink, nor an ugly grey and even worse it didnt sour either! I wondered, "What kind of pet are you"!? Again being the quitter that I was, I threw it out. "Starter, out with the trash you shall go", I yelled! (by the way, my girlfriends bread was delicious and that stung a bit.)<br />
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Well now that you are caught up to speed, let me just tell you what happened...<br />
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My husband and I were at church one Sunday and it just so happened that it was communion Sunday. He is Catholic and I am a Methodist but we both attend a <i>Methodist</i> church now. Apparently the Catholic churches my husband attended previously do wafers for communion and not bread.<br />
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Anyways my husband was really impressed with the bread at communion. I told him that it was probably homemade and I had several recipes at the house. He loves to cook/bake and he is very good at it. So Juan feeling as equally ambitious as I had been years ago set out to bake his first loaves of bread. They turned out wonderful! He wanted to master the art so he baked a few more and those also turned out delicious!<br />
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Feeling a bit big of himself he wanted to try something different. Juan and I discussed various bread options. He was rolling out the last of his french loaves when that small yearning for sourdough bread struck my heart. "Lets do it", he enthusiastically shouted out!<br />
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Well, wait a minute... I have been baking for years and I have had little to no success at making a sourdough starter and here he has baked four loaves of bread and... well .... <b>Ha</b>... <b>hahaha</b>..<b>Ha</b>!!! I smirked remembering the days of when I was just wee ambitious baker too....<br />
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Why not!<i> Sometimes you just have to let them get bit before they learn not to play with the big dogs.</i> "Sure babe, let me find you a recipe", I said.<br />
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1 cup flour<br />
1 cup warm water<br />
Everyday take away a cup of the mixture and add 1 cup or flour and 1 cup of water until it begins to bubble and sour.<br />
Once it is bubbling and smelling real sour put it in the fridge and continue above instructions but only about once a week.<br />
Remember to keep it covered.<br />
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We threw the ingredients into a bowl and mixed. We followed the instructions for about 3 days and then we noticed that we werent producing any more bubbles. (The dark shadow of failure loomed over head!)<br />
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My husband being the strong supportive man that he is encouraged us to push on!<br />
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I also did a little trouble shooting on the net and discovered that often when the starter goes flat its just hungry and you may actually need to feed it more than once a day in the beginning. I also read that you dont need to schedule feed it, you can feed it anytime of day! Another helpful tip is that unbleached flour has a better chance of starting out faster because it already holds some wild yeast which really gets that sour going!<br />
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This is a pic of our little monster growing well at about a week old. He made a full recovery after going flat and is now frothing and souring quite nicely.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KfYqgnAwIg8/UASSuTWll5I/AAAAAAAABSA/VrDPaH3BtrA/s1600/photo+(8).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KfYqgnAwIg8/UASSuTWll5I/AAAAAAAABSA/VrDPaH3BtrA/s320/photo+(8).JPG" width="239" /></a></div>The liquid on top is what they call <i>hooch</i>... Its good stuff. Just mix it back in when you do your feedings... or if you just want to spend time with your little frothing monster, give him a stir when you walk by.<br />
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Finally after about 5 days of letting him grow my husband took a few cups to make his first batch of sourdough bread. It was amazingly delicious! The bread sliced wonderfully, as you can see here, at my first attempt to make Frisco burgers from the homemade sourdough. They were heavenly if I do say so myself!<br />
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And that my friends is how my loving husband helped me make peace with the sourdough starter. :-)<br />
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</div>Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-47265514068566004812012-07-07T08:00:00.000-07:002012-07-07T08:00:40.707-07:00Once Upon a Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Missing the Farm. :-/</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OMyR5ytEUb4/T_hMFjccx_I/AAAAAAAABNo/Hw1YEnxz5T8/s1600/002-2-1-1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OMyR5ytEUb4/T_hMFjccx_I/AAAAAAAABNo/Hw1YEnxz5T8/s320/002-2-1-1-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b1ubRTRENvA/T_hOge5vX8I/AAAAAAAABRY/Vo_CJ3Jtp0I/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b1ubRTRENvA/T_hOge5vX8I/AAAAAAAABRY/Vo_CJ3Jtp0I/s320/008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tOjzubee5vw/T_hOxlMO9bI/AAAAAAAABRk/CXyoMrIZaUA/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tOjzubee5vw/T_hOxlMO9bI/AAAAAAAABRk/CXyoMrIZaUA/s320/002.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fy9JG5UHxNA/T_hO6yFHu_I/AAAAAAAABRs/P7MVMJFjHYY/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fy9JG5UHxNA/T_hO6yFHu_I/AAAAAAAABRs/P7MVMJFjHYY/s320/007.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vfrmmDPvDbE/T_hO7hzd0RI/AAAAAAAABR0/TLQSiR6WJAo/s1600/fall+2010+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vfrmmDPvDbE/T_hO7hzd0RI/AAAAAAAABR0/TLQSiR6WJAo/s320/fall+2010+2.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-16808311810837942062012-06-13T12:55:00.000-07:002012-06-13T12:55:08.659-07:00RebirthMy husband and I sat waiting in the lobby at the Baby Bump for our ultrasound. I quietly glanced around the softly painted room, along the walls there were pictures of newborn babies perfectly positioned creating clever photos similar to the style of Anne Gaddes. I just looked on, not ewwing or awing, just staring. I intentionally avoided eye contact in fear that someone would say something that would require a verbal or physical acknowledgement. I was so drained. I didn't feel I could even muster a fake smile. I felt tired and emotionless. The morning had drained me. I didn't have much left in me. <div><br />
</div><div>My husband has rushed home from post to meet me there. He was dressed in his military uniform. So was the man in front of us. He was with an attractive lady. She had the same tired exhausted overwhelmed look on her face too. My attention was pulled by her expression. I watched the couple closely and silently sent a prayer for her... for him. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Just as I turned my direction back towards the pictures to my left. My husband instantaneously dropped to one knee, grabbing my left hand in his and proclaimed his love for me and our unborn baby. His eyes were so scared and so sincere. Most females would swoon over such a pure and brave public display of affection but I think I was a little embarrassed exhausted and too drained to care. I glanced at him and stared softly into his eyes...</div><div><br />
</div><div> We had been through a bit of a rough morning... I was having a hard time even being there. My head pounded, my eyes laid heavy from a night full of tears. This life, in the smallest second...seems like everything could change. Its so fragile... so delicate... </div><div><br />
</div><div>The ultrasound technician called out my name. My husband quickly stood. He was so eager. We walked back into a nicely decorated but very dark room. A song similar to this one playing now was softly playing in the background. </div><div><br />
</div><div>She put the cold gel on my stomach and slowly started our ultrasound. Our little baby was projected to the big screen directly in front of us. Our baby <i>illuminated</i> the room and in that moment... he shined on my life. We watched our little one kick, flip and thumb suck. Suddenly <i>feeling</i>, that thing called<i> feeling</i> that I thought had poured from my soul that morning...returned. My smile became real and my chest began to swell. I could feel again.</div><div><br />
</div><div> I heard my soldier beside me start to sniffle. I glanced over to see the tears streaming down his face, staining streaks down his skin. When the technician said we would be having a son, he nearly jumped from his seat. He was beside himself with joy.</div><div><br />
</div><div>We sat, watching our beautiful little unborn baby boy. We watched his <i>delicate</i> legs stretch, little fingers move and toes press against me. We watched him pull his hand to his face and slowly our baby Andrew soothed himself to sleep... and then I cried too. </div><div><br />
</div><div><i>There is the wind that rips us, the tide that beats us, the rain that pierces us, the people that drive wedges, the distance that separates us... and all so fragile, delicate this life is, how it weathers the soul until the sun... The sun shines illuminating our world and <b>we are reborn</b>.</i></div><div><br />
</div><div><i>My son, he shines..</i>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bFilKw-ar-s/T9jjCWdgBTI/AAAAAAAABNQ/IZ4yZvepApQ/s1600/photo+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bFilKw-ar-s/T9jjCWdgBTI/AAAAAAAABNQ/IZ4yZvepApQ/s320/photo+(3).JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-35068604464705772792012-06-09T13:53:00.000-07:002012-06-09T13:53:27.074-07:00Country living<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was driving back home from the homestead when I saw the prettiest thing... Square bales of golden hay dotting along the field... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-66113609895493792252012-05-25T11:31:00.000-07:002012-05-25T11:31:02.285-07:00Chickens on the mindThere is nothing like sitting under the summer sun sipping down a tall glass of fresh squeeze lemon aid reflecting with friends and family. Often enough you talk about your hopes, dreams, <i>remember when's</i> and the, <i>If I could do it all over again</i>'s. Sit on down and pour ya' a glass!<br />
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Recently, I have been thinking about the homestead... <i> I have been thinking about the things that I hope for my family and our children. I have been thinking about the things that I would change in regards to the farm set up, animals and crop.</i> There are a lot of <i>dreams</i> up there brewin' in my noggin'! <br />
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I learned a lot from the homestead chickens. In fact my mother and I have discussed our chicken rearing days at great lengths. We both agree that the French Black Copper Marrans are pretty unique birds and their eggs are absolutely amazing. But they are very flighty and not very hearty. I had problems with them catching colds in the winter months and though they aren't really aggressive, they far from friendly!<br />
But... remember Hijeevey? He was such a good Rooster.<br />
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I felt like the <a href="http://leighscomebychance.blogspot.com/2009/11/just-few-of-my-favorite-pics.html">Barred Rocks</a> were very showy. I was smitten with the idea of raising a dual purpose breed. They were supposedly a good roasting bird (mine were always used in stew) and I couldn't complain with their egg production. They had much to offer. You can sex the chicks easily by their markings and their barred feathering could be used in making flies for fly fishing... Wow, I think I might be selling myself on the breed again! But wait! Not so fast here! We actually enjoyed the Buff Orpington's the best.<br />
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The the Buff Orphingtons won my heart over because of their great personalities. <i>I remember when</i> I released our young pullets into the coop for the first time. One by one they all walked down the plank into the chicken run. The majority of the group that had completed the tasked and loitered around the bottom, watching and cheering for the next to make the trip. Finally at the very last, one little pullet remained. A few of the chickens lost interest and decided to do a little exploring but alas there were still a few in the at the end of the plank trying to coax the last one down. Finally one chicken jumped back to the top of the plank and walked back down. She stopped at the bottom waiting for the timid one to follow. The scared little chicken squawked and paced while searching for the courage. Again big sister jumped to the top and walked down the plank again. I envisioned her at that moment cheering on the timid sister, <i>"Come on down", "Its so easy", "Come on in, the water is fine".</i> Sure enough the timid sister built the courage! Wobbly she held out her wings and quickly walked down the plank. The crowd at the bottom clucked and then dispersed. I kid you not! This is a real true story!<br />
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These chickens have personality! I use to watch them for hours. Many nights I sat writing <a href="http://leighscomebychance.blogspot.com/2011/01/legend-of-sitting-hen.html">stories</a> inspired by the personalities and adventures of our precious Buff Orpingtons.<br />
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How cute was she!?<br />
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Obviously it wasn't just personality alone that won my heart. The Buffs are also prolific light brown egg layers. Usually I had about one Buff Orpington out of the group that would go broody but I wasn't complaining. I was tickled not to have to deal with the incubator. I just really enjoyed the breed.<br />
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<i> If I had it to do all over again... </i>I would go with a small flock of Pure bred Buff Orpingtons. Although I lack patience I would start them off as chicks again. It is a proven fact that it does the heart good to watch things grow. Watching them grow is important in the enjoyment process. I would have a small portable coop (due to our lifestyle). The coop will be aesthetically pleasing and easy to clean. <i>When</i> I do it again...<br />
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I know its early and I will waiting for a while..BUT... but... dreams start from a desire! That desire transforms to an idea... a great IDEA might I add! With a little bit of thought and patience and planning, a DREAM will transform into something AMAZING... a REALITY! So its ok to dream, even if its a bit early.<br />
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This coop INSPIRES ME!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4icgdkTDLrM/T7-s721SUWI/AAAAAAAABMQ/GATkxTU77ZY/s1600/Chicken+coop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4icgdkTDLrM/T7-s721SUWI/AAAAAAAABMQ/GATkxTU77ZY/s320/Chicken+coop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Check this baby out! <a href="http://thewoodprojectplans.com/tag/backyard/">http://thewoodprojectplans.com/tag/backyard/</a><br />
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We are already talking about houses, gardens and chicken coops. ;-)Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-62109482405197374022012-05-21T16:17:00.000-07:002012-05-21T16:17:14.889-07:00I must find my people!To reiterate what I have been saying for the last year of my life, <i>things are changing my friends</i>.<br />
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Here lately I have been trying to get into the swing of things. Alex's last day of school is this week and after that we will be completely and officially transferred to our new town! Hooray!!! I have been waiting for this day for quite some time now! The daily drive from here to the homestead has been a bit much for us all. Being here part of the time and then spending the rest of my time waiting at the farm for Alex to get out of school has made it difficult to get acclimated to our new town.<br />
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Yes, have been doing what I am suppose to in order to kick the transfer into high gear. The basics have been checked off the list. Medical records have been transferred. Schools for the children have been found. Bank accounts have been moved. All the boring tedious stuff has been taken care of.<br />
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Its the whole,<i> making this home</i>, that I have been really focusing on. I have been writing a little more, exploring the surroundings, tending to our meager patio garden and searching out the local hot spots for people like myself, (farmers markets, local craftsmen, popular homesteads, and fishing areas). I have been in search for the local cheap and fun entertainment for children as well. High and low I have searched. I hate to say it but thus far I am coming up a bit short in <i>all</i> areas!<br />
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It is frustrating. This is a big town! Where are the places that offer workshops for children and adults? Where are dairy goat farmers? I need cheese! Where are the bee keepers? We need honey! This town is large enough that the nooks and crannies should be loaded with niche markets.<br />
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This place is over saturated with shopping centers and restaurants filled with consumers but....where are <i>MY </i>people? The people who grow their own gardens, bake their own bread, sew their own clothes? Where are the people who are suppose to inspire me to do more and to be better!?<br />
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It took me a while to find myself but now... Now, I must find my people! Perhaps I just haven't struck gold yet. Maybe its just this town hasn't got on board yet? But what if... what if the whole urban homesteading, going green, and getting back to the basics is/was {GULP} Just a... {deep breaths} a fad!? Will I travel alone in my journey?<br />
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Either way, even at worst case scenario.... I have my work cut out for me...Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-49858228038506797952012-05-14T19:59:00.001-07:002012-05-18T15:30:34.098-07:00Flower PowerFresh from the flower pot garden...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0AaCk5w9jWc/T7HFXel3RhI/AAAAAAAABME/iqUVGIlo9G4/s1600/IMG_8870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0AaCk5w9jWc/T7HFXel3RhI/AAAAAAAABME/iqUVGIlo9G4/s320/IMG_8870.jpg" width="264" /></a></div>I know that it isn't a fruit or veggie but those are coming soon! The Squash and Zucchini plants are growing! I still haven't picked my tomato plants yet. I know, I know already! I need to get the show on the road! Alex will be out of school soon and I will have more time and focus. Until then, I am just stopping to smell the.. Lilies.Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-64080176754661306382012-05-08T19:54:00.000-07:002012-05-08T19:54:13.369-07:00Lovers Caught the Storm.Friday afternoon Juan and I hit the door running. We were so ready for a little R and R by the lake. He already had the truck loaded when I arrived home. We left the house a little after 4:00pm. After a 15 minute truck ride we realized that Juan had left his wallet at home as it was nowhere to be found. Angry at himself, he mumbled all the way back to the house. After searching our home, the wallet still went undetected... That is until it was discovered in the backseat of the truck! <div><br />
</div><div>Ok, so lets try this again. Off we went. We were headed to a little campground at Land between the Lakes in Springville, TN. The Land between the Lakes is a national recreation area between the Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. </div><div><br />
</div><div>We arrive at the same light where Juan had previously remembered that he couldn't remember where his wallet was when I remembered that we didn't remember our fold up chairs!!! There is something about that traffic light! If you are in the area and know that you forgot something but cant remember what it is go to the traffic light by Rural King in Clarksville, you will remember what you forgot! </div><div><br />
</div><div>Determine not to return home again that night we continued on our trip. We finally stopped somewhere outside of Dover Tn and bought folding chairs at the local Dollar General. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I would love to say at this point that we were thrilled and anxious with anticipation of a great weekend but that wasn't the case. Juan was hungry and still mad at himself over the wallet. I was tired and was wondering how exactly a camp fire WITHOUT a beer was going to taste! </div><div><br />
</div><div>We finally made our way down a long gravel road. Towering White Pines filled the empty hill sides. Rusty red pine needles were scattered across the sandy rock littered shore lines as the last of the sun light danced across the water. I stared out of my passenger side window in awe of the magnificent site.</div><div><br />
</div><div>When we arrived at camp we were greeted by Kimber and Benelli, our friends (Mark and Kayleigh) 160 lb Great Danes. Kimber and Benelli were thrilled to have full access to the Lake. After the typical dog greetings of barking and inappropriate sniffing they showed off their romping skills as the ripped off back towards the lake. The fresh air, towering trees, the sound of water crashing against the shore lines, and the great companionship of man and animal alike, put every muscle in my body at ease. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UhDfWNZjNjA/T6nTdmOARFI/AAAAAAAABLc/usLryIfe7eo/s1600/009-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UhDfWNZjNjA/T6nTdmOARFI/AAAAAAAABLc/usLryIfe7eo/s320/009-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
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</div><div>Juan and Mark unloaded our camping gear and started to set up our tent. Kayleigh and I pulled the short straw and had to make a run for fire wood. Luckily the store we bought the rick of wood from also sold fishing license. I needed to get my licensed updated for the year so I took advantage of the time away from camp.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Once we returned, the boys had everything together...except there was just this small little but not so insignificant detail that they left off the tent. "Baby, you forgot the rain gear", I said delicately. "I know babe, we don't need it", my husband said reassuringly. "But hun we are suppose to have rain this weekend, I looked at the weather, will you please help me put it on", I asked. Being a good husband and trying to keep my pregnancy as stress free as possible he didn't argue.</div><div><br />
</div><div> Finally our tent was equipped with rain gear and I couldn't contain myself any farther. Even though the sun was setting, I had to drop a line in the water!</div><div><br />
</div><div>I baited my hook and in less than 5 minutes I felt my first bite. My heart started to pump a little faster! Suddenly I felt a tug and a pull! My line quickly shot to the left and then to the right! "I got one", I squealed in excitement! Juan jumped up to help if I needed it.</div><div><br />
</div><div> I reeled in my catch.... A 4 inch bluegill! Yeah that's right, a whopping 4 inches... and even at that, I may be telling a fish tale! </div><div><br />
</div><div>Juan caught the fever. He threw out his line. After about 20 minutes darkness had settled upon us, along with a swarm of mosquitoes of biblical proportions! We decided to give it up for the night. We retired by the camp fire. The smoke kept the bugs at bay and the entertainment couldn't be beat.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Benelli sat at Kayleigh's feet occasional perking up her ears as Mark and Juan enthusiastically shared their stories about their deployment together years ago in Afghanistan. The camp fire crackled and sizzled as I drifted in and out of the moment to my personal thoughts. War stories had always made me anxious. Maybe it was the atmosphere or perhaps the company, but as I listened on, my anxiety about Juan's future deployments waned.</div><div><br />
</div><div> Knowing the type of men that my husband has been stationed with before puts a little bit of that gnawing anxiety about the future to rest. I listened and laughed at their stories. Oh how boys will be boys! No matter where they are or what they are doing, they will always find a way to horse play. Mark and Juan have great chemistry. I felt sure that their deployment together was made easier because of their companionship. I am glad that fate put Mark and his fiance Kayleigh are here with us. </div><div><br />
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</div><div>After a few hours of camp fire stories,a little before midnight I decided to hit the hay. I hadn't quit drifted off to sleep when my husband tiredly felt his way through the dark tent. He nestled in closely beside me and kissed my cheek. "Goodnight baby", he whispered. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Then one of the sweetest things happened! The first rain drop hit the tent! Thank goodness for that rain gear!</div><div><br />
</div><div> I heard Mark and Kaylee rustling around trying to get their rain gear on in the dark before the down pour. Juan must have been coherent enough to hear all of this as well. "Good call baby, good call", he repeated in a groggy voice. Satisfied, I peacefully drifted off to sleep with a smile on my face. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The next morning I enjoyed a slice of my homemade banana bread by the lake. I shared a bite with Kimber as we watched a blue hereon sweep down in attempts to catch a fish. The poor thing came back up empty handed. I understood its disappointment as I had hoped for fish for breakfast as well. </div><div><br />
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</div><div>We enjoyed a relaxing day by the lake. We fished and ate, swam and ate, talked and ate, and then ate some more! After our steak dinner we all once again gathered around the camp fire. The night was still. There wasn't much of a breeze. The water was quiet. Even the birds were quiet. I thought about how peaceful it was there and then I remembered that we would be leaving soon. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I looked up at the sky. Between the pine tree tops the moon lit the night sky into a pale blue. We were all fairly quiet. Kayleigh broke the silence as she voiced her dread for the next morning. Dismantling camp was on everyone's mind.</div><div><br />
</div><div>After I finished the last of my ginger ale, I was yet again the first to wander back to my tent for some shut eye. Juan followed shortly behind me. We comfortably fell asleep as a nice breeze finally started to stir. At around 11:00 pm I had to go pee. I walked up to the bath house. I could feel the breeze pick up to a steady swift pace. The wind wrapped my hair around my face. I pulled the stray hairs from my mouth. I could hear Mark and Kayleigh down at the camp fire but all I could see was red coals blowing towards the lake. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Tiredly I returned to my warm spot in my tent. About an hour later I was awakened by sound of large rain drops. The intensity increased. The wind blew rain through the open tent windows. Juan and I got up and zipped up the tent. The wind picked up and the rain beat down upon us. We both laid there wide eyed hoping that the storm would soon pass. It didn't. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The intensity of the storm brewed. A tree toppling over and killing us both, much like what happened to my cousin, entered my mind. Just as I was really starting to worry, our rain gear was ripped from our tent shell, leaving us and all our belongings vulnerable to the pouring rain.</div><div><br />
</div><div> Juan jumped up as the front of our tent collapsed. He held it up as the 60 mile an hour winds fought against him. "Hurry baby, put on your shoes, I cant hold it much longer", he said intensely. I was afraid I would slip and fall in wet flip flops so I decided to struggled with my tennis shoes instead. Juan pushed against the heavy wind to keep our tent up. Finally I grabbed what I could of our bags and we made a run for the truck. </div><div> </div><div>As I peeled off for the truck I looked behind me to see Mark and Kayleigh also running for their truck, calling after Kimber and Benelli. I glanced back at their camp site. Their tent was already demolished. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I jumped in the truck and Juan peeled out away from the trees towards the cinder block shower house. He must have been reading my mind! My cell was dead and Juan was pretty sure he had left his in the tent that was now filled with water. We ran to the shower house.</div><div><br />
</div><div> Between the cold rain and the adrenalin, I shivered uncontrollably. "Baby, I am so cold, can we go sit in the truck", I pleaded. Juan was unsure if it was safe but he reluctantly agreed. As we ran back to the truck our heads were beat with nickel size hail. Once inside, I cringed as I heard the ice bounce off the truck. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Finally the hail stopped and the beating rain waned to a lighter but steady pace. Juan and I debated, <i>even if we wait till it quits raining all of our stuff is still soaked</i>. We were both on the same page. We decided to dismantle in the rain, head home, go to sleep and deal with the mess at home after a good rest.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Together we operated like a well oiled machine. Juan worked the outside of the tent as I walked through 2 inches of water to retrieve our saturated linens. We had camp dismantled and cleaned in less that 45 minutes in the pouring rain night sky!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Luckily we made it home with out any major damage to our gear. By Sunday evening all of our gear was cleaned, dried and put away. We laid on the couch wrapped up in each others arms, thankful for each other... and thankful to have found out exactly how well we work together under fire. </div><div><br />
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</div><div>I reflected on the weekend. Sometimes, the magnitude of outside forces has little to do with how well you weather the storm. Its about your companionship, the company that you keep so to speak, like the chemistry between Mark and Juan, brothers in war...or like us... <i>Lovers Caught the Storm</i>. </div><div><br />
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</div>Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-89090973553778409812012-05-07T06:26:00.001-07:002012-05-07T06:26:41.883-07:00The Reintroduction Introduction!!!<br />
In my creepy sing-songy voice... "I'M BACK"!<br />
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So much has happened in the last few months. My life is entirely different now. I felt like my new life wouldn't fit with my old blog. So I had even attempted to start a new one. It wasn't the same for me. The passion and the love that I felt for Come by Chance doesn't compare to anything else I try to write. Come by Chance isn't just a blog for me and its not just my own work of art. It's my expression of who I am.<br />
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HOW LUCKY AM I!? Most people search their whole life looking for the heart of who they are. My spirit has been to hell and back. But I have discovered that I am the same me no matter where I go, what I do, who I laugh with, what I cry about. My life is everything that embodies Comes by Chance. And so.... I am here to tell you that I AM BACK with a world of changes nipping at my feet.<br />
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Those of you who still check in, Thank you for your loyalty. I am going to do better about consistently writing... because well... I AM BACK!<br />
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My first blog post being back, there will be a few changes... I have a few new characters that have been added to our lives. I remarried a few months ago and now it seems that we have a family that is steadily growing. {Wink wink}<br />
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Another upcoming change, I have decided to blog with our real names verses nick names. Perhaps I have been desensitized by frequent internet use (marketing, networking and blogging) But I have rationalized my decision by the fact that we meet strangers every day in real life which logically should be more dangerous, right!? There are many of you that I have met via blog that have become my true and dear life long friends. So this way it will be easier for my new readers to remember all of our names when we become best friends!<br />
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The pictures I have posted on my side bar will gradually start to change. I no longer live on the farm. Although I miss the farm so much that it hurts at times, this only means that there must be another one in my future, right!? Woe....now, now lets not get a head of ourselves! Its not going to be anytime soon! BUT what we will be doing while we are currently living the good life in a townhouse, is, well...we will be living the good life in a townhouse! I have already started on our potted garden and I am very excited already by its growth. I will post pictures soon.<br />
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I am still fishing, hiking, camping, and playing in the mud when I can. So... some things will just never change....{{Sigh}}<br />
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I am so excited and looking forward to reintroducing you to our lives...<br />
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Crap, I just cant wait for another blog post! So without farther adieu...<br />
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Our Reintroduction introduction<br />
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Welcome to our new lives as an average blended American military family! Follow along as we lasso life by the horns and attempt urban homesteading under extreme conditions (small space, rough climates and constant uprooting). Peek in as I attempt to maintain the social and academic lives of two small children (soon to be 3) while learning the ropes to this whole military life. And by all means watch with us as our townhouse garden grows!!!<br />
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This our beautiful and artistic 8 year old daughter Alexandria,<br />
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The handsome and ever so charming 4 year old son named Aubrey,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20kzY2QXouR3JuivA-p8beEuU6M7h5JncrdYvQTWsCOND6IdlYjD0Bu8gHsFEj_R2rdXVLBZ5gGc-7URgHv9Sq5bgK6h6j7_Am2RBJINfGPyQsXc1HFMbBEIsRGDgHeMECAW4cjgFYSJ_/s1600/016-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20kzY2QXouR3JuivA-p8beEuU6M7h5JncrdYvQTWsCOND6IdlYjD0Bu8gHsFEj_R2rdXVLBZ5gGc-7URgHv9Sq5bgK6h6j7_Am2RBJINfGPyQsXc1HFMbBEIsRGDgHeMECAW4cjgFYSJ_/s320/016-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Both kids are so different with their talents and quirks. They add quite a bit of flavor to our lives! I cant wait to meet our third. No telling what we will be in for!<br />
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Last but not least... I am proud to introduce you to my hero...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15Mcue6sB5qzpINUcckCIoNYuU9wxrxSiSUQTcjjcvjieeUs56dPEZk1a9J79D_zaWTKHkzA2vh9NY7xfS_7WDEIbwijTWtRM5AX5PhuLQxHeb-PcP-Qq4Wi2L_eT0BWMIzm0lVp5K4A6/s1600/Juan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15Mcue6sB5qzpINUcckCIoNYuU9wxrxSiSUQTcjjcvjieeUs56dPEZk1a9J79D_zaWTKHkzA2vh9NY7xfS_7WDEIbwijTWtRM5AX5PhuLQxHeb-PcP-Qq4Wi2L_eT0BWMIzm0lVp5K4A6/s1600/Juan.jpg" /></a> My husband Juan is an Infantry Staff Sergeant in the US Military. But he is my hero for completely different reasons beyond the metals that are pinned to his chest. Quite honestly, there are many reasons I adore my husband, of course I would, that's why I married him! But what makes this man so special... his strongest quality is one of the most rarest found. He is <i>promise keeper</i>. When he says he is going to do something, he does it. Whether its take out the trash, pass a class or fix something that has me fretting. He is a man of honor, a man of his word and the man I very quickly fell in love with.<br />
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I look forward to sharing our lives with all of you! Thank you for reading.<br />
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<br />Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-65858741044450890042012-02-18T09:58:00.002-08:002012-02-18T10:33:30.845-08:00The Chapter Ends...I am back at Come by Chance, for the weekend "farm sitting". I am sitting here at the same table that I sat at when I wrote about our adventures here at the <i>Homestead</i>. It is bitter sweet. Sweet to return and smell the fresh air, to hear to rooster crow, smell the scent of crisp hay... It makes me nostalgic... Its an odd feeling being here. I will always think about the memories we made. I often close my eyes and drift back to the pasture where I sat with the warm sun beaming down, Milo's purr heard even over the laughter of my children and the nays of the goat kids. How sweet those summer days were. I sometimes dream of the smells of fresh cut hay. Other days I crave the moments that I had to literally stop and smell the roses. Come by Chance, Its a place that I will <i>always</i> visit but I will never<i> fully </i>return to again... Funny how things change, how <b><i>chance</i> comes and just carries us away.</b><br />
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I received a message from a dear friend not too long ago reminding that it is time to write again. I wish I could just pour out the words like I did before but I just don't have it in me anymore. Its not from lack of desire. There has been many times a day I think about posting a picture or wish to share a funny story. Its not from lack of adventure. It seems with my new life every day there is a new adventure waiting for me... I could say that I just don't have the time like I use to, but we all know if I really wanted to I would make the time... So what is it? Perhaps I have lost my focus. I am so use to writing about the farm life but I now no longer have the farm.<br />
<br />
Life has changed.<br />
<br />
I crave the days of story telling and I think I am going to make an honest effort to get back to it but I am not making promises that I will keep this blog.<br />
<br />
It has became apparent that this chapter has been long gone, and its time to write a knew one...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7RNIS5UP-KM/Tz_kjgf0ZZI/AAAAAAAABKA/c5F_Ef5qL8w/s1600/IMG00289-20120203-0415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7RNIS5UP-KM/Tz_kjgf0ZZI/AAAAAAAABKA/c5F_Ef5qL8w/s320/IMG00289-20120203-0415.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-2322401118196492862011-12-26T09:03:00.000-08:002011-12-27T17:10:49.673-08:00Into the wild<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;"> I woke to the sound of eerie silence Christmas Eve morning. The quiet stillness in the house was almost heart wrenching. I missed the children terribly. It was our first Christmas apart. I rolled over in the bed and stared at the ceiling for about 30 minutes before I decided to "function".</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">As I slipped into my favorite pair of blue jeans and tossed on my hiking boots, I knew I needed to just "step away" from it all, just for the day. Years prior when I was weighed down and needed to rid myself of inner turmoil I sought refuge in the woods. The crunching of the leaves would whisper friendly sounds. The wind would carry away any doubts or fears. The mist from rushing waters refreshed the soul... I always found solace in the wilderness.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">For months I had pulled up the Tennessee department of Environment and conservation website and studied various parks and conservation areas. Out of many of the places I discovered, I had my heart set on the seeing the Walls of Jericho.<br />
<br />
The Walls are found within the 21,453 acre Bear Hollow Mountain wildlife management area. The area extends across the Cumberland Plateau between Tennessee and Alabama along the state line. I never truly understood vast wilderness, and although I know there are far more primitive places in the world... this would eventually be my first taste...</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">I packed dried banana and mango, a couple bottles of water, chapstick and mittens, before calling my father and informing him of my intentions. Before hanging up the phone we made plans that I would make it back on time to have Christmas Eve prime rib with him and my mother.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">"I love you, daddy", I thoughtfully said as I hung up the phone. "I love you too<i> Smooch</i>", he said. (My dad has called me that ever since I was little)</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">I loaded the car and headed toward Alabama. The 21/2 hour long car ride didn't take long at all. My loud obnoxious off key singing amused me greatly as I rocked out to Kings of Leon, Mumford and Sons, Foster the People and so on.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">The road twisted and turned up the plateau. I turned the radio off and rolled the windows down. I inhaled the crisp winter air. I let the atmosphere wash over me. The breeze hit my fingertips that held slightly out of the drivers side window. The views were magnificent. I was happy for the escape.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;"> There were several <em>pull offs</em> along the way. I finally found the parking labeled<i> "hikers"</i>. I was surprised to find three other vehicles in the parking lot.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;"><a data-mce-href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/z16IYKXPTiuMaHaVbF-oJU0sREACIhKkHwEZi7jzTmHdR8shOmfr45SD3QNNNmSdWKafNPlRuB3rPVG5Olq1UysFilHOIogx/401684_204224216331984_100002332205468_430564_1397280670_n.jpg" href="http://api.ning.com/files/z16IYKXPTiuMaHaVbF-oJU0sREACIhKkHwEZi7jzTmHdR8shOmfr45SD3QNNNmSdWKafNPlRuB3rPVG5Olq1UysFilHOIogx/401684_204224216331984_100002332205468_430564_1397280670_n.jpg" target="_self"><img class="align-full" data-mce-src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/z16IYKXPTiuMaHaVbF-oJU0sREACIhKkHwEZi7jzTmHdR8shOmfr45SD3QNNNmSdWKafNPlRuB3rPVG5Olq1UysFilHOIogx/401684_204224216331984_100002332205468_430564_1397280670_n.jpg" height="240" src="http://api.ning.com/files/z16IYKXPTiuMaHaVbF-oJU0sREACIhKkHwEZi7jzTmHdR8shOmfr45SD3QNNNmSdWKafNPlRuB3rPVG5Olq1UysFilHOIogx/401684_204224216331984_100002332205468_430564_1397280670_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both !important; display: block !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 5px !important;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">Dust still stirred around an older dark blue Mercury Sable. A man jumped out of the car leaving the door opened and briskly walked toward the port-a-jon. His little dog jumped out of the car and wandered around the parking lot untethered. I stepped out of the car and looked around. I pulled my phone from my pocket to send my father a text message,"Im here... Alabama hiking trail.".</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">I slipped my phone back into my pocket and inhaled the clean air. I heard the man whistle for his dog. The car door shut. I turned to see the blue mercury exiting the parking lot.<br />
<br />
I stepped onto the hiking trail. The path was clearly marked as it twisted and turned down the plateau. It was fairly easy hiking but it did cross my mind that coming back up might be a different story. I was about 45 minutes in when I came across a fellow hiker. She was a pleasant lady fitted in fairly nice hiking gear. I could tell that she wasn't an amateur as her boots were worn for wear. She was hiking with her three dogs. I stopped and chatted with her for a bit. The largest dog of the three laid down at my feet as we chatted.<br />
<br />
She said I was about 30 minutes from the first <i>walk bridge</i>. She warned me that the hand rail wasn't real stable and advised me to use it more for balance verses something to firmly grasp or lean against. She told me that once I start to see the large cliffs go back farther into the gorge or I will miss the really beautiful parts of "The Walls of Jericho". I assured her that I wouldn't miss it.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">I continued on my way... There was a beautiful spring pouring water down the mountain side.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;"><a data-mce-href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/sDwIAl6iVe-gXZobMePef-pc3jogcY51mZ8OFlj4tOWVyvUoi3CnG6ImmQ0nSj7-7-fkQnXW19LbJpclMCV7NNJ6FUn9KKkz/007.JPG" href="http://api.ning.com/files/sDwIAl6iVe-gXZobMePef-pc3jogcY51mZ8OFlj4tOWVyvUoi3CnG6ImmQ0nSj7-7-fkQnXW19LbJpclMCV7NNJ6FUn9KKkz/007.JPG" target="_self"><img class="align-full" data-mce-src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/sDwIAl6iVe-gXZobMePef-pc3jogcY51mZ8OFlj4tOWVyvUoi3CnG6ImmQ0nSj7-7-fkQnXW19LbJpclMCV7NNJ6FUn9KKkz/007.JPG?width=750" src="http://api.ning.com/files/sDwIAl6iVe-gXZobMePef-pc3jogcY51mZ8OFlj4tOWVyvUoi3CnG6ImmQ0nSj7-7-fkQnXW19LbJpclMCV7NNJ6FUn9KKkz/007.JPG?width=750" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both !important; cursor: default; display: block !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 5px !important;" width="750" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">The trail fluctuated from fairly level to gradually slopping. I came to a rocky area but as I looked around there was a cane break on a gently slopping part of the hillside. I walked towards it to investigate the native shoots.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;"><a data-mce-href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/AAyjQFLuFFPDWsooi5i3n9I6yVrei57KB594UmaVsSNWf68-uIToke55BmUXUWPo9LU5ZhTpUD5Wzs9KxYDTMKi3vHeaMwvq/398065_204871962933876_100002332205468_432575_1275648591_n.jpg" href="http://api.ning.com/files/AAyjQFLuFFPDWsooi5i3n9I6yVrei57KB594UmaVsSNWf68-uIToke55BmUXUWPo9LU5ZhTpUD5Wzs9KxYDTMKi3vHeaMwvq/398065_204871962933876_100002332205468_432575_1275648591_n.jpg" target="_self"><img class="align-full" data-mce-src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/AAyjQFLuFFPDWsooi5i3n9I6yVrei57KB594UmaVsSNWf68-uIToke55BmUXUWPo9LU5ZhTpUD5Wzs9KxYDTMKi3vHeaMwvq/398065_204871962933876_100002332205468_432575_1275648591_n.jpg" src="http://api.ning.com/files/AAyjQFLuFFPDWsooi5i3n9I6yVrei57KB594UmaVsSNWf68-uIToke55BmUXUWPo9LU5ZhTpUD5Wzs9KxYDTMKi3vHeaMwvq/398065_204871962933876_100002332205468_432575_1275648591_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both !important; cursor: default; display: block !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 5px !important;" width="604" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">I turned around to get back on the trail but I had became confused at this point. I looked down and saw the trail ahead and walked towards it. This was possibly one of the many mistakes I had made thus far. I should have focused at that moment to figure out where exactly I came from verses where I was going but I continued on... </div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0.5em;"><div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I could hear people ahead of me talking. Finally a family came briskly moving up hill towards me. I am assuming that the man and woman were actually the parents and the gentleman that was with them was their young adult son. They were also fitted in full hiking apparel. At this point it did start to cross my mind that perhaps I underestimated the hike.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">I took the ebb and flow of the terrine in stride. I finally came to the first<em> walk bridge</em>. I must confess when I saw it I laughed out loud. I wasn't expecting what I found...</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;"><a data-mce-href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/mW63FCbyGc3lJstqtG*Qh9yBgKhMzSy**M9g6KgAJLge4BY4iEKioexjWQywl5wbr8GD6goUOV*MRRCLVcrkqyLRfxALS1fp/014.JPG" href="http://api.ning.com/files/mW63FCbyGc3lJstqtG*Qh9yBgKhMzSy**M9g6KgAJLge4BY4iEKioexjWQywl5wbr8GD6goUOV*MRRCLVcrkqyLRfxALS1fp/014.JPG" target="_self"><img class="align-full" data-mce-src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/mW63FCbyGc3lJstqtG*Qh9yBgKhMzSy**M9g6KgAJLge4BY4iEKioexjWQywl5wbr8GD6goUOV*MRRCLVcrkqyLRfxALS1fp/014.JPG?width=750" src="http://api.ning.com/files/mW63FCbyGc3lJstqtG*Qh9yBgKhMzSy**M9g6KgAJLge4BY4iEKioexjWQywl5wbr8GD6goUOV*MRRCLVcrkqyLRfxALS1fp/014.JPG?width=750" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both !important; cursor: default; display: block !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 5px !important;" width="750" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">Even at this point the trails were fairly friendly. The only real obstacle at this point was my physical condition. Note to self: work out more often.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em;"> I followed the path across a second bridge... urgh.... very similar to the first one but much more stable. After I crossed the bridge I came to a field the sat steadily between the two mountain sides... I felt so far from civilization as I looked towards the vast mountain sides.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em;"><a href="http://api.ning.com/files/etseRon341xab9lLViEpe2HwHBzf4wRRPGqE-ORou6pHd7TNqZFJnfzT17c5HjeLVzdiXlmrhKykRdMCT4JHF7orL7VR*ohP/018.JPG?width=750" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" class="align-full" data-mce-src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/etseRon341xab9lLViEpe2HwHBzf4wRRPGqE-ORou6pHd7TNqZFJnfzT17c5HjeLVzdiXlmrhKykRdMCT4JHF7orL7VR*ohP/018.JPG?width=750" src="http://api.ning.com/files/etseRon341xab9lLViEpe2HwHBzf4wRRPGqE-ORou6pHd7TNqZFJnfzT17c5HjeLVzdiXlmrhKykRdMCT4JHF7orL7VR*ohP/018.JPG?width=750" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block !important; margin-top: 5px !important;" width="750" /></a><a data-mce-href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/etseRon341xab9lLViEpe2HwHBzf4wRRPGqE-ORou6pHd7TNqZFJnfzT17c5HjeLVzdiXlmrhKykRdMCT4JHF7orL7VR*ohP/018.JPG" href="http://api.ning.com/files/etseRon341xab9lLViEpe2HwHBzf4wRRPGqE-ORou6pHd7TNqZFJnfzT17c5HjeLVzdiXlmrhKykRdMCT4JHF7orL7VR*ohP/018.JPG" target="_self"></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em;">Shortly after passing the field the terrain started to change yet again.. The path gradually became rocky and steep. There was a briskly moving stream littered with boulders directly off to my right...</div></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ukK1Bb5aa0/TviB2uEGdzI/AAAAAAAABI8/E8YMHrJ6YhE/s1600/020-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ukK1Bb5aa0/TviB2uEGdzI/AAAAAAAABI8/E8YMHrJ6YhE/s320/020-1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I could feel my energy waning and my ankles were really starting to ache as I wasn't use to walking on such narrow uneven terrain. I kept my determination. "I have came all this way to see something breathtaking, I will see it", I thought.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1gVvkTXr8vs/TviAPxPdETI/AAAAAAAABIw/n9wpq_-m0G0/s1600/009-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1gVvkTXr8vs/TviAPxPdETI/AAAAAAAABIw/n9wpq_-m0G0/s320/009-1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>I pulled my phone from my pocket once again to check the time. It was starting to look like I would be missing Christmas Eve dinner. It was 2:00 pm. It would be dark in a few hours. Taking in consideration the time it took me to get to Alabama and I had already been hiking for roughly 21/2hours. I decided I would give myself 15 more minutes and if I hadn't reached the walls yet I would just have to come back some other time. That thought was greatly disappointing. I needed to make the most of my time so I moved forward along the narrow trails that weaved beside the cliffs.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-415LC3pnwCE/TviFXckB4eI/AAAAAAAABJU/mZuK6QT4P_4/s1600/021-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-415LC3pnwCE/TviFXckB4eI/AAAAAAAABJU/mZuK6QT4P_4/s320/021-1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>About five minutes past this point (referencing the picture above), I realized I<i> might </i>just be in trouble. I recall taking a step and my vision blurred. It felt as if the ground and hillsides moved in a psychedelic manner. I knew then that my blood sugar was low. I stopped for a moment to pull a few strips of dried mango from my back pack. I stared off into the distance....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IJM7jqx2me0/TviHNK3DQrI/AAAAAAAABJg/2yifxVRKrOo/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IJM7jqx2me0/TviHNK3DQrI/AAAAAAAABJg/2yifxVRKrOo/s320/026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I looked at the steep mountain around me. I had a long way back to civilization. I had no choice. The walls would have to wait. I knew that they weren't going anywhere but if I wanted to ever see them again I had to get the hell out of there.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eYrj-FgMQgQ/TviILVgcQ5I/AAAAAAAABJ4/Xsw2ecxhj4U/s1600/025-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eYrj-FgMQgQ/TviILVgcQ5I/AAAAAAAABJ4/Xsw2ecxhj4U/s320/025-1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
"Getting out", was a key motivator in my quick pace. I drank water as I walked rapidly back the way I came from. I started to feel very hot. The first bridge I came to I had to stop and peel off layers of clothing. I had made it just past the second bridge when I started to feel nauseated. I started wreching up mango and water a quarter of a mile later. I would walk a few feet and then heeve into a pile of leaves and walk on again.<br />
<br />
I finally came to the first cane break that had distracted me previously at the beginning of my hike. The path was clearly marked except for this one area. It was hard to distinguish were I had originally came from because all the boulders looked a like to me. I thought I had found a slightly worn path so I took it, but what I had originally thought was a human walking path became apparent that it had been made by the local deer. As I lost sight of the marked trail below me I began to panic. I decided to walk back to the marked trail and try again to find the correct path. I climbed back down. I look right in front of me and it looked as if the path came to a dead end.<br />
<br />
There was nothing but large boulders in front of me. I had a decision to make. I could go back down to the camp site about a mile down and stay the night. That really wasn't a reasonable option. It would be very cold in the gorge at night and I wasn't sure my fire lighting skills were up to par. I thought about the children. They would be returning Christmas morning and I wouldn't be there. My blood sugar was rapidly dropping. I was feeling disoriented and couldn't hold down food. Who knows what kind of physical shape I would be in in the morning.<br />
<br />
I decided to trek straight up the mountain. If I had to sleep on the hillside at night so be it. I felt like eventually I would hit civilization as 16 South runs along the top of the mountain. I also had a better chance for cell phone coverage.<br />
<br />
The incline was much steeper than what I had encountered throughout the day. I prayed as I climbed over boulders and rocks that I didn't accidently slip my hand or foot into a snake den. I continued to vomit in route.<br />
<br />
I gradually lost sight of the trail that I had left behind. I started to have doubts. What If I veered too much to the right or left and I wasn't going straight up from the path at all!?! Did I make the right decision? Panic started to set in.<br />
<br />
I pulled my phone from my pocket. I was "out of network". Fear washed over me... I could see it all coming to head, five o'clock news headliner, "Dumb ass gets lost in the wilderness Christmas Eve". I knew I needed to have a pep talk with myself. "Leigh, chill out, calm down, think, move forward", I said out loud.<br />
<br />
Then once my outer voice became quiet my inner voice spoke out loud. "O GOD!", I whimpered in fear just before I began to dry heeve.<br />
<br />
I stood up and hear two beeps, signaling incoming messages from my cell phone. That was the signal of divine intervention. I now had hope! The first message was from my father, asking me if I was going to be on time. The second one was from my friend Joel asking me if I was enjoying the hike.... My answers at this point were no and NO!<br />
<br />
I messaged my father back. I cant remember what I said but it was something along the lines of. "I'm in the woods, I'm sick and I need help". I sent Joel a message that stated "I'm lost and my blood sugar is low." Neither message went through at the time. I was ready to cry. I was so frustrated discouraged disappointed and LOST! I again had to regain my sanity. The bright side... I got some sort of phone service.<br />
<br />
Again my head started to spin and nausea took hold of me. I dropped to my knees clutching the leaves as I emptied bile onto the ground. I was freezing cold and shivering as sweat dripped from my temple.<br />
<br />
I stood up as I wiped my mouth with the back of my sleeve and pulled the long stray strands of hair back into a pony tail. I dialed 911 on my cell phone. I held the dialing phone in my hand as I hiked on hoping that eventually I would get service. Finally I gave up in fear I would drain my battery. I looked down and noticed I had one bar of service so I dialed my father. My phone cut in and out but I could hear my mom. They had received my messages. I tried to tell her where I was and the situation but the phone cut in and out. I could hear the terror in her voice as she frantically said "I cant hear you. Are you ok? Where are you?"<br />
<br />
"Mom I am off the trail, I'm sick, I'm lost, I was on the red Alabama hiking trail, I came in to the gorge from the ALABAMA side", I yelled as if it would help her hear me through bad reception.<br />
<br />
I hung up and walked on. I finally came to the upper level of the marked path. If I had the energy I would have dropped to my knees and kissed the trail but I knew I wouldn't be able to get back up. I looked down at my phone. It was 3:45. I walked on. My reception still was coming and going. I only felt the alleviation for a few moments. The climbing really depleted my energy and I couldn't even hold down water at this point. BUT I knew I was better off than what I was. I was back on track!<br />
<br />
I continued to get sick along the trail and my cell phone was in and out of coverage area. But apparently I picked up a signal and I had pocket dialed my father. All he could hear in the back ground was me wreching. His panic set in. He felt helpless. He didn't know where I was or if I would be coming home at all. He wiped a dribble of tears from his eyes and called the rangers. He was getting his things together for a rescue.<br />
<br />
My legs trembled as I put each foot in front of me walking forward. Joel had received my message and asked if he needed to call in a ranger. I messaged him back to tell him I was back on the path, sick but I thought I could make it out. Then I lost service yet again.<br />
<br />
I finally reached the hiking trail entrance and immediately called my father. We briefly talked and he let me go so he could call off the search party.<br />
<br />
I was so relieved to make it out, and I learned a lesson among many but ultimately the greatest lesson learned... <i><b>Never underestimate the wilderness... </b></i><br />
<i><b><br />
</b></i><br />
<i><b>AND... </b>Of course there is that lesson that has been burned into us all many times as children...</i><br />
<i><b><br />
</b></i><br />
<i><b>Try once and if you don't succeed, try try try again!</b></i><br />
<i><b><br />
</b></i><br />
<i><b>Alabama bound!</b></i>Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-14593530199133275182011-11-24T08:43:00.000-08:002011-11-24T08:52:17.759-08:00ThanksgivingAs I sit here this morning I am thinking about the holidays... If I squint my eyes<i> real</i> hard and focus on the meaning, I can almost see it....<br />
<br />
I see the faces of my parents...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dJPIMwatVks/Ts5sB6JaOtI/AAAAAAAABHs/KkeVuNEN06s/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dJPIMwatVks/Ts5sB6JaOtI/AAAAAAAABHs/KkeVuNEN06s/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Not too long ago I had to skipped out of work for a morning. I needed to travel back to the country, past the rolling cow filled pastures and roads littered with fallen leaves. I had tell my parents that I wasn't <i>well</i>. That morning... We cried....<br />
<br />
I <i><b>am</b></i> crying now because I am so <i>so</i> thankful that when I squint my eyes to see the meaning in the holidays that I have those loving faces looking back at me...<br />
<br />
My gratitude may not always show but know that it swells and boils over in my heart...<br />
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As I get distracted in this world. It takes my focus. Again I try to see the meaning... I see my brother. My big brother Joshua. I cant explain my connection to him but if you ever had a sibling you are close to then you get it. He is the guy that can always make me laugh to tears. There is no other male in my life that will understand me like my brother Josh.<br />
<br />
The best memories I have was with this kid....<br />
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I am thankful for my Sister. How she came into our lives is blessing in its rawest form. There isn't a thing in this world that I couldn't talk to her about. She is truly one of the strongest people I know.<br />
<br />
Not only is she strong but rare.... Rare in that her external beauty shines on throughout her heart.<br />
I love you Sista.<br />
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I am thankful for my nephew. He was the first born. We got to make all the mistakes with him (smiles), "No kids, just ask Dominick what happens when you eat ice cream sandwiches for breakfast". I am thankful for the strong arms of my nephew. I will never forget that early morning outside the donuts shop. (Happy tears, sad tears, loving tears...)<br />
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I am thankful for my friend Charlie. Our times sitting on the porch watching the leaves fall, talking about the meaning of life, laughing in the circle of trust, cuddle time during "How I met your mother"... and sweet sweet tequila (tah-keel-ya).<br />
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I am thankful for my best friend Holls. Damn.... that's all I can say. I could write a book about us. From 6th grade on... catching the tent on fire, the famous toilet ring, the box of secrets.... the days you didn't leave my side.... the things you said... the things you know.... <b>Monumental</b> is what you are!!!<br />
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<br />
To truly be thankful you have to understand what blessings you have.... you have to embrace every aspect of thankfulness....<br />
<br />
I am thankful for my ex-husband. There is a lot to be said for 11 years... the most obvious, the two beautiful children that we made. Thank you for the memories, the children.... and the friendship.<br />
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So with much effort...<i> I get it</i>. Today I will look over the early Christmas trees, the ceramic turkeys, and fruit filled cornucopias.... and see the people that I TRULY love.... the people I am MOST thankful for.....Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-32627085693087996382011-11-13T11:08:00.000-08:002011-11-13T11:08:37.018-08:00Earning My Degree<i><br />
</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>Come By Chance is in a different place currently but I tell you with absolute certainty, although traveling in a foreign land, the destination has not changed. This is merely training.</i><br />
<br />
The cold seeped from the concrete stoop and bleed through my pajama pants as I sat outside of our small two bedroom apartment in the city. I delicately laid the large stack of unopened bills next to me. I stared across the litter parking lot, watching a candy wrapper flit and bounce with the breeze. O how I was craving the woods. I squinted my eyes for a moment. I pretended the trash was a blissful delicate autumn painted leaf... Then shaking free from my fantasy, I looked around, "I cant believe I thought<i> this</i> was a good idea", I sadly reflected.<br />
<br />
As I wrapped my arms tighter around me, the wind blew splinters of cold through my jacket. I inhaled the evenings cold air. With each detoxifying breath, calm cleansing and deep, I exhaled each crisis of the day.<br />
<br />
Just as I was releasing the stress, my doubt crept back in. A tight knot formed in my stomach, " BUT, what am I doing here and why?"<br />
<br />
The sirens from the hospital had started to drown out my thoughts. Then drawing my attention to the right, a sound closer to home. A car door five spaces down slams shut. A young mother screams at a man still standing beside the older white Honda, "your a fucking jerk", she says as she angrily fumbles for the correct door key. I just sat there gawking at their intimate BUT yet public display.<br />
<br />
The pizza delivery guy pulls in next to my car. With little notice he casually walks in my direction. Still avoiding eye contact he says "whats up", but then absently hovers over me. "Its not mine", I snipped. Without a word he turns and knocks on my neighbors door... The smell of fresh pizza reminds me that I have almost a week before my next pay day.<br />
<br />
My cell phone rings. I can feel my heart rate hasten as I see its an ex-boyfriend calling...<br />
<br />
The sounds of sirens fade into the distance. The couple's bickering is no longer seen behind their closed door. The smell of pizza fades from my senses. My calm is restored as I pressed <i>end</i> to my ringing phone.<br />
<br />
I'm here in this place. So far home, finding my way is going to take focus and determination. At times it will feel like I my efforts are insurmountable.<br />
<br />
It is easy to react in the calm. Focus is simple in perfect conditions. It is when the chaotic world around us that pulls us in every which direction do we learn what true focus and determination is.<br />
<br />
There will be times when I am listening off into the distance or wondering about someone else's life. There will be times when I am envious of others simple fortunes and times that I just have to shut off my feelings... but in the end I will steady myself and find my focus. I will regain my footing. I will learn to hear the breaths of my sleeping children over the the sirens echoing around me. I will focus on my soft inner voice over the yelling of others.. I will find happiness in the blessings of other people and I will have a love that's all mine again.<br />
<br />
When I look at the world around me, I realize the magnitude of cause and effect and the toll it takes on our senses. Our reactions count!<br />
<br />
A few years ago after hitting a road block, I mastered the art of being self sufficient. I can grow a garden and raise healthy livestock. I am capable of ending an animals suffering and carving a simple bowl out of fire wood. I have conquered many of the physical tasks life can bring. I <i>can</i> and <i>have</i> embraced the simple life.<br />
<br />
It is only here in this place of chaos that I have moved on to the next stage in this educational degree of life... Now I have complex task of learning to Master<i> ME</i>....Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952975163957528731.post-22805890644548944122011-08-13T06:17:00.000-07:002011-08-13T06:22:44.543-07:00Stepping ForwardTime leaves no traces, no paths leading backwards.<br />
<br />
Time knows no reverse.<br />
<br />
Time is a force not a measurement.<br />
<br />
It pushes us.<br />
<br />
It propels us, whether it be willingly or unwillingly into the the future.<br />
<br />
Time creates a light often masked in darkness.<br />
<br />
And each <i>step </i>in time is <b><i>MONUMENTAL</i></b> second.<br />
<br />
<b>BE THERE!</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
Be there in that moment and make it golden.<br />
<br />
A golden second in time.... a golden force...<br />
<br />
Because time is untraceable, immeasurable in the realm of <i>living. </i><br />
<br />
And once that beautiful golden second is gone it can never be recaptured again...<br />
<br />
From there, the golden hour of time, those <i>memories</i> will shine a light into the future...<br />
<br />
Which reaffirms the importance of making every second count,<br />
<br />
Make every moment golden.<br />
<br />
Its the only way to light the path ahead.<br />
<br />
<i> Time leaves no traces, no paths leading backwards. Time knows no reverse.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>Time is a force not a measurement.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>It pushes us. It propels us, whether it be willingly or unwillingly into the the future..... </i>Leigh, Andrea Leigh Gilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627283116565322436noreply@blogger.com7