The Day the World Changed Forever

On July 1st, 1982, Ronald Reagan was El Presidente, a gallon of gas cost $1.30, a stamp cost .20, and if you turned on the radio, you'd hear "Who Can it Be Now?" and "Up Where We Belong." Dallas, M*A*S*H, and Magnum, P.I. were the three top-rated TV shows, while E.T. grossed almost 4 million big ones in the top spot at the box office.

Also on July 1st, 1982, twenty-six years ago, my parents and the cosmetics industry rejoiced as I was born. Happy Birthday to ME!!

I CANNOT BELIEVE I am this old. As in more than two decades. As in four years away from the big 3-0. As in old enough to be married. With a child. When did this happen?

I share this lovely day with such fabulous femme fatales as: Princess Di, Olivia De Havilland (Melanie in Gone With the Wind), Estee Lauder (my personal hero, yay for you!), Liv Tyler and Missy Elliott! (This explains the ghetto-ness! WORD!)

I started thinking about how much one can do in 26 years, and it made me think about the next 26. When I will be...um...how old...let's see...carry the 1, and then add it to the...oh yeah! I'll be 52! 52.

Let's focus on the 26. In 26 years, I:

- have repelled over an 80-foot cliff (Never. Again.)
- have been called "La-Lauren", "Ta-Ta", "Laurnie-Pooh", "La", and "The Black Angel of Death". (Don't. Ask. No one actually died.)
- have been known to have slight (obsessive?) crushes on: Ricky Skaggs, Elvis, Antonio Banderas and Fritz from Swiss Family Robinson. (Shut up. I was 12.)
- have discovered that Diet Coke is the nectar of the gods and Little Debbies are, in fact, a total and complete separate food group.
- given birth to child.
- gotten married.
- Not in that order. In case you were wondering.
- Have appeared on television regularly.
- Have interviewed a Governor, convicted killer and rap singer.
- Have built a house in Puerto Rico. (I hope it's still standing).
- Have spoken Spanish to a smallish homeless man outside of an outhouse. (Not really glam but I thought it was unique.)
- Have been known to stay up til 1 a.m. baking, mopping the floor and coloring my hair. All at the same time.
- have worn glasses.
- have been blonde, reddish-blonde and brunette.
- Appeared as an angel in my kindergarten Christmas play.
- have worn my dad's underpants on my head and my mom's heels. At the same time. (Again, stop laughing. I was 4.)

All of this and more in 26 years.

My friend Chris has a concept that he calls his "pie chart." It's a list of all the things he wants to do, see, become in his life that will make his pie chart complete with all of the pieces.

There are so many things I want to put in my pie chart as the next 26 birthdays come and go. What are some of yours?

More Love for the Ledfords

Please continue to pray for my friend, Amanda, and her husband, Michael, as they received sad news about their pregnancy.

Here is an excerpt from her blog:

Well, there is some bad news to report. The ultrasound went like we thought it would. We were diagnosed with a form of miscarriage known as a blighted ovum. This is where a perfectly normal gestational sac grows (the baby’s home) but the baby never develops. We also elected to proceed with surgery (a d&c) on Wed, so please continue the prayers as we face surgery and the emotional journey of TTC again. My OB was encouraged by the fact that my body continued to think it was pregnant by having symptoms, no bleeding, and a very healthy gestational sac. She feels confident that we will be blessed with a healthy baby one day.

I talked with her this afternoon and she was in good spirits and was optimistic about the future. I think I cried more than she did. At any rate, I know she and their family would appreciate your words of encouragement. Her blog is linked to the left.

The verse that keeps popping in my head is Psalm 37:4:

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

The greatest desire of Amanda's heart is to be a mommy; please pray that she will find great delight in Christ and that He will bless her and Michael with a sweet baby very, very soon.

Bringing Home Baby

Our family is completely in love with its newest member, Zoey!

After two days in the hospital, Miss Zoey got to come home! We were all there to greet her and make her feel welcome. Okay, so, we borderline smothered her with attention, but she is the sweetest baby girl we've ever seen. She looks a lot like both of her parents...she has the Eaves coloring and dark hair, and she has my brother's eyes.
I love my niece! As I was holding her, I told her about all of the important words she would learn from her aunt, like: "French manicure," and "Buy one, get one half-price!"
My mom and dad with their TWO grandchildren...and yes, that's Great-Grandpa in the background watching over his two great-grandchildren!
I had to sneak a shot of her wee little foot. So precious. Can you believe it will one day slide its little self into a red peep-toe heel?

Welcome, Baby Zoey!

Meet Zoey Taylor Eaves...my niece! She was born this afternoon at 1:12 p.m., weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces and measuring 20 inches long! She has a ton of dark, beautiful hair! We are SO EXCITED!!!! Here are a few pictures right after she was born...
Seriously! It's too bright!
The proud parents...my brother Jason and his wife, Krystal.
Can you say "Love at first sight?"
Sweet little one...
My parents set the world record for texting picture messages of their first granddaughter!


We are heading back to the hospital tonight to see Zoey again...we can't wait to hold her and love on her and get to know her!

"This Was Some Meet-Cute"

One of my favorite movies is "The Holiday." If you like romantic comedies, you must see it. There are some great lines...and the one about the "meet-cute" is just the beginning.

For those who aren't movie buffs (nerds?) or who don't have every line of the movie memorized (overachiever!), allow me to explain a meet-cute:

It's when two characters meet in a movie.
Eli Wallach's character in "The Holiday" explained it this way: Say a man and woman go to the same pajama store at the same time. The man says to the clerk "I just need some bottoms" and the woman says "I just need a top"...and they look at each other...and there's the meet-cute!
He and Kate Winslet's character had a "meet-cute" in the movie when, because of Alzheimer's, he can't remember where his house is as he's returning home from a walk, and she stops in her car and gives him a ride home. The cuteness!!

Our sweet friend Leigh Ann asked myself, Meagan and Megan to each write about the first time we each met the other. I can tell you that they were two of the best meet-cutes of my life.

Meagan
I honestly don't remember exactly when we met. We were about 3 or 4, and we went to the same church. I'm thinking our meet-cute happened when I asked her to pass me the pink crayon in Sunday School, or when I stood next to her in the children's choir. What I do remember is that there are few memories without her in them. From church to middle school to high school to college, and all the moments in between, she has been my best friend. It's actually a little freaky because I can look at her? And she knows EXACTLY what I'm thinking because it's basically the same thing she is. We have been so many places together, both literally and figuratively. I know I can call her at any moment and no matter what craziness is going on, she will totally get it. If you met Meagan, you would find out that she is hilarious, easy-going, fun and extremely loyal. She also makes guacamole that makes you want to slap your mama.

Megan
I remember the night I met her, just over a year ago. We were at Meagan's for a party. She told me so much about Web's wife before I got there, and how sweet and thoughtful she was. I remember her saying "She's the kind of girl who makes football-shaped cookies from scratch and takes time to ice it with the laces up and everything!" What a great, great description. I remember walking into Meag's kitchen with my hands full of food, and Moo being the first person to offer to help me. She was VERY pregnant at the time, and I remember thinking "Gosh, I hope I'm this nice when I'm 9 months prego." After I talked to her, I remember feeling like I had known her for my whole life. She is truly a kindred spirit. If you met Moo, you would find out that she is the most sincere, thoughtful and genuine girl you'll ever know. And she makes a mean chocolate chip pound cake.

So, that's how I met my two galz. I know that we'll be 84 someday, still e-mailing all the day long, making plans and feeling a little deprived when a week goes by and we don't see each other.

Here's to a ton more of "meet-cutes" throughout our friendship!

The Adventures of Papa and Gran

Our Saturday began with an early-morning phone call. My mom was on the other end asking, "What do you have planned today?" in an ever-so-innocent-but-you-know-there's-a-reason-she's-asking tone of voice. Heh. I know my mother. Oh, yes...and I knew it...they were coming to see us! I was very glad.

They stopped at Jason and Krystal's first and my dad mowed the grass since J is at Fort Benning. While he was slaving away, Mom, Krystal and I ate at Mimi's and talked about Zoey's impending arrival.
This is the last lunch of the Eaves girls when it's just the THREE of us!
After that, Papa and Gran came to our house to spend some Q-T with the D-Man.
Sheer joy...
Laughs and drool with good-bye kisses!

They will be back this week to WELCOME ZOEY!!!

Pretty in Pink

Thursday = happiness because I got to spend some time with my galz! I apparently did not get the pink pant memo, but how cute are they??
We ate at Mimi's Cafe (yum!) and this is outside of the restaurant. We had a great time eating (duh) and swapping random gifts...it looked like Christmas!
I ordered this...pot roast, mashed taters with gravy (extra,please!) and zucchini...
Meag ordered quiche and fruit...
...and Moo ordered the bleu cheese and walnut salad. We laughed ourselves silly while we ate and then went to check out the new Belk. I'm sure the security officers watching on hidden camera were highly entertained at our antics. One cannot commit commerce with these two and NOT have a good time.
And? This is what happens when I leave my child alone with the two of them. They turn him into a street thug. As if he's not already exposed to enough ghetto-ness when he's at home with me. I'm sure his first words will be something like, "Yo, madre, can I get a cup a milk up in here?"