2014 Year in Review/ What's in Store for 2015?

As I look back over the posts of 2014 and the top hits/most read blog posts, I see the good and bad of the McKinney family... sometimes I wonder why the bad things get more hits, but maybe people find pleasure out of reading the heartache of others... not sure...

January- We were getting ready for snow days and making sure we had everything ready for the power to go out... It didn't, but we always need to be prepared! 

February- KB was disappointed about cheering, but WOW... what a difference a few months makes and how thankful we are that we have seen time and time again how it's all about perspective... thanks Amberly for the letter... your letter is #2 for the year for most read posts!  Your words were just what we needed...and now that wound is healing... and we see how changing our perspective makes things easier to deal with...but most of all... thankful for decisions made that were out of our control! 

March- The big story of March was KB being in Miss LCMS.... I'm still proud of her being Miss Congeniality... because I would have never been that!  Smile and keep being sweet...

April-  I graduated from college!!!  For the third time... I'm so glad that I don't have school anymore... that's sad considering I work for the school system!  Colleges have missed the boat in having "actively engaged" students... If they had that... I might get my doctorate!  It's really simple... if the learner is doing something besides sitting and listening to someone... they learn... really...they do! 

May-  Ben's out of the mouth of babes post received lots of hits... I still tickle at some of the things he says.... he is my child... 99% of the time... no filter... tender-hearted... and quick to forgive those who are ugly to him! 

June- Ben and James went to basketball camp at Clemson... what a great experience it was for them... how in the world will they be able to go this year without a parent...at the hotel???? Ben won't have to worry about that though... he says he is never going to a spend the night camp!  Bless his little heart... he gets that from both Mark and me! 

July-  Our family vacation was spent at Edisto... it was fun, relaxing, and so exciting to wake up with the ocean at our footsteps... when  I am old and retire...I want to sit on a back porch that overlooks the ocean... in a rocking chair... and watch the tide roll in and out.... I'm dreaming of course....

August- The #1 post of the year with the most hits... Faith, Family, and Football.... who knew so many people cared about a little small town who focuses on football?  My heart was filled with the sweet comments about our love! 

September-  Katie Britt started cheering...and Ben decided he scored a 70 on the Ten Commandments... He  makes me laugh! 

October-  Ben's Heart Hurts.... he has had some growing up to do this year... many times when we pray for people... we want them to be better people... but ultimately, it's up to that person and his/her relationship with God... we can't change people... He is learning to continue to pray for those he wants to be better.

November-  We lost our Dabo.... through tears and hard decisions... we are getting better...

December-  Mark still doesn't think this is funny, but we are still snickering about him taking his gun (by accident) into the airport... he is tired of hearing, but I rib him every chance I get.... We are thankful he has a job back with his old crew... I see the spark/thrill of working in him again... he loves a challenge! 

And now... to 2015~

I say every year that I am going to lose weight... well... I may as well say that again... I am going about it a little differently this time... a few years ago at a SPED directors' conference two of my friends said they were going to the car to get a "spark"... I thought they might be going to smoke... or do drugs...or something illegal... but it was actually an energy drink... Mark has a bad habit of needing a kickstart with his job because he travels across time zones... doesn't sleep well in hotels... and never rests easy because he does crazy things in his sleep... so I signed up for this healthy form of  a 5 Hour.... The Spark is my favorite product... and this year to begin the year... I'm going to do the 24 day challenge... I'm excited...I think... I have eaten any and everything with sugar in it since December 1... I know that the inner tube that hangs over my jeans will immediately go down with no sugar and a few cleansing agents... I'm worried about the sugar headache though... let's hope it isn't too bad! 

This past year I went through the Jesus Calling devotional each morning before heading to work... while days weren't perfect, I was able to hold my tongue (or bite it) when I needed to... what a difference getting up a few minutes early has made instead of waiting until the end of the day... I hope I can continue doing morning devotions instead of night ones....

I am also hoping not to pile laundry up in a chair in the laundry room... As I'm typing this.... our house is clean, our laundry is all clean / ironed, and there are lines in the carpet... I'm trying to psych myself up to do a little every day to keep the house in order... I really need a plan of attack... surely the internet has that already done for me... somewhere! 

Blog- I taught a class this semester on the blog and realized that this is my therapy... I don't post everything I write... but I sure do like putting my feelings down on paper and seeing how I change my perspective over the course of a few days.... right now I am reading Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World.... I didn't know this, but...

What We Worry About...
40% are things that will never happen
30% are about the past- which can't be changed
12% are about criticism by others, mostly untrue
10% are about health, which gets worse with stress
8% are about real problems that can be solved....

SO....  worrying takes up a lot of time... when we can only do something about 8% of it.... If anyone is worrier.... you really should read this book... I bought it for all the girls in our office and I'm excited to see if they get as much out of it as I do! 

I hope that I can write at least once a week... even if I don't publish for public view....

I think four things are enough... I'm not going to set myself up for failure...

I'm thankful for this past year~ but I sure am glad to see it end too!  I like fresh starts... I'm excited to begin the year with family and friends... and before we do that... we are heading to our final Christmas event of the year!   Goodbye 2014 !

Merry Christmas 2014 and a Few Other Things!

 We began our Christmas holidays playing basketball... actually, I only saw the last quarter of the boys championship game... and they won in an exciting finish!  Friday and Saturday nights are a blur besides dreaming of chicken fingers and french fries... who knew we could cook that much!  Sunday was KB's birthday and she spent it at a Christmas gathering.... I decided to take a long winter's nap and caught up on some of my sleep...

 Monday we headed to the Clemson basketball game... it was wonderful because hardly anyone was there... at halftime Santa came on the court and all the children were allowed to come out and shoot baskets... they also gave us Tootsie Pops... it was a first for me... I had never had one! 

 We ran into one of my former students... Lucky or not, she had me in the 6th grade and the 8th grade.. I have watched her grow up since she was about four!  KB is much taller than her now! 

 We tried to get KB and Jack to be children.... but they wouldn't go on the court!  We shopped til we dropped on the way home from Clemson and pulled another late nighter...

 We were up early Tuesday morning for someone to go get her license... and her life (and mine) haven't been the same since... she is up and ready to go in a quick second... she wants to drive everywhere! 

 We spent Christmas Eve at the farm enjoying hot dogs and hamburgers... and of course, Jim's homemade french fries... they were delicious....

 He was so excited for Christmas....

 I forgot I had ordered these pajamas back in October/November.... my life has been a whirlwind lately and I felt I didn't have Christmas together... but it turned out perfect! 

 BC and JMac visited Christmas morning and can you tell that she was stealing this necklace???

 We went at lunch to Mama and Daddy's to open presents and Butchie made it to the chair.... Aren't they precious! 

 Christmas Supper was moved to my house... and KB had to drive to pick up her date.... I let him drive home.... I can see many fights in the future between these two and driving...

 After we ate Low-Country Boil... which I have pictures of but they are on my camera...that Mark has with him right now... we played charades...

 I think the choices were too easy, but we had a lot of beginners! 

The day after... when you put things together... and clean up the house!  My house is bare right now... all Christmas is put up.... I'm excited about redecorating...and organizing....

Today we have basketball games for KB and Ben has headed to a Tajh Boyd camp.... I think I might need to go back to work to get a break.... I have had a wonderful week off so far... my children loved their Christmas presents... I got new dishes... and I'm saying I gave Mark a car for Christmas... but I'm driving it!  All is well in the McKinney house!  Busy week of finishing off Christmas with the McKinneys, more basketball games, and a day of shopping in store... I had to clear my phone of pictures for many more to come!  Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night! 

From Mohawks~To Bows~ To Basketball/Cheer Shoes~ To My Heart

I can hardly believe that you are 15!  I pinch myself sometimes because I know that this life can't be as great as it seems.

God gave me my very own baby doll to dress in smocked clothes, big bows, and lacy socks.... but where did she go?  How did she grow up to be just about perfect in my eyes... sometimes you don't wear enough lipstick... and you don't want to be all fancy and dress up... and you don't keep a room as clean as I like it, but I sure do love everything else about you.  Your work ethic is beyond anything I ever hoped for... I'm sorry I call you a nerd too often... I am overjoyed at the perfection of learning you strive for. 

 

I sit in awe and think about everything you have ever attempted you have been good at... that's pretty neat.  I know a mother should never tell her daughter that she isn't good at something, but I haven't let you trying singing for a crowd on purpose!  I still love you, but you and I both know your areas of excellence.

I love that you spend your free time reading.  You are reading books that I would never even try... you are finishing books that are thicker than the Bible... AND YOU LIKE THEM... I'm not sure where you got that bug for the love of reading, but keep it up...

My favorite thing to watch you do is perform.  You shine whenever you have on a uniform/costume.  I still wish you would chase the dreams of dancing on Broadway.... I promise I will move to NYC and come see you every night!  I know that is what you want me to do!

Your smile... and your laugh... and that silly giggle.  It's music to my ears... you laugh often... and you laugh at the SAME things I do... We have that special connection that we can look at each other and laugh without anyone else knowing we are doing it.... We can even hide from Daddy when we are laughing at him. 

My Sis.... you have made being a mama so easy... so far.  I can only hope that you will continue to be the sweet little girl that you have always been.  This past year I let you ride home (less than a mile) with someone driving other than a family member.  Just remember the text messages I sent the entire time... don't be trashy... don't let anyone drive fast while you are in the car... and don't let them look at their phone while they are driving....

And now it is your turn... thank goodness your birthday is on a Sunday.  That means I have an extra day without you driving... I can't believe that you will be able to drive me now.  Just remember that I'm like Papa was... I take my "switchkey" with me everywhere I go... and I always like to drive!  I worry about you behind the wheel of a car... even though you have brown hair... I really think you have the blonde tendencies.  That's not an ugly statement...it's just true.  I have said often that God doesn't give both brains and street smarts.... let's just say Ben and I have the street smarts in this family.



I'm so glad your "birthday party" will be spent at a Clemson basketball game... that's pretty easy on my part!  I'm hoping you will let me stop and get a few Christmas presents too.  I'm sorry that there is nothing you want except clothes for Christmas... it was so much easier when you were little and wanted a toy or something...

I love you KB.... Thanks for being my puzzle buddy... my Monday night companion to Augusta... my pick on Daddy partner... my friend.... I love you Sis!  Happy Birthday to my favorite 15 year old!  I'm not sure what I did to be so lucky to have you... but I thank God for you often... I'm so PROUD of you... through choices and decisions you have made now...and will make later... I'll always think of you as that little girl with the Mohawk... who would do just about anything for a pi pi and a blankie... that's how I got you to smile in the first picture.... and now...it just takes some diamonds and pearls for a smile... but that's okay... you will always be my baby! 

Happy Birthday!

I HATE Obama-Care, Mark almost got arrested

Simmer down... I didn't say I hated Obama... I respect the position of president... but I really do hate Obama-Care.  Last Saturday Mama got a call that Daddy's INR levels were 8.9 and they are supposed to be between 2-3.  Daddy and I headed to the hospital and he was admitted for some tests and to try to get the levels down.... He has been hurting in his shoulders and hips for several months and the pain is getting worse... He looks absolutely terrible and feels worse than that.  I thought we would have some answers when he left the hospital, but they exhausted their efforts and we decided to try a bigger hospital.  They told us they couldn't keep us because he didn't have a diagnosis.... If I've heard that ten times this week... I've heard it 100!  The ER doctor there told me that I could put him in a nursing home if I couldn't take care of him at home... Really?  And then... he sent us home... even after I told him that Mama nor I could put him in the shower, walk him around, and/or lift him.... And... yesterday, it happened... he fell in the shower.  Thank goodness Mama was on the phone with Guille and he came to help.  We had to call the ambulance to take him to the ER because he was in so much pain... Round 2 at the ER... and yep... we were sent home again.... each doctor and nurse look at Daddy in awe that something has not been diagnosed, but they can't do anything about it... they aren't allowed to keep us... I guess you have to be hooked up to a ventilator to stay... and maybe then they would just give you a portable one and send you home....the doctor that we think we need to see the most is scheduled for the end of January... another month in a half... to say I am frustrated... is an understatement.... I don't like seeing Daddy in pain... I don't like answering questions that Ben has about if "Butch is going to make it"... and I sure don't like seeing Daddy go down every day.  I've been really strong, except twice.... I have laughed a lot to keep from screaming... and I have prayed more in the last two weeks than I ever have before... My devotions are all centered around anxiety, fear, and worry.... it's all about timing.  I know all the things I'm supposed to say about it's in God's hands and He will do what's best, I know I'm supposed to take it on the other cheek when we get somewhere to find an answer and smile about it, and I know I should cast my anxiety away.... but good grief it is hard... there is nothing to say or do to make anything better... I feel like Malynn in Steel Magnolias... I just want to hit someone.... anyone want to be Weezer?  I want to tell all the people who are crossed up with their families to make sure that when that person is gone you are going to be okay with it.... I can't imagine not having my family right now... We have pulled together and are trying our best to make him comfortable... other than Guille and Mark picking on him about finally being able to beat him at golf... we are being really nice!  I love my daddy... I'm a daddy's girl... and I know that no matter what happens... I won't go down without a fight... I have just enough South Carolina redneck and Georgia charm to get what I want.... and if I don't... I'll keep trying... He would do it for me.... and I'll do it for him!  He's my daddy.... He works everyday at job.... he hasn't retired yet... and he isn't using Medicare.... and yep, that's a penalty.... I guess if he decided to sit at home everyday on the couch and eat Doritos and drink Coke he could get some help.... we have gotten some laughs though.... the nurses and doctors ask him if he drinks alcohol or smokes.... he tells them he quit several years ago...and I quickly respond with "and that's when he started going down hill".... they laugh and so do we!  I don't talk about Daddy because I cry, but I have appreciated the sweet text messages that have been sent.... I'm not sure what I would do without them!  

And now to Mark.... well.... he carries a concealed weapon.... which he has a permit for.... but Wednesday he forgot to take it out of his suitcase when he got to the airport... he had been in Atlanta and quickly changed his suitcase out and made it to security checkpoint...with gun.... his story is a lot funnier now....it was scary at first... he didn't get arrested, but I bet he will double-check from now on....KB and Ben have giggled and giggled about their daddy being on the news and in the paper.... 

The article that made him famous.... without his name of course... he didn't do anything illegal.... 

http://www.wjbf.com/story/27606124/tsa-finds-loaded-handgun-at-augusta-regional-airport

 And.... I missed my trip to San Francisco.... with Daddy being sick... and the children being busy.... and just this time of year... I decided to cancel my trip Monday.... I blame it on all the above... but I also saw the weather.... and of course that was in the news too.... schools shut down in San Fran and two inches of rain every hour.... I'm glad I stayed back... I would have been miserable.... 

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:6.  I'm hoping my path straightens real soon.....

The Dinner of a Champion

First of all.. my heading should be "My Dinna"... When Daddy was growing up the lady who cooked for them would say, "Dinna Ready".  So... that has passed on to us and we say Dinna instead of Dinner... we do that with a lot of words... leave off the last consonant... and I want to get that just right!

Secondly, this was one of the writing topics for my teachers in their professional development class... I never knew how much Macy and I are alike until we sat for these few hours each week... I'm sure our grandmothers, who were "double first cousins" are sitting and smoking laughing at our similarities.  Macy and I like to eat... and there isn't much that makes a better night than a good meal and few laughs...

So... my dinna for the Champion's Dinner would be the following:

Everyone would enter to three appetizers...that's the rule... that's how many should be served when having company... I would want Rosalyn Carter's Cheese Ball with Jelly in the middle, Toasted Pecans, and Cheese Straws... (Mama, I know that is two cheeses, but it's my dinna)

For the first course of soup and salad... I would want Arizona Steakhouse in Greenville to make me Prime Rib Soup... and I want a salad from Outback that has the dressing hidden in the middle on a cold pewter plate with softer than normal croutons. 

The main course would be Sonji Aycock's prime rib (medium rare) that Mark has gotten pretty close to cooking... with a side of creamy horseradish, stuffed potatoes like those that White Columns used to serve, and a loaf of "brown bread" with flavored butter on a marble slab for me to eat until I couldn't eat anymore...

My desserts would be Mary's Japanese Fruit Cake, Mama's Chocolate Delight, Velda's Ooey Gooey Butter Cake, and just one of Laura's Lemon Squares that are really circles.  I know one should only have one dessert, but again, it's a dinner party... everyone doesn't want the same thing.  I always sample all desserts available... I wouldn't want to hurt anyone's feelings...

To drink... I would want Mark's grandmother's sweet tea that was as close to syrup as it could be...

As a party favor, I would want everyone to go home with a handful of party mix because just about every night I leave Mama's... I grab a handful as my snack...

I'm sure if I ate all this I couldn't get a ball off the tee the next morning, but I sure would need to walk the 18 holes at the Augusta National to get some of those calories off! 

December is the month of free eating... I am trying my best not to over indulge, but after writing this... I think I need to head to the kitchen for just a little snack...

What's your favorite?