Let us pause for a moment of Erin...

We go through many stages in life. There are different times in our lives when different people are included. When we grow up, we sometimes don't always end up with the same friends we had as children. Having the same friends as an adult, that you had when you were a child is a rare thing. Even though it is a sad thought, we grow up - and the closeness we share with some, fades away. I am very lucky girl. My favorite person in the world has been one of my best friends for as long as I can remember. My brother and I have remained so close over the years. When I think who I know the best, who can cheer me up with a single facial expression, and who I consider my favorite person in the world - the answer is always the same. Nick. Our lives have changed dramatically. We have grown up, gone on our own paths, and still remain such close friends. I don't know anyone else who understands me, can make me laugh, or love me unconditionally as Nick can. He truly is one in a mi...

One of the selling points of Southern Illinois is unpredictability. Weather is certainly something we can never really predict or think we have a "good hold on" in this area. It has snowed in March, had tornadoes in December, and you never really know how to dress to stay a comfortable temperature. For this reason, when I see the bright colors on the weather channels map of this area, the clouds change, and winds pick up - I ready the basement. I think "the May 8th storm" - may it live in infamy - taught us to be cautious of Spring/Summer transition weather. I also think it made every person a little cautious of bad weather, turn nutso. If I'm being honest, I will admit that I do fear sleeping right through a tornado. I don't why I should fear that, I mean it would be the best way to go. But with my sick and twisted mind, I fear that I will wake, mid wind sweep while I am whirling through the air, to panic and say to myself - Why didn't I fear th...

As I pull the curtains back on my front window, I look out and see a lake where fields used to be across the highway. When I go to get the mail, I look down the highway and see that water is beginning to cover the road, while it is completely swallowing my neighbors' yards. Here it is another evening where I am sitting in my house and all I hear outside is thunder rolling in. I know this means more rain, and the chance that flooding may be worse when I wake in the morning. Rain, rain, go away, come back in July when we will really need you! I could sit and get really down about the rain and how badly I need to mow my yard - but can't due to the fact that when I walk in the yard it's like poking a sponge! I'm trying not to remember a couple years ago when it flooded so badly here. I had never seen flooding quite like that before. And I am sad to say, that when I look down a few roads near my home, it looks terribly familiar. I didn't live at this house when i...

It began last Saturday and ended just this Friday - Spring Break 2011- Wilmington or Bust! Along with my friend Whitney, I took a road trip to the east coast. I had never visited this part of the country before, and was anxious and excited to experience this newness. Needless to say, there were many memorable experiences that I won't soon forget. We actually kept a notebook in the car and recorded memorable quotes and occurrences from the trip that can make me laugh by just reading them. In a nutshell, I would describe my spring break as - good times! The adventure started with a trip to Franklin, TN to visit my friend Rachael. Rach moved to Franklin back in December. I was so excited to see Gracie - it had been around 4 months! We read books together, played with toys, and watched TV. It was our normal fun times, and I loved it. I could've spent the whole week with her, but my time was cut short. Franklin had such a quaint downtown area. We went to McCreary's Ir...

In a few hours I will be embarking on a journey of a lifetime! :) Whitney and I are going on a week long road trip. We are heading to the east coast - Wilmington, NC, and then circle back. Our major stops are Franklin, Pigeon Forge, Asheville, Wilmington, and Winston-Salem. There are many other stops along the way. We are going to see all interesting things along our drive such as the largest frying pan, Ripley's, SciWorks, Mystery Hill, and many many more! I can't even describe how excited I am about this. I'm so excited that I should be finishing up packing, but here I am blogging about it to get some of my giddiness out! :) Sure it will be super fun, but me - being me - I am a bit nervous about it as well. I get so worried that I will forget something really important and the stores toward the east won't have these items. For some reason it is though I am afraid I am going into this other dimension where the items that I need to get me through the day won...

Every year I read my favorite children's book with my class. I read Charlotte's Web. We have been reading it the past few weeks, and Friday we came to a close on a classic piece of children's literature. It's one of those books that I am very excited to read each year to my kids. The book is so familiar to me it feels like an old friend that I introduce to a new group of kids each year. Sure, most of the kids have seen some, if not all of the movie - but the book is different. Although I do always tend to get a bit emotional while watching the movie, I can barley make it through reading the book without my voice cracking, and/or crying right as I read the story to the class. I realize they have not come to the realization as Wilbur, and I have. That will come with age. The realization that friendship is a precious gift that will not always be easy or as simple as sharing crayons or sliding down the slide together. A big part of true friendship is love. And the...

There is a blue house that exists in Marion on a little street called Brittany Lane. This is a wondrous house where many a great times have been had. It sets in a great little neighborhood, where kids ride their bikes on the street, and occasionally grown-ups will be spotted riding 4-wheelers or pink mopeds around. There have been many hayrides, bonfires, and get togethers where friends have laughed so much. It is full of great neighbors, who actually wave at each other when they walk out the front door, and come sit on your deck with you to shoot the breeze after work. This is the place where my brother has lived for the past few years. I still remember my brother moving out to this house in Marion. I was not very pleased at this development in the beginning. My brother and I were still living in our parents' house, and he was the first to go. I was a bit jealous of this house taking my buddy away from me. No more Saturday morning brunches of assorted appetizer like foods...