Stumbling

I stumbled a bit this week. 
A couple of things tripped me up.
BUT... It's all good.
There was a time not so long ago, I could not handle stumbling.  Be it small and personal or something major upsetting me enough to take quite a tumble.

Not so long ago, I would get panicky... frustrated... or overwhelmed.

I would struggle with the stumbling and need help back up.

Things have changed for me.
I still stumble...
Things happen that, well, darn it, wasn't a part of the plan I HAD. 

Something has changed in me.  Something for the better.  Now, I can look past the tumbles and trip ups.

Even if I still get scraps and bruises.
I know I will be okay.

I think I have learned to take things with a little salt...
I have learned that maybe, just maybe, I needed that little trip...

You see, I have learned to make that stumble a part of the plan. Turn it into.. I meant that... kind of like, when you start to stumble and turn it into a goofy dance. 
That's where I am today.

Pretty Baby

Emily & Derek

Look at my pretty baby!
Last night was her last sorority formal.  She and Derek look so great! She sent this to me before they left.

Emily & Kelsey

This is Emily with one of her sorority sisters, Kelsey. Aren't they pretty?

They had a wonderful evening. Being a Chi Omega has been much fun. Emily always loved her dances throughout school. Middle School, High School, and College.  She's gonna miss the dances and formals.

Quandom Tuesday

I thought it would be fun going down a memory Lane of Proms & Dances from the late 70's and one from 1980.
Enjoy the hair, and dresses. We certainly didn't go all out like my daughters did! Back then your entire date ~tickets, dinner, Tuxedo, Dress & accessories cost less than a Prom Dress of today!

First Up~

Sergio & Jennifer 1976

 Hubba Hubba~ Look at my Hubby & his High School Sweetheart Jennifer. I believe he is wearing quite the stylist bow tie. Looks like it was a bad hair day for Sergio. Jennifer looks adorable though.

Moving Along~

Sergio & Jennifer 1977

.Ahh, much better. Here is the Hubby and Jennifer at the Senior Prom. A year can make a big different. He is so cute. Makes me giggle to see these pictures. Good thing he rarely reads my Blog. I don't think he'd appreciate the exposure.

Lets go to 1978 and see who's up~

Janis & John 1978

Awe....look at this pasty couple! I was a  15 year old Sophomore dating a Junior at another school. My first prom and I was not only nervous, but knew no one other than my date. It was awkward to say the least.

Also in 1978~

Julie & Brent 1978

This beauty is my Sister, Julie, with her Senior prom Date, Brent, that luckily became her Husband 7 years later. They look dreamy♥

A peak into 1979~

Janis & Mike 1979

This is THE TRAIN WRECK DATE. What a nightmare! First I had the biggest crush on this guy. Asked him to the Valentine Turnabout Dance (where the girls get to ask the boys out). I double with a friend who's date was living in a very bad area of town. I had my Mom's car. WRECKED it...LEFT it in the bad neighborhood, because my date & friend told me to, I believe the conversation was something about, you are already screwed... grounded..etc., so lets still go on the date and have fun one last night. I did. I got completely drunk (can you tell in the picture?) when I got home....oh my gosh! it was so not worth it. The guy was a jerk, the car cost me mega bucks, and it was one of my most irresponsible moments that I am ashamed of. stupid stupid stupid!

Later that year...

Janis & Jeff 1979

This was my Junior Prom. My date was a lifelong friend. Jeff and I met in 2nd grade. We were friends all the way through school and I am Blessed to say we are still friends.  Jeff had just got dumped two weeks before prom, and I was planning on going to prom with John,  (see 78 prom above) whom I recently started seeing again. John was not being a very nice guy however, and I realized I would be better off away from him a week before the Prom. Jeff & I decided since we had all our stuff ready, lets go together. Best prom date ever! We had a blast! We even went to McDonald's and Putt Putt afterwards. Jeff was my Knight~ love you Jeff.

1979 was a Dance year for me. But if you think about it. You have Turnabout in February, Proms in May, and then what we called Brown & Gold (school colors) in the Fall.
So...

Janis,Debbie,Mary, Sheri, Lynn, Kim 1979

This was our Brown & Gold of 1979.  These were my closest girlfriends. We begged the photography to take this and he did. Isn't it darling? We look so sweet. LOL.

Janis & Bill 1979

 This was my date. My High School Sweetheart., Bill (Well, we started dating our Senior year, and dated for four years).

Okay 1980 where are you?

Janis & Bill 1980

Awe! I look so sweet! And here is Bill again. This was a fun and fairytale prom. He picked me up in his Dad's Mercedes. The theme song was our favorite band and song...Sweet Home Alabama, by Lynryd Skynryd. We had a fun dance, good friends and great after party. Ironically, the fancy Hotel we had Prom at caught on fire the next day.


Well, that's all I'm gonna share. Missing a few, but have no idea where or if I still have the photographs.
I hope you enjoyed Quondam Tuesday Proms!

Time To Smile!

Oh My Gosh!
Thank You Bridgette @ Life Is a Beach!
My Blog Friend Bridgette had this on her Blog and I had to borrow from her post to share this smile! (Bridgette, I hope you don't mind...It was just to funny to not post as well).Please go to Bridgette's Blog http://bridgettetaylor.blogspot.com/ and check hers out. She is fabulous! And she needs all the prayers we can get for little Lilly!

Now, for your enjoyment: A little YouTube :)

Pretty Princess and the Last Prom

Today, I had the joy of hanging with my beautiful daughter, preparing her for her Senior prom. We had Mani-pedi's at the nearby "Lovely Nails". Went to "Saks Fifth Ave", for the Bobby Brown make up. Had her hair styled by the wonderful Lindsey in Broad Ripple. Then home to throw "the dress & shoes" on. And out the door for pictures.

First stop was
"Seros" Annie's restaurant. She and friend, Haley, met with co-workers to show off their dresses. Annie has been blessed to work there for a couple of years now and they are so good to her. The owners will be so disappointed they missed Annie & Haley.

Next stop was Nathans. Annie's boyfriend. Why didn't they go together you are wondering? Well, Annie & Nathan have gone to two previous proms together. Also, this is "Little Five" (big party weekend & bike race @ Indiana University) Annie wanted to let Nathan be freed up to go visit his buddies for the event. Nathan ended up having an opportunity to work for his family business. They own a Banquet Hall and were hosting another High School Prom. Nathan was DJ'ing it. A chance to earn money! A must for all college students. And third, Annie wanted to go with a group of friends, her "date" has been one of her best friends for many years. He also was her partner in Fall Homecoming. Sean is kindof her Richie. She is fortunate to have a wonderful trusting boyfriend. Nathan & Annie have a strong relationship. Prom is just a High School dance.

That brings us to Sean's for the first two photos. Gorgeous group, huh?
My Annie was able to wear 4" heels, and that dress... Isn't it the prettiest dress you ever saw? She fit it perfect, her coloring, her figure. The back was as pretty as the front. Oh my Goodness! I never looked like that!!!

She will enjoy this sweet parting, if you will, the growing up and a little bit of a goodbye to her high school friends. In just a few weeks they will graduate and part ways.

My princess will have a wonderful evening. I love her so much.

shuffle, ball, change...

When I was a little girl, I took dance lessons. My parents were rather poor, but Mom always scrapped money together to be sure Julie & I were educated in the arts as well as entertained.

I never realized what a sacrifice Mom must have made to make sure we danced. My biggest memories come from a place called Brookside Park.

Brookside Park was established in 1898 with 108 acres of green space as well as a grand recreational community center, complete with gymnasiums and small ball room and stage. Although it looks mighty grand I must tell you that by the 1960's, this was not such a desirable area. The fact that it has survived all these years, and in a rough neighborhood is amazing. It still stands today and continues to serve the community. It has always been a place that made recreation affordable to all. Even today, you can get free lessons there for several activities. The above picture is of the back view of the recreation center.

When my father was a boy, he played ball here and played on these grounds.

Years later, my Mother would take Julie & I here and allowed us to chose our dance classes. The classes cost $.25 per class. We then would have a recital to show off our new "skills" to our parents. We took lots of Tap (my favorite), Baton, Hula (Julie's favorite), Gymnastics, and I think we even tried Ballet.

I remember loving Tap. I was never really any good at it but I loved the sounds I could make with my shoes,, and trying to master, "Shuffle, ball, change".

Life is much like that simple but thought out step. Shuffle, ball, change.

Today was one of those harder days for me. No particular reason. Just more of a struggle. I could not help but think about Brookside Park and trying to master that step. I remember my instructor patiently, yet frustratedly trying to help me grasp it so the class could move forward with the dance we were practicing. It was so important for me to get it.

I feel that I must shuffle- gather what I have, ball - prepare to move forward, then, and only then, can I change, and move to the next foot to make my step.

Does that make any sense?

The Sheri Dance

My dear friend, Sheri, has this little dance she does when she is happy. She isn't even aware of it, she just does it. Songs will come on, usually on her ipod, and she just kindof does this little sway, moving the hips, and snapping her fingers as she sings.

She is a music freak and knows the words to every song (okay, maybe not all, just the ones that are important to us). Music makes her happy and it is always playing around her. At home, in the car, she will even start singing if no song is present. That is just Sheri.

Sometimes I find myself doing the Sheri Dance.

Usually, I am by myself and a good song will pop on and there I am, swaying and snapping! I seem to pick up habits that I like.

I love seeing Sheri do this. It lets me know there is a song in her heart and it makes her happy.