Madison lost a friend…

annetteatwood — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:48:49 +0000

My 16 year old, Madison, has a friend who passed away unexpectedly this weekend. He was in her special needs classroom at school. There were lots of tears and confusion when they told the class yesterday. I cannot begin to understand how devastating this is for his parents, siblings and other family. I cannot comprehend how fragile life is and how suddenly things can change.

Madison does not understand completely. She said things like “I want him back” and “I want him to stay in our class”. I was amazed at the comfort that came over her when we talked about seeing him again in heaven. She can understand that he is with her Great Grandmother Edwards and Owen, my sister’s beloved lab. She can understand that he is with Jesus and she will be there one day too. As a believer, I am so thankful for the hope that we have and the promise of eternal life with Him.

Wordnesday for Fun Size

annetteatwood — Wed, 02 May 2012 19:48:11 +0000

Fun size canvases are in!!!! Check them out at www.showoffsart.com! Here is our Wordnesday for fun size….

F – Funky and

U – unique…..

N – Not your

S – standard-sized canvas….

I – In fact,

Z – zip to ShowOffsArt.com and order yours today!

E – Everything’s better fun sized!

Enjoy!!

“Wordnesday” for March Madness

annetteatwood — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:39:22 +0000

So proud to be a Belmont Bruin this week!

B – Basketball

E – evokes

L – loyalty to my alma

M – mater, especially when they play

O – on

N – national

T – television during March Madness!

Go Bruins!

“Wordnesday” for Spring Cleaners!

annetteatwood — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:21:40 +0000

C – Clearing out

L – lots of

E – extra stuff in

A – an effort to focus on the

N – new!

O – Overriding

U – utter chaos in order

T – to simplify.

“Wordnesday” for Leap Day!

annetteatwood — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:48:04 +0000

In honor of all the folks who only get their birthday every four years, this one’s for you.

L – Let’s honor

E – everyone who

A – absolutely

P – positively

D – does not get their birthday every year.

A – At Show Offs, we’re celebrating

Y – YOU today!

Happy Birthday, leap year babies!

Every now and then, can a Mama just brag?

annetteatwood — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:57:03 +0000

I will selfishly take today and just brag…..My sweet 14 year old sang the National Anthem at the Vanderbilt/Alabama basketball game this past Sunday afternoon. Despite the fact that she said she considered throwing herself in front of a car so she didn’t have to do it (nerves were getting the best of her), she went out there as cool as a cucumber and let it fly! Cameras everywhere and not a sound in the whole gym, she did it. We are so proud of her and I really want to share it….so here it is!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKdxTApVDoE&feature=g-all-u&context=G2e16a52FAAAAAAAAAAA

Now available for birthday parties, Bar Mitzvahs, and office events….!!! Really, her favorite thing is singing in Mrs. Godfrey’s choir at her school.

Thanks for letting a mama brag.

Adoption at Warp Speed

annetteatwood — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 09:17:54 +0000

We’ve got a couple of friends who are adopting children, and because of circumstances and timing, both adoptions are progressing at the speed of light.

Shane and Heather are doing a domestic private adoption of a soon-to-be-born girl, “Hallie.”

Andy and Lesliana are adopting a two-year-old boy “Eli” from the Congo.

It is likely that both children will to their new homes in April.

We are so excited and love both of these families, and are encouraged by them both.

They both have significant financial challenges so it is great to see them trusting God and hustling like crazy at every turn to raise the needed funds. Both couples are confident that God will meet every need they have to increase their family, providing what they need to bring their child home.

As I thought through that today, and considered ways that our family and Show Offs Art could help them (more on that upcoming…) I realized that not only is God going to help them get what they need, God is also helping their child with what they need.

A family.

And just like the finances, He is doing it in a way that is not expected, but amazing.

I can’t wait to meet Miss Halllie and Mr. Eli.

Madison “hearts” her friends

annetteatwood — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:45:10 +0000

On Sunday afternoon, Madison hosted a Valentine’s party for some friends from school. The guest list included one sweet girl from her class, her special “Best Buddy”, several other “Buddies” from Best Buddies, and her sisters.

One of the toughest areas for Madison is in social interactions. She tends to be very shy and reserved and not want to participate in anything outside the house. We even joked with Holly, her special “Best Buddy,” that by getting Madison as her “Buddy” she would actually have gotten a “Dud Buddy” or a “Duddy.” Just because Madison may not want to be involved in all the different activities the group does.

The girls made yummy Valentine’s Cookies and played video games and Littlest Pet Shop. The sound of Madison belly laughing while they all played upstairs is the greatest sound in the world to me.

The two hours they spent Sunday afternoon was really an encouragement to me about the next few years of school. I really feel like Madison has a group of “typical” girls who love her and are interested in seeing her be as involved and successful as possible.

The gift these girls gave Madison, giving up a Sunday afternoon, was the best Valentine’s present ever.

(Though, Mr. Jeff Atwood, please feel free to drop a ten pound Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Heart on us if you really love us….)

From Farm House to Funky Town

annetteatwood — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:56:58 +0000

One of the great things about going to America’s Mart (link) market with Show Offs Art is the opportunity to browse through the rest of the four 18-story buildings with my sister who is a buyer for a store in AL. There are lots of (often) very cool and exciting things.

This year in Atlanta was no different.

I have had my eye on a kitchen table and some super cute barstools for the last couple of markets and this year made the move.

We have had the same big farm table in our kitchen at the AtwoodZoo for about 15 years. The soft pine wood table top bore the battle scars of a thousand dinners and the scribbles of a zillion worksheets. But it was time to send the old farm table out to pasture.

Because when you see a table like this you just have to make a change.

A few days ago the table, chairs, bar stools and a couple other assorted odds and ends made their way to the house on a 12-foot-pallet. As you can see from the pictures below, we transformed the kitchen from “Farm House to Funky Town” in the course of a few hours.

Isn’t it the most fun??

“Wordnesday” on “Fridnesday”….Super Bowl!

annetteatwood — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:51:47 +0000

Well, since I missed Wordnesday on Wednesday, we’ll go with “Fridnesday”! In honor of the ultimate game day….

S – Super Bowl Sunday,

U – unless your team is

P – playing, is just an

E – excuse to

R – round up

B – buddies to come

O – over

W – with

L – lots of snacks!

And, since my personal favorites, the Tennessee Titans, straddled the “SO average” fence this season, we’ll be having lots and lots of snacks!! How about you?