A. Aunt. Last year, I became a new AUNT. My little sister, Amy, had her first baby, and his name is Evan. I stayed with her for two weeks when he was born, and I just fell in love with him. He is so adorable. She is a terrific mommy, just as she has always dreamed.
B. Best Friend. My BEST FRIEND is without a doubt my husband of thirteen years. We were best friends before we were “romantic,” and I am so grateful for that. Through dating and marriage, I have been with him over half my life, and it amazes me that I still get that “feeling” when he walks in a room. While he is great looking, he is also the most honest and genuine man I have ever met. I look in his crystal blue eyes, or I see him “throwing the ball” with the girls in the yard, and my heart abounds with joy. I so dearly pray that my daughters can find a man just like their daddy.
C. Cancer-Free. On June 12, 2003, I reached my five-year anniversary of being declared CANCER-FREE. What seems like a lifetime ago, I was a young mother with uterine cancer. Too young. Reaching this five-year mark means a great deal to me. It means it is really over. Thank you, God.
D. “Diamond Room” – When Ashlyn was very small, she always called the dining room the diamond room. We thought that was so cute, and even though she is much older, we still call it the diamond room. She had many funny expressions like that such as getting “necky” for bubble baths and being my “honey.” She would say, “I love being your honey,” or “How many honnies do that mommy have?” Sweet. I miss that.
E. Elephant. The elephant is the University of Alabama’s mascot. It represents the strength and unity of that great school. I feel closely tied to the U of A because my parents, sister, and I all graduated from there. At present, I have two former students playing for the Crimson Tide, Brodie Croyle and Brandon Greer. I am so proud of them! Roll Tide!!!
F. Freedom. Freedom is one our nation’s greatest gifts. As I see other countries’ political systems, I am always reminded of how fortunate we are. It is such a blessing to raise my family with the opportunities and hope that they can achieve whatever they want.
G. Grandfathers. Growing up, I had two grandfathers. One was a Yankee from New York, and one was a southerner from Talladega, Alabama. I called my Yankee grandfather “grandpa,” and I called my southern grandfather “pawpaw.” Even though they were quite different, I loved them the same. My “grandpa” loved to tell me stories, and my “pawpaw” loved to take my flying in his plane or fishing on his boat. Both of my grandfathers are in heaven now, but I will always treasure the times we spent together.
H. Harry Potter. I am a HUGE Harry Potter fan. After I read the first book, I was completely hooked. I think that the Harry Potter series teaches so many life lessons such as courage, faith, stamina, and loyalty – all qualities that are important to being a well-rounded person. I have read each of these books to my children, and I will treasure those story times forever.
I. Igloo. I’ll never forget going to New York to visit my extended family. It was during the winter, and while there, a blizzard came. My dad and I went outside and worked all day on an igloo. Of course, being raised in the South, I had never had the opportunity to make one or play in one. I can still remember how proud I was of our icy creation. To frame that moment forever, my uncle took a picture of my dad and me in the entrance of our fun new home.
J. Jello. I absolutely HATE jello. When I was a very small child, I can remember hating jello. The nuns at my kindergarten would serve it at lunch, and I was often reprimanded for leaving all my jello on my tray. Even then, I couldn’t stand the consistency and the way it jiggled in my mouth. It made me think that something was alive in my mouth, cold and slimy. I have passed on this aversion to my children because they too stay away from the disgusting gelatin substance, otherwise known as jello.
K. Kaitlyn. I first heard the name “Kaitlyn” when I was seven months pregnant. The moment I did, I knew that would be my first daughter’s name. It just felt right. The moment she was placed in my arms, she looked just like a “Kaitlyn.” When she was little, we called her “Kay Kay.” Sometimes, I still call her that. When I’m mad, I say, “Kaitlyn Alexandra Shields!!!”
L. Life. I feel as though one should live his or her life to the very fullest. Never take anything or anyone for granted. We never know when our time on earth will be done, so it’s so important to cherish each moment of life we have.
M. Monopoly. When I was a kid, I loved to play Monopoly. My sister and I would stay up for hours playing that game. I always tried to buy Boardwalk first because it was easier to win with a hotel in that area. We would always laugh when one of us had to “go to jail.” My favorite part was when I got to pass “Go” and collect $200.
N. New York. All of my extended family lives in New York. I haven’t been able to visit them in many years, but I would love to do so someday soon. All of my cousins, aunts, and uncles have “yankee” accents, and they love to hear me speak. I agree with them that my southern accent is much more pleasant than theirs. I have many fond memories of my visits to New York as a child, particular those involving snow.
N. New House. My family and I just moved into our new house. We love it! While it may not be Trump Towers, it is still our dream house. I love to sit out on my deck, overlooking the pool and nearby creek, and drink a hot cup of coffee. It is so relaxing!
O. Optimistic. I guess you could say that I am a fairly optimistic person. As often as I can, I try to view life on the bright side. There’s no point in expecting the worst because it can make life depressing. When something bad happens, I try to think of the silver lining. What good can come from it? By doing that, I feel better equipped to handle life’s misfortunes and enjoy the good times as well.
P. PawPaw. I have wonderful memories of my pawpaw. He lived in a big house in Talladega on the river. It was there that I learned how to ski, swim, and fish. He was a gentle Southern man with a great love for the outdoors. He owned a small plane that he used to let me co-pilot with him. He also had a silver convertible Mustang that I loved most of all. PawPaw died when I was a teen, and I wish that he could have lived to meet my girls because I know they would have loved him as much as I still do.
Q. Quincy’s. As a teen, I worked at Quincy’s Steak House as a waitress and cashier. I had to wear ugly brown pants and a pine green shirt. I really enjoyed waitressing, and I especially liked big tips. I once could carry seven plates at one time. That was my proudest achievement while I was employed there. Even though waitressing was a very hard job, it taught me many valuable lessons, particularly about the satisfaction of earning my own money and the importance of a strong work ethic.
R. Rugrats. When my girls were very small, their favorite cartoon was Rugrats. We watched it almost every night after supper. They loved Chuckie because he was always scared and doing the wrong things. They also liked Spike, the dog. Kaitlyn even had a stuffed animal Spike that she slept with every night. If my daughters were ever bad, I would tell them that they were being an Angelica because she was the meanest and brattiest kid on the show.
S. Smile. People have asked me many times, “Why are you always smiling?” I’m not really sure that I know the answer, but I know that I’m just a happy person. I have so many things to be thankful for, and I can’t help but feel very blessed. I think that is so important to think positively, and that comes across naturally with a smile. I also find that if I greet every morning with a smile, my day will be a little brighter, and so will others around me.
T. Teacher. Growing up, I never even once considered teaching as a job one day. I wanted to join the Peace Corp or become a famous lawyer. I just fell into the teaching career by accident. I was taking an English class in college and it occurred to me that I would really enjoy teaching English. I love to write, read, and spend time with kids. I’m so thankful that I changed my mind because I feel as though teaching is one of the most rewarding careers there are. Even though it’s very stressful and tireless, it’s wonderful to know that I might have made a difference in someone’s life. It’s a real blessing.
U. Underwear. I will never forget the time my dad was teaching me to ride a bike. I was going down my first big hill when I lost control. I flipped a couple of times, and I began to cry when I saw my bloody knees. A boy that I liked lived near my crash and heard me crying. When he came to see if I was okay, my dad said, “Honey, you have a big hole in your pants.” Indeed, I did. My shorts had split and my underwear was revealed for the whole world to see. I quickly forgot about my pain because humiliation took over.
V. Value. I suppose the item that has highest value to me is my piano. I’ve played the piano since I was eight years old. When I took lessons, I hated the practices. However, now that I’m an adult, I’m so thankful for them. My husband bought the piano I now have as a surprise ten years ago, and I have never been so excited about a gift. I love playing the piano for my family and friends. My children and husband like to sing along with me as I play our favorite songs. Playing my piano is very relaxing to me – almost like an escape.
W. Wish. I have many wishes. I wish to live a long time and be in good health. I wish that I had more money so that I would not have to worry about my kids’ college or retirement. I wish that all of my students cared about learning and were well-behaved all the time. My biggest wish is that my daughters live a long, healthy life married to caring, godly men.
X. X-Treme Makeover – Home Edition. That is one of my favorite shows to watch on TV. I don’t think I’ve watched one episode when I didn’t cry. It is so touching to see people receive a new home and lifestyle. Most of the families featured have gone through a terrible tragedy or illness, and because of that, the show is even more meaningful.
Y. Yell. For some time now, I’ve been coaching cheerleaders. Although I first began because I felt sorry for them, I’ve stuck with it because I love to be with them. I love the pep rallies, the competitions, the camps, and the practices. I love to hear them YELL for our team! Go EAGLES! Things have changed much since I was a cheerleader, and it’s really exciting to be a part of such an evolving sport.
