Young Wisdom

I read a blog post today.  Written by a young lady, whose family is known to me.

Her mom and dad are friends of mine.  

I thought I’d share.

So, if you have a second, go read Madison Cary’s post here.



Then, as Madison says, go love on somebody.

Happy Birthday, Jennifer and Madison.

The Brooke and Cash Chronicles Part 1

This past week found us smack-dab in the middle of the lives of Brooke and Cash, whose 60 year old grandfather Sam passed away, way before his time, last Tuesday.

My cohort in crime, Cash.

ThatManILove and I consider this family our extended family, from the kiddos all the way to the grandparents, so of course, we stepped in to help in any way we could.  We thought, “Oh, we’ll just do whatever is needed...we’ll help them pick up the slack.”

We’ve had some funny moments in a not-so-funny time...which, in retrospect, probably helped us, as well as the family, get through everything.

After leaving the grandparents house late Tuesday night, we show up at Brooke & Cash’ house Wednesday morning, both in our Sequoias, around 6:30 a.m.  ThatManILove goes immediately to the sheep pen, and starts feeding and exercising the show lambs.  I follow TMIL, driving up with breakfast for the family.  TMIL, for some reason, leaves his Sequoia running.  (this will be important later.)

Meanwhile, the neighbor gets nosy, and comes over to see “just who that is mucking around the property” and confronts TMIL.  He tells her that we’re there to help, and that the parental units know we’re there. (I don’t find this out until later.)  The kids’ father comes out to the barn and starts working.

As I’m taking over Mommy duties, I go wake the kiddos up, and feed them breakfast.  I have to leave to take Brooke to school about 8 a.m.  

About 7:50 a.m., I spy Brooke’s lunchbox...and realize it might need to be filled...before we leave.  I go ask Brooke about it, and she tells me what to pack.  Thanks, Brooke’s Mom, for planning ahead and having a cabinet/refrigerator full of food!  You saved me!  Whew!!

Brooke and I get her to school on time, and I come back out to the house.  Cash and I start cleaning up a bit.  Their dad comes in from the sheep pens, and gets ready for work (he has a practice to run) and TMIL comes in and starts helping Cash and I.  The neighbor returns, and starts helping as well.  She makes some remark about TMIL’s car is “still running”.  I don’t even put two and two together. (Keep this in the back of your head.)

We grab some laundry to take it to our house, along with Cash.  We get out to my car, and realize we have no booster seat (he’s 5).  I’ve got to take him to get a dress shirt for the funeral, so we head to the mall.  

Cash:  “Janie, I don’t feel comfortable without my booster seat.”

Janie:  “I know, buddy.  Your mom and dad are in the next town, so I can’t bother them right now.  Make you a deal.  As soon as we get your dress shirt, we’ll go buy you one.  ToysRUs is in the next parking lot, and that’s where we can buy it.”

Cash:   "Well, okay.  But I'm supposed to be in a booster."

We go to store 1 - no dress shirts.  Store 2 has a multitude, but none in his size  (5) in the desired color...so I, to his utter dismay, grab a pink one for him to try on. He’s just not having it.

Cash:  “Janie, I don’t like pink shirts.”

Janie:  “Cash, I just grabbed it so I could see what size you’ll wear, okay?”

Cash:  “Okay...but I’m serious.”

Janie:  (Please, God, let them have a blue one in his size.) “I got ya, Cashman. No pink.”  He won’t even try it on.

This kid cracks me up.  We find a blue one in the right size (6 - yup, he’s grown...or , looking at him now, maybe the shirt I grabbed for him this morning was a wee bit smaller than I initially thought!)  We’re checking out, and of course, there’s a huge gum ball machine at the register.  So, I have to break a one for quarters.  Cash-man promises not to eat them until after we go eat lunch.  And, he doesn’t!

We go to the car, he hops in the backseat, and I buckle him in.

Cash:  “Janie, can we go get my booster seat now?”

Janie:  “Yes, sir, we’re on the way.”

Cash:  “Do we have to go out on the street?”

Janie:  “Yes, we have to cross that street right there, and go into the next parking lot.”

Cash:  “But you’ll be careful, right?  Because I need my booster seat.  I’ll feel better.”

Janie:  “I’ll drive carefully, I promise.  You’re precious cargo.”

I say a little prayer for safety, we make it to ToysRUs, and Cash picks out his booster seat for our car.  And then, he asks if he can get a toy.

We’re on a time schedule.  I tell him if we get all our chores done, ThatManILove or I will bring him back, and he can shop.

Cash: “Well, because it’s been a pretty hard day, and I worked... a lot.”

Janie:  “Yes, it has been, and yes, you’ve worked your little patooty off.  You so deserve a toy.”

Cash:  “When your conference call is over, will you bring me back?”

Janie:  “I will.  I promise.  How’s that booster seat?”

Cash:  “It’s good.  I feel better now.  Are we gonna go meet TMIL for that hot dog? Coz I’m hungry.”

Janie:  “Yes, sir.  We are on the way.”

Cash:  “Okay.  I just want cheese on my hotdog.  And a Pepsi.  And BarBQ Chips.  Okay, Janie?”

God, I love these two kids.  Soooo thankful we’re part of their lives.

They crack me up…messing with my photo moments!

To be continued...

Some Companies Do Care…and United Airlines Rocks

I will never trash United Airlines.

Wednesday found ThatManILove and I on board a United Airlines flight, headed towards Denver on a business/AADE National Board meeting/fun trip.  We were close to the point where they tell you, “Ladies and gentlemen, the door is shut, please power down your electronic items.”

And I got the word that one of our friends had unexpectedly passed.  Our friend also is our little friend Brooke's grandfather.

I immediately started looking at a schedule online...trying to already get back home, before we’d even left.  (Not an easy thing to do, when you're trying to get back to Midland, Tx.)  ThatManILove took one look at that schedule, and stood up to go talk to the stewardess.  She stopped the last passengers attempting to board, and we gathered our things and left the plane.

The baggage handlers met us on the walkway, offered their condolences, and asked us for our baggage tags.  We each had a suitcase, and a shotgun case.

We walked up to the main terminal, and around to the United counter...where they refunded our airfare, brought our luggage, gave us their condolences, and sent us on our way.  Hotel?  Refunded every cent.  Rental car?  Refunded every cent.

There are still good people in this world, and they are people that care.

Thank you, United Airlines.  Thank you, Golden Hotel in Golden, Colorado, and thank you, National Car Rental.  

You all helped helped ease our way on a very tough day.

Prayers Needed For Rosaria

Those of us who blog develop, over time, relationships with our commenters, who are most usually bloggers.  One of my constant commenters, as I ventured forth on this new blog, has been Rosaria of Sixty-Five What Now.   Her blog is a delight to read, and her journey amazing.  She is sweet, peaceful, and is a deep well.  

I’m writing to ask you to please keep Rosaria and her family in your prayers and thoughts.

She lost her youngest son, her beautiful son, Brian, this past Sunday.  

They all enjoyed the July 4th weekend together, along with Brian’s beautiful fiancee Janet.

Lord, I pray you settle peace and comfort over this family as they mourn for their son - their sibling and friend. 

Dancing With Jesus

Darling sweet girly-girl,

Your aunt Patty texted me tonight about ordering some of your pictures, so I reviewed the albums of your family, and had to write you a letter.  As a sometimes photographer, I see lots of things and people through the lens of my camera.  Last year, I was asked by your mommy to take some photos of you and your brother, and I was blessed to  “see” you. 

I’ve known your mommy since she was a little girl, not too many years older than you were in our session.  You, your brother Eli, and your mommy made my day, that Sunday.  I picked y’all up at your house, and we got Starbucks.  We went to the museum, and y’all posed and played and smiled for me.  We went to the lake, and you talked to the geese and ran scared, long hair streaming, when the gander came after you.  You took your red sparkly flats off, and hung your bare feet through the rails over the lake, and I remember you had on red toenail polish that matched your sparkly red headband. 

You three were an absolute joy to photograph, and I fell in love with you all.  I saw how much you love your mommy and your big brother, and how much they love you, their sweet Cameron.  You flirted for the camera, you ran, you climbed, you played with flowers, you and Eli held each other, and both of you held your mommy.  You did everything I asked you, and more.  I took the most amazing shots of y’all, but it wasn't about me - it was about y'all.  You all have so much love, it easily transfers to the photographs.  In one photo, a sunbeam is shining down on the three of you, it looks so special, and you all are so beautiful. Even now, when I review the photos, I can see your heart.  How much you love.  How much you care.  How you embraced everything.  You are fearless. And beautiful.

Little Boogie, your mommy calls you.  And Cam-Cam, you are to your big brother Eli.

Your special name for your mommy is Ma moo, and Eli's special name, LiLi.

Girly-girl, I know you had an amazingly fun 6th birthday party with Jesus yesterday.  I bet Jesus danced with you, the way he did the day He welcomed you into Heaven.   I can see you in a red sparkly poofy petticoated dress, much like your red recital dress, spinning and whirling.  Words cannot express, but I know.  It gives me peace. 

Oh, you beautiful little girly-girl.  I miss your glorious smile, your twinkling eyes, your beautiful hair, your adventurous spirit, the way you loved on your mommy and your big brother, and every single person you met. You met life with wide-open arms, and to love and be loved was your absolute design factor.  I am so honored to have met you.  

We miss you, Cameron.

You are forever loved.

Cracked

I am so unsettled this week.  My world has cracked.

Sunday, a week ago, we had winds in excess of 60 mph.  And we’re in a drought in this western part of the country.  Drought + wind + any unknown incident = raging, running, life-taking fires.

Fires that eat up miles and miles, and swallow whole anything that gets in their way.

There was a 7 car pileup on Interstate 20 on Sunday, due to this raging fire, and a life was lost.

A young, beautiful, 5 year old sweet girly-girl - an awesomely gorgeous, precocious, smart young lady.

The same young girl I photographed, along with her big brother, back in November.

I have friends who have lost a child.  It is horrifically sad.  And now, another friend, and yet another child.

I am friends with the little girl’s mom and have known her since she was a wee lass, herself.  I have absolutely nothing to say to her...all I can do is hold her.  There are no words.  

I am absolutely heartbroken.

We all are.

Rest in peace, sweet baby girl.  You are forever loved.

LoveLoveLove

Taking Time to Grieve

Last night, I called to check on one of my young friends.  She had suffered a tremendous loss recently - her boyfriend had passed away unexpectedly, due to a medical complication.

And they were in love.  Their relationship was somewhat complicated by distance - he lived in Houston, she on the other side of the country...but they made it work.

A young person’s death is always a shock.  It seems so out of time, for a young person to be there one day, and gone the next.  I knew this young man professionally, and we had worked together in a professional industry organization. He was a young man of much excellence and promise, and had just accepted an overseas assignment in the oil industry.

I was pleasantly surprised to hear that my friend was in town, and we quickly arranged to meet at the local Starbucks.  When I saw her, we just hugged.  She’s such a beautiful, sweet lady - my heart is breaking for her.

We talked for a bit, and she downloaded some of the ups and downs of her past days.  She is such a pillar of strength, and had helped the young man’s family in so many ways.  I was glad she had come back home from the services to be in the arms of her family.

As she enjoyed her hot chocolate and I, my chai tea, the funny stories started coming out.  This girlie has such a fun, quirky sense of humor, and it seems that our friend really appreciated that side of her.  

I laughed and laughed as one story tumbled into another, and we read text messages between the two that were the stuff comedy writers only dream of creating.  I’m so very glad that she has such tangible proof of their love.

If you think of it, please pray for my friend as she begins to heal.  She is so very precious to me, and to many others.  She is a precious, fine jewel. I know this loss will only temper her brilliance, and make her shine all the more. And I know the Lord holds her in His arms.

And I’m so very thankful.