I Do

Fifteen years ago today I said it!  I have said every day since and will say it every day til death do us part!

You see, today is the day, 15 years ago, that I married the love of my life.  He is patient, well he was until we had kids:).  He is kind and he loves me with all his heart and soul!  I was 16 the first time we actually met.  We were best friends for 8 years, then started dating when I was 23.  Then, on April 23rd, 1996, he proposed to me.  On his 28th birthday.  He had been holding on to the ring since Christmas.  And, yes, he's still a procrastinator.  Perhaps he's just laid back, he likes to do things in his own time.  We have been through a lot together.  Infertility was our first big obstacle.  But, now we have two beautiful girls that have completed us and bound us even closer together.  We have a loving home and a loving marriage.  God has blessed us with many gifts and carried us through tough times and watched us soar in easier times. 

Everett holds my heart and my hand.  He kisses me every day.  He holds me tight every night.  He loves me unconditionally.  I am the luckiest girl on this earth!  Happy 15th Anniversary, Ev.  I love you more than words could ever express!  I do...I do...I do...I do...I do...

Well, that's it! It's all big teeth and bad attitudes now...

Yep, you guessed it!  My baby started Kindergarten.

Let me back up a bit though.  This is my SHY SHY SHY baby.  Which is weird, because neither Daddy nor me nor Beebs is shy in the least.  Anyway, we went to meet the teacher the week before school started and she not only held on to my leg the entire time, she hid behind it as well.  And, her classroom is not with the other K classrooms.  Needless to say, I was a basket case for the rest of the day.  And, I had to to to work!  I fretted and cried and worried over my baby all day.  Then I came home.  They were staying with my sister.  She met me in the garage and stopped me before I got out of the car...something that has never happened.  She then informed me that Annie had 1. cleaned up her room without being asked, 2. made up her bed without being asked and 3. well, I can't remember the third one because I was in shock and must not have heard her.  This child doesn't do anything without being asked and when you do ask all she does is whine!!!  It occurred to me then that she was, in fact, ready for big school because those things are only done by big girls.  So, now I just had to get through dropping her off on the first day... 

On the first day, my Annie got HERSELF out of bed.  She has NEVER gotten herself out of bed.  I have to carry these people to the kitchen and sit them at the table each and every day.  Needless to say, I was, again, shocked. She got herself dressed after being asked only one time.  This never happens!  Certainly not in my house and I'd be willing to bet it doesn't happen in yours either.  If it does, you are either a liar or an alien.  So, we set off walking to school, the three of us, Beebs, Annie and me, since our tradition is to walk to school on the first day.  I was fine.  I had been through my basket case phase the week before.  No problem.  Except, Beebs kept asking if I was going to be okay.  I finally had to tell her to stop asking me!  She was getting me all worked up.  We made it to school.  

We stopped and took a picture before my baby walked through those huge double doors...

She walked in right behind her big sister and I walked away.  I made it all the way to the end of the sidewalk and then I sobbed.  My babies are big now.  They have lost teeth...and now they have the big teeth coming in.  I guess I'll blink and they'll be teenagers with bad attitudes!  Dammit...I'm sorry mom for being such a bitchy teenager and I love you with all my heart! 

June Kitty Cash...the Great

SHE CAME HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I.cannot.believe.it!!!  Maybe the curse of Not the Summer of George has been lifted.  I don't know where she was, but she is mute, so whether it was a garage, attic or car, no one would have heard her.  She opens her mouth in a "Meow" formation, but nothing comes out. http://www.youtube.com/whttp://youtu.be/vN17L5Gb_gA

 Daddy came rushing into the bedroom this morning at 5:50 AM, shaking me awake and saying, "Guess who just showed up on our doorstep, skinny as hell?!?!?!"

I thought, "Oh dear God, he's let a drug addict in our house !"  But, instead of saying that out loud, I simply asked who.

"JUNEBUG!"  He said she came walking down the sidewalk after him, looked up and mouthed a Meow.  He opened the door, she walked in and jumped into the windowsill, which is her favorite perch. 

Oh, and she was weighing in at about 15 or 16 pounds when she disappeared SIX WEEKS AGO.  Now, she's probably down to about 9 or so pounds.  I think she might be down to 8 lives now.

Maybe I should have someone lock me in the garage for a couple of weeks...Nah, I'm going to Jackson!

Transition

Transition

part of speech: noun

definition: change, often major

Synonyms:  alteration, changeover, conversion, development, evolution, flux, growth, metamorphosis, passage, progression, shift, transformation, transit, turning point, upheaval

So, 40 has seen lots of transition for me...I don't do change well...I tend to overeat...and not good stuff like apples and salads.  No, I go for the white powdered sugar doughnuts!  My friend Susie says, "I think I am back up to my full term pregnant weight...I just need to give birth!"  Right there with you friend!

Anyway, I have made a decision to have a "CALM FALL".  Maybe that will make the transition from Summer Self to Fall Self much easier, even though Summer Self ain't on top of her game right now!  We are taking a year off from dance!  We are not going back to Girl Scouts!  We will be all things sports this Fall...Annie is already enrolled in soccer, and the Beebs will be going back to her true sports love of basketball in the Winter.  Of course Daddy is ready for them to take some sort of music lesson, but I'm just trying to figure out how they will get home from school.  Yes, I said they...my Annie starts Kindergarten this Fall.  She's pumped and I am too, kinda, maybe a little sad...she is my baby after all.  Okay, I'm tearing up...

My current transition is that of our Pastor and his wife leaving our little church to move to a new church and a house on the beach...kinda makes me want to go to Seminary.  Ha. Ha. Ha.  I'll leave that to the professionals!  Their last Sunday with us was this past one, and it was emotional for a big ole' crybaby like me.  Daddy was sweet to hold my hand all the way through though.  We said our goodbyes, which of course are not forever goodbyes and sent them on their way with a love offering and a book of notes and pictures from the congregation.  That is, minus notes from my family because I lost the paper we were to use and then didn't get them turned in on time.  I ROCK at being organized.  I would love to have everything in its place and a place for everything, but my children hinder that greatly!!!  Anyway, Pat baptized both of my children, gave fantastic sermons and is a very laid back, sweet and kind man.  In his sermon from Ash Wednesday 2010 (I think it was 2010), he said these words, "Fast from anger and feast on optimism.  Fast from self concern and feast on compassion for others." 

Fabulous words to live by!  So fabulous that I have them taped to my computer screen at work.  His sermons always found a way to speak directly to me.  And his wife, a precious friend who is a strong and admirable lady!  She's not afraid to speak her mind and she truly is my precious friend.  As I was thinking about this transition earlier this week, I realized that when you are 14 years old and your Youth Director leaves and you think that nothing will ever be okay again, it's a lot different when you are 40 and your pastor leaves.  When you are 40, you have been through a couple of changes and you know all will be well again.  So, maybe I'm a little okay with change since I can see a bright side to it.  Anyway, here's to my dear friends, Pat and Marcia...you have been a wonderful part of our lives and we will miss you greatly!  (Okay, I made myself cry again).  And please, consider this the Chapman note that didn't make it into the book.

Here's a little update on what we've been talking about...

Beebs:  "I didn't know the Target stayed up that late!"

Annie:  "NO!"

Annie:  "Uh oh, it looks like Strawberry Shortcake got a sharkbite..." (that's a whole other post though)

Beebs:  "I don't want to wash my hair, I washed it a couple of days ago..." (that's the stinch I smell)

Annie:  "NO!" (Annie's been telling me NO alot lately, which is why she is grounded from Mermaid Barbie until tomorrow - I love the POWER, insert evil laugh)

Stay tuned for my latest project and be on the lookout for the "Shark Bite Barbie" post!  It will even have pictures!

Heart your everchanging always the same Chapman, me:)

NOT the Summer of George!

Well, Summer Self is usually waaaaaaaaaaaay happy by now...but I don't think this is turning out to be the Summer of George.  At least I can still find humor in it:).

I haven't been posting lately, so I thought I'd just give you a brief rundown of what we've been talking about lately...

So, the 4th of July, found us at the neighborhood pool.  By the way, we (me) had endured fits of rage from a very persistent 8 year old the day before because I had things to do at home and refused to take her to the pool.  Anyway, we arrived, applied sunscreen to the Beebs and then it thundered.  And then it thundered some more and then we went home...then it stormed and the power went out.  The Beebs was so mad at Mother Nature that she demanded to know, "Can't we send her an email or something?  This is ruining my pool plans!!!"  Later when asked what Mother Nature's email address was, she replied, "mothernature@gmail.com."  Smart-aleck!  She gets that honest though!

Now, in this NOT Summer of George, my sister has been staying with us (moved in and took over Daddy's bathroom as the Beebs would tell you).  She has two dogs.  So, along with our little LuLu, we now have Pearl and Blu (Blu is a girl by the way, that's why there is no "e" on the end you fool!).  When they arrived, LuLu was in heat.  Now Pearl is in heat.  Now Blu thinks that she is actually a boy and won't stop humping the small dogs.  I'm talking really bad doggie porn going on that Daddy really wants to capture on his iPhone and post on YouTube, if he could only get the right lighting.  It is all very disturbing!

Meanwhile, my prized cat (the killer of all things small - creatures that is), June Kitty Cash, has moved on to bigger and better things.  I'm not sure if that happens to be Heaven or a home without three humping dogs residing in the back yard.  I think I'd trade all three of them for my Junebug.  I'm going to miss the dead shrews, chipmunks, moles, birds, etc. left lovingly for me right at the bottom of the laundry chute.  Beebs suggested that Junebug must have left because she needed another "fixed shot".

Oh, and Annie painted a piece of her beautiful blond hair with red spray paint!  Now people at the Target are going to think I took my 5 year old to the salon to have a pink (it's faded a bit) highlight in her hair!  Yeah, I did that...just for the first day of Kindergarten!!!

More on my new project and Annie's 4th of July scooter and bicycle parade...

Who's in charge of Mother Nature?

It's COLD here in Alabama!  And the sky is gray to boot...I'm slipping back into my Seasonal Affective Disorder.  This morning, my precious (and quite hilarious) Annie was giving me a lesson on how Mother Nature controls the weather.

"That's why it's cold Mommy, cause Muddah Natah made it cold.  She's in charge of the weddah.", she explained.

"Well, who's in charge of Mother Nature?" I asked.

"Justin Bieber!" she replied with all the confidence of JB's #1 fan.

I fell out laughing and she quickly changed her answer, "I mean Jesus!"

At least I know that the child loves Jesus.  Why just the other day on the way to school she asked, "Mommy, what if Jesus only made Jeeps?" 

By the way, and not to leave the Beebs out, but our little Annie had quite a week last week. 

She graduated from preschool.

She made her first goal in soccer.

And, she got an iPod shuffle for graduation.

(yeah, it's my old one, but she thinks it's new)

 

I'm thinking the iPod is the reason for the constant Justin Bieber noise in my head...Annie sings JB really loud and constantly.  I am singing Runaway Love right now.  And, I know every word.  I might be Steven Tyler...Does the noise in my head bother you?

Pasties, the new Lieutenant Dan and a little help from a little friend

I know the title of this post is a twisted one, but...welcome to my world!

Have I told y'all that Annie has an obsession with band-aids and tattoos?  Well, she does.  Last week her buddy, T, was over playing and she had just gotten some new tattoos.  I think she must have given T at least 6 tattoos.  Guess where she decided two of them needed to go?  Yep, she made pasties out of them!  Then last night, she got into the shiny silver Band-aids.  Guess where she decided two of those silver stickers needed to be?  You guessed right again, she made pasties out of them.  Daddy and I were on the deck and here she came in her Hello Kitty panties and shiny silver band-aid pasties.  Yes, I said on the deck...meaning outside!  And then I said to Daddy, "Honey, she's made pasties out of Band-aids."  There's a sentence I thought would NEVER cross my lips...

Lt. Dan...Annie flipped the Beebs off the hammock onto the ground the other afternoon...here's what followed in the next 2 hours...

"Mommy, Daddy, I can't walk!  Both of my legs are broken!"  This in her best "working up the tears" whiny voice.  She dragged herself up the stairs from the backyard without using her legs, just her arms.  See, Lt. Dan.  Can't you just visualize it now.  She laid on the floor of the deck fake crying the whole time.  That is, until, Daddy turned off the grill, got Annie out of the tub and said, "Mommy, get your purse, we're going to the hospital to get a shot!"

Then, she was up and at 'em, running like Forrest!

On a serious note, we have been praying for all of our neighboring cities and counties that were hit so hard by last week's tornadoes...

My Beebs made fliers ("Raise money to help hurt people!") and she and her good buddy, EG, collected $19.50 to send to Pleasant Grove.  They also had a lemonade stand last weekend to raise even more money.  I would love to show you a picture of the poster they made for that, but the dog peed on it:).  The final count on how much money she raised there is still out (she hasn't counted it yet). 

Zook and Jesus

Can you tell I'm ready for summer?  Yes, I changed my picture to one of my angels jumping into the pool!  My brain is gearing up for my "blog season".  I think winter gives me writer's block!  I log in and start to type, but it's just a sad jumbled mess!  Have I mentioned lately how I despise cold weather and nightfall at 4 p.m.?!!?!?!

On to Zook (actually Zoosk)...I was on the phone with my sister the other night and we were discussing her recent break up with the worst boyfriend ever, and my Beebs was sitting right beside me, of course, eavesdropping.  She immediately perked up and said, "I have an idea!  Nahnie should join Zook."

"Join huh?" I said.

"You know, Mommy, the place on the Internet where you can meet nice dates."  Watch TV much Beebs?  And what channel is she watching to see Zoosk commercials!?  Yep, Mother of the Year right here;).

Lots of my posts deal with Jesus...or should I say, Annie has lots of Jesus questions.  The girls and I went to church without Daddy on Sunday.  It was Palm Sunday and Communion Sunday.  After a brief description (for the 50th time) of the Lord's Supper in the best whisper I could muster up, the Elders distributed the "bread".  Now the bread in our little Chapel is made of Pillsbury Pie Crusts which have been rolled out on a cookie sheet and brushed with butter.  I know, YUMMMMMMMYYYYYY!  My kids love, love, absolutely love Communion because of the "bread" and they get grape juice too.  Beebs went so far as to take two, yes I said two, pieces of the bread from the serving plate.  But I digress.  Right about the time we got our tiny grape juice and Annie spilled a little because she had to get the fullest tiny cup on the tray, she looked over at me and said, "Mommy, did Jesus get married?"  Where in the world did she come up with that in the midst of all the chaos.  It was such a sweet question, but really?  It's Palm Sunday.  Jesus is about to die on the Cross for our sins and then rise on the 3rd day, and you want to know if he got married? 

Lord help me...

Focusing on God during Lent...

I read this Lenten Devotional last night that was included in our church's weekly newsletter and it set the right perspective for me for Lent.  

This year I am giving up something that has been a part of my life for too long and putting my full faith in God that he will carry me through.  I will direct my eyes to Him...  

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. ~ Psalm 51:1

By: Henri Nouwen

Our temptation in Lent is to be so impressed by our sins and failings and so overwhelmed by our lack of generosity that we get stuck in a paralyzing guilt that leads to introspection instead of directing our eyes to God. It is guilt that becomes an idol and form of pride.

But Lent is precisely the time to break down this idol and to direct our attention to our loving Lord. The question is: “Are we like Judas, who was so overcome by his sin that he could not believe in God’s mercy any longer and hanged himself? Or are we like Peter, who returned to his Lord with repentance and cried bitterly for his sins?

“You are dust, and to dust you will return.” This ancient formula will be heard by millions of Christians all over the world this Ash Wednesday as the sign of the cross is made in ashes on their forehead. This symbolic act is both a solemn reminder and an invitation to renewal.

Lord God, this Lent help us to do our best to keep our minds fixed on you and your Kingdom.