Amazing kids from an amazing family history

Its a new school year for many kids for my growing kids its transition time to 'bigger classrooms'. Andrew has left the INFANT room, finally. It is so hard to make these transitions but I do think its sometimes harder on the parents. Andrew had the most fantastic infant teachers. God's blessings!! Amy Jo, Angela and LaQuisa. Amy Jo ('big AJ') and my AJ developed a special relationship (At least I think so) and we will miss having as much interaction with her. But, I do know that she will keep an eye on him as he transitions to the toddler room. Samantha is now in pre-K!! She thinks she is hot stuff. She still has 2 years until Kindergarden, but it was time for her to move up with all her classmates. We are still trying to decide if Vandy will be the place for her next year or if we will seek out another program. She was recently invited to a Princess birthday party and a Zoo party. Amazing experiences these children are given.

We had the privledge to attend a 55year wedding anniversary for Rueben and Alice Algood less than 2 weeks ago. We visited with Granddaddy's brother's Rick and Tonny. Granddaddy, Grandmommy, and the Williams family stayed with us on Saturday night before the anniversary party. I want to post on here what Uncle Ricky wrote about the event. He is quite the family historian! When reading his comments you should know that both Uncle Rick and Uncle Tonny had 3 girls. David and and his brother John are the only men with the Algood name (now Andrew).

ONE MOMENT IN TIME by Rick Algood
Posted on Facebook Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 12:02pm
I've heard it said that August is a month with no holidays. Nothing happens in August, but heat. I now know that is not true. Have you ever had one of those "OH, WOW" I’m living in the moment moments? I had one this past weekend. And if you have ever worked swing shift and been stuck on the graveyard shift for several days you will probably agree with me that is difficult to have such a moment when you are starved for sleep. But, I did.

And, I did something I have rarely done over the past 30 years. I took a day off to do something I wanted to do... for the pure enjoyment of it. I have OCD when it comes to work... I only take a day off for dire emergencies, never for pleasure. This past weekend I broke my own rule and I loved every minute of it. I went to a family gathering in Tennessee. Over the last three decades I have missed out on a lot of family gatherings because I felt it would be wrong to hang my coworker for a double shift. Looking back I realize my presence at the mill made little difference in the existence of the work place and, actually, it went unappreciated by my superiors or coworkers. So, I've made my mind up to not let precious moments pass me by if at all possible. I took a night off and traveled to my cousin's home on Whippoorwill Hill in Murray County, Tennessee where there was a celebration held for Reuben and Alice Algood’s 55th wedding anniversary. I knew it was going to be a special gathering not only because of the significance of the anniversary, but because I would get to see my brothers that I haven't seen in nearly two years. We arrived at my Cousin Patty Grace Junkin’s home, Jefferson Hall, late last Saturday afternoon where the event was going to be held the next day. Getting there early allowed us to visit with them and their cousins from my aunt's side of the family I had only heard mentioned over the years, but I had never met them. It was great to finally put faces with those names I had grown familiar with over the years. The next morning I began to realize the significance of the day as my brother's, nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews began to arrive one family at a time. The "OH, WOW" moment slowly began to dawn on me as the gathering grew in numbers and cameras started to come out. I watched as the only little Algood that will carry on our family name toddled about the crowd and thought to myself, "I wonder if he knows how much we are counting on him to perpetuate the family name?" Probably not. He is a normal little boy and wanted to go outside to play. At noon my 94 year old uncle and his 83 year old bride, my aunt, stood before the gathering of relatives to speak. There were many cameras snapping away as he began to talk, but the magnitude of his speech and the moment soon hit everyone as it did me, and the cameras were set aside as we all listened closely while my uncle began to tell the story about how he met the love of his life. I was standing in the rear of the crowd like any good Baptist would and I was caught up in his story until one of my great nephews bumped into me from behind. That was the moment it hit me. Over ninety years separated the speaker I was listening to and the toddler moving through the crowd. Then I began to look around the gathering. My cousins, (Reuben and Alice’s daughters, Pat and Becky) were standing off to the left of everyone hanging on every word their father spoke. Aunt Alice was standing next to Uncle Reuben and was patting his hand, giving him encouragement to keep sharing their story. I looked around the room and everyone else was straining to catch every phase that was shared at that moment in time. And, I finally got it... slow as I am, and sleep deprived, I finally got it. "This was a very, very special moment." …A moment fleeting in time that would never come our way again. Never would we all gather as we were gathered at that moment, listening to the words of love that had been shared for over 55 years between my aunt and uncle. After Uncle Reuben finished talking, Aunt Alice shared her story with us, too. Everyone applauded not just out of respect for words well spoken, but for the admiration of two lives well lived. Every single one of us gathered in that room was living in the moment. After that grace was said and bread was broken as is the tradition in any good family reunion. Families units gathered together to share the meal together. Among our kin-folk were ministers, actresses, a pilot, businessmen and women, medical professionals, retired military men and one paper mill worker. When the meal was devoured we gathered once more in the dining room where my aunt and uncle finally got to cut the wedding cake they never had 55 years ago. There was one last photo opportunity as we all gathered on the front steps of Jefferson Hall for a group portrait with the anniversary couple in center stage. Even the faithful border collies posed for the picture. Time passed far too quickly, and one by one each family departed. But, we all left Whippoorwill Hill a little different than we had arrived. We left knowing we had experienced something wonderful. It was a special moment in time that will never be repeated. We all knew we had experienced something wonderful on a hot August day in hills of Tennessee.

AJ visits OHIO!

Airplane....TRUCK....Airplane....TRUCK (1 hour on the runway before take off). Thank God for grandparents. The wonderful man next to us had an 18mo. old granddaughter and he truly enjoyed AJ.

We went to OHIO to meet Olivia Marie...

AJ got into a little trouble with his cousin Clare.

And he turned on Grandma and soaked her...

I don't think she minded. With those curls? and that sweet laugh? Would you mind?

It was a really nice trip. The girls enjoyed having a boy around.

Balance, Balance, Balance

Many of you know my Dad. My Dad and I had a special relationship growing up. We spent alot of time together with baseball cards, soccer, and just being family. When I was little he worked long hours and occasionally had to travel. I used to miss him so much that I couldn't sleep. I would get up and go sit with my mom while she graded papers and watched late night television. Cheers would come on and I would cry. I was worried my Dad was sad because he was where no one knew his name ("I wanta go where everybody knows my name"). How wrong I was. My Dad is strong and he is working on balance everyday. He is confident of his abilities and challenges himself to learn new things.

Its a hard thing to stay balanced. He spoke one word to me more than any other word, especially in high school and college - "BALANCE". My family is not a family known for being shy or quiet, but this word stands out in my mind. I am not good at it. I try and will continue to work on life balance, but its is so hard.

There is a big difference between balance (and feeling grounded and strongly balanced) and performing a balancing act. I think I am performing a balancing act and a pretty ugly one right now. Its not just visual ... it is also mental. I need to refocus.

Visually (and with my hands, I will refer to duties, this is not a negative term just a generic term for what I "DO") I am attempting to do mommy duties (loving them- hugs, playing, reading, bathing, rocking to sleep, referee), scientist duties (do experiments, write grants, keep lab organized), domestic duties (laundry, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning), other duties (Women's group treasurer, help friends in need, runner) . While all of this is going on I wish I could do a better job focusing on what duty (or activity) is right in front of me. Mentally I am all over the place. I will be writing my grant and I am thinking about a sick friend. While I am doing my experiments I am thinking about whether I have time to clean the bathroom later. Its rather pathetic. Its unfocused.

God has blessed me and my family many times over. He has presented me with all of these duties and I need to do them for His glory. I need to see them as God given opportunities and focus for Him on the activity at hand. I need to learn I cannot feel balanced, grounded without a focus on Him.

Almighty God, my help and refuge. Fountain of wisdom and tower of strength who knowest I can do nothing without thy divine help. Assist me I pray thee and grant me divine wisdom and power to accomplish this task and whatever I may undertake to do, faithfully and diligently so that it may be profitable to myself and to others in the glory of thy Holy Name. Amen!

Forgive me my friends, and pray for me that I may be a better steward of God's gifts.

Is it August, already?

I cannot believe I let July go by without posting on our beautiful life. I really wanted to many times, but I didn't make it happen. (Our computer is down too, so I haven't downloaded pictures in awhile- I am posting these pictures almost a month after this post was started).

What happened this month? For the weekend of July 4th, we visited Holly Springs, MS. It was a fabulous time away and with the Algood-Dabbs side of the family. We stayed with Lottie as did Laura and Oliver and Grandmommy and Granddaddy. We had a shrimp boil at Mindy and Michaels, had lunch at Phillip's Grocery, a water balloon fight, runs through the sprinkler, and fireworks. The kids had a blast playing with their cousins and picking blueberries.

The following weekend we hosted some friends from New Jersey. Andy and Karen. They stayed with us and toured Nashville and have decided to make it HOME! We are so excited for them. Andy and David went to grad school together and were good friends. When we were newly married, Andy would come over at least weekly to have dinner with us after they worked out. We even travelled to Phoenix, AZ for their wedding 5 years ago. Its going to be great having them so close! (anyone in Nashville know of an Art Museum or Art Education job please let me know!)

We also went to the zoo for Ice Day. This is my favorite day of the year to visit the zoo. Samantha was particularly excited the zoo this time around and really enjoyed the animals. This trip the Zebra was her favorite. AJ recognizes many animals right now. Dogs, Cats, Birds....to name a few, but he usually refers to 4 legged animals as cows. Leaving the Bongo at the zoo he called out "Bye, Bye Cow". Close enough.

We have tried to go to the pool a few times. Samantha is done with her swim lessons, and will put her head underwater holding her breath and retrieving diving rings, but she isn't interested in swimming yet. Andrew loves the pool. He puts his face in but doesn't really hold his breath, but rather drinks the water- YUCK. But at least he isn't afraid. Its been unseasonably comfortable for TN, so some days we have had too much ran or too cool of weather to enjoy the pool.

Andrew is talking up a storm and Samantha is encouraging it! They are so funny in the car talking to each other. They try to spot big trucks and airplanes, sing songs, and throw stuffed animals at each other. Sometimes, they even hold hands. They definitely fight with each other already which cracks me up! AJ is still having his tecture issues with food, but we are working on it. Its a real balance for us to have him enjoy eating but also try to get him to try new things. New things = temper tantum = no one enjoying dinner! But giving in = no new things = stress for mommy ! The food therapist is supposed to be giving us a call soon. He is almost 19 months old, but 2 weeks ago had his 18 month check up. He received his FINAL vaccine until Kindergarden! He is 21lbs 10oz and 31.5 inches (I think the height is right I could be wrong). Samantha also had an impromptu visit to the doctor! She stuck a rock in her nose!! It was pretty tramatic for her. Dr. O'Brien couldn't get it out with flushing and proding and she sent her to the emergency room. The Children's Hospital ENT got it out right away. I don't think that will happen again (until AJ gets too curious!).

Andrew and I just got back from OH, but I will post on that and Samantha's weekend with Daddy. We are looking forward to a visit from Granddaddy and Grandmommy in less than 2 weeks.