So true, So true.

Praying

I don't think I've ever prayed so hard in my lifetime! AHHH!

This is very scary.

Harry Potter...Tears, Fears and Goodbyes

*This Post does in fact include spoilers from The Harry Potter Series, if you have not read the books or seen the movies and wish to keep the element of surprise, please do not continue reading.*

I just finished watching the live stream of the World Premiere of

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two. I was completely caught off guard by how emotional I was at seeing all of the actors, producers, directors, and even JK Rowling herself. Emma's "farewell" speech brought the tears to my eyes and then Rupert's sent them aflowin'. But when JK stood at that microphone and thanked everyone, me included, I lost it.

It's funny, you know? You grow up always knowing that Harry and his friends will always be there. That when you want to escape from whatever you want to escape from, you can pick up any Harry Potter book and you're immediately transported to Hogwarts and all of the adventures that Hogwarts has to offer. Now we have 7 phenomenal books of this spectacular series as well as 8 films beautifully done to bring the books to life. So, even though this is the end-as in no more "new" material will be written or filmed for our Harry-Potter-Lovin'-Hearts to look forward to as J.K. Rowling said today, "Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home."

Reflecting upon my ridiculously silly emotional state, I realized why this is such a big big BIG deal to me. Some would say that this post should have been posted in 2007 when The Deathly Hallows was published. That was the real ending, no? No. not to me. By that time those of us who followed the films still had a LOT to look forward to, it still wasn't quite done. So, why am I emotional? Why does this matter? Why am I such a baby?

Because I grew up with Harry, Ron and Hermione.

When Sirius died, I cried.

When Fred died, I bawled.

When Harry got the Firebolt, I was so excited to fly with him.

When Ron saved Harry from the Dursley's in his dad's flying car, I fell in love.

When Dobby was killed by Belatrix, I was mad and sad.

I was afraid of Bellatrix.

I plotted against Umbridge.

I cheered with the other Griffindors when we won the house cup.

etc.etc.etc.

I did all of those things because I was there, transported by the words, details and descriptions that J.K. Rowling so meticulously and brilliantly crafted.

When I first picked up a copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, I was 11. I literally grew up with Harry, Ron and Hermione. It's hard to believe that it's over. But only kind of over because the story, the books and Hogwarts will always be there. Harry Potter will never die. It's all around us especially now with all of the theme parks, tours, t-shirts, pictures and memories that have been born because of it.

So, if there is one thing I could say to J.K. Rowling, it would be this:

Thank you. Thank you for sharing your brilliance with the world. Harry Potter's story may be done and we may cry as we say our goodbyes and wonder what will happen in the future but Harry Potter is never, ever, gone.

Protected

I have no doubt that my life was saved by angels from Heaven just the other night.

On Friday night I was riding in a car back from Grassroots' A Midsummer Night's Dream. We had stopped at a 4 way stop and when we began to go again, and a car came flying out of NO WHERE.

We almost got hit.

We all could have seriously been hurt.

But we didn't.

I know that I am alive because of my Heavenly Father's protection. There is no doubt in my mind.

"N" is for Night

I don't like the dark.

In fact, given the choice between darkness and light I would chose the light.

But I love to sleep. And I love to sleep in the DARK. Seriously, I'm such a picky sleeper. It has to be cold and dark. That's when I sleep my best.

I am grateful fro night because at night, you can fully enjoy fireworks, you can see the stars. You can sleep...in the dark. Things are just plain slower at night. You don't have to answer the phone, you don't have to go grocery shopping-partly because most grocery stores worth going to are closed-you don't have to do laundry etc. There is so much that you do during the day that the night is so much of a relief.

So, I'm grateful for nighttime. I love it. Darkness and all.

Close your eyes...

Close your eyes, just for a moment and I'll take you somewhere special.
There is a place I know where you can sit in the big white rocking chair on the front porch, listening to the sound of the trees rustling in the wind made by the oncoming storm.
There are moments when the smell of Honeysuckle completely takes over your senses and then t in a split second the smell of rain takes charge.
The rocking chair you're sitting in makes a creaking noise as you rock back and forth and you can faintly hear the undertones of voices having a conversation just inside the house.
The wind catches on your neighbor's wooden wind chime and the hollow clacking of the wood adds to the excitement of the storm.

The warm air almost hugs you as you sit in that old rocking chair and you can't help but notice the beauty of the strikingly green grass that surrounds your house and stretches up and over the hills surrounding it.

You lean back soaking it all in.

This is Home.

My Old Kentucky Home.

We Are Family

I've had this song stuck in my head for awhile now.
Probably because the fact that last week my entire family was together under one roof.
The last time that happened was 3 years ago.
It's interesting, you know?
The oldest, Michelle, was there with her husband and 2 children.
The second, Kimberly, had a lot of insight into the world of education, both for becoming educated and being an educator.
The third, Julie, was just as wonderful as she ever is and definitely did everything in her power to have fun with her niece and nephew. "You'll never look more ridiculous than when you're trying to get a baby to laugh."-Julie
Then there's me.
Lauren just graduated high school and works two part time jobs. She works at Tinseltown, a great thing for her family (yay free movies!) and nannies for a family of our church.
Elyse, the youngest, is going to be a senior in HS this next year.

It's weird because we're all growing up and yet when we get together it's just like old times. We're all so different. We're all very much the same, too. And even though we fight and disagree (often times) I still love my sisters. We are family, after all. :)