THE STRIPES!!!!!

We went to a book fair this weekend. Amy saw a book that she had read at school, “A Bad Case of the Stripes”. The premise of the book is that the little girl wakes up one morning covered in stripes. The only cure is eating lima beans. She wanted it, so I bought it for her. Who can say no to a 50 cent book!

Anyhow, she had read this book at school, and knew the story. Evidentially, Elizabeth knew the story as well. Later that afternoon, they were playing outside. All of a sudden, Amy comes BUSTING in the house yelling, “Mama!!! I’ve got THE STRIPES!!!” Turns out, she bruised her hand. It was a nice shade of green and yellow. Elizabeth told her she had the stripes. Amy was in a panic. “Mama!!! I need lima beans!!!”

You can always count on your big sister to tell you the truth, you know. ;)

Will miracles never cease....

So, yesterday something happened at the Casa de Wiles that I honestly never thought I would see.

Let me give you a little bit of background:

2007-August 30-Elizabeth receives a bike (per her request) for her fifth birthday. She sits on the bike for approximately 3.7 seconds before announcing that we can give the bike to another little girl. Bike sits in green house until she outgrows it.

2009-August 30-Elizabeth once again (per her request) receives a bike for her birthday. This time, we walk the bike around the corner to a large parking lot for her to practice. We stay 1.7 minutes. We walk home, her in the back screaming at the top of her lungs, me in the front, doing my best to maintain my composure and not go YaYa on her. Bike sits in greenhouse next to other bike. We accept the fact that Elizabeth Wiles will not ride a bike.

Days and years go by. I try to accept the fact that my child will never know one of the greatest joys of my childhood, the feeling of the wind rushing on her face, the freedom of the open road. In 2010, Elizabeth discovers scooters. She rides 1,387,492 miles on her Hello Kitty scooter. Then, the scooter decides it is finished, so we buy Elizabeth another scooter. So far, I would estimate she has put 1,483 miles on it. I come to terms with Elizabeth riding a scooter. Her hair DOES flow in the wind. She CAN travel the open road (ok, from one end of the cove to the other).

This all changes a few weeks ago. Amy Hope decided to ride Elizabeth’s first bike. So, she does. She rides and rides and rides and rides and rides. Elizabeth still seems quite content with her scooter. This is fine. They circle Cardinal Cove together, over and over. They are happy.

Fast forward to Saturday night. Elizabeth brings me a permission form from school. There will be a bike safety course in April. I ask her if she wants to attend. Pardon my French, but all H-E-double hockey sticks breaks loose. She ends up in the fetal position in the corner, whimpering at the thought of getting near a bike. (ok, not really fetal, but you get my drift). Finally, she goes to her room. I go back to talk to her after she calms down a bit. I tell her my honest feelings. It’s so hard for me to think about her allowing fear to rule her life, and keep her from having fun.

A few minutes later, she comes out and says, “I think I need to learn how to ride that bike tomorrow.” That’s my girl. :)

So, Saturday night, I am praying like nobody’s business. Praying for confidence for her. Praying for strength and wisdom for me.  

Come Sunday morning, she is still psyched about this. We go to church, and come home and eat lunch. She is raring to go. We decide to start in the back yard, so that if (when) she falls, it won’t hurt like it does in the road. I walk around the yard with her a few times. Then she takes off. We move to the road. She rides away. I read something the other day about the irony of teaching your child to leave you. I kept thinking about that. Bittersweet.

So, she has ridden several miles already. She would have ridden more, but the bike set is kinda at an odd angle, and it’s pretty painful on the hiney. We’re gonna let Daddy look at that tonight.

Elizabeth has done a LOT of awesome things, and I am amazed by her on a regular basis. But, I want to say this is her greatest achievement. This is one that took the most courage. The most flat-out determination. I get teary just thinking about it.

She’s pretty special, that kid.

HEHEHE!

Bet y'all thought I dropped off the face of the earth, huh?
Well, I haven't, and my kids are still funny.

The scene: in the van this morning, on the way to school.

The players: Elizabeth, Amy, Mama, and an unsuspecting wiener dog.

Elizabeth: Look!  A Wiener Dog!

Amy: What’s a wiener not?

E: It’s a long, skinny dog, with short legs.

Mama: Kinda looks like a hot dog.

E: But it doesn’t taste near as good.

Oh, that kid cracks me up. :)

In This Home

In this home
We made a Life.

We laughed, cried, fought, and loved.

In this home
We brought a little girl.
We leave with a young lady.

In this home
We brought new life.
A blessing of Hope and Faith.

In this home
We've mourned.
A grandmother, a father, a child.

In this home
We've tripped over toys.
Kissed scrapped knees.
Held babies in the moonlight.
Read Stories.
Prayed.
Loved.

In this home
We made a life.

Did that really just happen?

So, we bought a house. Yes, a house. I know it seems TOTALLY out of the blue, but we have been talking about it literally for YEARS. I’ve studied the market in Medina for years. We always knew the house we are in now was not forever. All the cards just fell together, and God laid it out for us.


We have looked at four houses this week. Well, we went in three of them. I couldn’t decide between Crockett Co and Medina, but Jason wanted Medina. So, it only made since that if I was indecisive, and he knew what he wanted, we should pick his choice.

I think we both knew when we went in the house that it was THE ONE. I expected to like it…I did NOT expect to buy it. I expected to buy the four bedroom across the street. Both are about 1600 sq ft, so naturally the bedrooms are bigger in the 3 bedroom. Also, the 4th bedroom in the other one is upstairs above the garage. Jason did NOT like the pitch of the ceiling in that bedroom.

So, a little about the house we chose. Tuesday morning, I put a new listing in the MLS. I made a comment about how cute it was. Didn’t really think much else about it. We decided to go see the 4 bedroom home that afternoon. We thought we may as well see the 3 bedroom, just for kicks. Typically, a subdivision is full of cookie cutter floorplans. This one is different. That’s one of the things I like about it. I’ll have to post pics when we move in. The bedrooms are all together. Call me weird, but I like that. I don’t like split bedroom plans as much. There is also a HUGE master closet, and both of the other bedrooms have large closets as well. We have almost no closet space in the girls’ rooms now. There is also a large hall area in front of the bedrooms, almost like another room. That was truly the final straw for me. I LOVE that space. The kitchen is kinda funny shaped, but it flows very well. It looks great. :0 It is SO CLEAN. The yard is fenced!!! The puppy dogs will be happy with that. There is a patio in the back yard. The only issue I have is one that I would have had anywhere, you can see your neighbors! I have always had a private back yard, so that will take some getting used to!

As we were leaving, some friends of ours drove up, so we will even know the neighbors! We have several friends that live in Medina, including some of Elizabeth and Amy’s best friends, so I think we will be very happy there.

We are scheduled to close at the end of September, and we will move in soon after. WOOHOOO!!!!

A Lesson in Humility

God taught me a lesson today. A lesson in being non-judgmental, in overcoming prejudices, in humility.

Whether we will admit it or not, we all have prejudices. I could not care less what color a person’s skin is, but I will admit that I tend to categorize people by their willingness to work. If you won’t work, and you are able, I don’t have a lot of use for you. Yes, I’m guilty of pride. It burns me up to see people sitting drawing government checks while I have to go to work to fund those same checks, and they get to stay at home with their babies while I have to leave mine.

This morning, God used my neighbors to show me that I am NO BETTER than anyone else. This is actually the first time I have referred to these people as my neighbors. I usually refer to them as the HOOD down the street.

As Amy and I left the house this morning on our way to school, I heard a noise from the van. At first, I thought it was the engine (I have a deep seeded fear of a broken down vehicle, so that’s always my first thought.) As it turned out, it was my rear tire. The wheel was still on, but the tire was completely off. I have no idea how that happened. I was only about 500 ft from my house, but there was no way I could drive back home without ruining the tire and the wheel. A lady came out from one of the houses. She said she would get her son to change the tire. He first said he couldn’t. That was fine, he owed me nothing. I called AAA. 45-60 minutes wait time. Ugh. In the mean time, the son came out. We were finally able to get the tire off, but then we could not find the spare. It turns out that the spare in a stow- and- go vehicle is under the FRONT seats (a little bit of trivia for you there). We really had a time! Well, I should say THEY really had a time. Several people just jumped right in and did it, Amy and I watched. Right as we finished, AAA drove up. Of course. ;)

I wondered if I should offer to pay them, but I decided not to. I didn’t want to offend anyone; they did this out of kindness, not for money. I did buy them breakfast, though, and Amy had an adventure to tell at school today. “My Mama had ANOTHER flat tire!!!”

So, today God took me off my high horse a little bit. He said, “Kathey, you are no better than anyone else. Would YOU have gone outside in your pj’s to change the tire of a total stranger?” I’m a firm believer in the “pay it forward” mentality, but today I was the one receiving, not the one giving.

So, the next time I walk down my street, I’m not going to look forward and avoid eye contact. I’m going to say “Hi, how are you today? I’m thankful God used you to bless me. I hope that my heart for others can grow as big as yours one day. “

Where have you been?

Again, with the slacker blogger-itis. Well, in current news, it’s hot as blue blazes in TN. Heat indexes as high as 115. There is just no need for this.



So, I’m just gonna do a quick update of the past 2 months. Here we go-



May—Strawberry Festival! Always fun. Lots of food, parade, family time. Elizabeth spent the night with a new friend. They had a large time. End of school. E had the highest average in her class, got the principal’s award, and the 3rd grade PE award. I turned 35. Ugh. Daddy got back test results. BIG BAD AND UGLY. :( Stage IV Melanoma. Thankfully, the FDA just approved a new treatment. Not cure. Treatment.



June-Amy got a NASTY case of poison oak. On the plus side, E and I are definitely NOT allergic to poison oak. Girls Weekend!!! Headed to the beach with my Peppas for a few days of fun in the sun. And fun in the sun we had. SUCH a needed break from reality. Came home on a Sunday night, got up Monday morning and left for family vacation in Gatlinburg. Another GREAT time with old friends. One of the highlights of the trip was spending the day at Ober Gatlinburg. I need to post some pics of all of this!!! Jason’s birthday. Father’s day. Amy turned 4,567 cartwheels on the living room floor.



July-Enjoyed the 4th with friends. Grilled meat, blew stuff up. Good times. Daddy had his first treatment, and it went GREAT. Work work work. HOT HOT HOT!!! Bought a little (8 ft wide 3 ft deep) pool and set it up on the carport. The kids LOVE it. Amy taught herself to swim. She looks so cute with all four little limbs flailing under the water. Amy got swimmer’s ear, not more swimming for 10 days. Dislike. :(



So, that’s it til now. E is at Grams and Granddaddy’s for a few days, and then Amy will go. E and I have a weekend planned at the science museum, as well as HARRY POTTER this weekend. :)