Homecoming 1990

 Warning: Flashback post.

A few nights ago, I was upstairs in the attic with a glass of wine going through all my old high school stuff.  I kept everything, y'all. Every sports article, every football ticket stub, yada, yada. So our 30th class reunion got canceled because of Covid, but some of my closer friends and I have a private group and after a zoom meet up, all the memories we shared had me up in the attic digging through all my high school memorabilia. 

I came across TONS of pictures (I was always taking pictures), but this one grabbed me because this was me at 17, a senior in high school, at my last semi-formal dance. Close enough to Alise's age right now. I couldn't wait to show her the picture, especially since she will be attending my ala mater's 2021 Homecoming this very weekend!

Here are a few details about this picture:

1. I borrowed this dress from my best friend, Amanda. Her mother actually made it. She sewed so she made several of Amanda's semi-formal dresses in high school. Our group borrowed one another's dresses all the time so it blows this mama's mind that Alise and her friend group doesn't do the same. It looks teal or blue in the picture, but it was actually green. When I posted this picture on my IG story, I said I looked like I was wrapped in Easter foil wrapping paper. Ha! My daddy nearly had a heart attack over the spaghetti straps, but I loved the ruching, ruffles, and dropped waist. Alise was not impressed. She said, "You wore THAT?!"

2. Notice the matching podiswa heels. I have no memory of having these heels dyed to match, but I'm pretty sure they were mine because we may have borrowed dresses, but not shoes. And, yes! I am wearing panty hose. 

3. I am assuming this picture was taken in my date's home because the fireplace isn't my parents'. My date was a year older than me and we doubled dated that night with my best friend who was dating my cousin at the time. Carrie's dress was black and white. My date is now a cop in Dallas. 

4. My tan is from a bottle of self tanner from Avon. All my friends were laying in sunbeds and my mother wouldn't let me (now I own one! I showed her! Ha!). I was in the throes of an eating disorder during this time. Although my senior year was one of the best times in my life, I struggled inwardly. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, but best won out!

5. My hair was ombred before ombre was a thing! Actually, it wasn't. That was/is my natural color, although I don't remember it being quite so dark (in the actual picture, it's not). That was probably the longest my hair has ever been and probably ever will be again. The perm is real. It brings me joy that Alise gets her hair color from me. 

OPHS

Class of '91

Crazy Thoughts At 2AM

 Even though the humidity has made a comeback, I'm beginning to see little glimpses that fall is on the way! 🙌  Something happens every September and things just look and feel different. The sky is more bluer and less hazy. There's a slight breeze ever so often and the mosquitoes get fiesty. 

And so do I. Especially when I can't sleep due to throwing back too many Diet Cokes with friends on a Taco Tuesday night. I'm still buzzing on caffeine overload. 

Here are some crazy thoughts I've got going on...

I seriously don't even know what the Met Gala is, I mean, I've been to the Met - well, actually rode PAST it on a double decker BUS, but who's judging? - ANYWHOO!!  WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH THESE OUTFITS!!  DOES ANYONE WEAR CLOTHES ANYMORE??  Good grief!!  Y'all's Mama needs to shame y'all! It just baffles me that everyone feels the need to out do the other! Why? What happened to classy and elegant? 

Speaking of which, the first go around with Beniffer was fun and exciting, but this time? Snooze. Put some clothes on!  You have kids.

Welp, I never in my wildest dreams thought my daughter would be going to my old high school's homecoming. And what's even CRAZIER is the fact that I was suppose to be having my 30th High School Reunion this weekend!! I'm still trying to let that sink in. So since the school technically cannot have a dance because of Covid, the parents are doing one for the kids at a local place in town. And, of course, because of Covid, our reunion was canceled. At least one of us will have a fun time ringing in homecoming at my old high school. 

Wayne is in Colorado this week with his best friend on a hunting trip. He won a tag to kill a bear. A FREAKIN' BEAR, y'all!!  He managed to figure out Marco Polo on his own and told me that he had a 350 pound bear walk out in front of him, but he/she/it went behind a bush and he couldn't get a shot. A 350 pound bear went behind a BUSH and he couldn't get a shot?? He's bow hunting btw. A little harder to get a "shot," I guess. Anyway, I told him a 350 pound bear was not going to fit in his expensive ice chest to bring home to Louisiana. He might need to re-think that one. 

My mom is still ill and just got out of the hospital again. I've come to the conclusion that I may need to begin taking over my mother's care and I am so thankful for the connections that I have in order to do this. I had a come-to-Jesus meeting with my parents on Sunday. It wasn't pretty. However, I will say that they have begun handling appointments better and we are now only waiting on one important test to come back as of today. Our new endocrinologist has been instrumental in my mother's care and I truly believe that God sent him to our area at just the appropriate time to help in diagnosing my mom. I am still hopeful and trusting God in these circumstances. 

Sweet dreams.

Two Shades I'm Loving This Fall

 Have you checked out Pantone's fall and winter palette? I personally do not let New York Fashion Week dictate the colors of my wardrobe, but it is nice to see what the trends are. 

I'm very surprised to see all the bright colors in the collection. They have more of a "spring" feel to me and I have yet to see these trends in the stores so far this season. 

However, two colors that I am IN LOVE with this season are navy and rust. And not necessarily together. My obsession with navy began a few weeks ago when I went to visit a friend and see her new home. She had decorated in shades of navy and gray throughout and I just absolutely loved it! As for rust, I loved the pieces that Cyndi Spivey and Jo-lynne Shane wore in this post and it has motivated me to add more of this color to my fall closet. For me, as a blonde, this color can be very tricky since I am not a warm toned person, but I ordered a sweater in this shade just a few minutes ago. 

What are your favorite colors to wear in Fall?

The Wind and Waves Know His Name

Thank you so much for your encouragement from my last post. It meant so much to know that I wasn't alone in my feelings and thoughts. The good news is that today begins a new week with new opportunities.

Kathie Lee Gifford posted this on her IG grid this morning and it reminded me of how worshiping truly helps with worry and anxiety. It certainly changed my heart last week! While I was listening to worship music, I heard the lyrics, "Even the wind and waves know His name." Little did I know just how much those words would mean a few days later with Hurricane Ida.

I woke up this morning, feeling very blessed that a rotten tree had not fallen through the middle of our house. We've had an appointment to get it cut for several weeks, but lo and behold, it still stands. Ida shifted more toward the east, so we only got some rain and a little wind. However, the lower half of our state was not as fortunate. We tracked the hurricane on our phones throughout the day yesterday, and when I was woken up at 1AM, and checked the path again, I was reminded of those lyrics. Everyone who lives in the coastal states knows how unpredictable hurricanes can be and they don't always follow the path of science. I think that's because the wind and the waves know His name. They certainly know His voice (Matt 8:26). I had such a peace this weekend with the anticipation of what was to come. 

Please continue to pray for the southern part of our state. 

I Hope There Is Chocolate in Heaven

My emotions have been all over the place since I heard about the bombings in Afghanistan. I have shed many tears. Truly what is breaking the Lord's heart is breaking mine, too. 

My mom is ill again. There was some "chaos" with her yesterday, so I took dinner to my parents and we began talking about all the world events that are going on. I told mama and daddy that I am just ready for the Lord to come back. Truly there is groaning in my spirit for a better place. A place where there is no evil, no viruses, no bombings, no hurricanes, and certainly no thoughts of your daughter being a senior in like 365 days! This world is not my home. And then I feel guilty for wanting the Lord to come back because I know that there are still people in this world who have never heard his name. 

I just feel this sense of darkness that I've never felt before. I saw the "evilness" (if that's even a word) and hatred last summer through all the rioting and election process, but this is something more sinister. It's like watching the dark overcome the light. It's like a moving reel of the day where the night swiftly takes over the day. Where a fog of doom and darkness begins to roll ever so silently into creation. I do believe this may be called 'spiritual warfare.' The jubilation we felt as a nation after the days of 9/11 have been replaced with sorrow and grief. 

I cried this morning and for just a few hours, I lost hope. And losing hope is not a good mental place to be in. I also ate a bag of M&Ms. Because sometimes, M&Ms and tears just go together. I hope there is chocolate in Heaven. As my tears fell, I felt God say to me, "Worship me," so I turned on Pandora to one of my favorite worship stations. I read scripture. And my soul was strengthened. I'm still sad, but my focus isn't where it was. There was a time when I didn't understand how worship could help in my time of sorrow, but it does, because it takes my focus off my feelings, off my circumstances, and puts them on the one person who is truly in control. 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Take heart, friends. Take heart.