The Easter That Wasn't

I love Easter. It is among one of my favorite holidays. I am sure I did not like it so much when I was small though, as it meant a new Easter dress for church.

I HATED shopping for clothes anytime, but shopping for a new, itchy Easter dress was particularly loathsome. I do remember a time my mother, worn out from dealing with me over the issue, made my sister take me and we ended up in a fight in a JC Penney's dressing room in Bowling Green. I wish I could remember what dress I wore that year and whether or not it was worth all the turmoil.

One itchy, non-Easter dress I do remember was pale green with long sleeves when I was about 4. Oh, how I would cry when it came time to wear it. Luckily, Ren is not as bad as I am about trying on clothes. She can be quite the clothes-horse. She definitely gets this trait from her Aunt Sissy.

One of the great things about Easter has always been getting together for lunch with everyone from my father's side of the family. A Heath Easter always includes great food, games, and an egg hunt. This was to be my second year to host. And the weather was perfect. Unfortunately, the health of many was not. For the first time since we started getting together on Easter we had to cancel. This actually worked out well for me as I, too, ended up getting sick at church. My Easter was spent laying in bed running a fever while listening to my immediate family in my kitchen enjoying the food they had made for the lunch. No ham, dressed eggs, or broccoli casserole for me. I didn't even get to see my little boy participate in the egg hunt at church, except in a few pictures John took.

I'm already looking forward to next year to make up for the things I missed out on this year.

News to Share

Well, I have found out something that is not going to be easy to share. Therefore, I thought I might ease my way into it by first posting it here - kind of a practice run.


I will turn 40 in just a couple weeks. This celebratory day of my birth will be followed with another birth day in a few more months - roughly 7 1/2 more months. It seems that John-Heath's tenure as the baby in our family will be coming to an end.


I don't know who I dread telling more - John, Ren (she'll be mortified, much as my sister was at age 16 finding out that I was on the way), my mother (she was none too happy when John-Heath's impending arrival was announced, though she loves him more than the world now), or just total strangers who are sure to make remarks as to what a cute grandchild I have.


I do know that before anyone gets told anything I am making a date with Clairol tonight. If I'm going to be toting around a baby I need to look somewhat the part.

P.S. I hope you all enjoy this most wonderful first day of April. Insert wink here.

Hurry Up, Summer!

Tagging along behind his big sister.

A flower for mommy - held by two of the most beautiful, dirty hands ever!




Stripped down...his favorite way to be!



Looking at all the work needed to be done to our yard.



We are wanting to landscape around this little grove of trees. John-Heath has another good idea for its use.

Driving Miss Ren

I now know what it must have felt like for Morgan Freeman's character in Driving Miss Daisy when he would drop her off at some place where she had business and sit and wait until that business was finished. And, by the way, was that not a great movie? One of my absolute favorites.

Tonight, Ren attended the Lift-a-Thon held by our high school football team. We had sponsored one of her classmates and she wanted to go "keep an eye on her investment". He did quite well from what she said when we got home.

The event began at 5:30. I had actually planned on going home but thought I would just park and wait. I was sure it wouldn't take that long and it would be a waste to go home only to turn right around and return to pick her up. 2 hours later the lifters and their supporters began to exit.

What does one do for two hours in a parked car? Going in and watching the lift-a-thon was not an option due to my coif. So, I did what Hoke Colburn would have done had he been able to...I read. Sadly, the only thing available was this week's edition of our local newspaper. I usually just scan the articles and pictures that interest me. This evening, I read it cover to cover - all 8 pages. I even did the puzzles. I don't know that I have ever done that before.

I learned a valuable lesson tonight. It would be wise, at least when chauffeuring children, to keep a stash of Southern Living in the car.

Piss Pots and Airs

I have always been curious as to the origination of the phrases we southerners use. I may be regionally profiling here but I can't really picture a New Yorker saying something like "He's as tight as bark on a tree" or "You can't get rid of 'em. He's like a booger you can't thump off."

One phrase I have heard my whole life is "pot to piss in". These words usually follow "So and So doesn't have a ...".

If you are like me and love a good etymology story here you go...

"They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken & sold to the tannery........if you had to do this to survive you were "Piss Poor".

But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn't even afford to buy a pot.......they "didn't have a pot to piss in" & were the lowest of the low. "

Of course, today there are those who don't have the proverbial pot but, nonetheless, like to "put on airs" (another frequently used euphemism). If only they could be called on the carpet for it (and yet another one)

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A Star is Born

Last night we watched Ren's silver screen debut in Billy: The Early Years on DVD. The pause button and large screen certainly came in handy, but we were nonetheless excited to spot her. It had a short, limited release in October 2008 and I was able to see it at the Hendersonville theater but Ren was not with me that day, so this was her first time to see it.

In the spring of 2008 I was working in my office at school one Sunday after church when I happened to see a call for extras, or "background artists" as director Robby Benson calls them, when scanning the local news sites on the internet. Knowing Ren has always had a dream to be in the movies I hurried home and asked her if she would want to do it. Of course.

The article mentioned that those wanting to be considered as extras should come dressed in 1930's period attire. So I pulled out a tan skirt and off-white button-up sleeveless top that I thought would work and topped it off with a white button-up sweater. We also donned John-Heath in white t-shirt and overalls just in case.

The scene being shot was a tent revival on location in a large field in Lebanon, Tennessee (not too far from the Wilson County Fairgrounds). We arrived around 4:30 p.m. John and John-Heath bailed out around 9:00 that night (my niece Megan happened to be in Lebanon and came to their rescue). It seems that filming, even what amounts to no more than about 1 minute on screen, takes quite a while.

Ren had a blast getting to see some of the behind-the-scenes stuff. She was able to go through wardrobe and hair and make-up. The clothing she had worn passed the test and they only needed to accessorize her by adding a hat (to cover her highlighted hair - which would have been out of place in the 30s) and a church fan (you know the kind...the fan-on-a-stick usually provided by a local funeral home or other business). Her hair was just put in simple, low pigtails.

Once all hair and make-up was finished the extras were put into groups outside the tent and were instructed as to how they would enter the tent. By the time this began it was after 9 p.m. and the evening turned out to be unseasonably cool. Of course, they were filming a tent revival that was being held in the summer. In her little sleeveless top, lightweight sweater, and thin skirt Ren had already become cold. Some nice lady who had been smart enough to bring a large wrap loaned it to her. She was wearing this wrapped around her during the scene in which they enter the tent. I can spot her on the DVD walking toward the tent, pausing for a moment to let a horse-drawn wagon pass.

I had thought we would be able to make it through to the end (at 5 a.m.) but we, too, bailed after the supper break - which came a little after midnight. I think we were home by around 1:30 that morning. It just became too cold. I was okay, lucky to be in another tent with several large space heaters, but, by this point, Ren in her summer garments was so cold she was shaking. Though she was having a ball and wanted to stay she gave no argument when I said I thought we should probably head home. I waited until we were almost home to tell her that had she stayed until the end she would have been paid.

So, if you get a chance run out and rent Billy: The Early Years. And if you watch carefully you might just see her walking toward the tent. She also makes an appearance in the special features. You see her (to the left of the screen) turned talking to the man seated beside her during a break in filming. This is at the spot when the director is commenting on working with the background artists.

Of course, if you buy your own copy she'll be happy to autograph it for you - so you can say you "knew her when."

Always the Best Intentions

To celebrate St. Patrick's Day this past Wednesday (How cool is a guy who banishes snakes from his country!) I thought it would be nice to whip up some cupcakes for an after-supper treat. Of course, as I am not very efficient in the kitchen department, whipping up anything usually means whipping up a mess.

Anyway, I bought a bottle of green food coloring to add to some yummy cream cheese icing and raced home to get started. I lined my cupcake pan with those little wrappers and was ready to get started when I remembered that I was late - really late - for a dinner date with a friend.

Luckily, I was able to track down my friend (bless her heart she had waited and waited before heading home) and we enjoyed a fun evening reminicing, venting, dishing and gossiping at the La Quesadilla Mexican restaurant in town.

This gal was one of my best friends throughout school (even though we could both get quite peeved at each other from time to time), a bridesmaid in my wedding and one of the few close friends with whom I have kept in semi-contact. My daughter thinks it is somewhat disturbing when I tell of how she and I, sitting on opposite ends of the couch, would scratch each other's feet while watching horror movies.

I didn't make it home until 9:45.

And there, sitting on the counter, was the muffin pan just waiting to be filled with cupcake batter.

It sits there still.

A little St. Patty's Day Trivia... Did you know that dying the Chicago River green each March 17 came about somewhat accidentily? In the 1960's the manager for the Chicago Plumbers' Local Union was looking for an additional way to celebrate the day. At this point entering into his office was a plumber who had been trying to locate and disconnect a waste line that was emptying into the river. The plumber would pour green dye into various opening of the waste system and then check the river to see at which point the green appeared. Upon entering Steve Bailey's office his once white coveralls were mostly a perfect shade of green. Thus was the start of a new tradition.

What's in a Name?

There are times when I wish I had had another child. But, after more thought, I realize it is only so that I could have named one more child (although I do very much envy these women who have several children and are able to seemingly handle the job with all smiles and patience).

And just what would that name have been? Scout. I have been a fan of it for years - even before Demi and Bruce gave it to one of their offspring. In fact, had John-Heath not been born a boy he would have been Scout. I already had it picked out. My mother did not care for it too much, as she didn't think it was really a name-name. Her reply when I told her was "Scout? Like the Indian?". No, not like the Indian. Like the tom-boy in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Ren would probably have been a Scout, too, but we agreed that John would name our firstborn if it were a girl and I would name a boy (at the time my two favorite choices were Charles Court or Charles Bartholomew ).

Ren's given name is Katelyn Ren. John found the "Ren" at a book signing in which he and two other gentlemen were signing copies of a book they had written. When John asked to whom he should address one particular book a lady said her name was Ren. We both chose the Katelyn because we thought it would sound nice as the first name. I think we may have gotten that off the back of a movie box.

A funny story about her name...when Ren was in the 5th grade she decided that she no longer wanted to be called Ren. That was a borrring name. Instead, she would be called Katelyn - like there aren't a hundred of those in every school in about as many variations. Anyway, she told her librarian this (I wasn't the librarian there yet). He, in turn, proceeded to ask John - as he taught across the hall from the library - if this was okay to do. John's reply was "Katelyn? She can't even spell Katelyn." Which was probably true at the time.

John-Heath's patronymic came about in a more traditional way. Even though I was still very fond of the idea of a Court or a Bartholomew, I gave in to sentimentalism and named him after his two grandfathers. John-Heath is a fifth generation John, following John Franklin, John Silas, John Silas, Jr., and John Franklin (again). The Heath is one of my family names - and a most distinguished name, too. It is of Middle English origin and means "untended land where certain flowering shrubs grow"...sounds kinda like a description of John-Heath's playroom and what could be growing in there.


...a name thought to be pretty by a dear family friend, Ms. Effie, who suggested it to my mom.

A Great Firecamp Party and Oscar Night All Rolled Into One Fantastic Evening

My sweet-as-a-gherkin-baby-boy has a giant sweet tooth (a genetic trait inherited, no doubt, from his grandfather) and ever since stuffing his face with as many marhsmallows as he could cram into his mouth with just his own two hands a few evenings ago at Ma-Ma and Pa Gene's, he has been asking for us to buy him some of his own. And he wanted us to build a "firecamp" over which we could roast them. Ren, while less than thrilled at picking up sticks to add to the pyre, managed to do so with a little help from a rusty red wagon and John-Heath.

The anticipated affair happened tonight. The exclusive, invitation-only, guest list included Ma Ma and Pa Gene, Grandma, Sissy, T, and Megan, Jon, Jessie, Weston, and Dylan. Party-crashing Catherine ( a friend of Megan's) showed up a little late, having become lost on Pleasant Grove Rd. (which is really no where close to where we live). She is a city-girl graduate of Goodpasture so we are hesitant to hold her at fault for this.

After an excellent meal it was off to the woods for the main event of the evening- the roasting of the marshmallows. The evening entertainment consisted of Wii Dance contests between Megan, Dylan, and Weston, with surprise dance performances by Jonathan and Aunt Sissy, and a short demonstration to Who Let the Dogs Out by Pa Gene. Video footage was taken - but strict instructions that it NOT be placed on the internet were given. We will, begrudgingly, respect their wishes. However, nothing was said of still photographs.

Finally, after all the guests had headed home, it was time for one of Ren's favorite televised shows - the Academy Awards. She watched and learned. And one day this yearly training will come in handy for her - I have no doubt.

Another mini moment...

Tonight (well, technically I guess you would have to say last night, as it is now 12:52 in the morning) we decided to eat at Zaxby's. Upon hearing this John-Heath said, "Oh! I love Zaxby's." Then he burst into song..."Zaccheus was a wee, little man and a wee, little man was he...."

Zaccheus was a wee, little man

And a wee, little man was he.

He climbed up in a sycamore tree

For the Lord he wanted to see.

And as the Savior passed that way

He looked up in the tree

And he said,

"Zaccheus, you come down"

For I'm going to your house today

For I'm going to your house today

Mini Moments #1

Mini moments. I think that is what I will call the posts in which I have few things of which to write. Then why write? I guess it is because I have an infinitesimal short-term memory and if I don't jot these little mini moments down they will one day be no more. I'm not after a Pulitzer, just leavin' thoughts for my kiddos.

Found out today via a friend and her husband that my son has taken to name-calling senior citizens. For the first half-hour or so after arriving at the New Hope Child Learning Center students play in the gym. The gym includes a second story walking track available for community use.

My son has found it financially advantageous to yell up to the kindly walkers and ask for money to be thrown down. As I understand it there may be a gang of these pre-schoolers doing such now.

A day or so ago when my friend's husband (aka "Halloween Man" because John-Heath remembers how we trick-or-treat at his house) was walking with his uncle Junior (who happens to be a member of my church association) and another man, the moochers from below were at it again. The plea went something like this...

Gang: "Hey! Throw us some pennies."

Mr. Junior: "I don't think I have any today."

My son: "Throw me down some pennies, Pencil Neck!"

I'm blaming hours of Spongebob indoctrination.

Ren attended volleyball practice for the first time today since having nasal surgery two months ago. The team is practicing with the 8th graders who are trying out for next year. In this setting Ren and her friends are not the bottom feeders they were when they first started practicing with the upperclassmen last year. Therefore, they had to play it cool when they personally did something much better than they had done during the season. They dared not let on that these awesome hits, digs, sets, and spikes were newly (as in TODAY) acquired.

A Many-Colored Day

Today, the birthday of Dr. Seuss was celebrated throughout the country. Okay, in all probability this was only observed in large, daily-housing facilities for people under the ages of 10. In school houses across America children were chowing down to a breakfast of green eggs and ham to commemorate the 106th birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel. Don't think about that too literally or you may become nauseous.

John-Heath and I got a head start on this yesterday evening when he proclaimed, "We learned about Dr. Seuss today." So we drug out a copy of Green Eggs and Ham on which to feast. His favorite part, of course, was the mention of the train. A train! A train! A train! A train! Could you, would you, on a train?

Today, at his pre-school they had the obligatory GE & H meal. Tonight at home we had meatloaf (that doesn't really have anything to do with the story). This was followed by the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas, a bath and 4 Dr. Seuss stories (3 read by me and 1 by John).

Here's a little librarian's trivia for you...the idea for Green Eggs and Ham came about when Dr. Seuss was challenged by his friend and editor, Bennett Cerf, to write a book with fewer than 50 words.

I didn't ask Ren how her school observed this special day. Hmmm. I'll have to do that tomorrow. I'm sure she'll have loads of stories to share.

Say!

I like Green eggs and ham!

I do! I like them, Sam-I-am!

And I would eat them in a boat.

And I would eat them with a goat...

Welcome March

Things I love about March...

.

The C O L O R most associated with it (it's always been my favorite)

.

Ireland

I have heard that, thanks to St. Patrick, they have no snakes. If this is true I think I would like to live in Ireland.

.

Spring Break is just around the corner.

.

We are closer to the end of another year of school.

.

An Old Irish Blessing
May love and laughter light your days, and warm your heart and home. May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam. May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures. May all life's passing seasons bring the best to you and yours!

How My Kids Will Remember Me

The Olympics are finally over. I didn't get to see much coverage of the events but I would keep track of some of the stories via the internet and Yahoo News.

I have to admit I loved watching curling. I have read several posts as to how it's not a real sport but I just found myself somewhat enamored with it. Bob Schieffer had a humorous piece in something questioning how and why people got into this game. Tennessee even has at least one curling club of which I am aware. If I lived in the eastern portion of the state I would, for sure, have to join the Great Smoky Mountain Curling Club - or at least go watch matches from time to time.

Of course, two of the more emotional stories to come from the Olympics were the luge athlete being killed during a practice run and the sudden death of Canadian figure-skater Joannie Rochette's mother shortly after arriving to watch her daughter compete.

Ms. Rochette went on to compete and, against the odds, was able to make it the podium - capturing the bronze. I read some statements she made concerning her mom and one really stayed with me - I suppose because it reminded me of the relationship I have with my own daughter. Rochette said that her mom "sometimes could be a pain in the ass" and went on to say that the two were best friends and that her mom always wanted the best for her daughter, encouraging her when needed and putting her down when that was needed, too.

I know my children, especially my daughter, will almost certainly one day say I could be a great big ole pain in the you-know-what. But I hope they will also know that I was their biggest fan.

Shane

Remembering my nephew

Shane Harrison

Oct. 11, 1971 - Feb. 26, 1990

Some people come into our lives and quickly go.
Others stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts and we are never the same.

My Little Boy

It has been just over a week since John-Heath hit his head and began having facial spasms. Fortunately, today has been a very mild day of these. I have noticed him twitching very few times. We still have an appointment with the pediatric neurologist this Wednesday but I am very hopeful that whatever he is experiencing is temporary and will be short-lived. I am thankful! Someone sent me the following in an email and I think it is very true...

The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you.

Fe Fi Fo Fum

I have what one would call an addictive personality. I can watch the same show or listen to the same song over and over again until I just get sick of it. So, it's a good thing I've never felt a desire to drink or worse.


I suppose my children have inherited this trait from me. Ren will go through periods where she will watch the same television series over and over. Little House on the Prairie came first, then Reba, Seinfeld, I Love Lucy and now Desperate Housewives. John-Heath watches Spongebob Squarepants like it's going out of style.


And, like all children I suppose, they have their favorite bedtime story they want told again and
again.

Our children have always enjoyed being read to. They also enjoy being told stories too.

With Ren, the story she most requested was one about an old, thought-to-be haunted house near the local grade school. I would always have to put Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck in as characters and her favorite part was when the door would screeeeeeetch open and something would jump out. Ren has always enjoyed this genre. She was no older than 5 when she first saw Sleepy Hollow.


John-Heath is also into the classics, though he does not enjoy being scared. His usual request is my simple little version of Jack and the Beanstalk. He is quick to point out when I change or omit something in the story. Did mother throw the beans out the window or door?

Fe Fi Fo Fum

I smell the blood of an Englishman

Be he alive or be he dead

I'll grind his bones to make my bread

What the Future Holds

This past Saturday began quite normally. We were all up and piddling around. Ren and I decided to go watch Weston, my great-nephew, play pee-wee basketball - his first year. He was a carbon copy of his dad from many years ago on the bench across the gym, skinny legs and all.

Ren had made plans during the game to go to an all-you-could-eat chocolate buffet (BYOM - bring your own milk) with a friend later that evening. So, since we had some time before she was to leave I thought it would be a good idea for John-Heath to get in a nap.

When attempting to lay down he struck his head rather hard on the bed's headboard. He cried and cried but after several of mommy's kisses he was better and took a short nap.

About an hour after his nap we noticed him having some mild facial twitches which looked like heavy blinking. This lasted throughout the evening. By Sunday afternoon the twiches had turned more into spasms, drawing his cheeks up and forcing his mouth open into an odd little smile. A call to the on-call doctor was not vey helpful.

A trip to the pediatrician on Monday led to a CT later that afternoon to check for any bleeding, etc. that could be causing his problem. Fortunately, the scan was clear. Unfortunately, this just led to more questions. If the bump on the head was not causing the spasms, then what was? A side note...he was not to be easily scanned. He had never seen a CT machine before and I neglected to prepare him for this. He became very scared and had to be papoosed for the pictures to be taken. Nikki Morris, a long-time family friend, and the other lady were so patient with him and didn't act a bit annoyed by all his crying.

That was a rough day. His spasms were really bad. They would occur so frequently, usually in triplicates, he could hardly watch cartoons or play with his trains. He also began rubbing his eyes every time he had a twich or spasm. We noticed they seemed to be worse when he was fairly still - watching t.v., being read to, playing with his trains, etc. If he was running around and more active they did not seem as bad.

Of course, John and I spent the rest of the evening on an off the internet googling any variation of his symptoms. This was not a wise thing to do and only served to add to the worry, rather than relieve it. There are so many things out there - from magnesium deficiencies or simple childhood tics that many young people temporarily experience to Tourette's Syndrome and the like.

Thankfully, today has been better. He has still had several twitches (including some in his right hand, arm, and leg while sleeping) but the severe facials spasms have not happened as often. We put him in an Epson Salt bath this morning just in case his magnesium level is low. We had read where this can help bodily twitches.

Family and good friends that know are praying that it will turn out to be nothing serious or long-term. I know there are parents who face much more grim situations every day and that I am still very blessed. But, as I wrote to a friend, I just feel so helpless when I see his little face contort like it does and knowing that something could be going on inside him that he can't control and neither can I.

Sophia A. Carter Heath

Can't sleep tonight. Random thoughts floating through my mind and it occurs to me that exactly 22 years ago on this very same night of the week and at nearly this same time I was spending the night at the home of my boyfriend's grandparents in Culleoka. I would marry said boyfriend that upcoming August but on this night I am sleeping in a rather large upstairs bedroom when I am awakened by a train whistle.

Granny and Papa's house was a short distance from the tracks so it wasn't such an oddity to hear a whistle - except that it was just after midnight and the train did not pass through at that hour.

I will find out at some point the next day that my grandmother, my father's mother, has passed on. Though her departure from this life and my awakening did not occur synchronously, I have always connected the two events.

Goodnight, Mammy Sophie.

Out of the Mouth of a Babe

My 4-year-old has always had a perceptive sense of humor. Aside from an obvious DNA match it is something he shares with his sister. She, too, has a great sense of humor and a most infectious laugh (when she wants to - I mean she IS a teenager now, after all).


It was clear to us very early on that John-Heath had inherited this trait to laugh easily as he found gastrointestinal noises, both the self-made and second-hand variety, of particular hilarity.


Today, he still laughs most readily all throughout the day and takes great delight in making others laugh as well. However, the times when he is the funniest is when he has no clue he is being just that. Case in point - tonight as I was writing a letter to someone he was sitting on the bed beside me. I noticed that he kept tugging at his underwear. Something, it seemed, was causing quite the discomfort.

"What's wrong, John-Heath?" I asked.

"It's these underwear. My wink-wink keeps coming out of them".

"It's getting bigger every day."

Guess What?

UPDATE: The following post was, as you tell, written in February. Well, I thought I would add it to the blogging bloopers list Susan has started at Between Naps on the Porch. For the blooper, just read. You'll find it. And, if not, I'll tell you at the end.

I can hardly believe as I sit to write a few things about our most recent snow and the fun we had on our days off it is snowing again. Oh, how I love the winter! If it has to be cold out I want it to snow.

Last week the biggest snow this area had seen in many years blanketed our countryside. Students - and teachers - were treated to 4 snow days. John measured a spot in the front yard that was 8 inches, with the drifts around the house much deeper. Overall, most areas on our lawn were right at 6". This snow was not necessarily a good one for snowball fights and snowmen as it was a very dry snow, but we were able to make a nice track for sledding off the western side of our yard. With skillful navigating we were able to keep from sliding off into the pond. John-Heath needed only one trip down with John to decide he was big enough to do it on his own. Ren had a good time that first day with Mark, Paula, and Makayla being pulled around on a sled behind the 4-wheeler in front of the Old House.

All said, we were able to enjoy two good days and one fun night of frolicking.

More snow memories

Snow Cream

( a bowl of snow -make sure it is clean snow - , some sugar, milk and a little vanilla flavoring) YUM!

John realizing he's not a spring chicken anymore after attempting to snow board down the hill. Can you spell Chiropractor?

John building John-Heath a snowman after a little melting had occurred. This was John-Heath's first-ever snowman.

John ruining one of the heating elements on my glass cook top while cleaning boiled over hot chocolate - a costly little mistake.

Oh well, considering I stripped the transmission in our car two weeks ago by throwing it into reverse and trying to exit the garage at the same time I can't say much.

Going supersonic off the hill with Ren and making it past the 'ditch'.

This just in...Sumner County Schools will be closed Tuesday, February 9 due to inclement weather in the county. I have come to love the sound of Jeremy Johnson's voice.

P.S. Did you spot it? The blooper? Or should I say the costly little mistake? What I didn't tell in the post was that the reason the hot chocolate boiled over to begin with is that I left it unattended to check my blog's dashoard. Yikes! Oh, and let's just keep this a secret between us ;)

Prayers for Dylan Snider

The kids and I have really enjoyed our days off from school due to the big snow of 2010 and I'll write down some remembrances about that in another day or two (hopefully). Tonight, however, I want to write about a little boy named Dylan Snider - a precious little boy of whom I wish I had never heard...for I first became aware of his name due to a most horrible tragedy that befell him.

A day or so before Christmas 2009 the local television stations reported about a little boy, age 5, who had been playing with a slightly older brother in their backyard around a fire pit of some sort. Full of mischief, I'm sure, and the naivety of their ages and being boys just being boys they caused an explosion by playing with fire and a container of gasoline. According to reports, mom and dad were out doing a little last minute Christmas shopping and left them in the care of a much older sibling.

Little Dylan sustained 3rd degree burns to over 80% of his body. He was treated for a short while at Vanderbilt in Nashville before being transferred to the Shriner's burn unit in Ohio. Due to his injuries his small intestines had to be removed, as did some of his fingers. He was given a small chance of survival. All this just before turning 6.

I have had this child on my mind so much since first hearing of his accident. I cannot imagine the pain this sweet baby is going through. I have heard his daily baths and bandage changes are particularly painful. I also, as a mother to a nearly 5-year-old boy myself, cannot imagine the pain and helplessness his poor mother and family feel. It must be agonizing.

Thankfully, he is amazing his doctors and family with how well he is doing. This has been one prayed-for-little-boy and I believe it has made the difference. Of course, I am sure he is not out of the woods yet and it is certain he has a tough year ahead of him ( for one thing, he is in need of an intestinal transplant).

If by some chance you have wandered onto this little journal experiment of mine and are reading this post please stop for a moment and say a prayer for this child.

Go here to read more about this sweet baby boy

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/dylansnider