2020 came and went and here we are in 2021.
Happy 21st birthday to my favorite person in the world.
What a year.
2020 started with her so excited. She had so many events planned. In March the world changed. She quickly adjusted to the changes. She has done free Friday story-times almost every week since March. She has done online Zoom calls and personalized videos to places like the UK, Italy, Hawaii, Pakistan, Germany, Canada and so many states in the US. She’s been featured by libraries all over the country, been interviewed by local news, been in a national online magazine, been sent tons of merchandise by people who recognize her hard work (including Idina Menzel) and she’s brightened thousands of children lives during hard times.
She did outside parties by adjusting the things she offered and becoming a master at staying 6’ away and still making the children feel engaged.
She’s led children’s church activities via Zoom. She’s sat in meetings via Zoom. She’s worked so hard on her social media accounts.
We both discovered we loved hiking and spent copious amounts of time in nature.
Anyone who knows her knows she doesn’t “sit” well and she definitely hasn’t been bored. In fact at age 21 I’ve never once heard her say, I’m bored”.
She is opinionated, smart, wise beyond her years and experiences, she doesn’t cry, she doesn’t love easily but when she does it’s for always. She hates injustice and wants to throat punch the world at times.
Happy birthday my beautiful shining girl. You make my life infinitely better and I adore being your Momma. I pray daily that you always keep Jesus in your center, do the things that make your heart soar and fill you with joy and wonder and find the people who know your worth and make you laugh until your stomach hurts.
I love you. To Pluto and back. And back again. And again times infinity.
And of course she has a birthday crown.
Days of staying home. Of going nowhere. Of reading, cooking, watching TV, playing Switch, reading aloud, watching the news in horror, making plans for virtual events, and more.
The last few days have reminded me of homeschooling when she was young. Talking and laughing and sharing information together. (Now don’t get me wrong we always do a lot of these things but the slow pace this week has been wonderful).
Snow!!!
Anyone who knows me well knows I love snow. I opened my eyes and immediately knew it snowed during the night. The light is just different when there is snow on the ground. I jumped out of bed like a 6 year old and ran to the window.
As much as I hate cold I adore snow. I was thinking about it this morning and I think it’s because so many wonderful, childhood memories involve snow. My very first memory was playing in the snow with my Momma. She had a cardboard box and was pushing me around in it. I was 2 1/2 and I can close my eyes and remember how I felt. (And yet I can’t remember everything we did last week!).
I lived in a neighborhood with tons of kids and we always had a blast on snow days. Can you remember that feeling when you wake up and your Mom would say, “No school today because it snowed!!” We would play all day and then my Momma would make hot chocolate for us all.
My Momma and Daddy also loved snow. I called Daddy and asked him to send me a picture of him in the snow!!
So I hope everyone enjoys our rare snow day!! Make memories!!
“Everything’s magical when it snows, everything looks pretty. The clothes are great. Coats, scarves, gloves, hats.” Lorelai Gilmore- Gilmore Girls
Saturdays.
You definitely look different than you’ve looked for 5 years.
But the slow pace, tea drinking, game playing, music listening, book reading is a vibe we both are so enjoying.
Find your beautiful.
This company (Ambrie) sends Keilee Disney leggings often in exchange for pictures.
They have extremely cute things and also these are the softest leggings I’ve ever seen. They also have masks.
So…..
I don’t know if any of you know Tom Foolery (The Great Realization) but he is offering free creative writing classes.
Keilee and I LOVE him. The only problem was it’s for up to 18. But she signed up anyway. 
There was no place to put an age so she didn’t actually lie.
There was no place to put an age so she didn’t actually lie.She loved it. She said he was the most positive, upbeat guy. Also there were a couple of people older than her in the class. She said there were people from England, Pakistan, Morocco, Ireland, Scotland, Argentina, Brazil, California and her from Alabama.
Point Mallard Trail.
64°
I’m trying to catch up. It’s ridiculous that I get so behind when I have more than enough time to do these. We have gotten so much joy over the years in going back and seeing what we were doing in years past in the same months.
Stay safe,
Karen
It’s nice to slow down and enjoy each moment isn’t it? I’m so glad we both got some snow this year!! Beautiful pictures and adventures as always. 💕