from our teepee to yours

Happy Thanksgiving

 

 

This will always be one of my favorite pictures of all time - my, then, three little Indians having a powwow in an untamed corner of our yard.

 

Note the chief's staff is a croquet mallet.

 

In fact, that antique croquet set that my mom bought for them with blissful thoughts of sunny Sunday afternoon croquet matches in the front yard, has seen many, many hours of play... but for only one game of croquet.  Ah, the imagination of kids!

 

Now, go!  Scoot. Scram! Get outta here.  Go tell God how thankful you are for all He has adorned you with - not just the good, but also the bad, because that's the only way you can develop a character worth a damn.

Then, go eat some turkey.

Much love.  Muah!

file under: hey y'all watch'iss

These words recently tumbled off my tongue:

Y'all, you can't jump on the trampoline with your roller blades on.

It don't get more country'n at.

sad but true

I was the one who had to teach the children how to make arm farts.
True story.

Once upon a time, there was a sweet baby girl who was born on a very special day:

  November 1st.

The Solemnity of All Saints. 

This same little girl grew into a bright, blue-eyed toddler who was never very far from her pacie or her Pink Dolly and was more considerate of the feelings of others than of herself.  That toddler skipped through her childhood stealing the hearts of many with her determination and her eagerness to please. 

She has never met an animal she didn't like, especially of the equine variety.  Nor has she ever heard an Irish tune she couldn't figure out on her fiddle.  She appreciates her few genuine friends and her brain's capacity to dazzle folks with brilliant facts is amazing.

She is now on the cusp of turning thirteen. 

Tomorrow I have a shopping date with this sweet baby girl.  As is the tradition in our family, a rite of passage at this special age, she will get her ears pierced.  We will get her her very own tube of mascara, her very own blush, and her very own lip gloss.  Mommy will splurge on an expensive perfume that is light and young and not too overpowering.  We may even find some clothes that will work.

Lucky lucky lucky me.
Happy birthday sweet Number Three.

Our 'nearly 13' year old.

can't wait to see what's in store for next week!

no.1's big week

- voted to Homecoming Court by fellow students of class of 2013
- accepted to Mercer University with guaranteed scholarship
- second runner up to Homecoming Queen as voted on by student body
- accepted to Auburn University

thinking bigger

We give.
A lot.
Or so I thought.
Recently the Lord has repeatedly put on our hearts to give more. 

I gotta tell ya, I have not been exactly a willing participant. 

King first said the words aloud.  Those words resonated with me.  I had already heard that message.  It had been placed on my heart.  But I had kept silent until then.

I grumbled and groused with King, both of us knowing we were being called upon to act.  We had both seen the amazing way 'you can't out give God,' but wasn't there a threshold we didn't have to cross? 

Me: But Lord, there's not only the care and feeding of a family of 7 on one income, there is all the time and talent I share, there is what we give to the Church and other charities, there's the tuition at the high school, and in a few short months, there is going to be an amazing amount we will have to cough up for college. 

Him: (unchanging)

Me:  Come on, Man.  Don't push back on my heart like that, it might break...er... what's that?  How did I just happen to stumble upon this "hardness of heart" scripture?  Wait, why do you keep showing me how stubborn I am.  (stamps foot like a 2 year old) I am NOT stubb... er...

He has my attention now.  Sigh.

I am stubborn.

But, more so I am obedient.

Me:  Yes, Lord, I will give more.  Even though the world tells me I need it.  Help me to drown out the world, I pray. 

Him: (silence, except for the sound of what I swear is a smirk.)

Me: Do I have to be happy about it?  At least for now, if I promise to keep it to myself, can I please be grumpy?

Him:  Of course.  But you'll see.  Just like I have shown you before. 

Me: See what You did right there... that whole 'just like I have shown you before' thing?  Arrgh. 

(insert the sound of a layer of pride cracking. breaking off.  falling to the floor.)

Me: Just promise me that everything will be ok. 

Him: Have I ever let you down?  Even once?

Me: (wondering: is there a way to eye-roll behind God's back?)

auction mode

T minus 24 days and counting

Got anything to donate to the auction?
Want tickets?
Call me. 

In other news:
-College visit to Mercer University went well.  Even though we are Auburn People, we have fallen in love and can definitely see our girl as The Bear.
-Homecoming Game is Friday.  #1 on the Homecoming Court.  A first for our family.  We are very proud.
-#2 is coaching a Powder Puff game today.  Part of the fun-filled Homecoming Week line up of activities. 
-#3 and I attended a Family Honor course recently.  She gets it, y'all.  Amazing young woman she is.  The other day I asked King, "Where's ...(no 3)" and he said, she is upstairs writing a letter to her husband.  Wow.  See what I mean?  She routinely thinks outside of herself.  Always has. 
-"Wiggly" teeth all over the mouths of my two youngest.  They are starting to look like Jack-o-lanterns. 
Oh, hell, that reminds me:  I've gotta put together Halloween costumes. 

(juggling clowns & circus music much?)