Going Home Again, Thank You Gov. Rockefeller

Home again, home again, jiggety-jig.

After I married Big Buckaroo, I moved to Petit Jean Mountain State Park where he was a ranger. Of course, moving from downtown Memphis to the top of a mountain was a drastic change, but I was in love and would have lived in a cabin in the woods, eaten beef jerky and sewn my own clothes (alright a huge exaggeration there) for that man.

Thankfully, the Lord does provide because I landed a Public Relations job at an international development organization that was headquartered on top of the mountain. Yes, I said international development and mountain in the same sentence.  How does that happen? Well, one name says it all- Winthrop Rockefeller.

Yes, of THE Rockefeller Family, but Winthrop Rockefeller was a rebel. He chose not to take a job at the family business, Standard Oil, he quit Yale in his 3rd year, took a job as a roughneck in the Texas oil fields, and fought for our country as a commander in WWII receiving the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart. Oh, and he was a two-term Governor of the state.

Through his leadership and philanthropy, he transformed the state’s politics, economy, culture, and education for the better. And, he changed Petit Jean Mountain, the place he CHOSE as his home.
 
A year after I chose dirty diapers, Cheerios all over my floor and baby kisses over hopping on a plane to D.C., writing brochures, website hoopla and all the other stuff that goes with promoting an organization, Winrock International moved their headquarters to Little Rock. Now, on the estate of the late Governor sits the extraordinary Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, an educational institute and conference center centered around the legacy of the ideas of Rockefeller, a place where collaboration and change thrive. And.... I have been invited home.

You have seen my ramblings about that little group (403 women strong) I founded called Arkansas Women Bloggers, right? Well, the world-class convening center WRI has invited myself and the AWB go-to gals Fawn, Julie, and Beth, um, the ladies who make it all happen, for a day at WRI. They are not only allowing us use of one of their meeting rooms for brainstorming and organization that is going to launch AWB to a whole new level (more to come on that), but they are also hooking us up BIG TIME. At noon, their culinary staff will be sharing a demonstration with the AWB ladies and some foodie bloggers from throughout the state. Yes ma'am, my belly is already preparing for the yumminess.

Go learn more about WRI at  LivetheLegacy.org, it is an incredible place. WRIs Heritage Farmstead and their Growing Healthy Communities Initiative fits right into my life as a farmers' market chic and community organizer, I can't wait to learn more. Plus, I am going to be able to visit with many of my friends from my life on Petit Jean. So much fun!

Watch The Park Wife on Facebook and Twitter this weekend, I can't wait to share with you about this extraordinary opportunity to go home again.

Arkansan By Choice,
The Park Wife

An Uplifting Giveaway!

WARNING: All of my male readers (yes, all two of you...um, my brother and Taz) stop reading now because this is going to be about bras and not in the way that you would enjoy, sorry, I will blog about food, adventure, and single friends later.

Alright ladies, all but a few of my readers are wearing the wrong size bra. Yes you, um...don't click off,  I am talking to you. Up to 85% of women are in bras that they spill out of, bras that are not supportive, bras where the straps fall down constantly and bras that flatten, squish, droop or just plain look unattractive on the body.

Hop over to Sharing The Park Wife Love site to read my article and find out about a fabulous giveaway from Le Mystère Lingerie valued at $125.

Recharging Mom Batteries

My BFF Jenn and I ran away. Well, we actually drove since we were going all the way to Hot Springs, Arkansas and because we really don't run unless someone is chasing us. Of course, we eventually came back, but we took a day off from boys, dirt, "look mom", making meals, and cleaning toilets.

The day began with a hour and half drive. Now, many people are usually in a hurry to get where they are going, you know the whole destination/journey debate. We are two moms with five boys between us, believe me, we can appreciate time in a vehicle without kiddos yelling behind us - "he touched me", "he is singing too loud and off key", "are we there yet?" Much needed, uninterrupted girl talk was had on the drive.

We arrived at our destination:

The Chrysalis Day Spa is a wonderful, serene place with some very nice women that work there. A deep tissue massage was first on the agenda. The lady message therapist I had was very good, however, I always get chatty and do not relax like I should. I know her entire life story.

Then, it was pedicure time. Jenn is enjoying being pampered, the massage chair was a highlight of the pedicure.

Here is my new nail color, Tropical Punch. I try to find time to paint my toenails (especially during the summer when it is against Southern Belle rules to wear sandals with naked toe nails), but honestly, I'm lucky to get to use the restroom alone most of the time. So, having someone do this for me was fabulous, a real treat!

Sushi time! My adventurous friend had never had sushi and hopped on board when I suggested it. She preferred the tempura, true to her southern roots that anything battered and fried is good. I agree, plus I love me some Philadelphia Rolls and Osaka's OMG roll, delicious!

We did a little shopping and then saw a Merle Norman. Jenn suggested makeovers. Hey, I am not under any illusion that my 40-year-old crows feet don't need some attention, so in we went.

Merle Norman (the one at 242 Cornerstone Blvd) Owner Tiffany Story got us glammed up, we were feeling pretty feisty and fun at this point. So, we went and got ice cream.

Some days I feel like running away and assuming a new identity, in Italy preferably, but most days I find there is nothing in this world that I have sacrificed that is worth more than the overwhelming love I have for my husband and children and the love I receive back from them.

We had replenished our super mom powers, so we headed home.

Our brave husbands took all the boys (pic from Army party we had a couple of weeks ago) to see Cars 2 and to Chuck E. Cheese for lunch. Jenn and I are extraordinarily blessed women, park wives of two men of integrity who love the Lord and adore their wives and children.

And, hey, they are doing a great job running two of the best state parks in Arkansas. Plan your summer vacation now at one of the 52 wonderful parks in the natural state, check out arkansasstateparks.com for more info. (I know, shameless plug, but The Park Wife must promote state parks, it is part of who we are).

A day off, fun was had by all,

The Park Wife

Our Little Navy Seal

I was raised with five brothers, gasp...I know, yes, I played a lot of hot wheels, rode motorcycles, climbed a lot of trees and yes, have even been shot with a BB Gun. No, I did not say I shot a BB Gun, I said I was shot WITH a BB Gun. Of course, to balance everything out, my mom made sure I took dance lessons from the age of 3, that I wore pretty dresses, and learned all the southern belle basics of how to sparkle.

I wondered, and asked God frequently, why there could not have been at least one sister, I mean, seriously, FIVE brothers. I found out why about eight years ago.  God had been  preparing me to be the mom of our two buckaroos. Our little guys have very different personalities, strengths, and interests. I am constantly in awe of their creativity, ingenuity, and lust for life.

Littlest Buckaroo is five now and he wants to be an "army man". He had planned on going to West Point, but has now decided that the Naval Academy is a much better fit. Did you read that he is only 5? He climbs the rope on his playground, does push ups and is really trying to do pull ups, hilarious. Yes, hilarious that he does better than I can.

If you are new to my blog, let me tell you a little something, when our guys get into something, they are REALLY into it. They dress the part always, spend hours researching and reading/looking at books and then act it out for days and days and weeks and weeks, sometimes months. Mercy, I thought Little Buckaroo's Peter Pan stage would never end, I thought he really was never going to grow up and become a permanent resident of Neverland. Pirates, firemen, Indians, the list goes on and on. 

Here is Littlest Buckaroo, he is in some form of "army man" gear pretty much all the time. Yes, he has dog tags with his name on them. Um, did I mention that I might over-indulge their creativity a bit?

He will probably change his mind a few more times, he is five (he has not been through an astronaut nor a paleontologist stage yet). But, then again, maybe not. He has a spirit of justice, there is right and there is wrong. He is rough and tough and most importantly, he already has the discernment to know when to wield a sword.

Life needs a man to be fierce—and fiercely devoted, to God, to his family, to our country. I pray that he will wage war against against principalities, powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places and come out victorious, that he will blaze trails, be a warrior, and live a life full of adventure!

Going to practice my duck and cover,
The Emotionally and BB Scarred Park Wife