Mudder Set Go...

Cue the Rocky music...

He's trained for months. Learned that there are a few more calories in a brownie than asparagus. Switched to whole wheat bread, and brown rice. Cut out all deserts...lies...most deserts! And by doing intense workouts six days a week, sometimes twice a day...he has lost fifteen pounds and several inches. No more love handles on this guy!

He is a lean mean mudder machine!

He is Mudder Ready.Tough Mudder ready that is!

We are in Dallas for the race on Saturday morning. Stay tuned...event pics to come. Good luck Deano...I'm just so proud of your commitment and your effort!

Henry's One-derful Cake Smash

I can hardly believe it's been a year since this sweet boy was born.

It seems as if we just shot Olivia's First Birthday Cake Smash...oh wait we did, just 6 months ago!

 Henry is an all-american one year old boy.

 He loves his one-derful chocolate cake.

Being ever so careful not to miss a bit of frosting!

Henry also loves his one-derful Nana! 

 Num nums...he learned that from his big sister Olivia!

 Wearing frosting on your pants might be the latest fashion.

 And look who woke up from her nap to join the cake smash...Henry's one-derful sister Olivia.

 Brother and Sister share so one-derfully!

 Henry thinks this is ONE great cake you guys...

and one-ders if he will get one of these tomorrow too?

Of course you will Henry...anything for my number One grand son!

Windows To Heaven

Because today is March 22nd and I awoke with the overbearing magnitude of loss...and there is nothing I can ever do to make this day any better...I dream.

I dream of windows into heaven...crystal clear and sparkling with rays of eternal sunshine. Where the glint of one radiant beam of light deliberately strikes a certain red-head, lighting her soul; making her easily distinguishable by her Momma. Jocie's contagious laugh and huge smile spread across her lightly freckled face as she too recognizes the opening in the heavens.

And for just a serendipitous moment our eyes connect; those same fresh from heaven blue eyes that looked up to me on the day she was born. No words need to be exchanged, just a connection between souls...one on heaven and one on Earth A connection which embodies more words than an entire dictionary. Just a dream...but it's what will carry me through this day...that and love from all of you.

Today and every day...may both yours and my dreams come true.

Finding Meaning Amidst March Winds

March is here...thirteen days of it so far. The slight breeze sweeping along winter brown grass brings a  promise of Spring days to come...along with a clear memory of that breezy March day almost four years ago. The reminders are fiercely forefront in the air, the soil, and my Mamma heart. Yearning for The Red One swells.

Gorgeous, brilliant eighteen year old Allisa passed away from a brain tumor just two months ago...meeting her parents both warmed and tore at the scars of my heart. As new members to the Lost Child Club, Allisa's Mom and Dad appear strong, vibrant and thriving. They are amazing; focused on the important details of living a genuine life after such devastating loss! In keeping with the purpose of jiggystick we surprised them with a unique memorial jiggystick honoring their daughter, a small gift for her friends and family. A one of a kind label designed just for Allisa...favorite colors, favorite berry, and favorite flower...Gerber daisies. Jocie's favorite too!

We discussed the life and death of two young beautiful girls and the impact of a legacy cut short but immortal just the same. And finding meaning in a world absent of our daughters.

A big thank you to an incredible group of on-line photography friends from Snapshots of A Good Life.  Their encouragement, love for me and support of jiggysticks has been overwhelming. They are the dearest, sweetest girls I've never met!

The Alissa Berry Berry jiggystick...just what I needed on this breezy March day. It's bright and cheery...filled with love...just like Alissa!

The Cass in the Coat

 Coats...I seem to have a lot of them.

But my favorite is this pink one. One day I was out and about having left my pink coat at home. Later that evening...I discovered this series of photos "someone" had taken using my iPhone.

The sun did not shine, it was too wet to play.

So they sat in the house all that cold, cold, wet day.

"I know some good games we could play" said the Cass.

"A lot of good tricks, I will show them to you. Our mother will not mind at all if I do."

. 

"I know it is wet and the sun is not sunny. But we can have lots of good fun that is funny."

"Take it off", said the Henry..."this is no fun at all"!

"Take it off", said the Hank, "I just want to crawl".

"Look at me! Look at me! 

Look at me NOW!

It is fun to have fun. But you have to know how."

Later that day when I had returned...I said to those two, 

"Did you have any fun? Tell me, what did you do?"

Should they tell me about it? Now what SHOULD they do? 

Well...What would you do if your mother asked you?

Snips and Snails

What are little boys made of?

Snips and

snails and

puppy dog tails

 That's what little boys are made of.

Squishy and chubby

 filled with insatiable curiosity

and maybe just a little bit of adorable naughtiness.

Little boys are mesmerized by anything with wheels


and bouncy rolly-polly balls.

Big boys and little boys like to play together as it seems they love the same things.

Eyes full of wonder

and a face full of giggles

little boys too soon grow up.

But not today... because today this little boy just wants to snuggle with his mama.