Yes I did just say Clay Aiken

So, if you're new around here, there's something I might should tell you.

I love Clay Aiken. 

I do. There was a period in my life, even, when I would proudly, happily refer to myself as a Claymate. I was a card carrying member of the fan club for not one, but two years in a row. I may have even attended a concert, or two. OR SEVEN.

Now, we HAVE grown apart in recent years. Something about him not returning my calls and deciding that he wanted to sing old lady songs take his music in a different direction. (I'm sorry. Was that mean? Okay. I really love Unchained Melody. I can get behind that one. But Moon River? It's just not my speed.) 

Even though Clay isn't actually on my ipod playlist anymore, I still say the guy has one of the most amazing voices I have ever heard. He still gives me chills. I still think he rocks. I would still act like a ridiculously giddy school girl if I ever had reason to meet him in person. 

And now because it's Christmas and because his voice really is just so pretty, a song for you. Or maybe two.

(As a bonus, this video is really wonderful too. Didn't have anything to do with it... just found it on you tube. Enjoy it yes, just um, as a side, don't forget it's Clay that's singin')

And one more... I wish I had a better recording of this song. I love the words.

Sisters

This picture? This is my sister. That baby in her lap? That's me. 

I love this picture. I love that she's looking at my tiny baby fingers. I love the look on her face and the clip in her hair. I love this picture because it was the very beginning of us. 

And I love us. 

This picture? This is Lucy holding Ivy. 

I love this picture. I love the look on Lucy's face and the clip in her hair. I love that the baby looks just like the baby in the picture up there. The picture that is me. Because she is mine and she is me and my girls will be there for each other just like my sister is there for me. 

(This all makes me a little emotional. Can you tell?)

I love sisters. I love old pictures. I love babies. 

The end.

****************

In other Monday news, my awesome blog friend Carrie got hit in the head or something and decided that I deserved to be featured on her blog. I realize I just posted something else like this on Friday, what with the whole Friendly Friday thingydoofloppy, but that was about blogging, and this, this is a little more special. Mostly because even though I've never met Carrie I consider her a dear friend and am so honored that she would feel inclined to mention me at all. If you feel so compelled and have nothing else to do with your day, you can read her questions, and my answers by clicking here. 

Carrie's Strong Woman Spotlight #7

And while you're there, take a click around Carrie's blog. I LOVE the way she writes - she is real and honest and has marvelous perspective. If you feel like reading a love story, click over to this page and read Carrie's series of posts that led up to her tenth anniversary. It'll make you happy. I promise.

Ten Days to Ten Years 

Friendly Friday

Ahem. So today, on this marvelous friday, my little old blog is one of three featured blogs on Friendly Friday, over at "Thanks, Mail Carrier." Why, you may ask? I haven't the foggiest idea. But I'm not one to complain when someone wants to call me special.

If you're a regular around these parts, please do disregard completely the remainder of this post. And if you're new... well, I'm not really sure what you should do if you're new. I guess you might want to know a little something about me. But see, I have this problem when I meet new people. Generally, my voice gets really loud and my words start pouring out one on top of the other without paying the slightest bit of attention to what came before, and what might possibly come after. In short, my mouth runneth amuck. 
For your sake, I'll try to be concise. I'm a mother to five children, a writer, unpublished, but hoping to be published, a wife, and a southern girl that likes to say things like "these here parts" and "I'm plum tuckered out." I like to blog about my family,  my faith, and this, my mothering journey. And it IS a journey. With this blog, I try to find and focus on the joy of it all. Because even when it's hard, when the climb is steep and the way seems much too dark, there is always joy to be found. 
Up above, there are a few links I hope you'll click on. About Me, um, well yes, that one tells you all about me. And the Best of MommySnark tab takes you to a list of posts I'm most proud of, those that I hope are the truest expression of this person that I am, or at least that I'm trying to be. 
And finally, just thank you. Thank you for stopping by, for taking the time to read my ramblings. I hope you'll stay awhile.

Christmas Spirit

This makes me cry every single time I watch it. EVERY SINGLE TIME.

 


Have a Merry Christmasy week! Also, don't forget to leave a comment on yesterday's Servicemen Sunday post. Servicemen Sunday: Corbin

Servicemen Sunday: Corbin

read the WHY of Servicemen Sunday by clicking on the button below

When he made the decision to enlist, Corbin knew it had to be with the Marines. He'd done his research, talked to some vets and some career Marine families. It was a good fit. He knew that what he needed was direction and purpose. After all, life is what you make of it. On his daughter's third birthday, the day that he enlisted, Corbin knew it was time to do just that - to make his life into something he could be proud of.

Boot camp just ended last month. Corbin didn't just survive, (though I hear when it comes to boot camp for the Marines, survival is sometimes all you can hope for) he served as 1st squad leader for his platoon, qualified as an Expert Rifleman, and made his Mom, Melissa, very proud.  

It isn't necessarily an easy time to enlist - when the possibility of deployment looms overhead. For Corbin, Afghanistan could very well be in his future. But wherever his training and service takes him, Melissa and her husband know that for their son, this is the right thing at the right time. Even better, they know that Corbin knows it too. 

Melissa blogs about her son's experiences in the Marine Corps every week on her blog, That's What She Said, on My Marine Mondays. Visit her there, and if you feel so compelled, please leave a comment here, thanking Corbin for his service, and for his honorable decision to serve as a United States Marine. One click, one comment. He deserves it. Even better, grab a button. Spread the love. Send your friends and fellow blog readers. If nothing else, don't forget to always, always keep our brave servicemen and women, and their families, in your prayers.

<center><a href="http://mommysnark.blogspot.com/2010/12/servicemen-sunday-corbin.html"><img border="0"src="http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae135/MommyJJ1/servicemensundaybutton.jpg "/></a></center>
Would you like to nominate someone for a spotlight? I'd love to hear from you. mommysnark@gmail.com 

A Winner. And a photo. Perhaps a winning photo?

So happy that my good friend, in real life, AND in blogging, Cindy won a copy of What Think Ye of Christmas? If you didn't, please oh, please consider buying yourself a copy. It will be cherished. I promise.

My entire family was together last week for Thanksgiving. Oh, holy heaven were there some moments of chaos. There were moments that, in the moment, I might have considered not quite worth all the chaos. I think I was sitting down to enjoy my Thanksgiving dinner for all of about eight minutes before I was back up getting gravy for one kid and refilling the Gingerale of another. It was loud. It was busy. And yet, it was so completely full of love, so full of the joy that only comes from family, I realize in hindsight, there wasn't a single thing to complain about.

I know it's crazy and loud and busy. But I also know it's joyful. Truth is, these people just make me happy.

And that is something to be grateful for. Chaos, and all.

What Think Ye of Christmas?

The truth is, I've been thinking a lot lately about what I think of Christmas. I've been pondering the true meaning of this holiday, searching for ways to teach my children the why of all this that we do - the tree, the lights, the presents.

Have you seen this book yet? My blogging friend, Jana Winters Parkin, a beautiful person and a gifted artist recently illustrated this little Christmas book - a treasure of beauty and simplicity that summarizes the very heart of the Christmas season.  The book is a gentle reminder to see Christ in all that is the Christmas season - in the giving, the decorating, even in the hustle and bustle of being busy. And the illustrations? Oh, how breathtaking they are.

This one here? I want to hang it in my house.

This beautiful Christmas book is available for purchase by clicking here:
Buy What Think Ye of Christmas?

You can also view all the fine art from the book by clicking here:
What Think Ye of Christmas? Art

But wait... I intend to buy several of these lovely books as gifts for friends and family members and would love to buy one for one of you as well. If you'd like to have your own copy of What Think Ye of Christmas?, leave me a comment and let me know. It will make me oh, so happy to be able to share it with one of you.

If you haven't done so before, you must also click over to Jana's blog Divergent Pathways. Jana, who blogs under the name Charrette is such a lovely writer and has such a beautiful perspective. To coincide with the release of her book, she shared the story of how it all came to be in the first place. You can read the series of posts that tell the touching story by clicking here. It'll make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, I promise. Don't forget though, before you go searching for warm fuzzies, leave me a comment so that you might get your very own copy. Then I'll be the one to feel all warm and fuzzy inside.