Ready Set Go!

So here you are.  The moment you have been waiting for as long as you can remember.  Today is the day.  You are going to start your own business!  You have done your homework, all of your research and you have done the planning the painstaking task of getting organized.  Your vision “your baby” is ready to be implemented.
You are ready. You are Set… It is Go time.  
So now what?  After all of that prep and anticipation, somehow, you can’t seem to find “Go.”  The most important part of this process is hiding on you. 
And you have no idea where to look.

Steele Creek Outreach - Moments that Stick.

Certain moments have stuck with me.

And I firmly believe that is what moments are supposed to do.

To stick, to teach, to help, to inspire and to make you feel alive.

Some moments feel great when they stick and some, well yeah some can sting.  Leaving an impression that one day, we hope, will eventually make sense.

My recent sticky moment came this past Sunday while I witnessed a room full of homeless men and women who had come together for a time of worship.

They have no home, no job, and very little food in their stomachs.

 Some of them are wearing the only clothes they own.

But they were there, arms stretched out, smiles on their faces, worshiping, enjoying fellowship and allowing themselves to be open up a little bit more.

Even if they don't like what they see.

I was there with a local group called Steele Creek Outreach.  I have not only adopted this fantastic non-profit organization to be a part of the Chatter, but I have also adopted the founder, Nichole Jaworksi and several of the other women I have known and have gotten to know over the last few months.  These women are a constant inspiration to me and bring a much needed awareness to an issue that is a worldwide epidemic.
Yesterday I admitted I judged the stereo typical "Soccer Mom."  Well today my confession is I sometimes judge the homeless man on the street.  He is there by his own doing, his choices....  he has no one to blame but himself.
Tsk.. Tsk.. Tsk..
And yes, while that may be true on some counts, that man I judged, that human being who has lost everything that person is just that.
A Person.  He has a heart, a mind, a soul, a spirit and bad choices or not, he is at the bottom of the barrel.
The end of his rope and I have to ask myself.
What if it were me?
Because isn't that really a question we sometimes don't like to ask?  What if I was the one who had a problem, made bad choices, lost my family, lost my friends, lost my way?  How would I feel if everyone turned their back on me if what I once knew to be a safe and cozy way of life, a roof over my head?  What if one day it was all gone?
By my own choices, or perhaps maybe not by mine, but a tragic event, a loss of a job....
And what if I had no one?
What if one day that is my son? 
What if it was yours?
I promise I am not going to get all preachy and soapboxy on you.  But I care very deeply about this matter and very excited and honored to be a part of Steele Creek Outreach as one of there official photographers going forward.  You can read more about SCO here.
And you can read more about Nichole's post on our uptown adventure here. 
In the mean time here are some more pictures I took.

Goody bags put together by SCO

A moment durning worship

A free meal was provided afterwards.



Commandos For Christ who provided the worship service.



Pastor Mary chat's with a local homeless man.

A local homeless man walks off into the unknown. 

Thanks for reading and please feel free to leave me a comment with your sticky moment.  Whether good or bad, if it stuck, then it is made you who you are today. 
Just like it was meant to do.  

With Love,
Mary

A Soccer Mom's Confession - And A New Sheriff in Town.

Confession Tuesday: 

I Have judged you in the past... I didn't mean too...  every Mom has their "Ahh haa.." moment from time to time.  This was one of mine...  I would love to hear one of your's.

First, let me clear the air, for most of my late teens and early adult life I judged the so called "Soccer Mom." I admit it... I did. The mini vans, the line up of bobbing little heads visible through the back window. The sluggish way the Mommy drove and the bumper stickers,(or recently the magnet decals). Oh the magnet decals!  Yes I judged! I am very guilty of the evil, evil judgment of these poor innocent Moms.
So here goes, I sincerely apologize to all the Moms I gave dirty looks too, cussed at and judged so wrongly. If you ever thought there would be a payback day for me that moment has now arrived (stop your snickering). I officially became a soccer mom when we signed up Evan and Ryan for a youth soccer league. But I officially "officially" became a soccer Mom when I went to their first game.
I can sum up the experience in a few simple sentences:
1) There is never and will never be enough memory space in the camera and getting the perfect shot is more stressful and challenging than watching either child score a goal.
2) Both boys are without a doubt the most talented kids on the team. Sure, every Mom thinks the same thing about their kids but it is MY precious babies who are perfect. Well that is until Evan does score (but for the other team) and Ryan manages to get his cleats tangled in the soccer net.  This however does not matter since I got a great shot of both!
3) There is a well communicated and fair  rotation of Mom’s who are in charge of bringing the snacks and when one Mom in particular forgets (accidently) to bring that snack you will suffer fierce silent treatment even after you whole heartily attempt to hand out sticks of gum to make up for the blunder. 
5) All soccer shorts, no matter how well they fit, cause wedgies!  And there will be a contest as to whose child can mess with their wedgies the most (not an ideal photo moment).

So there you have it, my official look into to this new world. But now it is here where I need to introduce the husband in this story. Yes, my husband Chris does get left out from time to time in my ventures with the boys. Mainly because to date just about any and all of my extra circular activities have been with me, myself and I. Kindermusick, Gymboree, Art lessons, Play dates, Park dates, Swim dates, oh the list is endless. But here, here the husband enters the picture because a) it's sports related b) other Dads are involved and c) it is sports related.

Since the boys have been babies Chris has always been hands on Dad. He has jumped in when I needed, he has provided for us so I can stay home with them and he never ever judges me when I go for that second glass of wine to help me unwind from a stressful day. But for the most part it has been me as the front runner when it involves activities with the kids that take place outside the house. So we enter new territory here. Daddy is the "go to" guy. Daddy teaches, Daddy shows and Daddy gets them a cool soccer net and super cool new soccer shoes. Daddy pumps them up when they fall during practice and Daddy knows exactly when and where to insert tough love. I for the first time in awhile find myself no long their expert. When another little boy (we will call him Satan Jr.) knocks over Evan or Ryan and the result is tears, I respond by running towards said crying child with arms wide open and my "Mommy is here" speech. However, new rules new coach, new tactic, new sheriff in town. My husband is in charge now so I let him respond (well actually I don't really have a choice since Chris has tied and gagged me to my lawn chair), But there he goes, making his way to the child and within minutes child is up, smiling, wiping grass off of his knee and is back in the game. Chris walks back with a cool and calm swagger and I find myself fascinated... How did he do that? How did he stay so calm? Who is this person, and why is he all the sudden in charge?
Furthermore why doesn't this bother me?
Because when all is said and done he is the right man for the job. Just like I am the right one (and most qualified most of the time) for mine. I take care of boo boo's, bad dreams, crafts that involve endless use of a glue stick and a case of the sniffles. I cook, chaperon, event plan, organize and chauffeur. I love them in a soul wrenching way, love from the inside out, which means that just about anything and everything in my life revolves round them.
Until I realize that not everything has too.
It's actually really, really helpful to realize this and to also realize that Daddy is every bit the soccer Mom that I am.
Because we may differ on our sideline techniques but we agree on one thing:
Satan Jr. must go down...soon....very, very soon...
And I will get a picture!

Hubby with the boys (who are so over mommy and her camera) pose with their trophies after their last game.

New Applique's from "Sew What Mommy"

Happy Friday (and April fools day).  Hope any tricks that get played on you go over well...  I am still recovering from the rubber snake that got placed in my bed last night...  Oh how I love my little angels!!!
And speaking of angels, check out these adorable and creative new appliques and outfits from "Sew What Mommy."  Too cute and perfect for the warmer temps' coming. 

Dress from Old Navy and the sweet and sassy Octopus
makes it super adorable.

It is Mario time.  Perfect for your boy who loves
this little Italian-American cutie.

Seriously cute and perfect for summertime.



Going to Disney this summer?  Perfect Tee's to wear.

For more information make sure you check out Sew What Mommy as well as visit their facebook page.  Thanks Jenn and Amy for putting their creative talents to make such sweet outfits for the little ones.