Praises

In church, during the praise songs, Michael and I usually are pretty still.....i might bring my hands up under my chin.....i may discreetly open then down in front of me....but we are just not the hold your hands up in the air type of people.  For me, i feel it's bringing attention to me instead of the Lord....so i quietly worship and often tears run down my cheeks in praise and worship.

But this night the praise team just BROUGHT it.  The songs were amazing....the team very often bringing us scriptures between the songs.  Toward the end of the last song, the words say "i will lift my hands" - and the leader asked us all to lift our hands.  Michael and i held hands at the time so when we raised our hands, they were still clasped together.

Michael can't sing.  Because of the loss of his voice, he can't sing.  He sometimes mouths the words, but usually just stands quietly and listens.  Oh my gosh.....the song we were singing was SO powerful....i was already tearful....but bless his heart.....our hands linked, we raised them together in praise.....and as the song got stronger and louder - Michael punched our hands up over and over again.....just putting a stamp on the only way he could offer his praise to the Lord.  It was the sweetest thing.....and of course, my tears just rolled.

We are dealing with this voice thing.....we are learning to deal.  Life has changed quite a bit, but it's okay.  He tends to shy away from restaurants and gatherings where it's going to be loud.  He depends on me a lot too.  But it's okay.  He's here, he's cancer free......and he's my Batman!!  Love him so very much.  So thankful for non growing lung nodules and low tumor marker levels.  Praying those stay right there and that old age will find us side by side.  Love my sweet Michael.....SO much.

Camp Mimi

We picked up our sweet boy and our first stop was Bahama Bucks.  Our curly headed little bundle of energy LOVES sweets.....and this one hit the mark for him.  He wasn't able to finish the entire thing....but almost =).

On to the house.   I have started something.  I am wondering if when he's a teenager if he will still love coming to "Camp Mimi" and if he will expect his scavenger hunt?  I am kinda thinking the answer is yes!  I have it all set up when we walk in the door....but one thing i love.  He didn't ask immediately....he was so happy to see Sammie and played with him for quite a while before he explored the house.  I always lay out his sleeping bag somewhere and on it i have the note to begin the scavenger hunt.  Oh he had such a fun time going from place to place and finding craft supplies, goodies and a box full of magic tricks.  Such a sweet time with that little boy.  I love his energy....i love his joy.

It was a late night....we watched a movie - up late - almost midnight.....but me on the couch with him on his sleeping bag right below me.  I didn't sleep well at all - guess that couch was not made for sleeping....but i wouldn't give anything for that time with our little buddy.  

Next morning, i had made his favorite - breakfast casserole - he had THREE helpings!  This was a Thursday, and that's my serving day.  Our little man went with me and Kim to deliver meals to our meals on wheels clients.  I was wanting to share with him the joy of serving....of being God's hands and feet....i came away seeing a side of Hayden i haven't seen before.  Oh my goodness....that little guy was SO kind, SO gentle - when we got to Papaw's, he gave hugs all around....he told papaw stories and sat so quietly while listening to Papaw's stories.  It was the sweetest time.  What a precious boy we have.  Thank You Lord.

That night we stayed up late again....watching movies.  Not quiet as late this night....only 11 but said our prayers and off to sleep.  Waking up with Hayden is a time i just love.  He loves to snuggle in the morning and those hugs are just the sweetest.  We then decided to put to use some of the craft items he found while on the scavenger hunt.  I just love Pinterest....and the ideas i find there!  I loaded paint into water guns i got at Dollar Tree - and then he painted by shooting the paint on canvas.  The paintings reminded me of the kind used in psychology testing.  He was quite impressed at his work and so was i!  His feet look like they had a disease when he was through!

Then we painted rocks.  I had planned on going and hiding the rocks on Rockwall Square, but Hayden wanted to keep them.  It was so much fun.  He loves crafts.  He loves art.  Thinking he got a little bit of Uncle Shawn and Avery's genes in there =)  because he's really talented!

I love this little boy so much.  LOVE his heart, his energy, his gentleness, his tender heart.  One on one time with him is treasured and i hope and pray that when he is older, he will look back on his Camp Mimi with fond memories of a Mimi and Papa who love him beyond measure!

We took Hayden back to Chase and Angie.....On to Camp Mimi for Avery and Addy!  This has been a tradition....they started Camp Mimi years ago.  That first Camp Mimi - they were so tiny.  Well into the teenage years now and we still have the best time.  I love how those girls love to come and spend time with us.

We started our time a little late in the day because Addy had a volleyball tourney....lunch time and Northpark are always a hit because we LOVE the Nordstrom Bistro!  Lunch and then a little shopping.  Each one had 100.00 to spend and we searched all over to find things they would love.  They are different as night and day so shopping is interesting =)

One thing we have incorporated into our teenage Camp Mimi's.....a food basket challenge.  Instead of competing against each other, i give them a basket of ingredients and they have an hour to create a delicious dish.  This time I decided on an appetizer.....the ingredients?  Marinated shrimp, roasted garlic, seasoned croutons, mozzarella cheese, avocado, olive tapenade, roasted tomatoes and PUFF PASTRY!  They didn't cringe as i thought they would....they took the challenge head on!  And in less than an hour, they came up with the most delicious appetizer!!  It was so sweet to hear the giggles coming out of the kitchen and the "mimi don't come in here!".  The outcome was fantastic and they proudly brought their creation to the dining room table.  Papa had two servings and with two left over, they presented them to our neighbors behind us.  She called the next day wanting the recipe!  So proud of these girls!!

So after our little snack, nobody was hungry.  Addy wanted Chipotle (and oh how they make fun of the way i say it) - so Papa did go and get her Chipotle - but the rest of us just had chips and bean dip.

That evening we played lots of Spicy Uno (oh my goodness, we are all addicted to that game!) and then a movie.  Staying up late is a must.  We watched "The Princess Diaries" but lost Addy during the last few minutes....i am guessing that early volleyball tourney was quite exhausting for her.  Avery wanted to try and watch "Jaws" because she's never seen it....we tried, but soon we both felt the sandman's call.....so midnight saw us but not for long.

The next day was Sunday and it was a very special day for my Meals on Wheels favorite guy - Papaw.  Avery and Addy have been surprising Papaw on his birthday for years.  He even has a picture of him from their first visit proudly displayed in his office, along with the words to the song and dance they performed for him.  I told them ahead of time on that first visit that Papaw was special....and that he had a twinkle in his eye that just couldn't be explained.  As we were leaving that visit so many years ago, i looked into the back seat and asked them both "Did you see the twinkle in his eye?" and without a beat Avery says "oh yes, Mimi....i saw it.  It's in his left eye!"  We laughed so hard.  This Sunday they were having Papaw's 95th birthday party.  We surprised Papaw with a visit....Suzanne, Kim, Me and Avery and Addy.  They were so sweet with him.  He was SO excited to see his "girls" - all of us!!

Because of all of their activities, we only got one night and two days with Avery and Addy.  That Sunday afternoon, Addy taught us how to make bracelets out of string.  Avery caught on so quickly, Mimi took a while but i finally got it.  While we were learning this craft, Mimi found the DVD i made of our trip to Disney World when they were just 3 and 4 years old.  Oh my goodness....sweetest trip and i must say, it brought tears to my eyes.  They have grown so much.  Those little bitty girls are turning into precious women.  Love their hearts....their little quirks and characters.  Love their sense of humor.  LOVE them so much.

This time with Avery and Addy - just so sweet.  These are sweet girls.....seeing bits and pieces of the little girls growing into wonderful young women.

LOVE - so LOVE my time with my grands....wishing for time to spend with Haley and Audrey and Matthew.....hoping that will happen soon.  God has blessed me with the sweetest babies in my life.  They are my heart....they are blessings from God and i am just SO thankful for each one.

Lord i just pray so hard for YOUR hand on each of my grands and greats.....leading them, guiding them, molding them as You write their stories.  I thank You Lord for the gift of each one.  Your gifts are SO good....SO sweet.  I am blessed beyond measure Lord.  I love each one to the moon and back!