Life Lessons from Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse

I just finished putting Libby to bed. I usually let her pick out four books to read. Tonight she chose I Spy, Chicka Chicka ABC, Green Puppy Goes to the Dentist and Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. Lauren Clay gave us the last book for her birthday but I had not yet read it to her, maybe Bobby has. But what I learned came on one page, "Today was a difficult day. Tomorrow will be better." Those were the words I needed to hear. My difficulty came today when I had to put down my dog of eight years, Cougar. But tomorrow will be better.

The above picture was our last one together, Libby's fourth birthday, after returning from vacation. She has lots of questions, mostly about heaven. She said, "He will miss me." Yes he will. And we will miss him. But today was a better day for him, no more suffering.

Birthday dinner with Granny

Aunt Laura, Libby and Granny at Applebee's, Libby's favorite restaurant.

Libby with her Aunt Laura

Libby is wearing her cherry clothes from Gymboree which Granny let her pick out for her birthday (are you seeing a pattern here?) Notice that she purchased the coordinating sunglasses to complete her outfit!

She enjoyed playing with the princesses almost as much as eating the cake.

Granny let Libby pick out her birthday cake from Caramanda's. Beautiful as well as delicious!

Libby's birthday in the Smoky Mntns

Cougar glad to see us after our vacation. Libby is holding Cruella DeVille that she picked out at The Disney Store Outlet. Up until then she had not watched 101 Dalmations, but now that is all we watch. (Also the real life version with Glenn Close.)
Bobby and Libby right as we were loading up the cars to head home.

Libby doesn't want to take a family photo before we leave.

Our cabin in the "Spooky" Mountains.

Macy with her American Girl doll and Libby with hers, not the real thing.

Libby named hers Elizabeth Evelyn. So then Macy, who calls hers Julie, decided to call hers Julie Claire, which is her middle name. How cute! Thanks, Aunt Anna and Uncle Kevin for her birthday doll.

Macy and Libby passing the time until our breakfast is ready at MaMa's Diner.

Maggie and Smokey made themselves right at home.

Libby opening up her presents from us:

a cross necklace from Lia Sophia.

Sad, I can't remember what else I put in the pink bag that looks like a purse!

She had another big bag that I put lots of little things in, glitter for her art projects, and again I can't remember what else right now! (The mind is a terrible thing to waste!)

Needless to say, she got way too much from everyone.

When Libby woke up, I had the Mrs. Potato Head, with the birthday stuff on from the Bivins', and the little balloon at the end of her bed and the Happy Birthday banner at the top of the stairs. She and Macy enjoyed dressing her up. It really is the little things!

Well, I did better today at putting pictures and words! Just remember everything is in reverse. Now if I could just remember that in posting the pictures, life would be good.

Two days of swimming on vacation

Libby and her cousin Macy

Libby and her MaMa Maggard

Libby's 4th Birthday

Ben, Libby and Peyton playing in the box at Applebee's Park.
Ben twirling Libby for Pen the Tail on the Donkey.

Lauren Clay, Libby, Ben, Peyton, and Eli.

Not pictured but present at the party: Nick

Libby blowing out her candles on her cupcakes with Lauren Clay and Eli looking on.

Our annual photo updated for 2008.

Dad, 36, Mom 38, Libby 4

Father's Day 2008

Yesterday, we ate at Red Robin with Granddaddy and Nana Kim.

Aunt Laura, Granddaddy, and Bobby


Daddy, Mommy and Libby

Aren't you all proud of me? Pictures on the blog, very few words! I had over 200 pictures on the camera from Christmas 2007 until yesterday. They are all downloaded and I will try to post a few each day. Thanks for waiting patiently -- now go post some pictures on your own blog! k

Her first bowling

For our last day of school (KORE) we took the kids bowling this afternoon. Another teacher took her son and I took Libby. I didn't have my camera but a student took some pictures that she will email. Honestly, tonight I sat down to download pictures to post on the blog and our camera card doesn't fit this laptop but the other one at the office -- UGH! They had the best time -- the little shoes, the special bowling ball, and a "slide" that the put the ball on and watch it roll down the lane! Can't wait to post the pictures. Tomorrow I have a meeting at my new school, a teacher's luncheon at my old school and then graduation that night. Tuesday I just have to finalize a few things and I am officially done for the summer. My new school doesn't start until after Labor day so I have a full three months off! I am looking forward to this summer like no other. By the way, she started her game off with two spares and ended the last frame with a spare for a score of 87. Not bad for a beginner!

Up early this morning

Libby woke up early this morning crying and I haven't gone back to sleep. Rather than lay (I never know lie/lay/etc.) there, I got up and took The Living Bible and The Message to read. I have been reviewing Matthew for BSF Share Day tomorrow. A few things struck me in Matthew 12: There's nothing done or said that can't be forgiven.

That is a powerful statement Jesus made.

It's your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. ... Words are powerful; take them seriously.

So if you read my previous blog, you know He has been speaking to me about this. Just yesterday I said something without thinking and it got me into trouble. When will I learn? Sorry I can't give you verses on these two Scriptures, my Message translation doesn't give specifics. So I thought that was enough until I opened my Living Bible and read my Psalm for the Day.

Help me, Lord, to keep my mouth shut and my lips sealed. Psalm 141:3

Hello! There's my prayer. I am going to commit this verse translation to memory!

Tonight is Libby's preschool performance. She has been singing her songs at home and I pray she enjoys being on stage as much as she does pretending at home that she's on stage. Her two songs are "May There Always Be Sunshine" and "I Will Take God's Promises and Hide Them in my Heart" both with hand motions. My camera does have video but not sound. Mom's has both so we shall see if she can record tonight. Then I will have to learn how to download; Mel and Shannon, when are you holding a seminar on this?

May 18 -- Day 139 of 2008

Reading Psalm 139: The All-Knowing, Ever-Present God (Just the title my bible, HCSB, gives under it) I would love for you to read with me and tell me which verses jumped out at you.
Here are mine:
4 Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, LORD.
What a great help this is; I need to commit it to memory. As one who says too much or says the wrong thing, I need to think more about the words I am speaking, are they God's words or my own?

12 even darkness is not dark to You. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to You.
This just really struck me today. When I feel lost, in the dark, God can see the way out when I can't.

16 ...all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.
Just another reason to start my day with Him. He knows what He has planned for me today. He knows what needs to get done and what can wait.

23-24 Seach me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive (idolatrous) way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.
He knows my concerns even when I don't or am in denial. I don't want to probe too deep for what I mind find in my heart but he already knows the depths of it. He wants me to bring it up and give it to Him so He can deal with it.

I also read the Proverbs for the day, like 5/18 would be Proverbs 18. Sometimes verses there jump out at me too. Today I noticed several of the verses are about mouth, lips, tongue. All pointing to be careful what we say. But I will just give you one that I want to apply more often: 13 The one who gives an answer before he listens -- this is foolishness and disgrace for him.
If I listened better, my words would get me into trouble. Do you see a theme He is working on with me?

Also, I have let slide my prayers for U.S. My plan was to pray for one each week. If I know people in that state, to pray for them and to contact them (call, write, email, etc.) At the bottom of the blog, you will notice, Delaware. I started with our first state and now we are up to Mississippi, our twentieth state. I will try to update the bottom with the governor and link to their state website so that I (or you) could pray for their elected officials. I don't think I know anyone in MS but maybe you do. Have fun with this!

About My Mom and Dad by Libby, age 3

We received this in Libby's school folder on Friday, May 9 (oh sorry, I didn't take her then because of our playdate with Mom-Time and our visit to Trinity Christian Academy with Amy & Ben so we actually got it on Monday, 5/12, the day after Mother's Day.) Her answers follow the ... from the questions Ms. Estepp and Mrs. McIntosh asked.

My mom is ... 70 years old.
My dad is ... 5ty (five-ty is how she says it) years old.

My mom is smartest when ... she cooks food at night.
My dad is smartest when ... he goes to the gym.

I love it when my mom ... she gives me hugs (big ones).
I love it when my dad ... he tickles my head.

It is funny when my mom ... gives me food from my little kitchen.
It is funny when my dad ... take me on a walk (I ride my bike fast).

After the trying time we both had today at the park with the Sampsons, it softens my heart to read this. She was tired and I had not eaten so we both were not at our best. I so look forward to my girl time with Shannon while the girls play and I really needed it today but didn't get it. My mom had taken her to their neighborhood park earlier in the day so she wasn't as excited about park time as she usually is.

Also, if ya'll could pray for her bowel movements that would be great. We went to the doctor Monday morning at 8:15 AM after little sleep Saturday night with her stomach cramping and one throw up. They don't do x-rays on Sunday so hence the first appointment when they opened. We had her first x-ray in December 2007 but things have been better since then. Isn't it great we can bring all sorts of prayer requests to our God?

One more memory before I go and I'm sure I'll think of others when I log off but ... when I put Libby to bed I say "Don't let the bed bugs bite" but bless her heart she can't say it and it comes out "Don't let the bugs bed bite on the bed" Too cute in her little voice!

Looking forward to posting more once school is out in a couple of weeks! akml

Day Two

Life Group from 9:00 to 11:00 watched a Rob Bell video, Everything Is Spiritual, which I would highly recommend. Click on it to see a clip. Loved seeing everyone and can't wait to join you all again in June!

Spent the afternoon with Libby, rocked her to sleep around 4:30 for a nap, after she woke up we took the tricycle for a ride around the neighborhood and saw two bunnies in a yard along the way

Accepted a new position for teaching next year at The Lexington Latin School

Bobby and Libby are playing UNO and she just won. My parents taught her a song, "I'm hot, I'm hot, I'm really really hot" and then they touch her arm and make a "zzz" sizzle sound. So funny, the other day she touched my mom's arm and said, "You're cold!"

First Day of Spring Break

Stayed in my pjs all day and read a book, Murder on the Menu by Miranda Bliss. It is number two in the Cooking Class Mystery series. I haven't read number one but I will now. I am totally into these culinary mysteries, recipes included and some I have tried. Next book for the week, Key Lime Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke. Different series, I'll let you know my thoughts on that one. Bobby loves KLP so it is in his honor.

Memory for today: Playing Go Fish with Libby using our Animal Twin cards. When she got down to one card in her hand she said "UNO!" Her other favorite game which we usually play several times a day.

We got them out Animal Twins last night when Alyssa was her with her twin brothers, Brandon and Nate. They were good as gold, slept most of the time. I asked Bobby if he was ready for another baby. Not quite was his answer. Libby said no too. But then she added, "Maybe in April." She is so funny, we look at the calendar every morning at breakfast and talk about what day it is. She is really good with her numbers up to 31 and today she even counted by tens (didn't know she could do that!) She said "Today is the last day of March, then April, then May, then June 21, the first day of summer." She usually says June 22 which is her birthday. She knows Spring is here but she wants warm weather so she can wear short sleeves and shorts.

All day, she also kept saying she was having a dance recital somewhere else. She wore her pink leotard and danced around. She played Duck Duck Goose with Cougar but he wouldn't chase her, until she had food in her hands! Daddy got to put her in bed, even though she tried her usual argument of "Mommy, Mommy, Daddy, Daddy" that is her pattern for who puts her to bed. I like the pattern M-D-M-D, the every other night pattern.

Alright, the five things to know before going to bed is on so I'd better go.

Mascot Madness

I am sitting here watching the Road to the Final Four with Libby. She is squealing every time she sees a mascot! Hilarious! What a memory.

She will let us watch the games but she wants to see their team mascot -- there cannot be enough commercial breaks for her. She has been playing with her mini pink basketball on the hardwood floors and then she will go get her pom-poms and cheer. All this in her pink tutu. How cute!

One other memory I wanted to post before I forget. Last Sunday, before we went to church for Easter, we were reading several Easter story books. I asked her what Jesus feed the disciples for supper and she replied "Grape juice and rocks" -- I will have to ask her Bible study teachers where that came from! Hope you all had a wonderful Easter.

I am on Spring Break this week. Glory! Now let's hope we have some nice weather, K

Bedtime

Daddy's turn tonight so I have a few minutes. We just finished watching Monsters, Inc. as a family. She gave me a cheek-ear kiss. After getting sick from her germs, I tried to teach her the European way to kiss -- cheek to cheek. She has made it her own and now likes to get my ear! Tomorrow we meet with her teacher, Ms. Estepp, for our first parent conference! There is no school just parents coming in all day, I would dread that! I hate to say that is the worst part about my job. And not all of them, to be fair. I have pictures but it has been so long, I don't really remember all the steps from camera to blog. Maybe if we get that big snow storm next week, I can relearn how to do that. Sorry it has been so long since the last post. I will try to get back in the habit of posting once a week on the weekends. For myself at least. I know nobody checks anymore because I never have anything. This is my journal, just very public, but a way of remembering a few things. I didn't want to forget the way she kissed me goodnight this evening. Or just sitting on the couch as a family, legs propped up on the ottoman, all snuggled under the black fuzzy blanket. Good memories!

Tuesday: Girls Night with a unexpected guest!

Granddaddy is out of town for a short business meeting and Caleb, Laura's boyfriend, is in St. Croix, the U.S. Virgin Islands for work for the next two months, so when Bobby called to say he had a meeting tonight at 6:30 (Libby's favorite time) I called them to arrange a Girls Night out to dinner. Neither would pick a place, so I chose Libby's fav, Applebee's (we've been there one time!) After school, I called Bobby on the way to get Libby from my mom's to check on his day. A couple of things have happened, he says. Good, bad or ugly? I say. 1. He took someone to look at our house, which isn't even on the market yet. GREAT! Please pray that God would just work all this out, who He has for tHis house, the timing, the Adam/Katie thing, every little detail. With school taking up more than it's share of my mental capacity, I can't think about the house situation. But He can and He wants to lift that burden from me, and the school thing too if I would just let Him, at which I am doing better! 2. His meeting got cancelled! So he crashed our girls night but that's okay, we just made it family night instead. Gracias to Kim for picking up the tab! She said that was Bob's contribution since he couldn't be with us; he was having dinner at the Oyster Bar, which is hilarious because for our Christmas dinner, Kim & Caleb made this oyster dish that made Bob and the rest of us cringe! Libby started her new semester of music class today, God's Wonderful World. She has been doing Musikgarten since she was about six months old. She just sings all the time, loves playing her musical instruments. My mom takes her and they have made lots of new friends: Sam, Grace, Sara, Gigi, and a new little boy who just started today. Afterwards, they go outside and play on the church playground. Today was rather windy but still unseasonably warm. Tomorrow we start back to Bible Study Fellowship. I look forward to seeing everyone and getting back into the book of Matthew. We have been studying since the middle of September and are up to chapter twelve. One of my co-workers may join me for guest day this week. We were talking about how life has gotten so complicated. Jesus made things so simple. Love God, love others. That's the goal. I need to remind myself of that more often. My mind is drifting as I listen to the rain on the skylight. One thing I enjoy is falling asleep to the rain so I will call it a night. k

Monday: Mommies dinner & playdate

Tonight we were at Ms. Julie & Peyton's house for pizza while the Daddies met at The Livesay Group conference room. Ms. Susan & Hannah along with Ms. Amy & Ben and Matthew rounded out the group. So many new toys from Christmas, it was organized chaos! You would never know Matthew is the baby (or youngest I should say since he is one already), he is right in there with the rest of them, climbing on everything and staking his claim to the toy of the moment! He did look darling in his Ohio State outfit. It is a tie game at ten as I type now. Libby wore her pink cowboy boots and rode her pink/purple tricycle through the neighborhood since was an unusually warm January day. Bobby has the privilege of putting her to bed tonight.

Any New Year's Resolutions? I am modifying the phrase "one day at a time" to reflect my schedule, so here it is: Enjoy each half day at a time, then teach one class at a time. I am determined not to let school still my joy at home. I will not stay past 3:15. I will not fret about my situation. I will plan at school, grade at school and not bring work home -- period! Life is too short and Libby is only three this year. Lord, whatever I am supposed to learn from this please help me catch on quickly and make time fly! LSU just went up by a touchdown with seven minutes left in the second quarter. Until the next time, k