Greyley and I are hopping on a plane this morning and going to West Virginia to see our dear friend, Brenda!!! Woohoo!!!

We’re flying into Pittsburg…Lord willing, we won’t get stuck in Chicago like Staci did on Tuesday flying home…

I’m so excited about this trip with my girl. The past two years, I’ve been traveling more…often to Arkansas to see my parents. My dad hasn’t been able to make the trip since his back surgeries, so I’ve made the trek frequently to see about them and just to visit too…Indigo has gone with me every time, while Greyley usually stays home and goes to school. Sniff.

So it just seems TIME that we take a little trip of our own.

We’ve been anxiously counting the days and can hardly believe it’s finally here.

We’ve had a rough week. We both got hit with a virus of some sort and have had to lace up our bootstraps up to the very tip-top…trying to just get through it, but rest at the same time so we can be better for the trip. My girl has been so tough, I’m really proud of her.

I, on the other hand, had something a little different and just had to LAY DOWN like a big, fat baby once the fever started…it was one of those fever, sinus head, gross cough doozies. I’m coughing up a body part while typing this. Ugh.

I feel like I’m sick every time Staci comes! Such a bummer. I’m so hoping that she doesn’t get it.

We still managed to have fun.

It still stunk.

Anyhoo, back to the trip! I haven’t seen Brenda since August and Greyley has only ever met her through Skype, so a grand meeting is going to take place. We’ll also get to meet Brenda’s husband, Glen, for the first time…his parents and sister, Karen…it’s going to be so much fun.

Would you like to go along for the ride?

Pray for us, if you would…for us to get WELL, for safe travels, no delays, polite strangers, blessed time with loved ones and SO MUCH FUN!!!

Another embarrassing moment…

I’ve already informed you that I am not the most graceful person on the planet…I am constantly stubbing a toe, shin, knee…or burning myself…or dropping something…or falling…and falling…and FALLING…

I began playing piano for church when I was thirteen. At first, I played for our church choir and then started playing for the whole service as time went on. In the early days though, I sang in the choir too and when I was first starting to play, there would be times that I had to move from one position to the other…choir loft to piano…back and forth…and PRONTO.

Being a shy person with a tendency to splotch easily (read: neck with red hive-looking patches ALL over it), I preferred to just stay in one place or the other to avoid too much attention.

Side note: Every single one of you who know me/know me have had the misfortune of seeing the splotchy…so I’m not telling you anything you haven’t experienced firsthand. Sorry for that mutual discomfort. Sigh.

Anyway, back to story…

One Sunday night, I had to make the move from loft to piano in speedy quick timing and just went for it…all sort of BOLD-like. Problem was, there was a door that opened up with a few stairs between me and the piano. No, it wasn’t a door that I NEEDED to go through…but somehow, in my hurry, I managed to fall right out the door and down the stairs.

Talk about Splotch. Oh, but was I ever one big one.

I jumped up, ran up the stairs and came out of the door, rushing to the piano. The only people who saw were some of the choir members and a few people from the congregation who had seen me suddenly disappear out the door…

If anyone else noticed, I think they probably just thought I was getting an extra “blessing” as I played that night…seeing as how I was red from forehead to fingertip.

Unfortunately, it was not the last time I had a run-in with those stairs.

Come to think of it, I’m sort of amazed that I didn’t just keep going once I hit the bottom of the stairs, running out the door and not coming back in until I had maintained some semblance of normal skin color.

It was one of my many Getting Back On The Horse moments.

I wish I could say it was because I was so brave and fearless…but the truth of the matter was, I was too afraid of what my pastor’s wife would say if I didn’t get to that piano in time! She absolutely loved me and was kind to me, but she also scared me a little. It was her mission to drill in me to be “Instant In Season And Out.”

It’s a mantra that has stuck with me.

And speaking of lessons, I’m happy I learned this one (or two or three):

Regardless of all the bumps, bruises, and snags along the way, get up, dust yourself off and ignore the splotchy…

No, I didn’t marry the Boy…

I did date that boy for about three years, though…until he broke a little piece of my heart over a few things. Don’t worry, it wasn’t irreparable damage.

He made a reappearance years after that, apologetic and wondering if we might still have a chance.

I’d moved on with Nate by then..but we had a nice chat and ended things on a good note.

For those of you who haven’t read my story with Nate, you can read about it HERE. And HERE. And HERE.

I wouldn’t trade that experience though…that time of dating. Even though as an adult, I feel like I was practically a baby during a lot of my dating experiences, I did learn many valuable lessons.

Young romance is rich with lessons…about getting along, about sacrifice, about loyalty.

And then there is the poetry…poetry such as this…

Lori, you set my heart afire
Because you are my one desire…

I mean, does it really get any better than that? I dare you to read that out loud and not giggle.

However…when I think of my kids, the thought of them learning those lessons any time soon gives me heart palpitations…and not in a good way. Thankfully, my daughter does not seem interested in the slightest just yet…

She had two boys who liked her in first grade. One of them told her they were going to get married and move to Wisconsin.

First, of all, NO. I object to that. If he’d said, California…maybe. But no, not Wisconsin.

I asked her what she said back. She said she just looked at him like he was weird. But then she said to me, “Why would I get married? I have everything I need here…a big TV, a nice room…”

And that…THAT is the most valuable lesson of all. In fact, I don’t think she needs to learn any more in life. Ever. Nope, nope, nope.

Would you like to hear about an embarrassing moment of mine?

When I was, oh…twelve or so…

There was this boy I had seen at our church. He was family to our pastor and lived out of town, so occasionally his family would come through to visit. He had an older cousin who was friends with my brother.

This boy was actually a few years older than I was…I think 3 years older, maybe 4…

I thought he was sooooo cute. I just might have had a tiny crush on him, maybe…just a little. OK, I totally did.

I can’t remember the exact circumstances of the evening, but I was home with my parents, just hanging out. And here’s where it gets a little fuzzy, seeing as how I might have blocked some of it out, but I remember the important details…

My brother came in…with his friend…and the cousin was VISITING. The boy. THE Boy.

Oh my word. It was unexpected.

And…groan…

I had pink foam curlers all over my head.

AND…shudder…

I was brushing my Barbie doll head…you know, the big kind, with all the hair. The kind you cannot hide quickly when the boy you might totally have a crush on walks in the door.

Even now, my stomach drops to the floor, just remembering the mortification.

I was playing. Like a twelve-year-old girl. In curlers.

I’ll give you a moment to feel it with me.

He was very kind. The cousin made fun of me, but the boy didn’t. In fact…the next year at Camp Meeting, he might have asked me out on a date….maybe…

OK, he totally did.

You’ll be happy to know I had my hair in a lovely French braid.

Well, it’s been an up and down week…full of stops and starts, beginnings and ends, and everything in between.

Been working over at the store. It’s been quiet over there, but Indigo and I have had a good time. He is excellent company. I am his person this week and he’s been full of heart melting things to say. Yesterday he told me, very sincerely, that he thought my belly button was sooooo beautiful. Things like that, that just make my heart drop on the floor and roll around a while.

The kiddos are still sick…we kind of seem to get rid of one thing and go into the other. Today might be a day for a doctor visit if they wake up still feverish…will have to see…

Also, please say a prayer for my sister-in-law, Vicki. She suffers with MS, but recently has had to have a stint put in for blockage in her heart…well, that stint was just put in a couple weeks ago and she’s already 70% blocked again…not good. They should know in the next day or two if they’re going to go back in and do the procedure again…I think they’re waiting, too, for her blood pressure to go down…just a lot going on with her. She needs several BIG miracles.

BUT…on a better note all around…my friend Staci got in late last night from California. Those of you who have read my blog for a long time now know Staci. She’s even done an interview with me on here before. It’s always wonderful to have her here.

I also always have to give Staci extra props on Girly Muse because SHE’S THE ONE WHO GOT ME TO DO THIS BLOG. And I will always be grateful to her for it. I didn’t even know I wanted to do a blog. I never read blogs and had certainly never thought to have my own…it just wasn’t something I knew anything about. She told me I should and sent me a long email with all the reasons why and how to go about it…and because I trusted Staci, I did it…all within a long weekend.

For you locals, you can get Staci’s concert schedule HERE…look around on her website while you’re over there, she’s got great music and is an awesome writer~ songwriter AND blogwriter…so check her out. She’s the good stuff.

Oh my…she brought me some Peet’s. This is going to be a GOOD day.

Before I go, I wanted to mention another blog that I have so enjoyed for a long time. I meant to mention this one yesterday and don’t know where my brain ended up…Living With Imperfection…you like it already, don’t you. She’s just a great writer, takes nice pictures and has something good to say whenever you visit.

Have a lovely weekend.

I’d like to thank Kat from Heart 2 Heart for this lovely award. Kat’s blog is one I’ve really enjoyed for a long while now and she has always been so kind to leave such nice and uplifting comments here at Girly Muse.

I’ve gotten awards before and am always excited about them, but have not exactly known the etiquette behind them. At first, I thought you had to put the award “button” on your blog…and for any of you who know me, you know that I am Technically Challenged. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. One time I got a button to work and the rest of the time, it has just not. So forgive me if I haven’t gotten the buttons up when given an award.

To pass along the torch, which is what you’re supposed to do when you receive one of these…this is where I run into trouble…

There are so many fabulous blogs out there that I enjoy on a regular basis. There are several that I’d pass the award on to, but a couple of them I know have either just gotten one, are out with a new baby, vacation, or some other such excitement.

Can I just tell you that if you read my blog and have ever posted a comment, I read YOUR blog and love it? I have not found one of yours out there that I do not enjoy. Thank you for welcoming me into your world and for giving me a glimpse into yours.

But so I do my part…here are…

A Few Blogs I Really Dig:

Spoils of Wear

The Magoos News

Life In Grace

Besides Kat at Heart 2 Heart, another person who has been so sweet and encouraging…and even though I’ve never met her, I know she has a heart of gold…is Andrea from Arise 2 Write. She has an urgent prayer request on this post, please read and pray for her family, specifically her little great nephew, Amden.

Narrowing any appreciation down to just these five blogs was hard for me…I’d prefer to just say, I LOVE YOU ALL!!! But check out the ones I’ve mentioned and say hello. You’ll be glad you stopped in…

Heading over to the Sage today…

I promised a few pictures and you’ll see why I haven’t posted them~ not because the subjects aren’t LOVELY, but…well…Matt, wanna give us all some picture-taking tips? Please, pretty please?

And it really was a delightful problem~ I actually got too BUSY to take pictures! With Customers! So fun…

The evening of our Grand Opening…before everyone arrives…

Look in the window…who is that sweet little girl fluffing the hats?

Remember this lovely tunic from my last post about The Burning Sage? Well, Miss Katie bought it and I think it looks darling on her! (That’s one of my necklaces she’s wearing too…apparently, it was the necklace pick of the night and she got to it first. Go, Katie!)

The picture is a little dark, but I like the people in it so much, I have to show you anyway. Welcome, designers…can you hear Tim from Project Runway saying that?

That’s Elaina on the left~ she made the wonderful gloves and headbands…look, remember these?

Well, they were snatched up. But, anyway…there are OTHER cute ones. I’ll get a picture of the ones left today. And, um, Elaina, I’m going to need more of these, please.

The girl in the middle was Keely, cousin to Elaina and sister to Katie…she’s the sweetest girl EVER.

And the girl on the right is Nadine…designer of the tunics…she makes fabulous things and I can’t wait for you to see her kids’ clothes! It’s so fun to see what she will come out with next.

Remember this guy?

Well, he was a hit. I have to tell you~ I wasn’t expecting his following to be so big. Just shows what I know. I’ll have to show you the other favorite llama, too…and The Goat…The Goat gets to me. I heart The Goat.

That’s my goal today: Must take picture of The Goat.

The Goat just might have to come home with me.

Along with The Bench…

…is found on the Hammond B3 Organ at church.

I play the organ every Sunday morning. For those of you not familiar with the B3, it is the funky gospel organ, not the big pipe organ…I don’t think I could play the pipe organ to save my life. But I really dig the B3. She’s a lot of fun.

Now, while you could take the title of this post several different ways…

Everything you need~ yes, spiritual blessing is found there…yes, uplifting music is found there…

But, what I’m really referring to are the miscellaneous objects that have a tendency to just APPEAR…for no reason. I don’t know why or how things began appearing on the organ…but it’s been something that has just continued to evolve over time.

It’s like I have an Organ Angel.

On any given Sunday, you just never know WHAT might be on that little shelf between the pullbars and the music holder.

This past Sunday?

There are the normal things you’d expect to find~ sheet music, paper, a pen or two…

Some not so abnormal things~ pictures people bring me that they’ve taken of the kids or of a church service, etc., Sunday School material the kids have “surprised” me with…

Name tags that Nate and I have never managed to wear…

Words to songs…usually my own are the ones I have the hardest time remembering. What does that say about my brain? Hmmm…

But then there are the things you just never even knew you NEEDED on the organ…

Scissors…maybe I can cut snowflakes during a lull?

Screwdriver…just in case I need to screw a heel back on, maybe…

And…this is the best…

A meat thermometer…

I kid you not. There is a meat thermometer on my organ right now at church and I have NO IDEA why or how it came to be there.

If you find me pulling out a hunk of beef one Sunday morning, you’ll know that the organ is SMOKIN’, thank the Lord!

Updates:

The Grand Opening of The Burning Sage Galleries went so well! The only bummer of the night is that I didn’t get many pictures. Matt is teaching me to never use a flash and that’s difficult at an evening event…but trust me, it was fun. There were twinkle lights and everything. We had a good crowd, the music was great and people bought things. Yay! (And I will try to come across some good pictures for you!)

Greyley is ALL better. Indigo and I are still coughing, but WAYYYY better. Woohoo! And Nate never got sick. Double Woohoo!

Valentine’s Day has been partially postponed for a few more days due to a crazy deadline, but the kids and I partied it up. And some sweet roses did wake me up yesterday morning. Weehaw!

More snow is coming…as long as it’s in the 20′s, let it come. Just clear up before I have to go anywhere, please. Yippee!

Sickies+Busies=LOTS of Laundries…I am proud to say I conquered the laundry last night. Almost. Well, after another load. Or two. Maybe three. At most. Oh well!

All the exclamations !!! of joy !!! are due to the Grand Box of Chocolate-Covered Strawberries, Cherries, and Apple that my dear friend Savita sent to me, or…uh, I mean, us. Ahem. Land sakes, but it has been tasty times around here. Good eats. I could eat those things for breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between. In fact, I have! Yikes! Thank you, sweet Valentine, Savita!!!

The fact that I’ve gone back to Coke, my long lost LOVE, with increased fervor in the last week may also have something to do with my JOY!!! I wanted to devote an entire post to it, but…well, on second thought…why don’t we just take a moment here?

Isn’t this sweet? The pretty dress, love in the air, and Coca-Cola…

In a bottle…my favorite…
Oh, hello there…

Why, thank you, I believe I will…so kind of you to offer…

Coke Love Fest aside, there was something even better that topped off my Valentine evening. My kids went and prepared me a Valentine surprise all on their own. It was their special concoction of Chocolate and Vanilla Ice Cream Drizzled with Chocolate with…get this, this is the best part…an UMBRELLA!!! It made my whole night. Look at these sweet little Valentines…

Photo Courtesy of My Mac Photo Booth…yep, we’re smiling at our lovely drinks…and our ‘chothers…

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine weekend. XO

Well, things DID get better.

Yesterday, we were all still recovering, but bellies calmed, throats eased, coughs…still coughed, but we’re working on that. Things are looking up. Today is even better.

The sun has been shining the last couple of days and I’m reminded again how much that lifts my spirits. Even when I feel rotten, if I see the sun, I feel a little brighter.

Tonight is the Grand Opening at The Burning Sage Galleries. I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a fun night of music. Andrew Brown, Troi Atkinson, Nate Sabin, Ashleigh Still and Carl Franzen are all going to share the mic. (7-10 PM.)

I’ve received a couple emails from people ordering things they saw when I wrote about the place. That’s been fun. If you saw something that caught your eye, say the word and I will set it aside for you. Girly Muse readers get first dibs.

Say a prayer and send blessings our way for tonight, please. We need it.

The Burning Sage Galleries~ 2750 NE Johnson St. Mnpls, 55418.