Happy Birthday!

My sweet baby sister is turning 11 years old today! I can vividly remember the night she was born and the days leading up to it. Mom went to the hospital on Saturday afternoon and was sent home because she wasn't far enough along. After six babies, she thought she knew that it was time, but Katie (and God) had other plans. Over 24 hours later, Katherine Suzanne Garcia was born and cuter, sweeter, funnier little girl has never existed. I may be a bit biased, but I am telling you, this chick is awesome.


Happy Birthday, lovie!

Love,
Deedah

Also-Happy Birthday to Sally VGB! Love you so much!

Because I miss him today...

Me, Rearcous, and Caroline
April 30th, 2003
"The Odd Couple"

"We are close."

Rearcous Smith was a man among men. A killer smile, the voice of an angel, a talking voice that I could listen to for hours, a loving heart, a kind word for everyone (to their face and behind their back), and a way of saying "Baby" that could make my heart melt, Rearcous was just special. Plain and simple.

Several summers ago, I was interning at the Springer and I was the personal intern for Ron Anderson's son, Max, who has autism. At the time, Max was really struggling, although he is doing really well now. Anyway, Max was having a particularly hard time in Rearcous' Musical Theater class and everyday it seemed like there was something else. Rearcous' heart hurt for Max and I remember one specific day that we both just sat and cried together. The following days were much better as we worked together to make Rea's class the best possible experience for Max.

Another example of Rearcous' sweet heart was when we were both cast in "Suessical, The Musical." A heavy dance show, I have no idea what possessed Paul Pierce to cast me, but he did. Rearcous worked with me before and after rehearsal to make sure that I was ready for opening. And I was...for the most part.

Rearcous was a talented teacher, a triple threat in the world of theater, one of the kindest people I have ever met, and a very dear friend. I love him and I am going to miss those hugs and "Heeeeyyy, Baby!" mixed with that infectious laughter.

"Today will be a wonderful day because I have made a positive change in my life. I've made a choice to be all I can, because I know things will work out right if I have faith. I can do anything if I try. I know that I can, I know that I will. Today!"

69 days

It took me 69 days to realize that there wasn't going to be a call.
69 days feeling like I was going to fall.
Crying and trying not to cry.
Wondering and really knowing.
And has taken me 17 months (and counting) to regain all of my confidence.
17 months to know that it was for the better.
17 months of searching.
But it only took me about 69 seconds to realize that I was better off.
69 seconds to know that it's not too much.
It took me 69 seconds to realize that saying hello would have taken all of .69 seconds and I wasn't going to hear it.
69 seconds to know that not hearing "Hello" was just one more step towards regaining that confidence.

"...and you learn that love doesn't mean possession and company doesn't mean security...and you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes ahead, with the grace of an adult, not the grief of a child. And you learn to build your roads today because tomorrows ground is too uncertain for plans and futures have ways of falling down in mid-flight... And you learn that you really can endure, that you really are strong, and you really do have worth ,and you learn, and you learn..."-Veronica A. Shoffstall

Favorite Moments of 2008

This year has been full of surprises. I have been one busy chickie and due to the busy-ness, the Christmas letter that I wrote turned into a New Year's letter. It's pretty great recap of my year, so I thought that I would include it along with some of my favorite memories and moments from 2008.

As an independent member of society, I decided it might be nice to send out a New Year's letter of my own and let folks know what was going on in my life. (Truthfully, I was going to send a Christmas letter and time just got away from me. Oops. This may serve as more of a reminder that I am growing up than asking for a can opener and a tea kettle for Christmas. Yes, I really did.)

I am a junior at Columbus State University here in Columbus, Georgia. I am majoring in Journalism and Photography. After changing my major about six times (and no, that is not an exaggeration), I have finally made up my mind. I have a lot of passion for both writing and photography. After I get my undergraduate, I would like to get my masters. Whether it will be in Journalism or Photography, I am not sure yet.

I moved out of Mom and Dad's house at the end of August of 2007. I am living in an apartment complex approximately twenty minutes away from Upatoi (where Mom and Dad live). I am about five minutes from Campus and ten minutes from work. It is so nice! I live with two other girls, Jessica and Genine. They are fantastic and we get along well. We each have our own rooms and bathrooms, so there is no lack of personal space. I have a sweet dog named Surls. He is a yellow lab who was abandoned in the park. He lives with Mom and Dad right because he is so big, but he is my little buddy. Although he can be a handful at times, I am glad that God threw him my way.

I am working at the Springer Opera House as the Education Assistant. My job duties include preparing study guides for the schools coming to see our productions, conducting workshops in the schools, teaching and assisting in the classes that our theater provides, and pretty much anything else my boss tells me to do. It also includes being cast in shows if they need me. I was cast as Piglet in Winnie the Pooh and the bride in Father of the Bride earlier this season. It's a great job and one that I love going to everyday.

Travel has become a favorite hobby. At the end of this summer, I took a trip to D.C. to see friends and wander the city. I went last year for fall break with Mom and Caroline, but loved it so much that I decided to go again, this time alone. I was able to stand on the south lawn of the White House and watch Marine One land with the President, First Lady, and Press Secretary all on board. What a treat!

God has really been working in my life in the past year and I have never been happier in Him. He has blessed me beyond what I ever could have imagined! I am a Yong Life leader at Shaw High School here in Columbus. For those of you who don't know what YL is, we reach out to high school students and share Jesus Christ with them. My kids are a huge part of my life. I am in daily awe of God's love, grace, and mercy in my life. I am learning how to thank Him for the good, as well as the not so good in my life, realizing fully that He has “plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give (me) a future and a hope...” (Jeremiah 29:11)

That is my life up to speed. I am very busy and extremely happy. Life has thrown me some curve balls in the past year, but I am fully content with the life that God has blessed me with. What an awesome God we serve!

• Snow day '08. This day is not only one of my favorites from the year, but it ranks in my top five favorite days of all time. Mom took me, Katie, and Ben to find the snow when it hit Georgia in early January of this year. It was a great day with family and one that I will treasure always.
• 
• Sharptop Cove. Experiencing this great Young Life camp with new friends and old friends and getting the best and most surprising surprise I have ever received, makes this early February weekend a weekend that I will never forget. Jesus spoke to my heart in a totally new and inspiring way. It was that weekend that I knew "I was made for this."
• My first Club at Shaw Highschool. Matt and Rich made me pretend that I was the pizza girl that just happened to fall in love with Young Life and become a leader. There are still kids who are confused by this. Hehe.
• My summer trip to the Garvin home. Amanda was preaching at Cannon UMC and I was invited to come and spend the weekend. It was a great weekend of swimming, shopping, and fellowship with one of my favorite families.
• Springer Theater Academy. I was only involved for one week, but it was a great week. My summer was far too memorable in a not so great way and it was a nice ending to a not so nice summer.
• Washington, D.C. The last week of July, I went to D.C. to see some friends. It was a wonderful opportunity to get some much needed alone time and experience the big city alone. I was (and am) very proud of myself and not using a map, concealing my camera, and crossing the street before the light told me to. I prided myself in being a non-tourist.
• Country's Midnight Run. After hurting my knee and not being able to run all summer, I was able to run two of the three miles of the Country's 5k at the end of August. I finished in 35 minutes, which I was pretty proud of considering the fact that I had not run in a couple of months.
• The Vander-Baker nuptials. Two of my dearest friends were joined in holy matrimony in early September. It was one of the most fun weekends. Lots of friends, old and new. And tons of good food, good music, and genuine joy and excitement for two fabulous people.
• My job. That morning that I had coffee with Mr. Ron and later got my current job at the Springer Opera House was a very exciting moment for me. I am finally in a job that I love, in a building that I love, with people I love and who love me. Yay!
• Father of the Bride. Mr. Ron casting me as the bride in FOB was a neat part of my year. It was the only role that I really wanted this season and being given the opportunity to do something that I love so much was really an honor.
• Thanksgiving. It sounds so silly, but I have never been as excited as I was this year about my favorite holiday. Thanksgiving is so special to me, but having all of my friends home this year made the holiday that much more exciting. I am truly blessed to have friends like mine.

This list seems short to me and I know that there are other moments that have slipped my mind. I am thinking of them right now. Joining my church was a huge deal. Going to the beach with Caroline and Liz was a joy and a blessing. Lucy being home this summer and driving the Mustang everywhere. And getting my dog, Surls, was one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I am blessed beyond compare and there are no words adequate enough to express my joy and contentment in the life that my Savior has given me. He is worthy to be praised and mighty in His works.

Children's Books

My co-worker, Kern, asked me a little while ago about my favorite children's books. I had to think about that for a minute. I have read a lot of children's books and I do have favorites, but they are pretty classic and not exactly what she was looking for.

My Grandmother used to read "Goodnight Moon" to me when I was little. I really love this one.


Curious George is another favorite. I don't know what it is about that little monkey that gets me so much, but he sure does get me. Ben Garcia has this little face that he makes that looks just like Curious George. So cute.

I am also a HUGE fan of anything by Beatrix Potter. Hunka-Munka was a personal favorite of mine, as well as my siblings. It was really just too much fun to say Hunka-Munka.

Also, a new favorite is Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. I first heard of this when the Springer did the stage production two summers ago.


Another one that I fell in love with, although I was already in love with this one and I was just re-introduced to this one, is "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" series. The Springer did "If you Give a Pig a Party" this past summer and it was just too cute!

Just a small reading list for the younger readers. SJC, take note, ok?

9/11

"I hate math." Ah, the typical Theresa phrase even in 2001. A sunny, cool morning in September, the Garcia house was relatively calm as school work was under way. Mom had gone to take a shower and I was laying on her bed bemoaning the fact that I had to do math again today. The phone rang and I jumped up to answer it. Anything to take me away from the task at hand was more than welcome. My grandmother was on the other end, frantically telling me to turn the television on. "A plane just flew into the World Trade Center! They think it is a terrorist attack!" she cried. I ran into the bathroom and my words were all jumbled as I tried to tell Mama the news. She told me to run and turn the T.V. on.

As we sat watching FOX News, the second plane hit the other tower. We all cried out in horror as it began to sink in the atrocities that were occurring before our very eyes. It was only a little while later that the pentagon was hit and it was then that Mom began getting us ready to go into town. My parents live one mile from the back entrance to Ft. Benning, the largest military training facility in the world. I understood my mother's concern as we loaded up and headed to my grandparents house. It was on the way there that we heard on the radio the fate of Flight 93 in that Pennsylvania field. Tears streamed down my mothers face as the death toll rose that day.

We stopped at a gas station on our way to Grammy and Granddaddy's house. The Ledger Enquirer, our local newspaper, had put out the first extra in years and Mom grabbed a few copies. We were dropped off at Grammy and Granddaddy's and were none to happy about being left. Something about the intensity of the day, even as a thirteen year old, made me want to cling closely to my mother.

I don't remember a lot of the afternoon details. The news was on all day. Grammy tried to get us to watch something else, but we were adamant, as was Granddaddy, that FOX stay on all day. After calling my mother, she came and got me and we spent the rest of the day together. Dinner was eaten as a family and we watched together as George W. Bush addressed our nation. I couldn't watch the whole speech and went to my room, tears streaming down my face as I thought about all the people whose loved ones would not be coming home that night.

The next few weeks were spent volunteering for the Red Cross and other organizations. I wanted to do something more and when I heard about a need that the firefighters had, I knew what I wanted to do. Reports were coming in that firefighters were battling foot fungus and were having to change their socks every couple of hours. So, we started collecting socks. Hundreds of donations poured in from around the city. A truck driver from church was headed to New York in the next week or so and offered to put the box in the cab with him and hand deliver our gift. It was with much excitement and gratitude that we loaded the boxes onto the truck and sent Mr. Henson on his way. The next week at church, I received pictures and iron on patch from a NYC fire department. I was completely thrilled to see the firemen who benefited from Columbus' gift.

September 11, 2001 is one of those days that you never forget. As a citizen of the United States of America, it affected each of us. My mom can tell you where she was when The Challenger blew up. My dad can tell you what he was doing when Kennedy was assassinated. My grandparents could tell you where they were when Pearl Harbor was bombed, on V Day, and the day troops came home from Vietnam. I can tell you where I was on September 11th, 2001.

It was a normal, cool September morning...

It's not too much

After nine months, I can listen to Carla Bruni, some of The Decemberists, and the Garden State soundtrack. I don't watch Jeopardy, but that is more because I am not home when it comes on. Not playing golf is more of a time issue and going to Atlanta is something that I do pretty regularly. There's a little black dress that I moved to front of my closet and a sweatshirt that I wore just the other day. Writing out the story, like I swore I would, is a slow process, but is coming along nicely. I eat at Speakeasy and I drive by HHS on my way to work. The Market is one of my favorite places to eat and I go to the Riverwalk to shoot photographs or write. I still love my college football, basketball, and baseball teams and will cheer for the Yellow Jackets forever.

For the first time in my life, I am ok with not knowing what is going to happen next. I know that the future holds some good and not-so-good moments and I am ready to embrace both with passion, gusto, and fearlessness. I know that these moments will help me to grow and I know that "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." I am confident in His love, grace, and mercy in my life. I am beautiful in His eyes. I am worth something because of Him. I am confident not in myself or because of something that I have done, but because He commands me to live a life free of fear, not to be timid, and to be joyful in all things. This is His will for my life. My faith is so weak and He uses times like these to show me that He has had it all planned out the whole time.

I'm just fine. Even when it seems like too much, even when I want to cry, even when I am reminded, I am just fine.

"...and you learn that love doesn't mean possession and company doesn't mean security...and you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes ahead, with the grace of an adult, not the grief of a child. And you learn to build your roads today because tomorrows ground is too uncertain for plans and futures have ways of falling down in mid-flight... And you learn that you really can endure, that you really are strong, and you really do have worth ,and you learn, and you learn..."-Veronica A. Shoffstall

The Women

I am going to be completely honest. I have been racking my brain thinking about the next thing to write about. I think that this is a good a time as any to write about the fabulous women in my life who have impacted me above what I will be able to adequately express through words.

Let's start at the very beginning (a very good place to start).

• My Mother. Obviously, I wouldn't be here if it weren't for this lady. The older I get, the more clearly I see that I am very similar to my mother. We have talked about this and I feel like we have communicated, quite effectively, what we consider the attractive and not so attractive parts of our personalities. How blessed I am to have a mother that loves me enough to be honest with me and work to help mold me, as well as herself, into the woman that we both long to be.
  
• My Mother's Mother. Grammy most definitely had her flaws, but she was a fabulous woman of God. Other than teaching me all the little sayings that I love to use so much, she taught me to pray without ceasing. Anytime, anywhere, for any reason. Because of her, I have, what I think is an incredible, habit of praying to find a parking spaces, to find a book in the library, to make an A of a test, and everything else in my life. In moments of weakness, she told me to get on my knees and pray. And I do. God truly blessed me once again.
• My Dad's Step-Mom. If I have one strong woman in my life, I have a million, but Grandma is most definitely in the running for number one. She married my Grandfather when my dad was 14 years old. My dad is the youngest of nine boys, and no one was thrilled with the fact that Papaw had remarried. She endured many years of rejection and not so wonderful treatment. She was the only Grandmother that I knew on my dad's side and of course, to us kids, she was just Grandma. To her, it was much more than that. To be loved and adored in a role that she wanted so badly to play meant everything to her. I was named for her and she treasured that gesture from my parents. She was ever cheerful, ever loving, and always gave of her time, talents, and wisdom.
  
• My Dad's "Foster" Mother. Long story that I will tell later, but suffice it to say that Grandma Jo is my Grandmother and I love her dearly. She is classy, well-rounded, well traveled, and full of wisdom. Our conversations are always informative and fun. I absolutely adore her and I know that she has had great influence over my long term goals, as well as my career choices.
• Ben's mother. Mama Lou was an intricate part of my life for over three years. She was there when she didn't have to be. She is one of the strongest women I know and I admire her very much.
  
• Alison Ross. What a lady! Her faith is something that I aspire to have, her sweet spirit is precious, and her love and grace are beautiful to experience. I love and respect her as a friend, a mentor, and another mother.
  
• Sally Vander Ghyenst. This lady is one of my dearest friends. If I grow into half the student, performer, business woman, and person that Sally VG (who is 10 days away from becoming Mrs. Brad Baker), I will be one heck of a lady.
  

I know there are more fantastic women in my life, but these are some of the ones that I felt compelled to write about at the moment. For those of you who read on a regular basis, I am sure you will be reading about more of the women in my life. I consider these women essential to who I am today.