A loss to everyone...

I attended a funeral today of a childhood friend. This was the first funeral I've attended whom I grew up with. Dr. Zachary Maxwell will always be remembered by everyone that lived in this town. I remember in high school hanging out at his grandmother's farm. Melanie was always with him and the fun we've all had together. Those are the memories I'll treasure forever of him.
I question God why he took him away from all of us so soon. But as someone trying to comfort me on Sunday morning told me..."He accomplished and overcome so much in one's life that he had done what he had to do here on earth, therefore, his time in heaven was needed." Trying to accept such a tragedy is so difficult...I pray that his family will find peace in their loss. The Serenity Prayer is a prayer that I keep with me and read very often when I question life.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.

Cam's first Awana Patch!

Well Camden did it! He has met his goal to memorize 7 Bible verses in the first few weeks of Awana! He earned a patch to be added to his Awana vest. The Awana team leaders awarded the cubbie Awanas with the patches and they all acted so proud. It's amazing how little ones can memorize and retain all that information! Camden loves going to Awana's every Wednesday night!

Crestview Awards Day!

Cade Carter is the one in Camo!

I gotta brag on Cade Carter! He made all A's and one B on his report card and got perfect attendance! The school had awards day and Hank and I got to go watch him get his academic pins. He looked so big as a 2nd grader! I remember the first awards day I went to he was in Kindergarten! Wow, how they grow so fast! They also made many announcements on how there are 754 schools in the state of Tennessee and Crestview ranked 58 in academics. I'm so glad Cade Carter helped make that happen!! That made me smile! :)

Cooking with the boys!

Hank came home tonight and suggested we make cookies! I could exagerate and say that we slaved all evening making cookies but what we really did was just scoop the cookie dough right out of the tub and baked them in the oven. (I love cookie dough fundraisers!) The boys enjoy cooking so much that I usually let them get on my kitchen island and help me. As you can see they couldn't quit eating the cookie dough long enough to get them on a cookie sheet!

Thank You, "Miss Kate!"

"Miss Kate" made Camden an adorable appliqued Mickey Mouse shirt to wear while we were in Disney. I admire her so because she knows how to use a sewing machine! I'm hoping she will continue her new knack for appliqued t-shirts. Kate, THANK YOU!

Marked with a "C"

In Cade Carter's early years, he seldom received bumps and bruises. But poor Camden has always had such a rough time. When he was 3 years old, Cade Carter threw a tractor at him and sliced his upper lip. We didn't have to get stitches, but boy, did it leave a scar. Over this past weekend, Camden was on his scooter (and the kid rides it SUPERFAST) and he hit a bump and he went forward hitting the handlebars. It broke the skin on his cheek and out came the blood! Cam freaked out like he was dying and we tried to console him as much as possible. But the funny thing about it is that it's not only going to be a scar there, but it is in the perfect shape of the letter "C." I can't help but laugh and tell everyone he tatooed himself! I feel like this is just the beginning for my rough little redneck!

We're Back and Exhausted!

We all had a wonderful time on all the rides at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. I wouldn't give anything for the trip. It was definitely a MAGICAL TIME for all of us!

The highlight of the entire trip is that the boys learned all about Indiana Jones. We sat thru a stunt show starring Indiana Jones and the boys LOVED it! It was their favorite part of the trip. They even had to buy "of course" the hat, and also the WHIP! Hopefully they want hurt each other!

We went to the Animal Kingdom one day and actually went on a safari. My favorite animal is the giraffe, so I was sure to get many pics of some. As you can see, I finally found espresso at the Animal Kingdom. Did I mention there was NO STARBUCKS at Disney??? Here's Cade Carter making fun of me with rabbit ears. He thinks he's so cute!

Cade Carter enjoyed seeing Lilo & Stitch at the Polynesian Resort. He got several autographs in his autograph book. Trust me, "the kid ain't shy!"

We attended the "Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party" and the boys dressed up as Peter Pan. What a magical night it was with all the fireworks and the castle changing colors many times. Also, I must mention that all the villains came out dressed in their Halloween Costumes...We actually saw our favorite villain "Captain Hook."

We had breakfast at Chef Mickey's and the boys loved to have their pic made with him!

Can you see the boys in Woody's lap?

We stayed at the All Stars Movie Resort. The boys loved it because it had giant size toy story icons all over! Check out the size of Woody and his friends!

New Buddy!

Cade Carter has a new buddy! Since we do not live in a subdivision, it's been somewhat difficult for Cade Carter because there's no one around that he can play with besides little brother. We just recently realized that all along, Austin Rose, lives across the highway a few houses down. Austin is 9 years old and Cade Carter is 8, but they have become great buddies. Austin has a 4-wheeler and the two went riding last week. We are so happy to find out that Austin has all along been just across the street!

CAM TRIES TO HOOK UP A TRAILER!

Just to prove how ALL BOY my little Cam is...I wanted to post these pics of him literally trying to hook up his tricycle to a trailer...(yes, a REAL trailer!)

He didn't mind that it didn't work!

Paw Paw's 65th Birthday!

Wow! What a milestone! We all celebrated Paw Paw's 65th birthday a couple of weeks ago with nothing else but a steak dinner! (My Daddy's favorite!) DiDi, Aunt Sarah (soon to be,)MiMi, Big Mama, Hank and myself! We all enjoyed ourselves to dinner and giving Paw Paw his presents!

We love you PAW PAW!