How Blessed We Are

I've been guilty of it myself...thinking that I should have more, do more, go more. And I listen to the children of today and how they "can't live without" their cellphones, xboxes, cars, and other toys.

Mama always says that if you take the time to look around and listen, you'll find that their are people who are worse off, have been through more, who would find where you are a paradise.

When I watch this video, I know what she means. I hope it touches you as well.

http://www.flixxy.com/korea-talent-choi-sung-bong.htm

The Trade Off

Sweet Home Baptist Church hasn't always had Children's Church. When all of my age group started having babies, we took turns keeping a nursery, but toddlers and up went to "Big Church" with the adults. That led to some funny moments -- Leigh singing "There's a Tear in my Beer" as the choir came down from the loft after singing "No Tears in Heaven" -- Josh announcing that we had a bull named SOB (he didn't abbreviate) because Uncle David loaded the bull into a trailer by using his belt and saying, "Get in the trailer, you SOB" (and he didn't abbreviate either) -- Kelly announcing in a very loud (bordering on desperate) whisper, "Mama, I got to tee tee, d___it!" (and she didn't mince words) -- Karissa asking us to pray for her mama that she wouldn't be so mean -- and me lunging across the pew after Robert when he said he had a prayer request (because I had NO idea what was coming out of his mouth!).

After asking our preacher at the time about having Children's Church and that idea being shot down, God sent a sign from heaven. A family came, and their children were not interested in church. Not a bit. And the parents weren't interested in making them mind. Not a bit. So during the service, those children played Dukes of Hazzard on the cement picnic tables right outside the sanctuary. That night, the preacher asked if I would take the job of Children's Church. And so the journey began...

That was about 23 years ago...or sometime thereabout. My Sunday job has been such a joy. I'm not saying it's always easy. There have been Sundays that more than 20 children would be there...and I was the only teacher. Other Sundays I have had the pleasure of a tiny class...sometimes just one child whose family didn't go on vacation that weekend. Many of my children...because that's what they are, biological and otherwise...have gotten married and had their own children. Some of  those are in Children's Church now. There is a very good chance that a great many people have NO idea what Children's Church is or what it takes to have it every Sunday morning. In a lot of ways, it's a trade off for me. 

How is it a tradeoff? Well, let's see...

I don't have any idea what sermon was preached that day.
I have no idea what the song service was like.
I don't hear the prayer requests.
Very rarely do I hear any of the announcements.
I'm often caught off guard when people mention something coming up at church.
Sometimes, I even find out we're eating at church that very morning.

So, what do Robbie and I have instead?
We get to hear kids sing "Peace Like a Wibber."
We get to pray for a 3-year-old's dead puppy, sick family, and green swimming pool.
We get to make mangers  and barns and animals out of playdough.
We get sloppy kisses and hugs around my legs.
We get to be called ZiZi and PopPop by kids who are not our grandchildren--or sometimes not even related.
We get to watch the kids "float" a basket holding "Moses" down the "river."
We get to sing "Eep and Why" ( In adult language, that's Deep and Wide.)
We get to hear kids beg to stay (Gabby once, upon being taken out early, said "I can't go, Daddy! We haven't even learned about God yet!)
We get to hear the Bible in a whole new way ("He leads me beside the still waters. He will steal my sword.)
We get to hear the sweetest words -- "I'm ready to get babatized!"

So Big Church can just go on without us. We get the best end of that deal.

Commenting on Blogs

I LOVE comments! And I love to leave comments! But I have been having a heck of a time lately. So I googled, and I found this blogger's solution. I'm linking just in case any of my readers need help! Happy blogging!
Problems with commenting

By the way, I have no relationship with this blogger...just answered some questions for me :)

Have You Heard This Song???

Have you? I'll bet if you've read my blogs and you have heard it, you thought of me. I'd never heard it until today. So me...just soooooo me. Enjoy.

Like My Mother Does

In case any of you are interested in other areas of our lives, here goes:

Carsyn's birthday party was Saturday. A big tent, a water slide, a pool, and lots of great food and yummy lemonade made for a wonderful day. Carsyn was an awesome birthday girl and she had lots of awesome guests!

Robert's kids stayed with us after the birthday party, and I'm pretty sure they went home Sunday waterlogged. They played hours on the water slide; then Lauren and Ashley took the boys to the pool. Kaylee was already asleep. We went back to the pool that night. And, I guess in an attempt to set some kind of record, we went back to the pool on Sunday after church. I could literally hear them sloshing as they walked. The pictures below gives you an idea of how worn out they were!

Father's Day was great. We gave Daddy (aka Papa or Swimming Papa) his very own air compressor, and Robbie got a great meal at Josh and Vicki's and a spinning reel to replace the one that mysteriously disappeared into the river! I am so thankful for the wonderful daddies in our family. Josh is such a good son and father to Grace. And David is just enjoying the heck out of being a daddy this year!

Carsyn officially turned 1 on Monday. Happy day!! Sad day :( Growing waaaayyyy too fast!

Daniel's preschool graduation was today. OH.MY.GOODNESS!! I'm telling you, he is Robert's mini-me!! He looked just like his daddy!! I was so proud of him...and so sad that his daddy couldn't be there. I find great comfort in believing that Robert knows every good thing they do and is with them from heaven like he always was on earth. Grace took this picture as the kids were coming out of the auditorium.

It's hard to believe that June is almost gone. Where does the time go???? I have such big plans every day, but then they get lost in jelly toast and Justin Bieber concerts and patty cake and golf cart rides and sloppy popsicle kisses and playing house.

Oh...funny of the century...Grace was listening to a Justin Bieber song the other day - I think the name is "Somebody to Love." Somewhere in the song, JB says, "I just need somebody to love." Well, actually, he says it a LOT. Anyway, Grace stopped in the middle of a rather impressive dance move and said (completely seriously, I might add), "ZiZi, he said he needs somebody to love, and I just wish somebody would tell him, I'm available!"  Yep, you guessed it. I had to walk out of the room. Gotta love her :)  And she's such a good little helper!

Life's good!



The Best Daddy in the World

How could I let Father's Day go by without blogging about the greatest one ever??? I can't!!

My Daddy is the super glue, the rock, the go-to person for our family. Although we have all probably caused him more stress than one man should have to endure, he is our strongest supporter no matter what.

When I was growing up, Daddy used to say that I needed to go in the medical field. Anesthesiology, he said, was a good idea. Never will I forget the day I told him I wanted to be an English teacher. I can't help but wonder what kind of high school English class experience he had..."Why? What would make you want to do THAT?" His wish did come partly true...I can still put people to sleep--they just get in trouble for giving in to it!

And yet he supported the change in plans...sent me to school, even TOOK me to school when I had to return the week after Robert was born and wasn't supposed to drive. He was there for all the kids to be born -- wait...he was a little late for Robert's because we couldn't get up with him in time, and Robert came in kind of a hurry.  But he was there when I woke up the next morning. He's been there, with Mama of course, for all the grandkids and great-grandkids, too. Even when Lauren's planned "easy night in the hospital and y'all just come up in the morning" turned into "Hurry! They're taking her to surgery!" he got them there. Robbie's mother said, "He was really moving, and I wouldn't have wanted to be driving, but he wanted to get there." And he did.

Daddy is the voice of wisdom and experience in our family. We all listen to him...his kids, our kids, the transplants into the family --everybody. My kids have talked to him about making job changes or purchasing a business or large item. He always gives good advice, and they always listen. Once Daddy called around to see if we all wanted to go out to eat. It was a spur of the moment thing, but we all dropped what we were doing and went. Kenny said it best when Mama commented on how amazing it was that we could all go and nobody had anything going on. "It didn't matter what was going on. When E.F. Hutton speaks, you listen." Ha!! That's become the family nickname for Daddy -- E.F. Hutton. Betcha didn't know that, huh Daddy?

One more important thing about Daddy, he SEES things...really. I don't know how, but he does. Here's and example: Once David was "practicing" driving Daddy's truck around the yard. When you live in the middle of a pasture, you can do that, you know. He had the tailgate down and accidentally backed into something...a tree or something. Scared to death, he parked the truck so Daddy wouldn't see the tailgate as he drove up. He shouldn't have used the energy. Daddy came in and his first question was, "What happened to the truck?" That's when I knew not to ever try to pull anything over on Daddy.


When I was young, Daddy worked away from home for a long time. He would be gone for the entire week, come in on Friday night, and leave on Sunday afternoon. Sometimes he would be gone two weeks at time because of the distance. On Friday night we met him at the truck like he was a moviestar, and on Sunday afternoon I cried when he left. We got to go with him on Spring Break, and that was fun. I never wondered why Daddy worked like he did; I always knew it was for us. Those weeks away from home couldn't have been easy for him either, but he had a long-term goal -- he saw a future for us that he wanted.

Now that he is retired (I use that term loosley because he is NEVER still...chicken houses, pool work, church work...) he has more time to enjoy the little ones in the family. He helps Mama when a baby is going to be around the house, and the kids LOVE to see him. If Grace is here and sees his truck coming up, she says, "ZiZi, look! It's PAPA!!!!" I think he has a fan club :) Whenever he can, he goes over to the river, not only for his own enjoyment, but to have things ready for us when we get a chance to go.

Happy Father's Day, Daddy. I'm so glad God picked you to be my daddy.

Blow the Tannery Whistle

So, if you get a chance to take part in the storytelling that the Brundidge Historical Society does several times a year, GO!!!

Pam called me last week and told me it was coming up. We were hoping Mama, Kathy, Pam, and I could go, but things didn't work out for Kathy and Mama wasn't feeling well and had company. Karissa went with us and let me tell you, we had a BALL! The preliminary show was a bluegrass gospel band, and they were really good.

Then came the food, and it was AWESOME! Each table was served big bowls of butterbeans, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, rolls, banana pudding, and corn. A pitcher of sweet tea was already there, as were our glasses of ice. Once the food was on the table, it was self-serve. After the meal, Gary Carden, the storyteller from North Carolina came on.

Now, I'm here to tell you, I LOVE a good storyteller! It's just a book in real life...an author telling you what would have been on the pages. His stories were all about the tannery whistle in the small town he lived in and how important it was. Because it was blown only at certain times unless some HUGE event was happening (like Pearl Harbor, D-Day, or the world coming to an end), the saying about anything big was, Well, blow the tannery whistle." He told about all the times his grandfather said it about him, and he was hilarious! What was really interesting to find out was that he had been deaf for 35 years. Imagine that!

Karissa, Pam, and I so enjoyed ourselves. Others did too, and we got a kick out of watching them. We were the guinea pigs...we went to see how it really was. We will not go back alone. All of us kept thinking of all the people who would love to sit in that old building, walk across sawdust floors, gather around homestyle cooking, listen to a little music, and go back to a place in time with an Appalachian storyteller. No, we won't be alone next time.

I can't wait until the next one!!!

Thanks, Pam-o Suzie, for inviting me. I had a blast.

What Money Can't Buy

This topic has been on my mind for some time now. Maybe it's because I've had over twenty-one years working with school children of varying ages. That, of course, involves working with their families to some extent. Maybe it's because I can compare what I had as I was growing up with what children have now. Or maybe (and I think this is it) I have watched the change in our society, and I think one of our major problems is worrying about giving children all the things money can buy, and not enough of what it can't.

And then last week, two tragedies-- a former student was found dead and a young mother at our church found life just too hard to handle. It brought to a head all these things that have run through my mind for so long. I could not help remember my student, a young man with so much potential and ability, putting his head in his hands one day and crying, saying "Nobody loves me. Nobody in this whole world cares about me." And I cannot help feeling that our young friend at church must have felt so overwhelmed at times, so desperate for help, and yet unable to go for her soul to be recharged.

So, this is my take on the world, its children, and the things that make it all work. It's my opinion, and you can do with it what you want. It's often been said that one person's opinion is another person's joke of the day.

Parents today worry too much about material things. Honestly, I think some parents use these "things" as substitute parents or babysitters. Children are allowed WAY too much freedom far too soon. Yes, I thought Mama and Daddy were far too strict when I was growing up, but as my children grew I found myself making the same type of choices and decisions. We didn't have everything we ever wanted, but we had the important things...things money can't buy.

Important Things to Give Your Child

• God's Message -- How important is this one! Don't you think children are more willing to believe, more willing to accept...without all the grown-up arguments and reasonings. That's why Jesus said that we must be like little children to enter the kingdom of God... have to become trusting and accepting. What we give our children through church and God's word takes care of them not only in this world, but in the next as well. What more can we want?
• Discipline -- Children want and need to know what the boundaries are. They want to know if you say what you mean and mean what you say. They want consequences...true, they may fuss about it. But discipline is one of the kindest things you can do for your child or any you are in charge of.
• Praise -- It is not ever enough to tell a child what he is doing wrong. Children puff up almost visibly when they are sincerely praised. Praise one child, and another in the room will turn himself inside out to do something as well.
• Work Ethic -- Children have to learn to work when they are young. There is no magic age in their lives when they say, "Ok, tomorrow is the day. I feel an insatiable urge to work, even though I've never done it before." No, if they do not learn the concept of work when they are young, the desire is almost impossible to instill. In my opinion, this is why children who have not graduated from high school, have yet to take the ACT, have not applied to college, and have a 1.8 grade point average make statements like, "I'm not working there. I need more money than that. I'll just wait until a better job comes along." Can you say "Undeserved Welfare"?
• Play Time -- As important as work is, so is play time. I am NOT talking about video games or brick breaker on your phone. I'm talking about tee ball on Sunday afternoon, pool time with the family, going on a hike to find worms and birds. I'm talking about vacations to kid-friendly spots where memories can be made. I'm talking about fishing with toddlers and hunting with elementary kids. I'm  talking about putting puzzles together and making play dough barns even when there are bills to pay and clothes to wash. Watch a child play...and learn a little something.
• Respect -- Children are miniature people. They are learning how to behave toward others by how they are treated. I believe they learn to respect others by being respected themselves. To speak kindly, to listen to their opinions, to adjust your guidelines if necessary as they grow older and become more mature.
• A Good Example -- We as parents can't be perfect. Goodness, there are so many moments I wish I could go back and do over. But we can be the best example in our power. We can respect our elders, by kind to those who need more than we do, work hard, pay our bills, play some, and demonstrate loyalty and faithfulness to God, family, and friends.
• Truth--Our children learn to tell the truth by listening to it. If they hear lies, they will learn that lies are the way to go. They will grow up not only lying themselves, but expecting others to lie for them to keep them from trouble. Give them truth...this may very well refer to the first item on the list.
• A Safety Net -- Robert Frost's poem "Death of a Hired Man" refers to home as "a place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in." All children, no matter how old or grown up or independent, need to know there is a safe place at home they can go to be recharged. I cherish the times I can go to Mama and Daddy's, not to get away from my family, but to reaffirm myself, bask in their love, learn from them, laugh with them, and go home recharged and with a new and invigorated sense of purpose.

Think how strong our young people would be with these elements as a part of the fiber of their being. Imagine our world with respectful, hard-working people who know when to work and when to play. Envision a world of parents willing to parent, no matter what the distance, no matter what the need, no matter what the sacrifice. On second thought, don't just imagine...let's do it!!

Cory and Amber, may God grant you both the peace you both so desperately needed. Rest In Peace.

My Bucket List

So I was thinking today that summer is supposed to be easier, I think, for teachers...at least that's what everyone else thinks, right?

For 25 years I've seen the t-shirts...you know the ones:
Three reasons I teach...June, July, and August
Those who can't do, teach

And the sweet ones:
Teachers touch lives forever
Teach a child, change a life

Well, I'm here to tell you that summer is definitely NOT easier...not so far anyway. I don't know where the days go!! Anyway, I was thinking tonight of the things I want to accomplish this summer. And then I started thinking of the things I want to accomplish...period. Ever. In my whole life. My Bucket List. So I decided to write it down so I could sort of keep a record of my progress :)

1. I really, really, really want to go to the Grand Canyon. I'm always sooooo envious when I hear people say, "We're just gonna ride out west and see a few things...the Grand Canyon, maybe." Ahhhhhh!

2. My book...I want to finish it. I've been working on it for years. All my material comes from years in the classroom. The saying should be, "I teach your children; therefore, I have LOTS of stories to tell!"

3. Make my online sewing business a success. It's an easy way to be a contributor to the family coffers, and I love doing it. Just got to find more time in the day!!

4. Alaska seems like a paradise for me. The weather would be right up my alley, I think. My sweat glands would have a well-deserved rest! So a trip there is on my bucket list.

5. Learn to cook. Really cook, I mean. I can follow directions on a box. I just don't get the "just substitute this for that and reduce this by half and lower the temp and..." well, you get the idea.

6. Learn to eat. Quite honestly, I don't see this one happening. By learning to eat, I mean eating like normal people. It amazes me to watch people just put new food in their mouths WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT'S IN IT!! How, I ask you, HOW does one do that? I'm working on it, but this is a SLOW go.

7. Be able to dress up and be ready for the day no matter what is going on or how much I have to do. Have you seen those commercials where the woman is mopping--mopping, no less-- in dress clothes and heels? Isn't she just dressed to beat the band in case company comes, her in-laws drop by, or she gets a call from school to come for a conference? One day...

8. Get my boating license...and then really learn to back the boat in, unload it, and actually drive it. I'm not sure that Robbie's nerves can take this, but it's my bucket list, right?

9. Somehow, someway, convince the powers that be in this house to build a carport/garage thingy on the end of the house and change that window out to a door. This IS going to be done. I may have to use serious and severe powers of persuasion...heck, I may have to use bribery and blackmail...but it will get done.

10. Find the skinny, energetic, pretty thing that I KNOW lives inside of me!! I'm working on it-- really, I am. But it seems that person is extremely shy and not really anxious to show her face...or body. I just keep reminding myself (while I guzzle water and walk on the treadmill and try to convince myself that chocolate is of the devil) "Never give up. Never give up. Never, ever, ever, ever give up."

I'm thinking that my bucket list should begin as a manageable list of 10 things. At least, that's what all the "get organized" articles say-- don't be unrealistic, set reasonable goals, celebrate each victory." That's what I'll do. Celebrate. And add new ones as old ones are completed.

And I'm not even talking about my wish for new flooring...because it probably won't ever happen. Or not for a long time.
My main goal is to still have a list when my time comes to move from this home to the next. I think it would be awfully sad to be alive and have no goals. Don't you? What's on your bucket list?

Heat Wave, Go Home!

Dear Heat Wave,

Although I always try to have an open mind and develop relationships with new friends, I'm afraid this is not going to work out for us.

I don't like you. My other friends, Soft Summer Breeze, Cool Morning Air, Twilight Porch Weather, and Afternoon Showers won't even come to play while you are here. Not fun. You are even intimidating Morning Dew. Lighten up!!

I appreciate the fact that you can dry clothes on a line in 13 minutes flat. And I know you're thinking that pool goers really appreciate your visit. And I'm sure young children don't even miss the rain. But seriously, something's got to give.

There is NOTHING comfortable about your being here. Benjamin Franklin said that fish and visitors smell in 3 days. Your time is up. It's time for you to go HOME! Go back to the Sahara Desert to your other friends...Infertile Sand, Blazing Sun, and Cactus Haven.

I'd love to hear from you again, but next time just send a postcard. Thanks.

A New Hit for Lunch

Beyond awesome!!! Great for Carsyn! Great for me! Thanks,Vicki, for telling me about it!

I'm a Slacker

I am officially a slacker.

This is by far the saddest thing I have ever said about myself, but there you go. I'm a slacker. I'm pretty sure I can't even remember the last time I blogged. Let me go check...

Ok, I'm back.

Oh.
Good.
Gracious!

It's been forever. It is impossible to catch up on everything, so let me first begin by saying that every week day since school has been out is a carbon copy of this day.

There have been some variations occasionally...like--we went to the river for Memorial Day weekend (had a great time); we've been swimming (average twice a day); I went with Lauren to Montgomery for birthday shopping (Carsyn's...out of the planning stage into the doing stage).

Worthy news: We had VBS at Sweet Home the first week out of school. We had a BLAST!! (That was also the theme -- Beach Blast.) The kids were awesome, the planning was wonderful, and the week went off without a hitch. Great job VBS planners/workers/attendees!!!

In news very close to my heart, Dylan had two big events in that same week. On May 25th, he graduated kindergarten. Oh, how sweet he was!!! The little boy who had such trouble in his first school at the beginning of the year received all kinds of awards, including MOST IMPROVED IN LANGUAGE ARTS!! Yeah, he knows his way to ZiZi's heart :)  On a sad note, he was not anxious AT ALL to hug and kiss us after graduation because...get this... his GIRLFRIENDS from high school were waiting for him!! What!! Another flashback to his daddy!! I could not help but remember Robert's "chictionary" where he kept the names and numbers of all the girls he met...and he was in the 6th grade!

On Friday, Dylan had surgery to repair a hernia. Robbie and I met Dylan, Kandace, his cousin, and his grandparents in Birmingham on Thursday night. Dylan and Kandace ended up spending the night in our room because bed space was short in their room. He got a good night's sleep and was such a big boy all day. He so reminded me of Lauren when everybody began to try to wake him up..."Leave me alone!!" (said with flailing arms and whining). He finally did wake up, drank some water, and went to the bathroom. We pulled him out in a wagon (I had to hold his head up on the way out so he wouldn't fall over and hit the side.) He slept all the way home and through the night. He's doing great. Such a big boy!!

My class at craft time (and that's Lauren, my sweet daughter)

We had good food every night



Our "babies" did a great job working at VBS



I don't have pics of all the workers yet :)

Little Man Dylan at his graduation...isn't he sooooo handsome???

I wanted to put pictures of Memorial Day weekend on here, but alas, none available.

Boo.

Maybe later.

Now it's later...Lauren to the rescue :)

Rescuing a baby bird

Boat ride

For more on this weekend, click here.