Around here, the rest of the family attempts to wake up before the birthday child. The first one up gets to quietly wake up the rest of the gang. The birthday child might be awake, but their eyes remain closed, possibly fluttering a bit as they listen to the nearby “shushing”. The birthday child quickly remembers what day it is as “Happy Birthday to You” begins. (It’s an unspoken rule, but they have to remain in bed till the song is finished). Mind you, I don’t think the sound quality is super because our voices haven’t warmed up, but the thoughtfulness is always appreciated.

This was tradition, and yes, it was predictable. However, on Bradley’s birthday, I could not have predicted what my boys would do (How many times have I said that?). As I peeked into their room, I thought I saw Bradley stirring, but he was all covered up in his covers facing the wall. So, I decided to quickly sing to him, and then I would gather the others later (because it was so early…we had stayed up late the night before). Well, when I got to “Happy Birthday, dear Bradley…” he sprang out of his covers and it was Benjamin! At the same time, Bradley popped his head down from Benjamin’s top bunk! Those two had switched places! They got me good! So, I said, “Let’s do this again. I’ll go wake the girls!” And they fooled the girls as well! Each new year definitely brings more smiles!

And I know what you might be thinking….C.C. is going to write a novel…it would be really novel if she posted on her blog more than once a month.:)

But seriously, we are thinking about trying our hand at “NaNoWriMo” (National Novel Writing Month) as a group effort, and perhaps individually.

Here is her email…

“I want to let all of you know about NaNoWriMo. Everybody’s busy, I know, but this could be the year that you and/or your kids write a novel. November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), and hundreds of thousands of adults and kids write novels in November. Yes, complete novels. If you meet your word count, you’re declared a winner — yes, a novelist. It doesn’t matter if it’s really bad or not. If it’s a finished novel, you’re a winner.

Adults have to write 50,000 words (short novel), and children set their own word-count goals. Does it sound like something you want to explore?

Check out these links:

Young Writer’s Program: http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/what-is-nanowrimo

General Writer’s Program: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/whatisnano

Check it out! I’m doing this as part of a class, but it sounds too fun to keep to myself. Most people want to write a novel but can’t get started. This lets you get started — and finished — by giving you deadlines for each day in November. It’s going to be crazy fun! (I haven’t checked out the website for language, so please look at it with your kids.)”

So, how about you?

How about you? Have you ever had the convenience of using a screwdriver at your fingertips or am I the screwycrazy one?

Michelle's first cake experience.

You always sucked on those two fingers, and grabbed some of my hair with your other hand. You came out of the womb with a blister on those same sweet fingers! You are currently wearing braces largely due to this:)

When Michelle was a 6 month old baby, she would hum along when I sang her to sleep. As a young toddler, she could hear a song once and pick up on most of the lyrics, and the tune! Often, she would ask me to play “Moah’s Ark”, which is what she called “Mozart”, when she was young.

Michelle at age 3 was talking to Nonnie on the phone and she said, “I like my watch!” Paige then tells Michelle: “Tell her mine, too!” So, Michelle said, “I like sister’s watch, too!”

As dinner was coming out of the oven, patient two-year-old Michelle shouts out: “It’s ready! It’s ready! Praise the LORD!”

When Michelle was four, she asked me a cute question (around Father’s Day): “When is ‘Kid’s Day’?”
Also when Michelle was four, she was on a walk (with other people nearby) and she asked Daddy: “Master, why do you always speak in parables when a crowd is near?” (a quote from the Jesus video.)

Michelle

When Paige was five, she went to the E.R. for high fever. When she came home, Michelle wanted a “bracelet” like the one the hospital gave to Paige. Well, three days later, Michelle had a bad bike accident, and was absolutely thrilled to get her own “bracelet” and air cast. She exclaimed, “I love this!” as she pointed to the air cast!
At this age, she also enjoyed making homemade paper “Brandy” dolls (the name of her doll family). I had to smile as she pointed to one of the dolls and described, “Momma is the one with sleepy eyes!”:)

Her love for purses started at a young age!

One of her hardest birthdays...Paige (on her right) had just been diagnosed with cancer, and had eye surgery a few days before Michelle's party.

You

Staying nearby, we were also comforted. We stayed in the Dallas area with my parents one night, and then Brad and I enjoyed a romantic stay at their hotel the following night, but we saw very little of them. Our main contact was through texting. I will let them tell all about it (hint, hint) when they decide to blog. I know I have no room to talk as I have been absent from the blogging community for a record-long time. They did have a wonderful, and safe time.

We also extremely enjoyed spending time with my parents and brother. Interestingly, we went with them to a park and attempted to fly two kites. As the string was loosening, I was struck by the fact that I was loosening the reins/string with my two daughters who were now flying solo, yet together, in that cloudy sky.

We did have the privilege of hearing them perform with the SMU choir on their Encore Youth Chorus Tour. Here is a short clip I found on youtube of the girls (Paige and Michelle) singing. Enjoy!Encore Youth Chorus w/SMU

I specifically recall one adventurous time when I was shopping with Paige (my eldest), who was three years old (and I only had two children back then). We were at a Christian book store, and her hands were wanting to touch everything. One phrase I seemed to always be repeating was, “Look with your eyes, not your hands.” But ah… then came a teachable moment. Paige spied a shiny, gold-plated bookmark with words engraved on the top. She knew the letters were words and sweetly asked me what those words said. I told her, “Paid…in…full” (being a teacher, I was speaking slowly and running my fingers underneath the words).

Then, I went on to explain how salvation is a free gift to us, and how Jesus paid for it when He died on the cross. Well, in all my explaining, and poor usage of the pronoun “it”, I failed to communicate very well. My error became pretty obvious to me when I returned home and she took out her bookmark to show Daddy her free gift. Well, being the cute “free”-year-old that she was, we all had a good laugh, and then we returned it to Scripture Stall.

As we entered the store, I shared the story of our first (and last) shoplifting experience, which became quite a spirit-lifting experience! This was definitely a “happy return”. In my few experiences with returning items, I cannot remember a single time when the service desk people gave me a laugh (yes, sometimes I received service with a smile-albeit, a possible fake one). Well, audible laughter trickled out of the patient clerk who was behind the counter at Scripture Stall that day!

God’s salvation is a free gift. It cost us nothing, yet cost Him everything!

Here are the words to a favorite hymn that our choir has learned at co-op:

“Free, Free, Free”

(Author and composer unknown)

(vs. 1) Hark! sinner, hark! we have tidings so true,

Tidings of pardon and blessings for you!

God, in His word says that Christ on the tree,

Died for guilty sinners, and “Salvation is free.”

Chorus:

Hear the news, sinner, free! free! free!

Why not believe it ? ‘Tis good news for thee.

Jesus the Just One has died on the tree,

Died for guilty sinners, and “Salvation is free.”

(vs. 2) Guilty you are, yet you know very well

Jesus has suffered to save you from hell;

Tho’ now condemned, justified you may be,

Jesus paid the ransom, and “Salvation is free.”

(vs.3) Trust not in “doing,” it cannot avail.

Good resolutions and works  can but fail;

“Grace, grace alone,” is the saved sinner’s plea,

“Not of works,” the Scriptures say, “Salvation is free.”

(vs.4) Trust not in feelings, your heart is depraved.

Trust only Jesus, who now lives to save;

Tears of repentance, tho’ real they may be,

Ne’er can purchase heaven, for “Salvation is free.”

Nine years ago today, Paige was diagnosed with cancer. I continually praise the Lord Jesus Christ that he saved her from a deadly disease. I also praise the Lord for taking our eternal life-threatening disease, which is sin, and giving his life to pay for the penalty of our sin in order that we might live with the Lord Jesus, the only One who conquered death and the grave, forever.
Here is a song that I recently heard and enjoyed…
Christ Is Risen By Matt Maher

Last Wednesday evening, Paige had a low fever, and her breathing seemed labored. Last Thursday (morning), she was having a hard time drawing a deep breath, and her fingernails had an unnatural “blueness” to them that warranted a speedy trip to the Med Clinic (thank you, Google search), and a not-so-speedy wait (four hours). The chest x-rays revealed that she had pneumonia. She was prescribed two antibiotics and an inhaler. They were ready for pick-up in the late afternoon.

I had just given Paige her first dose, when we all heard a loud sound…like a explosion! I thought the boys might have broken something, but the girls said it sounded more like a gun shot in our front yard. Well, normally, that would not inspire me to go outside, but our good scout, Faith, peeked out the window and said there was smoke. So, out I hobbled. And what exactly did my wondering eyes see? A burning bush…in my front yard! Yikes!

I quickly hurried to turn the hose on, and a nice man, who just happened to be driving by, pointed out two other fire sparks in my front yard and doused them. He told me he saw some guys run off across our field, (after they had set off a firecracker in the street) and asked me if he wanted me to try to get them. I said (with fire in my eyes): “Yes! Bring them to me!” I was incredibly “not happy, Bob…not happy!” (quote from The Incredibles)

So, there I waited, dousing the rest of my yard with the hose, looking for more fires to put out! I’m quite certain the people who drove by wondered why I was outside watering my grass in mid-winter. It was freezing outside (I had no jacket or shoes on), but I was fuming. It had been one of those days that your momma always warns you about!

Thankfully, my spirit did “cool down” as I remembered a verse…”It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23) God was amazingly merciful to us. The kind man in the truck returned to inform me that the guys were coming, and that he told them I was calling the police.

Three law-breakers slowly walked, heads down, across the field. I was still mad, but God told me to show mercy (quench not the Spirit). I told the boys my sad song about how I had just arrived from picking up prescriptions for my daughter, who currently has pneumonia, and my knee is messed up, and that it was not terribly easy for me to play firefighter. I continued lecturing these high-school boys by informing them how incredibly irresponsible they were to just run off and leave, and how thankful I was to be home. They kept on apologizing. I told them I was going to show them mercy and not call the cops, but that I hoped and prayed they would never do anything that stupid again.

Maybe you don’t agree with my letting them go, but I had another fire to put out. This fire was the one inside me: the anger, and frustrations of the day. I also was reminded how I was a law-breaker too, and God had mercy on me by sending His own Son to save me from eternal fire! I don’t think the Lord was speaking to me through that burning bush, but He does continue to teach me through many things. He is still with me in every trial, and I am repeatedly leaning on His everlasting arms!

My knee is still hurting and inflamed; however, when I hurried to put out the flames that day, I heard some pops (my knee, not more fireworks), and now my range of motion has greatly improved. Please know that I am not advocating fireworks or setting lawns ablaze for a “sure-fire” way to improve a sprained knee. Just saying…

Thankfully, we also were blessed to have some friends drop by some essential oils and two diffusers/humidifiers that seemed to help as well. I was willing to try anything! It takes your breath away when you witness your child struggling just to draw a breath. Totally scary. Praise the LORD that she is doing so well! “Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”(Psalm 150:6) Paige is doing much better, but Bradley came down with it on Monday. I think the three (Benjamin, Paige, and Michelle) are on the mend (still coughing, but no fevers). Four of us haven’t been touched by “it”…yet! Please pray for continued healing and protection.

Recently, one of my friends asked me to give our ladies group a pep talk on exercise and health. Her request gave me a good belly work-out from all of my laughter! Let me explain. In early December, I went with BC to work out at the gym. I wasn’t looking down, but out, as I stepped up and on the treadmill; unfortunately, it happened to be in motion at the time. So…down I tumbled. It felt like the carpet had been pulled out from under me, but wait..this was no ordinary carpet. It was a magic carpet ride, and I wasn’t getting off until I went up and down at least three times before flipping off the killer machine…ouch! BC said I was laughing all the way. I suppose I usually laugh, even when I am in pain (or embarrassed). I’m weird like that. Did I mention that I had just told BC that I did not really want to be noticed because I had what I thought was shingles near my right eye? So, our conversation home went something like this:

Me: How come you never fall, honey?
BC: (long pause) Uh, well, maybe I am just a little more observant, sweetie.
Me: (resorting to childish talk) It’s not fair, I tell you! The last time you fell seems like we were in college!
BC: This is why you are a perfect person to have a blog. These things just happen to you. Have you thought about calling your blog: “The Fall Girl”?

So…the busy month of December, and some residual back soreness from the above-mentioned trip, encouraged us to add a little more winter fat as we took a vacation from exercise, and then a trip to New Mexico.

We had such a nice time visiting with my G.G. and G.P., and being with family (although we especially missed our Tennessee family). We continued north and we all stayed at a lovely, cozy 5 bedroom home in Ruidoso, New Mexico. We had great fun at a winter park there where we went tubing down the hills. Small.jpg”>I had a nice time digging an ice fort with some of the kids, but the altitude was hard to get used to.

Well, an opportunity came to go skiing, and three of our girls wanted to try it out. None of us had ever been. BC had a bad feeling about it (and I did, too), but we needed someone to watch and help them (or so we thought). So, I went with the older three (crazy, huh?), and BC stayed and planned to play in the snow, or go on a hike with the younger two. Our youngest was safe in the care of Nonnie and Uh-Oh back at the house (he was having some trouble with the altitude, as well as my two small nieces).

I had just nervously signed the consent waivers, and received my skis and poles. We were all walking out to the snow, and I had a choice to ski down the little incline (bunny hill) or to walk down. I had one ski on (whoa!). I hesitated. My brother-in-law suggested we all ski down. My wise sister suggested we walk. Did I fail to mention that I have never been on skis before? Well, I saw everybody skiing down the “cliff”, I mean, baby hill, so I went along with the crowd! I thought: Why walk when you can fly, right? WRONG! I flew on my skis for 5-10 seconds before I crashed!

I believe the saying: “It’s all downhill from here” is not referring to skiing, maybe running, biking, or mountain climbing, but things did not get easier for me…as the saying could imply! My left ski was behind me, my knee turned in and I heard popcorn popping (oh, about 6 times), then felt severe pain in my left knee, and it all went downhill from there (notice context). I was told that I landed in an awkward position, and I was face-down in the snow…screaming my head off. My sister stopped to help me, and she took my skis off (evidently, they don’t always come off when you fall down). I couldn’t move the leg. She hailed the first aid sled to come pick me up (and snapped this picture of me…nice, eh?).

I thought: This can’t be happening. Where are my girls? Are they okay? My sister said she would help watch the girls. She was great, and I agreed that I needed to listen to her more, but knew the blame was all mine!

I was greeted by a friendly first aid dude that was kind enough to flatter me by asking me if I was 19. It helped for about a second. Then, the pain returned, along with the realization that I am not 19! He was getting me wrapped up for the ride (like a papoose), when a young girl (5 years or so) ran smack into both of us (my knees, his hands). The man and I both screamed loudly, then the little girl screamed. I tried to assure the girl it was okay, but I stumbled to find words. Well, I found words, but the pain made me talk like a slow robot: “It’s…o…kay…swee…tie!”

When I got to the first aid station, they put my knee into a cardboard splint, then proceeded to ask a lot of questions. Questions like:

“Do you fall often?”:)
“In your own words, tell me exactly what happened.” ?
And my favorite…”What could you have done to prevent this?”
I answered the last question with this reply:
“I have no idea…never ski in the first place?” Well, that didn’t go over well with one of the ladies there. She insisted that I needed to come back and take lessons, and she spent some time trying to work out a deal for me so I could come back. I told her honestly that I doubted I would ever ski again (I was putting my foot down!).

Well, in walks my twin…feeling my pain. She saved the day by giving me some Motrin. Then, my sweet brother comes in. One of the first-aid helpers had a knife in her hand and jokingly stated, “It looks like we are going to have to amputate!”. My brother quickly retorted, “That’s enough of that, Judy.” (or whatever her name was). I laughed, but it hurt to move. My brother can always make me laugh!

So, they told me they were having a time trying to find BC. I stopped laughing. My brother went on a second quest for him, but I was told that many people seemed to look like BC. So, it took some time. They gave me some ice, and I was okay as long as I didn’t move the knee at all. My dear twin offered to drive me down the mountain (45 minutes to nearest E.R.). I hesitated. I would be scared to drive down that mountain. I am inclined to think that the saying: “It’s all downhill from here” (meaning it gets easier) also does not apply to driving down steep and twisty inclines. Therefore, I declined her offer. I told her that I wanted BC to drive me, and I would just wait and pray.

The gang at first-aid helped me into my twin’s minivan, but I was still waiting for BC. Just then, BC came running to the van with the kids. Hallelujah! My brother had just found him in the parking lot! As BC and our two youngest kids were walking to the car to put away the leftover pizza, BC offered my brother some pizza. My brother quickly insisted: “Sure, I’ll take the pizza, but you need to run as fast as you can to that brown van down there. CC is hurt.”

So, BC took me to the E.R., and my brothers and sisters watched our kids. They had a great time skiing, and building a snow fort! I love my family. Thankfully, no one else got hurt. However, there was a packed E.R. with only one doctor. We were there for six hours! We were pleased that the x-ray showed no breaks, but it was a sprained knee (possible meniscus tear or MCL tear…on the inside). They gave me a brace, pain meds, and crutches. The next day we were to travel to Abilene to see our dear friends. My sweet mom and dad offered to take me in their car, so I could stretch out. I was very glad! I have become aware of how marvelously complicated the knee is, which God constructed, and thankful that it wasn’t any worse. It continues to get better every day.

The biggest “down” part of our trip was hearing that my sweet grandmother and wonderful G.P. were in a terrible car accident. A young man ran a red light, and slammed right into innocent G.G. They flew her out to the trauma hospital where they did emergency surgery on her. Her hips, shoulder, ribs, and foot were broken. Our hearts were breaking over her broken body. We could not even imagine her pain. I had some pain in my knee, but I knew it was incomparable to hers! She is recovering, but it is a slow road. Please pray for her as she heals now in rehab, and that the Lord, our Healer, would mend her bones! Like is full of twists and turns—some more pleasant than others! I continue to thank God for His purposes for our pain, and His faithful presence…even when we fall!

However, sometimes, we reflect on how much we learned from cancer’s most unexpected visit, and we are thankful. I wrote the following poem in the fall of 2004 when we were doing just that. My poem is a compilation of some of Paige’s quotes. Her hair was growing back, and she was happy to finally have more hair than her two-year-old brother, Bradley! My broken heart had been repaired, and was beating with thankfulness and praise to the LORD, Jesus Christ. My children were all alive and well, outside of a few colds (which, I assured them, were not cancerous).

Journey With Cancer

My daughter was diagnosed with cancer.

She was only a child of eight.

I asked her to share some things that were bad,

And also some things that were great.

She said, “Getting shots was no fun at all!”

I had to agree with her, too.

‘Cause giving her shots was sometimes my job;

A job I did not like to do!

She talked on losing her lunch and dinner,

And the sad day she lost her hair.

But quickly said, “Mom, you know, some of my friends…

Lost their lives on earth…let’s stop there.”

She said she was thankful she has her life.

And for the gifts along the way:

“Cards, candy, games, hats, Make-A-Wish trip,

Videos, pilot for a day!”

“The love from family and friends, doctors,

Nurses, and some I’ve never met!

Learning about cancer, trusting Jesus,

And learning about life and death.”

“What is your most favorite possession?”

I asked her a few months ago.

“Jesus is my favorite possession!

Oh Momma, didn’t you know?”

~CC

"Pilot For A Day"

My children teach me things all the time. I’ll never forget the day I gave Paige the word “possession” for her spelling test, and then asked her what her favorite possession was. Her beautiful response so encouraged me, and I realized that my children have quite a bit to teach me! She was only a child of eight.

What Cancer Cannot Do

Cancer is so limited.

It cannot cripple love.

It cannot shatter hope.

It cannot corrode faith.

It cannot eat away at peace.

It cannot destroy confidence.

It cannot kill friendship.

It cannot shut out memories.

It cannot invade the soul.

It cannot reduce eternal life.

It cannot quench the spirit.

It cannot lessen the power of the resurrection.

-Anonymous

“Maw Maw” C. went to be with Jesus.

There’s nowhere else she’d rather be!

Disease made her seem child-like to us,

Although she was almost ninety!

Her mind had reverted severely.

Sadly, she was memory-free.

But we still remember her warmly-

Loving on babies, especially!

She bounced five sweet babies on her knee:

Sue, David, Jo, Beth, and Eddie.

She cared for children so happily…

Grandkids, great-grandkids…”any baby”

(She was a volunteer at “Any Baby Can”-organization that helps take care of young babies that need to be held, and she was a foster grandma)

I recall a day I wasn’t at ease,

Maw’s hands reached out to bounce my “sweet pea”.

I was torn because I felt that she

Knew her strength wasn’t like it used to be.

“Maybe I shouldn’t bounce the babies.

I’d sure hate to drop them! Oh Me!”

So, I held my child upon Maw’s knees.

We sang, smiled, bounced, and all were pleased!

Then came the day the sun went down early (she had “sundowners”)

Confused, she wanted to go home…

To love and care for her babies…

But her “babies” were now full-grown!

But Jesus remembers the day she

Got down and she prayed on her knees.

She told God that she really believes

Jesus died, paying all penalties.

A different sun, His Son, went down

To death so that we might be set free.

For all sins, but then He rose again,

For He is God, Man, Spirit…Three!

Like Maw Maw, I imagine that He

Bounced the little ones on His knee.

He said, “Let the little ones come unto Me!”

She now dwells with Him for eternity.

By CC