Celebrating Women

As I was driving home tonight in the dark, and my bags of groceries riding shotgun beside me, I realized I have truly become who I have always wanted to be. I realized I am full woman!

Why tonight? Why the details about the dark and the groceries. I guess because after leaving the office after 10 hours of work, I made two more stops to pick up a Christmas gift for a friend and items for dinner. Faced with cooking and laundry to still do for the evening. I know many woman know this feeling that Round 2 was just beginning.

I have grown up around some pretty strong women. Though I didn't really appreciate their strength until I became crowned with that same tiara of Womanhood.

So, today I am celebrating women! Here's why.

Our minds race a thousand miles an hour. We are one step ahead of the task we are already doing. Multitasking is not a skill for us, it is a necessity. We work and workout. We clean up and pick up, over and over again. After 9, 10, 11, 12, or more, hours at the office, we continue on with the grocery shopping, bill paying, cooking, laundering, cleaning. We have evolved into changing our own oil, tires, and spark plugs. We mow the lawn and pull the weeds. We take our garden produce in to be cooked and without missing a beat are expected to be make-uped and dressed for a dinner with loved ones. We don't just have households, we are what keeps them running. We organize, re-organize, and finally come up with a better plan that will make us better organized. And, when night falls and everyone is tucked into bed, we set our own alarms to do it all over again in the morning. All of this while battling our hormonal roller coaster.

And the best part? I know I'm not alone when I say this. I made it through by biting my tongue and smiling when I wanted to strangle someone. Aww! Congratulations women! We held strong and didn't kill anyone today!

Luxury

With Mr. Pendergest being out of town I thought I would make this night about me. About celebrating being a woman and celebrating the luxurious things in life. So, all day I was craving this fulfillment of luxury. It doesn't come around too often that I get the desire to shop for 'things' but today it was about an affair between Me and Luxury. Looking for marble. And crystals. Something that had the smell of a new car. A little bling for my girlie night.

No I didn't buy a new car...come on, if you read me on facebook you would know that we just got out of debt...not going back there any time soon! Actually, I didn't buy anything. Just came on home and started my night with just me, and my 3 dogs!

A few nights ago, Shawn and I went over the number of dishes it takes for a dinner for two. Well, 2 pots, 1 pan, 3 plates, 1 strainer, 1 bowl, 1 cutting board, 1 chopping knife, 1 paring knife, 1 bread knife, 1 spatula, 1 wine glass, 1 water goblet, 1 spoon, and 1 fork, I had dinner...for 1. Thank goodness for dishwashers! Fresh herbs, spices, and warm bread filled the kitchen. A luxurious Italian dinner for 1!

Following dinner, I popped in a girl-flick movie (Something Borrowed) and laughed away! Perfectly paired with a glass of wine and comfy clothes!

And this night would not be complete without a bubble bath. 6 candles lit the room. Aromatherapy spread throughout the house. Norah Jones graced me with her haunting melodies of love, loss, and dreams. And yes, luxury was there. With my wine glass sitting on the edge of the tub, my tickle for bling had been satisfied. The candles sparkled off the glass and scented oils felt like silk in the hot water. Bliss on top of bliss on top of bliss on top of bubbles!

What I was looking for all day, I already had. Doesn't that seem to be the case more times than not?

Have a luxurious weekend everyone!

730 days

It wasn't until just about 5 months ago that, when going to bed, it would dawn on me that I'm kissing my husband goodnight. My husband. My. Husband. I know you're thinking, alright this lady has completely lost her marbles. You're wrong. I lost them a long time ago!

For the approximate year and a half before that I knew I was kissing my husband, but whether it is the fact that he and I have gotten so much closer this past year, or the concept of marriage has really begun to sink in, the past 5 months have seemed a bit more filling, complete, and official.


There is not a single day that goes by that I don't believe God has placed Shawn and I on this life journey together for a reason. He has shown that reason several times over in the past, currently in the present, and with no doubt will be there in the future. In a week and a half,  October 30th will be here and so will be our 2 year anniversary. (2 YEARS!!! ALREADY!!! WHERE DOES THE TIME GO??? AND YES I'M YELLING! ) How awesome of an experience a marriage can be in 2 years. Some days hard, some days easy, but everyday filled with love!

'Kissing the bride' took place many kisses ago, but 'kissing my life partner, spouse, best friend, strength, and future' has really just begun!

 

HAPPY (soon) ANNIVERSARY, MY HUSBAND!

Some beach!

Some days you just wake up and say to yourself, "Some beach!" Well ladies and gentlemen, that day for me had come....a long time ago. And with this year being my year, that beach vacation came to life!

Saturday just before dawn, Shawn and I made it to Destin. A long awaited trip for us. Checking into our hotel around 5am, we grab two cold beers from the cooler and a blanket. The only souls on the beach, cuddled and toes digging into the cool morning sand, we watched our world awaken. Half lit and half dark. Half sun and half stars, the next 5 days were ours. And ours alone.

Good morning, Starshine. The Earth says hello!

Not a single minute of internet. Less than a hand full of phone calls coming or going. Our clock was the sun. Our itinerary was peace, laughter, love, and happy hour! Bliss.

We sun bathed, had a constant air show of fighter jets...thanks to Fort Walton Air Force...swam, watched dolphins and sharks, learned about deep sea fishing, ate, drank, met folks from near and far, watched the sunset, and took pictures to capture it all.  

Nephew D

There's someone new. Someone fresh and taking his first breathes of life.

There's Deacon. All fingers and toes accounted for. Two ears now hearing the same things we all are, and two eyes looking at the same things as I am. A wondering and inquisitive mind. A curiosity of what is all around.

Bundled up. Smiling at us smiling at him. A satisfying grin from a full belly or a fart. (What? Did you think I would make this whole thing cute and cuddly? Baby's fart and it makes them grin, which makes us laugh!)

I thought stress relief came from quiet and calm- which it comes from that too- but it can also come from holding a baby who looks up at you with big eyes and a button nose.

Deacon, grow up. Grow strong. But never grow too big to be held.
Love, Aunt Sarah

Pontoonin'

Jump on in. The water's fine!

Nothing will take cares away like the warm breeze off an evening lake! Or, seeing who can swim the fastest. Or, making the arches with water guns. Or, lake photos opps. Or, jumping in with no fears. Or, getting thrown off the tube. Or, having a 4 year old drive the boat. Or, watching the sunset and the water glisten from the moon....Or, or, or, or...

...there's nothing like the lake!

Life List in motion

"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young." - Henry Ford

 "Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams." -Ashley Smith

I could feel, for some time now, something within me was changing. A creative side has been coming out like never before and I'm loving every minute of it! I give full credit to this blog and all the ones I've read the past year which have tapped into a place within me that is now runneth overing! I'm ready to close, but maybe not latch, some doors to my past. I've done and learned a lot for being only 27 years old. I'm ready for more. I'm ready to learn. So, scratching down on paper some time back, I created a Life List of what I'd like to do/accomplish/try/adventure into. When I turn 90 years old I'd like to look back, take a deep breath and say to myself, Damn, that was good.

This is a new phase of life for me...and it is in motion...


'The list' is made of simple, and humbling items. Nothing glorious. Only a few items are on it now, but I am not limiting myself to only these. More than likely I will branch off and explore different territories, turn around back to the original ones, and then branch off again.

Here are my first  're-dos, make-overs, and mess-ups' pieces. Two Adirondack chairs and an outdoor table. After power-washing, sanding, re-stabilizing, and painting them the color of 'Moonstruck', the chairs have become a treasured set! The table got a fresh spray coat of 'Dark Walnut' and new tiles. The perfect set for a lazy, country summer night, a glass of sweet iced tea, and a sweet pup! Sorry, I didn't take any before pictures (I know I should have. I'll know better next time!) but here is the final product.

Ahhh! What an awesome feeling to enjoy something from the work of my own hands! Like my garden, the reward just taste a little more delicious!

A shout out goes to my dad and brother who made these chairs about 17 years ago! They are like new again, guys!

For further adventures, here goes nothing...