My Cup Overflows

PINNOCHIO.........THE PLAY

Caleigh had a blast at "drama camp" put on by the Brookhaven Little Theatre.  For two solid weeks she was in Brookhaven at 8:30 and finished every day at 12:00.  She LOVED it!  I hated getting up that early before school even started but after this last Friday night, it was worth it.  There were around 55 children of all ages in the camp and 20 teenage volunteers.  Their play was Pinocchio and it was awesome!  My pretty drama queen was the puppet "Fettuccine"........ which meant she came on stage at the beginning and stayed the entire play on stage.  Several lines - which she mostly could remember.  Prior to this camp, Caleigh had taken swimming lessons from Mrs. Barbie Fleming and I saw Barbie at the drug store one morning before camp started.  I told her about Caleigh going to drama camp in Brookhaven to which she replied, "Is she teaching it?"My sentiments exactly!!!  I should have named her Caleigh Drama Corban........oh well, I don't know who she gets is from........................

Well she met lots of friends and I think we have found a new "thing" for the summer.  Along with 2 VBSs, swimming lessons, cheer practice, little cheer camp, competitive cheer camp, dentist and doctor visits and 2 weeks of drama camp..............I AM TIRED!!  Did someone mention school is starting??  I say......bring it on..........please!

Seems Like Yesterday

It seems like just yesterday when I experienced death for the first time.  And don't worry, this will not be a "down and out" blog.  But I wanted to recognize that on this date - 29 years ago - my wonderful dad left this earth.  Yep, I remember every detail as if it was literally yesterday.  I believe any time - no matter how old or young you are - when you lose your parents, it remains in vivid detail.  And that is ok for me, for when I think about his death, I praise God for his life and that he was my daddy.

Nobody Would Like It....Especially A Baby

I know ya'll have heard me say that when I went through a "phase" with Caleigh, I would just erase the used advice and information because I wouldn't be needing that anymore.  Well, Carmon Claire would have appreciated me keeping some useful information stowed away.  Today was "shot" day -and yes we were only about 3 months behind.  The magic number today was 4 - 2 in each leg.  Did I remember the Tylenol before getting the shots?  Nope.  Did I plan on the fussines while trying to make her sit through revival tonight at church?  Nope.  After getting her shots, the nurse said, "well, she won't need any more until she is a year old".  I said GREAT........until I realized later that is only 3 months away. 

Well, there is a funny part that I wanted to write so one day Carmon Claire can have something on her dad.  On the way to get the shots, Michael and Caleigh kept hitting me with questions. How many shots? Where are they giving them? Is it all in one shot?  Did she cry last time?  Don't know, Don't know, Don't know....well, YEAH!  Anyway, I finally told Michael that if he couldn't handle it to just stay outside because I didn't need to take care of him also.  He looked at me, dropped his head and glared at me while saying in a very MANLY voice, "I can handle it".  Ok, great.  Nurse brings us in with Michael holding the baby.  Finally the nurse says (after all of us waiting around) to put her on the table.  He did.  Then as I grabbed one leg and the nurse grabbed the other and Caleigh was by her head talking soooo sweet.......Michael says, "I can't do this" and left the room.  CAN"T DO IT!!!  That's right...........you heard me.........LEFT THE ROOM.  Oh well, I told him I was positive there were going to be several things I would not be able to do over the next 18 years and we could swap them out.  Wonder what he is gonna say when I look at him and say, "I can't do this" and leave the room?

Need Something to Make You Smile??

Here you go...................

Never In A Million Years....

Did I ever think I would get to have another chance to love a baby as much as I loved the first one.  But there is truly nothing like the sweetness and innocence of a baby.  After a bath and the baby lotion, I could nibble on Carmon Claire all night - especially after she goes to sleep while I am rocking her.  She is truly a joy and an unexpected blessing.  One that I would have never dreamed of......but now can't imagine being the person I am without her in our lives.

I Guess I Had A "MINI"

Granny John always told the story about an elderly couple and every time the wife would stumble in speech, the husband would say "well, I guess she had a "mini".  Well, apparently I had a "mini" when Caleigh blurted out at cheer, "Mom, can Kenzie, Krislyn and Leigh Taylor spend the night with me tonight?" My "mini" came when I immediately smiled and said "Sure!"  Carmon Claire didn't seem to mind. She had more people toting her than she could count.  Shoving bottles and sassies at her every turn.  Heaven she would say...........Let's just say it wasn't heaven for me..............Hope they had fun, cause I don't know if that will ever happen again.............of course, Carmon Claire still has to grow up...................

TMI

I used to believe knowledge was power.  However, I sometimes wish the things I know would leave my mind.  Of course, not the good stuff - the memories of my family, the first steps of Caleigh.  But there are some things that are stuck there - just stuck.  No matter how much time passes or how many other things are added to your memory bank - there is always that information that you wish would just leave.  Sure I learned from that information - and now I wish it would leave.  It always seems like the more you know - the more other people think you should know.  Follow me here.  I know my past - I know how much it hurt - and I know I have moved on - so why tell me more??  Who is the extra information for?  Me?  Surely not.   Them? Why would they care?  Because you didn't tell me back then - why tell me now?  Not going to change the past and certainly not going to change the future.  Yet, here they stand spilling the secrets they know about my past as if cleansing their soul. Why?  Did I ask you? I am not your therapist.  If I wasn't enough of a friend then - I certainly am not enough of one now.  People who profess how much I "meant" to them - years later saying, "well, i wasn't going to tell you, but...."  OK DON"T TELL ME!!  What am I supposed to do with the extra information......nothing.  Just stick in my mind because I certainly can't get rid of it now!!!  Was I a fool back then?  I don't think so....just really naive.

Thanks for listening and let's just hope someone from my past doesn't approach me tomorrow.  That blog would be too disturbing for my readers!!

A Sweet Story

On Sunday, Michael and I took Caleigh, Casey and Carmon Claire to the creek.  We walked and looked for rocks and played a little in the water.  (Sorry no pics, battery was dead on my camera)  When we got back to Michael's house, Carmon Claire was sooooo tired so I put her down on a blanket in the living room to nap.  Caleigh was sitting beside her and after a few minutes came to me with the sweetest story she had written while watching Carmon Claire sleep.  Below is the story - exactly as it is written by my number one daughter.......it is titled "Baby"

Asleep on the floor not a word.  The angle (angel), Carmon dead asleep no sassy no cover just her and her blankie.  I look close her eyes are still glued together.  As I wacth the angle sleep I noticed her precious black hair sticking up on the side of her head. I heir (hear) somthing. I listened close and the angle was snoring.  I laughed and told Mom.  As her lip was poking out and her black hair was sticking up the angle stiiiiil asleep.  I end my story and got up quietly. Thanks. Caleigh

Ain't that tooo sweet????

 

The Absolute Best Day of My Life

Ok, well I have had some good days, some really good days, some really, really good days and even some GREAT days - but the winner of the absolute best day of my life was this past Sunday.  Caleigh was baptized at Siloam.  And ALL God's people said......AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  She accepted Jesus last year during VBS at Bude Church of God (see why VBS is so important!).  And for an entire year she continuously talked about wanting to be baptized.  Well, I wanted to make sure this was real and not because of her friends or just a passing idea.  We talked and talked some more and she always had the right answer - she loved Jesus and He was in her heart and she wanted to be baptized to show Him and everyone else that she believed and was obeying Him.  Can she preach an hour sermon - probably not.  But she knows who is her Lord and her best friend.  I have failed at a lot of things, but watching her this past Sunday showed me that something was going right - and it was the only thing that will ever matter.  Because of the extreme emotion, I was unable to get any pics of the actual event.  But I know there was some shouting going on in Heaven!!  I did manage to get a picture of Caleigh, her dad and me outside the church. "Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord" Psalm 34:11

"And He took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.                           Mark 9:36,37

And whosoever shall offend (cause to stumble) one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.                                       Mark 9:42

VBS at Bude Chuch of God

Caleigh has always enjoyed going to Bude for their VBS.  She has been several years now and refuses to miss a night for any reason.  She doesn't care if any of her friends are there (but, usually many are).  They go all out for VBS.  Costumes, beautiful props and enthusiastic workers.  But one of the big reasons is they simply have fun.  Not just sing-a-long fun and small crafts - I mean the real stuff.  One night they walked on "water", well, it was really cornstarch and water - but it was so real looking.  And one night they learned about Jesus healing the blind man.  They put on blindfolds then someone reenacted Jesus spitting in the dirt and rubbing it on their eyes (well, one teacher said it was oatmeal)!  I mean this was the real deal in having fun - all with a lesson behind.  How blessed we are to have churches who spend their time and money to teach about Jesus in such a real way!!  On one night Caleigh said whichever class raised the most money each night could put a "pie" in a teacher's face. Yep, it was cool whip.  Caleigh asked if I could give her a "100" or a "50" so she could put a pie in Chad Magee's face.  Now Chad and Caleigh have known each other since she was 3.  Denise, Chad's mom, kept Caleigh for a couple of years and Caleigh simply adored Chad.  She would follow him around and always talked about "Shad".  She didn't have much interest in the other children at the daycare - just what her and "Shad" did each day.  I told her I would give her $25 and if that didn't work I would hold him down and she could get him.  Well, it worked.  She went in VBS and told the teacher, "I will give you $25 if I can put a pie in Chad's face".  Now, I am not sure what the deal is with "Shad" - we went from complete adoration to wanting to embarrass him with a plate full of cool-whip.........but he took it like a man.  Thanks, Chad!!