Tuesday, September 24, 2013

My daddy

Dewey and Sharlene, circa 1967
My daddy turns 69 years old today.

I know that it is true, that he's actually 69, but in my mind . . . he's still 34 and holding. (Am I the only one who refuses to think of their parents as growing older?)

In honor of my dad, here are some thoughts about him (and for him) listed in no particular order:


  1. My dad *loves* to laugh. Some of my earlies memories of my dad are that of laughter.
  2. My dad is (and has always been) a good man. Ask ANYONE who knows him. He is a man of integrity and honor. He was invited to church by some friends when I was in first grade. He attended all services and was even very faithful to give to the church, even before he became a Christian.
  3. My dad overcame his childhood circumstances. Born to a single, teenage mom almost 70 years ago and raised by his grandparents, my dad had every "right" to be bitter and to allow his life to go in a downward spiral. He did not. 
  4. My dad was in the Army. Not only was he in the Army, he is a decorated sniper. 
  5. My dad started his career in finance right out of the army, but realized as soon as mom found out she was pregnant with me that he wouldn't be able to support a family on that salary. He made the decision to enter the coal mines. Although the money was much better, the job was very dangerous (especially 42 years ago . . . when he started there)!
  6. My dad adores my mom. They have been married for 45 years. In the good times and the not so good, I never wondered if my dad and mom were going to split up. I KNEW that they were in it for the long haul.
  7. My dad adores my sister and me. You will never meet a more supportive, loving daddy. I promise.  he used to bring us a "surprise" home from work...a little Debbie lunch cake that mom had packed in his lunch  bucket the night before.
  8. My dad thinks the sun rises and sets in his grandbabies. 
  9. My dad is a godly leader. My daddy was never called to full-time Christian service, but he has been the biggest cheerleader for every pastor he has ever sat under. He has also been a deacon, treasurer, sat on many a board and everything in between.
  10. My dad is generous to a fault. I saw this as a kid and it continues today. I have seen my dad and mom buy groceries for needy families, when they could barely afford to buy groceries for us. I have seen him hand a credit card to our pastor and say, "Go have a good time on vacation, your gas and snacks are on us." 
My Main Men, Christmas 2012

Fooling around at CFA

Dewey and Erica

Dewey and his momma, Janovee 
The whole crew at Mama Miller's house

Us, Summer 2013

The list could go on, but suffice it to say, I love my dad. He was the first man I ever loved.

Happy Birthday Dad! (6 foot 2 with eyes of blue!)

I hope your day is as wonderful as you. 


Thursday, September 19, 2013

Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin, PSL's,--and other wonderfulness!



Sweet. Cinnamon. Pumpkin.

These three words cause my eyes to glaze over and my mouth begin to water, much like . . . 

Pumpkin. Spice. Latte.

What is it about the scent of pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, and such that creates such a longing for cooler weather and all the fun things that go hand in hand with it (i.e. high school football, apple cider, warm jackets, and fleece blankets)?

We have had an extremely warm summer here in eastern North Carolina. It’s been the kind of summer where you feel like you are having a cold-front come in when the temperatures dip to a mere 83 degrees. This West Virginia girl (go Mountaineers!) sometimes longs for the milder temperatures of the north. I love cardigans. They are cozy and they cover a multitude of “buffet” sins! J

My darling husband, the absolute love of my life, knows that Fall is by far my favorite season. A few days ago, while perusing the interweb, he found a “hack” where he was able to get a PSL (pumpkin spice latte, for those who are uneducated in SBX lingo) early by using a special code, spoken to the Barista. My man shows up at my  office (during a particularly difficult afternoon, I might add) with the season’s first PSL, just for me. (He likes them OK, but he’s not nuts about them. He’s more of a grande-brewed-with-cream-and-four-Splenda kind of guy.)

This single act, in and of itself, would have been enough to carry me over for several more days. But no, a mere few days later (this past Tuesday), he shows up with yet another PSL. This man is on fire! He dropped it off, kissed me, and headed on his merry way. MMMM. I can still taste the wonderfulness—ahhh!

Fast forward two hours. When I arrived home, as soon as I opened my van door, I smelled a wonderful aroma. It is a scent that I hadn’t smelled in a good long while. When the door to the house opened, I was immediately engulfed in the most wonderful scent that Bath & Body Works stores have ever produced.

Sweet. Cinnamon. Pumpkin.

Rewind two hours. Shortly before my main squeeze had stopped at my local ‘Bucks for a PSL, he had dropped by our local mall with his mom, after taking her to lunch for her 70th birthday (See my previous post). While there, he quickly realized that my uber-favorite fragrance was indeed back AND that there was a decently amazing sale, currently in progress. Girls (and guys, if there happen to be any) my husband came home with not one, but TWO Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Candles, the three-wick kind, hand soap, hand sanitizer, AND Wallflower refills. YES. All of that!

And in this seemingly small act of kindness, I am reminded of why I love Rodney Holloman so much.  

He gets me. Like no one else

He speaks my love language.

He knows my favorites and he strives to do everything within his power to make my life wonderful.  

And he succeeds

I know it’s been said before, and will be said again, but I honestly can’t imagine my life without him. I am thankful to be his partner in this life.

I love you Rodney. And I just wanted you (and anyone reading this) to know!



Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Mother-in-Law

Mother-in-Law.

When you read those three words (or is it one word?) what idea comes to mind?

Fear?
Dread?
Joy?
Laughter?
Tears?

To those of us who are married, there can be a bevy of emotions tied to this word. If you have a poor relationship with your In-Laws, then fear and dread may be your reaction. If you have a good rapport with them, then “joy” may be your word of choice.

Many times, our relationship with our mothers-in-law can stem back to what we saw with our own mothers and grandmothers.  Sometimes, what may start out as a very “rough” relationship with the mother of our husbands, can be gloriously transformed into a friendship like no other (and the reverse is also true).

Yesterday (September 17, 2013) my very own mother-in-law, Faye Woodard, turned 70 years old. As I reflect back over the past 18-ish years that I have been in this family, there are a few points that I would like to share. These are listed in no particular order.

·        I entered this family as a virtual stranger. Rodney and I did not grow up together. We did not attend school together. We never attended college together. We didn’t even meet until we were both in our mid-20’s.

·        My mother-in-law is an awesome cook. From her “world-famous” chicken pastry, to her Almost Heaven Cake (my personal favorite) there is nothing she’s ever set before me that was not wonderful.

·        Hospitality is key in her home. Anyone who has the privilege to be there will tell you that you feel welcome when you walk into that brick house on Pierce Street. “Make yourself at home” is a phrase that is said often.

·        Sports play a very important role in her life! I remember a particular Sunday when Rodney and I were dating when I walked into the house and saw a small TV in the kitchen with whatever NASCAR race was going on that day. In the den, there was a basketball game and in the living room, yet another sports broadcast. As a girl who could barely remember what RBI even stood for, I knew I was in over my head!

·        She loves her boys. With the fierceness of a mother bear, Mrs. Faye loves her sons, Rodney & Marc. She will (and has) done anything for them.

·        She loves her grandkids. With nearly the same degree of love that she has for her boys, Nana loves her grandbabies. There are five of them, ranging in ages from 17 to 10. She would give anything she has for them.

·        She is a fiercely loyal friend. Ask anyone who has been a friend of hers for any length of time. She is loyal to a fault!

·        She loves me. I entered this family as a stranger. She opened her arms to me.


The truth is that Nana Faye has welcomed me to her family and loves me as one of her own. There is only one woman on earth who, I believe, loves me more, and she gave birth to me!

I Love you Nana! Thank you for loving me as one of your children. It is an honor to be your daughter-in-law.

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