From Time To Eternity

Peeps, I come to you today with a favor in my pocket. There is something that the Chicken Wing Family needs from you on this hot Tuesday in June. All I ask is this, please:

Early this morning, after a fairly long and difficult struggle with Alzheimer's and lung cancer, my darling Papa Chicken Wing went to be with the Lord in Heaven. While my heart is aching, my mind is cursing the month of June, and my eyes are crying, my soul is rejoicing because Papa's suffering is finally over.

It is going to take some time to figure out how our family works without him, and that is painful, but I am so happy for him in that he is in the best place of all! He spent his whole life giving to others and helping others. He worked at the local funeral home for more than 25 years - he worked there for my whole life so far! Every day, he helped people in their darkest hours as they laid to rest those that they loved so much. He has been a quiet and gentle beacon of our small community for a long time - I loved seeing him run into people because they would always light up when they saw him.

It's ironic that his colleagues will now have to assist us in his final departure, but it was bound to happen. You know what they say about life - nobody makes it out alive. I have no regrets, as I was able to spend quite a while last night with him. I was there helping Grandma out from about 6:30pm - 12:30am, and it felt a little like he waited for me. Maybe that's not true, but it's what will help me through this. While I wasn't there as he actually passed on, Momma Chicken Wing said that he went very peacefully, and while we are heartbroken that he is no longer with us, we are just so happy that he doesn't have to labor anymore.

It had gotten quite difficult for him, and it was hard to adjust to seeing him in such a fragile state. Don't get me wrong - Papa was never a large man; quite the opposite, actually. But recently, he became frail. It was hard to see him get so frustrated because he just couldn't do the things he was used to doing. I think the most important thing is that he knows he was loved, loved, loved. All he wanted was to be at home and to have his pain managed, and I think we accomplished both of those things. It was such a gift to us to be able to grant him his last wishes. I hope his journey to eternal life was an easy one, and that he felt as peaceful as he seemed to be.

This is a part of life that I haven't had to do yet. I've been so blessed to be able to have all four of my grandparents for all my life. I did things a little backwards, as I've gone through losing my daddy, which was one of the hardest things in the world and one of the defining factors in who I am today. Papa was one of the ones who were left to help take care of us after that, and I am grateful for all he did for me.

He was kind, gentle, and easy-going. Growing up, my little legs could always keep up with him because he took slow strides. I will never forget the ONE time he raised his voice at my siblings and me - we were being bad, and Grandma had repeatedly fussed at us, and then all of a sudden Papa said in his "meanest, most serious" voice, "Y'all better stop it or I'm going to get involved!" Seriously, that's as "mean" as he ever got. And you know what? All three of us cried because we had upset him. Grandma would pick at him, because that's the relationship they had for more than 50 years. He would never raise his voice back, but he would wait until she went down the hallway and then make a face or a smart remark behind her back. It would always make us laugh. That's just the way he was, and I will always remember and love him for that.

So please pray for us, and for him, and lift us up in this time of need. Your support will be felt, I promise, and it will be oh so appreciated. The power of prayer is so strong, and so far-reaching. Thank you for everything - you guys are the best!

"For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity." - William Penn

Until next time
Miss Chicken Wing

One Year Later...

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It was one year ago today that the world lost one of the greatest entertainers of all time. As my personal favorite artist, Michael Jackson has filled my life with music, dancing, singing, and pure joy. There will never be an entertainer who will possess the same magic as this man.

Michael, you will be forever missed. May you always rest in eternal peace.

Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing

VERY IMPORTANT PSA!!!

ATTENTION ALL READERS WHO HAVE ACCESS TO ONE OF THE ITEMS LISTED BELOW:

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INVITE ME OVER, PLEASE.

SERIOUSLY, IT'S 94 DEGREES OUTSIDE!

I LOOK LIKE A CAST MEMBER OF TWILIGHT.

I mean, pale can be hot, but come on!

YOU DON'T WANT ME TO SEVERELY BURN ON VACATION DO YOU?

TIME IS RUNNING OUT!

PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL A CHICKEN WING, WHY DON'T YOU?

THIS HAS BEEN A VERY IMPORTANT PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT.

Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing

Chicken Wing Movie Review: Once

This Chicken Wing Review will be an atypical one, because although I saw and liked the movie 'Once,' I am more excited about the soundtrack!

The movie was entertaining enough. 'Once' is the story about a guy and a girl who happen to love music and try their hands at writing and composing individually and then discover what beautiful music they can make together. It's shot documentary style, and there are tons of awkward silences and weird pauses, but that's what's endearing about it. You watch the film and think that it's the little movie that could.

While the acting wasn't my favorite, the songs are fantastic. Glen Hansard (who plays the guy) and Marketa Irglova (who plays the girl) complement each other so well. I would say that Glen's vocals are the standout, but Marketa has the most haunting tone to her voice. To see either of them, you would fail to see the immense talent that each possesses, but luckily for you, you have me! I will share some of their incredible songs with you, and you can thank me later!

Here we go! As always, I own absolutely nothing you are about to hear. I am simply a lover of movies and music, and I want to share my love with all of you.

First up is 'Lies.' The lyrics, vocals, and music are painfully beautiful.


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I love this next one, too, called "When Your Mind's Made Up." This one I think anyone could relate to when dealing with someone who is so stubborn but you happen to love them anyway.


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This one allows Marketa to shine. It's called "If You Want Me," and I just adore the tone of her voice. It's so sweet, and definitely unexpected.


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And, the last one I will leave you with is the song that earned these two an Academy Award. It's gorgeous, and I love the lyrics. Their voices intertwine with each other so well on this track, called "Falling Slowly." It's the theme song for the movie, and I hope you love it too.


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So there you have it! Get out there and buy that soundtrack! You will love it, and will be performing your own Grammy-winning renditions in your car! :)

Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing

The Only Thing That's Constant Is Change, Part II

For Part I, go here.

Well, Peeps - this is it. This post is the follow-up to the post I wrote here. I would have to again reiterate just how blessed I feel to call each and every reader of this blog a friend, even if we've never met before. The love and support that I've received in recent times is more than I deserve, and when I count my blessings, each of you are on my list.

Without further delay, here we go. There are three things in life I know for sure.

{One - I am one of the most blessed individuals on the planet.}

No matter what negativity takes place in my life, I know that there are people who would kill to take a stroll in my peep-toe shoes, and I do not take that for granted. I have been blessed as can be in regards to occupation, and I spend my days being fulfilled knowing that I helped someone in some way. I am drowning in love from my friends and family, and the submersion feels amazing. It's astounding to me how one little comment on facebook or my blog, in my email inbox or as a text/voice mail on my phone can lift my spirits so much that I feel like I can do anything I want to do. That is something I will never forget for the rest of my life.

{Two - The only thing that's constant is change.}

You might have read in my post here that I was very excited about a lot of things that were going on that weekend. One of the things I was excited about was that Mr. Chicken Wing was coming back to town for a visit.

I knew that we had events to go to and friends to see. I knew that the distance had been hard on our relationship. I knew that he had a hard time focusing when he was surrounded by lots of other things. I didn't know just how different things would become in an instant.

I will not go into details because they are personal. The bottom line is this: Mr. Chicken Wing and I are no longer together. We had some intense discussions regarding our six-year union, and at the end of the day decided we each needed more than what was presently there; he needed more time and energy to devote to getting himself and his life to where he wanted to be, and I needed someone who wants the same things out of life that I do. Nothing more, nothing less.

While initially, I was very upset because I had no time to prepare for the discussion, after a lot of retrospective thought and prayer, I realized that this move was in the best interest of each of us. I feel extensive relief in regards to the fact that I finally have a resolution, and I feel proud that I have been intelligent enough not to lose myself in a relationship. I wasn't left with nothing when this relationship ended. I was left with everything except a boyfriend, and that's not a bad place to be.

Contrary to popular assumption before speaking with me, I am not at all bitter, angry, or jilted. I have absolutely no regrets, because my relationship with him was a vehicle that transported me from a simple college student to the woman I am today. I learned invaluable lessons about relationships and about myself. I am left with a lot of fun memories, and a ton of hope for the future - my outlook on life is sunny. I also hope that each of us gets what we want out of life - that would be the ultimate win!

So, while life has presented a path that I hadn't really given much consideration to, I am currently walking down the new path as confident as ever. I am on the journey to who I want to be and what I want in life, and it feels amazing! I can now use this experience to further allow me to be there for others, which is an added bonus in itself. So, bottom line: This girl is going to be okay! I just wanted to take the time to share this life change with my Peeps, because this blog is an honest account of my life, thoughts, and experiences, and as I said before...the only thing that's constant is change.

{Three - Change is not necessarily a bad thing.}

Every day I learn more and more that change should not be feared, but embraced. It will always be there, and sometimes happens when you least expect it. While sometimes change is bad (you lose a loved one, your job, you have to move or put your life back together), I believe that everything is okay in the end. If it's not okay now, then it's not the end. Change teaches us adaptability, and that is a survival skill necessary to practice. I used to fear change, but I am learning to accept that things change, and people change, and situations change - there are only so many things I can control, and that's okay. I have enough on my plate. I'm perfectly content letting God handle the rest. :)

These three things I know for sure, and I am so glad I could share them with you.

Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing

A Happy Birthday Post!

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday LITTLE SISTER CHICKEN WING,

Happy Birthday to youuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!

I always love the story that Momma Chicken Wing tells people about when she was carrying you. Being the first-born, I was always quite opinionated (and spoiled, but that's another story for another day). When she told people she was expecting another baby, everyone thought that you would be a boy. I adamantly disagreed, saying, "No, that's my sister." And so it was that you were, in fact, my sister. (I also happened to call that my brother was my brother, when everyone thought Mom would have three girls, but again, I digress).

From the day you were born, I wanted to be the best big sister ever, and I had as hard of a time watching you grow up as Mom did. When you got to high school, I wanted to protect you from all the bad things that high school can bring about. When you started dating, I was the person those boys had to fear most. You know as well as I do how a few of those situations turned out - not some of my finer moments.

We have some of the worst fights in the world, and there are times when I honestly don't see how we both survived all these years. But no matter how crazy you drive me, you will always be my little sister. I will always be in your corner, fighting for you more than I ever will be against you. I am so proud of the person you've become, and I've long looked forward to seeing the adults the three Wing-kids would become. So far, I think we've turned out alright. :) So here's to you, Little Sister Chicken Wing, on your twenty-third birthday! I love you so much, and I am proud to call you my sister, my roommate, and my friend!

The Wing Fam at a UNC game!

Little Sister Chicken Wing & her boo!

Keeping up with the Wingashians!

Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing

Relevant Quote

The folks over at Real Simple magazine have done it again! As I opened my inbox this morning, I saw this "Daily Thought," and it resonated so much with me that it made me tear up a little bit.

Obviously, when I find these bits of goodness, I love to share them with my Peeps, so here you go.

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts."
-Winston Churchill

While I'm not ready to go into specifics just yet, I will divulge that I have had some major changes in my life in the past few days. I appreciate the respect of privacy of some, as well as the support of others. I have learned this for sure: My peeps are the best. Period.

So, to all of you out there - I hope you are having a good week. If you're not having a good week, or even a good day, take comfort in the fact that God is there. He really reached out to me this week, and I was so receptive and appreciative of that. I hope the same can be true for you. If you're not religious, turn to those you can lean on and revel in the love and support you receive.

Posting might be a bit light for a little while, as I've honestly just got to take care of me right now. I really appreciate each and every one of you, and your support and encouragement will surely be helpful as the Chicken Wing tries flying again!

Thanks for being the wind beneath my wings!

Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing

What My Weekend Has In Store For Me

So, I am excited about this weekend for numerous reasons, but I figure I'll let you in on a few of them.

1.  Tomorrow, I am co-hosting a baby shower with my friend AW!!!  One of my best girlfriends in the world, K, is having her first baby!!!  And, it's a boy!  So, we are throwing an epic baby shower for her to celebrate the impending bundle of joy!  I think it's going to be a blast and we've been busy planning this for months now!  I love it when an event comes to fruition!  During this time, I got to flex my crafting muscles as well, and I can't wait to share some of the easy and super fun projects that I got to work on!

Me and AW - we were just as hands-on with planning this baby shower...what can I say?  You definitely want to have us as your friends!

 K and me!  K will from this day on be known as Mama K!

2.  Not only do I get to participate in Baby Fest 2010, but I also get to reunite with another group of friends as we say "goodbye for now" to our good friend, D, who is leaving for basic training in the military soon.  It will be sad to see him depart for awhile, but it will be awesome getting to see everyone again and having some hang-out time!

Here's a little FaceinHole action featuring from L-R, Front:  D, his wife S, me, and Mama K.  L-R, Back:  Mr. CW and Mama K's husband L. 

3.  I get to see this guy for the first time in 5 weeks:

So, obviously, I am very excited about that!  I know our three furbabies are going to be so excited that their Daddy is home!  We're still getting used to this semi-long distance stuff, and I am really happy to have our fella return, even if it's just for a weekend!

So, I hope you all have a fantastic couple of days, and I can't wait for the Baby Shower Recap!  Happy Friday, everyone!

Until next time,

Miss Chicken Wing

What Memorial Day Is Really About

When you continually work really hard on whatever you're doing - whether it's your job, your family, your education, your hobbies, etc. - it's easy to think of holidays as the necessary breaks that you need to recharge your batteries.

While I believe that can also be true, it's important to remember the meaning and purpose of each holiday, as they have real significance.  Memorial Day is one of those holidays that some brush over because they are in desperate need of a three-day weekend.  It's a holiday that falls before most of us have our scheduled summer vacations, and it falls during a time of the year that is very busy for most.  But it's not just a three-day weekend.  It's so much more than that.

I received this picture in an inspirational email;  you know the kind - they have a message and they want you to keep sending the message on.  "Let's make sure this email gets around the world three times," they command.  Sometimes, they try to coerce you by threatening bad luck upon those who press 'delete' instead of 'send.'  Sometimes, though, the message really is good enough that you genuinely want to send it on with the hope that it will touch someone else the way it touched you.

Because this came from an email, I don't know who to source it to, but I definitely cannot claim ownership of it.  I wanted to share it with my Peeps because I think it drives home what Memorial Day is all about - the people who fought for the things we have.

I will give my weekend recap soon, and I hope you all enjoyed the holiday weekend.  I also hope you all took some time to remember why we have the holiday in the first place.  My thought is this:  If you won't stand behind the men and women who serve our country, feel free to stand in front of them.  I am so grateful for their many unselfish sacrifices, as they have provided us with the freedoms and liberties that we enjoy today.

God bless all the men and women who have served, are currently serving, and those who will serve our country!  I am so proud to live in the country they protect every day.

Until next time,

Miss Chicken Wing