Katie Britt~ Your First.... Varsity Basketball Game

It's that time of year when I begin to realize that my little girl isn't so little anymore... She has turned a year older... grew a foot taller... and tonight... my heart swells with pride.  I have missed most of the home girls' games because of working in the concession stand, but tonight a few minutes before the game Christie came and told me that some girls had selected the Seniors and Freshmen to be captains tonight... I should have known that it would be a special night!  For many reasons...

I'm so proud of you and Jessica.... I'm proud of your perseverance, I'm proud of your dedication, and most of all, I'm proud of your sportsmanship!  Both of you sit in those chairs giggling and smiling... looking like you don't have a care in the world...

 I'm sorry I didn't get a closer picture ... there was popcorn, and chicken, and french fries all cooking... we had to rush to get to watch this!  Please continue to be a leader...and do the right thing! 

 Standing with your cheerleading squad as a basketball player was probably a little odd, but you looked precious to me...

 And then.... there was Butch... HE CAME TO YOUR GAME!   I can't believe the progress he has made over the past few days... I am so glad that we have a diagnosis and we know that he can get better!  Having him there to watch you was something I wasn't sure would ever happen... I hoped with all my heart he would make it to a Varsity game that you were dressing out for.... Little did we know all he would get to see!  Ben and James were excited to see him too!  For the past nine or ten weeks he hasn't been anywhere but doctors' appointments! 

 I think it's funny how you and Jessica still have your shirts on... no hope of having a freshman play in a Varsity game...

 And then it happened... I was so EXCITED!!!!  Jessica got in, got fouled, and made a point... I think she ended up making several for the night, but I stood with her mama and we both had tears... you two keep it up! 

 This shot says so much to  me.... All the girls are so excited to watch her shoot... and Christie is nervous!  Ya'll knew she had it! 

 And the love here... during the timeout... I feel sure none of you listened to a word Christie was saying because you were all congratulating Jessica.... I love this aspect of "team"... ya'll have each others backs through thick and thin! 

 And then.... 'THAT'S MY BABY GIRL' got to go in.... I don't know really what happened while you were playing, but I know you fouled a girl and just about knocked her arm off... you said it was an accident... but I know you!  Your Mimi has taught you to "make that foul count".... and tonight you did! 

 I'm so glad you have been practicing with the Varsity.... and you weren't nearly as scared as I was.... my heart stopped! 

 And the smile... I love the fact that you play basketball... yes... that came out of your mother's mouth... you make me proud... so many times! 

 And then... it was time for you two to rest... and talk about people... just teasing... you two would never do that! 

 Daddy had to get close to help Butch tell you what to do... I love this picture and my three favorite guys in it! 

 Go Jess! Go Jess!  I was so proud of her tonight! 

 And CiCi showed out too!  I can't wait to continue watching her next year! 

 Butchie can't believe that you got to play... he came to the best game of the season! 

 So happy to see this smiling face.... Thanks Christie for bringing out skills in my child that I didn't know she had... I hope they all came from me... I'm sure that they did! 

 I love the hugs... sweet victory!  Ya'll needed it! 

 Group hug! 

Sis- Thank you for being you... I love your loyalty to LCHS, your heart for sports, and your ability to step out of a box!  You make me smile! 

Love,

Mama

Monday.... all day long!

1.  I had one of those days at work where I'm not sure what I accomplished, but I was busy all day.... except for the moment where I tried a Rice Cake... and thought I might throw up in my  mouth.

2.  While I was waiting on KB to get out of basketball practice I decided to blow off the porches/driveway.... what if that big storm in the north were to just surprise us.... I need my driveway to be smooth in the pictures!  I looked up and saw this.... I title it #aboyandhisdog  The dog will do anything Ben wants her to... who needs a friend when you have a dog to go everywhere with you...





3.  Speaking of the snowstorm... Mama is infatuated with watching Times Square Live to see what the weather is doing.... it really is amazing to watch the snow... then watch the street sweepers take it away... and all the people still out and about.... I wish we would get a little snow...I'm secretly jealous of NYC tonight... I don't want them to lose power... but they are going to be inside all day from this blizzard....I'll be so excited to watch the news in the morning... I bet the anchors had to spend the night there! 

4.  One plus to Mark traveling is that I get to write.... and we all get to go to bed early!  I'm sure the lines of communication got mixed up somewhere with this week and Mark's schedule... he usually causes all the big storms when he is traveling to a place... he isn't headed in that direction... thank goodness... looks like he will be bringing us some rain back for the weekend though.

5.  I think the Craigslist killing is terrible... we have been discussing capital punishment at church and I thought I felt one way.... but now... I might sway to the other side... I don't want the boy to die immediately... I want to hear his story... was the killing for fun? money? a dare?  WHY?  I need to know that... then I will load him up with some lethal injection and let him meet the Maker... to decide where he needs to be... don't bother children... and don't bother the elderly... and by elderly... any little ole granny and grandpa....

6.  And now that I don't think we are going to be getting any snow...even though it is blistery cold outside and the wind cuts my big, fat legs in two.... I'm wishing for spring to hurry up.... I'm ready for front porch sitting... and baseball... and making summer plans! 

7.  I can't believe it is almost February... So many fun things.... Jane is getting to go see her main squeeze Vince Gill and I hope Daddy won't be too jealous when we head out for the weekend.  He has his last major dr.'s appt this week... and then we can start taking some action.... once I find out he is okay... and he isn't going to have a major illness... I'm going to start making fun of him again... the first thing I'm going to buy him is a Snuggie.... he stays wrapped up in a blanket to his neck every night! This is so unlike him....

8.  And finally, speaking of Daddy.... Mama says we aren't the suing kind because she is in the insurance business.... (and I agree because I'm in the SPED business where laws can be twisted in any direction we want).... BUT.... if I did believe in suing... I'd sue the hospital where Guille and I took Daddy to have him checked out after he fell... the doctor told me there was nothing wrong with Daddy... to take him to a orthopedic surgeon for a follow-up.... we found out a few weeks ago that his back is fractured.... thank goodness the local doctor thought that might need to be looked at again... I don't believe in lumping all doctors in one pile.... but I sure would like to put this doctor in a pile... they were busy... they didn't have time for us... I guess they couldn't figure out how to diagnose him... so they sent us home!  Thank goodness he is getting better... he still looks weak to most, but he is becoming the old Butch again!  For that... I thank the good Lord above! 

No nap Sunday... but it was worth it!

I wasn't too excited when the lunch conversation turned to riding four-wheelers today...and my name was included... my back finally feels normal... but I really needed a long, winter's nap.... after a few begged... I decided to go along... and take my camera... My heart will never  be in the same condition because I rode with Jim in the Rhino...which was quite an experience.... the good thing was I was warm, dry, and comfortable... until the last big mud hole... and Ju decided to get me... thank goodness my camera was put up.... I was soaked... She should know not to do things like that to me... revenge will be so sweet!

I took over 600 pictures, but these are a few of my favorites... they don't need captions, they don't need explanations... they are all about a few families who brought their children together to play in a little mud... or a lot of mud... I'm so glad I went.... I even made it back in time to get a bath before church... there is mud in my hair... but Jesus doesn't care!  We had a fun day! 

When children smile... I smile!  Mayonnaise~ we missed you!  We are ready for you to be back... or I should say they are... I probably won't be available for riding again until 2016!... (unless of course it snows and I need to check the roads!)