Blessings!

I know...I know...it's been like forever since I have taken the time to blog but honestly, I have been very busy. Chelsea keeps me a hoppin' with all that she's involved in. Right now, she plays volleyball 2 days a week, flag corps with the band on Friday, and socializes literally from sun up to sun down. I really only get to see her probably a whole 20 to 30 minutes, if I am lucky, a day between all her activities, my working, her working and her homework... OH and did I mention.....her socializing??? Oh, I remember those 'ole days and how much fun they were. Why would I ever want to take that away from her? (because I know my time with her during her high school years is counting down way too fast)!

She ordered her senior ring last week, took her last "regular" yearbook pictures yesterday, and talks alot about college and the future. I want my baby back!! You know, those days when I couldn't shake her off my leg, use the restroom by myself, or carry on a conversation without interruptions!! I remember people always telling me to enjoy it because they grow up way to fast and thinking, I just want five minutes without hearing the word, "MOOOOOOMMMMM!" coming from my kids loud mouths!! Boy, what I wouldn't do to feel that important to them now!

As you all know, I actually have 2 children! ha! I blog alot about Chelsea now because eventhough I don't get to be as quote, "involved" in her life as I'd like, I do get to spend alot more time with her than I do Chance. He is in Abilene, living in his own place with 4 other guys (3 that he grew up with here in Childress). He doesn't have time to come home to see me, he doesn't have time to call, and honestly, I really feel like he doesn't have time at all for me. I know he doesn't feel that way, but to a mom who loves her son with all her heart, it sure feels like that often. There isn't a night when I go to bed without calling him. I do this for me, not him. I tell him it's not to be nosy or all in his business, I do it for my own peace of mind. I need to hear his voice. I need to know he's ok. And I need to hear him say, "I love you too mom!" Then I can close my eyes, say my prayers and thank the Lord for blessing me with 2 of the greatest blessing a person could ask for...my kids!!

Flip off Friday!!

My friend, Maria stole this great idea from another blogger's blog and now, I'm stealing it too!! Ha! You see, I guess we all have our moments as some would say! Funny how when things aren't going so good, you automatically think...only me!! But as Maria pointed out we all have times in our life when we would just really like to give something or someone the #1 sign or the middle finger as some might say! I laughed so hard at Maria's blog tonight! She is so funny without even trying to be! Thanks for the stress reliever, Maria!
Here are my Friday flip-offs!!
My first flip off goes to those people who think some athletes are just super and yet once again the "SUPERS" left my child to be the loyal, responsible, dedicated one who in the end, shows up when she's suppose to, works hard and usually gets overlooked for that "SUPER" athlete who is nothing but a total slacker who gets everything handed to them. Since my family has dealt with them for years now, you get the double- fisted, straight up in the air, flip off! This goes to the slacker and the promoter of said slackers!
A single, one handed behind my mother's back flip off goes to that woman at Braum's yesterday who thought she was gonna talk to me like I was the ugly stepchild! Needless to say, she got a piece of my mind when she brings out these fries on a tray and I nicely tell her that they were to go. She walks off mouthing ,loud enough for the whole restaurant to hear, something about "well, she says these were to go but that isn't what is on the ticket!" I didn't give her the finger then, she has my mom to thank for that, but I quickly informed her that no one had bothered to ask me if they were for here or to go!! So there, heifer...you got your finger today!!
I, too, would like to flip off all this stinkin' rain! A little bit goes a long way and we are trying to get 13 senior girls league softball players ready to play state softball in Ft. Worth and can't practice in 5 inches (a little exaggerated maybe) of mud and just how are we suppose to have fundraisers in the rain??? This is not an angered flip-off just a frustrated one!! Not near as harsh! ha!
Maria says we have to also have positives in our blog, so here are my high-fives!
A super high-five to my husband who after seeing me so upset with the way this new adventure that Chelsea and I have gotten ourselves into went Tuesday, promised to help and ACTUALLY DID! :)
Chelsea gets her own Mom high-five for being such a super daughter who continues to make me proud of her decisions in life. She is such a hard worker who puts so much into all she does!
High-five to Chance for always remembering to tell me he loves me even when I am ranting and raving! :)
I also have a co-worker at the hotel who deserves a high-five this week for going above and beyond what was asked of him to help me get ready for my Scentsy party! Kuddos Rodney!

And Maria, you and your smart blogger friend, get a high-five for this great idea! I feel stress free at this very moment and honestly, that's a first for this week!

Luckiest Girl in the world!

Today for Father's Day, I sent my dad an email! I know it's Father's Day and you should "tell" your dad how much you love him! Well, I did. I bought a gift, went by, hugged him, told him I loved him and spent a little time with him before I had to go to work but you know...sometimes it's hard to communicate to someone who means sooo much to you how truly blessed you are by them without gettin' all choked up and ruining it all! Hence, the email! I could write it, cry all by myself, and still let him know how very much he means to me without "ruining" it all! After it was all written, sent and "surprisingly" notice by Chelsea when she was helping him with his facebook, I thought I would share it with my blogging buddies! I wish I had a nickel for everytime someone complimented me on my dad or told me how very lucky I was to have him for a dad and granddad for my kids! I would be wealthy! So, for the many of you out there who think I take him for granted, read on!! I love my dad and try to tell him often how very much he means to me but know that no matter how many times I tell him it could never repay him for the unconditional love that he gives to so many, including his sometimes ungrateful daughter! I am the Luckiest Girl in the World because I am the daughter to the greatest man I have ever known!

Dad, wish I could find the words to tell you how very blessed I am to call you my DADDY! You have more integrity than anyone I know! I pray that I got all of your great qualities..honesty, hard-working, family-oriented, loving, and loyal. You have made an impression on more people than you will ever know! I could think of no better man to be a role model for my children and I hope that my children know how very blessed they are to have had such a remarkable man to be their Granddad! You need to know that if anyone ever asked me if I was ever loved, truly loved (faults and all), I can honestly and whole-heartedly say, "yes, my dad loves me and tells me often how very special I am and he always has thru the good times and the bad, and THAT is the greatest gift he could have ever given me!" I pray that I can be the kind of parent you have always been to me because I think that is the greatest gift I can give back to you...to love someone, your grandchildren, so fully and without reservations, as much as you have loved me!
Oh, and to love you back with every once of being that I am!! (That's the easy one!) Happy Father's Day, Daddy! I love, love, love you! Lisa :)

p.s. see how sweet he looks with my mom in this picture!

IN HONOR OF MY LADYCAT!

Chelsea and her teammates are headed to Seminole, Tx. to play for the Area Championship in softball! These LadyCats play well together and I honestly believe they have a shot at going in and bringing home the trophy this weekend. Of course, their competitor is suppose to be really good too but like I told the coach today, on any given day, any team can be beaten so . . .it may be interesting to see who wants this the most. I, of course, can not speak for all of these young ladies but I can speak for one, my daughter. She never ceases to amaze me with her determination, will, and love for the game of softball. She has taken the opportunity to participate as a member of this team and has run with it. She has continued to cheer on her teammates, to giggle, and smile in spite of the fact that she hasn't been allowed to contribute fully the way we know she can and the way that she would like to. You see, she is the designated player and plays only on the offensive side of the ballgame, which means she bats in place of someone else who plays in the field. She has played softball her whole life, loves the game more than anything else in this world, and has been a little deflated by the idea of only batting and not getting to help out her teammates on defense. I am very proud of the way she has handled this situation! She is often more mature and grown up about things than I ever expect her to be, and often a better person, than I ever could be. She still believes in trusting people and in taking someone for their word while I can only sit back and hope that she doesn't get burnt by the very people she wants to believe in more than anyone else. For now though, I know she will try and do her very best not for just her, but for her teammates, her coach, her family and for me!
HOW COULD I, AS HER MOTHER , NOT FEEL HONORED BY THAT? I AM SO VERY BLESSED TO BE YOUR MOM, CHELSEA "B", MY LADYCAT # 33!
Best of luck this weekend! Swing level, swing hard! Hands down, and follow thru but most of all....HAVE FUN AND BE U! :)

LOVE IS....

Chelsea has begun making plans for her 1st "real" Valentine's Day. She has been working really hard trying to make sure that her special someone has a Happy Valentine's Day and I have to admit I have been having a really good time helping her. You know, to be 16 and excited about sharing the day of Love with someone who you think you could never live without, someone who makes you laugh, who makes you smile, and who you want to stay on the phone with all night, awww...those were the days! :) And so very innocent!
Skip forward to being someone of my age and love is something totally (ok, not totally! LOL)different. I have been thinking alot about what love means to me today. Hence, my post today...

LOVE IS....

LOVE IS....The smile on Chance and Chelsea's face that always melts my heart.
LOVE IS....The "I Love You" and kiss CC gives me on his way to work.
LOVE IS....Dad always checking to make sure Sis is ok. (One of his names for me.)
LOVE IS....Having lunch waiting on me every school day prepared by mom & shared with Mark.
LOVE IS....Sharing laughs and tears with my children, family and dear friends.
LOVE IS....Butterflies in the pit of my stomach because my kids make me swell with pride.
LOVE IS....The excited barking my dog does to greet me everyday.
LOVE IS....Being able to crawl behind the wheel of my car and take off because CC scrapped ice.
LOVE IS....11 p.m phone conversations w/Chance, eventhough they don't last long!
LOVE IS....Being able to act crazy around Chels and her friends and them liking me anyway. :)
LOVE IS....Other kids calling me mom, telling me good morning, or promising to marry me someday! (yes, it is true!)
And last thought tonight but definitely not the least one,
LOVE IS....God's forgiveness for every wrong I have committed.

I could probably go on and on with this post. I am so very blessed and so very lucky to be loved by some very special people in my life. I regret ever letting a minute go by without telling them how much they mean to me or how they have enriched my life. To my children, you are my life and there is not a day go by that I do not thank the Lord for allowing me to be your mom. To CC, I wouldn't ever want to do this love thing with anyone else. To my mom and dad, you have made me who I am and given me the biggest shoes to fill by the example you have been. To my friends, thanks for sharing the good and bad with me and to God, you are amazing! Thank you for everything!

Lesson Learned

This post - short and sweet.

Lessons learned:

1.) To DO and DO, gets you DO-DO!

2.) Your children ARE stepping stones for someone (actually lots of someones!)

3.) Everyone is NOT treated equally regardless of how many times you hear otherwise!

4.) You should always ask what you can do for someone else, cause they are waiting for you to.

5.) Lots of times, it's not the good, the bad and the ugly....because the BAD always win!

Long time, no blog!

Wow! It has been a while, hasn't it! We have been sooo busy with work, volleyball and now basketball that I haven't taken the time to blog. But since it is Christmas time and one of my most favorite times of the year, I thought I would pause a minute and blog. My love for the holidays definitely comes from my parents! My dad is always sooo giving all year but around the holidays he is AMAZING! I think this is because of my mom and her love for Christmas! He loves to make her happy, sooo Christmas is the perfect time for him to do this!
My mom absolutely loves the holidays! For as long as I can remember, she has worked extremely hard and for days decorating the house, shopping, wrapping presents, making candy, etc...She wants everything to be just perfect! AND it always is! She and I have this tradition that we get up way too early the day after Thanksgiving and literally shop til we drop! This is probably my greatest, most enjoyable time to spend with Mom! For many, many years to come, shopping with my mom the day after Thanksgiving will be one of my greatest memories. Chelsea has been old enough for a while to go with us but this year, now that she is almost 16, I got to enjoy this tradition with the 2 ladies I love the most in this world! We had sooo much fun and truly enjoyed just spending time together!

On another note, this month is also a busy month because Chelsea's parents didn't do a very good job planning her arrival into this world and she has a birthday on the 18th. She will be 16! Ugh! I can't believe my baby will be 16! We are having a little party for her this weekend and that should be a lot of fun once it's here and all of the stress of planning it is over with! Will post more on the party, hopefully with some pictures soon! Until then, enjoy the season! Lisa

Someone Special's Birthday!

October 7th is a special day for a very special lady in my life. It is my Mom's birthday! She has always been a wonderful mother but I marvel at the kind of friend she is to me. I vent to her, I cry on her shoulder, I laugh with her, and I travel (ALOT) with her to ballgames, etc. She amazes me at how unconditionally she loves me. (I know some of you may have a hard time believing this, but I am not the easiest person to put up with, much less love!) And yet, she does and I know she does! I am soooo thankful that God blessed me with such a wonderful person to share my life with and the lives of my children with. She is my biggest cheerleader and the best role-model that anyone could ever ask for.

Mom, I love you and I hope your day is as special to you as you are to me! Happy Birthday!

Is it finally clickin'?

Wow! Seems like it has been forever since I last blogged!! I have been busy watching Chelsea play volleyball. She has been playing at least twice a week almost since school started. Her team has struggled, they have struggled since 7th grade actually. I think although there are several GOOD athletes, there are no standouts. Because several of them are on the same playing field, there are a lot of hard feelings among them when it comes to playing time or being moved up to varsity for some games and then back to jv for others. I believe this has hindered their ability to play together as a team as they have matured and better developed their abilities and skills in the game. Jealousy can be a hard pill to swallow and it is especially hard on girls! I have made this comment to many people, " I can't ever remember a time when Chance came home with stories of dislike either on his part toward someone else or against him that he had found out about." There is ALWAYS controversy when it comes to girls! I promise being a teenage girl is a much bigger challenge than being a boy. Boys duke it out and it's done and over, girls go for the juggler and if you ain't bleedin', they ain't quitin' and they have several girls to help if needed.
The team played this week in the Childress Tournament. It was nice to be able to watch these girls actually win several games. The smiles on their faces lit the whole gymnasium. Chelsea gets this desire or competitiveness, from where I don't know (yeah, right!), and she plays to win. She is always a little more bummed out than most of her teammates and is often "HOT" when the other girls come off the court laughing and making plans for after the game as soon as they have lost their behinds on the court. This week in volleyball was enjoyable for the Campbells. Winnin' may not be everything but if you don't strive to be the best then why bother??!!

Flag drill team

Chelsea is involved in something new this year, at least new for her. She is on the flag drill team. It has been a while since Childress had flag girls in the band and she is thrilled to a part of their return. The drill team had a feature in the pep rally this week and then marched, sort of, with the band at halftime on Friday. I am proud of her courage in getting out there and doing this and also proud of the amount of time she has put into doing it well.

Caution...love hurts!

I know it's been quite a while since I posted last but anyone who knows me, knows writing is a sort of therapy and more for my sanity than any thing else. I write when I am happy, proud, excited, mad and sad. I use my written words to thank people for all they do for my family and/or me or both. I write because sometimes things are easier for me to say in writing than face to face ( it's a lot easier to erase the written word than to take something back that may have been said in haste or out of anger.) Writing also allows me to tell those who mean the most to me, how much they mean to me without getting choked up or chickening out. There is one thing about my writing you can be sure of, however, it's that it comes straight from the heart and shot straight from the hip and that I have chosen my words to express exactly how I am feeling right then at that very moment. I may offend you, provoke you, sadden you or make you smile and usually whatever you feel when you finish reading my blog is exactly what I hoped for when I wrote it in the first place. This being said I can get into the short blog I got on here to post in the first place today. It goes something like this:

This week has been a very trying one for me and several in my life. I learned AGAIN first hand that love hurts! I learned that it is not always best to put yourself out there...to care for someone or something the way you want them to care for you or someone you care about. It isn't always best to treat others as you would hope they would treat you or your loved ones. I learned that broken hearts CAN make you physically sick! I have learned that questions like who, what, when, where and especially why often go unanswered (or have no legitimate answers anyway). I have learned that each person acts differently to hurt and I am dealing with this too. Some are quiet, some loud, some cry, some shutdown, some curse and some of us, do a little of it all!! I just wanted to caution you all , love is great, love is kind BUT... love also sucks, love hurts and if you don't watch out, it might just sneak up and bite you on the butt. "THIS WEEK", LOVE... wasn't worth it!! Later, Lisa

LOOK OUT FT. WORTH HERE WE COME!

Well, we are busy packing and getting ready for our trip to Ft. Worth for STATE softball. We have washed cars, baked goodies, made hamburgers and snocones, driven all over town asking for donations, and flocked almost everyone with the pink flamingos!! I am very humbled by the generosity that this community has shown toward Chelsea and her teammates. Everyone has been so kind and my family is so grateful.

I have said I know at least a hundred times since the girls have been put into this place of "a once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity that Chelsea is sooo excited. Actually, we all are!! She has supported Chance and his teams for so long: decorating cars, helping with fundraising, cheering and wishing from the stands that someday she would get her chance to shine. Well, here it is. SHE is the one going to the STATE tourney.

The girls will play on Friday at 7:30. We were suppose to play on Thursday but I guess we scared our opponent so much that they withdrew before we even got to Ft. Worth! LOL! Just kidding (on the scared part anyway.) I ask that you say a prayer for each of these young ladies and their families as we travel to the Metroplex. Ask that God keep them safe and injury-free. Wish us luck. And I only have one more thing to say, "Chelsea, girl, I am proud of you and how hard you have worked on and off the field to get yourself and your teammates to STATE! Have fun, play hard and leave it all on the field babe! This is a once-in-a-lifetime event!! Eat it up and remember, I LOVE YOU!

All-Stars 2009

Tomorrow Chelsea and about 10 of her teammates play in what could be the Area All-Star Championship Game. They have already played one game against each team in the tournament and won. They have beaten each team pretty handily and this makes me a little nervous going into tomorrow's game. You know, the big head thing!!! Anyway, she is pretty pumped about it. The team we play tomorrow will already have 1 loss, a loss against us, in the double-elimination tournament. We just need to beat them again and we are on our way to STATE in Ft. Worth the week of the 23rd.

Chelsea admitted to me today that she is a little torn about getting to go and play in Ft. Worth. You see, we are suppose to leave on vacation to Colorado that week. Fun Valley in South Fork, Colorado is "THE FAV" when it comes to my kids and she is torn. I think she is worried about letting Chance and the rest of the family down should the team make it to STATE. She, herself, has been counting down the days to Colorado and yet, she's really excited about the opportunity to get to go all the way in all-stars. I assured her we could do both, may have to take out a second mortgage on the house (LOL), but as always we will find a way. Besides, how many times in your life do you get a chance to play all-stars at the State level???? Now that's exciting!!

Anyway, we may be counting our chickens before they hatch. We have to get pass tomorrow's game with a win. Should we lose, we aren't out, we just have to play the same team on Friday and beat them then. Wish us luck!

And Chels...Hit 'em hard, swing level, throw 'em out, and give it everything you got, Girl! This may be your one and only chance and you love this game. PLAY IT!

Special visitors!

We recently had a couple of visitors to Childress. We have waited quite a while to finally get to meet them and I can honestly say we weren't disappointed. You see, Naomi and Tristan finally got to come to Childress. Tristan is Naomi's and Anthony's baby and oh, my gosh! We all fell in love with him. What a beautiful baby and how wonderfully God blessed Ant and Naomi! Naomi is a very sweet young lady and a terrific mom. We were all so very impressed! We had a wonderful time getting to know her and Tristan. If you ask me, I think Anthony is crazy if he doesn't make every effort to be in Tristan's life and if he lets this young lady walk out of his life, he's an idiot! You can see how much she cares for him and I, personally, am a little disappointed that Anthony hasn't made much effort to help her with "their" child. I could so go off on this subject but I won't. Anyway, Tristan is a doll and Naomi, beautiful. We enjoyed having them here in Childress and hope to get the chance to watch Tristan grow.

The Greatest Dad/Granddad Around!

These two photos of my dad and the kids are two of my favorites! They fit him so well. Anyone who knows him knows he's outgoing, friendly, stubborn, and yet, genuinely kind. He loves unconditionally and would give the shirt off his back to just about anyone. Dad loves his family with all that he is and the love he has for my mother is unlike any other. Growing up, I was so fortunate to have him as a dad and yet took for granted so many things, especially him! He is the greatest role model and I could ask for no better one for either of my children. He has taught us all sooo many things: how to ride bikes, fish, hunt, and play ball are just a few but the one thing this man has taught me is to no longer take for granted how very blessed we all are to have him in our lives. He loves life and lives it to the fullest daily (i.e. playing goofy with Chance in picture above) but his greatest gift has been to love us, through thick and thin, in times of disappointment and achievement, and even in times we couldn't love ourselves. This Father's Day I wanted to say, "Dad, I love you for the man you are, for the heart you have, and for the fabulous Grandfather you are to your Grandkids." We are soooo very blessed by you and I wouldn't want to go through this thing they call life without you!! Thank you for being the wonderful man you are! HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! You're the greatest!

Track meet pictures!

Picture info: top to bottom

Chance's roommate, Kewawn, and Chelsea

Chance

Chelsea and me

Bre' and Chance

Anthony and Abby (Ant's friend)

Making Memories!

Ok, so it's been awhile. A lot of things have been going on. We've had the end of school, friends graduating, and now, we are in Austin for the state track meet. Childress had 5 athletes competing in the meet, including Bre'Ann and Dontae. They are both good friends of the kids so when the opportunity arose for us to come and cheer them on, I couldn't resist. I mean afterall, I relish any time I get to spend with my own kids. They have grown so quickly and more times than not, don't want anything to do with spending time with me. They are so busy you know. I have really enjoyed myself and think both of them have too. There hasn't been even one moment when I have thought I could actually kill them. LOL! Sometimes, smart mouths and attitudes really get on my nerves! They have even gotten along with each other. (Another miracle in itself!) We head home tomorrow. Back to the grind of everyday life again. I want to treasure these times. I want to make memories with my kids that will last a lifetime, not my lifetime, theirs. Hopefully this weekend has been one they will cherish forever. Hopefully, someday, they will tell their children about times spent with mom the way I tell them about things my parents and I have done together. Afterall, memories are really the only things in life that are priceless! It may cost to make them, but the joy you get out of reliving them last way longer than the money it took to make them!
Will post some pictures later. Chance wants his computer. Myspace is calling his name. :) Lisa

Sports Banquet 2009

Wow! I can't believe this school year is almost over. Went to the Sports Banquet on Thursday and took some pictures. Chelsea, my Mom, and I went shopping for "the dress", jewelry, shoes, etc... about 2 weeks ago. She didn't pick the one I liked best, surprise, surprise!! She did look amazing though if I do say so myself! LOL! I can't believe that just yesterday I got to pick out what she would wear and she was sooo cute and now, she's beautiful and looks so grown up. She flip-flops between being a tomboy and a girlie-girl! I like her both ways actually. I think some day her prince will love the fact that she can dress up and wow his socks off and the next day, put on a pair of jeans, pull her hair back and bait a fishing hook with the best of 'em and enjoy herself while doing it. Someday, some guy is going to be sooo lucky! Whomever he is, he better treat her right and love her like she deserves to be loved! (or he'll have lots of us to answer to! ha!)

She got "THE" uniform!

Chelsea came home today from softball practice totin' a varsity Lady Cat uniform! She is soooo excited. As I have said several times in past posts, softball is her true love! She couldn't stop smiling and her mom couldn't wait to get pictures! She has worked very hard and even if she doesn't get a chance to play in playoffs, which start this week for the Lady Cats, she is officially part of the team and I couldn't be any more proud of her.

Chels, be proud of yourself. You earned your chance! Make the most of it and enjoy every minute of it! Go Lady Cats!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOM!

I AM SO BLESSED TO NOT ONLY CALL YOU MY MOM, BUT ALSO MY BEST FRIEND!