Immature or Conservative

My oldest daughter is a quiet, sweet, generous, talented and exceptionally bright young lady. I know....I know....aren't they all? :) When it comes time for her to choose her courses for the following year, I always send her GT teachers an email and ask them for their opinions for the next year. They usually all say the same thing...."She can continue in GT if she applies herself." Although she is very bright, Addi is not always motivated to do above and beyond what she needs to do in school. She does just enough to make a good grade, but she won't push herself further. She doesn't study much or do anything besides what is required. I have to admit....she's the same kind of student I was. I always made good grades and did really well in school without exerting much effort. When I was a sophomore in high school, I decided that I wanted to be in the top 10; so then I started to attempt to study a little more. Honestly even by my sophomore year, it was too late for me to make top 10. I was in the top 15 out of my class of 400+, but I didn't reach my goal of top 10. NPayne and I know that Addi is able to achieve much more than she does, and although we don't want to nag her or push her too hard; we know that she really needs to start developing better study habits. NPayne went to meet with her GT History, Language, Social Studies teachers last week. At the beginning of the meeting, they were both leaning towards her moving from GT to PreAp (which is still Advanced Placement....just not as much material is covered). He asked them why they felt that way, since she was doing well in both of their classes and basically never lifts a finger. They both said they thought she was immature and naive. HUH? They then proceeded to tell him that "she doesn't seem to have the same interests as a typical 7th grader....she's not interested in reading any of the books in class....not even the Steven King books." NPayne kindly explained to them that Addi is by no means immature, she may be a little naive; and quite frankly that's okay with us. He told them that she was the oldest of 5....with one sibling being a special needs child....and that he trusts her to take care of them all for a couple of hours while we go out for the evening. He told them that she is surrounded by "young" things still, and that she spends all of her time at church, Girl Scouts, in band, or with her family. He then explained that she probably wouldn't choose most of the books, she had available for her students, because she would think they were inappropriate. Then NPayne hit them with the following statement...."I think you are confusing conservative for immature!" The teacher's reply was simply....."Oh!" He asked them if she was their child, would they let her take the easy road out next year; or encourage her to strive to do more? He told them that Addi may not have the same interests as a typical 7th grader, and we are A-OKAY with that! She then said...."You seem to know your daughter really well!" To which he replied, "Well yes, I am her father!" Then she replied, "Well you may be surprised at how many parents have no idea what their 7th graders are like." So Mrs. Hill....to that last statement I am going to accept as a compliment on NPayne's behalf....but I am also thinking that it's quite sad that there are so many parents who "have no idea what their 7th graders are like." What I do know is that Addi is a true blessing, and I am so very grateful that she is not a typical 7th grader....at least from what Mrs. Hill explained. I hope that she will always sing to her own song, walk her own walk, stand strong in her values, and hold her chin up high for being so called "immature" or what we refer to as "conservative"!

"Stuff"

NPayne and I were raised in very different circumstances....we were both raised in homes full of love, but our circumstances were indeed very different.

I was an only child raised by two full time working parents. As a young child, my parents faced financial hardships but eventually overcame them with lots of hard work....I mean LOTS of work. My parents worked a lot! By the time I was a teenager, I wouldn't say we were by any means rich, but I never did without. I never worked in high school except in the summers. My parents paid for my college education, car, clothes, etc. until I was on my own at 22.

NPayne is the youngest of 3 who was raised primarily by his mother and grandmother. His dad died when he was 1. His mother faced many financial hardships, and she worked very hard as well; but she didn't overcome those financial harships until her children were grown. NPayne did work in high school, but it wasn't to buy things for himself. He worked to help keep the water turned on, to keep the electricity from getting shut off. He worked to help pay the bills!

Through all of this, we had very different perspectives when we first became parents....

It may seem odd, but I thought it would be good for our children to work for things they wanted, buy their own cars, possibly pay for their own college. NPayne thought completely differently....he wanted to make sure we could buy them EVERYTHING, because his mother couldn't do that for him. As we've grown in our marriage, our faith, our relationships with each other, our children, our friends, our GOD; we have sort of naturally met in the middle. We never argued over this difference. We discussed it from time to time, and as our family grew; we realized that we can certainly provide their needs...but there is no way we can provide everyone's wants. So out of the necessity that is our life, our children will and do have to work for things they want. They know that they will have to buy their own cars and pay for some of their college, BUT....they know that we will help them! I think we have come to an agreement that we will help them, but we won't give them everything they want....even if we could. We have seen with our girls....even at young ages....that when they really want something that we aren't going to buy them, they will work for it. We have also seen that it helps them to determine if they really want to spend their money on it, and for the most part....it helps them take better care of it and be more responsible. Now I'm not saying we don't ever buy our kids things they want, because that would be an untruth. What I am saying is that.... when our newly turned 13 year old daughter wanted a new fancier version of a cell phone.....after she had gone 6 months without the simple one that we had bought her, because she dropped it in the toilet and it no longer worked....we basically said "You need to research it, see how much it costs, figure out how much you will need and are willing to spend, and start saving!" And she did....she researched, saved, and bought herself a nice new fancier cell phone. I was not in the least bit tempted to buy her a new phone. BUT when our newly turned 13 year old asks me to take her shopping, so she can buy her sister a birthday present....I am much more tempted to say "Oh I'll buy her something from you", but I don't. I let her figure out what she wants to get her and how much she is willing to spend. When our 9 year old wants me to buy her another webkinz, I don't hesitate in saying "NO"; but when our 9 year old takes something off the cross at church to help the poor....and it happens to be to buy a chicken through World Vision that costs $13... NPayne and I would be much more tempted to pay for something like that, HOWEVER; we don't. She worked all through Spring Break....pet sitting...and earned enough money to buy the chicken and have quite a bit leftover! As I said before, we do buy our kids "stuff"; we just don't buy them a lot of "stuff". As I learn more about people all over the world, who are doing without needs much less a want; it is really settling in with me that "stuff" is not important. It's just not. As I am slowly clearing out "stuff" in our house, I am realizing that I don't want my children to think it's all this "stuff" that makes us happy or fulfilled. I want them to know that giving, serving, loving all in the name of JESUS with the glory given to Him will be much more fulfilling. Ultimately it's the relationship they are building with Christ that will make them happy and fulfilled, and through that relationship....they will see how rich they are....without any money or any "stuff"!

Autism Awareness Month

April is Autism Awareness Month!!! Stay Tuned for several posts about my precious boy, Callahan! But for now, I leave you with this....

Cal at The Special Olympics last week!

He won 1st in the 50M Dash,

and he won 3rd in the Softball Throw!

All he really understands is what he told me....

"I throw a ball, I run a race, I get a ribbon!

I have fun at the track meet!"

And really that's what it's all about...

He knows what's really important even if he doesn't realize it!

I love you Cal!

....I....

I use to bite my nails and still do when I'm at the movies.

I often sleep in my clothes when it's cold....clean clothes....but clothes nonetheless.

I can go days without washing my hair but not without a shower.

I wish I could get rid of my ugly spider veins and varicose veins.

I've had stitches too many times to count.

I don't mind reheating coffee in the afternoon that was perked early that morning.

I wear slippers everywhere.

I wash all the clothes in our bathroom hamper together on cold....without sorting them.

I eat peanut butter on a piece of whole grain bread topped off with a glass of chocolate milk every single day.

I rarely eat what I cook for dinner, and cereal is often my main course.

I don't always wear makeup, but I am unattractive without it.....especially mascara.

I LOVE old dishes, linens and furniture.

I collect crosses, tea cups, samplers, and anything that has The Last Supper on it. I use to collect more stuff but had to stop to avoid clutter.

I prefer dresses or skirts over shorts when it's warm.

I cut my own hair, my kids' hair and help NPayne cut his hair.

I could spend hours lounging in my bed reading.

I don't like to wear a coat or carry a purse.

I have been known to brush my teeth so often that I caused damage to my teeth and gums.

I don't like going to the dentist.

I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 8 1/2 years ago. I never knew how much joint pain in your fingers could affect your life.

I am not very sympathetic but am trying to be.

I need to spend more time with my mom.

I miss my dad....A LOT!

I am busy a lot and am not a fan of busyness.

I ran over many mailboxes when I first learned to drive.

I snuck out of my friend's house once.

I love naps.

I loved helping my grandmother hang clothes on the clothesline and loved the way they smelled when they were dry.

I use to ask for a brother for Christmas, but I never got one.

I have never liked to drive or talk on the phone.

I am technologically challenged by choice.

I get extremely motion sick!

I've had migraines every since I can remember.

I played with Barbies until I was 12 or 13.

I slept with my parents several nights a week.

I've had chicken pox, mumps and measles.

I am cranky without lots of sleep.

I use to help my grandmother collect rocks for her rock garden. I want a rock garden.

I don't like my hair short.

I wear my hair in a ponytail almost every day.

I love to read and write.

I want NPayne to get his college degree.

I want to finish my Masters degree.

I was a bank teller in college, and the bank I worked at was robbed at gunpoint.

When I was in 3rd grade, my school burned to the ground.

I haven't found anything that is worth waiting in line or fighting a crowd for.

I use to have a horse named Sassy Sunrise when I was a teenager.

I drove a Vega when I was 15....My dad bought it from the junkyard for $300 and painted it Candy Apple Red. I didn't need a key to start it.

I graduated in the top 15 of my high school class of 450.

I would love to have a Scooter with a side car.

I am still HOPING for another baby.....

My Baby!

So it looks like we may have some good news....I just received a call from my pediatrician's office, and it seems that my baby does in fact have a UTI! They are running more tests to check some things out, but so far, that seems to be the cause of my girl's extreme discomfort. I know you are thinking....how can a UTI be good news? Well when your baby girl is miserably crying and crying and crying in pain....all sorts of things start to run through your head. When you hear, it's a UTI....you immediately say "THANK GOD! It's nothing more serious!" I will say that yesterday she was about back to normal....just from one day's worth of antibiotics. Today she is her fiesty, fun, fabulous self. She is still not eating much of anything, but she feels GREAT! Thank you....thank you....thank you for praying! I was starting to get a little more than a little concerned....get my drift? Again thank you! We appreciate you tons!
Elliot and Her Mama!

My Baby!

My little Elliot is not well. She has been battling severe stomache pains for about a week and a half....they aren't constant but come and go. I took her to the pediatrcian today, and she is being checked for a UTI. She also prescribed some Prevacid to see if that would help. She couldn't feel any lumps or masses in her tummy, but the lowgrade fever and pain are causing her to be cautious. Hopefully she just has some reflux or something along those lines, and the Prevacid will help. If things don't improve soon, stool sample....xray....blood work will be our next plan of attack. Until then, prayers would be great. I appreciate you all!

What I Love About My Roots!

Picking cotton by hand.

Riding on the tractor.

My Uncle Mike letting me drive the truck when I was way too young to drive.

Walking down to the railroad tracks and putting pennies on the tracks.....going back the next day to retrieve my flattened pennies.

Hanging clothes on the clothes line and loving the way they smelled.

Collecting rocks for my Mamaw's rock garden.

Going into town on Fridays, so Mamaw could get her hair done.

Picking vegetables from the garden for dinner.

Shelling beans and peas.

Eating homemade peaches and cream.

Going to church on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Eating at The Sirloin after church on Sundays.

The house and farm that my Papaw built with his own hands.

Visiting my Papaw at the courthouse and banging the gavel....he was also the county judge for many years.

Driving into the adjacent city to go bowling.

Mamaw putting my hair into sponge rollers or braids on Saturday nights before church.

Building forts and playing Barbies with my cousins.

The best Easter egg hunts ever.

M-System....the only grocery store in town.

Cherry LimeAids from The HaTaHo.

The best corndogs in the world at The Corndog.

Reading The Bible with Mamaw.

Fishing with Papaw.

Taking long walks.

Never watching TV....they only had 3 channels.

Pizza Burgers.

Visiting relatives....on my mama's and daddy's sides of the family.

Riding Aunt Mary's and Uncle JC's two seater bicycle.

Playing with the neighbor girl....Cynthia....and jumping on her trampoline.

Singing songs on a tape recorder to send to Uncle Mike while he was in Vietnam.

Papaw dancing a jig.....and us laughing so hard our sides hurt.

Going to Skinny's to get a Coke.

Playing outside with lemon juice on my hair to "lighten it up naturally"....my Mamaw would say.

Shopping at Heidenheimers and Littlefields.

Going into The Soda Fountain and having real ice cream sodas.

Taking a bath in Mamaw's pink bath tub.

Mamaw rubbing my back and telling me nursery rhymes as I fell asleep.

Papaw tying my shoes so tight my feet hurt.

Dressed to the nines for church on Sundays.

Having family reunions at the High School.

Swimming in the biggest city swimming pool I had ever seen.

Working in the yard....tending to Mamaw's flowers.

Washing dishes by hand...no dishwasher.

Mamaw washing my hair in the kitchen sink.

Their little silver Christmas tree at Christmas....I LOVED it!

My Mamaw's vanity set and vanity.

Papaw's old desk.

Mamaw's Bible and all her notes in it.

Ice out of ice trays.

Learning about the love of Jesus.

Finding every note, letter or picture I ever sent them when Mamaw died. No wonder I'm so sentimental!

My grandparents are largely responsible for who I am today, and I am striving to live my life as they did. They taught me about The Bible and the love of Christ. They lived a full but simple life....were grateful, generous, and thrifty; and I always wanted to be just like them when I grew up. I adored my Mamaw and Papaw and wish, so very much, that I could take my own children to their farm to experience all the wonderful things I did as a girl, young lady, woman.

Sunday Sermon Summary....What's so good about Good Friday?

Why do we celebrate Easter? According to dictionary.com....

EASTER:

1. A Christian feast commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus.

2. The day on which this feast is observed, the first Sunday following the full moon that occurs on or next after the vernal equinox.

   
   

   What about Good Friday? Why is it called "Good" when so much bad happened to Jesus? Today in church, Ken described in detail what happened to Jesus on Good Friday....the beatings, the torture, the taunting, and ultimately his death. Although I've heard it so many times before, it took my breath away today to imagine it again. He then asked...."Why did Jesus have to die in order for our sins to be forgiven?" Why didn't God just say....You are all forgiven without Jesus having to suffer such a horrible death? He could have done that, but it was His will for Jesus to die for our sins.

   2 Corinthians 5:21:

   ²¹ For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,^[a] so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

   Jesus is the perfect lamb that was sacrificed for us.....just like the perfect lambs that were to be sacrificed at Passover.

   As far as "Good" Friday, it is good; because of what we gained from it. The sacrifice, the beatings, the torture, the taunting, and the death of Jesus was to offer us eternal life. We receive the "good" of Good Friday, and Jesus suffered so much bad for us....for YOU and ME! He suffered, so that when we do sin....which we all do....the separation that occurs between us and God can be forgiven and brought together.

   Isaiah 59

   Separation from God

   
   ¹Behold, ^(A)the LORD'S hand is not so short
   That it cannot save;
   ^(B)Nor is His ear so dull
   That it cannot hear.
   ²But your ^(C)iniquities have made a separation between you and your God,
   And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does ^(D)not hear.
   

   If you ask for forgiveness....really ask for it....you will receive it! I have finally started to really understand that. That concept was always so hard for me to grasp....that all I had to do was ask to be forgiven. I use to ask for forgiveness and really want to be forgiven, but then I would find myself asking Him over and over to forgive me for the sin I had already asked for and been forgiven for. Someone told me once that this was making a mockery of the sacrifice of Jesus....because if I really believed I was forgiven....I wouldn't continue to ask for forgiveness for the same situation/sin. That was eye opening for me, and I finally started to grasp it. I started really believing that I was forgiven. I needed to stop harping on that particular mistake or choice, because I had been forgiven when I truly asked for forgiveness the first time. When I saw "The Passion Of The Christ", I wept during most of that interpretation of what occured on Good Friday. What Jesus went through was so horrific, and I found myself feeling so angry and saddened by how He was treated. As a Christian and follower of Jesus, I knew that horrible day of events was all for me....and for you....and although the suffering was more than I would have ever imagined....I knew it was good , and it's called "Good" Friday; because of what was given up for us!

PHOTOS....

Photos from yesterday's session....aren't they cute?

A Moment In The Life Of Elliot

I caught Elliot walking to our tree swing, so of course I grabbed my camera; because well who wouldn't. If you saw this vision of loveliness all decked out in her tutu, wellies and her huge flower in headband....you know you would have grabbed your camera too....

Of course when she spotted me,

she had to strike a pose....VOGUE!

Help Me Henry....she is FABULOUS!

Wait a minute.....Wait just one minute....

I sense some sillyness coming on.

Could this mean....

....YES, it's the famous "sticking out the tongue" manuver.

That really takes talent and sillyness.

Just in case you missed it,

a close up of the "sticking out the tongue manuver"!

Hold your horses everyone!

Elliot takes the famous "sticking out the tongue" manuver one step further.....

A gasp followed by a hush in the crowd....as they then wildly applaud....

Elliot has done it.

She has made the famous "sticking out your tongue" manuver

that much more silly by adding her hands and waving her fingers wildly.

A PERFECT 10 in sillyness.....the crowd goes wild.

Too bad, I was the only one in the crowd to see it;

but she didn't mind.

She was quite pleased with herself as her mother cheered and applauded for her.

I think the cars passing by had to have been applauding and cheering wildly as well....

several of them were slowing down to gaze at this vision of loveliness....

or maybe....

they were gazing at this crazy woman cheering and applauding in her front yard.