PAUSE

Look at us running around, always rushed, always late. Guess that's why they call it the human race.

But sometimes it slows down just enough for all the pieces to fall into place. Fate works its magic and......

You're connected.

Every once in a while, amid all the randomness, something unexpected happens and it pushes us all forward.

And the truth is, what I'm starting to think, what I'm starting to feel is that maybe the human race isn't a race at all. -The Switch

EMMYLOU

CRAZY BRAVE

EAST

East is the direction of beginnings. It is sunrise. When beloved Sun rises, it is an entrance, a door to fresh knowledge. Breathe the light in. Call upon the assistance you need for the day. Give thanks. East is how the plants, animals and other beings orient themselves for beginnings, to open and blossom. The spirit of the day emerges from the sunrise point. East is also the direction of Oklahoma, where I was born, the direction of the Creek Nation. 

NORTH

North is the direction where the difficult teachers live. This is the direction of cold winds. The color is white, sharp and bare. It is the direction marked by the full moon showing the way through the snow. It is prophecy.

WEST

West is the direction of endings. It is the doorway to the ancestors, the direction of tests. It represents leaving and being left and learning to find the road in the darkness. 

SOUTH

South is the direction of release. Birds migrate south for winter. It is flowers and food growing. It is fire and creativity. It is the tails of two snakes making a spiral looping over and over, an eternal transformation. 

- Joy Harjo

SHE IS FIVE AND SHE IS FIERCE

Since I am a Libra I will look at this accomplishment with the scales in mind. FIVE YEARS. I'm pretty sure I went from dirty Golden Light Dancing Feet and not being able to keep a cactus alive to being the mom of one pretty amazing FIVE year old.

The good:

I.N.D.P.E.N.D.E.N.T.

Bright, man is she bright.

Kind. Sweet. Loving.

Beautiful. Although, I stare into those piercing blue Calvert eyes 24/7 and see nothing but Calvert (hard to do if you know what I mean. Wink. Wink.) She is beautiful on the inside. She is beautiful like all of the Calverts I know.

Hi-larious. Funny beyond my comprehension (another dad trait). I don't really have a great sense of humor. She does. She laughs at herself most importantly.

A leader.

Strong.

Willful.

Compassionate.

The bad:

I.N.D.E.P.E.N.D.E.N.T.

Sassy, man is she SASSSSSSSSSSSSY.

Hard headed. This is another way of saying all of the above but Betty Calvert will argue with a fence post or the sacker at Lowes about paper or plastic.  Not sure where she gets this from. We are working on it or not.

The ugly:

A smidge boy crazy. Too early for this RIGHT? YES IT IS. But she is and it terrifies me. She has been talking about one of Cody Mac's groomsmen since the wedding and I want to cry.

All girl. All pink. All nails and tutus and glitter and hair and ALL FRAKIN' GIRL. I know nothing of this.

Advanced. She's just old beyond her years and that also terrifies me. She is 5 going on 20 which is what my mother (and other people) have always said about me. We have a tough road ahead....blessed and TOUGH.

All in all, man oh man, what a gift I have been given. This list is truly ALL good except for the boy crazy part and I thank God every other second for her.

She is me.....only better....

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY TO THE MOST AMAZING FUTURE PRESIDENT AND SMALL TOWN LOVELY LADY!

After I tucked my sweet girl in I decided to sit outside and soak in the almost full moon (tomorrow).  And in all of my deep thought I came up with this:

Marry who you want to marry. Eat what you want to eat. Do I think God loves gay people and chicken? Absolutely.

Michael Phelps is not paying the taxes on all of those medals.

July is my least favorite month.

You should never have to chase want you want.

Use the gifts God gave you. So you can't paint or sing or play the piano? Write a kind thank you note.

I change my mind 1,000 times a day. I have changed my plan once. God changed the rest.

Living in a wet county CHANGES your life.

Home grown, hormone free steaks make your heart happy. Create meals that make you proud to serve.

You will never love anything as much as your mother loves you unless you are a mother.

Speedos are fantastic on divers versus Greek men at the beach.

Michael Phelps is still smoking pot. 

My sister is the best best best best best best friend a girl could ever ask for.

Don't spank Betty. Take bedtime books away.

Have faith in the impossible. Have faith always.

LL.