Meet My Crew Monday: Meet Mary Brantley!

MARY BRANTLEY In her early days of swimming, Mary was left water logged after a frightening bout in the Hurricane Harbor wave pool. Sitting herself out on the side of the pool was exactly what she needed. After a later premiere at the pool, she braved the waters, her floaties snug on each arm. A little encouragement from a visiting Coast Guard was all this fish at heart needed to brave the deep end once again. She now floats happily down the lazy river in her double tube with her Coast Guard right by her side.

Pool Monitor Sidenote: Mary got married this weekend! 13auburnfriends had a ball watching adorable Mary and Lee get hitched! Pictures and wedding cakes to come!

Soup to Nuts

No real blogging purpose here today,except that I have a few random things I've been dying to share.

1) Have you read A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg? Or read her blog Orangette? I have.

C-Flo sent me both and suggested I take a peek. I have to tell you, I love this Molly Wizenberg. And I feel I've cheated by reading her book! Not really cheated. More that I've had way more one and one time with her than you. Ha! I know about her family, her favorite recipes, her time in Paris, her now husband. We are practically best friends. Actually, this is hardly the case. But it's like I've just gotten back from a road trip with her, sharing inside jokes and funny memories. Now, reading her blog, I find myself thinking, "Oh that husband of hers.... The restaurant is really coming together....... Ha! That sounds like Molly....."

2) You know the hot dog and pretzel guys in New York? The men with metal carts that sell hot sugary peanuts, expensive Cokes and pretty decent hot dogs. You know those men? Since moving to a new office building in the far west corner of Manhattan, I've noticed something. 47th street is the parking lot for these metal carts. I see loads of men every morning, wheeling the metals carts around, readying them for tourists, stocking them with hot dog buns and Swiss-Miss packets. I find this fascinating.

3) Speaking of Swiss Miss. Lately, I've loved concocting an afternoon pick me up out of the free things in the kitchen at work: Little bit of coffee, little bit of hot water, little bit of hot chocolate and a hearty splash of half and half. Yum.

4) I'm noticing 1-3 have all been food related. Big girl needs to calm down.

5) 13auburnfriends (minus Turner) are headed to Mary's wedding in Huntsville this weekend. Couldn't be more excited!

I think thats enough randomness for one morning.

Meet My Crew Monday: Meet Leigh

LEIGH  A staple at the pool. Leigh has been teaching swim lessons for as long as any of us can remember. Leigh and her yellow polka dot bikini could be found doing hand stands under water and flips off the diving board. It wasn't until a fellow, more experienced, swim instructor free-styled into Leighs lane and persuaded her to towel off for a bit. After enjoying 2 years of baking in the sun with her co-swim instructor, they decided to start their own swim camp for kids! It's called "Baby Strokes." They are expected to start camp in October. 

Holy Cow

Ivy sent this story out yesterday to 13auburnfriends in lieu of her boyfriend, Drew's, Birthday.
This story is one of my favorites. Personalities and character shine blindingly bright. I'm so glad Ivy gave me permission to share.

You should know that Tom and Cathy are Drew's Parents.
Sweet is Ivy's mom.
I think thats all the back story you need. Grab a tissue.
I'm just sayin'.

When Tom and Cathy realized they could not have children they began saving the $15,000 it takes to adopt a baby through Buckner. They saved just the amount by January 1984, which was around the same time Richardson First Baptist was campaigning to move buildings. Tom was sitting in church and felt that God wanted him to put the $15,000 towards the new building campaign. He boldly told Cathy, “We need to give the money to the church, and if we are supposed to adopt God will provide us another $15,000.” Cathy hesitantly followed his lead. She probably cared more about a baby than a church building with a taller steeple.

About that time Tom was put on a short assignment in Lubbock, TX with Texas Instruments. Within six months this new assignment provided the Lassiters with an extra $15,000. They were placed on Buckner's adoption waiting list. On July 30, 1984 Drew was born.

Eight days later Tom and Cathy brought their new baby home. In typical baptist church fashion Sweet Hopkins prepared a southern meal (in the kitchen that Tom and Cathy use today) and took it to the happy new parents. Cathy said, 'Sweet, you did not have to bring us any food. I am just fine - I didn't have a baby.' Sweet, with her hands on her hips, matter of factly said, 'Cathy, that is ridiculous. Every other new mother gets a weeks worth of food brought to their house. You should too. ' Cathy still remembers the only meal that was brought to their house in celebration of their new baby boy.

Ten months later Sweet had a baby named Ivy.

Twenty three years later Drew and Ivy started dating.

You know those mornings...

When you've already changed into your heels, scanned through all the blogs you follow and gulped down your first cup of coffee and its not even 10am?

This is one of those mornings.