Weekend Happenings

Good Friday morning!

Well, this is going to be different. This will be the shortest post I've EVER written. I am unable to make myself write much of anything. I think my mind and body are shutting down to enable me to get through this day. That being said, here are the few things I will share with you...

I know the picture of Sparkle is a little disturbing... But once we realized she was alive, it was pretty funny. (At least, I thought it was funny!)

NOTE TO JOAN - Thanks for the warning regarding AP's upcoming birthday and "new driver status." I have written it on my calendar, and I will remind (Code for WARN) the blog readers a little closer to time.

NOTE TO CAM (I THINK) - Thank you for your prayers yesterday. I know you've "been there, done that" twice... and done it well, I might add. I hope I'll be half the "college parent" you and Jeff are.

If it's okay with everyone, I'll write an addition to this post when we get home late this afternoon. (You can tell I'm not myself. I NEVER add to a post, and I NEVER post between Friday afternoon and Sunday afternoon. I'm breaking one of my cardinal rules.)

The Book of the Week will be added this afternoon, too. (See. Totally "un-Belinda" like.)

Take care, and I'll talk to you later. (I hope you all have a very pleasant Friday. Remember me as my heart shatters into a million pieces around 3:00 p.m. today. Literally... I'm not kidding... I don't think I can survive this one... I have got to get some stronger medication!)

UPDATE (6:30 A.M. FRIDAY MORNING) - One morning, a long, long, long time ago (it seems it was just yesterday, actually), Mikie and I put a tiny, bundle of blue in a carseat in the back of our car and made the agonizingly long trip to Cullman (where we were living at the time). He drove 55 miles per hour on the interstate, and we both thought it was too fast.

"What are we going to do?" I remember asking. And Mikie knew exactly what I was thinking.

"I don't know. They gave us all the books, classes, movies, and more books about actually giving birth, but they don't even hand you so much as a pamphlet when you leave the hospital with a brand new human. It's not right, I tell you," he mumbled.

"What are we going to do?" I asked again.

As tears stream down my face this morning, many, many, many years later (it seems like only a few minutes, actually), I'm asking myself that question again? "What are we going to do?"

UPDATE (7:09 A.M. FRIDAY MORNING) - The tears have stopped. Now I have to deal with a "sob headache" the rest of the morning. I'm saying my verse for the day (over and over over and over) to help calm me. "Be anxious for nothing, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication with THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known to God. And the PEACE OF GOD, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7.

UPDATE (10:23 A.M. FRIDAY MORNING) - Josh and Roxie just finished washing Austin's "new-to-him" red truck, and we're getting ready to load. I wanted to share my last in-home letter to Austin before we leave.

Hey, Babe:

Just a couple of things…

Homesickness - Homesickness is simply missing things from home. Things you are accustomed to. People you are used to talking to. Food you are accustomed to eating, etc. It is very real, but there are ways to make it better.

1. TALK to as many friends and family members as you want on your phone. Hearing familiar voices will help. (It will never be too late at night to call me or Dad. NEVER!)

2. TEXT as many friends and family members as you want on your phone. Keep in contact with the people you love most. (It will never be too late at night to text me or Dad. NEVER!)

3. FACEBOOK often. Until you get your computer, when you have a chance you can drive to the library and use their computers. They have a ton of them in the lobby. I’ll be delivering a computer to you sometime next week. (Something to look forward to!)

4. READ books you love.

5. WATCH movies you love.

6. STAY INVOLVED in your brother’s and sister’s lives. They will be homesick for you, too.

7. CALL Grandma and Grandpa if you need to have breakfast with someone you love before band camp or classes start. They would love to meet you (and they get up really, really early!)

8. VISIT Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Becky and Uncle Guy, Brandi and Jared (Matthew) or Jared. Call first, but they will always want to see you.

AND LASTLY…

9. READ YOUR BIBLE often (EVERY DAY).

10. PRAY often (MANY TIMES DURING THE DAY). KNOW there are MANY, MANY people praying for you each and every day.

11. GET INVOLVED. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to have a meal with you. You will need to be the one to reach out. Don’t wait for someone else to reach out to you.

YOU ARE WORTH KNOWING. You always have been.

The only other thing I would say is BALANCE, BALANCE, BALANCE.

Sleep, eat well (5 fruits or vegetables a day), lots of water, and exercise. Keep your body physically fit, and you’ll feel better mentally, too.

SEE YOU SUNDAY… and I imagine we’ll be talking tonight and tomorrow some, too.

LOVE YOU,

MOM

P.S. You can do this, Austin. You can do this, and you can do it well. It’s the kind of person you are. Granddaddy would be so proud of you. Keep your commitments to God (no drinking, no drugs, no pornography). You’re going to be a great success!

UPDATE (6:17 P.M. FRIDAY NIGHT) - He's all moved in and "settled." I'm a little numb and a lot sad. That's it for today, folks. I'll put the book with Monday's post.

Have a wonderful weekend!