The House That Built Me

The House That Built Me

I know they say you can't go home again {True}

I just had to come back one last time

Ma'am, I know you don't know me from Adam

But these hand prints {hand print & footprint - labeled "Megan 1987"} on the front steps are mine

Up those stairs in that little back bedroom

Is where i did my homework and I learned to play guitar {piano close enough}

And I bet you didn't know under that live oak

My favorite dog {Rose} is buried in the yard

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it

This brokenness inside me might start healing

Out there it's like I'm someone else

I thought that maybe I could find myself

If I could just come in, I swear I'll leave

Won't take nothing but a memory

From the house that built me

Mama cut out pictures of houses for years

From "Better Homes & Gardens" magazine {True}

Plans were drawn and concrete poured

And nail by nail and board by board

Daddy gave life to mama's dream {True}

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it

This brokenness inside me might start healing

Out there it's like I'm someone else

I thought that maybe I could find myself

If I could just come in I swear I'll leave

Won't take nothing but a memory

From the house that built me

You leave home, you move on

And you do the best you can

I got lost in this whole world

And forgot who I am

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it

This brokenness inside me might start healing

Out here it's like I'm someone else

Thought maybe I could find myself

If I could walk around, I swear I'll leave

Won't take nothing but a memory

From the house that built me

- - Miranda Lambert

The first time I heard this song {& pretty much every time since} I tear up. It reminds me of my childhood & every good memory associated with that glorious house I grew up in. My first memory is watching my mom hang wallpaper [all 250 rolls of it].

The front walk was lined in a variety of beautiful rose bushes.In front of those rose bushes is where we played a little game we called "statues." We would strike a pose & held very still while cars pass us by.The backyard was huge & allowed for my imagination to run wild. I lived back there.

Orange trees, Grapefruit trees, Tangerine trees, Lime trees, Peach trees, Plum trees, Apple trees, Lemon trees, Apricot trees.

All sorts of veggies in the gardens.There was even a corn field at one point. And do you spot that mound of "dirt" in the far back corner...manure...we all used to play in it.Saturday morning usually meant picking up a front yard full of toilet paper.How could I have had anything but a wonderful childhood with this house as my playground. What a wonderful beginning to my life. So why does my ♥ ache when I think of this house? I guess it's just aching for something it can no longer have.

Miss Karen Sophia

My mom does not have a middle name. BUT if she did it would be Sophia {you know, in a world where we all name ourselves}.

Today was her Birthday!!!
She was surrounded by her loving family [who is crazy about her] all the day long. She could not escape, even if she wanted to.

I can only hope she felt spoiled because that is exactly how she makes us feel on our birthdays.

She requested Lemon Passion Cake, of course.29 candles {wink, wink}- - Mom - -
We sure do love you & appreciate all you do for us! I hope the coming year brings you all your ♥ desires. I cannot think what else you could possibly want!?! (Jordan & my records were read from the pulpit today in church making us official members of BOTH our parents' ward. )Truly, the ultimate gift!

Ninety-One Years Young

I must take after my Grandma Perkins & her love of chocolate because we both seem to be chocoholics. I am thrilled we share this quality because that meant I could make her a German Chocolate Cake for her birthday & she would be in german chocolate heaven & I would be in german chocolate heaven. (Does that make me selfish? Maybe a little.)Luckily you get wiser with age, but what they don't tell you is that having 91 year old lungs makes it harder to blow out the candles on your birthday cake.She was determined though & blew out every last candle. My mom, her daughter, said, "Mom, I don't think it's possible to live as many more years as it will take for your wish to come true, not with how many breaths you had to take." Sad, but true.

Grandma is such a sweetheart & has always taken such great care of those around her, so I feel priviledged to be able to spoil her [and myself] on her birthday with a German Chocolate Cake.

Happy Birthday Grandma! We love you very much!

♥ Famously said quotes often said by Grandma ♥

"If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

"Consider the source, and ignore it."

"There is a silver lining to every cloud."

Back to School

WARNING!!! A huge portion of this post is devoted to my nerdy knowledge & memorization of the movie Mulan - I spent way too many nights staying up late watching Mulan with my sister. You think that sounds okay, but I think I was in Junior High & she in High School at the time. We would laugh & laugh & laugh. These are my immature thoughts as I force Jordan to take pictures the morning of his first day of school, like all loving parents do with their children. I will show to you 2 different realities. The first is what I said to myself, in my head, & the second is what I actually said to him that morning. Anyway, I warned you.

Nerdy voice in my head: "My little Baby's all grown up, and...and, savin' China. {sniff}"

Filtered voice void of [most] nerdiness: "Bye, Jordan. I hope you have a great first day of school. Smile for the camera!"

Nerdy voice in my head: "Be nice, have fun, listen to your teacher, no fighting, and play nice with the other kids...unless one of the other kids want to fight; then you have to kick the other kids' butt."

[Somewhat] Filtered voice [not hardly enough] void of my nerdiness: "Play nice with the other kids. {chuckle, hold in laugh}"

Nerdy voice in need of being tamed: "My little baby's off to destroy people."
I need to watch Mulan - - "NOW! BETHANY!"

San Diego Vacation

The morning after we got home from Austin, we got on a plane & flew over to San Diego to spend some R&R (for Jordan, not me) time with the Rogers. Rough life, I know.

We spent a Sunday afternoon walking around Balboa Park.

Unfortunately for us, we got there just in time for all the museums to close. Fortunately for us, it is a great place just to walk around & enjoy the sights...& eat a snow cone in the shade.

There were beautiful rose gardens with all types of roses & colors. Jordan & I had a good time goofing around with "engagement shot" poses.

The next day we went to Knott's Berry Farm & had a blast riding all the roller coasters. I'll ride anything, (Minus water rides. I am not a huge fan of getting wet.) but this ride was the worst - - I had a headache for a few hours afterward & I don't think I'll ride one like it again. I think it was called the Boomerang {AKA-De Ja Vu}. Well named...you ride the coaster one way, then like a boomerang, you return the same way you came only now you are backwards. Yuck!

The Accelerator scared me the most, but turned out to be the most fun. You go 80 mph in 2 seconds & up to where we are in this picture in 3.2 seconds. Then you drop, a lot. It was our favorite ride.I haven't seen a roller coaster like this one - The Pony Express. It holds you in by your stomach. It doesn't look like it would be all that much fun, but it ended up being one of my favorites.The Supreme Scream takes you Up, Up, & Away and then drops you like a rock. Terrifying, but really fun. After a long hard day of riding roller coasters I talked everyone into eating at Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner. It's the bomb! It had quite the wait though & we were starving - can you tell by this picture?It is well worth the wait though. The best biscuits you will ever eat in.your.life! ***I guarantee it!

A few more rides before we call it a day.

Stephen, Myself, & JJ

The boys enjoyed a plunge in the cool water on one ride that I said "No gracias" to. Knott's Berry Farm was really fun. Thank you, thank you Rogers for spoiling us & taking us there.
We were able to spend a day at the beach the following day.

There were even some dolphins that came into shore to say "Hey!" for a little while, it was pretty cool to see...once you confirmed they were in fact dolphins.

The water was super duper chilly so I did not get in. The boys had a good time boogie boarding though.

Jordan riding in a wave.

Beach bumsThe evening before we left for home we took a tour at the Mormon Battalion Museum. Jordan volunteered to dress up like the soldiers.

Cool bayonet Jordy!Me & my soldier. We were sad to leave the Rogers & the beach. Jordan was especially sad since he had to start back to school & work the morning after we got home. So glad we got to go.

Home At Last

We're Back!

Who looks like they are a little too excited (/crazy)?YIKES!!! Must have been the 10 1/2 hour car ride. By the way, this is the only way Ben would take a picture with me, I had to sneak behind him...can you feel the love?

We finally arrived back home to good ol' sweltering Mesa, AZ.

My family welcomed us in style with hamburgers & homemade Cherry Nut ice cream. The meal was very welcome after a very long couple of days spent in the car eating fast food. It was so good to see everyone.

Beth, Tim, & I

My sissy-poo with a way better tan than I - not even fair to be in the same picture with someone so tan.

Can you spot the crazed Aunt being smothered by the small, but surprisingly solid little bodies?

My 'Please sir, more gruel' pose with my beautiful Mama.

A content looking, handsome hubby.
Sure, Ben will take a picture with these adorable kiddos, I don't blame him. Sure was fun to see everyone.

.Lonestar State of Mind.

Texas has been good to us.It is absolutely, positively beautiful here.There has been so much to see & do.See & do we did! I feel like Texas knew we were coming. It "paid off" everything from the friendly natives to the nasty bugs to put on a show for J & M Rogers. It has been on its very best picture perfect behavior since we have arrived. It wants to entice us with all its grandeur so we will love it here & won't ever, ever want to leave.

While, Texas is absolutely a marvel, I realize now that I have definitely been looking out of rose colored glasses.

Confused? Let me explain.

1.) Bugs. There are mammoth sized bugs here. I have seen them, unfortunately. However, none of these 'freaks of nature' have had the guts to enter our apartment. Causing me to think they are well-behaved insects with good manners. They stay outside & do not enter anothers' home. Wrong! They just have never entered MY home. Supposedly everyone around us have horrible bug problems. {I do not know why we are so lucky, but I thank the heavens.}

***ALERT: Texas - Get your money back from the mosquitoes, they have not behaved as the other bugs, even through my rose colored glasses. They have been acting like their pesky little selves & have been engorging themselves upon my legs.

2.) Car accidents. I do not believe they happen here. As high as the speed limits are & as aggressive as the drivers seem to be, I have been led to believe they must be good drivers because I have not seen a single car accident here in Austin. While the traffic is horrible most of the time, I have not witnessed a car accident being the cause. Apparently, I am wrong. I guess Austin has a lot of car accidents, I just have not seen them.

3.) Even the weather has obeyed Texas' plea/bribe to behave & act as it should. Last summer was one of the worst summers Austin has seen. Record setting Heat + Drought. This summer has been quite the opposite. Pleasantly cool with plenty of thunderstorms [yes, I know, I was complaining about the thunderstorms a few posts back, but how did Texas know I was a bonafide wimp].

All the rain has provided all the beautiful lush green landscapes that have stolen my ♥ . Thank you Texas for putting on your Sunday Best. We appreciate your thoughtfulness...

Unfortunately, for you [Texas], my sister Bethany sent me an e-mail this morning. Letting me know Arizona missed us (& is having fun without us, how dare!). Attached were pictures of loved ones faces that I miss.
Arizona wins!

We will be packing our belongings in the car (the car that hopefully gets there...say your prayers) & heading for The Valley on Friday.

ETA: Saturday Evening - - 4-ish?

I hope to be giving smoochies to these cute faces brothers & sister, so be there!