Class of 1998 Valedictorian Speech

I came across my valedictorian speech and thought it would be fun to share on my blog.  In 1998, there were several of us Oak Hill High School valedictorians that were allowed to speak to our graduating class.  Here was my contribution:

"As we come here today to celebrate how smart we have become, I have one final exam for the class of '98.  Just four quick questions. For the OHHS class of 1988, that's just 10 years ago, how many games did the football team win?  Who was the captain of the basketball team? Who was Miss OHHS? And lastly, who was the valedictorian?
Does anyone know the answer to all these questions?

I didn't think so.

For the last four years we have defined success by these criteria. What grade did you make? Who's the most popular?

Ten years from today, who will really care if Debbie Bragg was a valedictorian?

If today's successes are forgotten so quickly, were we really successful at all? Instead of striving for things that will soon be forgotten, maybe we should define success by a different standard.

In his poem, Success, Ralph Waldo Emerson said true success means, 'to laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition. To know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.'

Jesus Christ put it this way, feeding the hungry, helping the homeless, clothing the poor, nursing the sick, and visiting the lonely--these things will be the things which shall last.

Throughout the past four years, I have gained a great deal of knowledge in the classroom, but the greatest lesson I have learned is this: Jesus Christ gives us the guidance we need to truly be successful. He gives me the ability to overcome all limitations and the courage to stand up for my beliefs even if I'm standing alone.

Ten years from now, I don't want to be remembered for the grades I have earned. It's not the things I've done but who I've encouraged that matters. Therefore, I encourage you, the class of 1998, to blaze your own trail by finding success in things which shall last."


**Thank you to Pastor Steve Willis who was a guide and mentor during the tough high school years**

It All Comes Back To Bacon

The kids are learning about the Pilgrims and the Iroquois in history.  So, of course, all pretend play currently revolves around the things they have been learning. Today on our morning walk they decided to take their toy bows and "hunt" animals for our dinner.

I always say that Abby is my "Caedmon Translator" because I often have a hard time understanding what he is saying.  He has trouble with certain letter sounds (especially the "R" sound) and Abby is really good at deciphering his words. However, even this one was tough for her. 

This is how my conversation went with Caedmon:

C:  I just shot a wall bird!

Me: A wall bird?

C:  No. A wall bird.

Me: A Robin?

C: NO!  A WALL bird.

Abby: Oh. I know!  A ROB-ber?

C: NOOOO.  A WAAALLL bird.

Me: A wall bird? Like, a bird on a wall?

C: NOOO MOMMY!  A WALL BIRD...you know, like BACON!

Me: Ooooh!  A RAW bird. 
C: Yeah...you know it is wall before we cook it!

So, the next time  you eat bacon...remember the wall birds!!

Birthday Presents for Daddy

It's tough to find a gift for Daddy's birthday that is useful and meaningful and cheap!  It's even more difficult to find something that the kids can make without it being too "girly" and "crafty".

BUT OH, we had fun with this little treasure!
 Super-Hero inspired paper weights!

We got the idea from one of Abby's craft books: "Family Fun: Cut and Easy Crafts."

The kids went outside and found 4 good sized rocks from the driveway.  We brought them in, washed and dried them.

Then I put them in the oven on top of aluminum foil for 15 minutes at 350*.

Pulled them out and put them on a paper plate and let the kids color/paint them with crayons.  The crayons melt onto the hot rock and creates a really cool, shiny look.  To add the swirls, we used a 2nd crayon and pressed it down in certain spots until it started to run.

BE VERY CAREFUL with little ones however...Caedmon will be the first to tell you that it HURTS if you touch the rocks!!  They are HOT! 

We also created a Mod Podge version.  The kids took red tissue paper and Spider-man stickers and pressed it onto a rock then painted over it all with Mod Podge.  A couple of hours later, it's perfectly shiny and set!

So, from left to right we have: Red and Blue for Spider-man, Black and Yellow for Batman, A Spidey Mod Podge, and a Green Kryptonite (my favorite one!)  Superman paper weight.

Dear Hubby is rockin' it out in his office today!

Happy Birthday, PJ!

Debbie Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup

My kids have had a cold all week, so I decided to try my hand a chicken noodle soup to ease their "suffering" and offer some TLC.

It was really yummy!

Here is my recipe:

4 chicken breasts
6 potatoes cubed
1 bag of frozen carrots
1 bag of frozen green beans
1/2 onion chopped
1-2 cups of elbow macaroni
1/2 tbsp of oil
1 tbsp salt
1/2 tbsp pepper
1 tsp of garlic powder
1 1/2 tbsp of chicken bouillon powder (I found some at the Dollar Tree, and seriously I use it every time I make a chicken dish. It's also good in black bean soup).
1 cup chicken stock

Combine the oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, chicken bouillon powder, onions, chicken and potatoes in the slow cooker on high for 5 hours. Add enough water and/or chicken stock until all the ingredients are covered.  Add the carrots, green beans and macaroni an hour before serving. (I cooked the macaroni separate on the stove before adding.)

We ate our soup with scratch made "drop" biscuits.

Yum!

Happy Father's Day

I have a confession to make.  I don't like buying cards.  When looking for the perfect card, I will spend an hour in the card section pouring over every. single. one. which fits my occasion.  Then, I will spend approximately 21 minutes analyzing my top 3 choices.

Is it manly (or feminine) enough?
Is it too cheesy?
Will he (or she) understand the joke?
I like the picture on this one, but the words are better in that one.

 Once I'm finally to the point of sweating, fussing, and over-analyzing... frazzled to no end, I will pick a card.  Or...if I simply can't decide between 2, I will buy both.

 I justify that our relationship is so multifaceted that one card simply cannot sum up what the person means to me.  Then I turn the cards around only to discover that they are  $5.93!  EACH! GAH!  But by that point, I've already committed half of my day picking out the right card(s).

I have another confession to make. I'm cheap.  I would much rather spend an extra $6.00 (or $12.00) on a gift for someone than on decorative paper.

I especially hate buying cards for my husband or my kids because after finding the perfect card(s), then I alone am responsible for finding the perfect place to STORE the perfect $6.00 card.

This year for Father's Day, I took a different approach.  I took my husband to Target and after picking out my favorite 2 cards, I handed them to him to read.  After the warm and fuzzies, I smiled and said "Happy Father's Day!  Those are your cards!" Then I took his picture with his cards to memorialize the moment. And, I put them back on the shelf.

Husband felt loved and was able to enjoy a funny card and a beautiful, serious card.
I didn't have to spend $12.00 to achieve his sense of feeling loved.
I found the perfect place to store the perfect cards!
And, without the burden of committing to $12.00 cards, choosing the perfect cards took less than 10 minutes!

Happy Father's Day! 

Happy 1st Birthday, Caleb!

This time last year, I was in the hospital enjoying chocolate cake and holding my newborn! <sigh>

 In my hospital room after you were born, I had the song "You Revive Me"  playing on repeat during my entire hospital stay.  One thing that the Lord really impressed upon me during that time was to rest in Him and allow Him to revive me.  I'm so glad I did.  Now, I have such sweet memories of being still before the Lord, while enjoying my newborn!

You've learned a lot in the past year, Caleb Justus!  Some of your favorite things right now include: food of any kind, laughing at your brother, playing with your sister's hair, snuggling with Mommy, rolling around on the couch, cruising the furniture, all music and staying up late to watch  "Art and Music" with Daddy.


Happy Birthday, Caleb Justus!! 

It is 6:15am and it's his birthday...can we wake him up yet????

Enjoy your last few minutes of sleep, buddy!

I love my diapers from Aunt Becky!

Breakfast at the "big" table!  Now that you are one, you can join us! :)

1st gift is from brother.  Caed picked out his old plate, bowl, toy keys and toy dog for Caleb.

Yay! Keys!

Both Abby and Caedmon included notes for Caleby.  Abby's said "Abby love" and had a heart, and peace sign. Caed's said, "I love you, Caleb from Caedmon"

Abby gave him her old doggie and froggie

He likes ripping paper.

  I love Maddie's face. She's like, "Who is that OTHER Wonder Woman?"

Super Kids!

Super hero Little People.  He was thrilled!

Finally has his own laptop from Auntie Des and Maddie!

Loves his blocks from Nana and Poppy!

Little People farm (Abby's and Caed's first Christmas presents! ha!). Always a big hit!

Every party needs a pirate.

Yay! 

Yum!

Yum!

Yum!

Bath to follow!

Thank you Uncle Robbie for my boat set.  I love it!

Happy Birthday Mom!

May 23rd is my Mom's birthday! It is the 4th anniversary of her 16th birthday!  Isn't that special?  She becomes even more dear to me as the years go by! 

My earliest memories of my mom are ones of comfort.  I used to love to cuddle up next to her as we watched tv.  When I was hurt, heart broken or just nervous about something, her hugs were always, always enough to help and give me strength.  I think that one of my favorite "tasks" as a mom, myself, is being the one to comfort my kids when they are sick or sad.  I love being that person for them, and I think it is because I had such a good model of that comfort and love.

My mom is unbelievably strong.  She probably doesn't see her self this way, and would never admit to you that she has such deep strength within her bones...but let me tell you, I've seen this woman endure A LOT.  When most people give up, she steadily keeps moving forward...day after day.  She is fearless when it comes to facing obstacles.  My kids have learned a phrase this year at school "I don't give up, I persevere".  Every time they recite that line, I think of my mom.  She is an excellent example for me and her grandchildren.

And the patience this woman displays...I can't even tell you all the many ways I've tested her in this area.  I claim most of any gray hair she has!  If I could have just 1/4 of the patience that she has, I'd be rich! Thank you, Mom, for putting up with SO. MUCH. 

Mom is also very funny. From humorous stories on the phone, to comic strips that she sends through the mail, she loves to laugh and always looks for ways to brighten our days! She and PJ have a very special relationship. We love to joke about how PJ was actually her boss when he proposed to me.  He was a youth pastor and she was the church secretary.  How could she have said no when he asked permission to marry me?!  Mom and PJ  love to pick on each other and laugh together.  Sometimes, I think she even loves him more than she loves me! :)

 Her creativity shines through in the little details she draws on envelopes of letters she sends, in the ways she has decorated her home and in her ability to make and decorate cakes.  For years, I have taken for granted all those cakes she made for me.  She could do anything I asked for from little-girl Strawberry Shortcake and My Little Pony cakes to great, big, fancy, gotta-have-a-fountain-under-it, wedding cakes!   I used to pour over the Wilton cake catalogs and dream of my wedding cake. When the day finally came,  I took my two favorite pictures and my mom created it perfectly!

Her grand-kids think she is absolutely wonderful!  I asked them today about why they love Nana-Banana.  Here were their answers:

Caedmon: She opens popsicles for me when I feel lonely.  She plays with me. She gives BIIIG hugs. She lets me play with her typy-thingy (calculator). She's cool. I love her.

Abby: She is fun and funny. She lets me have sleepovers and camp-outs.  I love her hair and glasses.  She is the awesomest-cool!

Caleb: Thuuung! (I think only Nana knows what that means!)
 

Mom, you are a woman of most (awesomest) excellence and you are leaving a rich legacy! I am learning to be a faithful mommy because I have you to look to.  I love you so very much!  Happy Birthday!

Happy 4th Birthday Caedmon Alexzander!

1 month

1 year

2 years

3 years

4 years

I simply cannot believe that Caedmon is 4...I can't believe we made it this far! :)

This morning, he woke up asking if it was finally his birthday.  When I told him yes and that he is now 4 years old he started jumping around and squealing: "I'm 4! I'm 4! I'm 4!"   Such an exciting time!  I love his enthusiasm...even at 6:28am!

I interviewed Caedmon today because I love discovering how he thinks and processes life.

 Me: Caedmon, what were you doing this time 4 years ago?
Caed: Camping out inside.
 <this was funny to me because he was, in fact, 2 days past his due date>

 Me:  Do you remember being born?
Caed: Yes!

Me: What was it like?
Caed: It was good, but I was sad and cried because I couldn't eat chips yet.

Me: Before you were born, did you play any games in my belly?
Caed: Yes! Mario Brothers!

 Me: Do you remember what you were thinking the first time you saw me?
Caed: I remember that you were pretty.
<melt my  heart!>

Me: What did you like about being 3?
Caed: I didn't like being 3.

Me: What is the best thing about turning 4 years old?
Caed: That I get to eat dairy free pizza and I will obey.

Me: What do you want to be when you grow up?
Caed: A scientist

I love you SOOOOO much, Caedmon-Roo!  I can't wait to see what this year holds for us!! Happy Birthday, son!

Happy Birthday Desiree!

Today is my best friend's birthday! She is now, officially, only 1 year younger than me!  In honor of the birthday girl, today's post is about Desiree Gentala, my bestie!

One of the funny things about our friendship is that we both have bad memories, maybe that's why we've been friends for so long! In preparation of writing this blog, I had to actually brainstorm with Des about the details of how our friendship began.

Way back in 2004, our husbands were in seminary together. They became fast friends and so naturally wanted to introduce the wives into the friendship. My first meeting of Des took place outside the Gentala apartment, which happened to be in the same neighborhood as ours, literally 2-3 minutes away from each other. We headed to the annual Liberty University Block Party, and spent the evening enjoying  a lot of great laughs and lively conversation. I loved hearing Des and Luke's stories about going to school at LU, their friends and memories and how they met. I felt sure that this was the beginning of a great friendship.

The four of us went to a play at LU together (though none of us can remember the name of the play!).We had them to our apartment for dinner and talked late into the night. Likewise, they had us over to their place.  Such lovely times.

And then it happened.  We played the game that nearly ended our budding friendship. Luke and Des love board games.  Neither PJ nor I grew up playing a lot of games, but we thought it would be fun.  Des pulled down the game "Don't Make Me Laugh", explaining that the point of the game is for one team to try to make the other team laugh.  READ:  If you want to win, you don't want to laugh.   READ: Terrible game when you are just getting to know each other because no one (especially people-pleasers like me and my beloved bestie) wants to make the other person feel bad and not laugh at their jokes. READ: awkward. Soooo....long story short.  PJ and I lost, by a landslide. (But I'll let PJ explain to you why we lost).

And that was the end.  Life got busy.  All 4 of us were working and/or in grad school.  We lost contact with our new BFF neighbors.  I wondered if it was because of the game.  Des wondered if I just didn't like them.  We never talked about it again.  In fact, we rarely even saw each other.

Then about 2 years later, we ran into the Gentalas at Wal-Mart.  I was pregnant with Abby and Des remembers that I was buying Activia yogurt. It was a slightly awkward scenario, but so very pleasant.  I walked away wishing that we could revive our friendship because I really liked Desiree.

Annnnd...from there, Neither Des nor I have any recollection of what happened next. We moved to a new apartment when Abby was 11 months old and some how Des and I reconnected and became instant friends again.

I loved those days.  We took an online class together and we hung out every week drinking coffee, making food, sharing and growing.   And we have been best friends ever since.  We have now added 4 kids to the mix for our almost weekly get-togethers, so it is often difficult to focus on conversation with all the interruptions, but it has been such a joy to watch our kids grow to love one another as well!

In honor of Desiree Gentala, and our 9-ish years of friendship, here are 9 things about her for which I'm thankful:

1. She is crazy-funny!  I love her stories.  She can always find the humor in situations and make me laugh. Even if we both have to write down the event on post-it notes just to remember the funny details, it's always delightful! (And yes, we have each brought post-it notes, full of information to talk about,  to our weekly coffee dates...which reminds me, I need to buy more post-its!)

2. Des is fashionable!  She is my guide in fashion. I jumped off the fashion train somewhere in the early 2000's and then hit the brutal rocks of motherhood and t-shirts.  Des keeps me up-to-date with what looks nice from scarves and shoes to hair and accessories.  She is definitely, my go-to person when I need fashion help!

3. She is genuine. I love this about her!  Des knows herself well and she seeks to know others well.  She doesn't hide the fact that she has struggles in her life.  Rather she uses those struggles to reach a common ground with other people.  She is amazingly good at conversation because she makes other people feel so comfortable and important to her.

4. She is a pray-er.  She prays for people.  I know for a fact that she prays as she walks each day.  If she says that she is going to pray for you, you can count on the fact that she will. She is one of only a handful of people that I can text and say "Please pray" and I KNOW that she will!

5. I am completely convinced of this one.  I have never met someone as giving as Desiree.  This girl seeks out opportunities to serve others, it's almost like breathing for her.  From meal trains to late night runs to Wal-Mart to buy cosmetics for a strange (and sometimes vain) best friend, Des is always willing to help someone in need.

6. Des is healthy! She strives daily to honor God with her body.  She eats well and exercises well.  She is doing it right and it inspires me to take better care of my body.  Des has come a long way in this journey and I'm so very proud of her for it! 

7. She is an amazing wife and mommy.  I've watched her interact with her beautiful daughter and I'll tell you this: Des is consistent!  I have a lot to learn from her in this department!  She is doing an amazing job with Maddie!  And she loves her husband.  She strives to honor him with her words as much in private with a close friend as she would in public.  Luke, know that Des has your back through thick and thin!

8. She loves coffee as much as I do.  If you know me, you know this is important. And she knows my cream to sugar to coffee ratio. 

9. Des has a brilliant British accent which makes sophisticated events much more fun!  And with the accent, comes a vast and wonderful knowledge of British tv shows and movies.   She has great taste!

And 10. (Because I hate to end on an odd number): My daughter Abby is totally CONVINCED that Desiree is her dear friend too.  Caedmon calls Des "Auntie".  Abby calls her "Friend".  And that is because Des ALWAYS includes Abby into the conversation as an equal.  Des, thank you for making Abby important as well.  You know that means the world to me! 


I've always heard the saying: "Be careful of the company you keep."  It's true, friendships mold us.  I'm so thankful to share a friendship with Desiree because she helps me go deeper in my relationship with Jesus.  She encourages me to keep going when I'm ready to quit.  She helps me see the good in others.  I am a better person for having known her! 

Happy Birthday, my friend!

Everything 100

We had so much fun celebrating 100 today!

Today was also the birthday of our dear little friend Maddie.  We were thrilled to have her join us today as we also celebrated her 3rd birthday!

100!

My wonderful husband inflated most of the 100 balloons!

This kid woke up at midnight. PJ brought him into the living room to rock back to sleep but he caught sight of the balloons and just had to play!

Lots of squeals!

Decorating the 100 cake.

He is brilliant!

Love Starfall.com!  Playing the 100th day of school game.

"100" pancakes

Happy Birthday sweet Maddie!

Ham and cheese sandwiches, banana and strawberries

A 100 piece puzzle, thank you Nana for this contribution!