Queenies Little Kingdom

Tyler Mote
(Athlete of the week photo)

Bragging time. I claim him not because he’s such an awesome athlete…..but because he’s the one my girl loves. He’s also a super kid and athelete. We’re really proud of him (sorta like he’s our own) and all that he works so hard to accomplish. He pushes himself not just because he wants to be the best…..but because he really likes what he’s doing. He’s an amazing athlete!

Yesterday was the first track meet I’ve been able to attend. Every week something has been going on to prevent us from seeing him fly. He really does fly…..like a rocket! 🙂 I stole that title from his Aunt Lori’s foreign exchange student, No-no (yes that is her name). She says, “Tyler Mote is like a freakin ROCKET!!” (said with the most serious face). She’s so funny! I laughed and laughed.

So I just wanted to brag on him a little. He’s worth it! Congratulations, Rocket Man! You were great! I’m very proud of you!

Tyler Mote racing to win! from Wanda Staton Galloway on Vimeo.

Gates & Me!

I got a little crazy with my haircut on Thursday. I told Sheila (my favorite stylist, ever) to cut it….and give me bangs! She was all like, “huh? what? are you sure?”. How bad can it be, is what I was thinking. Anyway, she did it and I love it. I’m also a new and darker color….as you can see.

Ever since then…..people have been stopping in their tracks to comment about my new look. Who knew? I would have done it years ago….. I am so old now, haircuts don’t really scare me like they used to. I remember crying my head off over a haircut the first year I was married. I regret being so dramatic now…but at the time….I was sure I looked like a dork! Now, I don’t worry so much. I am clearly a dork (at least that’s what my teens think) so anything I do can only improve my dorkiness!

Don’t be afraid of change. Time has a way of locking us in and holding us hostage to habit. We do that in our spiritual lives too. Don’t let your relationship with God get boring and neutral. Spice it up and make it new everyday. Maybe find a friend to be a prayer partner. You will love having someone to share needs and worries with. You will grow and change for the better as well. Let God make you new…..people will notice and the comments will boost you up! I promise!

At this point….I am delirious! I am so very tired. I woke up way too early on Saturday morning and then spent most of the day running around. The girls and I had a little shopping to do and we really thought we could do it much faster than what we did. But…that was not the reality. We needed to find shoes for Gates, her big dance is coming up this Friday. Time was ticking (and mama won’t be able to shop during the work week) literally! We finally found a fabulous pair of shoes to match that special dress. She will be beautiful! Just wait and see.

The rest of the night would be spent working the Prom. This is my sweetboy’s last one (besides next week’s). He was so excited to take his favorite girl, Allison. She looked gorgeous! He did too! Both of them are seniors and have only a few weeks left of high school. Allison’s prom is next week (this is the prom that our Ally will attend with her fave fella, Tyler). I look forward to the event….they are so excited! I am too. I won’t have to do anything but take pictures of my kids at this one.

I also worked at After Prom. I didn’t get home and in bed until after 3:30am Then of course, guess who woke up at the crack of dawn? Oh yea! Me….I have only had about 4 hours sleep max! I am trying to hold my focus..but my eyeballs are spinning around in my head. I must get some sleep. In the meantime, here’s some photo’s of the special night. Aren’t they just beautiful? I am so proud!

Note the sunny weather! It didn’t rain, woohoo!

Do you remember prom? Back in my day (the rockin 80’s) we made big plans. Let’s see…..the date? As in, who would be so lucky to be mine! 🙂 The dress, of course! Out of all the proms I attended (and I went to more than I care to admit), I think I actually only purchased one dress. The rest, I borrowed! See honey, I’ve always been frugal! Then the big deal was….where to eat? My prom didn’t provide a meal as many do now. So, we needed nourishment for goodness sake. We wanted to be seen in our fancy duds…..so we picked the most glamorous of restaurants, Steak & Ale! Ok, so it wasn’t Ruth’s Chris but what did we know…we were punks! Then…. it was the car! Which was no biggie because everyone drove either their mom’s big hockin car or their grandparents Buick. AND IT WAS COOL! Remember?

Here I am…at my first prom! (I was a freshman he was a senior)

That’s not how it is these days. Part of the whole prom experience is driving a great car or renting a limo! Everybody bases all coolness on having a fabulous car. Which isn’t really that big of a deal (to me). You’re only in it for the ride to and fro. But try telling that to some seriously concerned teenagers. They want this night to be fantastic in everyway! I understand! It’s prom, blast it! Make it memorable!

Yesterday, Sweetboy came wheeling in the driveway tooting the horn of this baby. Beep, beep! His buddy (another Gavin…we call him Duff) just happened to have a dad with an extra “cool” car sitting around, in a garage….just for our Gavin to use for prom! Awesome! There’s only one problem! It’s been raining here and will most likely be doing it all day tomorrow. This car…..is British….and convertible….and a bit…leaky! He took Allison out last night for a ride in it….wearing raincoats! 🙂
Ahh…..Prom! It all starts with a cool car…. 🙂
Gavin (Duffy) and my Gavin (Sweetboy)

It’s been a year since you went away. I think about you almost everyday. You were like a rockstar! Your energy was off the charts. Your boldness was incredible! You lived every moment of your short life to the fullest. I admired you and your ability to be who you really were. Tara, you loved life with a wild passion and we miss your presence here. Life changed for so many of us April 30th 2008….our hearts were broken that morning. Today, we wear our hats to honor you and remember all that you meant to so many of us. You will not be forgotten. God has etched you in our hearts forever.

Tara Kaye Sharp 2/13/90-4/30/08

Lord Jesus,
I pray for my sweet friend Teresa and her family. They are hurting and longing to hold the one they loved and lost. Touch their hearts today and give them peace and understanding that can only come from you. You are the healer of broken hearts. Thank you for sharing such an amazing person with us. Tara was a gift and we loved her because of who she was. Help us to love with no boundaries just like Tara, Lord.
Amen.

Several years ago…..more than 10 years or so. I fell in love with Joyce Landorf Heatherly. Who is she (you might ask)? She’s a fantastic author and I would love to sit with her and just talk. She seems to have great insight into the hearts of women and what they think and feel. Her writing is so on target! She has ministered to my heart with several of her books. My favorite? Balcony People. It’s title may not make sense to you but once you read the book it opens your heart to a whole new way of thinking.

I was the wife of a seminary student when I first read it. I could relate everything she said to my own life. I wanted to be a balcony person and I wanted to surround myself with balcony people. What is a balcony person? I’m so glad you asked. A balcony person is someone who pulls you up and encourages you. She lifts you up out of the blek and believes in you. Do you know any balcony people? Don’t you love being around them? Me too!

She uses that analogy to drive home a point of being an encourager. I know in my own life….I have needed encouragement in a variety of situations. While I was growing up I could’ve used it to cope with many unhealthy circumstances I was facing. Being a teenager is tough in every way but living in a hostile home environment made it even harder. I could’ve used a balcony friend/parent. Maybe I would have made wiser choices for myself. God certainly had his hands on me…I am living proof of that.

The opposite in her book is a basement person. You can imagine where this is going right? A basement person is someone who drags you down. They discourage you in everyway. Doom and gloom accompany them in every conversation or situation. They just bring you down! No matter what is going on when you leave them you feel bummed! I had a huge epiphany while reading this book the first time. I felt so convicted about what other’s would label me. I know how to whine like a pro but….in my heart….I’m a total believer in boosting people up. I like being UP! I’m all about finding the positive in something. But there are times…when I just want to bum out and complain! Maybe you do too.

I have teenagers now. I recognize struggles that they face. I see when they are hurting and need encouragement. I have made so many mom mistakes along the way. But I try everyday to start anew and fresh. I pray that they know how I purpose to love them and train them to choose what’s best in their lives. I try to love them as a balcony mom (and I know they would say….but you basement mom us at times too). That’s never my intention. Life has a way of dragging you through some mud here and there. It’s all an adventure that none of us should travel without God. He can help us be the balcony person we long to be.

So what are you? Are you a friend that can be trusted to pull another up? Do you use words of encouragement and do you put hope into those you encounter? I hope so. If not, are you planting seeds of doubt in those around you? When someone is hurting do you confirm that it’s just hopeless? I hope not. Think about it. Do you want to be a balcony person or a basement person? Everybody needs a good pick me up!

1 Thess. 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.