ALL ABOUT "E"

This my littlest redhead... The safari guide(last year's kindergarten play)... the friend of Julia( his special school friend)... the happiest boy I know(until bedtime)... the ray of sunshine that looks like my daddy so much sometimes that my eyes get wet inside(an eric-ism)... Let me tell you about my "E"( his nickname started when "E"li Manning was at Ole Miss).... This will be funny- promise!!!
I thought that I would devote a day to each one of my boys.. Remembering who they are right now so that someday.. like when they are driving cars and me crazy I would STOP... SMILE.. and be thankful for these moments... Today is "all about eric"!!!
This "BUG CRUST" was found on a recent field trip the Church Street School 1st grade took to an apple orchard in Pontotoc County.. The very best first grade field trip... (I have been on a few)!!! The weather, the apples, the kids... such fun!!! Once we got there... There was a wreak on the way and we had to detour through the back roads of Pontotoc County... YIKES!!! Mississippi back roads are interesting and somewhat confusing- unless you grew up on them... I did not... and well, lets just say that I was grateful that someone was leading me that day... It's kinda' like life.. I am glad that GOD is leading me!!!
Anyway, the bug holder here had such fun... He gathered apples with the other 4 boys in his class...We only had one, Eli(not Manning), step into an ant bed... minor-very minor!!! We picnicked and played and had a blast... Thanks to his teacher.. I have this great shot!!!
Let's talk about school... Ms. Williams has her hands full with this one.. He is sooooooooooo smart.. but, tries to hide it well... School is just a waste of good daylight to our "E"... He can find much more fun things to do... like, be a pirate, work in his "office," lasso a calf head in a bale of hay, torment his older and more sophisticated (HAHAHAHAHA) brother... anything EXCEPT school... Spelling and reading are not his favs.. Math and the p.e. rock wall are the TOPS!!! The only way to get him out of his cowboyboots is to remind him that it's "rock wall" day... Whatever works- right???
He is so kind and has such a heart ... wet eyes again!!! He has a special friend at school, Julia< that he has taken upon himself to be her guide, protector, and friend forever!!! She is a downs child and they met last year and are INSEPERABLE!!!! This year they are in different classrooms and that is a mistake... The special ed teacher will "lose" Julia at school and "find" her in Eric's room.. sitting by him .. and he will be helping her... His heart is so kind... He was telling us this weekend that the other kids at school aren't being nice to Julia and that it hurt HIS feelings... Thank you, GOD for a special boy and for his special friend...
Another example of his heart... When he was 3 1/2 he got married to the cutest little girl around... he did!! her older brother did the ceremony at her 3 year old swimming birthday party... He got her a heart necklace(picked it out himself) and kissed her(on the cheek) and that was that... Well, they are still in like with each other and that is great!!!! Well, she is very sick and in the hospital. When I told him.. He said," lets pray and get her flowers and ice cream." So, WE DID!! He went to see her there yesterday!!! She is a little better but not good yet.. We are still praying!! GET WELL MARY!!
This only the beginning of life with"E"... He is a walking bundle of fun.. I will remember more another day....

Dear Lord, Thank you for Eric... the little ray of sunshine that he is ... His heart, his mind, his spirit... Bless him today... Help him to see that school is necessary and benificial to being a grown-up.. Keep his heart pure and loving .. Let him always be a defender of the special people in our world... Help him to always keep the spark in him that is from you GLOWING BRIGHT!!! 

a letter to my friends

Dear Church Street PTA friends,

Some of you may or may not know what has happened in my life since our last meeting... I went to have a peskie little mole(that had changed some) removed... It did not look like a "BAD" one but tests proved differently. It was a malignant melanoma - and a pretty BAD one at that. So, to make a long frightening story short... A few scary nights alone(Greg was in High Point for market) , a couple of doctor's appointments, a PET scan, getting to know the nuclear med guys well(2 visits), surgery and biopsy and LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of prayer later... I am all clear of cancer... There was nothing else there and they got iwhatever was there in the surgery... I will do some preventative treatment once I heal from the surgery. But, as I have been telling everyone I see... " I am ALL good!!!" So, if you have prayed for me... THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU... and don't stop!!! I know that all but for the grace of GOD I would not be where I am right now...

S

p.s. Wear sunscreen and watch those moles(I know that I will be!!!)

Back out in the REAL World

One week and a day after surgery I went out in the real world... Of course, I had to catch a ride CAUSE THEY WON'T LET ME DRIVE YET!!! We(my doctor and me) are going to talk about that today... I have an appointment with my surgeon today at 1:30. I am so at peace that it actually frightens me a bit. GOD has been so big and present on all of this journey that I am frightened by the memories of the times that I thought that I could "handle it myself." We are so quick to try to "fix" our stuff and really we just need GOD!!! I gave Him the control of this journey and so far HE is a much better driver than I could ever be...

So many people are rallying around reminding me that I am loved... just as I am. And it makes me realize that when I feel like it's me against the world... it's not! GOD has blessed me so much with an incredible network of friends and family(blood and spiritual) that it brings me to tears... daily!!! I was blown away by the love and support I felt today at this meeting I went to... I know that GOD has healed me but I also know that all the prayers that have been uttered on my behalf were a HUGE part of that... I truely feel blessed more than words can express!!!


I saw one friend that had thyroid cancer a couple of years ago... She said something that has had me thinking... I can give all the details about every procedure and result ... treatment .. healing ... surgery... You name it.... I can give you the detail!!! But, the word that I have not uttered about myself .... is the "c" word... Melanoma-sure! malignant melanoma- not a problem! but... here I go(if typing it count) cancer... I had cancer!! Yuck! my fingers are actually shaking as I type... there is something very scary about that word... I have been a little difficult to live with the past couple of days and I think that may be part of it... As I realize that this really has been a big deal!!! I really could be sicker than I am... but, do you know why I am not???? GOD ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS!!!! GOD is the great physician... I am healed because of GOD's love and mercy!!

All of this gives me a new perspective on my life... it is fragile and I am going to treat it like it matters... My body, mind and soul... There will be more "me" things that I do... (as long as the redheads are good) and there will be less fretting over the things that I have no control over...I WILL turn it all over to GOD and he can handle it... I see life in a different light now... Not as if it over or will last forever.... I see it how GOD means for us to... Fleeting... we are only promised right now... My aunt sang this song "One Day At A Time" and those words are ringing in my ears right now..

One day at a time, Sweet Jesus,
That's all I'm asking of you
Please give me the strength
To do all the things that I have to do

Yesterday's gone, Sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
Just give me the strength
To live one day at a time.


That powerful chorus... that is my new theme... Keep it in the day we have... It is a true gift...

hey, I almost forgot to give the daily elephant report....he is packing his bags and moving to a new home... WEAR SUNSCREEN!!!!