Masters week has always been special... but this one....

*There are "words" in this post.  It's only appropriate when talking about Daddy!  

Masters week has always been special for as long as I can remember... my grandparents used to come from North Carolina during the Masters and we would see them after they had followed Arnold Palmer around all day... Daddy introduced me to the Masters when I was in the 2nd grade and I knew that day how special it was.....in high school I would go to see the dresses, eat the food, and watch my favorites... Payne Stewart and Hal Sutton.    Later, when I started dating Mark, we would head to Augusta as many days as we could have the tickets.... in the years after marriage we started planning our trips with Mike and Kathryn and sometimes Jefferson and Tatum were able to come too... I have so many memories of the Masters that are special, but I think my favorite is the time KB and I stayed until the end in the pouring down rain to see Adam Scott win.  It was cold, wet, and miserable.... but just like that day with Daddy... I knew it was special.  I have also laughed until I cried as Kathryn and I watched a woman stand in her panties and bra while trying to dry her clothes from the soaking rain... Masters week is special.  

I know some people will be "what the heck", but Daddy was cremated when he died.  I love to decorate with knick knacks, but I wasn't exactly sure what Daddy would be appropriate in to sit around the house... we discussed things and decided a bench with the ashes in it would be a good idea.  After talking with the bench maker, Mama decided for us not to do that either.... so we really haven't known what to do with Daddy.... it really hasn't bothered me that much because I know his spirit is no longer here and the body doesn't matter!  

Fast forward to a few weeks ago and Mama decided we would bury him at the farm with his bench.  It just seemed appropriate... he loved the farm, he loved just sitting and visiting, and he loved Masters week.... Yesterday when we headed home... we headed home to bury Daddy with happy faces and peace.

I've said before that I am reminded every day of him because I get to live with Ben.  While he may not seem like Daddy to many, he could really be his clone.... he loves the golf course more than any other place... he would rather pick on someone than breathe.... and he thinks everyone should cater to his needs.  The golfer on the base of the bench reminds me that Daddy and Ben will always have those similarities and my life in the next few years may be shortened due to Ben and his ways.  

Jim dug Daddy's hole and prepared our steaks... Daddy's favorite meal!  

The farm is our safe place.... we like to visit... we like to enjoy the outside... and we love that we have so many memories out there!

When we got to the farm, Cole took us for a quick ride on his new plane.  Daddy loved to go up and fly with Bob Norman when I was a little girl... I couldn't help but think about him as we flew over the golf courses that he loved to play.... he would tell "Cole Baby" (who is 22)  to be safe and enjoy the opportunities you have been given.  He would also still be calling him Cole Baby because that nickname has stuck! 

 Guille and Jim were cooking about 20 steaks at one time... Daddy would have said, "Just wipe its butt and send it to me".... but Jim said we couldn't be picky because there was a lot of pressure cooking that many at once.

 Huddy, James, and Ben had fun riding the golf cart.  Daddy would have told them to slow down... no matter how fast they were going!  He loved to yell about something the "little boys" were doing.... they aren't so little anymore!

"Baby Thom"... who is bigger than all of us spent the entire day at the Masters.... I think he looks more like Daddy than anyone else!  Mayonnaise also visited with us!

While sometimes I get sad about Daddy not being here.... I have to smile knowing that my children have precious memories of him... and will always remember their favorite sayings of his... "Shut the damn door... Ben's ass won't hold what it needs... How yur doin?.... Where yo sorry husband at?"....I'll be damned.... and my favorite... "Buh, whatcha' cooking tonight"

Mark added the dirt after the box went in... only appropriate because he was special to Daddy... and of course to me.... he always said Mark had one thing wrong with him "He went to Clemson"... but everyone has one thing wrong so it's okay!

 This is the big pond at Mark's Mama and Daddy's... and in just a few days... that property will no longer be theirs... and while it might be sad that life makes us change things... we grasp to the fact that change is good!

My family... what can I say about it... We are so blessed... we are so lucky... and we ALL KNOW IT! Even through the struggles we have with strong-willed children... we are blessed that nothing very tragic has happened in our lives...   I thank God every day for that... we don't deserve this life we have been given... but we won't complain either... I pray for this family in the picture... that they will be safe, that they will be healthy, that they will make good choices, and that they will continue to love God and know how important He is.  And that little bitty one in the middle... she is our glue... she drives us all crazy still telling us what to do when she can't even stand up straight right now, but we just smile and do what she says... most of the time.  We are constantly picking on her too.... we tell her all her illnesses now are what she told Daddy was nothing a little walking and standing up straight wouldn't cure.... I think he is haunting her!   Just waiting on her to get a good case of hemorrhoids to confirm my belief!  

He loved a steak.... so, so good!   

His other favorite four women.... I was THE favorite....and I like to remind them of that....  but Mama, Ve Ve , Janice, and Christie were also special to Daddy!

This morning KB and I headed to the Masters to shop and watch a little golf... and when I say little... I mean three groups come through number 1. I'm afraid my time of getting to come to the Masters at all is ending... Ben is going to be hard-pressed to let me go in there and do anything else but shop!  He will want to take the time to watch as much golf as he can.  

 When Sis and I came out... they got to go inside!  Sis also got to go Friday because when you are in college and get out at 10:00 AM.... you can make it in time to see some real golf!  She and Julianne made the most of their day and stayed until the end.  Butch would love that they wanted to be in there... not that they were really watching the golf... but no one can prove that! 

 If Daddy could see this picture, he would say, "Ben needs a damn haircut!"

 When he got back to Mama's he decided he needed a little dessert... this was about a quarter of an angel food cake, strawberries, and whipped cream.  He eats like Jethro on the Beverly Hillbillies... and he acts like him!  That hair is coming off as soon as the golf season is over... I've tried to tell him time and time again how cute he is with short hair, but he likes that little curl that comes up around the rim of the hat.  Go figure... 15 year old... hard-headed... Butch - twin.... no reasoning skills!

That dessert must have made him tired!  He doesn't read the blog, so I can still post these pictures of him!

It was a fantastic weekend that made this Masters week move to the top of my list!

To the Mama of a Senior...

I'd like to share a few thoughts that I hope help just one mama find a little joy in the journey that is about to take place.

Let's go back to last year to begin our journey... As I sit here, I think about how excited I was that KB had been accepted at Clemson.  After that answered prayer, I then moved on to worrying about her roommate and new friends at school she would make.  I could go on and on, but just remember that in life... once one worry is settled... another comes along.  It's a never ending cycle.

As I sit listening to her and her daddy laugh at a corny movie that I don't get, I find joy in her being home on a Sunday night.  She isn't the typical college freshman... she is driving back and forth to work five days this spring break week before enjoying a long weekend at home.  She takes every opportunity she has to come see us!

I have often thanked God for getting me through tough times, but I can honestly say her leaving for college was the most heartbreaking thing that has ever happened!  (I know I'm blessed that this is the worst thing!)  Had I not had faith... I would have never made it.  My advice to the mother who is at home tonight with her high school senior is to listen to the sounds of the house... even the fighting between siblings... you will miss them.  The first morning she was gone Mark sent me a message and told me the shower should have been coming on and it was too quiet.  You don't realize the noises they make until they are gone.  You will miss the sound of "I'm hungry, Can I go, Will you..."  Soak in every minute you have!

After you soak in the sounds of the house... just pray... bathe that senior in prayer... ask God to keep them healthy, to keep them safe, to keep them protected, and to keep them focused on the things they have been taught.  One of my worries was for her to go buck wild... I've been told many times that children are going to drink, they are going to go wild, they are going to spend the night with boys, they are going to disappoint you once they go off to college... I should just let her do what she wants while she is in high school in order for her to come home to me instead of a dorm room when she has had too much to drink or when she is in trouble.  I didn't want to take that approach... it wasn't for me.  I don't fault those parents who do that though... because good kids still come from parents who do that.

As much as we preached that we didn't want her to make bad decisions, we knew it was clear that she could.  We explained how alcohol can make your mind do crazy things... one bad decision can change your life forever... we have shared how both Mark and I made the "most stupidiest"  (I know it is not correct) mistakes, but God wasn't ready for us yet.  As a mama of a senior... be an example and tell your child that they are protected... that they are prayed for... and that they are loved!  Let them know that decisions have consequences and no matter what safety is in your home.

My final piece of advice for tonight... is to find a song that can serve as a prayer over the child... Last year, I chose "Different" by Micah Tyler.  My prayer was for KB to be different.  I prayed for her to not be like everyone else... to be a different person... to be noticed for being different.  As I sit here tonight, I think back to the worry and the prayer that I placed over her before she left for college.... and today, I am so thankful that my prayers were answered.  I've watched God take a freshman who could barely speak to us without crying over the telephone... who cried EVERY time she left... and who was overwhelmed with the transition of going to college turn into a child who still calls forty-two times a day laughing about things she has experienced... a child who has only gotten teary-eyed the last few times she has left.... and a child who is planning her meeting for signing up for classes next semester.

I love her determination, I love her spirit, and I love that God answers prayers!  Now, Sis... do not go out and make bad decisions... and #dontbetrashy!

Planes, Trains, Automobiles, and a Boat!

Last year we decided that going on a trip each year at Christmas was better for a gift than anything we could buy.  Mama gave me a budget, and I started planning.  When we got home from New York, I didn't think we could top that trip.  This past summer I started asking where everyone wanted to go for this year.  Some said New York again, some said California, and some liked the idea of a cruise.  This was Mama's least favorite.  She hates a cruise.  After researching and looking for dates to match the majority of our schedules.... I'm having to look at three school districts and three different colleges... we decided a cruise would be this year's trip.  When I started planning on where we would leave from, I knew we didn't want to go to the Bahamas, and we wanted to get far enough south to have warm weather... Miami was the best choice...and of course at the time I thought it was highly possible that Georgia or Clemson would be playing in the Orange Bowl.  It didn't work out that easy for either team!   

We left Miami New Year's Eve and stayed five nights.  There is no way to take all the pictures and organize (unless I was getting paid for making a photo book), so I'm uploading pictures as they were sent.  

One of my favorite things about the cruise was we chose to not have wi-fi.  It was absolutely wonderful to be disconnected... except for the incident with Little Jerry that I'll write about later!  Therefore.... I don't have a lot of pictures I took!   

Our trip left Miami on Day 1, Day 2 was at sea, Day 3 was in Jamaica, Day 4 was in Grand Cayman, and Day 5 was at sea... We got back to Miami Saturday morning and all four of my family has managed to get a cold and feel terrible.  We are buying stock in Nyquil.  

As you go through the pictures you will notice that Mama isn't in them.  She had to back out on Christmas Eve because of her back.  She is having issues and hopefully this week we will know what is going on with her.  I know she will be mad, but say a little prayer that it is something that can be fixed!  She is in pain, sitting in a chair, and not walking.... this is not like her at all!  She is miserable... but for once in her life, others are waiting on her hand and foot instead of her waiting on them!  Guille made the comment on the boat that the waiters were just as good as Jane!  

I have LOTS of real pictures in here.... not those that everyone picks the best and puts it out there for everyone to see the perfect life.... we weren't perfect by any means.... our room smelled horrible for part of the time, we had many moments of someone needs to leave the room, but I slept better than ever on that boat!  

Mama--- it was the best trip ever....I'm sorry you couldn't go, but I think we would have had to put you in the bathroom standing up to sleep!  Thanks for loving us and giving to us more than we deserve! 

 This was our day in Grand Cayman where we swam with the stingrays on the sandbar.  

 Katie Britt and I loved swimming in the clear water.  

 Deon- our cruise director.... he made the trip and the days at sea even better! 

 My boys in the clear water with a little seaweed! 

 KB and Thomas decided to snorkel  a little bit!   

 Yes, Ben's eyes are closed... he is getting like Mark.... he tries to close his eyes and open them on three.... I like to snap before and after three.  

 Ben holding Mark up in the water!

 The McKinneys in the clear blue water! 

 Guille and Christie trying to take a cute picture when Big Ole Jim pops up to photo bomb!  

 This was New Year's Eve when they passed out all kinds of crazy things for us to wear at dinner!  

 Leaving Miami.... or either breakfast in Miami because I didn't take this!  

 The Jim Mattisons in the water.... Janice makes me so mad at how dark she is.... She doesn't even look like the dead of winter like me!   

 Deon did a show each night when we were finishing supper and everyone wanted a front row spot for his show!  

 We also visited the sea turtle center in Grand Cayman.... honestly, I would skip this part if it wasn't for the children!  

 The Guil Mattisons in the clear blue water! 

 Now Ben is smiling! 

 Guille got up early every morning for breakfast.... he liked to eat outside! 

 Mark and Katie Britt got called to the "steps" on the final night because they knew song titles.  

 Learning to put on the snorkel equipment.  

 Miami view from ship.  

 Lots of people on the boat put wishes in balloons for the drop at midnight.... 

 Last day getting off boat! 

 Guille is such a tourist!  :) 

 Here is the real picture without big head popping out!

 That's Ben, James, and Cole!  

 Outside the turtle center.... 

 Leaving the ship

 Last night at dinner!  It was our favorite meal!  

 Feeding the stingrays.  

 We went to Hell and Christie was an angel! 

 The DEVIL would stamp your passport to verify you had been to Hell. 

 Putt Putt on the ship.... 

 James was an angel. 

 Dunn's River Falls in Jamaica... sliding down the rocks! 

 This was our 80 year old bus driver, Earl.... he was great!  His favorite joke was "What is the difference between the government and the mafia?"..... "One is organized!"

 Just a few people at Dunn's River Falls.... 

 The deck on the boat was a wonderful place to get a nap! 

 We also participated in the dolphin encounter.... it was one of my favorites! 

 This is real.... ten days worth of laundry.... I think I can see the bottom of the basket now. 

 Mark driving home from Miami with my sunglasses and toilet paper stuck in his nose.... he got sick first and made us all sick.... 

 She is so pretty.... and so sweet.... I think I love her because she acts just like me!  

 Mark thinks he is funny being silly.... 

 I'm sure this was taken for our friend Mitch! 

 Waiting to get in water with dolphins... 

 Ben is a devil! 

 Dunn's River Falls.... we survived! 

 Still riding with the tissue... 

 Sis is an angel! 

 My sweet three dinner dates one night.... all dressed alike! 

 This is one of the "real" pics.... that room is soooo small..... 

 There was an Esso in Hell.... 

 Our first night at supper! 

 Ox tongue.... Sis ordered that.... ugh.... 

 Another real picture... I forgot and packed all my shoes.... had to wear Ben's Crocs home... 

 Jim and Cole waiting on us at the dolphin encounter. 

 Mark making it to the special steps.... 

 We all started taking EmerGenC when we got off the boat.... didn't help us... still got a cold!