The Bachelorette and My Brush With Fame

We don't have satellite or cable, so I get all my television viewing through Netflix and Hulu. Consequently, I only watch specific programs in which I'm particularly interested. That does not include The Bachelor or The Bachelorette (for one thing, I have a hard time typing it without a 't').

However, I recently learned that I met one of the contestants on The Bachelorette and even had a conversation with him. Unfortunately, I didn't realize it at the time, or I would have paid more attention! Because of that, I decided to go and watch an episode and watch this person in action.

I watched the home visit episode with four guys left. Maybe I'm a prude, but I'm completely disgusted and grossed out. I can't stand watching this woman telling four different guys how much she cares about them, telling their families how much she can see herself being a part of the family and especially watching her kiss them deeply. Ugh! It seems so fake to me. Can you really be that in love with four people? I can't believe it.

I've never thought it was right to kiss more than one guy at a time. Date, yes. Kiss, no. (Not that I had the cast of the Bachelorette vying for my attention...). And to imagine all that happening with a camera right in your face. Yuck, yuck, yuck!

I can't help but wonder what this woman's daughter, who is six now, is going to think when she watches this later. Maybe I'm old fashioned and everyone else thinks this is all okay, but I can't stand it.

I'm so grateful to have met and married my Batchelor. I'm so glad that the things we have shared in courting and marriage were special, private and only between us.

photo by Baylie Anne Batchelor

I love you, David! (And that's about as public as I'll ever get.)

Life is Worth Living

Today was a good day, but a strange day - one that I'm not sure how (or even if) to blog about. We had a fun Primary activity at the church. The kids had a big slippery slide on a hill, had an ice cold water fight ate hot dogs and chips and had a super fun morning.

Unfortunately after several hours, one of my friends realized that a man had been sitting in his car (see red box in photo above) the entire time. She asked a couple of the men to go check on him. When they did, they found out that he had taken his own life. We were all shocked and we hurried to end the activity and protect the children from seeing anything. By the time the police arrived, most of the kids had left. None of the children were aware of what had happened.

I had never been that physically close to this type of situation. Just seeing the man slumped over in his car was upsetting. Fortunately, I didn't see the wound or anything like that. He had left a note for a wife. I couldn't help thinking of his wife and the fact that she must be waiting for him, wondering where he was. I do not know who the man is. I don't know if he is a member of our church or if he just selected a place where he knew he would be found.

Even in the midst of this tragedy, I was grateful for so many things.

None of the children looked in the car.
• My friend felt prompted to have someone go check on the man.
• My friend had two men go look in the car rather than looking in herself.
• The men who looked in the car are a doctor and a physical therapist in a nursing home. Of all the people there, they were the best ones to deal with that type of a scene.

I really feel God played a part in all of the above. Most of all I am grateful that I know my life is worth living. I can't imagine how alone and/or desperate this man must have felt to see no options other than taking his own life. I feel helpless and wish there were more I could do to have helped him or to help his family. 

This Is My Country

I love the United States of America. I've traveled all over the world and I love visiting different places and meeting people, but I'm always glad to come home. Even with all it's faults, this is a wonderful place to live. It has almost become politically incorrect to be proud to be an American, but I always have been and always will be. I think you can be a proud American without being an obnoxious one.

We started preparing for July 4 last week with a special hairdo. Creating this star took me FOREVER! I even cut out a template and still had a really hard time getting it close to even.

I then parted the rest of the hair to kind of follow the lines of the star, but also be zig-zaggy.

I put in red white and blue beads, including two strands that spell "USA."

On Sunday, the kids wore patriotic outfits. I know Jalen's is a stretch as far as fashion goes, but I loved it.

On the fourth, we got up early and went to nearby Gilbert for the Peach Festival. We got there in time for the parade. To me, the fourth needs a parade. I counted 18 tractors in the parade! (And at least that many royalties - who knew a little town could have so many princesses?)

 Our only family shot of the day - self portrait.

I was very disappointed that the parade watchers didn't stand for the first flag in the parade. I expected a little more patriotism from small-town America. (I was also disappointed to see a black lawn jockey. I'm choosing to believe that it was out of ignorance and not racism.)

There was a Revolutionary War camp. The website had mentioned a re-enactment. This wasn't even close, but it was still pretty cool.

There were some pretty cool cars in the car show.

Best of all was the fresh peach ice cream. YUM!

 We let each kid ride one carnival ride. Jalen chose the "airplanes." 

Baylie was excited to do the bungee tramp since she wasn't able to do it at the family reunion. (They closed just as she got to the ride.)

We went home for a much needed nap and then headed to the home of our friends the Mousers for a barbecue and party. They lit off fireworks, but our kids freaked out and we had to leave early. (Well, and also because Jalen had an accident all down my leg...)

I'm grateful for parents that taught me to be patriotic and love my country. I hope my children will learn the same.

Magnolia Plantation

I have found a new favorite plantation - Magnolia. It is stunningly beautiful. The gardens are breathtaking, like something out of a movie or novel. It's also less expensive than some others. It was $15 for an adult entrance and the kids were free. For that price, we had full access to the grounds, gardens and petting zoo. Plus you can use your receipt to go back to the plantation for free anytime in the following seven days. For an additional charge you can tour the mansion, take a train through the gardens, go on a river tour or tour the swamp. We didn't do any of the extras. (For more information on the plantation, GO HERE.)

The kids got up close and personal with deer in the petting zoo.

We took a family picture (could I look any squattier??).

We did not pet the baby alligator.

We got lost in the horticultural maze.

We walked down the lanes of Spanish moss-laden trees.

Everywhere we looked, it was beautiful.

We played in the little playground. 

We walked over one of the cool bridges.

 

We pretended to be princesses in a fairy castle.

We hung out on the massive deck of the mansion.

We checked out the time on this cool clock outside the Peacock Cafe.

It was a beautiful day. Most of the flowers were past their blooming period, so we will definitely go back in the spring to see the plantation in full bloom. I can't even imagine how beautiful it must be then.

Slave cabin - it was a swealtering, humid day. As usual, I contemplated on what it must have been like to work the fields in that kind of weather.

Swamp.

We actually went to Charleston in order to attend a wedding reception for a bride that had been in Young Women when I was a counselor in Houston. It's so gratifying to see her happily married to a kind (and handsome) man. The kids thought the party was all for them.

 

We live in such a beautiful part of this country!

Glad to be Home

It took 15 hours on Saturday, but we finally made it home. It's always nice to get back and sleep in our own beds, although we miss family and the kids are blessing "the tramp" every night (the trampoline, not a hobo family member).

We had an interesting experience on the way home. While we waited for our flight from Chicago to Columbia (delayed several hours), we realized that there was a group of Army soldiers also booked on our flight. They weren't in uniform, but their camo backpacks and buzzed haircuts gave them away. I observed them as they chatted with two brothers who were about 9 and 11. They were so kind to the boys, actively listening and showing interest in them. The boys were obviously idolizing the soldiers. It made me proud to see these young soldiers behaving in such a way.

When our flight was finally ready to go, we were the last to board because they weren't sure they'd have enough seats for us. Our seats were scattered on three different rows. I asked the woman seated in row 3 if she would be willing to trade so I could sit by one of my children. She rolled her eyes and made it obvious she wasn't interested, so I continued back to our other seats in rows 8 and 9, leaving David to sit by her. (Sometimes I wonder if people like her have children, or remember what it was like to be a child. All the seats on the plane were aisles and windows, so it wasn't like I was asking her to sit in a middle seat.) When I got to row 8, it was an exit row, so my kids couldn't sit there. The flight attendant let me know they couldn't sit there, but didn't offer any alternatives.

I was agitated and stressed out because I knew we were holding everyone up. Just then, three or four of the soldiers stood up and offered to trade. They worked it out among themselves so that I could sit by both Jalen and Baylie. I almost cried. They did it without any fanfare, but with such courtesy. Again, I was really impressed by them and proud to have them represent our country.

At some point during the flight, it hit me that one of these soldiers could die in action. I don't know why, but for the first time, the sacrifice our soldiers make hit home to me. I've had family members serve, but for some reason, this seemed more personal - more probable, and it made me very sad. How many young men like them, of their caliber, do we lose to war? They are real people, with families, friends, loved ones and little boys that idolize them. I am grateful to them. I wish they were all safe.

Utah Trip/Family Reunion - Day 10 (Friday)

Today was supposed to be the day we flew home, but our flights were full, so we stayed an extra day. That meant we got to go with the rest of the family to see Disney Pixar's new movie - Brave. We (okay, all of us but David) loved it, but it was a little scary. I loved the hair! It's amazing what they do with animation these days. I had great plans to take a picture of all the cousins (there were 11 of them) sitting in a row to watch the movie, but I forgot. Ironically, having kids has really cut into my photo taking.

After the movie, we went to Sammy's - our new favorite place to go for real pie shakes. They are delicious!

It is going to be hard to go home tomorrow. David and I are ready to be in our own place and sleep in our own bed, but we're really going to miss the family. The kids don't want to go home. They want to stay with their cousins and are very upset that we don't have a trampoline.

I am going to miss being around grass that is fun to play on!