Happy Father's Day

To one of the greatest fathers I've ever had the privilege to know:

Jeff, you're not my father so I didn't buy you a gift. (Ha!) But, you do deserve praise in so many areas:
1. You're a great provider.
2. You're a hard worker.
3. You're a genuinely nice person.
4. You're servant-hearted.
5. You're fun!
6. You care about others more than yourself.

I could go on, but your ego is big enough already.

I polled a few (all three) of the people who live in our house that call you dad and asked them to describe you in just three words.

KATHERINE:
1. Baseball-ish (Is this seasonal?)
2. Genius
3. Epic





REBECCA:
1. Amiable
2. Prudent
3. Meticulous
(Someone's been working on their vocabulary this summer.)

ABIGAIL:
1. Fantastical
2. Awesome Computer Man
3. Superb
(Or, more than three words.)

Southern Hospitality is Alive and Well

"If I never have another piece of fried chicken it will be too soon," I said on our way home from Buna last Sunday.

The minute we walked in the door of Jeff's parents' house last Thursday, Mrs. Holmes said, "Oh, good! Come in and help me eat this food." Four pizzas and two large boxes of fried chicken to be exact.

When unsure of what to say when a beloved member of a small-town community dies, it's best to just stop by and bring food. Of course, I completely agree with the philosophy that food does indeed make everything better. Well, food and chocolate. (Do you consider chocolate food or candy? No, Rebecca Holmes, candy is not food.) Anyhoo...

Within minutes of our arrival, in came the casseroles, pies, cakes, rolls, more fried chicken, cookies, bags of chips, sandwich trays, meat trays...did I mention fried chicken? Yes, I believe in total we racked up at least six boxes of fried chicken. I feel sure the local deli at Kaine's Supermarket had a banner day last week. In spite of my attempts to eat well and not totally wreck my diet, I had to give up that dream. It just wasn't possible. After all, someone had to help clear out all that chicken!

I would like to give special acknowledgement here to Mrs. Sybil Stanley, God bless her, for the most delicious rum cake I have ever eaten. Well, the only rum cake actually, but it was warm from the oven, and "Oh, she did hope it tasted all right. It just didn't look like it usually did." I can assure you, Mrs. S., it was ALL RIGHT. And I'm sure the homemade rolls were the same recipe that we had back in elementary school. Divine, I tell you...practically manna from heaven. (Hang on a sec, while I wipe the drool from my keyboard.)

So, in the Southern way of thinking, here's my little equation: food = love. If that is true, then lotsa food = lotsa love. Thanks everybody for showing us how much you loved Mr. Holmes, and in turn, us too!

And now we return to our previously scheduled diet...

Remembering Bobby Holmes

Last Thursday, after a 3 1/2 year battle with cancer, my father-in-law passed away at home. At times like this, the phrase "absent from the body, present with the Lord" has more meaning than  you can imagine.  

We attended his funeral on Saturday, and it was a service that honored his life. Three pastors spoke of him as a man of faith, a man of family, and a man of joy. I am convinced that he lived as long as he did because of his joyous outlook on life.        

Since I started dating Jeff at the age of 18, Mr. Holmes has been part of my life for quite some time now. He has been a father figure when I needed one, and later on, a wonderful grandfather to my kids. He loved bragging about his grandchildren, and no children anywhere in the world were as smart or as pretty as his were.  And, he gave them the most important gift over the years -- his time and attention. I am so grateful for those memories.

He could be pretty cantankerous at times, espousing his philosophies on politics and the world in general. One of the last things he said to me was that he was worried about what Obama is doing to the world that his grandkids live in.  He was extremely opinionated on most subjects and didn't mind sharing. He loved talking to just about anyone, and I often thought a perfect job for him would have been a WalMart greeter.  In fact, we hated taking him to WalMart with us because he would stop at the entrance, shake hands with the greeter, and ask him about his grandkids.  (Of course they wouldn't be as clever and beautiful as his!)

This coming Father's Day the world will be missing a really great father and grandfather; however, our loss is heaven's gain.  And what a blessing to think of him whole, healthy and even more joyous than he was here on earth. I can only imagine...

And the Toby Goes To...

Friday night was Abigail's awards recital for piano. She played a piece of her choosing, and she and I played a duet, "This Little Light of Mine."  Mrs. McKay also handed out all the awards the students had won during the past year.  

The highest award given is the Toby Award, named after Mrs. McKay's dog, Toby. She told the story of how Toby would always come into the studio during piano lessons and rest at the pedals of the piano when students were there. If the student played well, Toby stayed. If the student wasn't doing well, Toby got up and walked out! Here's a picture of him.

Abigail and Mrs. McKay

my award winning girl, who hates to have her picture made

Awards:  

Toby Award - for having the highest amount of points in participation and awards received

Gold Medal - Superior Plus rating in Solo Competition

Bronze Pin - Theory Test

Gold Pin - World of Music Test

Way to go, Abigail! Hope to see you in the Cliburn Competition one day soon.

And That's A Wrap

It's hard to believe that as I write this post, we've already been out of school for a week. Summer's flying by already!  The year ended with a bang of the usual field trips, awards, recitals, etc. -- busy, but fun.

Abigail was awarded a certificate for high honor roll for 6th grade. Here she is with her friend, Emma.

Rebecca received an award for high honor roll (yes!) and she also was awarded the Model Student Award for English. We cannot say enough about Mrs. Webb, her English teacher. Without her support and care, Rebecca would not have come so far in English. We'll miss having her as a teacher next year.

At church, the Leaders-in-Training (LITs) held a year-end service as well. The sixth graders, who will soon be heading to the youth group (yikes!) were recognized. Abigail performed with her puppet group.  Mrs. May said she will definitely miss Abigail next year.

Three Amigos - Brittany, Ally, Abigail

We also learned that Jeff's dad, who has battled cancer for 3 1/2 years is coming to the end of that battle. He has a fast-growing brain tumor and has been given only a few weeks to live. As soon as we heard, we headed to Buna for a weekend to spend time with Mr. Holmes. It was a very special time, but hard to leave knowing that we might not see him again this side of heaven.   We are praying that God would grant him a peaceful passing into eternity.

Karen, It's Got to Stop

I've been very disappointed lately in the words that have been coming from Karen Kingsbury's pen. (or should I say computer)

She has long been one of my favorite authors. From the first book, I was completely hooked. I would grab the tissues before I started the book, knowing I would need them at some point. Lately, that hasn't happened. She has taken the writing of series just a little too far in my opinion. I loved the first series that told about the lives of the Baxter family. I was even overjoyed when they continued into the next series of books. When she carried them into a third, I had to say STOP IT! There is only so much I can stand. I'm happy when we leave them at the end with their little "Happily Ever After." I don't want to follow them as they age into death. I can only take so much reality in my fiction, ya know?

So, this week I picked up "This Side of Heaven," a book that has been out for awhile, but I haven't gotten around to reading it. It was a great story. Sad in places, but overall enjoyable. As I finished it this afternoon, I was thinking, "Finally, she's back to writing new stories, creating new characters and plots." Then, I read the Afterword. STOP EVERYTHING. HOLD THE PHONE. This wasn't a made up story. It was the partial story of her brother's life. What?!? No! I cannot believe this. Sad, but true. Get it? Sad, but TRUE?

Now that I've gotten that off my chest, I would like to say that she will not have a spot on my summer reading list. (Not that I've written a summer reading list yet.) When I want that much reality in my life, I'll just live it. I don't want to read it.

Just One More Reason I'm Ready for Flip Flop Weather

Yes, this is only socks...

Mother's Day

I've slipped off to write this post because today is Mother's Day and I am absolutely refusing to clear the table, wash the dishes or fold even one tiny towel from the six loads of laundry that are currently inhabiting my couch. I'm not going to do it. No matter that I've been sick for a week and my house looks like a major tornado blew through it a few days ago. I have the right of refusal today -- and I'm refusing to clean, pick up, launder, wipe down, fold or throw away. Nope. I'm off to my scrapbook table. Right after my nap.

For your reading enjoyment, here are a few favorite thoughts from the great philosopher, Erma Bombeck.

Spend at least one Mother's Day with your prospective mother-in-law before you decide on marriage. If a man gives his mother a gift certificate for a flu shot, dump him.

I don't know why no one ever thought to paste a label on the toilet-tissue spindle giving 1-2-3 directions for replacing the tissue on it. Then everyone in the house would know what Mama knows.

Giving birth is little more than a set of muscular contractions granting passage of a child. Then the mother is born.

Housework is a treadmill from futility to oblivion with stop offs at tedium and counter productivity.

I have never gone to the bathroom in my life that a small voice on the other side of the door hasn't whined, "Are you saving the bananas for anything?"

Mother's words of wisdom: "Answer me! Don't talk with food in your mouth!"

Have you any idea how many children it takes to turn off one light in the kitchen? Three. It takes one to say, "What light?" and two more to say, "I didn't turn it on."

Onion rings in the car cushions do not improve with time.

No one ever died from sleeping in an unmade bed. I have known mothers who remake the bed after their children do it because there's a wrinkle in the spread or the blanket is on crooked. This is sick.

When mothers talk about the depression of the empty nest, they're not mourning the passing of all those wet towels on the floor, or the music that numbs your teeth, or even the bottle of capless shampoo dribbling down the shower drain. They're upset because they've gone from supervisor of a child's life to a spectator. It's like being the vice president of the United States.

Happy Mother's Day!

Sickness and Promises

I've been sick for a little over a week now. Started with a tickle in my throat, added a cough, got a little better, sinuses became involved, cough came back, major drainage, and now laryngitis.  In short, I feel pretty bad. 

As most of you know, our children's musical, Promise U, was presented on Sunday, May 3.  I think I've kept myself going by sheer force of will to complete that production. Now that it's over, my body has said, "OK...I'm done. No more! Collapse." 

The items in the picture have been my constant companions over the last week:  

1. Water - only because I hear it's supposed to help

2. Kleenex - obvious

3. Mucinex - supposed to get rid of mucous -- can you say NOT WORKING?!?

4. Nyquil - to sleep at night -- that's working

5. Airborne - big dose of vitamin C. I take my Motrin with it. Double whammy.

6. Cough drops - tired of them

7. Hot tea - I'm floating I've had so much tea. (but I still love it!)

8. Nail polish - It's not doing anything for sickness, but I've got to have something to do tomorrow while I'm stuck on the couch.

One of the problems I have after the musical is over each year is that every time I am still, the songs continue to go through my head. When I'm trying to sleep, here they come, taunting me with their repetition and beat.  Lying on the couch all day the songs have been my constant companions, much like the items in the picture above.  I also laid there today and thought of all my favorite parts of the drama, singing, lighting and choreography.  As I went through the entire show in my mind, I started thinking of all God's promises that we sang about. Now those are something to remember:

* God can change us.

* God keeps His Word.

* God will always be with you.

* God rewards the faithful.

* God is beside us to lead and guide us.

* God will multiply our gifts.

* All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.

* All God's promises are "YES" in Jesus.

I can only hope these thoughts are sticking in the kids' minds as they are in mine.  I'm thankful for God's promises and that what He has promised He will do.  You can check it out. It's in the Bible. And that's the truth, man. (had to be there) 

To see some great pictures of the musical, go to Barb's Wire. I will not post any here because I did not take any. Hey, give me a break, I was sick!

And now, I'll go do my fourth and final sinus rinse of the day, so that hopefully I will be able to breathe while I sleep. Trust me. You do not want a picture of that. Promise.

Post Birthday Post

KATHERINE!

I won't even list all the reasons this post is a day late -- suffice it to say if I told you everything going on with me you would be in the corner whimpering as well. But, even though a day late, I still want to publicly wish my beautiful Katherine a "Happy 17th Birthday!" Funny thing is, she could care less about public notice, big parties and lots of hoopla. (which is a really good thing because she got none of that)

She opened her presents on Friday and requested no pictures because she was sick. (Gets that vanity honestly from her mother's side.) She went with her dad and friend, Erinn, to a baseball game on Sunday afternoon.  

 I thought a few past pics might be fun. I realized, while looking for pictures, that she doesn't get her picture made very much. She likes to be behind the camera. Here's a few I dug up from the archives.

No parent could ask for a better teenager than Katherine. She adds so much laughter and fun to our family. I love her crazy sense of humor and how she speaks in various accents. I love how her socks never match, and how she can sleep for days.  She is a joy! I'm looking forward to her 18th year and all that God has planned for her.