MarytheKaytheBlog

Happy Summer to you!!

When we were in my hometown last weekend, I snapped a few pictures at my brother's house.  Their home is everything I LOVE about a house--bright and cheerful, with a huge front porch with white wicker furniture that just says, "Come sit, and let's have a cold glass of sweet tea while we watch the kids run around!" 

Their front porch and yard beckon you to come and sit a spell.  

See! I wasn't kidding about the inviting part, was I?  Doesn't this make you want an icy glass of sweet tea?  Bring your kids--we'll watch them while we chat.

And look!  If the kids get tired of swinging, they can run around back to the koi pond.  

Sorry I didn't take a picture of the huge goldfish.  Guess I was a little too lazy to walk down to the bottom to snap a picture.

But, can you blame me?  LOOK what caught my attention...

I just wanted to put up my feet a moment.

Now, if this picture doesn't say "Happy Summer" to you, I don't know what does! 

 What's your favorite part about your house in the summertime?

I want to be known for that...

This weekend, we took a whirlwind trip to my hometown to attend my aunt's funeral.  Her health had been failing recently, and with her kids circled around her bed, holding her hands and singing old hymns to their mom, Aunt LaNell went to meet Jesus.  And I just bet my Uncle Berry Lee was there to greet her, too.

At her funeral, one thing that a couple of people talked about, was her wonderful laugh.  My aunt had one of the best laughs I've ever heard.  Even thinking about her laugh makes me smile.  You couldn't hear Aunt LaNell's laugh and NOT smile--and laugh along yourself.  Her laugh was happy, and full of life.  She was a bend at the waist, tears rolling down her face, full of abandon laugh-er.  You knew you'd achieved funny if you got an Aunt LaNell laugh.  It would just make your whole day to make her laugh.

Oh, sure.  My aunt was known for many more, and much deeper qualities than just her laugh.  But, there's something to be said for a good laugh.  I think being known for a happy laugh says a lot about a person.  

I think I'd like to be known for a happy laugh.  An Aunt LaNell laugh.

Our mouths were filled with laughter, 
    our tongues with songs of joy. 
Then it was said among the nations,
    “The Lord has done great things for them.”

-Psalm 126:2

Sometimes doing the hard thing is...really hard

One of the hardest things I do as a parent is:  Making my kids do hard things.

Do you know what I'm talking about?

Making my kids finish something they've started--even when they beg, cry, pout, get sick, get a headache, are exhausted, and beg some more.  Wanting them to finish strong, so they don't learn to be a quitter.

I'm talking about when my kids beg me at the beginning of the year to take certain classes or play certain sports...and by the middle of the year are BEGGING to quit.  And when begging doesn't work, and their parents tell them they have to finish out the year, they move on to bigger and better tactics--like claiming headaches, exhaustion, and (SHH!  Don't tell them this) the one that works the BEST on a tender-hearted mama: "Mom, don't you sometimes just need a little break from something?"

In the past couple of months, a certain class has become DREADED at our house.  This was a class my daughter has always wanted to take, has dreamed of taking.  She was exhilarated at the beginning of the year finally to be able to sign up for the class.  But, it didn't take long for the class to become difficult.  I watch this class, and I see.  It really IS difficult.  I can see--weekly--how it challenges my daughter.  It challenges her not only physically, but mentally. 

And the most difficult thing of all for this tender-hearted mama?  I can see how it challenges her emotionally.

Every. Single. Week. we have a pep-talk before the class.  I tell her that I know she can do it.  I tell her that she is strong, and can face hard things and DO them.  I remind her how much she wanted to take this class.  I also remind her how some weeks she has a good time with her friends there.  I tell her that I'm proud of her for finishing the class.  I try really hard to be a good empathetic listener as she tells me--weekly--how hard the class is, and how MUCH she doesn't want to go.  I tenderly smooth back her hair when the tears roll down her cheeks.   

But, I must admit to you.  It is really HARD as a parent to see my sweet daughter struggle so hard to quit something...and have to look into her eyes, and tell her, "Sweetie, I love you.  Because I love you, I want you to finish out this class.  You ARE going today.  Now, please go get ready."

I want to tell my daughter that she is not the only one doing a hard thing.

Sometimes, her mama really wants a break, too.

Weekend Adventures: Mary Poppins, Kids' Musical, and Running!

 I know I'm a day late and a dollar short on my weekend post here...but my bed was calling my name last night, and I obeyed.  May I just say that a good night of rest can do AMAZING things to a girl's day.  I woke up feeling so rested, and so ready to tackle today!  Note to self:  I need to get good rest more often.

We had a full weekend of fun adventures.  However, it didn't feel rushed and busy--it was just the perfect amount of fun adventures, and laid back weekend time.  I wish all weekends were that way.

We started off with a very fun 5K run--Run Like a Kid--benefiting Kids Across America Kamps.  It was organized by a friend of mine, and she did SUCH a great job on this inaugural event.  I sure hope she makes it annual.  It was a small race this year--which was so fun because we all knew each other.  Little secret here:  (shh!  don't tell!)  Knowing so many people also made me RUN FASTER...'cause you know...don't want anyone thinking I'm a slacker.

No, I'm not going to tell you my time.  I will tell you that I shaved 10 MINUTES off my last (and first) 5K.  However, I'm still slow.  I may start running a few bursts now and then to increase my speed just a bit.  That way, I won't be at the BACK of all the runners.

Sara Beth wanted to run, and ran the first half of the 5k.  I was so proud of her!!  Rebecca and a couple of her friends were asked to sing and dance--and I was equally proud of her, too!

After the 5K, all the kids gathered for a 1-mile fun run.  I LOVE living in a small town, where my kids can join in activities like this, and know half the kids.

 

Saturday night my friend Janna sent out a couple of Evites to celebrate her 37 1/3 birthday with dinner and a movie.  Dang--I forgot to give her 1/3 of a birthday present...  We sure did laugh a lot!  I love these girls!!!

Yeah, evidently, I did not get the  memo to wear black and grey...

Sunday morning, our girls participated in our church choir's Amazing Grace Race musical.  It really was a darling performance.  Rebecca sang such a beautiful solo!  All the kids sang beautifully--even down to the youngest soloist, little Leah!  So darling!!  It's neat watching these kids grow up, and hearing their voices mature through the years.

 

Right after the choir performance, we hopped in my mom's car and headed to Fayetteville.  My mom had given us tickets at Christmas to see the Broadway musical Mary Poppins.

We all agreed--Mary Poppins was one of the BEST musicals any of us have ever seen!!!  I would compare the quality of it to The Lion King.   

I can't imagine trying to write a stage musical to rival Disney's movie version of Mary Poppins.  The movie is pure magic.  I mean, how do you top Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews?  However, the musical was smart to be a little different than the movie (maybe it's more true to the book??), because the whimsy and "magic" in the set design, and the dazzling choreography kept delighting the audience as each scene unfolded. 

I love that "Nana" took her granddaughters to the musical, just like her mom, my Grammy, took my sister and me to our very first Broadway musical--Peter Pan (with Sandy Duncan).   I hope our daughters tuck away special memories like this into their hearts, just like I did as a young girl...in my black patent shoes dangling from the red velvet theater seat...

 

Sunday night, I could barely keep my eyes open after all the weekend adventures.  I sure hope your weekend was full of adventure, too.

What's your favorite musical / or musical memory?

Hometown Pride, and Hometown People linky dinks

 I'm feeling a little bit nostalgic and homesick.  My hometown has been in the news a couple of times this week, and I just had to share about it!   Then, when my cousin posted a hilarious video of her husband, I just knew this would have to be a whole post dedicated to MY PEOPLE. 

Speaking of MY PEOPLE...I've recently gotten addicted to the show Friday Night Lights.  I've been hearing about it for ages, and when I saw that there were 5 (count 'em!) seasons on Netflix, I knew I'd get hooked.  One of the reasons I love the show is because the characters talk like my people, and the town of Dillon reminds me of my hometown just a little bit.  All in a very good--makes me miss my hometown--kind of way!

All right, good people, I give to you my hometown of El Dorado, Arkansas.  (Please hold you applause until the end...)

 

House eye candy alert!!  This story is about a house I grew up across the street from! For those in my hometown, this is the lovely old Breimo house.  How fun that a family friend, and amazing interior designer, now lives there!  I have seen first-hand some of the beautiful design of Andrea Brooks Interiors in my brother's house. 

 

Have you ever heard of a company that paid for an ENTIRE TOWN'S college tuitions? 

I've never been prouder of being from El Dorado, Arkansas, than in 2007, when Murphy Oil Corporation announced their $50 million scholarship program, which would pay for every El Dorado graduate's college tuition!  (Or apply the in-state tuition amount toward any private university of the student's choice).  A couple of days ago, President Clinton spoke to the 2012 Senior Class on their Academic Signing Day about The (AMAZING!!) El Dorado Promise.

Here's the story The Today Show produced about The El Dorado Promise:

 

 Can you IMAGINE what our country would look like if more companies invested like this in an entire generation of young people?

 

I thought I'd leave you all with a little giggle.  My FUNNY cousin videoed her husband coming out of anesthesia after kidney stone surgery.  She is my HERO for posting this.  However...after seeing this, my husband used his most serious voice and scrunched up eyebrows to tell me, "Don't EVER video me after surgery.  I mean it." 

But, honey, what if it's really REALLY funny????  Then, it's okay, right?

 

 My favorite parts:  Beef jerky for the first 80 hours...slushy water..."She sold me my stone"...the only-at-the-hospital cup and curtain...and thumping the IV at the very end.  Oh my word--just watch it--ALL of it is funny!!

 

Thanks for indulging me in my little nostalgic trip "back home" today. 

Happy weekend, everybody!  We've got BIG PLANS this weekend...which include running a 5K (WOO HOO!!!!), a kids' choir performance, and an off-the-charts Broadway musical on Sunday that I can HARDLY WAIT TO SEE!!!!  I'll tell you all about it on Monday.

What do you love about your own hometown?

A Mighty Good Weekend: In List Form

A weekday with no school, and pretty weather outside

A jog with one of my daughters (and LOTS of circling back)

An impromptu lunch with my parents

Yummy spinach salad with raspberry dressing

A sweet wedding

Yummy piece of wedding cake with perfect buttercream icing

Stayed up too late watching a movie AND a good Biography

Slept-in, while a snuggly girl watched Netflix on my phone next to me

A solitary jog in beautiful weather

A grocery trip to fill a very empty pantry

Worked in the yard and trimmed scraggly shrubbery

Ate some deliciously grilled burgers with good friends

Dragged sleepy girls out of the bed with Easter basket bribery

Admired my sweet girls in pretty Easter clothes

Celebrated Christ's resurrection at church

Sang "Up from the Grave He Arose"

Won $5 from my daughter, who bet against singing that hymn

Ate a yummy holiday lunch at my parents'

Took a lazy Sunday afternoon nap

Watched our daughters giggle and drive the golf cart around

Ate leftovers for dinner

Sat on our front porch in a rocking chair

Walked around the block as a family

Chatted with a sweet, new neighbor

Snuggled on the couch and watched Pawn Stars

Giggled (as I typed that)

What was mighty good about your weekend?

Celebrating a Birthday...Airborne!

I want to give a birthday shout out to my sweet 12-year-old Rebecca!!!  Where have the years gone?  It seems like only yesterday I was holding a sweet little fuzzy blond-haired baby girl. 

Well...she wasn't all that little... (Click here if you want to read about Rebecca's birth story, as well as find out how much she weighed at birth.  I PROMISE you will not guess her birth weight...)

Dave and I prayed and prayed a long time for a baby.  Every day of her life--now for 12 years--we have thanked God for such a sweet blessing, our daughter, our Becca Boo.

To celebrate her last year as a pre-teen (sigh), we invited a couple of dear friends to go ziplining!  Because nothing says "Happy Birthday" like FLYING THROUGH THE AIR!

Sweet friends, and an adoring little sister who was thrilled to be included!

We started out at the Sky Surfer Zipline.  This is brand new to our town, and is the only one of its kind in the world!  I have to tell you--it is AMAZING!!!  We all LOVED it! 

Even I rode it--and I am afraid of heights.  I just hiked up my big girl pants, and decided I didn't want to miss out!  The fact that I could sit down on the "surf board" and hang on for dear life made it much easier.  I am SO GLAD I joined in!  I loved every second of my ride!!

Our Flight Instructor was amazing!  In fact, everyone at the Sky Surfer was all about good customer service!   (I promise they didn't pay me to say this!  They were just so friendly, and so helpful!)

 

You can even STAND UP on the Sky Surfer!  A couple of the girls--and Dave--literally surfed through the skies!

 

Next, on our airborne adventures was the Adventure Ziplines of Branson...

And, once again, the people there could not have been ANY nicer or more helpful!  (Big shout out thank you to Kate and Jared Story!!!)

I may have been a big girl at the Sky Surfer, but this spiral staircase at the entrance told me I would be the designated "picture taker" and "watcher." 

And, very contently, I sat in one of the rocking chairs on their back deck with Rebecca's Grandma and Grandpa, and sipped on a cold Coke while we enjoyed the GORGEOUS afternoon!

Look what we got to watch...

Well, here's the birthday girl herself!

Photo credit: Kate Story, Adventure Ziplines

Photo credit: Kate Story, Adventure Ziplines

Photo credit: Kate Story, Adventure Ziplines

Photo credit: Kate Story, Adventure Ziplines

 I really love this pic...Photo credit: Kate Story, Adventure Ziplines

 

After a full afternoon of ziplining, and after a starving girls dinner at Freddy's, we loaded up and headed to our FAVORITE place for ALL celebrations--COLD STONE!!! 

What a sweet way (literally!) to end a fun day celebrating our Rebecca.

Cold Stone treats = Smiling girls!  (And smiling mama taking the picture)

We love you, sweet girl!

(Just so you know, no one paid me to say any of these nice things...but if they WANT to pay me--I would happily accept some cash-ola!  *grin*)

What's your favorite birthday adventure memory?

Parenting 101: Life According to Nathan

 I know I've written several times about my crazy brother-in-law Leader (what we call him.)  When he sent me these pictures from our recent family beach vacation, I nearly spit out my Coke from laughing so hard.  (Thankfully, no precious Coke was harmed or lost during this incident.)

Evidently, Leader wanted to snap a picture with his son Nathan in front of some sailboats.  When he checked the picture, and saw that Nathan did not comply the first time, he said in a more serious, fatherly voice, "Nathan.  Cut that out.  Please smile this time."

Annnnnd....

 

Annnnnd....I give you Exhibit #2:

 

Ya'll.  I wish you could get to know my nephew Nathan.  Nathan is seriously one of my favorite kids to be around!  He keeps me giggling the entire time I'm around him.  From the day he was born, he was a little man.  All matter-of-fact, and never wasting an opportunity to have fun, or to explain the world to those around him.  Nathan's matter-of-factness is evident in the fact that he NEVER says "I don't know" to ANY question you ask him.  That boy always has an answer on the tip of his tongue.  And, it's rarely the answer that you're expecting.  My family has started playing a little game when we're together with Nathan, where we try to stump him with a question.  Plus, we just love hearing the creative answers he gives!

So far, Nathan reigns supreme in the question answering game.

Here's just an example:

 

"Nathan, where does Superman live?"

 (without missing a beat) "Batman's house."

"Where is Batman's house?"

"South Dakota"

"Nathan, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

"A fightah fightah."

"What is a fightah fightah?"

"He twains and goes to fires and spways wata.  Den he goes home."

"How much does a fighter fighter make?"

"70 dollars by 2"

"Nathan, how do sailboats go fast in the water?"

"The sand"

"Where does the ocean water come from?"

"It comes from houses.  It connects to da hose and it goes.  It looks like a snake, but it's not."

There you have it.

I have to say...in a world plagued with uncertainty and relativism, it is refreshing to be around someone so sure of his answers, his world.

And if Nathan says the ocean comes from garden hoses, then I believe him.

And I feel much safer knowing...that it's a hose, not a snake.

Where I've Been: Snapshots of a Family Vacation

I didn't do a very good job of blogging last week.  In case some of you wondered if I died, or broke both my hands and couldn't type anymore, here are some photo explanations of what I've been up to...

Our family traveled to Rosemary beach, Florida, with my parents, brothers and sisters, and nieces and nephews.  

After not being able to connect to Wifi the first night, I never even got out my laptop again.  I have to say--being unplugged for an entire week was GLORIOUS, and very very needed.

During our week together, we didn't do anything glamorous.  What we DID DO was spend time together relaxing--and reconnecting.  It was perfect.

 

Putting a puzzle together

 

Playing cards

Hanging out together.  

(After the first night, this room became the Disney Channel room.  Can you guess WHO spent time here???)

Eating yummy food.  Mmm...we did a little TOO MUCH of this 

(In case you heathens don't know--this is Key Lime Pie!)

Clean-up time!

Each family took a different night to cook AND clean up after.  That way, we all had a real break from our normal dinner-cooking-cleaning routine.  It was wonderful!

By the way, I am SAVING this picture for ALL OF ETERNITY.  Look!  It's a picture of my crazy brother-in-law cleaning up the kitchen!  (I sure love that guy!  But, he doesn't necessarily know his way around the kitchen...)

 

Pool time!  Chicken fight with the cousins!!!!

 

Beach time!  (Are you CRAZY???  I'm not posting swimsuit pics!)
 

Fishing time! 

This was a real highlight of the week--my nephew Brady caught a baby shark while night fishing on the pier with his Uncle John!

 

And after all the excitement...we also did some of this...

Napping on the huge porch swing!  Pure heaven.

 

Reading books

 

And one of my FAVORITE highlights from the whole week was a nightly devotional my dad planned for the grandkids.  It was such a neat time to circle-up after a full day.  "Pops" did such an amazing job of engaging all the kids--ages 4-17.  Each night, a different grandkid had the chance to answer a special Bible question and win a money prize. 

Pops planned 5 nights of devotionals, writing that night's key word on a big posterboard--spelling out the word B-E-A-C-H by the end of the week.  (I'll dedicate another post on the meanings of each letter!) 

I don't think any of the kids--or adults--will forget...either the devotional topics...or the special time together as a family last week.

What a treasured time...praying together as a family 

(Uhhh...I think SOMEBODY had his eyes open to take this picture...)

What's your favorite way to spend a vacation?

A letter from 23-year-old Mary Kay

Recently, my dad was going through some files, and found a letter I'd written my parents 18 years ago. He laughed so much, my mom asked him what was the matter. And when he called to tell me about it, he laughed some more.

He thought it would be a funny blog post.  So, here ya go!  I dedicate this to...as I wrote on the envelope..."The old man and his little ole lady." 

 I give you February 22, 1993:

Hi, Ma and Pa!

I am writing on this type of paper (notebook) because I'm in the middle of the Student Union writing you. I should be studying for a Research Methods class. But, who could study for Research Methods on a day like this? For that matter, who could ever study for a Research Methods. Gross! To be a little creative, and to entertain myself--(I laugh at myself more than anybody else does!) I am going to fashion the rest of this letter in a multiple choice test...

Name: Ma and Pa Moore

Directions: Please select the correct answer--OR--Select the most unusual choice to make Mary Kay's life more creative and exciting!

1. It is now twelve noon. At two o'clock, Mary Kay has to:

a. Go to class.

b. Go to the bathroom.

c. Go to class in the bathroom.

d. Go to the bathroom in class.

 

2. Tonight for entertainment, Mary Kay hopes Dave will:

a. Take her to the dollar movie.

b. Bring home a video.

c. Not make her study.

d. Leave.

 

3. Mary Kay's favorite thing about her birthday was:

a. The fellowship of being with her family.

b. Having all of her family together.

c. The time spent with her family.

d. Who are we kidding? THE PRESENTS!!!

 

4. Mary Kay likes her Ma and Pa because:

a. Ma secretly sends her $300 a month (well, it's a good idea!)

b. They don't whip her too hard.

c. They let her watch t.v.

d. They're so much fun to be around.

e. Both a and d. (PLEASE a, oh please choose a!!!)

 

Okay, well I have to close the multiple choice test for now. My creative juices have stopped flowing. Maybe I should eat some more M&Ms. Are those what get Daddy acting so crazy?

Thanks again for such a special birthday! I just love my bracelet! By the way, will you please tell Dave he can not hock it. He thinks we could get at least 50 bucks for it at Big Bud's Pawn Shop. Big Bud said them green and blue glass rocks are real nice. He said he has a customer named JaNita that likes that shiny jewelry! Bug Bud also thinks we oughta melt down my flute into a couple of belt buckles. He said them big silver buckles get about $10 each at the flea market. He said, "What's the use of a flute if a man can't hold his pants up!"

Please refer to #1b to see why I am closing this letter now.

Love you!!

Mary Coon

Write back.  As ole' Skeeter says, "I need the mail!"

P.S.  You'll be SO PROUD of your auctioneer son-in-law: