Rearcous Smith
Smiles, Laughter, Love, Singing, Colors, Friends, Family, Cameras, Hugs, Kisses, Comfort, Caring, Special, Confidence, Dancing, Today, Life, Giving, Energy, Faith, Funny, Knowledge, Humble, Sweet, Unforgettable, Actor, Incredible, Teacher, Faithful, Loyal, Bold, Bright, Proud, Hardworking, Diligent, Strong, Helpful, Willing, Earnest, Sincere, Fun, Serious, Beautiful, Silly, And an oh so missed.

In case you haven't guessed already, those five lovely ladies pictured above are my sisters and I. From to left to right quickly, Me, Katie, Theresa, Sarah Ann, and Caroline. These girls are my best friends, and always have been. They've been with me from the the days of pretending we were orphans in the back yard, to the chat filled nights of "Oh what a cute boy" (Eyelashes batting). We were fun and silly than, and on the occasion when we're all in the same place at the same time, are fun and silly now. I love to hang out with my sisters; Caroline's wit, Theresa's laughter, Sarah Ann's tendency to poke fun, and Katie's hilarious comments are too irresistible.
The crazy thing about this picture is I can't remember when it was taken. We usually take pictures on special occasions (birthdays, parties, holidays, etc.), but I wouldn't put it past us to pose for the camera just 'cause. I remember we wanted a "squishy-cheek" picture, because we were making fun of Theresa's idea of a perfect picture (smash your cheeks together and smile). Mom said something about a big squishy-cheek picture and how funny it would be. I was surprised however, when it turned out so well. It's my favorite picture of all of us.
Katie's the same height as the rest of us because she's standing on the fireplace. Theresa often calls her "her mini me." She does look and talk an awful lot like Theresa, so much so, that other people have commented on it too. Looking at their toddler pictures, you can tell the difference in hair color, otherwise not so much. I mean look at their smiles, and the way their noses wrinkle up.
When we were younger, SA and I would get mistaken for twins, as would SA and Caroline, and Caroline and I. On occasion we would be mistaken for triplets. However, that doesn't happen as much any more. No, now it's more along the lines of "What's a twelve year-old doing in college?", and "Are you old enough to drive?" Right now it's a little insulting to one's dignity, but I'm sure when we're thirty, and people are asking us if we're old enough to drink we'll appreciate it a little more.
Well this isn't the last you've heard of my sisters, as soon as I find another excuse to write about them, or rather I just feel like it, you'll hear more for sure.~Louly

You know how people will walk up to you trying sell something and they say "You haven't done such and such till you've done it our way!" Well apparently my parents were thinking something along the lines of "You haven't been to Disney World till you've been nine times in two years." You say "What?" "You've got to be joking." "Give me a break."
Well folks I'm here to you no I'm not joking. We really have been to Disney World nine times in two years, and a couple more after that, but who's counting? We've even been to Universal Studios. And guess what? We're going again this summer! Right about now you're probably thinking "They must either just really like Disney World, or they're bonkers!" It's probably a little touch of both, but more probably because of Daddy's continuing dental education courses that he takes down there. All dentist, and probably doctors for that matter, are required to take continuing education courses. They have to have so many hours a year or so. It just so happens that Dad's favorite course to take just keeps getting held in Orlando. Since Daddy doesn't like to travel by himself, and there's nothing that tops Disney World in Orlando (Trust me we know)... Well you get the idea.
Every time we've been we've noticed different ethnic groups that just seem to swarm. About two times it was predominantly Asians. They took pictures of everything! We watched this older couple eating lunch. The man picked up his hot dog and posed with his mouth open while his wife took a picture, than he did the same thing with a french fry. Than he took the camera and proceeded to do the same thing for his wife and her hot dog. We laughed about it, and than wondered what we'd look like in their country with their food.
Than there were the Hispanics. They were loud! We thought we'd blend in and speak Spanish. Ha! That lasted about thirty minutes as our very limited vocabulary wore out quickly. Mom was pleased when that happened. (She hates when we do that.) Besides Ben and Mom were completely left out, the poor white dears.
So we've got Asians, Hispanics, Aussies, Indians (Who I think are just plain beautiful), and British. The Brits were fun. Everyone could imitate an accent and did for hours at a time. Even Ben and Katie, now that was hilarious. For some reason they thought sticking your nose in the air was a part of the production. I could have watched and listened to those two all day. It was at this time that I discovered I could pass for both a GAP employee, and a Brittan. ( I think it might have had something to do with the T-shirt I was wearing.)
This woman walked up behind me as I was having a conversation with Katie using my accent, and asked me if I had seen her little girl's pink sunglasses. Of course I couldn't just suddenly drop my accent, she might think I was making fun of her or something. So I turned around and said with a straight face "Nooo, I don't believe I have. I'm truly sorry." She said something like that's quite alright and left the store. I was thinking something along the lines of Hallelujah! Than a man asked me if I worked there, and another person asked me if I carried a size four in a pair of a certain pair of jeans. Crazy!
I wonder what ethnic group we'll encounter this time...Hmmm......~Louly

I'm floating on air and have been since Sunday night; Why? Well, lets rewind to Saturday. Saturday I had a very important audition. I auditioned for A-3! Some of you know what I'm talking about for those of you who don't, let me elaborate. A-3 is the company class at the Springer Theatre Academy. The company class puts a show together in two weeks, and than performs it for two weeks. It is the oldest most experienced group at the academy, and it is an honor to be a part of this hardworking group of amazing people.
I auditioned with a group of about 13 kids. The audition itself was loads of fun. It's always fun to see my friends after so long, not to mention playing theater games with them. We bounced around, laughed, performed, and generally had a good time.
Than we went home, and the dreaded wait began. Sunday morning I went to church, enjoyed a missionary's slide show of the work that's being done in Uruguay, and Suriname, and than kept nursery for the morning service. I came home, changed clothes, ate lunch, and went to the library. Anything to keep myself busy. When we got home from the library we did our devotion with Dad.
It was during devotions that phone kept ringing. Our phone never rings on Sunday night, it never rings on Sunday period. However, the one night I'm waiting for a phone call it rings thirty times (A.K.A. three times). I kept giving Mom this look, "Is it for me?" Than she would shake her head. Ughhhh, the agony. Than finally Jennifer Adams calls and says, "Welcome to A-3!"
I didn't know what to say. "Thank you, oh my gosh, wow. I can't believe it." You get the idea. Ever since that night I've been on cloud nine. I have to keep telling myself it's for real. I can't wait till we start this summer! Summer couldn't come fast enough.~Louly
P.S.
For those of you who are interested in knowing who all is in A-3 here's the list. Oh and the show is Bambi.

A-3

1. Lisa Anders

2. Jasmin Anderson

3. Nicole Broach

4. Melissa Cone

5. Mary Lou Garcia

6. Ashley Jay

7. Victoria Leggett

8. Cameron McCarty

9. Stephanie Reeves

10. Dylan Stephan

11. Scott Valentine

12. Alex Willis

~Louly

Procrastination. You never know what it is you're missing until you stop procrastinating and do it. I knew there was gonna be trouble when I saw Katie emerge from the deep dark hole of doom. Our closet. (Okay so it's not THAT bad.) With... roller blades. Than she opens her mouth, that sweet to cute to be ignored mouth of hers, and says "Will you help me learn how to skate?" Of course she adds in those big brown puppy eyes and I'm sold...almost.
I wanted to help her because she asked me to, not Jess, or Caroline, but me. Than again I needed to get some things done, and she might get hurt, and it was cold- no, hot- okay perfect outside. Yeah, I was just coming up with excuses. Cold hearted me said, "yeah sure later. I need to clean my room and study some, but later, okay?" (A.K.A not really, I just want you to get those puppy eyes away from me.)
Well, I finished my room in an untimely manner an hour or two later. That's when she attacks again. "Are you finished? Wanna help me now?"
"Ah, no, not quite. I uh need to scrub my bathroom, and study still, but later I promise."
It's later. Where am I? Oh, you know, I thought I'd help Dad with the tree house design. He looked like he could use it. Than from behind, "Are you finished?!"
"oh! Um, no not yet. But almost."
"Fine I'll just go by myself."
"Oh, okay..." Now I'm kicking myself. Why couldn't you just go help for a few minutes? Huh? Why didn't you just say "Sure, Kate, I'd love too?" Think of those memories you just lost, of teaching her how to skate on Sarah Ann's first pair of skates, the same ones you learned to skate on. Good grief, what kind of selfish person are you?
Ten minutes later she comes back. "What happened?"
"I fell down."
Thank you Lord. I mean, I'm not glad she fell down, Lord; I'm just glad you gave me second chance. I definitely don't deserve it. Than again, I shouldn't be surprised. You also chose me before the dawn of time to be your beloved child, and not because of anything I would do or have done. So thank You Lord. "Kate, lets go try that again, you'll get better."
Before long, Ben was out there too. I could see it in the way her eyes glowed, that Ben being out there made her try harder. She was turning and stopping all by herself within minutes. Ben on the other hand was a mess. The most adorable mess I ever seen, but a mess all the same. His feet kept rolling out from under him, and splat! there he'd go on his bottom. He'd be laughing so hard he couldn't control it, let alone his feet on skates. That infectious laugh had us all rolling (forgive the pun) before long.
Yes the Lord truly blessed me with a beautiful afternoon. Katie did fall down and hurt her shoulder, but she was fine, and we got in a lot of skating before then, anyway. Thank You, Lord, for two wonderful siblings.~Louly

Well, the description of this blog was that I wanted to tell my stories. That in itself would seem to indicate that I have stories to tell. Well, I do, I'm just not sure their good enough. Then I remember that the second part of the description is that IF you HAPPEN to be amused, great.
All of these things have been running through my head ever since that last (and first) post. However, I have come to a decision; I think I'll tell my stories whether or not I think they're good, and just let you decide that for yourself. Without further ado here is my next story.
Two weeks ago today I was at work, as usual. (I am a professional nanny) David had just come home with two pizzas, which his kids didn't eat because, stupidities of stupidities, I had forgotten he was bringing home supper and had already fed the kids. We were just chit-chatting. We talked about the weather and how cold it had been that morning. So cold in fact that I had had to pour hot water from a milk jug onto my windshield that morning to defrost it...Quicker! David then proceeded to tell me the dangers of doing so like: It might cause the windshield to crack!
Well, I laughed him off lightly, and left for home shortly after. Well, on the way home I got paranoid and began to try and to see the windshield to see if perhaps I HAD cracked it. Well, it was dark out side so this task was difficult. However, every now and then I would pass someone going the opposite direction, and could catch a glimpse of it by their headlights. low and behold the windshield was...CRACKED?! "My windshield is cracked! No that can't be. I'm gonna have to call Dad, and he's out of town. Man! I can't believe it."
The only reason I even thought of this stunt was because Sarah Ann did it too, just about every morning. Dad had even told her to do it. Sarah Ann never gets in trouble, she gets away with everything.
Let's tally up everything that has happened to make Mary Lou's night go bad so far, shall we? First David spends wasted money on food his kids don't need (BTW I got to take home one of those pizzas), then I crack my windshield doing what I thought was perfectly acceptable.
While I'm musing over these things a car comes at me on the other side of the road. Let me just make clear to ya'll who know what I'm talking about, this was narrow little Countyline Road. The man had his brights on! I was furious and blinded.
Two seconds after he passes my eyes are still adjusting, when all of the sudden a little dog runs out in front me. I hit him. My heart skipped a beat and I just couldn't believe it.
I turned the van around and found him. Dead. I lost it. I decided I would try to find out who's dog it was. I drove up the nearest driveway, my heart pounding. I chickened out and ran back to the van. For some reason the next house didn't look so scary; don't ask me why, it just looked less menacing than the other one had. Again I pull in, put it in park, uncranked, and walk up to the front door. (After turning around several times. "Do it Lou, just do it!". I did.) This old man walks to the door yellin', "It's a little girl, Mother" as he hitches his pants up. He finally reaches the door and opens it. "Um, hi. Sir. Do you have a little dog? I-"
"Nope all we got is a big one out back. Why?"
"Well, I hit a little dog on the road just now and it's dead. (Sob.)" Now I'm crying great! This is when "Mother" reaches out the door to take my hand and says, " Oh don't worry darlin'. These things just happen. It's not your fault."
" I know I just feel awful though"
"Do you want to come inside and call mommy?" Yes the woman said "Mommy".
" No I'll just go now, thank you."
"Are you sure? I'll take care of finding out who's dog it is." (Another sob from me.) "Here come inside and call Mommy" There it was again, that word. I was kind'av creepped out.
"No I'l just go home, it's not far. Thanks." At this point she starts to tug hard on my hand that she still has in her possession. That little woman was strong. I struggled hard, and managed to yank my hand from her, at which point her husband, who has been muttering to himself hoping we'd listen as he explained what kind'av dog every neighbor in America has, hitches his pants again and says, "Let her go darlin', can't you see she wants to go home", non too gruffly. Hallelujah! She followed me to my car. uggggghhhhh. I got in and proceeded to ignore the backing up directions she was trying to give me, and got out of there!!!!!
Lets also make clear that in retrospect I'm sure all that lady wanted to do was help. it was just a little to much to handle all in one day. I mean add getting kidknapped to my day, really? I just wasn't up for it.~Louly

Some of you are wondering what the heck my title is all about. Soooo, I'm going to tell you. The title of my blog is a short list of some of my favorite little things. I didn't get to list them all because, who knew, you can only have a certain amount of letters in your title? However, I suppose that's what a blog is for. (Unlimited amounts of letters and words. YES!)
Lemon heads are my favorite candy. I can thank my sister Caroline for this. She brought some home one day, and I was hooked. They're my comfort food.
Next is bubblemint gum, yum. This is my favorite gum, thanks to Mom. She was wrapping birthday gifts for me, and had bought this gum at the grocery store to try it out. She didn't like it. I love my Mother.
Next on my list is rain. Most people think that rain is for sad gloomy days. Not me! Some of my happiest childhood memories are of my Grandma Cason's ingenious invention "The Rainy Day Box!" It had everything needed to keep four active little girls busy on a rainy afternoon when, sadly, they couldn't go out and play in the sunshine. "The Rainy Day Box" had play doe, coloring books, construction paper, glue, scissors, ect. galore. It also came with some rules, such as:
1.)No playing with "The Rainy Day Box" unless it's raining!
2.)Only play with one item at a time.
3.)Keep all items close to box.
4.)Put away when rain lets up, and play outside. (Mom was smart.)
However, rainy days are also a good excuse for an old movie and cuddling with siblings on the couch. Watching Fred Astaire dance across the screen, or Shirley Temple sing her way out of trouble is one of my ideals of a rainy day spent well. However, I would just as easily be persuaded to play ultimate on a rainy day. The rain makes it that much more ultimate.
Some of you may be wondering, "What is ultimate?" Well, that's not the whole name of this game. It's Ultimate Frisbee. It's a little like football, soccer, and lacrosse combined; only you're tossing a Frisbee around. It's the perfect way to spend time at the park.
My siblings and I (aka Sarah Ann) organized a little group of friends. Now we play at least once a week down at Lakebottom Park. It's loads of fun.
We aren't exclusive or anything, we ask the neighborhood kids, who sit and watch us, to come play with us. They almost always accept. Sometimes, though, they get this "Are you crazy?" look on they're faces and refuse, but what can you do? Yell? "Hey Kid, yeah you. I'm not crazy." Like that's gonna work.
Well, like I said before these are only some of my favorite things, but I'll post on those later. For now enjoy.~Louly