So. Having moved from Phoenix, Az. a year ago, the land of rock filled yards and no grass unless it’s dead - I had never mowed a lawn until I moved to Atlanta last year. In the spring - lawns grow very fast. We were away for a month and all of a sudden we have 3 foot high weeds (since we don’t really have grass, just a large collection of weeds). I will admit that it was embarrassing and while it didn’t bother me at first, it started to grow both literally and in my head.

To make matters worse, we don’t really keep our hand-me-down lawn mower in a garage, or even a shed. Ok look, I’ll admit it, I keep it outside with a garbage bag over the motor to keep rain water off of it - and the bag flew off sometime while we were in China. SO. It was quite questionable whether the thing would even start.

And fortunately, it did.

We live on a rather busy street - especially during the rush hours - but yesterday it seemed like everyone and their mom was out walking around. So many people passed by and saw me mowing the lawn with 3 foot high weeds that it was bound to happen that one of them would comment. In fact, a girl coming home from school walked past when I was halfway through (I did the easier, shorter side first) and said, “whoa - good luck with the other half.”

It was a surprise to see Leah come out to the yard wearing an apron with frying pan in hand to show me the workings that she had made (attempted) in the kitchen. Or rather, failed attempt at falafel that had fallen apart and simply become a big pancake of ummm… falafel material?

I’m sure it’ll be better next time.

The Blue Wig Gal pictured here is my friend Mindy.  Mindy is extraordinary in many things, but the two that most people notice right off the bat are a.) her ability to do 20 things at once with tremendous passion and grace (and still have energy to meet up for drinks at the end of the day) and b.) her incredible, palpable love and admiration for her family and friends.

Mindy lives in Phoenix and I miss my Phoenix friends bunches.  I especially wish I could be there now because Mindy’s younger sister Whitney was in a really, really bad car accident a week ago.  Whitney survived and has a long recovery ahead of her…and of course Mindy is by her side, as is the rest of the family.

So, if you feel moved to do so, please take a moment (or several) and send a prayer their way.  Whitney is 19, my brother’s age.  And if you know me, you know how fiercely I love Kyle and how protective I feel of my baby bro.  Same goes for Mindy and Whitney.  It’s painful for me to imagine what it’s like for Mindy to watch her sister in the hospital bed and want so very badly to make it all better.  And thankfully, Whitney is getting better… the family has set up a Care Page for her and they update her progress daily.  (Go to CarePages.com and sign up and find Whitney Jones’ care page.)  But extra get-better-vibes are always good, and so I figured I’d post here and hope that at least some extra good thoughts and prayers find their way to Whitney and Mindy.