I Can't Believe She's One!!!

Marion Campbell,

One year ago...how can I be saying that? How can it possibly have been a year? Already?...

One year ago today I started feeling a bit strange around my very large, pregnant tummy. It took me a few minutes, but after a quick call to Nana, I soon figured out that I was having contractions! Contractions?? I never felt a single one when your sister was born. They induced my labor and I got my epidural before I felt anything (the perfect way to have a 1st baby, by the way). Anyway, I started timing these contractions and realized I might better call Daddy and head to the hospital. I will spare you all of the details, but let's just say that it made for a LONG night! Because you were not yet to 37 weeks (we were short by a day), they couldn't do anything to help me along. My water WOULD NOT BREAK!!! So....after arriving at the hospital around 6:30 pm, we were not blessed with your presence until 9:24 am the next morning.

Girlie, you were worth the wait! All 6 pounds 10 ounces of you! You had a head full of black hair just like your sissy did when she was born. You seemed so tiny to us, and yet you were so alert and curious about everything. My heart was instantly expanded, and if I had ever worried "how can I love 2?" (which I don't remember worrying about), then that worry faded immediately! I laid in that bed looking into your sweet, fresh from God face and knew that you had made our family complete!

I'm having such a hard time trying to find the words to say to you. You only have one first birthday. Your Mommy should have something profound and meaningful to say to you. It should be heart-felt and inspiring. But the words aren't coming. As I'm sitting here staring at the computer screen, I realize that it's just perfect that I can't find the words because that's what you do to me. You make me speechless. I sit and look at you and know, more than ever, what God's love is. I see you crawling or playing and want to throw my arms in the air to praise our incredible Father for the miracle of life. I watch you sleeping at night and know what it feels like to love something so much that I truly would give up my own life to save another. There are NO words to express how much I love you. So again, you make me speechless.

Tomorrow morning we will go to the doctor for your 12 month check-up. While we are there, you will officially turn 1! I don't remember what life was like before you were here, but I cannot believe it's already been a year. Maybe that doesn't make any sense to anyone else, but it makes sense to me.

You are MUCH loved, my precious baby girl! Thank you for making my already terrific world an even better one. Happy Birthday!!!

I Love You, Mommy

She Cracks Me Up!

At school, Karson has been working on learning to spell and write her last name. Today she came home with this paper. As you can see, she has been doing very well! See the "wow" sticker?

When I pulled the paper out of her folder I was bragging on what a great job she did...

Me - Karson Elaine, look at your neat writing!!! Did you do this in a free center, or did Mrs. Kendall ask you to do it?

Karson - She asked us to do it. We had to write it 3 times.

Me - Did you do it all by yourself (which she can), or were you looking at something?

Karson - I was looking at a card with my name on it.

Me - Well, you did an awesome job! I'm so proud of you!!

Karson - I know...hold the applause.

Oh my goodness. I had to leave the room to keep from bursting out laughing. I guess at parent/teacher conferences next week I won't be asking if we have a confidence issue! :)

Praying for Colton

UPDATE 1/28- We have been at my parent's house for the past 2 days. We were getting a bit "cabin feverish", and we needed a change of scenery. Sorry for not posting this sooner. Colton's surgery was supposed to take 4 hours. It took less than 2! The tumor was underneath the scull, but it was on top of the brain (not inside). The doctors were able to remove it easily. It didn't seem to be attached anywhere. They have sent it off for a biopsy and are hoping that it will come back benign. THANK YOU, LORD!!!! This sweet boy has so many wonderful things ahead! God showed up in in so many ways surrounding this surgery. We give Him all the praise!

This is Colton Brock.

I had the privilege (along with Shelbi) of teaching this precious child for 2 years at King's Kids Preschool at FBCO. He was 3 when this picture was taken. He is now a big 5 year old in kindergarten. I truly love all of the kids that I have ever taught (both in elementary school and preschool), but if you're a teacher, you know that there are a handful that truly grab your heart. Colton is one of those.

When he entered our room for his first day, he was terrified. He had never been left with anyone but family before. We soon figured out that the only way to help him feel safe was to let him carry around his nap time pillow. I can still see that pillow in my mind. It was blue and it had little pirate ships all over it. Over the 2 years we had him in our class, we got to watch him grow from that scared little boy to a confident leader! One thing never changed...he always had the sweetest smiles and the most tender heart.


This past Thursday, Colton's mom called me with news I would never have expected. Colton has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. He will have surgery on Tuesday morning at St. Francis Children's Hospital. From what the doctors can tell at this point, the tumor is in a spot that is fairly easy to access and appears to be benign. We are so thankful for that...but we're still talking about brain surgery...on a 5 year old.


Will you please join me in lifting up this precious family? I promised them that I would ask everyone I know to pray for him. I want them to feel the prayers going out for them and their precious baby boy. Our God is big. Let's make sure they feel that.


Thank you so much! I will make sure to post an update when I have one.

Guess who took her 1st step???

Miss Campbell has been standing alone for several seconds at a time for the past several days. Tonight, after her bath, she decided to take it to the next level. :) She took one step the 1st time, and 2 steps when we tried to get it on video!

She wouldn't stand alone for a picture, but at least she's standing!!! And yes, that is a maraca she's chewing on. We find that anything with a Mexican flare helps the mood at our house. You know...salsa, burritos, nachos,...maracas!

She's getting big. :(

Gotta Work

I'm probably the only one that found this quite amusing, but hey, I wanted to remember this one!

Last night I heard Karson talking to Rus about her day. She asked him if he had to go to work tomorrow. He told her yes. She then proceeded to tell him that she had to go to work too. I heard him ask her what kind of job she had, and she told him she worked with animals. What a sweet little imagination. I smiled about it and went on with what I was doing.

Fast forward to this morning...

Karson takes after me. She is VERY slow to wake up. She doesn't like a lot of loud talking or being asked to move quickly. As I was finishing getting dressed, I heard her come into my room and get in my bed. I went in there and got to snuggle with her for a bit. I asked her if she was ready for breakfast, she said yes and asked me to carry her into the living room so she could watch a show while I fixed it. At this point she was still really groggy and sleepy. As I was setting her down on the couch, she said, "Is it Saturday?" I told her that is was Thursday. To which she replied with a yawn, "Ugh, I have to work today."

Stifle laugh here, Melissa.

I said, "You do? Where do you work?" Acting a bit irritated that I was making her talk so much in the morning and that I didn't remember, she replied curtly, "I told you, with animals."

I hope she makes a good salary. She's awfully young to already be burdened about a job.

A Few Blogworthy "tions"

InauguraTION - Today is a day of history. Although the candidate being sworn in is not the one I voted for...I cannot ignore history in the making. It's impossible not to be excited about that. So...I wanted to make sure to document it here. Our nation is enduring a very rough economic time, and I pray that our new leaders will be able to lead our country in the direction it needs to go. One thing remains the same, our God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. HE is still on His throne, and that is all that matters.

Campbell's Baby DedicaTION - January 4, 2009 - What a special night we had! Our church had 18 families eligible for this dedication. Needless to say, we have been blessed with new life! It was a precious evening, made even more special by the fact that we were able to participate with several other families that are dear friends of ours. Both sets of grandparents were able to be there and Campbell's precious Aunt Neen (my sister). Standing up on the stage listening to Pastor Roger brought back so many memories of Karson's dedication. I felt so blessed to be able to stand there with a 2nd child that God has trusted to my care.

Here's the gang! Yes, Campbell has her paci in her mouth...don't judge! Missing from this picture are Mr. Pat and Miss Jennifer. They were in attendance that night, and are definitely considered "family", but we couldn't find them to get them in the picture!

Not the best picture, but hey, its documented! This is Miss Casie with Landrie (one of Campbell's pals). Other "pals" dedicated that night...Candler Ingram, Maxon Pennington, and Valen Ward.

Hall of Fame InducTION - January 6, 2009 - I had the great honor of being inducted into my high school's Athletic Hall of Fame! This was truly humbling and so special. My dear friend Kristi and I were the 1st to be inducted for the sport of "dance". Being a Highstepper and later coaching them for 8 years was so important and special to me, so it meant even more to be inducted as a representative of this organziation that is so close to my heart. It also made me miss it even more than I already was!!! It was a very special evening (even though it turned out to last A LOT longer than we were planning). I was so thankful to have Rus and the girls there with me. My precious parents were out of town dealing with my grandmother's estate, but my sister and her family were there to support me. I felt very loved! We had to walk out of the teepee (our school's mascot is the Redskin) all the way to center court in the gym. Thankfully I didn't trip! My sister said that Karson had the biggest grin and kept waving to me while I was walking out - how precious is that?! I wouldn't normally blog about something involving just me, but, hey, this was a once in a lifetime event and such an honor...I couldn't ignore it!

Receiving my plaque! That's Dave Stauffer on the left (my high school principal, whom I love), and Chuck Perry on my right (the AD at Union)

She made me feel so special! It's nice to hear that your kids are proud of you!

She teaches me too!

I have MUCH to blog about, but no time to do it. I did, however, have to get this one down before it left my memory. It was just too sweet not to write about!

This morning Karson was talking to me while I was putting on my makeup. We were chatting about all sorts of things, and she started talking about her school day. She goes to preschool with me and Pre-K, so sometimes it takes me a minute to figure out which "school" she's talking about. She was talking about her daily schedule and informed me that they begin every morning with a prayer. This caught my attention and alerted me she was talking about preschool, so I began asking about the prayer. "Is it something you say the same every time?" "Do you all say it together?" "Do you say it out loud?"

Finally, she said, "No Mom! This is what we say: Dear God, This day is for You. We ask that You bless all we think, say, and do. In Jesus name we pray, Amen."

My heart immediately felt warm and I choked back my tears of joy (she has started getting a little annoyed with my crying). I said, "Kars! That's a wonderful prayer. That's something we should all say everyday. Not just on preschool days."

She replied, "I know. I say it in my head before I get out of bed and come in your room in the mornings."

Oh my goodness. What a blessing and an example for me. Look at this sweet child already knowing that before she gets out of bed she needs to give her day to the Lord. This is definitely something her Mama needs to remember on a daily basis. I'm just glowing in God's blessings. I'm so thankful that she has WONDERFUL teachers that are helping to lay the spiritual foundation of her life. I've said many times that the thing I want most for her is that she come to know the Lord. It's so comforting to know that there are others helping me to guide her toward that path.

God is good!