So to those who don't know me. I am Mel, from Madison County Arkansas. A small place. A place that makes me feel happy and like I have a home. A beautiful place nestled in mountains and rivers.
I am the Mom of 4, Grandmom to 1 and 1 that is almost here. Just a month away from my oldest son's daughter being born. An exciting time in our lives. Many prayers and dreams for them and her. I can't wait to see him become a father.
I am feeling the start of my truly empty nest. Our youngest is 18 and has graduated High School. He is still living at home but undecided about his future. While technically he hasn't left the nest, he sure isn't spending much time in it between work and his own life.
I feel like I am at a strange place in life. The almost empty nest is providing some freedom. Some exciting things. A few sad moments. This will be the story of how I find my way out of my own nest.
What does this have to do with being a "Show Mom" and what is a Show Mom? Well for the last 13 years it is what I have been. Our youngest found a love for showing livestock around the age of 8. I engrossed myself in it and loved every minute of it. We have raised many goats, lambs, rabbits, chickens even a few cattle over the years for the show ring. I learned many tricks of the trade. Had some success that I will never forget. It taught us so much as a family. This is part of my new journey. Learning who I am when I don't have to worry about getting ready for the next show. When I don't have to worry about a correct feed ration and plan for 10 lambs. This is also how I will answer the questions of what's next.
FFA and 4-H are such amazing programs that I will try to mention them a lot. They were life changing to our family. We gained so much from them. I also wonder how many miles we logged as a family in the pursuit of FFA and 4-H activities. I think it would be awesome to see. Maybe one of you reading my blog will start a mileage chart for a few years so I can get an idea. I think Tanner had counted once that in his 4-H and FFA Career he had traveled to 28 states. That's an amazing feat considering his parents had never left the 3 state area before he started us on a journey.
I did start a new adventure that I am sure you will see soon enough. I begin taking photography classes and I now carry a camera where ever I go. It is such a fun and eye opening thing for me. It is amazing what you notice through the eye of the lens. That small hole that shows the world how you feel. I first begin with taking pictures of my oldest daughters. Brittany who is 26 and a spit fire of love and admiration. She is married and such a blessing to all that know her. Smart and Godly. Tiffany who is my step-daughter. I think that's a dumb word. She is no second class citizen in my heart. I love that girl with all of my heart. I take so much pride in her. One thing that I think is neat is how she loves me. She treats me in a special way that means the world to me. No, I am not her Momma. She has one that she is very close too. Yet, she still makes me feel special and like I am apart of her world. She can not know how much that means to me. I looked at my daughter's through my lens and at their world. Their families. Their spouses. Thier children. Their dogs. Let me just say that I know when I saw them as grown strong women, intelligent, independent, god loving and fears, I knew that again God had blessed me in a new way. A new way to view his creation. A new way to view my creation. My family. I hope everyone enjoys the journey we take as an every growing and changing family over the years and especially with a new trick of photography to record our lives.
I am going to get some work done now. This few minutes was already fun.
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