Building a Foundation

Foundation is defined as a physical basis, and the foundation of my is has officially been poured. So far there has been removal of trees, cleaning of the ground and leveling it and now the foundation is visible. Seeing this brings a lot of things to mind about what this foundation means for me personally.  So much has happened in this one week that has my head spinning. I have paid off my car, I have completed my summer semester of my bachelors program, I was told by my dentist that I might get my braces off early(in two weeks to be exact so check back on September 9th), and I'm just giddy with excitement and happiness. This is a lot to wrap my mind around. So this is what has got me to think about this new foundation in my life. I can think of it as a foundation that my house will stand on but I think of it as much more. It's a foundation that a new chapter of my life is starting. I have absolutely no idea where it is going or where it will lead. I constantly go and check my house site with my family....as always when something happens to one of us it happens to all of us. My nephew enjoys going now because there is a large pile of dirt he is just itching to climb. I'll have to take him one day when he isn't going anywhere after wards. As you can see he is also a good  house inspector. He walks the edges of where the cement is and picks things up he is not sure if it belongs or not....even the dirt rocks.  He looks at me with this serious look and says, "TT dis trash?"  I can already imagine him playing outside when the house is completed.
There's a lot of meaning behind this small word, foundation.  This is where the rest of my roots will be planted and be allowed to root and spread out and grow.
Next framing......

What I did this summer

With the start of a new school year I am sure the $24,000 question of the day is, "What did you do this summer?" Let the stories begin. There will be stories of camp outs, sleep overs, pool parties, amusements parks, and weekend's at grandma and grandpa's. Some of these trips either required long car rides that were almost unbearable while other trips required a plane.
So what did my summer consist of? I was giving an opportunity to spread my wings and story tell in venues I never thought I would step foot in. Not because I did not want to but because the opportunity never revealed itself......until now. I have a dear friend who I met through work. It started out working on a project with her and turned into a wonderful friendship. LeAnne, who is an amazing author, host a gathering of arts every year (this being the second year)  called Salon Ada. I have been lucky enough to attend both years and meet a group of interesting captivating people. Some authors, some poets, visual artist, folk singers, and educators. This gathering inspires all of use to continue to do what we love doing and for me it has allowed me to spread my wings in storytelling and perform on a different level than I have in the past. I have enjoyed every bit of it. It has required me to re-evaluate how I perform but that's okay. Because it allows me to continue to grow and show others how powerful storytelling is. Seven of us participated in a poetry, short story reading and storytelling on the campus of ECU in little ol' Ada, Oklahoma. We had the place packed and the applause was wonderful. My mouth hurt because of my braces but I didn't care I wanted to perform. I never thought I would catch a bug like that. Me - alone- performing in front of people - strangers at that. I have to admit it has been wonderful, overwhelming, and down right fun. I want to do more! I of course spent the summer spending every moment I could with my nephew, who just recently turned two! I gave him a giant chocolate candy bar with his name printed on it from the Hershey's Factory in Chicago. I'm sure his mother, my baby sister, is waiting for the day that he stays with his TT to let him eat it.  I'm just doing the job that I have been so blessed to get.......being Auntie.  I keep telling Nikki that there are certain rules that we  Aunties have to stick by that are written in the Auntie Handbook that only Aunties get to see.  She just rolled her eyes.  

Another event that make the blood pump strong was when I was giving the opportunity to storytell to a group from other countries.  The group, Global Teens, is organized every summer and they select a place to go to and emerge themselves in the culture and history.  This summer they selected Oklahoma, specifically the Chickasaw Tribe.  There group included high school

 age students from four different countries.  It was an amzaing time.  I was able to give a history presentation along with traditional storytelling and they inturne shared stories from their country with me.  This is why I love storytelling.....it connects everyone!  

Home Swee Home

Growing up kids play some form of "house". Whether it be with other friends playing with a kid size kitchen set and baby dolls or Barbie. Someone is always playing house at home, daycare, or school. And then.....we dream of what the house we will one day live in will look like. Mine, as a child, was going to have a French garden filled with all kinds of colorful flowers that would bring in the humming birds and butterfly's. It was going to be two story with French doors leading to my wonderful garden. There were going to be columns by the front door and a large arch way that would lead my guest to the living room. I imagined something on a much grander scale than what I am actually going to get. But not matter the size it will be mine. The process is starting. The trees are being cleared, which part of me hates because they were perfectly healthy trees, but I understand why the trees had to be destroyed. It is amazing how quickly some things go. Like taking up the tress. I went to the site one day and there were large chunks of dirt, tree limbs, roots, and limbs everywhere. You could not walk without tripping over a part of a tree. Then a few days later I returned (because I think if I keep watching what is going on it will get built faster.......yes I am reminded of the watched pot theory)the tress where completely gone. The location of where the trees once stood where gone.
My house is not going to be two story and it won't have the grand entry way that I imagined....but it will be my house......my home.

B-Man

Another day of amazement will soon be passing me by. The second birthday of my prodigy nephew. Of course that is my personal opinion, that he is a prodigy, but there are many signs that have demonstrated why I can, and do, think this. I am amazed by what children can achieve. But, I guess, when you are around a child, whether your own or not, their achievements are more noticeable. And my nephew is no exception. From day one, though he started his life out small (just a little 5 pounds) he was already stretching his little neck out trying to hold his head up all on his own. I would just sit in the hospital chair, recline back, lay him on my chest, and stare eye to eye with him. It was then that I told my sister, his mother, that we would be hearing that phrase that most little ones say but only earlier than anticipated. Phrases like, "I do it" or "no me". And in fact we did hear those phrases earlier....even without him saying a word. It was said all in those eyes with the looks he would give us or simply by pushing us away. He can say a lot with those big blue eyes. It was also then when he started to want to do things by himself that we started to let him learn consequences which can be hard to do...especially for my sister. Because that means he is growing up. and as his TT, which is what he calls me, I don't know if I am ready for him to grow up. He has the most amazing laughs and each with a different meaning. He is giving, unless candy

is involved, and he wants to share, especially if someone has a coke to drink. He is silly, happ y, smart, lovable, and all these are contagious. I can have the worst day possible but when he walks into the room it is as if that bad day just melts away. And is it just me, or do kids make adults act like fools.....and not care? It is as if we will do anything to make them simply smile, but if we make them laugh also, JACKPOT!
We are so proud of ourselves. I am an Auntie who is so in love with her nephew.

Happy Birthday Baby Doll this is for you.

I can't believe my Baby Doll is five today.  When I watch the three of you I wonder how this family ever made it without you in our lives.  You all have brought so many smiles, much laughter, and even more love that I, or anyone, could ever imagine  I want to share a story with you of how I started calling you "Baby Doll".  You see, I had an aunt, Jeannie, who was the world to me and I was the world to her. She taught me many things without knowning that she was.  She taught me to love music, and dance even if people are watching,and yes, there is a time and place to say say thing out loud, but sometimes things just have to be said.  Most of all she taught me to be myself and love myself and not to listen to the harmful words that people may try to send your way.  She called me "Pretty Girl" and she called Nikki "Baby Doll".  When she left us I knew I would not hear those names "Pretty Girl" nor would Nikki hear "Baby Doll" but she left us, or me, with these terms of endearment to pass on to you and Makynlee.  My Pretty Girl and Baby Doll.  So if you ever wonder why I call you that....now you know.  Happy Birthday Baby Doll...may you have many more and may your dreams and wishes be carried to the heavens on the wings of Angels.  

Come dance with us

While on my journey to Amman Jordan our group traveled to Jerash.  Jerash is an amazing place and I wished we had more time to spend there.  While in the oval coliseum the group took yet another group photo to memoralize our day and after our photo was taken we started to hear commotion and music followed by clapping and singing.  I had no idea what the song was about nor what they where saying but the beat and rhythm pulled us into the excitment the singers where feeling.  It was amazing.  Looking around the people in my group where jumping, clapping, and "lili'ing", which I learned to do myself....pretty impressive.  Here I was standing in a biblical place and I had all these emotions going through my body,  thoughts going through my mind and I wanted to share them with everyone.  So I quickly turned my camera on and started to record, I learned half way through the trip that my camera did in fact record, go figure.  

Here goes......

Well, here goes. My first blog. I really have no idea what I am doing. I guess this whole process is to write what I think like I would in journal. Except for that this is public as where my journal....no so much.

I can talk about a variety of issues...but I mainly started this to be involved in the storytelling community.
I have been storytelling since 1996 and since then I have had opportunities to share the stage with great storytellers as well as experience life altering performances by some fabulous storytellers and to top it off I have been able to travel through parts of China with some unforgettable storytellers. That storytelling delegation is a group that I will share memories with for the rest of my life.

I started telling Native American stories and due to my travels and experiences with other storytellers I have developed an interest in all stories. A great lesson I learned while in China was how all cultures are more alike than different when it comes to the tradition of storytelling. All cultures story tell for the same reasons......to teach. And that is what I want to bring back. I want to teach how storytelling was used centuries ago. It was not used for entertainment. It was and still is used as a teaching tool.

Another reason I story tell is so my little nieces and nephew know about those who passed before them. Because I feel that when we tell stories about those that have moved on to their next journey we keep their spirit alive and we keep them close to use. I want them to know those wonderful people that I was blessed to know and to know the meaning of family strength. Because that is what my family is all about.