Day 4 into 5 - making up for mistakes

Well yesterday was not a good food day. To be honest, I think it was more a bad soda day. I had a 32oz, two mediums and a 30oz frozen Coke. I also had McDonald's for lunch. Be I did run and I spent most of the day cleaning out the garage so that helped. 

Today I had no desire to wake up and workout. But I knew tomorrow might be iffy and I needed to make up for yesterday. I hope it helped. It's Friday and weekends are usually the worst. Hoping to try and not be completely horrible. 

Day 3: getting a little easier

Today was day 3 of my journey. The good news is I'm moving in a positive (or negative) direction. My weight has gone down but we'll see how that stands at the end of the first week. 

Still trying to work on the eating thing but I'll get there. I'm appreciative of my workout buddy Sandra. Yesterday we did our first group workout and home to do it once a week. 

Day 1

It was fairly muggy when I went out for my run at 6am. To be honest, I didn't really feel like running at times. But I did it. 

Not the best eating day. I had a 32oz frozen Coke and some popcorn from target. But I have to take it all one day at a time. And I'm logging all of my calories so I'll be accountable. Baby steps

Tomorrow, Sandra and I will be doing a motivational walk workout. My hope is maybe we can make these a weekly thing. She's been so motivated for a year now. I'm hoping to have some of that rub off. 

So here's the facts (note that measurements were done by me so they may not be perfect)

Weight - 182.4

Waist - 39.5

Hips - 44

Chest - 40.5

The day before...

This is me. The day before I begin my next journey. Going for a healthier, successful, balanced, satisfied me. I LOVE my life. But I don't always love my body. And I always seem to have goals that I put on a list but don't chase. So that's my plan. And I'm hoping to capture my journey here. 

The Art of Communication

It's been just over five months since Jeff and I were married. And every day it gets better. We are simply comfortable together. And as the months have gone on, we have discovered more and more ways to be comfortable with each other. We are learning the great Art of Communication. On a Saturday afternoon, about a month after we were married, I announced to my husband that I was going to the grocery store. We were out of just about everything. So when I arrived home about an hour later, I was loaded down with all sorts of goodies. I pulled into our attached garage, grab as much as I could and headed inside. We live in a split level home, and my husband was "downstairs" in the family room which is just inside the house from the garage. He was playing his favorite computer game...I let you guess what the name of it might be. In any case, he was 2 feet from the door I entered through. I staggered in the door and up the stairs to dump my items in the kitchen. Then back downstairs to get more. On the third trip when I was grabbing the two 12-packs of soda and close the car door, I was NOT a happy person. My husband had not moved. I was so mad. In fact, I slammed the door when I came in for the last time. I think that got my hubby's attention. He turned away from his computer and said "Hi Hon, need some help." I sooooo wanted to rip his head off. But I simply said "Well you could have helped me with all of the bags." And bless his heart, he was so apologetic. He told me that he would have happily helped me if I had asked. He just wasn't paying attention. I just stared at him for a minute. How could I be mad. He was right. I technically hadn't asked him to help. But I had ASSUMED he would hear me huffing and puffing. So, the next time I needed help with something and the next time I came home from the grocery store, I marched right in the door and said "Honey, I'm home, can you help." And he emptied the entire car. He is a doll and very considerate of others. He just needs someone to ask. And I have learned to ask for help. I had a friend in college that always used to say "When you assume, you make an ass out of u and me." Darn if he wasn't right. I no longer ASSUME anythng in our marriage.

Colors of our world

Our latest home adventure has been painting. I have to tell you from the start that my husband is both very patient in this area and very agreeable. While he may have an opinion, typically his answer is "whatever you'd like, honey". I think I mentioned a few days ago that, before I moved in, e walls on his house were all construction cream. The house that I owned was far different. I was fortunate that the person who owned my house previously gave it the "Pottery Barn" treatment. Each room had been painted a very inviting color. The only changed I had to make was to the bathroom - pale aubergene. What a lovely name and a beautiful color. With the finishing touches of my fleur de Lis shower curtain hooks and purple shower curtain, it was magnificent.

So I made the decision immediately to bring pale aubergene with me. And in only his way, Jeff said "whatever is fine with me, honey". So our first guest bedroom suddenly morphed from drab to dramatic.

As with any other engaged couple, we went through the task of registering for gifts. This is where construction cream came in handy. We were able to select colors and styles for each of the bathrooms, our bedroom and one of our guest rooms. And our friends and family could help make our house a home. I already had everything I needed for the purple bathroom. Our next task was the 2nd guest bathroom. I'm not sure why I picked black and gold...other than the fact that I am a HUGE New Orleans Saints fan. And while there are no helmets or footballs in the room, there are black and white sketches of New Orleans and a black and gold Mardi Gras mask in the wall. If it weren't a small bathroom, I might even consider a black "chandelier" but I think that would be too much.The final creation was our master bathroom. I have to admit, I had no idea what color scheme might work best in this room. Our master bathroom is quite large. It's almost the size of my bedroom at my old house. I LOVE it. Nice soaking tub and a separate shower. And just enough room between the double mirror and vanity to add a 19" tv/DVD combo on the wall for watching during my soak or when I get ready in the morning. I know, a tv in the bathroom?!?! Most people laugh but most are very anxious to see it when they come over. The last touch was to find the perfect color for the walls...God Bless automatic color match. I had selected a beautiful shower curtain for our registry that had a cream, brown and seafoam green coloring. I simply took it to my local Lowes, they plugged it into their computer and poof! Out came the perfect shade of bluish, greenish, grey.

I knew I married the right man when he didn't bat an eyelash at any of the colors that I brought home....next up, the front room/kitchen. I'm already head to Lowes to find the perfect RED!!! More to come....

Oh what a difference a year (or two) can make...

It's been almost two years since I last blogged. And life has changed so much! For starters, I met the most wonderful, caring man and we got hitched! That's right, this Southern Belle married a Yankee. Well, half Yankee. Which works out perfectly because, I am half Yankee myself.

It's been almost 4 months and I can honestly say that I love him a little more each day. He is truly a good-hearted person. There may be people that he doesn't like, but he will simply say that he doesn't like them. He doesn't talk bad about them or try to put them down. That's amazing to me and something I am trying to do myself.

We are very fortunate that this is the first marriage for both of us. But with both of us being older and more settled in our lives, it has been a bit challenging. We decided to live in his house...excuse me, our house. This meant either selling or renting my house. I am fortunate to have some friends that were looking to rent. Their lease will be up in a few months and we will begin the adventure of "what now."But, as with everything else, we'll cross that bridge when needed.

The second adventure was combining two households. Both of us had quite a bit of...stuff. And we both had very different ways to handle things. Since I was the one moving, I chose the "just give it away" approach. Is took 3 car loads and one trailer load but it all went to either the Salvation Army or ReStore which is run by Habitat for Humanity. Hubby has quite a few collectibles and so we are still working on what will stay and what he might sell. But for now it's all in one closet downstairs so he has plenty of time to sort.

And bless his heart, he has done well with my decorating take over. Before I moved in he'd lived there for about 5 years. And the walls were still standard construction cream. We've now tackled painting three bathrooms and are about to start on our bedroom and the family room. By the end of summer everything should look very lived in...and then maybe we'll have a new adventure....something a little "smaller" ;)....stay tuned.

Spring evening

So tonight I decided to do the ultimate relaxing thing....I built a fire in my fire pit in my backyard and sat on my little chair and read a book....How cool...I think it's the first time I've done that since I moved into the house. It was so relaxing and kept me nice and warm since it was a little chilly out. I did have to do quite a bit of work to keep it going and get it started but it was incredibly relaxing. Just another ordinary miracle of home....

Spring has Sprung - Even in my yard

So my new focus of my blog is from a line that my mom once said to me - "Wherever you are is home." So I'm going to share some pictures and stories of how I am making my house a home. These are pictures of flowers that have come back or come up around my house already.

I planted tullips! I planted these bulbs last fall and as they started to come up this spring (much to my amazement) I couldn't remember exactly what I had planted. But they have small buds on them and will likely bloom in the next day or two so more pictures to come!

This was the most amazing discovery that I made this year. These are mums...that I planted last year. I have never been able to get mums to come back for a second year. And I've actually never had much luck with growing anything is this particular patch of garden. We'll see if they bloom but I'm just amazed that they have returned!

This is called an estillbe...or maybe it's an astillbe. But I think the first spelling is correct. Last year, a very dear friend of mine who is a master gardener went with me to find some pretty flowering plants to put in a very special garden area. When Lagnaippe (my youngest kitty) died suddenly at only 4 years old in November 2008, we buried her in a back corner in my back yard. I had several hostas in the garden and figured I had destroyed them when we buried her. But sure enough, last spring the all came back. And so Larry selected a white and a red estillbe to add to the garden for some color. Well to my surprise, they are coming back beautifully!

And this is my final floral discovery. Some of the hostas that I have planted next to the house in yet another garden that I have had little luck with. These were planted two years ago and have begun their return once again. In just about a week or two they will be blooming everywhere!

So enjoy the garden and I hope to have some more pictures as things grow!

Black and Gold Superbowl

Well I NEVER thought I would actually type this out but the Saints are going to the SUPERBOWL...yes, the New Orleans Saints. It was an amazing experience. I was so overwhelmed with emotion from the start of this trip. I think I almost cried when I first walk through Louis Armstrong Airport. And our tailgating was incredible. More boiled crawfish than even I could eat. And king cake, beer, alligator sausage (yes I ate it, very yummy). But it wasn't until I got into the Dome and the game was about to start that I realized exactly where I was and what I was doing. I was about to watch my first Saints game from the Dome since 1991...and they were playing for the NFC Championship and a chance to go to their first Superbowl...and I cried...not just a little but enough that everyone around me, even the grown men, felt the emotion. And they understood. Most had been here all along....most had suffered through Katrina....and when they got home, they cried. And so they knew exactly what I was going through.

The game, itself was so close the entire time. And to go into overtime. I just knew they had to get that ball and they had to make it down field. To stand there, with the same grown men, and watch impatiently as the Minnesota Vikings called a time out to delay the field goal just a little bit longer, was amazing. I had grown up in this city. Who I am is defined by this very place and this very moment. And then the ball just sailed through....I am not sure if I even saw it go through...I just saw the emotion...of the players, of the fans, even my brother cried. And for just a moment, New Orleans was truly the greatest city in the US...although I always knew it.

The themes that the team as always had "Faith." "I believe." They all came to this moment. And what a moment it was. Regardless of what happens in Miami, this city had it's moment in this place that was once a place of horror and destruction. And that's what I'll remember most.

On the road again

Well I'm off...ok, so I'm at least at the airport. I'm waiting for my flight to O'Hare. A little nervous because there is fog in Chicago and a light rain. I'm hoping that it doesn't delay any flights. Things are clear in Houston so I should be fine once I get there....and if worse comes to worse, I'll borrow a car from Susan and drive the 6hrs from Houston to New Orleans. I don't care. I'm going home!

I just passed a woman at the snack counter at the airport that was wearing a black and gold jacket with a Saints logo on the back. So me, in my gray tshirt with "Saints" in big letters across the front, tapped her on the shoulder and asked "are you going home for the game." She said "YEP!" We're everywhere.

And yesterday brought even more excited news---my brother said one of the guys that they tailgate with ...who's nickname is Lunchbox...has decided to boil 200 pounds of crawfish for the tailgate party. I haven't had a crawfish in so long I'd almost say I don't remember how to eat them...but that is of course not true.

And so the journey begins....

"I'm goin' home, to the place where I belong..."

I love the song "Home" by Daughtry. It's the perfect anthem for my upcoming trip. Most people are very surprised when I tell them that I have not been home to New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina hit. I've made plans several times but they always seem to fall through. Well in just a few days I'll be heading home and I cannot wait. It's a very short trip but a very special occasion...at least for me. The New Orleans Saints will be playing in the NFC Division Championship Game....and they will be doing it in the Superdome. It's only the 2nd time in the teams history that they have made it this far. The last time, ironically, was in 2006, when they played the Chicago Bears. But this time, they are playing at home...the dome...the place where so many people were stranded during the storm...the place that was basically ripped apart when the people were stranded. But the place that made me cry when I saw the Saints run onto the field for the first time after they fixed it up.

I know that no matter what happens at the game, I will cry. I will cry because I'm home. I will cry because I am proud. I will cry because it's not where I am every day. But as much as I love New Orleans and as much as I am who I am because I was raised there...it's not where I need to be right now. But who knows....so I hope my loyal follower and anyone else who stops by will enjoy the chronicles of my journey. I promise to post LOTS of pictures as well.

So as we'd say Les sais les bon temp roulez! (I don't think I spelled it right but it's LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!)

There's No Business Like Show Business

It's been so long since I've had an ordinary miracle...actually I've had many. I just haven't had a chance to blog in a while. This evening I finished a two weekend run of "Evita." I was in the chorus and had several bit parts. I LOVED it. Which was very surprising to me because when I initially started listening to the music, I wasn't all that escited about it. I'm more of a "Rogers and Hammerstein" girl. I think my favorite musical is a toss up between "The King and I" and "Once Upon a Mattress." Both very different from "Evita."

But what a great drama and a wonderful story. And to be a part of such a great group of people was...well an ordinary miracle. Actually I have to admit, many of my theatre experiences have been ordinary miracles. They are filled with new challenges, wonderful music, difficult dances but most of all great friends. Some new and some old, but all a special part of my life. People have said before "Why would you do a show if you aren't a lead." And I've always answered, it's more about the people that you get to work with. In all honestly, sometimes you have more fun as a chorus member because you get to experience the people more. But each show that I've done has been a blessing. And I'm thankful to be able to share the stage with so many talented--and FUN people. "Let's Go On With The Show!!!"

WHO DAT Nation

Now if you're reading this and you aren't a New Orleans native you are probably wondering--what is WHO DAT Nation....well I'll tell you. Years and years ago someone started a chant in the New Orleans Superdome during a Saints game...."Who Dat, Who Dat Who Dat Say Da Gonna Bet Dem Saints."

And a whole nation was started. Who Date Nation is what they call the legions of Saints fans and tonight I was fortunate enough to meet a few members all the way up here in Peoria. And so I think we have started our very own Peoria Area Who Dat Nation.

Nothing is more exciting than meeting people from home. I met an older couple--they had children that are probably 5 years younger than me--that had been transplanted up to Peoria from Mandeville, Louisiana about 3 years ago. They're children still live in Louisiana and we started exchanging stories while watching the Saints-Dolphins football game at a local pizza joint that had television screens in every booth. Then we started worrying about the game--as they saints were down 24-10 at the half. But as the 2nd half started and the game started to pick up, they invited me to join them to watch the game...we suddenly found out that they went to my church, and their season tickets that they children still use are just 3 sections away from my brother and his wife's season tickets. It was just amazing.

And after a major upset win, they said they would see me in two weekends for the next Sunday game. How much fun is that.

It's always great to find a little piece of home away from home. But it's even better when you find PEOPLE who can share that same piece of home away from home.

It really is a small world....with some very ordinary miracles.

How 'Bout Dem Saints

Fan...it means something different to different people. For me being a New Orleans Saints' fan is true committment. There were days when I was a kid that they were so bad, the fans in the stadium would actually wear bags over their heads. I don't even think the Detroit fans were doing that last year when the Lions were 0-16.

But today, the Saints beat the Giants--a team that is considered to be one of the best in the league--48-27. They are now 5-0. Some that has only happened 2 other times in the team's history. And it brings me to my ordinary miracle of today...determination. There were many times when they talked about selling the team, or moving the team--especially after hurricane Katrina devistated the city. But the city wouldn't have it...and the players wouldn't have it either. I have to give it to the players. The city was destroyed and yet the players wanted to come back and play and LIVE in the city. That's determination and dedication. And the fact that there are years when the team is so close to a championship and don't make it or they are so FAR from a championship and they still come back the next year to try all over again.

THAT'S DETERMINATION. How can I possibly say "I can't do something" when they come back year after year to try once again for a championship.

You gotta love it...and you have to love the support that the team gets---we natives are known for saying things like "Bless You Boys" and "Who 'Dat Say They Gonna Beat Dem Saints." It's not great grammar but it simply means there is no one that can touch us. And it's always "US" or "OUR" boys. That's the other miracle of the day...true, unwavering support. If you've got that, ANTYHING is possible...

...maybe even a Saints Superbowl!

Courage and Faith

I've thought a lot about faith and courage over the last few days...maybe the last few weeks. Recently I ended a long term relationship. I still love him. Every day I still find something in my house or around me that makes me think of him. And we are still very close and will probably be for the rest of our lives. But we are both at different points in our life. He's starting new endeavors, trying to figure out what he wants to "be when he grows up." And I'm settled. I love my house, enjoy my friends, thrive at my work (even if I'm not sure if it's exactly what I want to do). I have found my happy place. And our two paths have grown further and further apart.

So we took a line from the musical "Wicked." In "Defying Gravity", Elphaba sings "It's time to trust my instincts, close my eyes and leap." And so that's what I did...as we talked on the phone one night I said "This isn't working" and he said "Yeah." And that was it. There were tears here and there and I have to admit, there are occasions when I cry for no reason (or at least no apparent reason. But it's like I finally stopped holding my breath wondering what would happen.

And that's Faith....knowing that someone or something has a plan and sometimes you have to just let go and follow it...even if you don't know where it's going to take you. Several weekends before we ended our relationship, I went into church and asked God what to do. And he told me. But I told him I wasn't ready. And he said, ok and then waited for me to be ready. That's faith...and I thank God every day that I have it. Because I wouldn't make it through this without it.

So where does Courage come in to play? I have slowly but surely been telling friends and family what has happened. To be honest, I don't really know what to say...telling people that we "broke up" just doesn't seem like the right phrase. We aren't broken....we just aren't romantically linked. But one of the friends that I told apparently discussed it with her husband who said he admired my courage. I didn't think of it that way. I have not thought that I was courageous at all. I just thought that I was following my path. But I guess it takes courage to let go...

So here I sit, wondering where this path will take me. I have great faith that it will lead me to the right person at the right time. And I take comfort in knowing that I have the courage to make it through...I only hope that he has the courage to make it as well.

GEAUX SAINTS

Fall is one of my favorite seasons. I guess that's why I have enjoyed living in the midwest. I love the cool weather, the smell of a fire in a firepit at night, the colors and the leaves changing. But what I love most about Fall is FOOTBALL. Ironically, I only went to a school with a football team for one year. The college I went to didn't have a team. But what I have been a diehard New Orleans Saints fan since I was in 3rd grade.

It was then that my teacher at the time, Mrs. Richardson, would give us extra points on Monday when she'd ask us questions about the game. I will say I wasn't excited about watching games at first. But each Sunday I would get more and more into it. And then when I was in eighth grade, I started to babysit for the children of the Offensive Coordinator for the team. And of course, I had to watch the games to see how the team was going. I always seemed to make a few extra dollars when the team would win a game. That, and the fact that, Coach would come and pick me up to babysit and I felt like it gave me something to chat with him about as we drove over to their house.

But now, it's just a part of my Sunday experience. Oh, I enjoy watching any team...but the Saints are what I "live" for. And even living in the Midwest, I still sport my Black and Gold proudly every Sunday. I've got a Saints Flag proudly displayed outside of my house and I'm either in a Saints T-Shirt or a Saints jersey. My neighbors giggle and tell me I should just become a Bears fan. But there is NO WAY. I'm happy to cheer for other teams when not playing the Saints--and would even be willing to cheer for the Bears if necessary (one of there big players right now if Forte--a Tulane grad), but first and foremost I'm a SAINT. Just like so many others, I BLEED BLACK AND GOLD!!! Geaux Saints.

That's what Friends are for

Today's miracle came to me during my run. It's my first run in about 2 weeks. Last weekend I injured my back and ended up in the emergency room. And I had not run the previous week. So I was out of commission until today.

But this morning for some reason was tough. I was in church and I don't know why but I started to get pretty emotional about my relationship. It's hard right now. We've been long distance since January and have only seen each other once in that time. I've been trying to decide what would be the best move for both of us. We've been together for over 3 years and at our age, it's sort of that time when we need to decide to fish or cut bait--I know that sounds horrible, but it's sort of true. I guess maybe the fact that they were celebrating wedding anniversaries at church made me a little emotional. I started to think about the fact that I wanted to be one of those couples.

So after church, I did a little shopping. Nother major, bought some mums to make my house look a bit more like fall and some random groceries. And after a bit of relaxing and trying to find a decent movie to watch (because of the lack of Sunday football--I hate preseason)....I decided to text a friend. And a conversation began.

He's familiar with my situation with my boyfriend. And he's tried to offer some advice--without telling me what to do. And I have to admit, I really appreciate it. And then I started to think of other people I have leaned on in the last few months.

It's been a tough summer. One of my co-workers took another position and so we've had 3 people doing the work of four--believe me I am not complaining. I have a job and I am very appreciative. But I have felt like I've been behind on EVERYTHING and I just can't seem to catch up. I've been at my job for two years now and typically this is a time when I seem to find my comfort zone and start to run a bit on autopilot. But taking on some new projects has certainly not given me that feeling.

And my grandmother passed away this summer as well. She was 94 years old and lived a very full life. She went pretty fast and had very little suffering. And most importantly, she was able to see all 8 of her children before she passed. I had the honor to sing at her funeral. As always, this is something I like to do because it's sort of my special way of saying goodbye. But it can be difficult.

And with my boyfriend being gone and our future unsure, well...you can see how it would be a tough summer. And I've thankfully had a lot of good friends that have comforted me and encouraged me through all of it.

That's a miracle...there are certainly people out there who don't have friends. Or who don't have close friends. I am VERY fortunate to not only have friends in all of my walks of life but also to have friends that have been with me for many, many years. I have know the friend that I texted today for 15 years. And that to me is a miracle that I am most definitely thankful for. I wish everyone those types of friendships. Even if they only have one or two. It's those people that will be there when you need them and even when you don't.

One of my favorite sayings goes something like this "A good friend is someone you can call to bail you out of jail...but a great friend is someone sitting next to you in the cell and says 'Damn that was fun!'"

My friend Heather and I in 7th grade at the Celebration in the Oaks

"Here I go again..."

I've been down this road before. I've tried and tried. Each time, with different results. But this time, maybe by making it a bit more public, I hope to succeed. I'm investing a little bit more time, a little bit more of myself and a little bit more money. But this time, I hope it works....I'm going to lose that 30 lbs I've been trying to lose forever. And this time, I'm going to do it just for me. I've been trying for about a month now and I get about 5 or 6 lbs down and have to start again. This time, I've finally ordered a workout program that I think will work and I hope to start on the right path from day one.

I have to say this has been a struggle for me since college...maybe even before that. I mean, let's face it, I come from big stock....both height and width. My dad is the shortest of his brothers at 6'3". And on my mother's side I have an uncle about the same height. But growing up, most of my friends were smaller than me. I hit the height I am today around 11 years of age. By the time I was 12 I was in a size 10 shoe ( I thank God every day that my foot has actually shrank to a size 9.5!!!) And I have always said that I got boobs before they were cool. But most of my friends didn't hit those heights until later in life. So I guess I've always thought of myself as a little out of proportion. It's funny, I look back at pictures from high school today and think--"Man I was skinny." But I didn't think that back then. And I think that's something I have had to get over. Part of me has to come to the understanding that it's likely I will never look like that person again.

This is my brother and I in Jackson Square at my confirmation in 1990--note the mullet and poofy bangs and the tiny waist. I would have been 13 in this picture, I think.

But today, I'm not a size 9/10. I'm more of a 14/16. My hope is to be a 9/10 again....or maybe a 10/12...we'll see. But I want to be healthy. I want to look in the mirror and be satisfied with what I see. And not think...gee I thought this outfit looked better before I put it on.

I just have to remember that it takes ONE day at a time. And while today may be a good day...tomorrow may be a bad day. And I just have to go to bed at the end of the bad days and forget about it. I have to remember that, like everything else in this life, this is a climb. And I can't just focus on the end. I have to focus on the view up and realize that there are going to be some great successes along the way. There will be the day that I only eat half of what's on my plate and feel full. Or the day that I run 3.5 miles and don't feel winded and exhausted at the end. Or the day that I can do the entire workout video, without modifications, and not collapse at the end.

So this is me today...I had two pictures to select from. I picked the one that shows a little bit more of me. I'm not proud of this picture. But I hope the next picture will make me smile a bit...and the next picture, a bit more.

So that's my miracle for today. The opportunity to make me not a better me, but the person I want to be....

home

Most people that know me know exactly where home is. Actually, people that barely know me, know where home is. I'm from New Orleans. That's right, N'awlins. Ok, so I'm from Kenner...it's about 9 miles outside of the city but it's basically the same. And my high school was in uptown and my summer job was at Tulane University, so I can say that New Orleans is home.





And there are a lot of things that remind me of home....music, food, photos, tv shows, etc. But one thing I will always remembr from my childhood is the gardenia bush that was outside of our kitchen window. I wish I had a picture of it. It would bloom like crazy and when ever mom or I thought about it, we would cut off some of the flowers and bring them into the kitchen. I loved the smell of it. And there isn't a candle out there that can replicate that smell.

But this summer, I tried to create my own piece of home right here. And it's my newest ordinary miracle. I purchased a small gardenia plant at Lowes. It had a single blossom on it when I bought it in June and has not done a thing since. And about 3 weeks ago we noticed a few small buds popping up...but nothing bloomed. I started to wonder if the weather's been too cool. Or perhaps it's not humid enough for it to do well here. And then this morning as I was going out to church I saw this beautiful blossom. Actually there were two of them. Small. But beautiful. And that scent reminded me so much of home.

I haven't been home since 2004. If any of you remember, that was before Hurricane Katrina. My brother and his wife are the only family I still have in the area and they survived pretty well. My parents moved to Florida a number of years ago. The home that we grew up in and the only home that I ever knew received about 6ft of water. The first time I heard that news I was devastated. The family that lives there now planned to tear down the house and started over again. I couldn't believe I wouldn't have a place to drive by and say "hey kids, that's where mom lived." But then I heard that they had gutted the inside and started over. So while the inside isn't the same, the outside still looks like home.

I know that the old saying is "home is where the heart is." And my mom always used to say to me "anywhere you are is home." But sometimes you need that familiarity. Sometimes you need to sights and smells and sounds of home. I'm thankful everyday for my little piece of home on my front porch. And I hope to be able to keep it alive throughout the winter so that, come spring, I can take it back out to it's place of honor on the front porch to welcome guests and say "Y'all come on in." Because I always want to have a piece of home wherever I go.