Art Camp Creations

Here are pictures of some other things Leigh Ashley has done at Prep's Art Camps in the past. I told a few of you that I would post pictures so you could see what kinds of things they do. Most of the time, there is a one day camp offered one Saturday during the month of December and one day around Valentines.

Zachary's First High School Football Game

Zachary's the 3rd from the right




My little boy played in his first high school football game last Friday night. They played Washington Academy in Greenville and won 48-0. Mark and I rode the "parent bus" that they charter to the away games. Kids aren't allowed, so we were able to ride since Leigh Ashley spent the night with her friend, Martha Rayner. It was a lot of fun. I just ate entirely too much! Everyone brings food and passes it around. I'm not talking about bags of snack mix--I mean gourmet pizza, chicken salad sandwiches, homemade pimento-cheese, corn dip, Cane's chicken strips, and the best chess squares I've ever put in my mouth!!! We all just visited until we got to Yazoo City and the food was pulled out and they gave away door prizes.

We we arrived in Greenville, it seemed even hotter than it was in Jackson. I had hoped it would get cooler the later it got, but it didn't. I love to take pictures during the games. I got my zoom lens last year before football season, but I'm still in the learning process of sports photography. I think one reason I enjoy it so much is because I love the game of football! I love being down there taking pictures so close that I can hear the grunts and the sound of the shoulder pads hitting together. I did go up into the stands during the 3rd quarter, but told them that I had to get back down there because I like hearing those sounds. One mom told me that I was crazy!

Zachary is on the extra point team, so he knows he gets to play each time we score! But, he got to play a lot more on offense Friday night as well. I really think a lot of Coach Black. I think he's a wonderful mentor for these guys. I was so touched to see them stop and pray after the game. The most precious moment of the night was when they were done and it was time to leave, my son came and walked with his mom off the field. There I was looking up at this beautiful human being that I gave birth to almost 16 years ago, sharing a special moment together.

A busy week!

I was doing so good staying up with my blog until this week. Let's see what's been going on..... Last Saturday night, we all surprised my dear friend, Claudia, at a party put together by her husband. It's funny how women will plan for weeks to make a party successful and a man decides on Thursday to give a party on Saturday and it goes off without a hitch! I went in for my 6 month dental checkup and he tells me what he has in mind. He's in there between patients, calling and inviting everyone while I'm sitting in the chair thinking..."That's the way to throw a party--decide and then just do it!" It was so sweet of him to do that for her. She is such a wonderful friend, sister, mother and wife--so, she deserved it!

Most of my week was consumed with preparing for Back to School Night at First Pres. I was asked to be the Hospitality Chairman this year, and Back to School Night is the biggest responsibility of the job. After being in charge of Garden Gallery last year, this should be a breeze! One thing about First Pres is how organized the Crusader Club is and how notebooks are kept to pass down year to year to each chairman. My notebook stated that last year purchased potted plants for the faculty and used them as decorations. Well....I went Thursday afternoon to the wholesale grower and filled my Expedition with 50 mums and ferns. More about that later. I decided to do something a little different with the food this year, so I cooked brisket for 500 people. My sweet friend, Michelle did take home two of them to put in her oven. I think I cooked 60 pounds of brisket! I emailed all of the other recipes to moms who volunteered to cook for the event and then others purchased fruit, rolls and several other things we needed. My new friends at Dream Cakes, made a beautiful three layer butter cream cake with the FPDS logo on it. If you recall, the temperature reached 101 on Thursday. I picked up the cake on my way to the school that night and it didn't make the ride too well! I felt so bad, because the top two layers just kinda slid off. Shelley said to call her if it needed retouched. I hated to make that call! She had just told me about a lady calling and canceling a fondant birthday cake at the last minute when I picked up my cake. I told her how inconsiderate that was and that they needed to get a credit card number when taking orders for cakes with lots of detail. Well, I guess that was God's way of taking care of things because she and her husband brought that cake up to the school for us to use. We sliced up the butter cream cake and every piece of it was eaten. Hopefully, it helped to get the word out about their new business. As far as all the plants for the teachers, I found a flaw in the FPDS notebook organizational process. I didn't know that the co-chairman last year purchased all of those personally. I thought it was something that the teachers expected! I had no idea that I could have just made a centerpiece and been done with it. Now my truck has spiders who have found a new home and I have a $350 receipt to turn in with my expenses. I will make a suggestion to the crusader club to discourage individuals from absorbing expenses that total more than x amount. We've all paid for things without worrying about getting reimbursed, but I don't think it should be something that major.

The Big Premier!!!

The day finally arrived! High School Musical 2 premiered last night! Honestly, I've never watched the entire first one, but this was a big deal to Leigh Ashley. She asked to have 4 friends come and spend the night. (Bailey Mangum, Martha Rayner, Elizabeth Glaze & Kara Cook--they are all such sweet girls!) They were so cute! It reminded me of how I was with "Grease" years ago. I STILL LOVE THAT MOVIE and watch it every time it's on! I still love John Travolta and any thing that he plays in.

It's funny seeing how my daughter reacts to things that I was crazy about years ago. She does like Grease and I've only let her watch portions of "Dirty Dancing", and she says that guy dancing is "hot" (yes, I admit that my 4th grader said that!). I guess that she gets that from her 41 year old mother who still watches that movie to see him and her grandmother (my mother) who thinks he's the "prettiest thing" she's ever seen in that movie! Night before last, I was watching all of the Elvis tributes and she had a very different opinion about him. She said "I just don't see the big deal about him. His hair all slicked back is ugly! You actually think he's cute?" I was crushed because I've always loved Elvis even though he died when I was 11. I remember hearing that he had died and running to tell my mother and daddy. A lady who worked for them was married to a man who doubled in a couple of movies for him. He did look a lot like him. What he was doing in Ellisville, MS, I can't remember. But, I still watch the old concerts before he started his downward spiral due to his drug addiction. Yes, I've been to Graceland. Mark has never been so board in his entire life! We went with my family and he had to be along with a bunch from Jones County, MS who didn't want to miss a thing!!! I asked Leigh Ashley the other night if she wanted to go see it and she quickly said "NO Thank you". This was after she asked where Graceland is and if I've been before.

I loved watching Leigh Ashley have so much fun with her friends. I hope to help make wonderful memories for her that she can look back and remember fun and special times. I am determined to do more things like this in the future and stop worrying about how clean my house is and how many other things that I need to do. These are times she'll remember and not if my house was spotless.

It's too hot for football season!!!

Did I just have so much fun in high school that I don't remember being this hot at the first football games??? I can remember being really hot in Memorial Stadium many times and I think it was always hot in Birmingham. Every time I pass the stadium on State Street, I remember lots of great times tailgating in that parking lot years ago. It's kinda sad that the stadium is such a waste now. But, it really needs to cool off soon! It's much more enjoyable to watch when there's that "football feeling" in the air.

In college, I do remember several 1pm games at Southern when I was suffering trying to wear my cute, fall outfit just because it was after Labor Day. I think a red dress of mine appeared on a different Phi Mu at every game!
Anyway, I've always loved football! I know it sounds crazy, but I've always been a fan of Ole Miss, State and Southern. I think it's because I got familiar with all three football programs when a guy I dated for years was recruited by all three, LSU and Alabama. We would go to all the games and sit in the best seats, then hang out with all of them afterwards. I'm one of the few women who can jump in a conversation with men about recruiting violations in the SEC and actually know what I'm talking about. Put it this way, they all do it!

Well, I'm now in a different position. My little boy is playing his first year on the high school team. How has time passed so fast? I remember my first year as a high school cheerleader and thinking that I had "arrived"! I thought knew it all. I try to remember that when dealing with Zachary. I haven't figured out if it's a good thing or bad thing being able to relate so well. You should hear Zachary tell his friends about how "in to it" I get. They laugh when I tells them all the "little tips" I give him. Like...you've got to "wrap up"!! Or, "you've got to block". I actually think he thinks it's cool that I'm so into it.
Here's pics from last nights scrimmage. They will play in the Tri County Jamboree this Thursday night. Let's just hope it cools off before it's time to pull out the fall football wardrobe!
My cutie is #52!

It's Monday!

Well, all's quiet at the Courtney house. I can't sit here too long or I'll get all sad thinking about how fast the kids are growing up. For the first time ever, Zachary drove himself to his first day back at school. He didn't start driving until the end of last school year. I remember when he started mom's morning out at 2 and I had to stand outside until I could hear that he stopped crying. So, 14 first days of school--I've dropped him off and told him that I loved him. I really couldn't imagine this day ever coming.

I stopped by Prep after dropping Leigh Ashley off to make a change to Zachary's schedule. The bell rang before I could find him, so I saw one of the administrators in the hall and asked him to take it to his 1st period class for me. I knew it wouldn't be a good idea for mommy to show up at the door of Geometry. My Zachary--oh, how I love this kid! I could pinch his head off at times, but he melts my heart with those beautiful brown eyes!

Leigh Ashley is planning a party for the premier of "High School Musical 2". She's got all kind of things planned for 4 of her friends Friday night. I can't wait to hear what my role in all this is!

God's perfect timing

It's funny how I can have something heavy on my mind....go to church and that's what Chip is preaching on! I know I'm not the only one that God is sending direct messages to, but it sure seems like it! If you've read any of my previous post, you know that I have a problem with how others are out for "number one" and could care less about anyone else. I know it exists in the workplace, but my experience with it is with parents at my kid's schools as well as their extracurricular activities. I've been guilty of it, but I can easily recognize now when I am developing that attitude.

Chip spoke on Matthew 22:37-40. It says that we should love God with all we've got and then love somebody else. He said that we all need each other in this world and we need to be "doing life together"! What really hit home to me was how he said that raising a teenager takes a village--like parents, grandparents, teacher, friends, coaches, church, etc. We'll go further if we are all together and fight Satan-the real enemy. He used Gilligan's Island, Cheers, Friends and Seinfield as examples of television shows about people "doing life together". All of us parents can connect our lives together and form relationships. This can be done if we love God with all our hearts and love others as he loves us. That means, fighting the temptation to spread rumors about someone's child. It means to be happy for another child's success--academics, sports, or any other accomplishments. It means praying for others children instead of talking about them when they've made a wrong decision. It means making the effort to get to know a parent, instead of staying in our comfort zone of friends. It means being honest with someone--not acting as if our children are perfect when they are sharing concerns about their own children. Wow, have I seen this happen a lot! One of my dear friends, said that she struggled with issues concerning her son and everyone she tried to talk to about it, said that their children never acted like that! She began to think that there was something terribly wrong with her son. I think now she knows that those people just wanted their life to look "perfect", but they are just like the rest of us.

I learned so much from today's sermon. I learned that staying in my comfort zone of 118 Peninsula isn't what I need to be doing. We do have the greatest neighbors in the world, though!! I need to initiate things to interact with others more. Maybe if I could find a way to get the mothers together, in time walls will be knocked down and relationships can be formed. How awesome it would be to have a network of friends we could count on to go through these tough parenting years! I am so thankful for the wonderful, true friends that I've met though my children. I know that they love my children and love me. What a blessing!

Tonight, our church is having "Front Porch Fellowships". There's a number of locations where people living in that geographical area will gather to get to know each other. Mark had to go up to our farm to talk to a guy about working on the cabin, so I hope he gets back in time to go. We don't sit on the porch (I don't have one :()and talk to our neighbors every afternoon like my Nannie & Papaw did their whole life. Most every time we went to visit, they were sitting on that little front porch. Usually, one of their neighbors was right there with them drinking coffee. They were always bringing by a cake and one lady brought something that didn't get eaten--fried possum!! Papaw was an alderman in the big town of Petal and this lady wanted to thank him for something by cooking something for him. A POSSUM!!! EWWW! Even though it eventually ended up in the trash, that little lady was so sweet to take the time to show love to her neighbor.

As you can tell, I thought it was a great sermon. You can listen to it by going to http://pinelake.org/mediaplayer.html.

School Starts...as does all the stuff that goes along with it!

Leigh Ashley's first day of 4th grade was yesterday. She was ready to go with her new, plaid sneakers and her backpack she customized online six weeks ago. She's little miss fashion! It took her hours surfing the net before deciding on the perfect backpack and the "coolest" pair of shoes. Since she wears uniforms, I allow her to "make a big deal" out of the only two options she has.

Zachary's first day of 10th grade is on Monday. I'm excited for him jumping into this new chapter of his life-high school, but I'm not looking forward to all of the junk that sometimes goes along with being back in school. For six weeks, I haven't been in the mix of things and we've been in our own "little world" at 118 Peninsula Drive. Now it's back to the problems and hassles that sometimes goes along with lots of contact with the outside world. I'm just praying for a good year and trying not to give up hope on people! A good friend called yesterday and told me how she got upset when a coach made a negative comment about her son (precious kid, btw) to her while in line for books! He later said that he thought she didn't like the comment and didn't mean it to sound like it did. Ok, we all say things that come out completely different that how we intended, but we've got to make it right as soon as we realize that it happened! Then she told me about a parent who totally ruined something for one kid because of assumptions and making judgments about something they didn't know anything about. Why can't things be different? These adults are teaching their children to be the same way! I love something that Kathy Lee Gifford said years ago "Each morning before my feet hit the floor, I ask God to keep me from hurting someone with what comes out of my mouth that day!". Maybe we need a billboard on Lakeland with that saying!

Here's a couple of pics of what mine and Coco's morning usually consists of. I love going out early in the morning and watching the sun rise. He hangs out in the backyard as I water my poor little plants. They just can't handle this heat! My yard was so pretty and now it's looking sad!

My niece and nephew....fishing & a tea party!

Leigh Ashley and I went over to babysit while Amy went to meet Daniel's teacher. Daniel is in the first grade at JA. We had great time! They are precious!!!

Great Expectations Night Out

 

Here's some pics from Great Expectations Ministry's "Girl's Night Out" this past Monday.  I wouldn't take the chance of tearing any more ligaments in my knee, so I just watched.  We had a great time!  See how Clancy is concentrating--she means business!  She was so funny!

A New Adventure

Last weekend, I had a little photography job in the big town of Bassfield, MS! Mark's aunt and uncle renewed their vows in celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary. It was a great day and I hope they like how the pictures turned out. I've always loved taking pictures and now I'm finally at a point in my life where I can do more of it. I like taking pics of kids most of all. I've been taking pictures for family and friend's Christmas cards for the past several years. I'm a slow learner, though! I should have taken a digital photography class several years ago. Instead, I just continue to learn through trial and error--slow process! I have a degree in Radio, Television & Film, but cameras have changed a lot since 1988!
My friend, Kelli are working on a little business venture we are launching in September. She already has a photography business with a girl in Mobile--and they do great work by the way!! Last year, I found some great Christmas cards online and had them done for me, my parents and the Mark's parents. They were fabulous and I was in awe over how they were done. I thought they were different than the standard photo Christmas cards with the tag. In Feb., I started playing on my computer and designing Leigh Ashley valentine cards. I ended up doing hers as well as my "other" children--the Mangums! :) Everyone at school loved them and I was hooked on seeing what else I could create. I've made invitations and even did the birth announcements for Leigh Ashley's sweet teacher, Katie Butler. I played around so much with those, that I'll always be able to remember sweet Leighton's birth weight, length and arrival time!
Anyway, I'm excited about this new adventure. I love taking pictures, editing them and creating.....so, this should be perfect. Zachary is driving now and I think it's a perfect time to do it. We shall see what happens! More details later....

Have you ever seen a birthday cake like this?

Tonight we celebrated Mark's daddy and brother, Michael's birthday.  For the first time in our 18 year marriage, Mark did all of the grocery shopping and cooking.  All I did was pick up the cake and he did the rest.  It was nice to be able to sit and talk to our company for a change instead of staying in the kitchen the entire time.  Since there's a good chance that Cassidy won't be back for several months, I took pictures for Mark's parents Christmas cards.  Amy and I had to do lots of persuading to get five kids to do what we needed them to do to get a good shot.  I haven't looked at them all, but I think we got some good ones.  I also showed Amy all the good places to shop on blogspot!  The big hit of the night was the birthday cake.  I found "Dream Cakes" while surfing around on blogs.  I'll have to look around when I have a chance and see who I need to thank for the cake connection.  

When I called "Dream Cakes" (dreamcakesms.blogspot.com), I told her that I need a cake and thought it would be neat to do it relating to our family business.  I gave her the website (www.sun-pine.com) and told her to look around and see if they could come up with any ideas.  Well, check out my pictures and see just how creative these gals!  They made the cake to look like a bleach bottle!  They also put little bottles made from fondant icing to look like the other products Sun-Pine produces.  What's even better is that the cake was delicious!  

My father-in-law asked that we not buy him gifts this year.  I believe us all being together as a family tonight was the best gift we could have given him.  All of the grandkids were here for him to love on and enjoy the best gift of all.

One More Day

July 31st
Five years ago today, my Papaw lost his battle with cancer. Then 8 weeks later, my Nannie died sitting in her chair only steps away from where her husband of well over 50 years took his last breath. She had a massive heart attack most likely while napping in her chair. I had been trying to call her, but though she was sitting in her rocking chair on the front porch. Nannie almost died six months before that with conjestive heart failure, but surprised all of her doctors by recovering and actually doing better than she had been in a year or so. It was answered prayers. Papaw died and she was lost without him. I think she was tired, broken and it was time.

Who says that time heals? It's still tough. Papaw was bigger than life to me. I was the first grandchild and we just had a special bond. I can still see every detail of Nannie & Papaw's face, arms, hands, ears....everything. I can still hear their voices call my name. I don't ever want to forget those things. God blessed me with having both of them in my life for 36 years and that's a precious gift! They got to see both of my children and how awesome is that for them to remember their great-grandparents!!

I learned so much from Nannie & Papaw. They lived in the same tiny, wood house in Petal that my mom grew up in and they had no desire to move. That was "home". I learned how doing little things together make memories for kids much more than expensive vacations. Some of the best times that I'll never forget were the many fishing trips we made. Papaw would wake us up so early and we would leave while it was still dark outside. We couldn't even see our corks because the sun hadn't come up yet! Nannie loved to fish more than he did. She would sit for hours and fish. I do wish they could have lived to see this house. She would have loved sitting out on the boat dock with her cane pole.


I'm going to see them again one day! Everytime we sing "Midnight Cry" in choir, it's tough. For all the months that I made the trips back and forth down Hwy 49 to Hattiesburg, I would listen to that song. It always made me feel better knowing that when I did have to say goodbye, I was knew that l would see him again one day. I know I can't have "One More Day" here on earth, but....as Brad Paisley says in the song "When I Get Where I'm Going", "...I'll tell him how much I missed him and then I'll hug his neck."