Easter 2014

Family time……sweet time…..

Love this precious family…..missing Audrey.

Sleepover with Little Man

Sooooo, we had a sleep-over with our little man.  This past weekend was Chase and Angie's 5th anniversary….so Friday we met Angie 1/2 way and picked up our little man.  I love that on Thursday he didn't want to go to school…..he just wanted to go to Mimi and Papa's house.  Oh how i love that he loves spending time with us.  Every time he has a sleepover, i put his spiderman sleeping bag on the love seat in the media room - and i always put a new toy on it.  He's never mentioned it before…..but i noticed this time, as he walked in the back door, he walked on his tippy toes to see over the sofa…..he got the biggest grin on his face and of course, ran to the toy.  Later on….might have even been the next day, he was playing and just in passing he said "Mimi, thank you for my toy.  When i come to see you, you always have a surprise for me" - i said "oh Hayden, i wonder why

Mimi does that?" and he cut those eyes at me and said "because you YUV me" - oh yes, baby boy……Mimi sure does love you!  Okay, so many things to say to us….On the way home, he's showing me how to draw an "H" in the air…..then he tells me he's drawing a tootie toot…..I asked what that was and he said it was potty talk….i said "oh Hayden, we don't say potty talk and he said "no Mimi…..no no….I am just showing you how to draw it" =)  I am just typing things as i remember them…..don't want to forget….The last dinner we had here, Hayden said the prayer….in the prayer he said "thank you for my Mimi getting me chocolate tooties"  Okay, so the SWEETEST thing…..Hayden was in playing the piano - He pounded REALLY hard on the low notes….and then he played so softly on the higher notes…..i was cooking breakfast and rushed in to tell him that we had to play soft on the piano - and he said "but Mimi, the really YOWD part is when the soldier put Jesus on the tross" - and then, he played ever so softly the highest notes and he said "and this part…..is when he died for us" - oh my goodness, i just melted BIG time….huge tears coming down my cheeks.  I love that he thinks so often about what he's learned in Mother's Day Out.  Okay, soooooo we are looking for something we have recorded on TV that he wants to watch…..Hayden"  I don't watch Tinja Nurtles - i just watched that when i was growing up" =).  Then this….
Me: "Hayden, when we get home we will have to take a little "rest" since we got up so early this morning"  Hayden: "But when momma says we take a yiddle rest she makes it really YONG rest….and YONG rests make my tummy hurt…..And bedtime makes my tummy hurt too!"
Oh so many things….wish i could bottle them up and keep them forever.  This little man has my heart…..i am wrapped, lock stock and barrel……and it's okay!  LOVE spending time with my little man.  p.s.  While we laid on the floor in the media room - among the many quilts and pillows and blankets and a spiderman sleeping bag…..this little one HELD my hand.  How sweet is that?  How precious is this little boy?

Easter...

Easter Day…..looking forward to a wonderful day with my sweet family.  Today on Facebook, someone posted these words: HE LIVES, HE LIVES CHRIST JESUS LIVES TODAY…..those words took me back…..i can remember when i was a little girl….probably Hayden's age - and sitting between my momma and daddy and the words to that song coming loud and clear from both of them.  My daddy's booming bass voice, and my momma's sweet voice - and with tears running down her cheeks:  I SERVE A RISEN SAVIOR, HE IN THE WORLD TODAY…..I KNOW THAT HE IS LIVING, NOT MATTER WHAT MEN MAY SAY.  I HEAR HIS VOICE OF MERCY, I HEAR HIS VOICE OF CHEER…..AND JUST THE TIME I NEED HIM, HE'S ALWAYS NEAR.  HE LIVES, HE YIVS (AS HAYDEN WOULD SAY) SALVATION TO IMPART…..YOU ASK ME HOW I KNOW HE LIVES…..HE LIVES WITHIN MY HEART!"  Those might not be the exact words…..but they are pretty close.  How thankful i am that God put me in the arms of those two precious souls because they led me to know and love my Lord and Savior!  I thought about today…..and what it was like a few years ago…..momma would have made her famous Rudy's reds…..daddy would have had that camera around his neck and would be taking pictures with that big grin and one eye closed…..pepaw Corley would have been flirting with all the girls…..and me maw Corley….oh me maw - she would have prepared something for the boys to read…..a scripture or a verse….or a poem or often something she herself put together - and the lines would be written over and over - the letters traced many times as she read it and praised as she did so.  As we would gather round and hold hands together to say the prayer…..the boys would hold hands and giggle….it never failed.  I hope me maw Corley didn't think they were being blasphemous - they just couldn't help it….and if my daddy was the one to say the prayer, that voice would break as he got to the end…..tender was his heart.
I am so thankful for my family Lord…..and as some celebrate you in heaven, we celebrate You here…..and we celebrate because YOU, dear precious Lord are AYIVE in our hearts!

April 17, 2014 - Today Hayden Michael Corley had his Easter party at his school.  Such a fun day from what Angie said…..an Easter Egg Hunt with all of his friends….and this - how precious is this story:

Angie said all the children were gathered on the floor in front of the teacher….she was reading the story of Christ and His resurrection - she sent a picture of Hayden intently listening to the Easter story - all the parents gathered round the room too…..she said at the end of the story, the teacher was asking questions about the story….about pictures in the book and all the children were answering her.  Hayden sat quietly tho….until the end of the story session, when she pointed to the picture at the end of the book…..and asked the question "why do you think all the people are so happy?" - Angie said the room was SO quiet - and all of a sudden Hayden smiles this huge smile and says "cuz Jesus is a-yive!  Hims a-Yive!" Angie immediately melted along with most of the other parents in the room.  The look on his sweet face when he talks about Jesus is just the most precious thing.  I pray Lord Jesus that as he grows, his relationship with you grows as well.  I pray that Hayden will do great and mighty things in YOUR name Lord - and that his life will magnify you and share YOU with others.  Protect and guide him Lord i pray.  

Today was a very different day…..hard for me and even harder for me now.  My oldest son, Shawn, was divorced years ago…..can't remember the exact number of years, isn't that awful?  But at least 4…..maybe more.  Was thinking today that i have never seen my boys more broken than when their wives decided they didn't want to be married anymore.  I was remembering today how Shawn reacted…..how hopeful he was that things would not end in the finality that they did.  I remember when he was doing everything he could to make things work.  I remember when he finally realized it was over.  I remember his anger……the wall he began building.  For at least two years i was not allowed to even mention her name…..he was SO broken, SO hurt……he wouldn't even talk to her.  When they had to make plans for Avery, he would send test messages.  It was awful.  My little Avery Grace……she changed through all of this.  Not the same happy, go-lucky little girl she used to be.  A few years into it tho, things changed……Shawn - gosh, i don't know.  Did he finally make peace?  I am not sure what changed, but i am so glad things did.  Which brings me to today.  Avery had a gymnastics competition today…..we have never been allowed to go because Deb felt uncomfortable with us there….as much as i wanted to see my baby compete, i abided by the rules……i would never want something to upset her and i just felt maybe things would be so strange….would make Avery feel unsettled.  But today Deb was okay with us coming.  As we drove to ASI, i just was almost so sick i could have thrown up.  SO hard for me today……Deb was my best friend.  For all the years of their marriage, we shared it.  Each day…..trips…..hobbies…Shawn….Avery…..daily struggles…..daily joys….honesty…..heartaches….parents…..fears….laughter….....i loved her with all of my heart.  And when they divorced…..as much as i hated her for what she did…..i lost not only a daughter-in-law, but a best friend.  Plus the fact that she totally crushed my son.  What do you do with those feelings?  Over time, i had to give those hatreds, those feelings of total  abuse towards Shawn…..the feelings of just pure HURT and HATRED - i had to give that all to our Lord……He told me….Here Cindy……here's the stone - and if you are free of sin, you go ahead and throw it.  Go ahead and hate.  HE had to help me over my hatred.  It seems now Shawn is okay…..is he in a loving relationship?  No……Do i think he will ever trust again?  I doubt it.  Do i think he's happy?  I am not sure, but he sure puts on a good show.  Will he ever love again?  Can he?  Will he?  Because of what she did to him? Today, as we met Deb - i was blown away by their relationship……i saw a precious friendship…..laughing…..sharing jokes…..sharing inside humor that they always seem to find in every day situations……I think i might have seen a love…..not romantic love….but a love as if best friends…..as i sat next to Deb and talked to her…..oh my gosh, it made me soooo very sad at what could have been.  I could see a sweet couple loving each other….loving their daughter….sharing life.  GOSH i miss the friendship too.  It was just the hardest feelings to deal with.  Shawn seems to have made peace……how can i?  She hurt my babies……she messed up what "could have been" - How do i deal with that Lord?  What do i do with these feelings?  I don't understand why things couldn't have been different.  It hurts…..deep inside it hurts.  My heart breaks for what could have been.

Chase…..our second born.  What a bundle of love was delivered to us 37 years ago today!  Little did we know the joy this one would bring into our lives.  He was in a HUGE hurry to get here - my water broke at exactly midnight - December 16th happens to be my momma's birthday too - we called my momma and daddy and told momma "happy birthday me maw - you are going to share a birthday with your grand baby!".  We bundled Shawn up in his PJ's and met momma and daddy on the curb in front of their house - i could tell this labor was different from my labor with Shawn (which BTW took ALL day) and knew this sweet baby wasn't going to wait long to meet the world.  As Michael zoomed down 30 toward Baylor, he kept saying "do your breathing….do your breathing!"  I kept telling him "you better hurry!!!"  "Where is a cop when we need him?" We arrived at Baylor and i couldn't even walk…..they wheeled me into a room and the little nurse said to me"you are really hurting aren't you? - How far apart are those pains?" - "non-stop" was my answer.  She decided to check me and when she did she said "oh my…..i can see the head! let me get your doctor!!"  Michael left to park the car and when he came back, with his paper in hand, thinking it was going to be a long night…..the nurse threw scrubs to him and said "if you want to welcome this baby into the world, you better get dressed and get in there!" - Luckily he made it and as Dr. Lawley delivered our baby - and he had predicted a baby girl - he saw Chase's head and said "oh my…..this sure doesn't look like a girl baby!" - Ian Chase Corley came into our lives in the early morning of December 16th, 1976.  He was in a hurry to arrive and he's been on the go ever since!  Slow to talk….slow to walk….even SLOWER to potty train - but oh my gosh, what a LOVE.  He never met a stranger…..and people would turn and stop just to talk to the little blond curly headed boy.  No hair at first - just fuzz - until he was 2…then golden locks that turned white at 2 and 3…and the prettiest blue eyes - a personality that just drew people in.  As my daddy used to say "the boy could work a room"!  Just a precious boy - SO sweet and compassionate.  Even at an early age, he cared so deeply for others - totally upset when he went to school one day and saw one of his friends wearing a shirt we had in our garage sale….going deeper into why, he found out the boy didn't have much and was devastated…..wanted to give his toys etc to the little boy.  He took his allowance, two or three different times, and bought me gifts.  One time it was coffee mugs (and i still have them) and another time he brought me the most beautiful "diamond" earrings and pin - they are HUGE - and yes, i still have them….cherish them because they are from the sweetest little boy's heart. He did love his momma!   That little boy was all little boy….much like HIS little boy Hayden…..he loved everything boy and action figures found a special place in his life…..all the star wars guys…..they magically became football players - he could hold one in each hand with his fingers on their legs in a certain way that could make them run…..and oh how many "football" games did that little boy have!  He never sat on the potty alone…..he always had his action figures with him - you could walk by the bathroom, see those little feet dangling from the potty and an action figure running loops around the air….and the sound…..oh the sound that he would make - it was the crowd roaring as touchdown after touchdown scored =) - i can still hear him…..and the crowd ROARS…..
As he grew older, you would find him with pen and paper drawing football plays……must say too, THAT continued into his adult life!  I would imagine if you look around his office today….or in the basket in the bathroom, you might find a play or two written on paper!  He has loved football most of his life…..started playing when he was 5 and continued even after college.  How much fun did he bring to our family playing sports.  I can remember once when he was about 5th grade, he was playing baseball….it was a tournament - went into extra innings and they were still playing after midnight…..sweet memories because i can still see my sweet momma and daddy, standing by that fence, yelling for all they were worth.  I don't' remember who won…..Chase would know….but i know we sure won with the sweet times watching the boys play ball.  His famous words "okay, I am going to play d team….but then i am going to quit football……well, okay, i am going to play at Agnew….but then i am going to quit football……okay i am going to play JV….and then not too long into JV they moved him to Varsity - then onto North Texas.  I can remember Michael's daddy and my daddy making the trek to the stadium at MHS and then onto to UNT…..i would hold daddy's hand and pray the entire game!  Chase was an awesome little QB…..he had an arm like nobody else!  What fun he had playing and the friendships on his high school and college team are still strong today.  That last game of his Sr year…..he was the last one out of the field house……it was SO hard for him to give that up.  Many tears…..but oh what fun times we all had!  He sowed some wild oats when he got to college!  Orange, hair….evicted a few times "and i just don't understand why" - he would say…..well, wonder if it had something to do with the 300+ people he had coming to his parties?  I will never forget the time we went to his spring game…..Michael and sitting in the stands and we kept looking for Chase - all the QB's were on the front row of their warm ups and Chase wasn't there…..we hadn't seen him in a couple of weeks - talked to him weekly - but we just kept looking and looking and then our eyes fall down to the fence in front of us.  There stood this guy, helmet in hand, with ORANGE hair, waving for all he was worth - biggest grin on his face.  "oh MICHAEL i said….it's so UGLY!!!" - found out later he was on the phone with Jenn while dying his hair and forgot about it…..hence the orange tint….oh and the "drips" that went down in the back were really attractive too!  Chase has always been such a gentleman….always opening the door for others…..quick to aid someone in need.  We taught him to be compassionate and helpful, but much of this much have been part of his nature too.  Always his teachers said they wished they had a room full of Chase's =)  High School to College….His marriage…..then the birth of his sweet daughter Addison Lane….Oh my goodness…..to see your son as HE becomes a father - it was the sweetest thing ever.  One day shortly after she was born he called and said "mom…..she looked me straight in the eye and i can't explain the love - i am a DADDY" - and oh what a daddy…..hands on from day one - changing diapers, playing down in the floor….making everyday things so much fun.  Addy adores her dada…..even when she was two and three, if we were out eating somewhere, if she needed a diaper change - later on if she needed to go to the bathroom - it was her daddy that took her.  They have always had the sweetest relationship.  I see so much of Chase in Addy…i pray she continues to have his traits in her as she grows…..his dedication, his faith, his beliefs……his kindness….his making sure everyone is taken care of.  I hope she follows in her daddy's footsteps.  The divorce was devastating and i have never seen Chase so distraught - he lost weight….he was just so over taken by sorrow and grief and disbelief of it all.  I worried so about my sweet son….oh and that precious Addison Lane….it was such a horrible time for all of us.  As i look back, I see God working in Chase's life even in that time of deepest sorrow.  God used that time to chisel away and mold and make Chase more like Him.  Deep down i knew God would send someone into Chase's life…..this momma prayed and cried and prayed and cried for a precious woman to come into Chase's life….someone with a precious heart - someone that would love Chase and LOVE God - so that they could grow together in their faith.  God answered this momma's sweet prayer in a girl named Angie…..Chase dated a few girls, but he kept coming back to this one named Angie…..he would tell me about her heart and how she was the sweetest girl he had ever known……it didn't take him long to know Angie was sent by God to be his wife…..and she brought with her two sweet gifts - Audrey and Haley…..this sweet family became his - how thankful we are…..a wedding in Cancun, and then comes a little boy named Hayden to complete this precious family!  My heart overflows as i look back and see how God has blessed this little boy named Chase…..and in doing so - what blessings He has bestowed on us.  I am so thankful for you Chase Corley……as i write, tears flow freely because i can't quite understand where all the years went!  Wasn't it just yesterday you were padding down the hallway in footed pi's with your brother…..ready for Christmas morning?  Now you get to experience that…..and my greatest Christmas gift is that you share that with us!  WE get to wake up with your family and Shawn's and watch the Christmas spirit on those sweet little faces!  You are precious in our lives sweet boy…..no matter how many birthdays come and go, you will always and forever be my little boy.  Sometimes i see a look on your face, usually as you are playing with Addy or Hayden….and it takes me back.  Of course it's hard not to be taken back when that little boy running circles around Mimi looks JUST like you at that age!
I love you Chase.….how thankful i am that that day when you were 8 - you wrote me that note that said "momma, last night God told me it was time to be saved but i was scared to say it" - (i still have that note!) how thankful i am that you love Christ…..that you are growing with Angie in your faith….that you both are training up your children to love Him too.  God has blessed me…..i don't deserve even a glance from Him, but He has given me the SWEETEST gifts in you and Shawn and your families……i love you to the moon and back my son.  Happy day to you today….thank you for all the sweet days of our lives with you…..thank you for being the son, the brother, the husband, the father, the friend that you are to us all.  I pray God's richest blessings on your life…..I pray His hand upon you, guiding you…..i pray you hear His voice ALWAYS and that you follow Him all the days of your Life.
You are precious and loved dear sweet boy…..dear sweet son.

All my love, mommasita

homecoming.....

Last night we had the pleasure of attending Haley's Homecoming Game.  It was a fun night and Haley was crowned Junior Princess at the game!

What a beautiful princess she is!  Even tho the temp was nearly 100 degrees, Haley was calm and collected....and oh so beautiful.....i think what makes her so very beautiful is that her beauty starts from the inside.....she has the sweetest heart and to know Jesus lives there - well, Mimi couldn't be any happier!  The presentation was at half time and then she changed and it was back to cheering on her team.

It's always fun to be with family.....i think as a Mimi, one of the things that makes my heart just overflow is when one of the grandkids sees me and they just come runnin'......Avery and Addy have always dropped whatever was going on and they head for Mimi.....Haley always makes a bee line for me too....melts my heart when she does that!  Well, then along comes our little man.....or should i say the
"lady's man" -

That's Quinn,  Jason and Hil's daughter, by his side in the pink skirt.....LOVE the look on her sweet face - the way her hands are folded in her lap.....such a little beauty!.....and i had to laugh out loud when i looked over and saw little man squeezing his sweet self right smack dab in the middle of the "dirls"!  He was Quinn's little shadow for much of the game. He does love the "dirls"!

 Little Hayden Michael is such a love - and it melts my heart SO much whenever he sees me and he runs for me......tonight at the game - in the stands, they got there a little late.....it was the first time i had seen Angie's momma in a while so i was make the rounds.....giving out hugs.....and i feel this little tug....i look to my side and see this little man looking up at me - grinning like crazy, his sweet little presence, just waiting to be discovered.....can't wait to say hello to his Mimi.....

He always finds me.....and i can't even say how it makes my heart just overflow.  I am SO very thankful for my kids....for my grandkids....God's gifts are truly so sweet.....Thank you Lord for placing these precious souls in our lives.  My 3 kids, my 5 grandchildren, my extended family - Michael and I full to the brim with blessings upon blessings.

Thank you Lord for loving us like You do.....and for this precious family that i love so much!