It’s been a year since I last wrote a post on this sweet blog of mine. I never dreamed, when I started Camellias & Copper, that I would go a year without putting thoughts down and sharing them with you all. I actually had a number of drafts saved from last Spring that never were finished…and truthfully, were completely forgotten.
I remember there were times that I would think to myself, ‘I REALLY need to sit down and write a post’, or ‘gosh, it’s been a really long time since I wrote down my thoughts…’ And then the moments, and days, and weeks simply passed me by.

So here we are, another turn on the calendar and I’m yearning to get back to this blog that I loved so dearly for so long. An opportunity to sit, quietly, for a few minutes each day and ponder a question, a thought, an instance, and be able to share it with you, my readers and friends.

Here goes.

There is so much that has happened in a year. As you may be able to relate, some good, some bad, some ugly things…but forever for my good and a deeper love and reliance upon the Lord. I am another year older than I was the last time I wrote a post. Maybe a little wiser, maybe a little more kinder…hopefully a little more loving and compassionate.
My kids are also older, Reynolds is half-way through his kindergarten year, which is completely insane to me. Emory talks our heads off {often demanding whatever it is that someone else has}. And Eliza Jane is as giggly as ever.
Another change that has occurred is that I am now working with Andrew in our real estate ventures, which has been both a learning and growth adjustment as I know very little about this world I’ve just entered. But he is patient and smart and is teaching me everything I need to know to help our business be successful.
A friend asked today what positive has come out of me leaving my previous job and joining forces with Andrew, and with a twinkle in my eye I said, ‘getting to have lunch with him several days a week.’ Eight years ago when he came back to Columbia for work {right before we were married}, we were giddy with the anticipation of being able to have lunch together. Over the course of those eight years, we had lunch together maybe 10 times. Now I can have lunch with Andrew anytime I want. And I feel a little like Melanie Carmichael in Sweet Home Alabama when asked why she wants to marry Jake, replies “So I can kiss {him} anytime I want.”

I’m so thankful for the opportunity we’ve been given to do this fun work together. Another huge positive is that we now have the time to take dance lessons! Y’all. I’ve been wanting to take dance lessons for years now, and after looking last fall, there was really only one place that was local to us, but most of the available time for private lessons was a night. And with three kids and lots of other activities already in place…who has time to add anything else?! Not us. So I kicked that can down the street.
Andrew to the rescue.
For my birthday he got me dance lessons with Jim at Blue Moon Ballroom. We went on Tuesday for our first lesson where we learned the box step and rumba, with corner breaks. It was so much fun. We laughed, we danced, we didn’t step on each other’s toes! It was terrific. We had our second lesson yesterday and added to the rumba, the promenade, which was a little saucy! And then we started learning the fox trot, which was much easier than I’d expected {I didn’t really have an expectation so…}. So I would suggest to any of my couple-friends in the Columbia area, who may be looking for something fun to do together, go take you a dance lesson from Mr. Jim.

There’s so much more I want to tell you about all of the new things, but I’ve got to scoot out and go get Reynolds from school and run some errands so I’ll leave you with a sweet excerpt from a book I was given for my birthday. “If God wrote your Birthday Card” – a sweet Hallmark book, written from the perspective of God…on your birthday ::
I want you to shine brightly because, dear child, you make me smile.

You, friends, make me smile. Thanks for being here…for reading and for caring. Until next time…