Trick Or Treat

I was able to leave work early on Wednesday, so I picked up Franklyn and took him trick or treating on the square in Manchester.  This is something I've always wanted to be able to do with him and I was really excited to finally see what all the hype was about!  The square was packed when we got there.  Children and their parents were lined up by the hundreds.  I can't imagine how much candy those businesses went through!

You can't tell by the picture, but it was really busy along the storefronts!  Manchester has a really beautiful town square.  It's fun to be able to participate in activities in a small town!

After making the rounds on the square, we made a quick trip to Starbucks before heading over to our church for Trunk Or Treat.  Lots of vehicles were lined up and decorated, just waiting to pass out candy.  Franklyn racked up on the treats!

I wore my Romney Ryan t-shirt to Trunk Or Treat!  Gotta show my conservative PRIDE!  Got some sideways looks, but I don't care!  Go Romney! 

Fun times!  Franklyn had candy for dinner that night.  I'm such a good MOM!  Ha Ha!

Pumpkin Poop and Football Players

A few weeks ago a friend of mine found a really neat idea on Pinterest.  I decided Franklyn would HAVE to help me put it together and take it for his class Halloween party.  We had a lot of fun putting the PUMPKIN POOP together!  Cheap project...  Little bags from Hobby Lobby ($1 for 100), card stock pumpkin paper from Hobby Lobby (about $3), and a big container of Cheese Balls (about $5.48 at WalMart)!  We bagged it up and he took it to school with him this morning.  I really hope the kids get a kick out of it!

Considering Franklyn is not at all a sports fan, I was shocked when he told me he wanted to be a UT football player this year!  Franklyn's school always has a costume parade on Halloween.  So, this morning I dressed him up in his AWESOME costume and sent him off to school.    I have to say, the costume was incredible!

On his heart.....

Last night when I was cleaning out Franklyn's backpack I came across the most precious project.  Around Columbus Day his class had to write what they would have done if they discovered America.  Each student wrote their paragraph on a sheet of paper attached to a picture of Columbus and the teacher had the projects hanging outside their classroom.  I didn't know anything about it until I pulled it out of his backpack.  I was in awe when I read what Franklyn wrote.  The most special thing about it is that THIS is what was on his sweet, little heart... 

Well, if you could actually read it, you would see that it says:

IF I DISCOVERED AMERICA:

First, I would tell people about God and give them Bibles. Then, they would teach me how to shoot a bow and arrow. Last, I would call the new land CrishtenLand.

Franklyn

To know that my son had THAT on his heart when told to write about what he would do if he discovered our great country made my heart melt!  He would first tell people about God and pass out Bibles and he would then name our country CHRISTIAN LAND!  Have I ever mentioned how proud I am of that kid??????

A Pikachu Pumpkin

Franklyn always wants to participate in the Pumpkin Decorating Contest at school...  Knowing it means more work for me or Scott than for him, I normally discourage it!  This year, however, I had a change of heart.  I went to WalMart at lunch yesterday and bought supplies to transform a pumpkin into something I knew Franklyn would LOVE!  In the midst of our project, Franklyn repeatedly told me, "You're the best mommy in the world."  I'm so glad I decided to let him decorate a pumpkin this year!

Ta Da!  Here is Franklyn's Pikachu Pumpkin!

Turning 40.....

"I said, 'You are my servant'';

I have chosen you and have not

rejected you.

So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your

God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous

right hand."

Isaiah 41:9b-10

 

This past week was a tough one.  I never thought turning 40 would hit me this hard.  Physically, it's been rough.  I've been feeling it for the last 10 months or so.  Pain in the knees, hips.. even in my toes!  But, this past Saturday, the day before my 40th birthday, it hit me hard mentally.  I was in a funk the entire day.  I was fearful as far as what the next 40 years (assuming I will have that many) would hold.  I had to simply remember that the future and the here and now are both in God's hands.  I wrote this poem tonight while trying to destress from a stressful week...

 

 



I stand in the light, yet the shadows surround me,

 Obscurity draws fleeting fears.

Confusion, bereft of a focus upon Thee

 Yields faintness of heart and despair.

 

This lack of fullness in the kinship I claim

 Engenders distress and dismay.

Longing for calm in this restless abode

 My soul thirsts for strength in Thine sway.

 

Lord, shoulder mine doubt and consume mine unease,

 Uphold me and carry mine woes.

Illumine mine life with the truth of Thine Word,

 I trust Thee; Thou art mine repose.

 

Kari W. Whaley

October 2012

 

 







Henrietta (a.k.a. Whaley)

We had a visitor arrive the first week of August.  Scott was in St. Louis on a trip with some friends and Franklyn and I were home by ourselves.  One afternoon we discovered a cat camping out in the bushes in  front of our house.  Knowing Scott would freak about adding a cat to the family, I was determined not to feed it and not to show it any attention.  We didn't want it sticking around.  That determination didn't last long...  After 5 days, the cat was still there and I just knew it had to be starving.  I fed it and we all loved on it.  Franklyn decided to name her Henrietta.  No clue how he came up with that name.
Henrietta decided she had found a home.  We couldn't get rid of her.  Scott said he was going to take her into town and leave her somewhere to get rid of her.  He SAID he was going to several times, but never could bring himself to do it.  We didn't want her around the house because of all the dogs that run around our neighborhood and because of the kid across the street who fancies shooting cats with his rifle.  The fear of her meeting a male kitty and making babies was another reason we weren't too thrilled at the thought of taking on an outside cat.  We finally decided to take her to the vet and have her fixed and then try to find her a home.  A family from church agreed to take her in, so we loaded her up for a trip to the vet one Saturday morning.

The surgery and all the shots were going to cost us around $250.  I have to admit, the thought of spending all that money on a stray cat made me sick, but it sure did feel good to know we were doing a good thing...  Well, the surgery was set for Tuesday morning.  I was thrilled when the vet's office called me around lunchtime that day and said they couldn't do the surgery because Henrietta was ALREADY fixed!  We got out a lot cheaper than expected and Henrietta got a wonderful home.  The family that took her decided to keep her inside and to name her Whaley.

Mimi and Papa

Mimi and Papa came to visit back in June and Franklyn was so excited to see them.  He wanted to wear his camo shorts and Army shirt to impress Papa.  We had a good day.  Lots of shopping!