In the great world of working with children there are certain things you can count on:
1. Honesty- don't try to hide a pimple, or a sneer or a smirk! They will see it, and not very quietly point it out to you.
Example: "Ms Heather, what is that big red thing on your nose?"
2. Inability to separate the appropriate from the "not so appropriate".
Example: Ms. Ethel, My mama and daddy said you were as sour as a prune." OR "Hi Pastor Jones, Mama said we can give you coffe, or tea or coke, but she didn't tell you about the beer in the bottom drawer of the fridge."
3. Entertainment via tattling.
Example: "Ms Sara, Tony said I was a shellfish." Ms. Sara says; "Are you sure he didn't say selfish?"
4. Natural inability to be good liars.
Example: "No mama, I didn't eat the blue cupcake, too!" "Then why is there blue all over your mouth?" . "Ummm the dog ate it and licked my face."
5. Mamas can fix anything.
Example: " Liz,how are you gonna get your homework done if you are running away tonight.?" "Ms Smith, Mama will do it for me."
6. Daddies can fix things too.
Example: "Sue, how did you get those cool clips on your shoelaces?"
"My shoes wouldn't stay tied, and daddy used hair clips to keep them tied!"
7. Unwavering faith...
Example: "Please come to the chapel with me and pray so I won't be scared at school."
8. Trust
Example: "Okay, Coach, if you say you'll catch me if I jump off the diving board, I will....Just move really close to me."
9. Love
Example: "Teacher, I love you up to the moon, the stars, the sky and back down again. You are so pretty!"
10. Imagination
Example: "I have a dog named 'concrete', he keeps me safe". "I am a princess and I live in a castle." "My sister is the wicked witch." "I will turn into a pumpkin."
11. A pure heart!
Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God!
A special place
A porch swing can = Forever!
Monday, May 9, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
The gnomes are home!
Yeah! We made it home from another leg of our summer of adventure! Everyone was dressed appropriately belts, shoes, ties and jackets all matched, all underwear was packed and nobody tripped fell or crashed till it was all over. Just one skirt stepped on and ripped!! Not too bad, but if we had worn gnome clothes that wouldn't have happened!!
We also have a grand-turtle named "squirtle" that has left the halls of the university as well, I think he is a little hopped up on coffee right now or a little car sick! He is sure moving kind of funny now that we are home...SO, now I am thinking, I left a son in Kentucky, and brought back a turtle in his place. What is wrong with this picture.
I pray all you moms out there had a great Mother's Day! I hope you were spoiled by all of your offspring and given lots of extra special love and care....and never let them forget...you know all of the embarassing stories and aren't afraid to tell them!
Blessings on your Mother's day..
Mama Hamil"gnome"!
We also have a grand-turtle named "squirtle" that has left the halls of the university as well, I think he is a little hopped up on coffee right now or a little car sick! He is sure moving kind of funny now that we are home...SO, now I am thinking, I left a son in Kentucky, and brought back a turtle in his place. What is wrong with this picture.
I pray all you moms out there had a great Mother's Day! I hope you were spoiled by all of your offspring and given lots of extra special love and care....and never let them forget...you know all of the embarassing stories and aren't afraid to tell them!
Blessings on your Mother's day..
Mama Hamil"gnome"!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
A Full Cup
A very old Southern saying when someone is on the verge of tears is, "oh, they're full."
I never really understood the full meaning of that expression until I had a family. It means that someone is so "full" of emotion that they can't express it in words. They are full...their eyes are also full, full of tears.
I love to blog about my family. I adore them...all of them. My oldest son has the most awesome family. He is a wonderful husband and father with a beautiful wife who is also a great friend to me. They have a beautiful daughter whose smile can melt the universe, and the mere thought of them, of their great little family, of all they have accomplished and are accomplishing makes me "full".... It wasn't that long ago, that we sat in a crowded gym at LSU feeling very "full" watching both of you graduate! WoW!!!
Today, we sit in a motel room in Kentucky with our youngest two having just graduated from Asbury College. Their fiancees having just graduated from college this weekend as well. WE are feeling very "full"....very blessed.
God took two people from humble beginnings, and blessed us beyond measure. He gave us 4 children, three who are with us now, one in Heaven, and gave them intelligence, A strong commitment to Christ, love for one another, and a selfless love that did not come from us. The icing on the cake is that God also blessed each of them with beautiful, caring intelligent strong women who will walk beside them now and in all the days of their lives.
Just before the graduates recessed from the auditorium today, and the class song was sung, I felt it... and as I looked around, I wasn't the only one. Dads silently wiped tears, Mamas wiped their eyes, tried to take pictures and wave, but they all felt the same, "FULL"...
Thanks be to God for the immeasurable FULLNESS of His love for us!
I never really understood the full meaning of that expression until I had a family. It means that someone is so "full" of emotion that they can't express it in words. They are full...their eyes are also full, full of tears.
I love to blog about my family. I adore them...all of them. My oldest son has the most awesome family. He is a wonderful husband and father with a beautiful wife who is also a great friend to me. They have a beautiful daughter whose smile can melt the universe, and the mere thought of them, of their great little family, of all they have accomplished and are accomplishing makes me "full".... It wasn't that long ago, that we sat in a crowded gym at LSU feeling very "full" watching both of you graduate! WoW!!!
Today, we sit in a motel room in Kentucky with our youngest two having just graduated from Asbury College. Their fiancees having just graduated from college this weekend as well. WE are feeling very "full"....very blessed.
God took two people from humble beginnings, and blessed us beyond measure. He gave us 4 children, three who are with us now, one in Heaven, and gave them intelligence, A strong commitment to Christ, love for one another, and a selfless love that did not come from us. The icing on the cake is that God also blessed each of them with beautiful, caring intelligent strong women who will walk beside them now and in all the days of their lives.
Just before the graduates recessed from the auditorium today, and the class song was sung, I felt it... and as I looked around, I wasn't the only one. Dads silently wiped tears, Mamas wiped their eyes, tried to take pictures and wave, but they all felt the same, "FULL"...
Thanks be to God for the immeasurable FULLNESS of His love for us!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
The summer of the roaming Hamil"gnomes"
I love the commercials with the "roaming gnome". You know, the little garden gnome that gets stuffed in a suitcase and really makes quite an entrance and not always in a good way! He is either on "travel overload"----or just a bad little gnome!
That's how I feel this summer! We have lots of great things happening in our lives! New places, new people, new beginnings, weddings, graduations, a conference, "good-byes', "Hellos", and trying to do the everyday normal stuff of life "in-between".
I am so afraid that I am gonna crash through a ceiling like the gnome, or arrive at a graduation in a mother of the groom dress, or go to a church conference in my work t-shirt, or say "goodbye" to the new people or "Nice to meet ya" to the people we've known most of a decade.
And don't ask me to answer any really important questions like, Where are you? What date is the wedding (either one), What time is graduation? I WON'T KNOW! I prefer to be driven to and deposited at all major events, Just like the little gnome! He just shows up when it's time. He always wears the same thing, and always has a smile on his face!!!
Nothing we are doing is about me, I realize this, and would really prefer to stay in the background...kind of like a garden gnome..you always notice them, but never comment on them..they are just there- until you trip over them, or send them crashing in somewhere they shouldn't be! So, In light of all of this, I pray that this summer, that I and my entire family end up in the right state, with the right state of mind, at the right time, with the proper attire and a big smile, ....................just like good little hamil"gnomes"!
Good night from somewhere in the Southeastern United States! Not sure where!
That's how I feel this summer! We have lots of great things happening in our lives! New places, new people, new beginnings, weddings, graduations, a conference, "good-byes', "Hellos", and trying to do the everyday normal stuff of life "in-between".
I am so afraid that I am gonna crash through a ceiling like the gnome, or arrive at a graduation in a mother of the groom dress, or go to a church conference in my work t-shirt, or say "goodbye" to the new people or "Nice to meet ya" to the people we've known most of a decade.
And don't ask me to answer any really important questions like, Where are you? What date is the wedding (either one), What time is graduation? I WON'T KNOW! I prefer to be driven to and deposited at all major events, Just like the little gnome! He just shows up when it's time. He always wears the same thing, and always has a smile on his face!!!
Nothing we are doing is about me, I realize this, and would really prefer to stay in the background...kind of like a garden gnome..you always notice them, but never comment on them..they are just there- until you trip over them, or send them crashing in somewhere they shouldn't be! So, In light of all of this, I pray that this summer, that I and my entire family end up in the right state, with the right state of mind, at the right time, with the proper attire and a big smile, ....................just like good little hamil"gnomes"!
Good night from somewhere in the Southeastern United States! Not sure where!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
I'll always see you
A high school Graduate!!....So proud and so happy. You walk so tall and stand so straight. These are the moments that will be frozen in our hearts..snapshot images of the black gown, the stole, the smile, the same smile you have always had...pure glee!!!
I see you!
...off to college, you are unloaded, ready to start living your life..wait dad, don't drive so fast, I can't see you......
....Spreading your wings, getting married, working, a beautiful baby, finishing College...Another walk down another aisle, tall and straight in your black gown..so proud of you.. I love it when I see you....
Two more high school graduates...This seems so familiar, the straight and tall walk, the black gown, the stole...How proud we are...life is just beginning..two different paths...oh no, I can't see two different places at the same time....
....We leave you at school....unpacked, and ready to start...oh no dad,..you're driving too fast...slow down, I can't see you....
....A week later we leave you...unpacked, ready to start...dad, you're doing it again, drive slower, I can't see you, you are too far away...
Three years later, here we are..your paths brought you to the same school. It is real, now...you finish this week...graduating again...tall and straight in your black gowns, another walk down the aisle...I am so proud...I can see you..... a little blurry through misty eyes, but I'll always see you.....
There will be other walks down other aisles in the weeks and months to come...How proud we will be...but this week I cherish the walks in the mortar boards and graduation gowns. In an Andy Griffith episode, when Opie's baby birds left the cage, he cried because the cage was empty. His daddy reminded him that even though the cage was empty, the trees were "mighty full"
....I will always love seeing you!!!!
I see you!
...off to college, you are unloaded, ready to start living your life..wait dad, don't drive so fast, I can't see you......
....Spreading your wings, getting married, working, a beautiful baby, finishing College...Another walk down another aisle, tall and straight in your black gown..so proud of you.. I love it when I see you....
Two more high school graduates...This seems so familiar, the straight and tall walk, the black gown, the stole...How proud we are...life is just beginning..two different paths...oh no, I can't see two different places at the same time....
....We leave you at school....unpacked, and ready to start...oh no dad,..you're driving too fast...slow down, I can't see you....
....A week later we leave you...unpacked, ready to start...dad, you're doing it again, drive slower, I can't see you, you are too far away...
Three years later, here we are..your paths brought you to the same school. It is real, now...you finish this week...graduating again...tall and straight in your black gowns, another walk down the aisle...I am so proud...I can see you..... a little blurry through misty eyes, but I'll always see you.....
There will be other walks down other aisles in the weeks and months to come...How proud we will be...but this week I cherish the walks in the mortar boards and graduation gowns. In an Andy Griffith episode, when Opie's baby birds left the cage, he cried because the cage was empty. His daddy reminded him that even though the cage was empty, the trees were "mighty full"
....I will always love seeing you!!!!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
I still see you...
..the school bus comes and takes you to school, you all look back at the house, you really wouldn't want me to see you but I do.
...friends come and go...they play at our house and you play at theirs....I can't always see you anymore
...another graduation, elementary school is over. You are amazing...I can see you
...Middle school comes...quiet phone calls, not much conversation, more friends, more outings, sports, music, I am so proud...sometimes I see you, sometimes I don't
...Another graduation, middle school is over, now comes high school, you are mobile, and confident, there are dates, and youth trips, and sporting events...I don't always see you anymore.
...Tonight, I peeked in your room, just to check like I've done a thousand times before,
you were reading your bible...I still see you.
...Another room checked, a bible on the floor, you are asleep...I still see you.
...The same in another room...I am so glad that I still see you...
Can't wait for tomorrow, or can I?
...friends come and go...they play at our house and you play at theirs....I can't always see you anymore
...another graduation, elementary school is over. You are amazing...I can see you
...Middle school comes...quiet phone calls, not much conversation, more friends, more outings, sports, music, I am so proud...sometimes I see you, sometimes I don't
...Another graduation, middle school is over, now comes high school, you are mobile, and confident, there are dates, and youth trips, and sporting events...I don't always see you anymore.
...Tonight, I peeked in your room, just to check like I've done a thousand times before,
you were reading your bible...I still see you.
...Another room checked, a bible on the floor, you are asleep...I still see you.
...The same in another room...I am so glad that I still see you...
Can't wait for tomorrow, or can I?
Monday, May 2, 2011
I see you...
I see you rolling over...
I see you crawling....
You are going towards at outlet again.."I see you"
Look, two steps, three steps..."I see you!"
I'm looking through the window in your classroom, you are a little scared and looking out the door for me..you don't see me, but I see you!
Your first cap and gown, it's red, you stand so tall and walk so straight..I see you!
You get a book bag and school supplies, and lay your new clothes out the night before. you can hardly sleep, you are so ready!! I see you.
You jump out of the car, ready to meet your day... Do you want me to go with you. (please say "yes"), whew, you did! You are walking tall...I see you!
It's been a long day, you are sleeping...your book bag and clothes are ready for tomorrow, you are saying your goodnight prayers..you don't see me, but I see you.
What will tomorrow bring...We'll see!
I see you crawling....
You are going towards at outlet again.."I see you"
Look, two steps, three steps..."I see you!"
I'm looking through the window in your classroom, you are a little scared and looking out the door for me..you don't see me, but I see you!
Your first cap and gown, it's red, you stand so tall and walk so straight..I see you!
You get a book bag and school supplies, and lay your new clothes out the night before. you can hardly sleep, you are so ready!! I see you.
You jump out of the car, ready to meet your day... Do you want me to go with you. (please say "yes"), whew, you did! You are walking tall...I see you!
It's been a long day, you are sleeping...your book bag and clothes are ready for tomorrow, you are saying your goodnight prayers..you don't see me, but I see you.
What will tomorrow bring...We'll see!
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