Our Place of Honor

This is the sign on the road where I grew up.


Mabe Stillwell Lane.

We're the Mabe part. See, that's OUR name first. Like we are the important ones. Cause you know those Stillwells. They can't be trusted.

I think we got our name first because of our fine family heritage, and place of honor in our town.
Or, it could of been an alphabetical decision. But I'm sure that's not it.

Yeah, I'm sure it was the place of honor reason.

Conversations Between Lovers

Two weeks ago...
she said: You'd better look at your clothes, I don't think you have anything that dressy that doesn't look 80's"
he said: (growl)... it'll be fine... who cares... it's just clothes... now go fix me some viddles"
she said: (whine)... you'll see.... i'll be cute and you won't.... i'll tell my Mom.... whine....

Today...
he said: now will this work?
she said: you look like my uncle George back in '89
he said: you JUST bought me these pants
she said: yeah, like 8 years ago
he said: I swear it was like last year
she said:I told you this would happen

Family Tree

On a grassy, green hill- near creeks and lakes and cliffs, springs and fields- stands this tree. It was planted by my Great-Grandfather. If you look closely you can see a flat, wooden swing. Many kids have swung from that swing. And even a few grown-ups.

My Mamaw Hazel (his daughter) grew up in the house by this swing. Her Mother died when she was young and so Mamaw "Hazie" was left to care for her siblings as well as her father. Soon after, she married and had 9 children of her own. Dark brown kind eyes. Her only fault... believing her children could do no wrong. All of her life has been about her family. And her life still is all about her family. When the weather is warm, she sits on her porch swing and waits for her kids and grandkids to come visit. She has never cared for material things. As long as she had food to feed anyone who comes to visit- she's happy.

I wish I was more like her.

The Little Men In My Head

I think I'm hard to talk to. My eyes wander. Attention is distracted. I'm scattered to say the least. If I ever get a brain scan I'm sure they would find little well dressed men inside of my head- all humming different songs. Working. Getting in fights. And cooking spam.

Because of this, I've told myself that this summer I will finish some projects. I've got a million things in my head, things already started. Half done things. So, I am committed to finishing something. One of which is this owl picture. I painted him with the intent of painting a friend for him to hang with. Problem is, he's been hanging on my wall with no friend. It's driving my symetry loving self insane. I feel like my house might tip over if I don't balance this with a companion piece on the other side.

So, join me in my True Confessions. What undone project do you need to work on this summer?

Making Due

With my early onset Empty Nest Syndrome Depression, combined with the fact that my first born is attending his first church camp...



Craig and I may be displacing our emotional needs onto our youngest son...



If Craig tries to breastfeed, I'm calling a therapist.

The New Fall Lineup

I think I know .009% of how Mom's feel when their youngest goes off to college. In a few short weeks Landon will be going off to kindergarten.

There have been many occasions in the past where I've day dreamed about that event of both boys being in school all day. You know the days... where things seem so hard with young kids at home- you go in your room for a few seconds to do the "ugly cry". There have been times I have cried so hard no tears came out. My mouth just spreads real thin and wide and I do this puppet mouth kind of move. "Oh Lord", I cry... "take me now!" Particularly when both boys were at home all day. Looking back God gave me just what I needed to make it through each day. And some days it felt like that's all we did... just make it.

I never realized I was a screamer. Or that I was impatient... until I had kids. It was always in me, it just never came out until kids. I try. And sometimes I do a really good job. And then sometimes I don't.

But I think I've finally gotten used to this stay-at-home-mom (SAHM) thing. I'm content with things the way they are. This is who I am. I am Shannon. I stay home with my kids. I work at school a few mornings a week- the rest I'm home with my kids.

But... that is all about to change. Now that the time is finally here, I'm really sad. Who will I be now? All day every day? What will I do?

This will take some adjusting. I think this is a very important step in the whole process of learning to let my kids go. Not that I ever really had them- they belong to God.

I belong to God too. I put my trust in Him.

Me Being Quiet...

One of the many moods of Shannon.