~Trouble~with that capital T

*One of those posts that I'm not proud of, but I want Ben to remember... to look back one day and think about this as a learning experience.  

Dear Boo~ 
I knew this day was coming... the day that my heart would break because you got in trouble at school.  I get calls from the school all the time, so I was not prepared, or afraid, or scared when I got a message to call.  I can't imagine what parents feel like when they know they are calling for something bad... I guess it's a normal thing for me... but when I began to hear the story I was mixed with emotions.  Thank goodness I had Butch and Jane in the car with me!  One of them for you saying you would never do anything like that, the other saying you did it without a doubt....It left me in silence!  I wanted to strangle you for doing something that you know better than to do... I wanted to cut you for scaring the lights out of another child... and I wanted to cry for you not telling the truth.  Yesterday afternoon was a hard one for you... you were stripped of life... no PlayStation, no football, no phone, no "nothing".... and it was much harder on me than I think it was on you.  As sweet and innocent as you looked writing letters of apology to everyone involved, I still was so mad that I couldn't even talk to you.... and embarrassed...and just hurt. 
Your record of being good in school ended yesterday... but your daddy and I both warned you!  Like a lot of parents, I thought about blaming everyone but you, but I knew... I knew in my heart that you did it.  What good does it do to blame anyone else?  None... As I told you... I speed most of the time... and one day it will be my turn to get caught!  You got caught! 
This morning I spent a lot of my devotional time praying for my heart... to get over the embarrassment of my child misbehaving, the hurt of you not being honest, and the disappointment of your behavior.  I asked God to show me quickly the good that would come from this.  I know children all over have done so many things worse than you, I know parents have been disappointed in their children's decisions, and I know that life goes on.... this will pass and things will get better.  I prayed for you to learn a lesson, to never put yourself in a situation that you have to lie, and to be mature enough to put yourself in the shoes of others before you do and say things.  In all honesty, I know you didn't mean for your actions to come out the way they did... but they did.  So.... you have to suffer the consequences! 
Your punishments are involving every aspect of your life.... personal and school.  I don't want to go through this again...so maybe if we are hard on you... you will think before you do something else!  In addition to having to write letters apologizing, your hardest moment was knowing you had to tell your football coach what you had done.  I'm proud of you for being a "man" and doing that.  I'm proud that you haven't asked for your PlayStation, phone, or a friend.  I'm proud that you helped me clean the house this afternoon and never once complained.  I'm proud you are almost finished reading your book.  I'm proud that you know better...and you admit it!
God has shown me how to treat you... I disappoint him, I hurt him, and I'm sure that he would like to "cut" me daily.... and for that reason.... I'm much better tonight.   If he can forgive me for disappointing him... I have to forgive you.  It's getting easier now... I've even been able to laugh about it now that you have told your real side of the story.  Not that it makes it any better, but I feel sure that your sister will be trying a new trick in the bathroom at the high school tomorrow... and I'm not going to be one bit surprised when the elementary school calls me again and says you have specials detention in the office.  At supper tonight, you were kind enough to inform us all that you actually enjoyed sitting in the office and would love to go back again.  You enjoyed being in the know of everything going on in the school.  I think it's quite sad that I'm in negotiations trying to reward you now with a visit to sit for awhile in the office if you can behave for the next few weeks... Dear God... you have a funny way of getting points across. 
So... this is the first "big" trouble you have been in... I know it won't be the last.... and one day I'll look back at this post and wish that the only thing you had done was this.  Finally, I love you... no matter what you do... you are my baby boy... no matter how mean, and scary, and silly you can be.  I hope you know that I love you with all my heart... I want you to be perfect...and I want you to know that when you make a bad decision... fess up... tell the truth... be honest! So I'm going to hold my head high... and hope you learned a lesson... and try my best to smile even though my heart hurts when I think about it. 

I love you, Boo!

Mama~

Labor Day 2015

Nineteen years ago, Mark and I were introduced to a couple who had just moved to Greenville.  It's amazing how much they mean to us today!  If anything ever happens to me... Kathryn knows to come to my house and clean it before anyone is to enter!  We have been friends for so long that going to visit them is like going to my Mama's house... we rearrange furniture to suit our needs, we eat what we want, and one of us likes the beach... and one the pool.... but it's okay!  We snack all day.... we love a dip... and we love a good restaurant.  This weekend was a much needed getaway! 

 I took this picture as I was coming on the island at the tollbooth... we have many stories that we could tell about how Mark doesn't do well at these, but I like to think of this booth as entering a small piece of heaven... going on island time means sleeping when I want, eating everything in sight, and doing only the necessary things to function in life!  I love when Kathryn invites us to come see them! 

 Someone has had a rough week!  She was supposed to be going to the beach with a friend, but she called me Thursday afternoon in a panic.  What I thought was going to be a small procedure turned into a big ordeal... I had to go to a conference in Perry, and I got a call from Sis telling me that she couldn't be near the sand, or get in the ocean, and she had to soak her feet twice a day.... she was so upset!  If I had known that... I would have taken her! 

 She decided she better stay with her mama and let me take care of her.... how much fun can you have at the beach when your feet look like this?  Bless her heart...

Mark sent me this picture as they were driving to meet me... with First beach trip she is driving to... won't be long she will be going by herself and staying at the Dolphin... Michael Cartledge and I did it... But we were saints and model members of society.  I'm going to let SisandBoo figure out who is telling a lie here... So... I guess the good in this little procedure is Sis got ice cream all weekend... and she got to drive to the beach! 



Friday night we headed to a little dive... that was DELICIOUS!    I was happy to be reunited with my family.  We have been apart for almost two weeks... back to back conferences that I had to be out of town for.... Ben had a haircut while I was gone, Sis got her toes fixed, and Mark survived two weeks without me at home! 

 Saturday morning after our breakfast, we headed to the beach and the pool... I came back in time for the Clemson game... and a few appetizers... okay... a lot of appetizers!  Football Saturdays are the best!  Free eating! 

 We were so busy.... and you can tell Stan and KB were tired! 

 Bless her... she has had a rough start to school... hard classes... late night studying... cheer practice that stresses her out to tears some days.... and then her feet being out of commission... but she sure was sleeping good!  My favorite was Saturday night when Kathryn said she was going to take her bath.  I said I was going to bed... KB said,"Mama, Kathryn is coming back when she gets out!".... in other words... don't go to bed yet... that's rude.  I quickly told her that I knew Kathryn well enough to know that she was done for the night... and we wouldn't see her anymore!  KB also looked a little surprised when I told Stan I was ready for my nap!  She completely understands me.... and I love that about her and Mike... they let us do exactly what we want! 

 Someone (named Mark) got the bright idea Saturday afternoon that a banana pudding would be delicious... well... Mike couldn't get up out of the chair fast enough to go get the ingredients!  We all had some, and then after supper at Red Fish we had another helping!  We played Big Brother to see where we would eat!  My place didn't win.... and I can't even remember what it was now!  Must not have been important! 

 Ben loved the banana pudding... I'm thinking I should ask for the recipe, but then again... I think I will just let him think that Kathryn is the only one who knows how to make it!  Ben and Ellie spent their weekend in the pool...and on Minecraft.... they were speaking a foreign language to me!  Not a cross word between them... I hope they will always know that the four adults sitting with them this weekend will always take care of them no matter what! 

 Mimi sent us a message that said she needed to see us!  We sent her this picture!  We shopped a little at the outlets... or a lot... depending on if you are Mark or me.... We left this morning thinking we would be home  by lunch... but those new outlets in Savannah were calling our name... Toe surgery girl had to have a few new things for the fall... and of course, Boo had to have a new Clemson shirt.  I love these little trips to HHI.  When I grow old, I hope it's on that island that has so many sweet, precious memories!  Summer is over... I'm weigh a lot more than I did this time two weeks ago... and I am depressed that I can't go back to HHI until April... but I'm going to focus on the positive.... football is in the air...and my children are nestled and snug in their beds under our roof.  I'm not sure I say thank you enough to God for giving me great friends, sweet children, and complete satisfaction with the small things in life.  But... thank you God... I'm beyond blessed, and I know how lucky I am! 

Last night we went back to Marley's... our favorite little ice cream spot... not necessarily for the ice cream, but for the outside games!  Sometimes it makes my heart hurt to see how big she has gotten, but she is always willing to sit in my lap and give a hug!  Sis- You look precious in your glasses... someone is inevitably going to call you a nerd... and that's okay... I do it all the time!  But you are my beautiful nerd... who needs a little help seeing!  I think you look just like Emmie...and as long as you continue to act like her... I'm good!  Wear those glasses with pride!  Your late night reading since you were four with "Do you like my hat?" and "Up, up and away" probably caused a little stress on your eyes!  But... it's okay!  You make me smile!  Thanks for wanting to take this picture... next time... let's make my legs a little skinnier... Find the ap!  

Love, 

Mama