The 2008 Baseball Season - According to a 5 year old

I am pleased to interupt my normal blogging for this special guest blogger. I am proud to introduce our own personal baseball analyst, 5 year old Carter.

Momma: Which team was your favorite this year?
Carter: I don't know . . . what team hit the most homeruns . . . probably the Braves

Momma: Who is your favorite player?
Carter: Probably . . . Mark Texiara, Chipper Jones and Brian McCann

Momma: Who became some of your favorite players this year?
Carter: Manny Ramirez, Prince Fielder, C.C. Sabbathia, Ryan Howard, Big Z (Carlos Zambrano) and Andruw Jones

Momma: Why are these guys some of your favorites?
Carter: Cause I like them. They are good and they are big guys!!!

Momma: Who do should win the NL MVP - Albert Puljos or Chipper Jones?
Carter: or Brian McCann . . . Chipper Jones because he hit his 400th homerun this year.

Momma: Who do should win the AL MVP?
Carter: Jacoby Ellsbury for the Red Sox - he has been doing so good.

Momma: Who is going to win the Cy Young?
Carter: Big Z because he pitched a whole game and hit homeruns

Momma: What was the best trade this year?
Carter: Mark Texiara - he has hit 13 homeruns for the Angels since he was traded.

Momma: What about CC being traded to the Brewers from the Indians?
Carter: He's good but he has not hit as many homeruns. He did pitch a whole game and caught a ball with his bare hand but I think Big Z is better.

Momma: What was the saddest thing that happened to the Braves this year?
Carter: McCann getting hurt when that Philly ran into him.

Momma: Do you think Smoltz is going to pitch next year?
Carter: Yes because he is a good pitcher - that's why.

Momma: Who was your favorite Braves player that was called up when everyone got hurt?
Carter: Omar Infante because he was on the DL when Bennett was and then came back to play.

Momma: Since the Braves are not in the playoffs this year, who is going to play in the National League Championships?
Carter: Cubs and Phillies

Momma: Who is going to play in the World Series?
Carter: Red Sox and Cubs

Momma: Who is going to win the big trophy?
Carter: Cubs because of Jim Edmonds, Soriano and Big Z

Thank you, Carter, (Why are you typing my name) for joining us today. We have enjoyed having you here today and keeping us our toes during baseball season this year. We will enjoy watching you watch the playoffs this year.

Monday Blessings

Many people look at Mondays with poor attitudes - that of going back to work after a nice weekend just to face another week or deadlines, deals to make and lists of things to be done. I usually use Mondays as a day to regroup and get my family ready for the week ahead. LB is at school and Carter is at preschool so Miss C and I have the mornings to ourselves. We usually do very little. Yesterday was a somewhat typical Monday, but we had a blessing at the end of the day I was getting ready for.
When Grandmama Whittle retired from FHU and both of her girls (my mom and aunt) were finally both back in Henderson, I remember her cooking many a meal for the families at her house. Yes, we had the typical Sunday lunches together as well as birthday meals, but she would cook supper at least once a week because that is what she could do to help. Last night, all those memories came back, but this time Grandmama was not in the kitchen - I was.
Some friends of Papa had brought him back 5 lbs. of shrimp that he put in the freezer. He asked me if I had a recipe that used shrimp so the family could enjoy the meal. I chose Shrimp Creole for the meal and yesterday for the family meal.

Shrimp Creole

1.5 pounds of shrimp

1/4 c. flour

1/4 c. oil

1 can diced tomatoes

8 oz. tomato sauce

1 c. water

1/2 c. chopped bell pepper

1/2 c. chopped onion

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. thyme

1/2 T. Tony Chachere's creole seasoning

a little parsley, chopped

Heat oil in large skillet. Add flour and stir constantly until roux is golden brown. Don't scorch. Stir in water and tomato sauce. Blend until smooth.

Add everything except shrimp and simmer for 30 minutes.

Add shrimp and cook 10 minutes longer or until shrimp are pink.

Serve over rice and with Texas Toast.

recipe from Cathy Welch - DH's mom

So we gathered for a meal for shrimp creole, Texas toast, green beans and lima beans. We missed those who were not with us - Grandmama, Richard, Amy, Chuck, Jonathan, Rebecca, Jason, Jenny, Andrew and Mary Beth (we have grown a little since those days Grandmama use to cook), but know we thought of you all and love you very much. Who knows, we may start this tradition again. I think Grandmama would like that.

Scrapping Weekend

What a weekend I had!! Great food, great football games (ROLL TIDE ROLL!!) and great craft time!! I was a tad bit nervous about the Bama/Georgia game and kept myself busy while watching the game catching up on some scrapbooking. Those who know me know I cannot just sit and watch something - I have to be doing something!! For some reason I had not scrapbooked February-March from 2008, so I got caught up on that and was pretty pleased with the outcome. Again, they are nothing just extraordinary, but they are done!!! Enjoy and maybe they will inspire someone!!

Most of my supplies from these pages came from Jenni Bowlin. She is amazing and I have enjoyed using her supplies in my crafting. Be sure to check her blog out as well!!!

Favorite Things Swap

It was one of those days and I greatly appreciated getting Amanda's package today with her favorite things. Here is what she sent me:

1. AHAVA Mineral Hand Cream - Can't wait to use this. My hands are always so dry!!
2. Mini candles for relaxing - I LOVE candles and can't wait to use these!!!
3. Starbucks (enough said right there!!!) Vanilla Bean Truffles - We don't have a Starbucks close by but I love to go when I can!!! These will be enjoyed so much!
4. Germ-X (that smells good!) - We go through this so much!! It is perfect!
5. Pure and Natural Hand Soap - Again, perfect timing - I was about to go and get something like this, so I can't wait to use her favorite!!
6. Oklahoma Sooners hat - DH says I have to send this one back because he is a Texas Longhorn fan!! I am not, though. I lived in Enid, OK, for a few years, so we can keep it in the house!!! I may pull it out in a few weeks for the Red River shootout just to see his reaction!!!

Thank you so much, Amanda! You made my day and I can't wait to try your favorites. Thanks to Wendi for hosting this great swap!! You can click here to see what I sent Amanda as my favorite things.

BBQ Festival Weekend

Our small town in West TN is pretty calm except 3-4 weeks/weekends out of the year. One week is in February when FHU holds its annual Lecturships. Makin Music in April brings the crowds in as well. Homecoming at FHU in November even brings a crowd usually. However, the place is packed come the last weekend in September when the Chester County BBQ Festival comes to town. The courthouse square is covered (as seen in the picture) with booths of all kinds, music, food and games fo all ages.

You can begin to tell its BBQ Festival time on Thursday when men begin to smoke the hogs in a house like this. In Chester County, we make whole hog BBQ. It is wonderful and you can't find it anywhere else!! We have taken BBQ all over the country because you really can't get it like this anywhere else. While the hogs are being smoked, the grills are fired up for BBQ chicken and ribs that are simply amazing. I don't eat the ribs, but DH says they are to die for!!!!People line up for BBQ by the pound, sandwhiches, ribs and chickens. The past couple of years they have run out of BBQ by supper on Saturday night.Of course, there are other goodies besides the BBQ - deep fried oreos, deep fried twinkies, funnel cakes, fried pies of all kinds, corn dogs and other typical fair foods. Miss Priss tries a deep fried oreo but had to put it down - too hot!! She ate it later and loved it!!Of course, the fair holds many things for the kids to do. Miss Priss and Mr. Stuff loved going up and down the blow up slide. Miss Priss was so kind to this little girl who was scared to go up the big slide herself. Mr. Stuff was with me, but I could not get him to be still long enough to take pictures of him!! Miss Priss even saddled up for a pony ride - to which Mr. C did not want to go anywhere near them!!!
The petting area was also a favorite for the kids.
Thank goodness we don't have to wait for the BBQ festival to have BBQ. We have about 3 or 4 different places where we can enjoy Chester County BBQ any time of the year, so come on up sometime. We will treat you to a West TN treasure!!

Mom told me one of the BBQ places in town was featured in Southern Living as a great place to go for BBQ!!!! YAY, Chester County!

New Name

I have decided on a new name for my blog - "Slipping Through My Fingers." Why this title? It comes from an ABBA song that I have grown to love and it describes exactly why I blog and scrapbook and do what I do. I know I do not have a long time with my kids and I am trying to treasure every moment with the kids.

Schoolbag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning

Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile

I watch her go with a surge of that well-known sadness

And I have to sit down for a while

The feeling that I'm losing her forever

And without really entering her world

I'm glad whenever I can share her laughter

That funny little girl

Slipping through my fingers all the time

I try to capture every minute

The feeling in it

Slipping through my fingers all the time

Do I really see what's in her mind

Each time I think I'm close to knowing

She keeps on growing

Slipping through my fingers all the time

Sleep in our eyes, her and me at the breakfast table

Barely awake, I let precious time go by

Then when she's gone there's that odd melancholy feeling

And a sense of guilt I can't deny

What happened to the wonderful adventures

The places I had planned for us to go

(Slipping through my fingers all the time)

Well, some of that we did but most we didn't

And why I just don't know

Slipping through my fingers all the time

I try to capture every minute

The feeling in it

Slipping through my fingers all the time

Do I really see what's in her mind

Each time I think I'm close to knowing

She keeps on growing

Slipping through my fingers all the time

Sometimes I wish that I could freeze the picture

And save it from the funny tricks of time

Slipping through my fingers

Slipping through my fingers all the time

Schoolbag in hand she leaves home in the early morning

Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile

God's Rainbow on Earth

In our small town, we are blessed to have many nationalities around us. Growing up in the Air Force and adopting a Korean brother taught me to never look at the color of one's skin and make judgements from that. It is something I firmly believe in and something I wanted to pass on to my children.
One day we were in the car and Carter (my very random child) asked me why some people were different colors. I quickly explained to him that God wanted to have a rainbow on earth. He did not want everyone to look the same because that would be boring. God loves everyone for who they are no matter what they look like on the outside. He wanted everyone to be different.
Carter was quiet for a few minutes and then replied,

"Well, why didn't he make me blue - my favorite color - instead of the peachy color?"

I Rock . . . .

Have you ever had one of those days or weeks when you think you could just disappear and no one would know you had left? Things just aren't going your way and the further you go the further you seem to get behind. On those days, I just want to run away, but I don't.

I find myself in a place where I am the star.

I find myself around people who cheer me on - more than booing me.

I find myself where I can shine.

I find myself where I can scream or sing as loud as I want.

I find myself downstairs.

I find myself playing his toy.

I find myself playing Guitar Hero

and

I know that no matter what anyone else says . . . . .

Hello. My name is Becky and I am addicted to Guitar Hero!

Make it Part of Your Life

Raising young children to grow up in the Lord and to know and love Him is my biggest desire and yet my biggest fear. I want (as I believe most parents do) for my children to KNOW God, who He is and to turn to Him. I want God and His word to be part of their DAILY lives not just part of their lives on Sunday and Wednesday when we are at church. We listen to church music. We have daily devotional time with the kids. We do memory verses with them. However, I know there is more that we could and should be doing. My friend, Melissa, was sparked by a friend's post on her blog. Which, in turned, rekindled my spark on this subject as well. One thing I have LOVED about blogging is the sharing of ideas and concerns from others out there. This is something I think we all worry about and can improve on daily. We should never be set in our ways and not working on doing and learning more. So, what are some ideas you have to make God and His word part of your daily life? Here is what we do already . . . . . .

Glorify God when we see His hand in creation.
Thank God for blessings each day.
Have a prayer list for those who need our prayers.
Talk about what God would want us to do in different situations.
Look at what the Bible says about different situations and how we should deal with it.
Put scriptures in LB's lunch box at school.
Use Bible verses in daily conversations.

What do you do?

New Name for the Blog

I want a new name for my blog. I am not creative when it comes to this, so those that know me well - face to face girlfriends or screen to screen GURLfriends, let me hear what you have to say!!!

Showers of Blessings

Sunday was Richard and Amy's first shower. The wedding season is officially here!!! The Henderson church gave them the shower in the Commons area of the building. A nice crowd was there and the soon to be newlyweds received many lovely gifts. Mom made them this quilt.
Grandmama Whittle was there is spirit. She had made each grandchild a cross-stitched quilt for them to receive upon their marriage. Here Richard is receiving his.
The gorgeous couple!!
Carter and LB chose this gift all on their own. They have played Uno Attack with Richard and Amy for countless hours!!! LB also included a paper airplane for Uncle Richard!
Me, Laura Beth, Richard, Mom and Amy

Richard and Amy got some very neat gifts. They opened a Bible with their names engraved on it, a chronological Bible, a cookie making bag (with all the essentials, including mixes, to make cookies), a box with many "W" things and a book with handwritten practical tips for every part of life. This shower was filled with so many blessings and overflowed with love.

Thanks to Sandy for taking pictures for me!!!

BBQ Bounty

Since Richard and Amy were coming in for their shower at church on Sunday, my aunt and uncle wanted to have a gathering at their house to allow Amy and her family to get to know Richard and some of the special people in his life. It was a wonderful night full of great food (BBQ only Chester County can deliver), great friends and great advice. In the invitations, a card was placed for people to write down a special scripture for the couple. This scripture could be one that has meant a lot to that family or to those individuals for some reason or another. After eating, we all gathered around and took turns sharing funny stories about Richard as well as our scriptures. Mr. Lyn, Mrs. Renee, Amy and Richard listening
Opening a special gift from RoRo and Bub
Richard with Dr. Brown - one of his professors at FHU and the man who was instrumental in getting him to Auburn (thanks :( for that!)
Richard and high school friend Steven
Richard and college friend, Kevin

Some of the scriptures that were shared with Richard and Amy:

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righeousness and all these things will be added unto you." - Matthew 6:33

"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another and forgiving one another, . . . . . But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection." - Colossians 3:12-14

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." - Philippians 4:13

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set ono a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let you light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:14-16

" . . . . Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. . . . . You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." - Deuteronomy 6:1-6

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." - Proverbs 3:5-6

"Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death, . ." Song of Solomon 8:6

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:4-7

Helping RoRo Clean Up . . . .

One of the deserts my aunt prepared was a chocolate trifle. Needless to say, it was a hit! I love these pictures of Richard and Amy digging into what was left of the trifle and helping RoRo clean things up a bit. Thanks to Lyndsey for taking these with my camera "on accident." (She thought she had her dad's camera, but I am glad she had mine!)



Chocolate Trifle or Death by Chocolate

1 chocolate cake baked according to directions or
1 family recipe of brownies
1/2 c. chocolate syrup
1 3oz package of instant chocolate pudding, mixed
1 12 oz. carton of cool whip
1 8 oz pkg. of toffee pieces (for Carter's peanut allergy, I use chocolate chips)
1 chocolate candy bar

After removing the cake or brownies from the oven, crumble and pour syrup over.
In a separate bowl, mix prepared pudding and 1/2 of the cool whip.
In a large bowl, layer the following:
1/2 cake mixture
1/2 toffee pieces
1/2 pudding mixture
Repeat layers
Top with remaining whipped topping. Garnish with candy bar shavings. Refrigerate several hours before serving.

An Honor Flight

I love America.

I love American history.

I loved teaching American history.

I love visiting special places in America's history.

I don't know why. Maybe it is because I have had wonderful teachers who have taught me at school about our country. Maybe it is because I have seen first hand at the price people and families have had to pay for our country to be where we are today. Maybe it is because there is a pride in me that just wants to scream being the daughter of a retired Air Force pilot and the grandaughter of two WWII veterans. All 3 of these men were (and 2 still are) more than willing to tell stories of their days in service and I would/could sit for hours listening to them. For that reason, bear with me today, as I pay tribute to one of my favorite fellows, Papa Whittle (or J. Walker Whittle). My cousin, Jonathan, works for a company that sponsors the Honor Flight for WWII veterans. This company chooses veterans and then flies them to Washington D.C. for the day to see the different sites, but esp. to see the WWII memorial. Jonathan had put Papa's (or Pop) name in a while back to go on this flight. We received word right after Grandmama's death that Papa had been chosen for this flight. Some friends of ours took Papa to Alabama on Friday and he was able to spend Saturday in our nation's capital.

Jonathan said he had never seen anything like it. When they got to the airport, soldiers were waiting outside ready to receive these veterans. Each veteran (or two) had a guardian that stayed with them for the duration of the trip. A full medical staff went as well. Papa has never known a stranger and, as the pictures tell, he immediatly started to make friends.

Papa and a fellow veteran waiting to get on the plane.
On the plane ready to go
When they arrived in DC, the Army band met them at the airport.

Papa said it was one of the most moving things of the day.
Some of the helpers welcoming our heroes.

Bringing Them to be Honored

The moment they all had been waiting for . . . . . .

WWII Monument

Walking up to the monument
Inside the monument
The service they had to honor all the veterans of this world war. They gave 22 flags to the monument. Each flag was presented to a current service man or woman. This veteran knew the service woman he was presenting his flag to.
Papa and the monument
At the monument - a tribute
This says it all

More Touring of Washington for the Heroes

Pop with the Washington Memorial behind him. He said a lady came up and took a picture of him from behind to remember what his shirt said about the WWII heroes.
Papa, always the politician, made his way from the back of the crowd to right beside Senator Bob Doyle for this picture. We all just laughed and shook our heads. We were not surprised at all!

This is the area Papa served in during WWII. He did not have a chance to get to really see it, but his guardian went back at lunch and took these pictures for our family.
Changing of the guard ceremony at Arlington.
Pop and the Iwo Jima monument