Weekend Fun!

I am not sure that we will see Winter this year. This past weekend definitely did not feel like November. It was beautiful, but just not what you expect in November. We took advantage of it, and spent the majority of the time outside.

Friday night we had a bonfire at our house for the youth at our church. It was rather warm for a fire, but it was fun just the same.










Isabelle and Camon in front of the bonfire.



They call me the fireman...










We're gonna need a big stick to fight the boys off ...
Katie, Isabelle, Lacie, Rayley, and Jordan


Saturday we spent all day out in Deda's and Mimi's boat. We fished a little, but mostly just rode part of the lake/river that we had never been down. It was a beautiful, relaxing fall day. I enjoy those times with my family.










Dad teaching me how not to hold you're tongue when fishing.











Isabelle and Lacie ..................................................................Silly faces!










Playing in the minnow bucket.............................................You want me to kiss the WHAT????

Heavenly Conversations!

Isabelle has really been talking about Heaven al ot since I took her to my uncle's funeral. It is kind of neat that so many times adults focus on death, but not kids. She talks about what is in Heaven and each night when she prays she says "And, thank you for Heaven that we will go to one day. Where Grandma, and MamMaw Phillips,and Uncle Dennis are there." It is so sweet to hear.

The most detailed conversation that my children have had lately about Heaven, came from Camon. We were driving one day and out of the blue, he said, "Momma. When you die your spirit goes to heaven and you bury your body, right?" me - "Yes." C-"Then when Jesus comes back to earth to get us, your spirit will come back and get your body. But it will be all new and not hurt anymore. We will not cry or hurt." me - "That's right." C - "Well, when Jesus died on the cross and then went to Heaven did His body go with His Spirit or did it stay here?" me - "Well, it went with Him." C - "Oh! So that is why they could not find Him in the tomb?" Me - "Yes." C- "So, our spirit will find our body. Did Uncle Dennis have a pet? Is there a place for pets in Heaven?" me- "Well, they do not have a soul like humans do, but I am not sure of the answer to that." C - "I bet that God has a heaven for pets, because He wants us to be sooooo happy there and some people will want there dogs there to be happy." me - "Maybe so." C - "So, maybe your spirit will go get your body and then it will go to the dog place and get your pet and live forever in Heaven." Me - "Maybe so." C - "Momma, that is the most awesomest thing I have ever heard." (said with a huge smile) I teared up and was so excited to see that he was thinking about these things and was expecting the return of Christ. I need that expectation!!!!!!

I need to learn from them to be focused on the things above rather than staying so bogged down in earthly living.

And the Winner IS...

Last night Camon had a PTO fundraiser at the local city park. They had a hayride, food, and games for the kids. They also had a pumpkin carving contest. This was for the kids of all ages, my 31 year old husband to be exact. He helped Camon carve a pumpkin that Camon described as a scarry boy with spiked hair. It was cute. However, the big kid went all out. He carved a very detailed LSU Tiger (or Wildcat if you go wanted it to be Camon's school mascot). He did this by looking at a tiger that he had on one of his hats. He is so talented and creative - too bad pumpkin carving wouldn't pay much! And, yes I know that Halloween has passed and wondered why in the world they would have a pumpkin carving contest AFTER Halloween. But, then I remembered that they pushed the time change back a week this year and if we would have ahd the contest last week, then it would not have been dark enough. I guess they knew what they were doing after all. Anyway, "they" won first place. Actually the LSU Tiger won, but Clint made sure that Camon was not upset about his daddy beating his masterpiece. It turned out pretty neat!!!!

It was really cold though (and we had not expected it) so we only stayed about and hour and a half. Camon is definitely a hit with the girls, though. Everwhere we went they were saying, "Heeeeeyyyyyy, Camon." And he was either chasing them or they were after him. What can I say, he has his daddy's charm. I remember chasing him in the 7th grade. Boy that was a long time ago!

Things I have learned since becoming a MOM !!

• Children mean sacrifice : money, sleep, free time, daddy time, cleaning house time, friend time, did I mention money? Actually, I have come to realize that it is not really a sacrifice. There is tons of payoff. Like when you are driving down the road and your child says, "Momma, I love you" for no apparent reason. Or, when they say "Momma, you're beautiful." Or when they just open up their arms and give you the biggest heartfelt hug and kiss that they can possibly give. There is no sacrifice too big for those moments.


• Children are like sponges. Their little brain never stops learning and growing. It amazes me the things that my kids know at ages 6 and 3. Sometimes I think that they are smarter than me. And, they always remember EVERYTHING, especially the things that you would rather they forget. And they are no doubt smarter when it comes to technology. They can use the computer, take pictures on a camera cell phone, play video games, and work the tv/dvd player much better than I can.


• Children fill your house with love, joy, happiness, and toys!!! You loose all the desire that you ever had to clean them up, too. Who cares they will just be out again in 5 minutes. And, it is amazing how they multiply when they are out of the toybox. You can never fit it all back in there again. And keeping the car clean... Ha! There is no way.


• Children can sometimes get out of your sight. Code ADAM is the signal called from the loud speaker when a child has come missing in a store. Not only do they call attention to the fact that there is a missing child, but people get really angry when the doors lock and they can not leave or enter the store until the child is found. And when that child is clever enough to climb up on a shelf and hide behind garbage cans, it takes a while to find him.


• Children can empty a brand new shampoo bottle in 2.5 seconds. And, it is very difficult to get all of the bubbles out of a tub or shower that is filled with soap. It is even harder to get baby powder out of a living room when a child has emptied an entire container into the air, while her brother dances through it floating in the air. You may think that you have it swept/vacuumed up... but wait about 10 minutes when it settles again!!! It is next to impossible.


• Children teach you to worry less : If it doesn't kill them, it will make them stronger. They can fall from the second story of a barn and land on top of a tiller and survive. They can stick popcorn kernels in their nose so far that you find them several days later when they sneeze. They can somehow roll to the edge of your bed when they are only 2 weeks old and fall into a box full of picture frames with sharp corners and come out without a scratch. They will survive after drinking toilet water, eating a whole roll of rolaids, an electrasol tablet, and several fiber pills. (They have not tried all in one sitting, but it would not surprise me)


• Children think that any mess they make can be cleaned up. However, Oxi-Clean and goo-gone have their limits: red fingernail polish in white carpet, green crayon melted on clothes and all over the dryer, and permanent marker all over the dresser and pillow case.


• Children who start out sleeping with their parents will EVENTUALLY decide that it is time to grow up and sleep alone (or they just move to sleeping with their little sisters).


• Children often create expenses that you are not expecting (and often parents do not even decide it is necessary to spend the money to get them fixed). Truck hoods are not built to be landing stips for a "windshield slide". Recliners that are positioned too close to a 2 week old window will shatter them when they are rocked to wildly. And, cars will roll backwards (coming extremely close to fences) when put into neutral.
• Children have their own fashion/hygene sense. Boys do not care if they match, if they have holes in their clothes (in fact, that makes them neat), if they have worn the clothes for days at a time, or if they even fit. Boys also do not care if they ever take a bath. Their famous saying is "But mom, I took a bath yesterday!" Girls on the other hand, ask when they can shower; get out and put on clean panties and pajamas; wake up and want to change panties when they change clothes; want their clothes to match, fit, and be clean; come in from school and change clothes, panties, and shoes before going outside to play; come in and change all of this again for supper; then start all over again with the shower.
• Children need our time and love. Spend every moment that you can with them. If they ask you to watch, nothing else should stop you. If they want you to listen, turn everything else off. If they want you to play, drop whatever you are doing. If they ask you to read, find a book. If they ask for a hug, open up. If they ask a question, have an answer. If they fall down, pick them up. If they cry, wipe a tear. If they fail, encourage them. If they succeed, praise them. Just LOVE them.
• Children do not come with owners manuals. They would all have to be different if they did. Each child in unique and each situation is unique. As a parent, the only guide book that you have is God's Word, the Bible. Hold on to it, follow it, and let them see Jesus in your every moment. There is no greater responsibility in parenting.

Trick or Treat !!!

Well, another eventful Halloween Carnival has come and gone. The kids had a blast. They were Luke and Leia from Star Wars. About a month ago, I asked them what they were going to be and Camon gave his usual, "I don't know." but Isabelle said, "Princess Leia". So then Camon said, "Yeah, and then I can be Luke." I have such a prissy tomboy!!!! She loves anything that her bubba likes.

They were so cute. My mom and I were going to make the costumes a few weeks ago, but as usual I procrastinated and then mom went to Colorado and is staying a few weeks, so I had to throw something together. Luke was not hard, I found a costume at the store and he had a light saber that he could use. Leia however was no where to be found. So, we borrowed an angel costume from the church and the night before, Clint cut up an old tee-shirt to make the hood and I went and bought her a silver belt. Nothing like last minute pressure. The funny thing is that she won 1st place in the costume contest for her age group. Camon did not win, and of course that was an issue. But his daddy explained it to him that they were a team. Afterwards we called MiMi (my mom) and Camon told her that it was not fair that he did not win the costume contest, but he replied, "I won the handsome-est contest". I think someone must have put that bug in his ear to make up for not winning. Anyway, he was not kidding, they were the handsome-est kids in the place. This of course coming from their momma!!!!

We always have a carnival at our church with games, food, slides, and lots of candy. Every year, my grandma and grandpa have come to the carnival to see the kids. I sometimes think that the kids never noticed they were there... But, last might when we got in the car to leave, the first thing out of Camon's mouth was, "I wish that Grandma could have been there." I am convinced that she was watching from Heaven, because she would not have missed it for anything. It is neat the things that kids pick up on and remember. That obviously meant a lot to him each year. I miss her!!!!!

Isabelle asked if we could do this again the next time that it is Halloween. I wanted to reply, "Do we have to?" But of course I said, "Sure! What will you be next year?" She said Belle. At least that is a "prissy" princess, but I wonder how many times she will change her mind between now and then? I guess we will see.

Isabelle had a party at school in the morning, but I did not want her to wear her white Princess Leia dress all day. So, she wore a Belle dress that she already had. This is her in her classroom that morning, she had fallen asleep on the way to school and so as you can see she is not fully awake, but still beautiful!!!

Also, here is a picture of the Cabana girls. Mimi and Deda are both out of town and I am sure that they want to see pictures of all of them!

Pumpkin Prayer

Dear Jesus,
As I carve my pumpkin, help me pray this prayer:

OPEN my mind so I can learn about You - Psalm 100:3

TAKE all my sin and forgive the wrong that I do - 1 John 1:9

Open my EYES so Your love I will see - Psalm 119:18

I'm sorry for times I've turned up my NOSE at what You've given me - Psalm 51:10

Open my EARS so Your Word I will hear - Isaiah 55:3

Open my MOUTH to tell others You're near - Psalm 118:17

Let Your light shine in all I say and do - Matthew 5:16

Amen!

What brings tears to Clint's eyes?

In the almost nine years that Clint and I have been married, I have only seen tears at three events:
1. At the birth of our children.
2. Funerals
AND....
3. When Isabelle cut her hair.

Yes, last Tuesday my daughter decided that she would cut her hair. Actually, she had a little persuasion from her big brother. But, SHE was holding the scissors. They were doing their "homework" at their desks and I was folding clothes in the next room. They came walking around the corner and Camon was in front of her and said, "Don't look at Isabelle." About that time, all I could see was a little girls hand come from behind him and it was full of blonde hair. At first, I panicked. Then she stepped out and although I was upset, it was not that bad (in my opinion). She had cut the hair right at her forehead and it was brow length. So, I thought at least it looks like bangs and it is not too short. I lectured her and Camon to ensure that it would never happen again.

However, when dad got home... He was so upset. He turned off the cartoons that they were watching. And, kept saying "What are we gonna do?" Like we could do anything but let it grow!!! He had tears in his eyes and before he was done with his lecture both kids had tears too. As a matter of fact, Camon was sobbing hysterically. I felt so sorry for them. I was agitating him a little bit because I was laughing. I did not think that they hair cut was humorous, but his reaction took me off guard. He said that this was one of the 10 most devastating days of his life and then changed it to 5 most. (He has had a hard life, can you tell.) I asked him what was worse, the $750 damage she did to his truck a few weeks ago, or this. He said, "This is much worse." I guess that she won't be getting a stylish hair-do anytime soon. He wants it long and all one length. I guess we should have been Pentecostal because he feels the same about my hair.

I posted this picture, because it is the only one that her hair is down in lately. Clint makes her have it pulled back so that it hides the bangs. He is so funny!