Time Is A Thief

Wow… It’s been so many years since I last blogged to my girls ! So many times I’ve heard “mom I miss reading your blogs “ . Now look at me , almost fooooooooorty years old ( not really) and can’t figure out how to upload a picture on the blog anymore … times have changed. 

Cha baby….. I’ll start with you! I can’t believe you are  a week shy of being 8 years old . And this picture is exactly how you have made me feel since you came into this world .  Sis, let me tell you …. your testimony is already a testimony full of Gods grace . In your short 8 years of life you have survived the odds of making it into the world , overdosed on foot cream, broke your leg on the trampoline and broke your arm when you tripped and fell walking to the car 🫣 

I refuse to upload the picture from the overdose … I’m still not ok… 7 years later .. by far the scariest thing we have ever experienced as parents .

Since the last blog… you are still just as fun, smile just as much and continue to shine in every room you enter. 

Oh I love your little personality so much ! I wish I could get time to stand still . Other than that, not much has changed . You still have the same best friend , still love to aggravate bray, still mad at sissy for moving out 3 years ago etc..etc…

I have never found anything you don’t have fun doing ! You love church, cheer, softball, dog hunting and shopping! You love talking about God and boy do your prayers move mountains … you have what we call a “grandmothers prayer” it’s the sweetest sound . I long for the day you accept Jesus into your little heart ! I can feel it coming ! As your mom, that’s all I want for you is Jesus!  

Bray… you are the clone of your mama 🙃!

And I wouldn’t change a thing about you! I love that we laugh as much as we talk, dance as much as we laugh and I hope that never changes !  Oh my girl you are so special! You’re the perfect little Carol Baskin…sassy, boujee, ratchet!

I love your heart for kids … you already plan to be a mama to 4 kids …. You long to give any special needs person your attention. Your eyes light up when you talk about them as if they are your best friend.. the world needs more hearts like yours. When you grow up you want to be a special needs teacher . That my girl is nothing but God who gives you a special calling in life .

You have by far been my easiest most laid back ADD baby.  You are such a little spitfire … you say what you’re thinking and are as honest as it comes ( no idea where that you get that from)  your sisters and Ethan are your best friends and I’m so thankful for the bond that yall share . 

You keep me and daddy so busy . Trace Adkins  tell us that we are going to miss this but I don’t believe that just yet . 

Never in a million years did I ever think you would enjoy running . You surprised me . Papa Tim always called you free bird and that’s just what you are ! He loved your little personality (maybe it’s bc you reminded him of your mama 😊  . I can’t believe you are about to be in high school and trying out for high school cheer … you were just a young little Oc cheerleader living your best life! 

You won your first state championship in cheer. It was bitter sweet since you have put so much love into that sport for so long 

Don’t ever let the world change you ! 

This is real life …. We had a high school graduate and pre k graduate in the same year ….. what were we thinking?!?!?

This is what we were thinking . Precious memories …Don't let the age difference fool you ! There are no 3 sisters with tighter bond than these girls !  Madisyn has set the bar high for her sisters to look up to and has been the best role model to them .  I can remember leaving for work in the summer and she and bray would be reading their devotion book drinking coffee on the back porch .  

I can’t believe you are about to start grad school. I haven’t told you so I’m not sure if you’ve noticed but I’m kind of having a hard time with the thought of you being hours away . You are so special ! You are the most determined selfless person I know and i wish I could be more like you. Daddy and I could not be anymore proud of you. 

You have worked 2 jobs, maintained a high gpa, always found time for your family and more importantly have continued to grow in your walk with the Lord! As a parent,  we always fear that college would change our babies bc we have protected you for so long from this cruel world but not you sis ! I have seen the Lord shine through you in so many ways since you have been an independent college student . I love that you have a heart for geriatrics . I never knew the impact of going into nursing homes and loving on the elders would have on your life . I’m so thankful it did ! You have changed the most . You like pizza … you will finally try new things and you live for road trips … 

A couple of things that haven’t changed about you is the love  you have for your family especially for your sisters  ( you’ve cloned cha to be just like you) and Ethan! I’m so thankful he still puts  up with you 🤣!  Daddy and I love you both so much! And we are so proud of the both of you!  

To my girls ….. I hope you know that everything daddy and I do … we do it for you !  Poor dad has to work so hard to keep up with each one of you …..the one thing I’ve always wanted for you girls was a father… earthly and heavenly . That’s one of the most special gifts you can have in life ! 

Pretty Is As Pretty Does

             
                  Has it really been 6 months since my last blog to you girls? My excuse is ,I'm too busy, not with life, but with soaking in every ounce of your presence and all of your daily accomplishments. I am so proud of you girls my heart could explode! I love how different you are from the other....3 different skin tones, 3 different eye colors, 3 different hair textures, 3 different bratty personalities, but you have one thing in common, DETERMINATION. As your mom, I can't tell you enough how proud that makes me!

                    It blows my mind how something so tiny can have so much determination. Just think about a pit bull the size of a Chihuahua and you have Chanley.

You are so tiny, but you can move mountains. You have overcome more obstacles in your 1 year of life than some people accomplish in a lifetime

You are by far the happiest baby in the entire world! Your smile swallows your head and your little pumpkin teeth shine like diamonds. You have brought so much joy to our now completed family. I often sit back and think about the time we prayed for a little boy. A boy so daddy could teach him all about hunting, baseball, and more BOY stuff.  Then God laughed really hard and gave us the most perfect real live baby doll.

or troll.

I mean how can you not get tickled when you see your pictures. I love how you are the perfect combination of Madisyn and Braylee. You are soft and gentle like Madi, yet you are the identical twin of Braylee. 

This year I was able to help in Bible School, and I asked for the nursery so I can help out and also so I can be in there with you and soak up more time with you.......because that's what good moms do right? Well, guess what? You are abusing your time with me  ... the worst one in the class.

  You are having some separation anxiety going on. I do good to even brush my teeth a full three minutes before I have a curly headed snot wad reaching her little arms up for me ....Then I melt all over again.

As you can see, we are kind of best friends right now! You have such a sweet little personality. You and your daddy have one of the sweetest bonds I've ever seen. Daddy loves all of you girls so much, and I'm so thankful for him being the best father you girls could ever have.

He dances with you, takes you on dates and bandaids all your bobos up! Im going to tell you, I love this man with every ounce in me, but when I see him loving on you it just makes me completely melt. You girls are so blessed to have such a good daddy and I hope you never take that for granted.

We celebrated Your first birthday Chanley

 

It was simple and sweet just like you!

 I love that you have the will power of mighty mouse. May you always know how much you are loved, but never underestimate the size of your little self!

 Mama loves you Cha Cha (Bray started calling you that because she is completely OBSESSED with Grease)

 

DETERMINATION: noun-----the condition of being determined; resoluteness

You have had one heck of a year. I thought I would lose my mind before the doctors ever figured out what was wrong with you. I know that is a dramatic statement, but it did scare the living daylights out of me for a split second 6 months. Anyways ....all is well now....kind of....
The hardest thing for a mom to see is one of her kids hurt..... I AM SO THANKFUL FOR YOUR TINY SETBACK BECAUSE IT COULD BE SO MUCH WORSE...but, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is no joke.. You constantly hurt....and swell....and cry.....and limp......and make me hit my knees extra hard begging GOD for you to be healed from this tiny setback. Your knee brace and ankle brace is part of your daily attire.....you went from never taking medicine to taking pain medicine everyday...In the blink of an eye this came tumbling down on you......swelling of lymph nodes in your knee with an infection, inflammation in knee and ankle with a cracked heel....Even during this time in your life where you constantly hurt you never give up, or let it stop you from doing what you love . You ask me often why you hurt all the time and if you will always have to wear your braces .....the truth is I have no idea, but I do know if there were ever a little girl who could handle this with a cape on...it's you. You have a special place in your heart for special kids. You don't see them as having any labeled disability. You see it as an opportunity to help take care of them and make sure they ALWAYS have a friend. You never want them to feel left out and I'm so proud of you for being that person! I preach and preach to you girls about always treating others the same...If there is a new kid at school, be the one to welcome them in....If someone has hurt feelings, be the one to love them and cheer them up....and both you and Madisyn are those girls! The girls who have an abundance of friends, because you are so sweet, and loving. Your friends come in all colors,  shapes, and sizes with labeled disabilities and without and you never treat anyone less than you want to be treated.

Here you are at Bible school with one of your best friends Lilly. Lilly has muscular dystrophy. Do you know that that means....NO. Do you even care...NO. Do you know that Lilly can't run around and run as fast as the other kids? Sure you do, but does that make you love her any less.....NO. It makes you love her even more. . When I see this picture, I see LOVE....I see my daughter helping her special friend...I see my daughter who is also in some sort of brace because she knows she has something wrong with her as well...guess what ya'll have something in common....No matter how small or large another persons disability is, they are always equal to you! I'm proud you don't sit and wallow in your pain, you move forward and pour your heart into everything you do. You amaze me Braylee Rivers!  Here are some pictures from your and Lilly's sleep over

 

and here is one of you and sweet Keelie! She is another one of your best friends that you take such good care of!

 

 

Now on to my oldest more responsible than me child, Madisyn. I hope you never have to wonder how proud you make me! You are the absolute best big sister in the entire world. You ended the school year with all A's! This goes back to the determination part. You are always determined to do your very best! You are on the cheer squad and dance team(Which I am so very proud you finally got some confidence) You are such a big help to me I may never let you move out jk no seriously. You babysit Braylee and have my house completely spotless when me and daddy get home from work. Do I ask you to do it...no, do you get allowance....no. do you expect anything in return...I pray and hope that your sister see your role you play in our family and want to be just like you with more confidence. You have absolutely no idea how beautiful you really are. I'm thankful you are so genuine and humble and I'm even more thankful God chose me to be your mama! You have a heart as big as the sky. I love how you don't have just one best friend but many friends. I love how you always want to be with your family. I love how you pretend to understand our parenting I heard you laugh. I love how you are the only one in the family without a doctor bill.  Last but not least, I just Love you!

 

I love you girls so much and I love how you always look forward to my blogs!