August 20th - First Day of School

Callie Grace, you are in 7th grade now.  You are an amazingly bright and competitive girl.  Your heart is so big.  I pray you will always hold Jesus close.  He will never leave you.

You have started playing tennis for BC.  You are learning a lot.  Your fierce determination makes me so amazingly proud.  It is terribly hot and y'all practice a ton and you NEVER complain. NEVER!

When I was young I took one lesson in tennis and I left early that day.  It was hot and I wasn't having it.

I am praying for a wonderful year for you.  Always remember to be kind to everyone because we do not know their back story.  Life can hard and middle school can be hard so treat everyone with kindness.

Caleb, you are a 5th grader now.  I mean, honestly?  How in the world is my baby a 5th grader?  It's your last 1st day of elementary school.  You have a male teacher this year which I think is going to be great.  Keep shining your bright light, Caleb Burgess.  Keep being a great friend to everyone and continue to do your very best in school.  I love you my precious boy.

I am praying for an amazing year for you.  You are growing by leaps and bounds. I am having a hard time keeping up but I am going to hang on tight because I don't want to miss a second of it.

Dear Jesus - please put a hedge of protection around my babies.  Help them know that you will never leave them.  Amen

Summer 2018

Callie Grace turned 12 in May and Caleb will be 11 next month.  They both got their class assignments this week.  Caleb will finish his last year in elementary school (5th) and CG will be in 7th grade.  How in the world do I have these grown looking children?!  Almost my height, long legs, long feet and somewhat sassy mouths (which I can do without!),

Each day, I want to hold them a little tighter and spend a few more minutes listening to whatever they want to say.  These 12 years have passed in a blink.  I know they will be driving, graduating and going to college before I know it.  I'm so proud of them.  I love that they love Jesus and their friends and their family.

This summer has been a bit of a transition for my children.  We are changing and growing as people, parents included.  It has been a hard yet really meaningful process that we will never ever forget.

I love you so much Callie Grace and Caleb.  I thank Jesus everyday for blessing your daddy and I with the most wonderful, most special blessings that we could ever receive.

Glimpses of Our Life - Fall 2017

USC Football Game

Going "pink" for school volleyball game

My precious boy at CFA

Caleb turned 10 on September 13.  How in the world is this possible?

Decorating pumpkins before Halloween

Caleb's first time to acolyte

Caleb had the highest batting average on his Fall baseball team.

Last Days of Summer

So, my girl is starting 6th grade and my boy is starting 4th grade in 3 days. I don't want the summer to end. I literally feel them growing up. I want to freeze these precious moments. God has blessed me. Life is hard. Correction, life can be extremely hard but my babies are my greatest blessings. Being their mama is the greatest job I have ever been given. Kip took our two and our nephew, Henry to the zoo today. I love this picture that he took of them!

Summer!

I think Caleb and Callie Grace have had a great summer! They have gone to Lakewood, Charleston, Georgia, church camp, 2 VBS's and so much more.
They are getting so big and insightful.  I wish I could bottle them up. We have had many opportunities to come to Jesus and pray at His feet. We have sang many songs in the car just lifting our voice up to Jesus.
I am exponentially blessed.

5th grade Graduation

I want to document so I can look back and remember this day. Callie Grace, you graduated from elementary school today. How in the world are you 11 and a rising middle schooler?

God has blessed you greatly. You received so many awards. I probably can't remember them all but I am going to try.
His Love Club Award
All A's (nine weeks, all year, all of elementary school career)
Perfect Attendance for the 9 weeks
Duke Tip
Silver Award
Ackerman Award
GOTR Award

Callie Grace, if you had received zero awards, it wouldn't have mattered. We love you for you. You are a child of the King. Thank you for bringing so much love, joy and sunshine to our family.

Celebrating Mama Helen

Today we celebrated Kip's grandmother's 89th birthday. Mama Helen's mind has left her. Very few words come out of her mouth, yet her presence is a strong constant. I remember the very first time that I met Mama Helen. I liked her instantly. She made the best cabbage I had ever eaten. She loved Kip Burgess and Kip Burgess adored his Mama Helen. He would joke around and give her a hard time but there was never any question that they loved one another. All of my grandparents had been in heaven for many years when Mama Helen came into my life. And, although she wasn't my grandmother by blood, she became my grandmother in all the ways that really counted.
So, today I held Mama Helen's hand and looked into her kind eyes and told her that I love her. I'll always love that precious lady and hold close to my heart the times that we shared. Thank you for showing me what love and commitment really look like, even when it is the last thing you feel like doing because family matters.