My Son, The Soldier

We've made this weekend ALL ABOUT CALEB.

Brandon and Whitney both came home. On Friday night, we had Caleb's favorite meal, pancakes and bacon.

We had a cook-out on Saturday. Well, the cook-out sort of became a cook-in, with temperatures falling near freezing by the evening. I gave everyone the option of eating indoors elbow to elbow, or outdoors in the cold with more elbow room. We had a few takers on the "outdoors" tables. So, imagine my 2300 square foot home with 84 people who came to say "good-bye" to Caleb.

You can see photos in the slide show below.

Then, last night at church we had special prayer for him...and his mama. Right before the ceremony, there was another activity. We cut Caleb's hair!!!!
Before:


After:


I think he looks like my little boy again.

The little boy who would always come to my bedroom to check on me when I was sick, the little boy who asked me if I would be okay when his daddy wasn't home and he was invited to a friend's house, the little boy who wondered who was going to take care of our widow neighbor when we were on vacation.

The little boy who always looked after his mother and others is now going to serve and protect his country.

Please pray for him and all of the troops. Pray for his mama and his daddy, his grandma and his girl-friend Casey. Pray for Brandon, too. Feel free to send us scriptures that speak peace to your hearts.

We will go to Jacksonville, FL tomorrow to spend the evening with him after his check-in at MEPS, and then we will watch him be sworn in on Wednesday before he leaves for the airport to fly to Chicago for Basic Training. So, lots of prayers are needed on Wednesday afternoon, as we drive back to Georgia, leaving Caleb behind....

My Baby Boy

Caleb leaves for the Navy in exactly one week. We can see him after his medical is completed next Tuesday evening, and then we can see him again the next morning for his swearing in, and then he will leave for Chicago.

I am proud!!!

But, my heart is aching.



Please pray for both of us!

Magical Memory Making Moment with Mulan

I know that every parent who visits Walt Disney World hopes that their children will have a magical experience. We are home and very tired, but, oh, what a blessed time we had. And, one moment was more magical than all of the rest.

Several years ago, we learned that the only way to meet Mulan at Walt Disney World was to find her in China at Epcot. Having seen her there before, we headed to China in the World Showcase on Saturday morning. We were NOT disappointed, as she was standing near the entrance to China with a short line of children waiting to take her photograph.

We joined the line and waited our turn. Both of the girls were ready with the autograph books in hand when they were next in line.




Mulan was ever so gracious to talk with the girls and pose for a photo.


And, as we started to leave, Mulan gave each of the girls a kiss. Ellie was so thrilled, knowing the print of Mulan's lips were on her cheek that I had to stop and take another picture.


Our surprise came soon after I snapped photos of those sweet lips. There were no more children waiting in line to see Mulan, so she stepped over to talk with the girls again. And, then Mulan asked Ellie, "Who is your favorite princess?" While Josie-Tatum was trying to speak in code, and apparently one that Ellie didn't understand, Ellie missed the message that she should say, "Mulan," and she spoke the truth as only Ellie can, "Snow White."



Ever the gracious princess, Mulan continued to provide Ellie and Josie-Tatum with a moment they will likely never forget. Mulan told Ellie that Snow White would be out soon, and she would wave to her across the lake. (Now, don't ask me what sort of Disney magic occurred after that moment, but I did see a man with a radio. He might have been a member of the Secret Service, or he might have been part of Mulan's China Intelligence Agency.)

But, Mulan took the girls for a walk to the edge of the lake.


They sat by the lake and chatted for at least 5 minutes. It might have even been 10. I don't know what Ellie might have said to make Mulan laugh. Maybe I shouldn't know. I do know her latest favorite thing to ask is, "Pinky Square?" (aka pinky swear) when she's just told a secret, and I sorta think she mighta told one.



And, Mulan managed, as only a princess might, to make sure she gave Josie-Tatum some time, too, though Ellie was working hard to remain the center of attention.


And, just as Mulan promised, though she was little late....(Mulan and the Secret Service Radio man said Grumpy left a mess for Snow White to clean up that morning.)
Snow White appeared across the lake and waved to Ellie with all her strength, and Ellie waved back like never before.

As we were leaving the second time, Mulan said, "Remember to tell Snow White you were the one she was waving to on the lake." And, Ellie practiced what she would say to Snow White for the next 30 minutes....REALLY...until we met her.

There have been few moments that made my heart swell like that moment on Saturday. I really should write a letter to someone at Disney so Mulan can be recognized for MAKING the MAGIC for one little girl, and being sure the include her older sister in the plan.

More to come about our trip later. I'm off to sleep!!!!

Praise the LORD!

There has been no progression in Daddy's heart disease in the past 4 years.

Nothing new with Grandma, still waiting to find the cause of her problems.

Only 2 more days till Disney!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Prayer For My Daddy and My Grandma

Daddy has a heart cath in JAX tomorrow morning. Stress tests showed an abnormality.

Grandma Tatum was admitted to the hospital today. She's had pain in her hip for over a week. For the past 48 hours, she was unable to get out of bed....at all. Dr's can't find the reason for the pain.

Thanks for the prayers!

Philosophy....Ellie Style

So, tonight, after prayers, lying in the bed with the girls, talking about how no one is perfect, becuase Josie-Tatum puts too much pressure on herself to be perfect, Ellie says....
"Yeah. I am the way God made me. I try to be nice, but I just can't help myself."

Listen to that with a straight face, won't ya?"

Help for the Clements Family

There will be a benefit barbeque for the Clements family on Feb. 19th from 11-6 PM, at Wall's IGA.

Following Riley's kidney transplant, there have been some complications that have kept him in the hospital in Atlanta since November. In addition, the birth of his new baby brother has kept his mom at home. While his dad has used all of his sick time, he has taken an unpaid leave of absence from work to be with Riley.

If you live near Blackshear, please consider purchasing at ticket...or even better taking orders!!! If you'd like more information, send an email...
rbmattox@bellsouth.net

Please help us be the hands of Christ and show compassion to Theresa, Chester, Riley, Regan, and baby Tate.

Love to my bloggy friends,
Robbie

Could you ask this question?

We held a tent revival at our church over ten years ago. It was one of those times when I saw the HOLY Spirit move like never before or since in my lifetime. The evangelist was Ronnie Owens, and at the end of the service, he offered this challenge:

Find someone you know who is here tonight, someone whose salvation you are not sure of and say, "I'm going to heaven. Are you going with me?"

I knew who the LORD wanted to me to speak to. It was Uncle Ronnie. I never remember him being at church before, but he and Aunt Gloria were there for that night of our revival. I grew up really close to my aunts, uncles, and cousins. Uncle Ronnie was the husband of my mama's baby sister. I had spent many days on his farm, and his family had spent many days at our house. We had visited at my grandparents house every Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other major and some minor holidays. I didn't know, though, about his relationship with the LORD.

It took some courage. Why is that? Why is it hard for us to ask the people we love the most that simple question? But, I walked up to him, took him by the hand, and asked it anyway. And, I have never been sorry that I did.

After that question, I learned that Uncle Ronnie had made a profession of faith, but he was not living his life serving the LORD. And, the following week the evangelist moved from our church to a church near Uncle Ronnie's home. Brother Ronnie Owens let me know that Uncle Ronnie did not miss a single service that week.

Uncle Ronnie began to fervently serve the LORD. He became a deacon in his church and became the church treasurer. He was faithful at visitation of the unsaved and faithful to visit the sick and elderly. He continued to follow Brother Ronnie Owens's ministry. He even traveled to Bristol, VA, to help Brother Ronnie put up his tent.

He served at Camp Jubilee, where he helped to maintain the facilities. At Camp Jubilee, many children and youth come to know the LORD. At their Fall Camp meetings, adults from all over the country, particularly the east coast, are revived and encouraged. Uncle Ronnie loved that place.

One year, I was preparing to take a large group of children to camp at Camp Jubilee, at least a 10 hour drive from our home. I needed another male chaperone, and we were unable to find another man in our church who could get away from work. Uncle Ronnie stepped up to the plate, and spent the week helping me because he loved Jesus.

When I was an assistant principal, I had planned to serve snow cones to students with perfect attendance. I need help. Uncle Ronnie came to my school, where I was his only connection, and spent the day serving snow cones to children he had never met.

Uncle Ronnie developed ALS over a year ago, and his health has continually deteriorated. He went home to be with Jesus last night. But, you know what I know,
"I'm going to heaven, and I know he is going to be there."

Can you ask that question?

Please Pray for Ellie

How like the enemy, the day after a post on prayer, to attack my faith. Well, when I was overwhelmed today, God spoke to the right person who said, "Talk to the Healer."
So, I began to talk to him and to ask others to petition Him as well.

Ellie has a UTI. The bacteria causing it is resistant to many antibiotics. We have only one antibiotic to choose from that is NOT an IV. This one is not usually prescribed for children, however it is better than a 10-14 day hospital stay.....

Please pray the antibiotics clear up this infection.

Thank you, Jesus, for you hear my prayer, and you answer!

Prayers----Big and Small

So, do you wonder how purple elephants and prayer are related?

It was during my bedtime prayers with the girls that I was struck with this thought....we've been praying for the money to take the girls to Disney World for Ellie's birthday next month and Josie-Tatum's Gotcha Day. Not every night, but many times, I heard Josie-Tatum ask, "And, please let us get enough money to go to Disney World." (She reserves every night for orphans.)

So, we're praying tonight and I realized that God has sent his angels to answer the prayer of a child.

I received a promotional deal from Disney in the mail, and saved 30% on a value resort in the park.

Once again, we will have several admissions given to us by grandparents of friends. Praise the LORD!!! We still had four tickets left to purchase. Then, I saw the advertisements on television for the Disney, Give and Day, Get a Day program. It didn't take long for me to be on the computer checking that out.

Last Saturday, Stan and I spent the day in Valdosta at the ReStore for Habitat for Humanity. In return for our work, Disney will give us each a ticket. Two to go....

Then, I heard from another organization who will be sponsoring an activity that will allow Josie-Tatum to vounteer and earn a ticket. One to go......and then, I realized a way to earn another.

My grandfather gave the girls their yearly birthday/Christmas money, and now the hotel bill is covered....all but $130. I can't wait to see how the LORD provides.

So, the elephants............

Josie-Tatum took a photo of the elephants. Yes, Kim, we spent the afternoon crafting. JT, Ellie, and our friend Kati, whose family is joining us at WDW, spent the afternoon making Valentine's cards for Senior citizens. I found some really cute ideas at FamilyFun.go.com

And, then I began to reflect.....I thought about last February, when Josie-Tatum had the flu, and she really wanted to go to Chinese New Year. I remembered that she asked me at bedtime who we might call to ask to pray that her fever would go down. We called Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Bobbie, and you guessed it...her fever broke.

And, of course, last year, when she had the desire to go somewhere to help orphans. And our Wonder-Working God made the crooked paths straight, sent more than the $6,000 we needed, and we found ourselves in South Africa.

If only we all had the faith of a child.......

Enjoy the photos of our afternoon. More to come when we're done...

The Greatest GIFT!!!!!

Like all of my favorite heart-warming stories, it begins on Christmas Eve.


In this story, though, I would play a supporting role.....

I woke up at 5:30 a.m. to put the turkey on the smoker.(You know I love to cook.)
I rested a little while longer and then spent the entire day cooking, preparing our home for our Annual Family Christmas Eve Dinner.


At 5:30 p.m., dinner is almost ready. I run, as I do every year, to the bathroom to freshen up my hair and make up. I place the dressing and sweet potato casserole that I prepared earlier in the day in the oven. And, as usual, the girls and I make a mad dash for church.

Every year, on Christmas Eve, we meet at our church to share the LORD'S SUPPER. It's always a quiet service, with many families out of town and unable to attend. And, though I have been busy during the day, I love those few minutes when I am able to stop and reflect on THE GIFT of Christmas.



I had no idea, though, that on this Christmas Eve, the LORD was preparing to send me another gift.

We pull up to the church, and I have TWO minutes to get to the piano. (I am the pianist.) Josie-Tatum, though, slows me down. She asks, "Mama, what do you have to do to be saved anyway?" The question is so sincere, I know in my heart she has become a true seeker. I have only two minutes, though, so I say, "Tonight, when we have our Bible story, we will talk about it."

We finished the evening with services at church, the best ever meal, opening gifts, and family fun. But, after puajamas and just before bed, with thoughts of St. Nick in many little ones' heads, Josie-Tatum and I began to read the Bible.

And, we walked down the Roman Road.

Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Romans 6:23a "...The wages of sin is death..."

Romans 6:23b "...But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Romans 5:8, "God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us!"

Romans 10:13 "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved!"

Romans 10:9,10 "...If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."

As we discussed each verse, Josie-Tatum said she believed it all. She said, "Of course, I believe it. It's in the Bible isn't it?" I asked her if she was ready, and she pondered a moment, before saying she was. After we prayed together she said, "I feel so good!"

And, tonight, she showed outwardly what the LORD has worked inwardly.





What a joy, what a blessing! To know that God gave her to me, so I could teach her about His Son, and give her back to Him. What a privilege! My other children all expressed their desire to be saved at church, and other adults in the church lead them through the plan of salvation. But, this time, I had the most blessed opportunity of all.

This Christmas, I truly received the greatest gift!

Check In For A Surprise

You'll see a photo and a sweet story before tomorrow night. ;)

Life is Crazy

I promise to post some fun pictures of our Christmas break....after Christmas Day.
But, let me whine and gain some sympathy.


In the past 24 hours.......

I went back to work, whine, after 2 weeks off.
I balanced the check book and realized we had spent more than I thought on Christmas, so a very tight January.
My dog ran under the tire of a truck.
The man who hit the dog tried to help.
My dog bit the man ON THE NECK!
I invited a bleeding stranger into my house.
The dog's vet bill was $157.
Did I mention the very tight January?
Ellie spilled her drink at supper.
Stan yelled. (We were all a little stressed.)
The heater started acting up.
STan fixed the heater.
The well filter clogged.
Stan and Daddy replaced the filter.
At 3:30 a.m., Stan got up to....GO....and there was no water.
The filter had clogged again, and the pressure was cut down so, though we left water dripping, pipes were beginning to freeze.
Stan was able to get things going.....
At 8:30, Whitney called me at work.
Our laundry room was flooded.
Daddy came over and replaced a leaking pipe on the water heater.
Brandon left for college again.
I came home to soaking laundry that my big kids left on the floor.
I did lots of sorting and more laundry...some I had already done once!

I'm going to bed.

Christmas Celebrations

We have had much fun and family time this Christmas season. I've been so busy I haven't had time to post, so I turned the bunches of photos into collages.

I had so hoped to be able to find ways to spend time with the big kids and the little kids. Our first opportunity came a couple of days before school was out for JT, E, and me.

Josie-Tatum ran in our school's annual Jingle Bell Jog Fun Run. Caleb ran with her to help her keep up the momentum, and we all were there to cheer for her. The night before we made posters, and Josie-Tatum said, "I'm so glad you are my mom." Music to my ears. She also placed fourth out of 100 girls in first grade. One of her best friends was first.


Preparing for the holiday, I asked the boys to rake the pine straw in the yard. I must admit there was a little pouting with that request. They turned it into a game, though, as usual. They decided to see how high they could pile the straw. The girls were fascinated, as were the Stretch children who came over for dinner that night. We had fun with the adults and my big kids all bowling on the Wii!


We had the pleasure of watching the children perform in a Christmas play. Don't you love to hear children singing Christmas carols, to see their excitement before the program begins? If only we would all be so excited about sharing the good news. I think I saw the most precious camel and angel ever!


One night we all had fun just watching Ellie bowl on the Wii. You have to see the faces to appreciate how bowling became a spectator sport.


As has become our tradition, we spent the day before Christmas Eve baking cookies, some of which will be left for Santa. The big kids had asked as often as the little kids when we are going to make the cookies. Last year, I invited friends to join us and my boys were upset with me. I didn't make that mistake again. ;) If my boys wanted our cookie baking to me a "family-only" time, then I would certainly make sure it was. (I just don't have all of the awesome photos that Joli took last year when her kids were with us.)
As has become Ellie's tradition, she ended up covered in flour, having as much fun rolling out flour as she did cutting cookies. And, as has happened the last three years, since adding Brandon to our family, before the day was over, he made sure everyone had flour on their face. I was so thankful for the time with all five of my treasured blessings.


On Christmas Eve, I had already spent two days cooking in anticpation of our annual Family Christmas Eve Dinner at our house. It never ceases to amaze me how willingly my children will clean and help cook on Christmas Eve. The spirit in the house was ever so sweet all day long.


God's love has poured down on us this year as it has every year. I pray that you have had time to reflect on His goodness, and that we will all remember Him in the year to come!

It's Beginning

to look a lot like Christmas!!!


Last week when we were home from school, we had a great time decorating the house for Christmas. We decorated the front porch, the front door, the indoor balcony, the dining room table, and the mantle. We have three Christmas trees, one upstairs that shines through the big window, one in the dining room for the family to enjoy, and a small one in the girls room. I love Christmas!!!




I think the girls had the most fun preparing the decorations for the tree in their room. We strung cranberries and popcorn. We were making memories, the best kind!






The girls had fun making snowman pins for their teachers, an easy "craft kit" purchased from Oriental Trading.



Thank you, Jesus, for my family, for the memories of my childhood, for the memories you bless me to make with my children. I pray for children who have no family, that your Spirit would move upon those who have room in their homes and their hearts, and families would be made complete.