Classic Mama's Thoughts

Happy Birthday, Bubba!

2009-12-14T14:29:00.003-05:00

This is Not-So-Classic holding Bubba exactly 3 years ago today. Bubba may look tiny, but he weighed 10 pounds 2.6 ounces at birth. No, there will not be any pictures posted of me right after the event. Not-So-Classic looks tired, but he still looks better than I did!

It was difficult, but well-worth the pain and the wait. He is a marvelous little boy and we are so glad to have him in our lives. Below, are a few of our favorite Bubba pictures. Many include a smiling Scarlett who wanted a baby brother so much and who is so very glad that she has one like Bubba, well, most of the time...

Happy birthday, Bubba! Your dad and I are so blessed to get to hang out with you and can't wait to see what fun things you'll do this year!

Alexander the Great

2009-12-10T13:47:00.002-05:00

Know why he was so great? Because he extended his kingdom from Egypt to India, provided a main city of trade (Alexandria) and helped to spread Greek culture to much of the non-Greek world all before he was 32.

We studied Alexander this week in Scarlett's Social Studies class. It's neat that the Lord would have us study this subject on a week when He is teaching me about being a warrior. So much of this lesson resonated within me.

Here's the skinny: Alexander was actually fulfilling someone else's vision of conquest: his father, Philip II. Philip was a Macedonian who had dreams of overthrowing the Persian Empire, the largest empire of the day. Philip knew that he needed the help of Greece to see his plan come together, so he fought, bribed and guilted his way to running each of the Greek city-states. After he did that, someone iced him. His plan way only half-baked, so, young Alexander (he was about 18) took over the family business.

He rode his army toward Persia, the empire led by King Darius (pronounced Dah-rye-us and not Dah-ree-us as I mistakenly learned when I was a kid). Darius was so confidant that he could beat Philip's little kid and his pipsqueak of an army (it was half the size of the Persian army) that he invited his mum and his wife to watch his courageous victory. Anyone care to cast a wager?

Darius rested on his laurel leaves and thought he had it in the bag. He let the enemy come to him. He wasn't aware of the keen fighting tactics of Alexander's army (I'll spare you the gory details) and, get this, when the fighting got tough, he left. Yep. He left his army and his wife and mum to plead for mercy from Alexander the Great. Turns out that Alex really was merciful and decided to make room for Darius' wife and dear old mum in his house. He treated them fairly and they were loyal subjects. Darius bailed and Alexander conquered Persia: something he was born to do.

The point highlighted to me was the contrast between the two rulers. One was a warrior who fought and didn't budge while the other abandoned the things he was supposed to protect just because things were tough. That, my friends, is why you'll never hear of Darius the Great.

So, it leads me to think...what am I abandoning? Where am I giving up simply because it's not worth the fight? Am I fighting that "good fight" that Paul spoke to Timothy about or am I leaving others to answer for my cowardice? Lord, show me the chinks in my armour so that I can be a useful soldier who lasts to the end of the battle.

Fight, Violent Woman

2009-12-08T11:43:00.002-05:00

A few years ago, I visited a pastor friend of mine. I was excited about what God is doing and, in true Classic Mama-like passion, I told of all the exploits of the Lord in my life and in the lives of those around me.
"We're moving into greatness,' I told him, speaking of the body of Christ. He sat back in his well-worn chair and smiled at me with a placating smile. This man that I respected told me, in not so many words, that he's seen moves of God come and go and that the real way to move in greatness was to "fight the good fight", you know, to ride it all out and muddle though life day to day. The wind was knocked out of my sail. That day, my parade was rained on. I moved on.

The Holy Spirit brought that back to me today as I was thinking about the scripture in Timothy where Paul urges his son to "fight the good fight." I thought about the advice given to me many years ago by my pastor friend and I thought about fighting: the two did not jive. Then, the Holy Spirit whispered something to me: "you were not meant to be defensive, but offensive." Immediately, my mind went from scripture to scripture about fighting, warring, and being a violent man who takes things that belongs to him.

It occurred to me that for too long, we're been on the defensive side of life, apologizing for everything and simply surviving long enough to fend off the next attack of the enemy. But really, is that our destiny? Is that what we should be doing? Just amusing ourselves until the next battle? That is not what warriors do.

Then I looked up that phrase "fight the good fight" and do you know that Paul said it 3 times to Timothy? Not just once. He encouraged Timothy in it twice and then told him that he (Paul) had fought the good fight. I believe that the Lord has given me an assignment to see what Paul meant by fighting the good fight and to apply it to my life.

The Expectation

2009-12-08T11:06:00.002-05:00

With love and awe in his eyes as the lights shone on his angelic little face, Bubba said to me in his sweetest Bubba-voice: "Mommy, I love the C'ri'mas Tree."
Quickly, he turns to me with a decided look and a commanding voice: "Put the presents under the C'ri'mas Tree."

At least I had 1.457 seconds of Christmas Tree awe from my 2 (almost 3) year old. Thankfully, we have a few years to instill thankfulness in the kid. :) Speaking of...

We've fallen a bit behind in our advent, but we haven't given up. Today, we're doubling up on letters, so feel free to tell me what you're thankful for that starts with "F" or "G".

To Tree or not to Tree?

2009-12-02T15:18:00.002-05:00

There are so many things that we moms and dads make decisions about when we are confronted with a holiday. Do we celebrate the way our parents did? the way others do? or do we make our own traditions? The Christmas Tree is one of those debatable holiday trappings that could get you into trouble, depending on who you talk to.

Real or fake? White light or colored lights? Ornaments or balls? Have a tree or don't have a tree? After being a mom for eleven years, I think I've been through all of these phases. The last question is always the one that gets me...usually when I'm nearly finished putting the lights on the tree, I talk to Jesus and say something like, "Is this okay?"

Because there is the fact that a Christmas Tree is not a Christian symbol. It's not a manger, it's not a star and, in fact, many beleive it was at one time used as a pagan symbol.

Today, I feel like, for the first time, I really heard from the Lord about my question. The following is what I believe is right for me and my family. I don't intend to make a theology about it and will not expect others to believe the way that I do. That's the fun about being able to hear from the Holy Spirit yourself.

A gentle thought came to my mind (that's when I know it's Him) that asked, "When the tree is up, what do you feel?" I feel the warm glow of togetherness. I feel the awe of Christmas which always leads me to think of the awe the shepherds must have felt when they looked up into the sky and were greeted by angels singing. It makes me remember...I get this little picture of a tiny girl in braids wearing a red pajama dress and hat waiting to see if her dad will like the gift she got him. He did, of course, because she always shined in his eyes. Always. She still does and he in hers.

So, friends, today as I hung the last row of white non-blinking lights onto my fake tree, I sat back and thanked the Lord for all of the memories and all of the gifts He gave me. If that is what the tree brings me, then I will continue to put it up with no regret and no remorse...unless, of course Bubba knocks it down, then I'll ask myself, "Why the heck did I put up this tree?!"

For Free?

2009-12-01T16:04:00.001-05:00

You know what's fun? Getting free stuff.

Go on over to Amazon.com and download some cool Christmas music for free. It's like Amazon's advent. :)

Advent with a Capital "A"

2009-12-01T14:25:00.004-05:00

Today marks our first day of advent. This year, I decided that we were going to focus on being thankful. Why not? The pervading spirit running rampant in our society is the idea of "running out" and "not having enough." Why not combat that with thankfulness? (Only I, a woman whose name means "warrior" could look at advent as a way to wage war.)

Last night, while Not-So-Classic and I were watching the Land of the Lost movie (I'm not even going to put a link to this movie because I really don't think it's worth watching), I made my advent plans. Each day in December, we will be giving thanks alphabetically. A piece of paper is placed on our refrigerator and labeled with a big "A" (in black, not scarlet, because that is another story). Today, we are writing, drawing or finding pictures of things we are thankful for that begin with the letter "A". So far, I'm super thankful for "afternoon nap" (but that is also another story about the crankiness of an almost-three-year-old).

Tomorrow's letter will be "B" and so on until we get to the 24th when "X, Y, and Z" will be together. The plan is to read all the things that we are thankful for on the 25th and thank the Lord for his mercy and grace. He really is amazing.

Advent is simple here because, let's face it, if it's too complicated, then I won't do it, or I'll forget to do and then I'll have "advent grief" and who wants grief to be the theme of advent? Exactly. We'll stick to joy and thanksgiving. I'm better at them anyway.

Want to play along? Today's letter is A. What are you thankful for?

It Was One of Those Moments

2009-11-10T16:35:00.002-05:00

I just had one of those moments. You know, the "this is what I live for" kind of moments. The kind where I need a Kleenex. The kind where you know that every Bible story you told your kid, and every time you apologized to them for not conveying the image of Christ and every time you deciphered scripture with them was all worthwhile.

Scarlett was helping me do my reading and journaling for the School of Ministry class I am taking. We were reading John 13-17 and telling each other what the Holy Spirit was highlighting to us in the Scriptures. We read about Jesus telling the disciples that there was room for all in the kingdom and that we shouldn't' be surprised when the world hates us, because they also hated Jesus.

It was neat, noticing all the evangelistic scriptures that seem to jump off the page to Scarlett. I smiled that knowing Mommy smile because missions is clearly in His plan for her.

Toward the end of our reading, she told me that she really liked it when Jesus, while praying to the Father, talked about the mission that the disciples had. I asked Scarlett what her mission was.

"Mom, you know already," she said smiling.

"Well, say it anyway," I replied, expecting her to give me a good old eleven-year-old response about telling everybody about Jesus. But she surprised me by her use of context and the conviction in her voice.

She looked at me both with seriousness and joy and said, "Mom, I'm supposed to tell everybody that there is room."

It may seem like a small statement to some, but, to me, this made it all worthwhile.

Public Recognition

2009-10-27T10:48:00.002-04:00

To the Kind Person Who Slipped a Note and a Gift in Not-So-Classics's Office Yesterday,

I cannot tell you how special and how cared for we felt by your thoughtfulness. There are many times along this walk of our that we get discouraged, but you, dear person, left us feeling warm...and terribly humbled. With all the people in need and all those who serve, you felt to give us a gift and a note of encouragement. We are grateful.

After Not-So-Classic called me, we thanked the Lord for you and we asked him to bless you in every area of your life. We also thanked Him for being our provider. It is a new reminder not to worry, because He sees us and knows what we have need of even before we ask for it. So, you not only gave us a physical gift, but also helped to increase our faith. Thank you so much for that because that is priceless.

So, dear, lovely person, I may not know who you are, but I definitely know who you serve. I thank Him for you.

With a thankful, full heart,

The Attack on Family

2009-10-21T09:23:00.002-04:00

Last night, Scarlett came with me to the grocery store. Our trips to hunt and gather are a treat for us both because we can talk about what is on her mind without the constant interruption of her little brother.

When we reached the check out station, we had to wait, and, like so many other grocery stores, across from the candy, is a bevy of magazines ranging from tabloid to near true. With headlines as big as my head, it's no wonder my eyes glanced from one to the other--each one more bleak than the one before. However, last night, I noticed a pattern: they were all about marriage and children. This one is divorcing this one because he found a newer model, this one is suing for custody of that one, this reality star is having a child out of wedlock, this family is cumbusting...I'll tell you, I really miss seeing the stories about the human Bat Boy or the sightings of Big Foot.

So, there in the grocery aisle, I saw what seemed to be the demise of family. The Holy Spirit let me sigh for a few minutes and then reminded me that defeat was just not His style, and not mine either. So, as I piled my honey crisp apples on the conveyor belt I thought about light and darkness and how much more visible the light is when there is such darkness.

Today, the prayer on my heart regarding family is "Let there be light!" Let the light of Jesus, the light of love, penetrate all those dark places. Let love grow in families, between men and women and their children.

Next time I'm waiting at the check out lane, instead of hanging my head in disbelief and defeat, I will pray for those on the cover. Even if the story isn't true, hey, everyone could use someone praying for them. I'll call it tabloid intercession.

Brother Bear's Birthday

2009-10-19T08:43:00.004-04:00

Dear Brother Bear,

I know that your birthday was on September 30th but my computer was not aware and did not let me scan pictures or type a proper tribute to you. Somehow, I don't think the foreign man from tech support fully understood my problem...

Never-the-less, I wanted to make sure that I told the whole world that it is your birthday and that I love you.

Here is a picture from the vault...It's one of you always holding me either physically, emotionally or spiritually. It's a great picture of how you've watched over me through the years, and though I might not have appreciated it when I was eighteen, I sure do appreciate it now. I love you. Thank you for being my brother.

Seven year old Brother Bear and seven day old Classic Mama.

Scarlett's Poem about Dance

2009-10-01T11:27:00.000-04:00

While dancing I feel light,

Light as a feather that is.

I walk among the clouds,

I control the weather of the room.

It can either be a soft puffy cloud,

Or a booming hurricane message.

While dancing I feel light,

Light as a feather that is.

-Scarlett

What I Didn't Think I Planted

2009-09-29T09:33:00.006-04:00

Yesterday, I spent a good bit of time harvesting our tomatoes, realizing that the next few baskets will probably be the last of the season. This is the group I harvested yesterday. I harvested them from the front of the house, right underneath our schoolroom window. The thing is, I never planted them there. We planted tomatoes and peppers in the back of the house. The huge plant in the front was not intended.

So, as I filled my plastic gladware container, I laughed and talked to the the Lord. "Lord, I didn't even intend for there to be fruit here!" He reminded me that this happens in life very often.

I was thinking of my good buddy George Bailey. (I have a strange kinship with this Capra character and the Lord lets me learn things from his fictional existence.) George was in the building and loan business because he believed that everyone deserved a good, sturdy home. He thought the business was his business, but didn't realize that by moving forward with what he believed, he was making friends and followers. His harvest wasn't in the business, but in the people.

He didn't really intend for that to happen, but when he needed it, and when he least expected it, what he sowed sustained him. George was working hard to grow a harvest in one thing, and didn't realize that by sowing seed in one harvest, he would reap a bigger one in one that he had never intended.

We just never know how we impact eternity. The small part we play, the little things we do each day are big. If just one person living by his convictions can change a town, what could happen if hundreds of people live by their convictions? What could they do? They could turn the world upside down.

"I [Paul] started preaching this life changing message, this radical turn to God, and everything it meant in everyday life--right here in Damascas, went on to Jerusalem, and the surrounding countryside, and from there to the whole world." Acts 26:20

Wordless Wednesday: Potty Training

2009-09-16T09:10:00.000-04:00

For more pictures that are worth a thousands words, go to Wordless Wednesday.

Fall

2009-09-15T09:59:00.003-04:00

Every window in my home is open. The air conditioners are turned off. We're wearing jeans and t-shirts. It's quiet outside. I love fall. It's a calming, familiar love of mine. I used to adore fall because it was when school started. I loved the smell of new books, the look of newly sharpened pencils and the promise of all those blank pages in the notebooks.

The last bit of August, when I was shopping in Target, I smiled as I was surrounded by moms with back to school lists. It was like a scavenger hunt. One mom would shriek to another mom, "Where do you find the crayola #4 thingamagig? Mrs. Third Grade teacher said Little Johnny must have them for the first day of school!"

"They're sold out here, but they have them at Walmart!" the other mom yelled. Before you knew it, the first mom grabbed her three kids, her scavenger hunting list, her wits and started running to the car.

Moving away from the school supplies, I turned down the aisle to look at the sheets that were on sale, only to be face to face with a wall of college students looking for, what seemed like anything that could be used as fluorescent decoration for their dorms. I was surprised to see that moms still had lists and students were still following them around trying to put items into the shopping cart that weren't on that list from their university. I guess things don't really change from pre-school to college...not really, anyway.

I still love the thought of those books, pencils and all that paper. I love fall.

Tim Hawkins is Hilarious

2009-09-14T10:40:00.002-04:00

On facebook this morning, I saw that my friend Comfy Denim liked this song, so I gave it a listen and laughed. :) I think you'd like it, so, if you need a good laugh, go ahead and watch it.

Hello, Cupcake

2009-09-13T10:51:00.005-04:00

I was so excited the other day when the library e-mailed me to say that the book I ordered was in. Yes, I get excited about books. However, this book wasn't the kind that I'd read a few pages of, then realize that I don't actually have time to read the book and feel guilty every time I pass the book only to have my husband say something like, "Why don't you just return the book before you start incurring late charges." Nope. This one was a picture book. Filled with lovely pictures of cupcakes!

I'm a pretty creative person, but my creativity only really goes as far as my mind. I'm not very skilled. Many of you know how cool it is that my husband can make pretty much anything using computers, wood, plastic, etc. He's MacGyver. So, to pair us together was a great thought of God's. I have the big ideas and Not-So-Classic has the follow through. But today was going to be different because it was a bout food and I am the food preparer here. I love to cook and bake and sometimes, it actually comes out looking like the thing that was in my head.

So, you can imagine my excitement when I reserved a book that was made for people like me. It promised that I could make things without any fancy-schmancy tools and that the projects could be easy. Sign me up...and incidentally, when you sign me up, that means you sign everybody else up around me.

Scarlett made the cupcakes...with a little "help" from Bubba. See, here, she was saying, "Help! Bubba!"

Here are the pictures of what Scarlett and I made with the help of Oreos and a ziplock bag.

Not too shabby for our first attempt! Now, the important question: Bubba, how do they taste?

Back to Our Regularly Scheduled Classic Mama

2009-09-11T15:43:00.006-04:00

That is the key, isn't it? Being regularly scheduled? I must admit that my schedule has not afforded me time for blogging.

I just wanted to remind everyone that I am quite alive and quite busy enjoying this amazing life that God has given me. Our days are packed with Scarlett's schooling, Bubba's playtime, meals with dear friends, and occasions for ministry. I love it.

Right now, Scarlett and I are having the best year ever cyber-schooling. It all happened because this year I decided to have no expectations. Not low expectations, because I could never have them for either of my children; however, no expectations has lightened this usually perfectionistic home school marm into one that is much more even tempered and accepting.

I have no expectations of...

1. Finishing school with Scarlett each day. It makes for a more enjoyable journey. It also alleviates the stress caused by trying to get everything done. Who can learn that way anyway?

2. Scarlett getting perfect grades. Yeah. I said it. Out loud. The kid tries her best, so why should I beat her up when she misses the mark? She does enough of that by herself. I want to be the one who reminds her that it's okay to fail, that it doesn't make her any less of a smart cookie.

3. Bubba being quiet. In fact, we've come to enjoy the Bubba outburst of the day. That kid is such a card. He's the perfect mix of Mommy and Daddy with a little something extra thrown in there just for kicks.
4. That housework will get finished today. This year, I vowed to do very little housework during the school day. If I'm not with Scarlett, then I'm with Bubba. I'm here to be with them, not to be the maid. Things will get clean in the evening and on the weekends.

By dropping all of these expectations, I have experienced a freedom that previously alluded me. Joy pervades in my heart and let's face it, when Mama's happy, everyone's happy. ;)

Adjustment

2009-08-05T08:33:00.002-04:00

It's not that I've forgotten you, or that I've been too busy for you...it's me, not you...it's the fact that I've been thinking of ways to describe my experience in China...trying to succinctly say what happened to us over there, but my words aren't coming the way they usually do. I've been trying to think of what pictures to show here, pictures that would tell the story, but not give away the identity of those important Saints. All while I'm trying to adjust back into this life that God has placed me in.

I feel like I'm stretched between two worlds: the one I left in China, feeling loved and feeling useful. Everyday we were working, doing things, advancing the kingdom and you could SEE it. Scarlett worshipped the Lord in dance with "Asian believers filled with God's Holy fire." Here, well, it was hard. The first few days, Scarlett looked at me and said, "Mommy, what do we do all day?" What do we do indeed.

Going to church was tough. I thought it would be amazing to be back because, though I deeply loved China, I missed the gathering of the folks that I knew. But Bubba cried and didn't want to go to nursery and when Scarlett came down from kids church, she told me that there was no worship that day. I was discouraged. I was disjointed. I was out of place.

I met with my mentor yesterday and poured out these things and a host of others and she loving told me that this was my adjustment period back into western life. I'm trying to accept it. I'm trying to move forward, but it's hard. Adjustment is hard. That's all I can say. It's not eloquent, but it's where I am...

But I'm Not a Missionary!

2009-07-29T05:33:00.004-04:00

If you're a reader of my husband's blog, then you know that Scarlett and I have been away for ten days and my husband was forced into temporary bachelorhood. Why would any wife leave her husband and her two year old son for ten days? Why? Because she heard a call.

When Scarlett was four, a missionary came to our church. He showed pictures of the Chinese people and he spoke about their need for the Gospel. After the service, he prayed for people in the congregation and he laid his hands on Scarlett. Since then, she has had an unusual love for the Chinese. She began praying for them nightly, she told me that she wanted to go there and she loves all things Asian.

Last year, I told our missions pastor that if they were ever planning a trip to China, he should take Scarlett because surely she was meant for such things. He told me that if she went, I would have to go...and by the way, there was a trip to be slated for next year. "But I've never felt the call to go to other nations. I'm not a missionary!" None of this helped, but I knew that if they went, Scarlett had to go.

I mentioned the trip to her and I saw her eyes light up. "Yes, Mama! Oh, please can we go?!" What can you say to your child who wants to go save a nation?

"Ok, well, we'll wait and see when they're going." I knew that from that day until he day we left, Scarlett's little heart would be aching to visit China. She was just made that way.

"Lord," said I, "I was not built to be a missionary. I like clean showers and french fries. I like tv and home, cars, comforts and the like. I wouldn't be good at this!" He reminded me of a scripture that we have all heard thousands of times before: "Train up a child in the way they are to go and when they are old they will not depart fro it." This scripture actually means, "Get to know your child and encourage them in the things of the Lord. Whoever their heart is in, make a way for them to serve the Lord in it." So, I signed up for the trip without knowing any particulars.

I didn't know when, or how much, or for how long: I just knew that Scarlett needed the opportunity to go on this trip.

More about how the Lord provided and things about our trip in the coming days. All I can tell you is that I was even more blessed than she was, but I'm sure you already figured that out.

How Patriotic of Us

2009-07-09T09:33:00.003-04:00

This past Independence Weekend, we were undeniably blessed to be invited to Williamsburg, Virginia, to the house of Not-So-Classic's childhood chum, Aladdin. Every time we are with Aladdin and his bride, Jasmine (who else could she be?) we are showered with love. It is impossible to feel anything but blessed while in their presence.

This past weekend was absolutely wonderful. Not-So-Classic, Scarlett, Bubba and I drove down on Friday and didn't come home until Monday! We even went to Colonial Williamsburg on July Fourth. What could be more patriotic than that? Surrounded by fifers and drums, Bubba saluted all the flags he could see while Scarlett and Timon, Aladdin and Jasmine's son, skipped about looking at colonial things together. They were excellent playmates.

The weekend was filled with great food (Aladdin makes the best pancakes EVER), fireworks, site seeing, swimming and friends. Thank you Aladdin, Jasmine, Timon and Simba for a wonderfully relaxing time. Thank you for feeding us, housing us and dealing with a two year old in your home all weekend. You are amazing friends and like Paul said to the church in Philippi, "I thank God in all my remembrance of you, always offering a prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all." It is always a joy to be around friends who demonstrate the love of Jesus.

Speaking of Brother Bear

2009-07-08T10:44:00.003-04:00

The last two posts have all been about Brother Bear surprising Scarlett for her birthday in May; however, Brother Bear did more surprising than that a week afterward.

He drove the Little Mermaid down to Florida allowing her to believe that they were going to South Carolina to visit a family friend for his engagement party. When they got to South Carolina, he kept driving. He took the Little Mermaid for her own surprise trip to Disney World, but not for her birthday because that is in January.

No, he had other reasons.

Reasons that Classic Mama knew about months before hand, but was very good and didn't tell anybody. Reasons that included fireworks at Cinderella's Castle and the Little Mermaid finding a prince who gave her, not a glass slipper, but something clear and shiny none the less.

Congratulations, Brother Bear and the Little Mermaid on your engagement!

Isn't he just so romantic? :)

Who Scarlett Met at Disney World

2009-07-03T10:42:00.004-04:00

I really should say that these characters met Scarlett. :) It was Star Wars weekend so the main attraction for my little sci-fi fan were these guys...

I cannot even begin to retell all of the fun my brother and I had with her. It's really swell that he wanted to give her this trip--just her. She could pick where she wanted to go and what rides she wanted to go on. It was a blast and I can't thank him enough. I really think my brother should write a how-to book for uncles called "Uncles Should be Fun". It would be a best seller. :)

Scarlett's Surprise Birthday Trip

2009-07-02T13:47:00.003-04:00

It took us a few months to set up with many pieces to put into place, but Brother Bear's vision of a surprise for Scarlett was pulled off a day before her birthday.

He showed up early that morning, before she was awake, so that we could plant all the clues for the scavenger hunt around our house. Once, she slept though a hurricane, so I wasn't worried about her spoiling her own surprise. After all the pieces were hidden, Brother Bear hid himself in the basement stairwell.

A bit groggy and wondering why were were waking her up so early on May 26th, Scarlett humored us by reading the clues from a cypher that her Uncle Brother Bear "sent" for her. As she found each clue to the puzzle, her eyes became more awake and she was giddy putting the puzzle together on the page with small holes cut out of it. The message? She was going to Disney World...right now. Mom and Dad had already packed her bags the night before and what 's that? Here comes Uncle Brother Bear from the stair well!

A few hours later, Scarlett, brother Bear and I were exiting off our plane and finding our resort in Disney World.

More about the trip itself, why I was there and who we met there tomorrow...

May (the busiest month of the year): Part II

2009-06-30T08:31:00.003-04:00

A few days before Scarlett's dance recital, we invited a few of her friends over the house to celebrate her eleventh birthday. (Am I really old enough to have an eleven year old??) Originally, Scarlett wanted to throw an American Girl party, but after much thought, and a few ideas from Mom and Dad, she decided to throw a 1940's themed party.

We asked the girls to don 1940's wear and to come expectant of a good time. The girls played hop-scotch, ate cup cakes and we recorded a radio show while all the decorations centered around America and Memorial Day.

Because the original theme was American Girl, I had, on hand, a drama written by that company for the time period, but based on a Halloween theme. With some quick edits and some great ideas from my Not So Classic Husband, the Radio, Television and Film graduate, we had an old time radio drama ready for the talents of 6 little girls. We practiced and recorded it in our basement. With their thank you notes, the girls received a copy of their radio drama on cd.

Toward the end of the party, Scarlett requested a departure from pretend and wanted to use the time to worship the Lord. She asked me to get out my guitar and play a few songs so that the girls could sing to Jesus. I'm so proud of her. She wanted to take the focus away from her and put it on her Savior.

As the girls left, Scarlett gave each one a bag decorated with patriotic tissue paper and the letter of each girl's name in pearls filled with 1940's type games: a jump rope, jacks, and marbles.

I couldn't have asked for a better day for my girl. She gave and received. Thank you, to all those Moms who read this blog who allowed their girls to come a visit with us that day for a few hours. Your daughters were wonderful. I'm so grateful that Scarlett has such amazing young ladies to walk with.