Family Meal Time

So last Friday for dinner, we enjoyed a catered meal that was part of the pre-paid funeral my dad arranged. It was weird, but it was brilliant. It was one last party planned by a fun loving guy. It was a beautiful opportunity for our family to share a meal and be blessed by his thoughtfulness. Tonight the Medleys enjoyed Tex-mex again...remembering .

School is starting soon and I want to chronicle who they are what they are thinking as they start a new chapter in their little lives. It seems life they grow up so much before summer comes again. When I found these "Questions to Ask Your Kids" I knew that it would be a great place to start..

23 Great Questions to Ask Your
Kids

By Sharon Jaynes

1. What do you think heaven looks like?

2. What does Dad do at work?

3. Who is a person you know that seems the most
Christ-like?

4. What do you think your wife (husband) will be like?

5. I you were going to spend one year on a desert island
and could only take three things with you, what would they be?

6. Who is your favorite aunt or uncle and why do you like
him or her so much?

7. What sounds and smells do you think Joseph and Mary
experienced in the stable on

Christmas night?

8. What is the nicest thing I ever did for you?

9. When is a time that I hurt your feelings?

10. When is a time that you were really mad at me?

11. If people followed the Golden Rule, think of all the
things we wouldn’t need. Can you

make a list?

12. If you could be in a movie that you’ve already seen,
which one would it be? Would you

be a character that is already in the movie, or would you
be one that you would add?

13. How is love different for a Christian couple than it
is in the movies?

14. What is the difference between being smart and being
wise?

15. What is your favorite outfit?

16. What is the hardest part about being (fill in your
child’s age)?

17. What has been your favorite childhood memory?

18. When you pray, how do you picture God?

19. What is your favorite Bible verse? Why do you like
it?

20. If you could be an animal for a day, which one would
you be?

21. If you could go in a time machine, what era in
history would you like to visit?

22. What person in history would you like to visit?

23. What is the most important decision you will ever
make?

Taken from Being A Great Mom,
Raising Great Kids by Sharon Jaynes (© 2004, Moody Publishers).

Life is What You Make it

My grandfather, we call him Gramps, will be 90 years old in May, but this week his doctor recommended hospice care. A few months ago we were told that his cancer was back, but it was too far gone and he was too weak to progress with any kind of treatment. After getting choked often while eating, to the point of needing the Heimlich, he now has a feed tube - a port where his meals are poured out of a can into a tube and straight into his stomach - 5 times a day.

Through it all my grandmother has been there - for the hospital stays, the new treatment regimens, all of the visits to all of the doctors, and on the other end of the tube 5 times a day. She slept in their Volkswagen vanagon in the parking lot of the hospital in Amarillo the first time he had cancer, when they didn't know what he had, when they installed and when they fixed his defibrillator.

She was also at the coffee shop when my grandfather came in with his cousins the first time they met. She was there with his infant daughter when he got home from the war. She was there every night when he got home after work with his meal on the table and in the passengers seat as they explored all of the 50 states. She was there when they welcomed 2 daughters, 4 grand kids, and to date 6 great-grand kids.

During his last stay in the hospital some of her former students from more than 30 years ago approached her in the hallway and reminded her of their favorite thing about her class. She taught a Zig Ziglar "I Can"course and at the beginning of each class they would do a cheer saying, "Act Enthusiastic and You'll Be Enthusiastic!" They would all chant in unison three times before each class. The irony of lyrically repeating THAT phrase outside her partner of more than 60 years hospital room... but sometimes it's true.

You can succumb to what life hands you - growing up with an alcoholic, abusive father or dealing with the passing of your mother as a young boy - or you can choose to live a beautiful life, to leave a legacy, to be there.

Every day that the sun comes up, you have to purpose to make it a great day. Do the best you have with what you're given and live to make your memories part of your happiness.

May Days

The month of May brought great chaos and wonderful memories for our family. May typically brings a change in seasons and in activity. As the month ended so did school.

Trenton has end of the year parties at Community Bible Study and at Parents Dy Out. He is going to miss his friends this summer. I'd be surprised if they recognize each other when they return to school. They will grow and change so much over the summer.

He was quite the trooper as we drug him to games and practices and activities that he was just too small to participate in just yet. He does love "ball base" and has quite an arm on him too!

Addison participated in cheer camp again this year, had an end of the year splash day, and a field trip or two. She absolutely loved going to Pre-K this year and really did quite well.

She also went to Austin with me and was such as big help as we hosted Aunt Heidi's baby shower. After the shower, we went downtown to the Pecan Street Festival where Addison got to ride this life-sized rocking horse. Her favorite part was wearing the cowgirl hat with the feathers and a tiara on top.

Preston is our kindergarten graduate this year. At their graduation ceremony, they announced the child, the parents and then what the child wants to be when they grow up. Preston wants to be a Race Car Driver... others said things like, a ninja, a first grader, and bull fighter. It was nice to laugh, even though we were misty eyed. They just grow up so fast.

Right before graduation, Preston lost his first tooth. He was thrilled and even pulled it himself. Our tooth puller is also quite a ball player. He received two game ball awards from his teeball coach for making great plays.

Clayton's last week of school was full of awards and field trips for good behavior and reading success. He even got to drive go-karts for making the Pony Pride list every six weeks all year long.

His baseball team ended out the season 6-6 and he played positions from catcher to short stop and outfield. The boys on the team sure did learn about baseball and life this season.

We're going to have a third grader next year. I can't belive it. As I type they are all in the boys room for a "sleep over" laughing and just enjoying staying up late and being together. Even though it's late, we so enjoy the sound of their laughter I think that we'll let it continue for awhile.

Merry Christmas from the Medleys

Going Green and Emailing the Christmas Letter... enjoy!

From the first coin toss of the year, we kept our eye on the end zone, coaching our little players and cheering every play...

We welcomed a new 9lb 7oz rookie to the team in April—Trenton Todd (#4) is fitting into the team quite nicely. His first season will be complete April 6th. Not long after the initial snap at school, I was on the sidelines watching Clayton (#1) go in for a touchdown at kindergarten graduation. This fall he played his first season of flag football. After finishing a stellar 3rd season at Parents Day Out Preston (#2) became a free agent and was picked up by Shallowater’s Pre-Kindergarten in August. In the red zone of summer, Clayton and Preston played baseball - Clayton played on 3 teams! So as not to cause a personal foul, Addison (#3) took a dance class too and mostly stayed in the pocket to avoid being sacked. She also played her first season of soccer on a team with Preston.

Always quick on the return, Billy is always my MVP, running car pool, fixing everything from appliances to boo boos, and keeping the team morale high. Watching the play clock run out on the year, we are thankful for fans who stick with us calling audibles, running out of bounds, intentionally grounding at times.

So here’s to the extra point and another season full of plays worthy of the highlight reel!

Billy and Heather Medley— Clayton, Preston, Addison and Trenton

Princess for a Day

A few months ago I started thinking about what we were going to do for Addison's birthday. I know that sounds odd, but I love birthdays, party planning and ....well, I'm having a baby a week before her actual birthday. I really love - I mean really love planning parties. So much so that that is part of my job - I get paid to plan and host events.

Addison wanted a princess party so we started to talk about it and think about how I could put off a party so close to my due date. I haven't really cleaned my house since I stopped being able to see my toes so I knew that it had to be some where else and I knew that I didn't want to plan games and fun myself since I can't really breathe anymore with the little man sitting on my chest. But I wanted it to really be a birthday party that Addy would remember, no cherish.

I hunted on the Internet for games, thought about printing off color sheets or a role play game... they all made me tired just thinking about it. So I googled "lubbock princess" and I found http://www.myenchantedparty.com/ I asked my husband about it, emailed the princess, chatted it up with some of our friends and booked them to come to Addy's party. Fingers crossed

When I showed her the invitation, she carried it around for weeks - well, more like a month. She asked everyone to read it to her over and over so much so that she had the poem memorized.

Princes and Princesses from across the land,
are gathering for an event that's truly grand!
You are cordially invited to

Addison Medley’s
Royal Birthday Celebration!

For tea and cookies, fun, and
a very special guest surprise!

Please have your carriage arrive at ....

Festivities start on
....

Royal garb is optional, but would be greatly appreciated by the Birthday Princess

Your presence would truly be an honor!

All kings and queens are welcomed.

I was a little nervous about how it would all come together, especially for a mixed crowd of 3 and 4 year olds. We filled out name tags, oohed and ahhed over the guests that were dressed up, offered crowns and scepters, and did the tea and cookies as the guests arrived - all while waiting for the "very special guest surprise."

The "prince" came in to set up and to announce the arrival of the princess, got all of the children involved using their "outside voices" to yell "Princess!" She made he grand entrance, greeted the children, sang a dream is a wish your heart makes, smiling at the guests and shaking hands. Addison was memorized. She couldn't take her eyes off of the princess.

They proclaimed Addison "Princess for the Day" gave her a crown and a wand. She stuck so close to the princess, she sat with her as they took photos with the princess for each of the guests to take home. All the while the princess remained in character, taking to the children about "her story," and even played princess trivia with them. One of the children said something about her cat adn she reminded them that actually it was step-mothers cat. wow! That's a princess in character.

It was magical. Really, you can blame it on hormones, but it brought tears to my eyes, watching Addy love everything about the day - the guests, the princess, the cookies and tea - everything. She thanked everyone, was absolutly gracious. I was so proud of her - it ws truly an enchanted party.

God's Economy or We Met the Veggie Tales

Don't you just love God's economy? You give it away and it comes back to you - 10 fold it seems. The Law of Sowing and Reaping. It works.

For example, my little sisters best friend from high school (follow that?) gave me some of her maternity clothes, but I'd loaned her mine at Heidi 's wedding - the weekend we got pregnant with Addison - who knew?

Plus, this weekend she gave us toys, a jumper, and some baby cereal too. Instead of holding onto the entire bag full of unopened cereal for the next 7+ months and trying to find a place to store it, I gave it to the ladies at Parents Day Out where my children go twice a week to use with the kids there, to share with the other parents, etc. As I was walking out the door that morning the lady at the front desk commented that I had ulterior motives - that I knew God would return to me what I gave away.

I do know that!

I got an email this week about a local Christian Radio Station needing volunteers to help with a Veggie Tales Live Event that was in town. I called and told them I could help during the 3PM show, but that I had tickets to bring my kids to the 7PM show. It was a great afternoon. I took photos, passed out free stuff, signed folks up for a drawing....not much different than what I do at my day job really. After the show I rushed to pick up Clayton and we went straight back to the church where the Veggies were so that we could get in the first come first serve line - to get better seats. My mom was going to come about 30 minutes later with the little one and Billy was working on getting over there from taking care of his dad. I was really sort of in a panic hurrying to get the best seats I could. I would have to find 6 all together.

I should have known that the one who loves me best already had it all worked out for me. As Clay and I walked in to give the gals our tickets, the lady I volunteered for earlier that day was standing right there and told me that the seats in the middle of the front row were roped off for us. The best seats in the house! I was amazed. God knew and already had it worked out.

The kids had room to dance and chase bubbles and interact with the characters on stage. It was a truly memorable night. Watching them sing every word to the songs, praising God and being silly was a blessing.

And to make things even sweeter, during intermission they were giving away Meet and Greet passes for after the show to folks who could answer Veggie Trivia Questions. Guess who won? Billy! So we all got to go shake hands and hug on Bob and Larry after the show.

Is my God good, or what?

My Inheritance

This weekend my mom, sister and I went to San Antonio for a girls weekend with Beth Moore - and boy was it incredible!

Thinking about where you are and where you're going...you have to decide - to choose if one is going to affect the other. If we are join heirs with Christ and his inheritance is the same as ours in Gods economy - I have a beautiful inheritance!

Psalms 16:5 The LORD is(F) my chosen portion and my(G) cup; you hold my(H) lot.6(I) The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

Sitting next to my mother and my sister, thinking about my inheritance in temporal ways, I was quite impressed to think about all of those things that I have inherited from the two ladies that I have spend more time with than any others - faithfulness, humor, loyality. They are pretty impressive women.

Heidi, my sister, was the spotlight Siesta on the Siesta Fiesta Blog. She is just amazing.

Spending time in the word with Bible Teacher, Beth Moore was incredible, and building memories with my favorite Siesta's was priceless.

Birthday Cards

I just love birthdays, balloons, parties, cards -all of it. I am so glad that I have little one who love birthdays too. They start taking about their next birthday before the wrapping paper from this one is up off the floor! We've done cowboy parties and Elmo Parties and Veggie Tale Parties, Swim Parties, Tea Parties...I just love it. Color coordinating, thinking of great games and unique party favors. I love celebrating my children and getting to have a party makes it even better.

But getting older has a way of making birthday less cool -a lot less cool. I'm in my mid-thirties - that is a far cry from being able to tell people, I'm 16 or 21 even. There's nothing to gain at 33 years old - no car, no legal status. My sister reminded me that this is how old Jesus was when he died -now that's comforting! This year we had chocolate cake for breakfast in a hotel room in Corpus; then we went to the beach. It was a great day. I really enjoyed it, but there's just something about a real birthday party that's just amazing.

Maybe it's the wonder of being a child that makes it so special. Everything is bigger and better and all about you - you get to make choices on your birthday - where to go, what to eat....now it's a gift if I don't have to choose. It's great fun when others plan something for me these days. I love to plan things, don't get me wrong, but inviting your friends to your own birthday party nowadays is just awakard.


But this week I was invited to participate in a marvolous birthday idea. A friend of mine from college sent this message to me Tuesday through facebook

Hey everyone!
My wife Amy Earhart is turning 30 in two weeks and I would love to get as many people to send a birthday card to her. You don’t need to send anything else. I’d love to see if we could get 1,000 cards sent to her, maybe one from every state, or even some different countries, I don’t care tons would be fun though. So, please forward to everyone (BUT AMY) that you know, it doesn’t matter that they don’t know her.

Below is her address. Please send a BIRTHDAY CARD TO:
Amy Earhart
1500 Carolina Dr.
Columbia, MO. 65202

Thank you so much,Chris

If you get a chance send her a card. I've never met Amy, but I bet she's well worth the effort. What fun idea to make getting older more fun.

Summer Captured

Tonight I took a few random pictures. It was an assignment. Really, it was.

Talking during the mini-scrap booking party, some of the ladies told me about Big Picture Scrapbooking. So I logged on and clicked on free classes almost immediately. Who knew? I was draw to the word "free" - One of the Free classes is called "10 Summer Photos to Take Right NOW"

I was intrigued. How can I take pictures of an entire season now? I taught journalism where you took photos of an event- a moment in time. Your photos told a story. But as I read, I realized what a sweet idea this was - capture your favorite things about summer now while they are out, fresh, current - remember what you love about those summer months all year long.

One of the things on the list of 10 is about favorite summer time food - I took pictures of the garden vegetables that we got from a friends garden and I took a picture of the fridge - look at the sideways picture (it's late and I'm too tired to flip it now) closely and you'll see the fruit bowl under the sippy cup. It's that already cut up mix of really great fruit. My kids love to just chow on that fruit right out of the bowl in the summer. No science experiment fruit to toss a week later at our house. It never has time to go bad!

It was fun to start a dialogue with my kids about things that they liked about summer - food, places, colors, clothing...Addison loves her sunglasses. Although she wears them upside down most of the time that was her first and loudest answer.

Log on. Check it out. Capture your own summer.

Let me know how it goes -

Photo "System"

I went to a little photo album party last night. A friends daughter came in from Dimmit - yes, that's a real place - to show us how to make the cutest scrapbook out of those little cheap $1 album.s It was a really cute idea. And I like the idea of scrap booking, but ask me how many books- no pages- I have made since Clay was born almost 6 years ago. I have paper and embellishments and kits - and good intentions.

I made an album for my little sister of her 29th birthday party at the park. It's done. It took about an hour and a half and it's done. I still need to journal some more and get some others to do the same, but really it's done and it's cute.

That sprint to the memory making finish line got me to thinking. I used to teach photography. I love my photos. I keep them all catalogued at Kodak.com and I have an album of the disks, but it occurred to me that that is exactly was I hated about my mom's photo "system" - I'm using that word lightly, as it was just one huge box with pictures dumped into it. One weekend I got so tired of it I bought her some photo boxes and tried to organized them. I started with black and white versus color photos and went from there. It just drove me crazy. I could never find anything.

But neither can my kids...unless they can spell, log on and remember my password!

So I've ordered more prints and I have even picked out some paper for a few more albums that I am going to whip up with my new easy scrap booking ideas - mini-books that are low stress.