Celebrating 13....WOW! My little girl is now a young woman.

First, let me say that Claira has grown into an amazing young lady. Jay and I really wanted her birthday to be a milestone into women hood for her. After conspiring on our own we decided to get the grandmothers involved. It was such a wonderful day!

Claira had no idea what would happen on her birthday.

Feburary 27, 20013

7:00 am

I woke Claira up, said, "Happy Birthday!" and  then told her to wear something she felt comfortable, but pretty in. 

8:00 am 

 We arrived at Briar Rose, our favorite bakery. While eating cinnamon rolls we begin to talk about womanhood. I wish I could remember exactly what I said, but basically I told her that being a woman is an amazing gift. She will face many challenges, but with those challenges come sweet victories. I talked with her about how we, as women,  have a responsibility to be aware of our mood changes. When we are on our period it isn't an excuse for women to be grumpy and rude to everyone it is a time for awareness and self-control.

Just a month before this God had really impressed upon me that I had the wrong idea about my monthly cycle. I have always viewed it has a time to suck it up and just pretend like everything it fine, even though it isn't and I end up having to do A LOT of apologizing when it is over. My new approach has been to plan ahead, clear the calendar, and take the week to soak of Jesus and save my energy for my family and say, "No" or "Not this week, but next" to everything else. It has revolutionized me! I explained this to Claira and gave her, what we fondly call , her very own "Exclamation Point Book" (!)



Jay has joked with me many times over the past 18 1/2 years. That I don't have a period, an exclamation point!!!! I have to agree. I filled Claira's book with verses that apply to how we, as women, feel during our cycle. She loved it and uses it. It was a sweet time for us. I cried, she giggled. God has blessed me with a daughter that loves to talk about everything! There is no "taboo" conversation with Claira and  I love every minute of it!!!

9:00am

Claira's first ever 1 hour massage, a gift from her Nonna! Since Claira was little she has wanted a full body massage. On the way to the massage I gave her a card from Nonna. When we pulled up I told her that she was about to experience something that would change her life and I'm pretty sure it did!

Here is Claira right before her massage. It was a cold day!!

11:00 am

Our next stop was Make Up! I handed her a card from Grandma Tulsa and then told her that Grandma T wanted to purchase her make up. Also, since Claira was little she was playing in my make up. She loved pretending to be older than she was. She couldn't wait for the day that she could have her own "real" make up and wear it in public. Well...today was that day!

Outside of Ulta with her stash!

 We bought: 
foundation
blush
eyeshadow
masscara
lip gloss
brushes
curling rod
nail polish
face wash
moiturizer
lotion etc....
It was SO MUCH FUN!!!!

11:40 am

After Ulta we got in the car and I handed her another card from Grandma. Grandma's gift was a manicure and pedicure but, Claira opted for just the pedicure. She was thrilled! This was also something she had never done and couldn't  wait to experience, and once again, today was that day!

 12:30 pm

Next Stop: Surprise lunch with Dad! After the pedicure I mentioned having lunch at Noodles. She was excited about  Noodles, but said that she was sad that she hadn't gotten to see her Dad yet. As we pulled into the parking lot she noticed his truck and was so excited, "Mom! Dad is here! I'm so glad he is having lunch with me!!!!" I hate he didn't see that reaction.

Jay and I knew that we wanted to present Claira with a purity ring, but didn't want her to think that being pure meant not having sex. He wrote her the sweetest letter and read it to her at lunch explaining that he desires his daughter to have a pure heart for the rest of her life and then asked her to wear the ring if she was willing to accept the challenge of seeking purity in Christ the rest of her life. She accepted the ring and the challenge. This was the sweetest father/daughter moment.

2:00 pm

Claira is setting up her Facebook account.

After lunch Claira was so overwhelmed with everything she had experienced she wanted to just go home and take a nap.  But, then she decided that you only have your 13th Birthday once so she decided to make the most of it.

We ended up at Mama Carmen's for afternoon coffee and hot chocolate. It was really fun hanging out and setting up Claira's Facebook page. She was excited to finally have her very own facebook account, although, since she had been on instagram for a while I think it left little to be desired.

 4:00 pm

Women who follow Jesus are servants. I wanted to Claira and I to start her 13th year doing something to serve someone else. Since my parents had their fire only a few days before Claira's birthday we decided to head over to the thrift store and buy them some clothing to get them by. While at Potters House Thrift we talked with a few of our friends who worked there. After sharing with them why we were there they decided to donate $100 a free clothing to my parents! WOW! That goes a long way in a thrift store!! Claira and I had so much fun picking out clothing for my parents. It didn't all fit them, but they were so happy to have the stuff that did. Plus, a lot of it was really, really nice stuff.

7:00pm

How in the world do you end such a great day? THE MOVIES!!! Claira and I headed to Rogers to see Les Miserables. We were the only two in the entire theater. It was so much fun, talking, laughing and crying together.

What a wonderful day we had!!! It was just perfect!

Oh....we can't forget about the friend party!!!!!

Glow in the Dark Bowling. Music Videos and all!!!!

 

 

 Jessica, Aaron, Claira & Katie Anne

This Birthday dessert was amazing: Chocolate Waffles with mint Chocolate Chip Ice cream!

Lake Wedington Hike 2013

Jay made my day!!! A few Sunday's ago we got home from church and he said, "Everyone, throw on some hiking clothes, we are taking Mom on a hike today!" It was so much fun. We drove through  Mickey D's and grabbed some lunch. (we never get McDonald's, so JT and Claira were thrilled!) The hike around Lake Wedington was beautiful and my love tank was so full I couldn't hardly breath!

Happy Easter, let's go bowling?! 2013

Since the fire we have chosen to go on outings to celebrate everything. It has actually been really fun! Who needs to hunt Easter Eggs when you can go bowling.

 

Claira & Nonna

 Aunt Christ with Lila & Madilyn

Aunt Lor & Coley. Uncle Nathan was there too, but for some reason I don't have a picture of him.

 

Aunt Debbie, Lila and Uncle Mark

Cody needing a little help!

 

Cody, Coley & JT

Claira & Poppa

 Claira you're glowing!

Little ones playing under the table.

 Me & Jay

Did I fail to mention...we also celebrated Lila' 5th Birthday!

Who knows, we may have just started a new family tradition.

PCCA Prom 2013

JT got the privilege of escorting, his friend, Rachel Shoppy to their 10th grade Masquerade Prom.
We borrowed Ken's Mercedes for the evening.

 

I made their boutonniere and corsage  out of paper flowers and antique jewelry.

 

Here JT is posing with his "Bond Girls" his best friends Lexi and Sarah.

 It was a fun, first Prom for everyone!

He drives...from booster seat to drivers seat.

When both the kids were just little and older women would come up to me and say, "Time really goes fast, in a blink of your eye they are all grown up." I don't think I had any idea that they were right. It really does seem like yesterday when we removed JT's booster seat from the car and let him be a "Big Boy", and just use the seat belt. 

 

JT, this picture was taken on Mother's Day. We are on our way to Grandma and Poppa Jerry's to celebrate. I had to capture you chauffeuring me around.

It's official!!! You have your licenses, you can now leave the house, on your own without a parent!
Crazy, but very exciting!!!! 

 I haven't been one of those "cry baby" Moms, but today my heart did race and my eyes filled with tears at the idea of you and Claira taking your first mini-road trip to see the McCollum's.  I think your Dad was taking it harder than me. Thanks for calling when you arrived
and for being safe. 

Kids remember- When you have your own children, you will hear me say,
"Time really goes fast, in a blink of your eye they are all grown up." 

You'll have to just trust that I know what I'm talking about!!

The Tallest Snoopy in the World

The Spring Musical for 2013 was You're a Good Man Charlie Brown and JT was selected to play snoopy. He did an incredible job! It was a great production, as always. He had lots of family and friends show up to see the performance.  Once again, I am so thankful for the opportunity JT has had to attend such a great school!

PCCA Homecoming of 2013

Rachel, Hannah, Ms. Mullen, JT, & Mason.

Nonna & Poppa

Lexi Beaver & JT Gresham Sophomore Attendants 

Poppa Jerry & Grandma

Mom, JT, & Claira Poor Dad was at work :(

The Terrible-Awful of 2013

Mom called me late one night, in February, and said, "My house is on fire, but it isn't that bad."
The next day Jay, Claira, and I drove out to see the damage...

it was bad, actually, a lot worse than Mom and let on. I quickly realized that Mom was in shock and couldn't see the damage for what it really was. As the days went on it looked worse and worse. One of the negatives of fire is that it is damaging in multiple ways: Smoke, Soot, Fire, Heat, and Water.

Kitchen: It was determined that the electrical plug on the stove caused the fire.

Our family always tries to  find humor through tough times. This is Sr. Lansolot,  Nonna's favorite
rooster that she had stuffed when he died. We cracked up when we saw how toasted he was!

Living Room looking toward Kitchen.

Pantry

It has now been three months since the fire. I think we have all learned a lot from the experiance.

• Praise the Lord Nonna and Poppa weren't hurt
• Having insurance on a house pays off. They are covering all damageages 
• Stuff isn't important, but we have memories because of things. Nonna lost her grandmother's rolling pins and it was very sad because she thought of her grandmother teaching her to bake every time she looked at them. 
• Less is more. After 41 years of marriage they had collected a lot of stuff. It was all beautiful and orgnaized/ decroated well, but there was a lot of it. As they have taken inventory they have realized they don't want to collect as much in their future. 

Jesus will refine us is ways we least expect, because he loves us. Mom and Dad's house will not look the same when it is put back together. Most of their earthly posseions are damaged, gone forever. But, the love, hospitality and fun that we always have experianced in their home will be there because they will be there.

Thank you Jesus for keeping my parents safe! 

Hammocking with Claira...my challenge to be spontaneous.

One of things I was so excited about in having a little girl was getting to re-live "park days".

Often when the weather was nice my mom and I would grab our books and blankets, head to Battlefield Park, find a nice shade tree and relax for an hour or so.

Well, yesterday was the day! It only took 13 years, but Claira finally came to me begging me to go to the park with her so that she could find a shade tree, relax and read books.

My first response was, not today because I need to do: X,Y,& Z. Then she challenged me to be spontaneous and seize the day! Thanks to Claira's convincing argument this is what my afternoon looked like instead:

Frog dissection conqueror!

JT:

I am incredibly proud of you! On your Frog Lab, you received 143 out of 144
points! I'm brimming with joy for you! HOORAY!!!!!!!

Feel free to break your arm patting yourself on the back! WAY TO GO!

Mrs. Johnson

We received this text from JT:

Mom & Dad,

I have the second highest score in the class and best dissection.

We are so proud of you JT!!! Science was difficult at the beginning of the year but you have overcome! The great news is that you and Rachel can continue to be lab partners for the rat dissection.