A busy home and a full heart.

As has been the case for a few months now, life is absolutely wonderful chaos.

Wheat and I traveled to Ohio over the weekend to celebrate my mom's birthday and Mother's Day. It's honestly not fair how the calendar shakes out for her. My sister was born on December 18 and my brother was born on December 20 and they still get birthday and Christmas presents. Mom, though? Some years, her birthday actually falls on Mother's Day. Most years, she gets half the gifts and tries to pretend her birthday doesn't exist at all. Seriously, I corrected her on her age this weekend.

But, we spent lots of quality time together, which was just what my weary soul needed. Friday night was a blur of the 'Happy Birthday' song, chocolate cake, a brief visit from my best friend and her mom, Gold Star Chili, sparklers, and a massive bonfire down the hill that nearly singed my eyebrows off completely. Oh, and miscellaneous fireworks my brother found in the basement and decided to set off. Most of these fireworks were boring and we politely clapped to show we were paying attention. However, one of these fireworks, the big kind where a series of five, well-timed, multicolored explosions occur safely in the sky for your enjoyment, completely malfunctioned, tipped on its side after three blasts, and launched the remaining two explosions inches away from where Wheat and I were sitting. After the first explosion, I struggled to stand up and run away just as the second blast whizzed right past my head and detonated red fire in my face. Then, in a showing of immense bravery and calm collectedness, I full-on peed my pants. After the initial revulsion surprise, everyone laughed and I finally understood how soldiers feel in war movies when they pee themselves.

The rest of the weekend continued with wedding planning, ice cream stops at two of my favorite hometown places (Whipty-Do! and Whit's for those who need suggestions), another brief visit with a close friend and her family, golf chipping in the backyard, another birthday/bonfire celebration for my best friend's sister, Memphis Grizzlies playoff basketball, and a delicious steak and potatoes dinner. As always, it seemed to end before it even began.

All weekends seem to fly by, but those spent in my hometown are gone in the blink of an eye. It's impossible for me to do everything I want to do, see everyone I want to see, and still spend time soaking in the comfortable coziness of my family. I suppose this just calls for more trips home. I don't mind it one bit - I can't see the stars or the fireflies around here.