Travelin' with the Parents

My parents frequent a popular playouse in Crossville, TN. We finally found a weekend we could all go together. So Friday morning the four of us loaded up in the Cheely family car and headed to Tennessee!





We had dinner at the Cumberland County State Park that night. They have fried catfish every Friday night. Now I was envisioning a pavilion out in the woods with grandma and grandpa serving up some fried catfish and potato salad. It was actually a quaint restaurant with a nice buffet and great view of the lake!

The it was on to the Cumberland County Playhouse!

Friday night we saw Beauty and the Beast.

Now, my sister and I saw this show in

New York City in 1998 with Toni Braxton

playing Belle. Toni didn't have nothin' on

this girl! It was very well done and we

thoroughly enjoyed it.

Saturday we saw one of the playhouse's signature shows. It's about a country family gathering for a singin' at the Baptist church. Very funny - until one of the elderly audience members passed out and we had to stop the show. My sweet dad stood up to let the actors know what was going on, and then he prayed. After a short recess, the actors came back out and asked dad to pray again. (We heard it was a problem with the woman's pacemaker.) We did enjoy the show.

The weekend was a lot of fun! We enjoyed the uninterrupted time with mom and dad, good conversations, and lots of laughs. We'd definitely do it again!

From Guest Room to Massage Room

For those of you who've known me a while, you know that I love my guest room. When I became single again, that room became my baby. I loved getting it just so quaint and cute for guests. It had 2 twin beds in it, which my married guests complained about regularly.

When Brice and I got married, he brought a queen bed into our marriage. It replaced the two twins, but we found a quilt almost identical to the others so my room stayed cute and coordinated.

Then my husband started school for massage therapy and needed a place to practice. So the cute guest room has transformed into the massage room. I was reluctant about this at first, but seeing the need, gave up the room for the cause.

Brice has purchased his first massage table. We also purchased room darkening shades and he got a fan for Father's Day. So while he was at class Thursday night, I decided to set up his room so help assure him that I am on board. It's still quaint and homey and perfect for making clients feel relaxed!

He has to massage several people for free while in training, so if you're ever in town, give us a call!! (he's really good!)

Father's Day - Belated

Sunday was Father's Day, Brice's first as an official father. Unfortunately, Cole was at the beach so we couldn't celebrate that day.

The cool thing about that was that we could each devote our day to our own dads. I went to church with my parents and then hung out at their house for the afternoon. Brice had class but went to his parents' afterward. The two of us used a gift certificate to The Melting Pot for a dinner date that night. Such fun!

Cole got home Tuesday so we celebrated the big day Wednesday night. Cole and I decorated the house in preparation for Brice's arrival. We even found an inflatable flamingo and palm tree in the party closet. Cole hid the gifts and made clues for Brice to find them. Here's Brice with his loot:


The scavenger hunt was followed by a seafood dinner, cooked by yours truly, and then the dance contest began, disco ball and all . . .




The night also included a heated pool tournament, which I ended up dominating.

It was a fun night and Brice felt special - that's all that matters!

Wedding Mania

'Tis the season to be marry-ing.

Two of our dear friends got married last weekend and are now on their 3-week honeymoon in Europe.

Two more of our dear friends got married this past Saturday at 3:00, which unfortunately meant we couldn't go.

Two more of our dearest friends got married this past Saturday at 4:00, and that's where we were.

This is Courtney Cook and Geoffrey Rogers:

They were united in marriage June 8, 2008 by her brother Jonathan. Brice was a groomsman and I was actually the director. Who knew it would be so fun? I really had a blast!

She looked like a princess!

Everything was perfect - almost, only those things that those who know would recognize. The ceremony was beautiful and sweet. I thought my dad marrying me was teary, but try a sweet big brother! The reception was held at Flower Stems - yes, a flower shop. They have an upstairs for parties.

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and hope to do it again.

So if any of you out there are getting married or know someone who is, give them my name as a coordinator! This might just be my destiny . . .

HG

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back, I know You are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We’ll live to know You here on the earth

Oh no, You never let go, through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go, in every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go, Lord, You never let go of me

- Matt Redman

This is me and my best friend, Marci:

This is Marci's daughter, Hannah Grace:

Cute, isn't she? She's 2 and a half and full of personality. A couple weeks ago she started throwing up and complaining of the back of her head hurting. A CAT scan revealed a brain tumor and a biopsy revealed Pineoblastoma - an aggressive form of cancer. Surgery to remove the tumor is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, June 4th.

Please stand in prayer with us that God will do something amazing, that is so undeniably Him, that those who hear will be moved closer to Him - some, even for the first time!

You can keep up with her progress HERE.

My Little Man

1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

Good parents teach their kids to do what's right, make good choices, obey the rules. When my child makes a good choice, it just sends my heart into cartwheels! Mom, I get it!

We don't let Cole watch PG-13 movies. It's just a choice we've made as parents and Cole understands the rule. For some reason, the movie Transformers keeps trying to make its way into Cole's life. The first time was on one of Cole's visits to his other dad's house. The others decided they wanted to watch Transformers and Cole asked what it was rated. When they discovered it was PG-13, Cole told them he couldn't watch it. Wow!

Cole is attending a public day camp this week. Some of his friends from school are there and he's really had a good time. Yesterday afternoon, they were getting ready to watch a movie. A counselor selected Transformers and the group cheered. As the leader prepared to put the movie in the DVD player, my sweet son spoke up and told him that he couldn't watch it because of its rating. Some of the boys chastised him for it, but thankfully, his friends didn't. The counselor changed the movie to something rated PG.

When Cole explained the situation to Brice later that afternoon, Brice asked the afternoon director about the movie choice. She was horrified and told Brice that the movie would be removed from the list. She and the senior director had been arguing over what they thought the rating was and apparently he won. (Why didn't they just look it up?)

Brice praised Cole for having the guts to stand up for what he knew was right. He told him that there were probably other kids there who weren't supposed to watch it but didn't say anything and Cole replied, "Yeah, *Jake* isn't supposed to watch it and he didn't say anything."

We love when our boy chooses what is right in a fallen world. We hate that he has to make certain choices when the issue shouldn't even be presented to him. But we praise God that he longs to do what is right. I pray that desire is cultivated in a heart that longs to glorify God, not a heart to please others or a fear of getting in trouble.

Schoooooool's Out for Summer!

I have two very happy boys at my house! School is out and they are free! Cole greeted me with wide eyes and big hugs when I picked him up today. They let out at 11:00 so I let him pick a lunch place. He picked Sonic - man after my own heart! So we had lunch together then spent the afternoon together at my office.

Cole finished the year with an S in each subject and behavior category. Next year will begin the A,B,C grading. Brice finished strong as well, gaining tenure and switching subjects for next year. He is moving teams, which makes him sad, but changing to math, which makes him happy. We believe the set curriculum and structure will be better for him.

Brice has also started school at Red Mountain Institute for massage therapy. He has class two nights a week and one weekend a month. It's been quite an adjustment not having him around as much, but we're learning how to make the most of our time together as a family.

No vacations planned for the summer yet. Cole is going to VBS, a few camps, and the beach for a few days. Brice and I are going to North Carolina for a wedding in early August. That's the only travel planned so far.

Happy summer, everyone!

Honors Day

This morning was the annual Honors Program at Cole's school. Students in grades K-5 filed into the gym as parents sat in folding chairs waiting to see their little precious stand up when their name was called. We were no exception. Brice and I sat on the 2nd row waiting to see our boy.

Awards were given for achievement in art, music, P.E., and overall academic improvement - one each per class. Any guesses on what award my Cole got??

Cole Jackson for Outstanding Participation in Music

Yea!! We are so proud!

Then we sat through 30 minutes of 3rd-5th graders getting recognition for A and A/B Honor Roll. We smiled knowing that our Cole will be on that list next year. Wow, 3rd grade! I can't believe how fast it's happening.

Mothers' Day

Sunday, May 11, 2008 - a day to honor your mother . . . and be honored as a mother

My day began with breakfast in bed at 6:45 am, provided by my husband and son: cinnamon rolls, banana/peanut butter toast, apple mango juice. Gifts and cards abounded as I ate. That green box there holds my very own fondue maker. Woo hoo!


The picture in the middle of the bed is the portrait my son made of me. I'd say he's got talent. Here's the close-up:

Brice headed off to class for the majority of the day and Cole and I headed to my parents' church. Who knew that would be the best gift I could ever give my mother? (Not Brice being in class all day, but going to church with them.) It was really fun to go back to my home church for a day. Saw many people I hadn't seen in a while and sang some hymns I haven't sung in a while.

We headed to lunch and surprise - Brice met us there. His instructor scheduled their lunch break so that he could meet us for our lunch. What a sweetie! (Brice and the instructor.)



Then came a grand photography session. Cole has become quite good with the camera and loves to practice. So feast your eyes on our plethora of pictures.

Anna with her Mother

Cole with his Mother

Cole with Anna's Mother

The rest of the day was spent playing games with my parents. It doesn't get much better than that. I learned that playing a card game with Mom takes twice as long as playing with my husband or son. Mom and I talk more than play because we don't see each other as often.

And Mom has always been a good listener. I remember coming in from events in high school and sitting on the edge of her bed where she was reading and waiting for me to come home. I would talk and talk about the evening and she listened to every word and never rushed me. It's really nice to be heard. She's a great gal, my mom. I sure do love her. I like her pretty well too.

And it's a good thing, cuz I'm turning into her more and more every day!!

Life in the desert

I had a conference for work in Scottsdale, AZ on Monday and Tuesday. I hardly ever travel for business so I felt very grown up and professional. Plus my sweet boss suggested that Brice go with me and we get there a couple days early to have some "us" time before the conference. Isn't he great?? So last Saturday, Brice and I flew to Phoenix.

Now, the biggest highlight of the trip was actually our layover on the way to Phoenix. You might ask, "How could a layover possibly qualify for a highlight?" Answer: we got to spend 3 hours in St. Louis! We were there long enough to go to my sister's house and spend some good time with their family. If you know me, you know why that was the highlight of our trip.

On that note, I would just like to take this opportunity to tell the world how grateful I am for my sister. She's an amazing person and such an inspiration to me. She's a great listener, giver, encourager, friend to laugh with, and the mother of three adorable, precious children. I love you, Beck!

Then it was on to Scottsdale!

We watched the movie Vantage Point while eating great food at Farrelli's Cinema Supper Club - great idea!! If we somehow win a million dollars, I'm gonna start one of those in Birmingham!

We also played mini golf, took a gondola ride around the gorgeous grounds of the Hyatt, saw a play, Barefoot in the Park, and ate some fabulous food! My boss recommended some places to eat and he definitely has great taste.

The area is completely different than the southeast. The desert has dirt, cactus, and not much green. Like this:

We did some shopping as well. We don't have a Crate & Barrel so that was fun to browse. We do have a Disney Store, but that was fun to browse too . . .

It was a nice trip and I'm so thankful to my boss for allowing us the mini-vacation!