7th grade Basketball

Hallie has started playing basketball this year.  She is already pushing 5'10" and when she stands with her arms in the air, she almost reaches the net on the goal.  Ok, I'm exaggerating, but not by much.  The only problem is, she really hasn't figured out what to do yet.  Her sister, Chaurley, came to her game yesterday and gave her this sage advice  "Butt to Block".  Spoken like a true basketball player.   Maybe, oh maybe, she'll listen to her. 

Right now, all I can see of 7th grade basketball, is get the ball, run as fast as you can down the floor to the goal, either jack it up and miss it, or pass it until someone steals or fouls, which is usually in under 6 seconds.  They pretty much run down the floor, fight, fight, fight, jack it up, and then run down to the other side, fight, fight, fight, jack it up, then run to the other side, fight, fight.... are you seeing the fun of 7th grade sports?  Oy.

She'll figure it out.  She figured out volleyball there at the end, and played fairly decent.  I expect the lightbulb will come on about the end of the season, just in time for it to be over.  The good thing is, I'm pretty sure that lean, lanky machine, hasn't stopped growing and she really, in spite of her asthma, enjoys this game.  And she's actually learned to run now.  Back in Tball, she ran like C3PO in star wars, so I'm glad we are past that. 

Lacey attended Saturday mornings game with me (it was a double elimination tournament), and we heehawed like donkeys in the bleachers.  I can't believe we weren't asked to leave.  Lacey really is the funniest human being on the planet.  She can say the funniest, random stuff and just leave me on the floor. I was reliving Lacey's ONE year of basketball with her, and she had played ALL season almost every game some, and had shot several times and never made a basket.  We were at the very last game of the season, in the last few minutes of the game, and she ran down the floor, threw it up, and MADE it!  All my mom friends and I WENT WILD!  It was like she had won an olympic gold medal.  We're all crying and hugging each other, and I know all those people at the game were like, "What the crap?  These woman take this VERY serious".... but in reality, it was a gold medal.  She had chunked that ball at the hoop all season and never made a basket, and in the last few minutes....wham, there it is.   Lacey's comment on Hal's prowess,  "At least she makes baskets".  Crack. Me. Up.    Perspective, there it is. 

It's exhausting to watch these games.   By the time they are done and they have shot enough to make 1100 points and only have 6 on the board, all my hair is gray, and my armpits are soaked.  There is nothing pretty or sportsmanlike about 7th grade basketball.  And that's just the spectators.  Amen. 

I think I'd rather do this laughing stuff..........

Than This.

7th grade basketball.  Not for the faint of heart. 

Spreading the Hope

We were invited to come to our dear friends, Mark and Vickie Rogers, home church in White Oak, Texas and speak to their congregation about Laynie.  Mark has been wanting us to do this for a year, and we finally made the 6 hour drive down there and shared this weekend, and boy, am I glad we did. 

As much as I LOVE to tell Laynie's story (and trust me, I do a great job telling it, Not boasting, just sayin', cause it's my ABSOLUTE favorite story to tell), Lacey is just precious.  What she took from Laynie's life is so amazing, and such a force.  There is no denying God's hand.  No. Denying.  

Lacey stood up in front of that welcoming congregation and shared her heart.  And they received it, and walked away blessed. 

Hallie and I sang and shared the song "Blessings" by Laura Story, because the words wrap our journey up perfectly.   We have a slideshow of pictures of Laynie we showed while we sang, and we will figure out a way to combine the two, and I will share it, when we get that together, because it is just precious, too.

Mark and Vickie go WAY back in our lives.  Vickie lived with Carl and I, way back when Lacey was "Fohr" (said in Boston language that she spoke in when she was 4 years old), and Kip was just a baby.  Mark was her boyfriend, who, because they were 19, were joined at the hip.  It's so amazing to me that they are still loving and supportive as ever 22 years later.  Makes me very happy. 

They both shared with me at different times while we were there, the secret to their long union.  "God is #1 in our marriage.  I don't like <him> <her> every single day, and on those days when I don't, I love God.  And my commitment that I made before God, with <him> <her>, and my love for GOD, carries me through, until I love <him> <her> again.  And the powerful thing to all of this is knowing that <he> <she> feels the exact same way, and they won't forsake me ever, because they love God as much as I do".   WOW.  When you think you can marry someone that doesn't share your same beliefs and the marriage be compatible and stable, re-think that.  Having someone that loves God as much as you do is vital.  Pretty much LOVE 101 here.  This from the Single Lady at 50.  still learning.  and receiving learning. 

Anyway, Lacey is amazing.  Her message of Hope is so transparent.  You can see her heart when she speaks.  "There is NOTHING you can't overcome with God.  There is NOTHING bigger than God".  It's hard to understand that, when you are in the middle of the storm, but God can carry you through ANYTHING.   Just ask Him to do it. 

My girl can do ANYTHING through Christ that strengthens her.....  She is a light and a force.


SOOO, I loved our road trip.  We took one way down and another way back.  We just meandered whichever way we thought looked right and when I started feeling shaky on directions, Lacey whipped out the old Iphone and got me back on path.  Even through dirt roads.  We. are. slightly. amazing. 

Who needs a speaker and some singers?  We cannot help but speak of what we have seen and heard.  And you WILL be blessed. 

God is good, all the time.

Saying goodbye to a friend

It's really pretty strange how close most of my high school classmates have stayed with each other.  Somehow back in the olden days when we were all still babies, I ran for Senior Class Vice-President, and with the help of good friend, Steven Tomlinson, I had a terrific campaign speech.  and I got elected.  Little did I know that job would carry the weight of the class reunions for the ReST OF OUR LIVES, on my shoulders.  I missed our 5 year....that dang Lacey decided to be born that weekend.   And our 10 year was AMAZING.  Almost everyone from our class was there.  The 15 year dwindled down, but we were small and mighty, and the 20 was back to good form.   Our 25 was small but mighty again, and our 30 was just so much fun. I appreciate Suzanne and Shelley picking up the slack at the 30, since I was so involved with Laynie, and unable to put in much time at all.  Really, can't ever thank them enough.  After the 10, pretty much the same people come to each of them, and one of the frequent fliers to all the reunions, was our friend, Kermit Anderson. 

Known as Junior to his family (cause his dad was Sr), and Kermit to all of us, he was a quiet, hilarious guy that even in the midst of mischief being made, he would look as innocent as the driven snow, even though, I can promise you, the idea was his and put in motion by Mr. Sneaky.  He was a blast. 

But this blog isn't about him, because I've already shared about Kermit.  This blog is about all my classmates, that understand that life is short, and that HISTORY makes us family.  We can effortlessly slip back into high school banter without even blinking an eye.  "Mom" status doesn't exist with these people.  With these people I am 17 again.  (Oh, holy moly.)   We share history, marriages, babies, parents, siblings, teacher memories, years of life and friendships. 

I adore Facebook.  It makes it very easy to fall into the sense of "everydayness" with people you haven't seen in years.  I'll see someone, and they are completely up to speed on my life, simply by reading my facebook.  In fact, I don't have any particularly funny stories to share anymore, because if I start to tell a story, I'll invariably get interrupted with "OH, I read that on facebook", and I sit, disgruntled, because I. got. nothin.  else.  For. The. Everlovin. Love. of stories. 

I think a good compliment you can give someone -- to show up at their funeral.  The better compliment is to let them know how you love them BEFORE they die, and I'll forever carry that guilt with Kermit, because I doubt he knew how much I really thought of him, and cared for him.   I will forever carry the image of him and Tim, curled up in the "Spoon" position, after Kermit spent the night with Tim, on Tim's double bed.  I walked in to surprise them with donuts, and, Oh for the love of spoonin.. I was the one surprised. That was sooo  funny, I still laugh out loud to this day with that image forever burned in my brain.  Two perfectly great twin beds in the next room, and those two chose to spoon in Tim's 'lil bed.  "We were cold", was their excuse, even Tim's to this day. 

The hardest part for me that day was watching my beloved friends that DID share the day to day with Kermit, say goodbye.  Greg and Tim... wrenching for me.  Watching a dear friend say goodbye to their dear friend.... no words.   All any of us could do was be there for them.   And there, we were.

It was great seeing faces of friends we haven't seen in years.... Greg Stevens, Jana Buzzard, Kelli Lyday, Tim McCarter, to name a few.... and the old familiar faces that all of us can always count on... Suzanne, Shelley, Roxann, Terri K, Lisa G, Greg G, Tim B, Mike C, MaryJane, Dub, Paul and Melanie B, Kelley Jones, and now back in Shawnee Lois Hill, just to name a few.   Woohoo.  It's comforting to know, I will always see their faces. 

We decided that we want to have get togethers every year now.  Whoever comes, comes, whoever doesn't, doesn't.... it will be a Saturday deal, at a different hotel (with facilities for gathering and visiting, and staying), starting on Friday night/Saturday/Saturday night and just love each other all we can, while we can.   Life is short and fleeting, and it's a GIFT to have the friends that we have. 

I'm sad that we lost Kermit, but I'm also blessed beyond reason to know that REAL friends are out there, to comfort and love our families through.  And that is a wonderful thing....

Never miss an opportunity to kiss a friend, and tell them how much they mean to you.  You never know. 

Angels in your Home ..

I blather and dabble in blogging.  When Laynie was alive, I felt and knew God was leading me to write.  Now, as she has passed away, I'm don't feel like I'm in His pocket like I used to be.  And when I blog I feel I blather and babble, ANYWAY  (what was I saying about babbling?)....

I decided that my facebook friends were becoming a little too, well, diverse (for lack of better term) and I decided to do a "Cleansing".  I thought that if I knew at least 2 pertinent things about the person I was potentially "cleansing", that I would keep them. 

After 2 days of working through my friends list  (oh my computer is sooo slow) I voted close to 33 people off my island.  Now, in my defense, I did not know 2 things about these people.  But, when I got to the letter M, I started having friend deletion remorse.  Because a TON of people had found me off of Laynie's page, and I figure if they work that hard to find me, they should get to keep me  (ahem).   So, to keep from babbling here, to make a long story short, I posted another post and said something like, if you are past the letter M, and I don't know 2 things about you, you better speak now or forever hold your peace.   Look who wrote me and how precious this family is..... (This is why I won't do any more cleansings, because who KNOWS how many more Melissa Kitchens there are out there reading my stuff??? and I don't even know... for the love of reading!)

Listen to this precious story.....

 

Hello Lolly,
I realized after your status the other day that you probably have no clue who I am or why I'm on your friends list on FB. My name is Melissa Kitchens (I'm sure FB told you that lol) and I am a 25yr old mother of 2 special needs children. I was pregnant when I first learned of your journey with Laynie, through the Children's Miracle Network and then further through your blog and radio airings. I have a son who will be 6 in February, who has Autism and SPD but is the most loving, amazing child. He has conquered so much in his short lifetime already, and taught me alot about love. I also have a daughter who will be 1 this week. She was born with multiple birth defects and we are still in the diagnosing phase. As in, every time we see the doctors at Vanderbilt Children's she comes home with a new diagnosis. :) I've become used to it in the last year. It no longer affects us when they tell us something she may not be able to do, or something she's going to endure. Because I believe as you have so constantly written, God is good- all the time. I have to trust in Him and I know that while she is my child, she is HIS child first.
When I was pregnant with her and found out at my routine Ultrasound that she had health concerns, I read where you wrote about Laynie and the scripture "She is fearfully and wonderfully made" from Psalms. It has held fast to my heart. Brooke has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, microcephaly, VUR, a duplicated Renal system with shared arteries and free floating ureters, a heart murmur, Laryngomalacia, tracheomalacia with secondary GERD, absent acoustic reflexes in her ears, and she failed her vision screening at our last visit. She has Cranio, but we have opted to not do surgery as her brain and skull stopped growing months ago. We have been in Physical therapy and hope to add independent mobility to our list of accomplishments.

With her original assessments, we were told she wouldn't be able to maintain an upright position, eat normal food, self feed, become vocal, crawl, walk, and would probably be mentally retarded. That if the pressure in her brain didn't regulate that it could lead to a short life. It seems every time they say she won't be able to do something, she proves them wrong. With every step forward I repeat, God is good. After months of physical therapy, she can sit up, pull up, and crawl. She still cannot roll over, but seems content to skip it. She dislikes babyfood and will eat anything you fine mash for her, often feeding herself with her fingers. It takes an hour, and she wears more than she ever gets into her mouth, but she's doing it. She now signs "more" and "daddy" and babbles, even if she has no words. She is no longer cathed but able to wear a diaper and go as all babies go. Her joints dislocate constantly and we often hear "clicks" and "clunks" as she pops her little joints back into place, but she just keeps going. When we took her back to the doctor who did her original assessment, he told us that all he could say was this, "You know, I didn't do this. You didn't do this. GOD did this."

In between the various therapists that almost live in our home for both children and doctors visits, I find much that makes me think of your journey and Laynie. The stories you've shared and the faith your family has shown. You've been an inspiration to me, and to my family. I've shared your faith as an example many times. Looking at pics of my daughter, you would never imagine she has so much going on in her tiny little body. Often I've found when I've tried to share her story I have people say "oh, but she looks just fine. She doesn't look sick," and they are uninterested in the point I've tried to express. I know you are probably wondering why in the world I've emailed you this, but I wanted to share a little of our story. And I've also wanted to tell you how much of God's light shines through you. Even if it is halfway across the US on facebook. Thank you, for being you and sharing things so openly.

~Melissa Kitchens

You're choked up, aren't you?  I know I sure was.  Here is just one family, someone I haven't even met, and she read my stuff about Laynie, and let it resonate in her family.  I felt like I was reading our story, reading hers.  That's how God works.  God. IS. Good. 

I wrote her back and asked her if I could share this, and she replied:

I felt that you did need to know that you have been heard, and that you allow God to be heard through you. I don't mind if you share her story. She's doing remarkably well, and I feel blessed beyond anything I could imagine that she is having a considerably more "normal" life than they thought she would.

I can't complain about seeing all the doctors, and the issues she has going on. I know that there are children who face much, much worse, and I wish people were more aware of this so that they wouldn't take their children for granted. When I was pregnant with my daughter, someone asked what if our second child wasn't normal either. We just smiled and replied "we don't know what normal is, so I'm pretty sure God will show us what to do again." We aren't able to have anymore children, but I'm pretty sure I have 2 angels living in my house right now. :)

WOW.

Melissa Kitchens, I will never cleanse you from my friends, because now we are BFF's.  I've never met you, or held your sweet babies (and they would love me, for I am SUPER LOLLY), but we are sisters in Christ, and we know, that children are a Gift from God, only given to us for safekeeping.  He doesn't promise they will stay forever, whether it be 100 years or 100 days,  children are a GIFT. 

Thanks for reminding me that again, and Melissa Kitchens, you are a gift too.  Special moms get the special babies, and you must be extra special.

God is good, All The Time. 

Look at these sweet little cupcake cookies.   



Thanksgiving Musings

I love Thanksgiving.  It's the holiday that you just eat and laugh and sleep.  No worrying about the perfect present, no rushed "Christmas 500" (what I call the house to house travels over Christmas), just family, friends and food. 

The Three F's. 

This year, however, was just weird.  First off, Kip isn't here.  So one of the biggest Thanksgiving day lovers is in South Africa.  Of course, we always miss Laynie every single day, but it seems more intense at holidays.  She was such a bright little light, and everything she looked at, caused me to look at it through her pure, precious eyes, and it gave me new sight into things long taken for granted. 

One thing I take for granted is the health of my friends.  I expect all of my friends to live to be 100.  Gary Keck scared us earlier this year, with a heart attack, or heart something and aged us all about 10 years.  Then thanksgiving day, my phone rang and it was a fellow classmate, calling to tell me that one of our precious members, had died.   I sat in my chair, in shock.  We are only 50.  We aren't supposed to die yet.  Losing another classmate, Mark Gibson, early in 2010 from an aneurysm still resonates within me.  Facebook is a wonderful tool, that gives you the false sense of security that all is well in our world. 

What I remembered as I sat in shock on Thanksgiving, was that every single day we live is a gift.  All the people that we surround ourselves with, are gifts.  Life is a fleeting, passing thing, and the only thing that is important is loving God, loving others, and being the best person we can be. 

Life is a gift.

When I get too self important, too self involved, I take a step back from myself and look at the big picture.  If I were to die today, what imprint would I leave?  Would people say "Oh my cow, she was funny, she wrote the funniest status updates on facebook ever", or would they say  "She was God's right hand, and I know with utter certainty, she is sitting beside him right now, entertaining him.with all her stories."

That is my hope.   That is my hope for you.

Kermit was a Christian.  Kermit loved the Lord.  Kermit was the gentlest soul I know.  He was a quiet, funny guy.  But a stinker... right in the midst of chaos, Kermit would be sitting there smiling at you with dimples and looking like he was innocent as could be.  Someone described him as "Golden" on my page.  I like that.  Kermit was "Golden".

Best friends til the end.

Live life full out.  But live it for God, and it will be the most fulfilled you will ever be. 

Rest in peace, sweet friend...I will see you again.

Mountains and Friends

SO MY WEEKEND!   Last weekend-  November 10-13, I flew to South Carolina to surprise my longtime bestie, Melba Pulliam.

We laughed over this picture, after I dug it up to surprise her, because we had our pics made by a professional photographer (she had moved out of state and was visiting) and we totally look like we coordinated outfits and are posed like we are dating.  Man, pics have come a looooong way  (praise be to GOD). 

Anyway, her little sister Michele texted me in July to see if I would head to the mountains with them in November on Melba's 50th bday, and of COURSE I said,  You betcha. 

Melba has an uncanny knack of, even though it might be months between visits on the phone  (facebook has helped this dilemna) she would instinctively know when something was going down and never FAIL to call me during a crisis.   And weirdly enough, it worked that way for me to her too.  Always had that inner sense of something being up....  deep, soul sisters to the core... that is us.

SO, I flew in on Thursday and she and her girls drove up from Georgia to meet Michele and her fiance' for a weekend away.  I was the surprise guest.  What a BLAST.

Michele picked out paradise in the mountains and I was delighted with the view all the way, screaming to the girls  "GIRLS, are you LOOKING AT THIS... you better look at THIS, you may never see it again!"  The same crap my grandpa yelled at me, anytime we drove ANYWHERE!  "Laurie, are you looking?  You may never see this tree again".... so there I am spouting the same stuff to them...  But here's why....

Just beauty everywhere you look.



You know I freaked out over this one.

Our cabin was fantastic....up windy hills that would make a less stomach car sick.... we were all too enthralled with the view and each other to give it much thought....

But this was our home for the weekend...

and here was our view......

from this cool deck...

in these super cool chairs.

So you can see why I was so pumped about the whole thing.....

We caught up on Thursday night, found our way around the cabin and on Friday, set out for Asheville, North Carolina to see the beautiful Biltmore House.

Aren't they the sweetest cutie patooties you have ever laid eyes on?? Amanda and Holly, Melba's pride and joys...... Kinda look like their mama. 

WOW.   It was utterly spectacular.   As I walked through the house, I was taken into the novels I have read over the years of the 1900's and how royalty lived.  It really was just ding dang double donged amazing.

I couldn't even get the whole house in one frame to take a picture of it.   Notice the fountain in each picture (same fountain) and you'll get a small understanding how magnificent it is. 

I was speechless.  Beyond anything I had ever seen, I think this is even bigger than Oprah's pad.  It is just spectacular.

A good pic of all of us in the conservatory or plant aquarium...my brochure is at my mom's.  Short term memory blanks, what can I say.

This is my favorite though.  I think we could become a girl band and this could be our cover.

Melba's baby, Amanda and I attempted to do our best statue pose and I think we cracked a few people up, but no more than we cracked ourselves up. 

Here is a picture in the "Croquet" garden to get an understanding how massive it is, compare to our tiny little selves.  Holy Smokes.  And it looks warm... don't be fooled for a minute. 

Except for the "Snookie of the Carolinas" who got married that day.  Doesn't she just scream "Low Maintenance?"  (Ok, hear the sarcasm)  Check out some of her "Lovely" set up.... (just get ready)

Now she had the perfect setting.... absolute paradise.... BUT.....

Holly and Amanda admire the feather railing and sculptures.

Every wedding needs glass dealies and pink feathers... right?

And to borrow from Steel Magnolias  "It looked like the room threw up Pepto Bismol". 

And no wedding is complete without a white feather tree looking dealy. 

Now there's a marriage that is off to a good start.  (oh, i'm so bad)

My favorite picture that day was one I least suspected.  We were walking up and I snapped this picture.  Sometimes I amaze myself.    Kip would be proud of this one. 

We stayed in the mountains on Saturday and just relaxed and enjoyed the beautiful weather.  We were just lazin' around, having a perfectly great day, when someone suggested We take a "walk" in the mountains. Just about killed ourselves.  They ain't called "Mountains" for nothing.

Melba takes a rest, even before we got started....

Amanda has to show off her guns and Non- tired self...

Then leads me up into the rocks for the "perfect shot" (I came out of this alive, with no broken bones...)

While Holly warms up her ears, and Michele poses on a rock.

Yep that's me in the purple.  Does it look like I might hurl at any moment?  That's work right there.

That's about as far as Michele got.  We were rolling.

Then Michele and Amanda decided it would be way fun to slide down the hills on trashcan lids.

It sounded fun... it really did.

But it was an epic fail.   Funny as crap, though.

We finished the evening with John Travolta in Saturday Night Live and Mamma Mia.    John Travolta was one fine young looking specimen, was he not??  Too bad the movie was soooooo lame.  And to think I LOVED that movie.  It was porn!  LOL.  I had no discretion button when I was 18, obviously.  WHOA.  And we all sat there and watched it.  For. The. Love.   Of course I thought Rocky was a masterpiece at that age, too.  Like I said... no discretion.

But Mamma Mia was fantastic, even though Pierce Brosnan can not sing one lick.  But we decided he's hot enough to pull it off. . .  Barely.   

Then unfortunately it was time to go home, but not before we ran by these sights....

I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to live there.

And the GORGEOUS site where "Dirty Dancing" was filmed.  WoW.

There is nothing like good friends, good food, good sangria (still need that recipe, Renee), good movies (somewhat), good football, good conversation, good weather, good mountain views and dandy wedding parties to spice up a good weekend.

If you haven't surprised an old friend in a while, I suggest you do it. 

 It is balm for the soul.