One of the twins had to have a twirly whirly skirt. I guess twirly whirly skirts are alll the rage if you are nine and Hannah Montana is your fashion icon.
I saw her outside one day.
Arms lifted to the sky.
Blonde hair floating in the wind.
With a smile on her face.
And her twirly whirly skirt was whirling. Whirling ike it could whirl until today turned into tomorrow.
And my heart skipped a beat and filled with overflowing emotion and awe.
Awe.
Awe at the joy and the abandon with which she twirled.
I wanted to pause that moment in time. You see, time is so fleeting and the years rush by faster and faster than a twirly whirly skirt could ever twirl. And one day in the not so distant future, that skirt will become a distant memory.
So I wanted to imprint that twirly whirly skirt on my heart forever.
For the storms ahead.
For the teenage years.
For the challenges and difficulties that life sometimes puts in our path.
I want to tell those twirly whirly skirted girls….when faced with the mountains and valleys of life….
…..I hope you dance.
Recently a fellow blogger who knew how much I love it, sent me this book.
Signed by the author.
Amazing.
That she knew I needed it. That she knew my heart needed it.
Thank you, Shirley.
And the twins twirly whirly skirts thank you, too.
Ah, I remember those days. I loved my twirly whirly skirts, and oh how I love twirling until I was dizzy. I am so glad you shared this picture of bliss with us. It has touched my heart, too, and you are so correct that it will be one of your most treasured forever memories. Go give those twirly girls a big hug.♥
Finally finding ways to dance...even if it's with the imaginary Oompa Loompas...and to pass that to my children is all that I want and intend to do...
Your girls are so pretty and I see they look like you. So glad to see the face behind the blogger. That song is one of my favorites.
A beautiful post, a beautiful story, and such a beautiful blogger friend to send you the book :-) Enjoy many more twirly skirt moments with your girls!
Just saw this..will comment later..out of the house!...Thanks karianne
This is so great KariAnne! I absolutely love that song...we played it at my grandfather's funeral and I've given the cd as a gift often. So glad you've captured the twirly whirly skirt moment...to look back on fondly forever. Here's to capturing the moments! Karah
What a sweet post! your girls are the spitting image of you. This doesn't actually sound like a nice thing to say, but it was the first thing that came to my mind. So I Googled it and it means the "spirit and image" which IS a nice thing to say. No doubt someone in Jolly Olde England couldn't pronounce this saying properly and that's the way it came out and was passed down. PS Not intended to offend any Brits, of course! I'm half British myself, my mother is from the Midlands... Sheesh, I feel like I'm writing a blog post. Karianne, your posts do this to me every time!!!!!!!!! Love you to bits! xox
ok. it's not enough that because of you, my husband may (may) find his birth family because you post on your blog daily and I read it and then comment and then you liked me for some strange reason and then I liked you for a zillion reasons, not to mention that you cared and had a picture taken and then you painted your floors, well, not in that order, but order does NOT count EVER between friends when a story like this one is being told and then you leave your beautiful pillow in all its rightful glory and dignified state while deciding that FB may be a place for me to have more friends, not that that was your immediate or direct intention but now my gmail account has indigestion and I may have to blog more (may) and then you go and write about twirling skirts and hoping to dance and I melt into a pool of molten lava mother love on the floor right here in my dining room. I love you.
excuse me while i wipe the tears away...enjoy the twirly whirly moments of life!!!! : ) (hugs)
Your posts are so inspiring, you have a way with words! It is the little things that matter most :)
Karianne, I love your post today! It touches my soul. I too love those song lyrics. Enjoy watching your sweet twins and don't forget to dance. Joyous Wishes, Linda
They do grow up soo fast, my son is almost 20 and it soo hard not to want to squeeze that little boy, sit him on my lap and read stories to him! I miss that little boy!! I'm so thankful for all of the memories and i guess someday he'll have children of his own, and ill be able to squeeze them!!
You have beautiful girls, and beautiful thoughts, and a beautiful spirit... and this was a beautiful post. Loved reading it. Thanks for sharing. :)
Oh my, this brings back such found memories! I would twirl until I fell down with dizziness! Every little girl's favorite thing, I think! What carefree days. Too bad we don't stop for a good skirt twirl as adults! Lovely post, Karianne! xo-Lisa
I cried reading that. The time is too short and it goes by way to fast. I love seeing your picture on the blog too:)
I feel like I just discovered that Bat Man is Bruce Wayne - finally able to put a face to that southern drawl! Your girls are you! I feel you on this - I only have my twins and see how fleeting time it. I told my hubs that time didn't fly until we had them! If there's one thing I want to give my girls - it's wings to try whatever they love. I want them to dance (but non of that bad Hammer Time stuff) ... you know what I mean! Kelly
Your daughters are just beautiful! I love that song too. I'm in the throws of teenage hood with my 18 yr old and then I look at my 10 yr old and realize that he will soon be there himself. I almost have amnesia to where all the years went with my first son and now feel a stronger need to hang on a little tighter to my 10 yr old. Once they get a car and start driving, you NEVER feel like they're home anymore! It is definitely fleeting. That is no lie! Glad that you're realizing it before they get too old.
I think about all the dancing you have done since you danced on my heart not so long ago in Lancaster, Pa. Thank goodness you haven't given up dancing and even more importantly have passed on this delightful talent to some very special young ladies who danced on your heart in Dallas, Texas. Also, remember that there are other people today who need you to dance in their lives. Twirl away - you are beautiful.
TIme passes so quickly when they are children. I am glad you are enjoying the twirly wirly skirts and savoring the moments. Your girls are beautiful. Laura
That is such a beautiful post! Your girls are beautiful! I have a twin brother but we never looked like we liked eachother that much at that age! Even in pictures haha! Thanks for stopping by! I'm happy to be on your journey as well! well
I made three layered twirly skirts for the grand-girls and some for my online shop. They were hard getting those layers right!!!! :) I had to have a physical today....for prescription renewals. One of the questions the doc asked was do I exercise? Why yes, I try very hard. Just a walk to the mailbox and back is over a mile. And as an afterthought I added: "And I dance when no one is watching". I heard her giggling all the way down the hall as she left. xoxo Fabulous post today kariAnn and beautiful girls!!!
i love seeing your smiling face up there and i love twirly whirly skirts. and it won't be forgotten now that you've written it down.
Oh how i miss my daughter's twirly whirly skirt days!! What a gift that you witnessed that moment and yes, it will fuel you for the stormy times that will inevitably come. :) Thanks for sharing your joy (and your smiling face!)... xo Heidi
Awwww. Loved this post ❈ The girls are like little mini-yous! A house full of of gorgeous girls - and girly stuff - and girly giggles. Your husband must love it (getting to see the you in them). ❈
They are precious and beautiful! So glad you are savoring the moments. I miss those days with my girl. She's 21 and still likes to wear the twirly skirts though! Come check out my giveaway!
I accessed my emails while out this morning spending some time with a dear friend..I saw your post on the book I sent you.. I have to give credit to my dear, dear friend for making this possible. I cannot tell you how beautifully you incorporated your story of your hopes and dreams for your girls and the book...Your "twirly whirly girls" are a product of your beautiful soul...They will now and forever more "dance" because you gave them the encouragement and opportunity "to dance"... This song is my forever favorite, as yours, and I am so happy that Mark D. Sanders and Tia Sillers have the talent and inspiration to write a song that will remain in our hearts forever...
Oh yay!! There's your gorgeous face up at the top! :-) It literally makes my heart ache when I think about how fast it is all going. My daughter just loves to twirl and that song so perfectly captures our dreams for our kiddos. Your daughters are absolutely beautiful and obviously take after their mama! Vanessa
Your twin girls are so pretty, and they still look so sweet. I hope they stay sweet. And I hope they still enjoy twirling for a long, long time. I have an eight year old grand-daughter, they are so smart and so innocent at that precious age. Hugs, cindy
The mention of twirly whirly skirts brings up memories of a young Jo-Anne dancing around the house in twirly whirly skirts, yes I loved to wear them and I hope that your girls have such great memories of dancing in twirly whirly skirts when they are my age..........
sniff sniff... I really loved today's post, I love the pics of you and your girls, the twirly skirts, and the song. Thanks for reminding me of the days my 27 year old wore her twirly skirt.
Oh, I love that song too. great post!
I miss the twirly skirt days... My own and my daughters'! I think they do, too...
Your daughters are absolutely precious, Karianne. What a beautiful post! How I miss those days. My daughter danced to that song on her wedding day :) Now I get to watch my sweet little granddaughters twirl with their arms open wide. Thank you for the gentle reminder of enjoying each moment as precious gifts. Hugs to you.
Such a sweet pictures... My niece turned 14 this past week, we went shopping and yeah not as fun as when she was a tot. Everything we picked out was a no no no. At least with my son I only have to ever splurge on tennis shoes~ Bristol
Okay, I had to wait until the end of the comment thread to comment ... ... because .... ... I don't listen to Country Music. I know. I would've taken a comment thread beating for that admission! I'm more of a alternative rock (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Violent Femmes, New Order, Roxy Music) chick. Nowadays, I'm listening to Adele and Florence and the Machine ... and whatever pop stuff they play on the radio ... So, I went to YouTube and pulled up the song. At first, I was totally and completely distracted by Lee Ann's cleavage in the video. I mean, seriously. I don't play on that team ... ... but if I did ... So I turned my back on the computer and listened to the song and it is beautiful. And now I know why you love it so ... And your gift from the fabulous Shirley is so amazingly beautiful and thoughtful. So now I think she must be crowned your new BFF. For life. :) Linda
Okay, so I came on here to say something all sweet and sentimental but then I read Linda's comment and after I stopped laughing I forgot what I wanted to say... ...oh yes! Now I remember... As a mom to two little girls I know *exactly* how you feel! My oldest heads to middle school next year and if I could freeze her right now I would--just so I could savor it all. And I also have to say that your girls look a *lot* like my oldest daughter except her eyes are brown. Really, she could be your third. ~Elena :)
Lovely, lovely post. I remember twirling and twirling until I fell down. I think we grown up girls should hold tea parties with twirly whirly dances...on padded floors...and wearing padded clothing...and helmets. Or maybe not. Hang onto those sweet memories. They do grow up and go through the "ugly" years, but then one day they are off to college and you miss them fiercely. Before long though the sweetness comes back and suddenly you not only have a daughter, but a friend too. {{hugs}
LOL... I had to look twice to see what blog I was on when I saw your picture! I knew your smiling face wasn't there last time. ~Bliss~
What a lovely post, Karianne! Time does pass so quickly! Seeing your beautiful photo, I can see how much your girls look like you!
I love this post! Your girls are beautiful! Cherish all the time you have with them because soon they'll be all grown up!! :) I like your new sidebar too...I see where the girls get their looks!
This is a beautiful post and your twins are adorable.
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment on my St. Patty's Day Decor - have a great party!!! I'm also a new Linky Follower and, if you wanted, I could be followed via Linky Followers, as well. LOVD tidings, Lilly
Your girls are beautiful! I know how bittersweet it is to watch them grow but want them to stay little. Your heart beams with pride but breaks knowing that one day they will gone. Such a wonderful post and what great bloggy pals you have!
So sweet that your friend sent you the book! My daughter is 4.5, and she sure loves twirly whirly skirts too. I just registered her for kindergarten and soccer and I find I want to hold on to her a little longer now so she can't grow up quite so fast.
Beautiful! This made me excited about having a little girl. (Instead of terrified, which has been the norm.) I'm SO glad you posted your photo! You are beautiful! I always feel like I "know" and connect with a blogger more when I've seen her pic.
Great post. I love the twirly whirly skirt picture in my mind. I have often seen my little Bebe with her "purple ballerina dress" twirling around our living room (we turn on Lawrence Welk and let her dance to the old tunes)....I try to video it on my phone to capture it FOREVER. I imagine myself using it in her wedding video someday. :0) I also love that song! I used it in a farewell video for the cast party of a local production of Steel Magnolias I was in. So, every time I hear it now (or read it) I am drawn right back to that time. How nice someone sent it to you! PS. Love the new photo of you too!
Oh your girls are so precious and what a sweet post!
Hi Karianne, So nice to see your face! Beautiful post. My daughter is now 21 (crazy, I know!) and I've been blessed to watch her dance her way through her youth. If only we could capture that carefree moment and bottle it.
You have brought me back to my girlhood with this "twirly whirly" post! I am so glad you captured that moment with your daughter. How wonderful to have beautiful twin girls! They are just as lovely as their mother! Have a lovely day! Linda @ Truthful Tidbits
I have followed you through your blog pictures for awhile, but was always too busy to fully read them. I have enjoyed reading some of your favorites and I loved them all. I love the song and book "I Hope You Dance". I share it with my students at the end of the school year as I send them off to high school.
I just read this post...so beautiful and straight from the heart! Whirly, twirly skirts indeed...and may you always dance! ;)
I love this post as well. It is just beautiful - and your twins are even more so. How blessed you are, and how wonderful to have such great friends.
I am so, so happy to have stumbled upon your blog, KariAnne. You have a fantastic voice and this site is such a happy space. Thank you for sharing! Cheers, Rebecca