Old McCarter's Farm

I haven't written to much about what lives in the pasture behind the house. What we actually have is a small farm!! Several years ago Wil started showing heifers. (He actually started with a black steer, but after he almost trampled Wil at the county show, we decided he should try heifers.) Anyway, he started with a single Braford heifer (Braford: 3/8-5/8 split between a Brahma and Hereford) and that has now grown into 3 cows and 3 bull calves, the newest being born last Wednesday night.

Each cow has a name and a distinct personality. I know that sounds crazy but it's true. Pepper is the alpha female and Wil's first heifer. She is now to old to show and is now just a regular cow out in the pasture. She pushes all the other cows around, literally. She has an extremely unattractive bull calf named Shiloh. He really has a very ugly head. He will be sold as soon as he is old enough. Then there is Bessy. She was the second heifer Wil showed. She is fairly gentle and let's Pepper have run of the pasture. She also has a bull calf named Bruiser. We like him because he looks manly. He has a long face and is halter broken because Wil showed he and Bessy as a cow calf pair last show season. She also is to old to show and has been turned out into the pasture. Here are a couple of pictures.

Here is Bruiser at about 2 months. Wil is just playing with him.


Here he is today at about 11 months, too big to play with!

Wil's third heifer is named Padme. What can I say? The boy loves Star Wars. Anyway, she is called Paddy for short. Last Wednesday night, she had her first calf. We all watched with flashlights in hand as she lay in the "cottage" as Wil calls it, and had the calf. The cottage is actually a large horse stall that is attached to the round pen where the show heifers are kept and fed. This calf was another bull Wil has named Buster. Padme is my personal favorite. She never gets in a hurry and walks so slow in the show ring that we hope she is the last to come into the ring. If not, all the other kids with their heifers are held up because she strolls along like a queen. She also has been known to lose her way in the pasture. However, in competition Wil has done the best with her. He has finished second in his class in both San Antonio and Houston. She is starting her last show season and will be turned out as a cow in the summer.



Wil is very proud of Buster. He will show Padme and the calf as a cow calf pair at this years shows. Mollie will show the calf alongside Wil and Padme. He has been out working on halter breaking the calf already.



So...We will have a busy spring. Mollie also has a heifer, Tammy. She is young and this will be her first season to show. We also have 4 show pigs coming and 75 chickens to take care of until April. The kids will then show 12 of those at our county show.

Happy New year...from Old McCarter's Farm!

Sandy C

Journey into the unknown

Several weeks ago, Wade and I were talking about what a great year we had experienced and how blessed we had been. Our kids are healthy and doing well in school, we have enjoyed much spiritual growth at church, our families are happy and healthy, and we both felt successful in our work. Two weeks ago tomorrow, our world came to a very abrupt stop!

Wade lost his job! It came as a complete shock to the both of us. He has had a very successful year in the ag lending business. He has brought in a large number of new loans as well as servicing many existing loans. His evaluations had been excellent. We believe we know the reason but that is something in which we will not dwell. They did give him a fair severance package, in which we are thankful. So, in the past two weeks we have embarked on a new journey in our life.

Wade has a large network of friends in the banking business. He started making calls on Wednesday and was immediately offered a new job. It would, however, require us to move away from family and friends. We don't want to have to do that, at this point. Since then, he has made contact with several commercial banks in the area and those opportunities seem promising.

This is probably the most difficult bump in the road we have faced in our married life. I am also thankful for that fact. For me, the hardest part has been seeing Wade so hurt. He has been on a emotional rollercoaster at times, but strong for the most part. I have had a few bad days, but I have been trying my best to keep a good attitude for Wade and the kids. We have had much peace knowing that God is in control of this situation. Through the hurt, anger for being treated wrongly, self pity, anxiety, and fear of the unknown, we know that God's plan for us is much better than we can see at this point. I have often been convicted about my lack of faith. I want and know that God's in the middle of this, but my sinful nature takes over and I start doubting what I know for sure. Then, I compose myself and lean on Him for strength. If I hadn't had such a conviction, I probably would be a balled up mess with my head under the pillows. He promises us that He will take care of us and that we can't depend on our own understanding. More than anything, we have been forced to rely on Him for guidance. I think Wade has made this a point for me. We have to pray about each job opportunity and decide what's best and where God can use Wade in the most beneficial way.
My sister, Marlette, made a very good point to me in the days after the lost job. She said, "God waited until He knew you and Wade were spiritually ready to handle this situation and then He allowed it to happen to see how you would react." I think she is right. I think in those darkest times, I haven't reacted in a way that is pleasing to God. I don't want to harbor anger and resentment. I want to look upon the changes with hope for the future and know that God has a bird's eye view of our life.
I thank God for all the support of our family and close friends, Wade's customers, and our church family. I don't have an ending with a new job for Wade. He has two very good opportunities in the works. This does have a happy ending, however. I am looking forward to the best Christmas ever. One where we are extremely thankful for being blessed with each other, our children, great friends, and most of all for having God to supply all our needs.

Sandy C

The most wonderful time of the year?

Here we are the beginning of December, all my Christmas decorations are up(they look quite nice, I must say!), we have already been to two parties, and my house smells of cinnamon. I should be feeling the spirit of the holidays. Notice I said I should, but I don't. At first, I was getting a little worried about myself, but I think I have put my finger on the problem. I love Christmas for the wrong reasons.

Christmas has always been my very favorite holiday! As a child, we had traditions that I loved and looked forward to all year. We spent Christmas Eve at my Memaw's and then home to open presents. I have such sweet memories of family, food, and sheer joy of gifts.

As I grew up, got married and had children of my own we started our own traditions that are very special. We have Christmas Eve here with my mom's family. It's a very large group of aunts, uncles, and cousins. On a good Christmas Eve, we will have about 45 people crowded in our house. It's always fun, but a lot of work. We then go to my parents' house and open presents with my sisters and their kids. We then spend Christmas Day here with Wade's family. Wil and Mollie always have Santa to look forward to on Christmas morning.

There are a lot of good things to look forward this time of year. I will admit I love presents!!! I love my family and the time we spend together. I love all the beauty of the lights, trees, and ribbons and bows. I love the smell of Christmas. That's why my house smells of cinnamon. (It's actually a candle called "red neck Christmas".) But what I don't like ruins some of my spirit. I dislike all the shopping for gifts that people really don't need, including my own children. The idea of giving a gift just because it's expected, drives me nuts. My list is lengthy and I haven't even ventured to the mall yet and I dread it...like the plague. I absolutely hate large crowds!! I feel pressure at school to entertain my students with Christmas crafts, decorating the room with paper chains and Santa Clauses with cotton beards. My calendar this month is crazy. The social gatherings are endless and I always gain 5 pounds or more with all the food. We haven't had a single night home in two weeks and things aren't looking promising for this week either.

I want this year to be different. I do..I do...I do!! The traditions are heart warming and I do look forward to all the family time. However, I want all our over abundant gift buying, rushing around and stress to please everyone to come to a halt. I want to take the time to appreciate Christ and his birth. I want my kids to realize the gift God gave us in His son. I want to give my time and service on things that give Him honor. I want to stop trying to get that perfect gift, when what I should be doing is sharing Christ love in other ways. What I would really like to do is use all the $ we spend on gifts, that will be forgotten by Dec. 26, on helping others who really truly need our help. We will do some of that, but not nearly enough. My children expect much, but I truly want this year to be different. My prayer is that when they grow up and have children that their Christmas traditions will focus more on Christ birth and His gifts to us than on the hoopla of our worldly Christmas. The true meaning of Christmas should be with us everyday of the year, not just the month of December. We should want to be giving of ourselves and thanking God for the gift of His Son all year.

I do believe this is the most wonderful time of the year!! I have to work on making it what it truly should be in my heart instead of something that drives me crazy. Just think of how all this craziness makes God feel, when the best gift we have ever been given was born in a smelly, drafty, barn.

Sandy C

To Mexico and back

Mexico and back in 5 days...WOW!!! We traveled over 1400 miles in a very short time. Going on these mission trips is hard on our trucks, hard on our bodies and a lot of work. However, the blessings we receive in return makes all of the hardship seem minimal. This trip we travelled into the high desert of Coahuila. We went in to serve the native Mexicans instead of the Taramauran Indians, as we did on the May trip. It's such a beautiful place. The mountains surround the deserts in places. There are tall yucca trees, wild mesquite trees and many types of cacti. We even saw maroon cactus which our Aggie truck coined "aggie cactus". Among all the quietness and beauty there are thousands of Mexicans who live in unbelievable poverty. These villages are out in the middle of nowhere, literally.

On Saturday, we drove all the way into Mexico. We stopped at a small church in the town of Musquiz. It was about 100 miles from the border. That was an experience. Steve Akin is very familiar with the pastor and is wife. They knew we were coming so when we got there, she had made homemade tamales and tortillas for us. (This was the first of several meals of tamales!!!) This was also Mollie's first experience with the sewage system of Mexico. She vowed not to use the restroom the entire trip after her experience. I didn't dare tell her that at least she had a toilet in this town. That night we slept inside the church. My bed was two pews pushed seat to seat. It was a very comfortable place to sleep. I could've had a great night sleep, except for what seemed like 100 dogs barking all night. They also failed to tell us that there was a dance hall a block over and they started the party about 1:00. Needless to say, we all got very little sleep.

On Sunday, the first village we visited was La Union. This is when Mollie got her first experience with an outdoor toilet.
She learned quickly, you use what you have. She didn't like it, but she adapted. Many on the men in the village worked in the candelia "factory". I use the word factory very loosely. Candelia is a plant that grows wild out in the desert. They harvest it, boil it, skim off a substance that comes to the surface, mix it with some kind of acid and it then becomes wax. They can sell the wax and make about $50 a day. They use the plants after they are cooked for fuel for the fires to cook new candelia, and their burros graze on it, also. There burros were very fat! The youth on the trip painted two houses in the village. One was painted pepto bismal pink!! We served dinner to the village and some of the youth and adults held a Vacation Bible School for the kids. Some of the woman of the village church, cooked for us. They brought....tamales, beans and tortillas. We then had a joint church service with the villagers. They have a small church up on a hill. Their pastor spoke (we had translators) and then our pastor spoke to them. What was so amazing about that experience was that even though our language and lifestyles are so very different, we can worship GOD together and all the difference subside. That night we slept inside the main building in the village. It was so dark, quiet and peaceful. Before we went to bed, several of our group spent time outside studying the stars. They looked very close. So much so, it seemed you could almost reach out and touch them. We slept great that night. NO DOGS or DANCE HALLS!

The next morning we moved on to another village. On the way we stopped and had a quick service on the side of a mountain. It was amazing! Kyle, our pastor, said that even though we see the people as poor and in need they all seemed very happy. God meets all their basic needs and they are happy!

We continued on through the desert and ended up in a small village of which I can't say or attempt to spell. This village was much more in need. We got there about 4:30, so we worked quickly to cook. The youth started painting more homes. They started 3 houses and finished two before it got dark. Dr. Mettetal operated on a man's toe about 15 feet from our outdoor, makeshift, kitchen. My job was to slice potatoes to fry. Cindy Henderson and I then cooked pounds and pounds of french fries. We probably stood over the hot grease for 2 hours!! For those of you who know about my experiences with frying...you know I was out of my element. The men fried chicken fried steak and fresh corn. We also had tamales, imagine that. We worked outside until about 10:00. About 8:00, the wind started blowing and it got extremely cold. We slept inside the small church. The wind howled across the desert all night. Not much sleep this night either!! I kept thinking about what Kyle had said that morning, the people are happy...the people are happy.

The next morning, we brought our kitchen inside the church and cooked again for just our group. We cooked pancakes, bacon and ham. Dr. Mettetal again operated on a man's eye very close to our cooking area. He then left to make some house calls or as they called it...they took out the MASH unit. The youth left to finish painting. Cindy, Chris Stapper, Wade and I burnt all the trash from the day before. When we finished that, it was time to start preparing lunch. I couldn't seem to locate Mollie. Moments later she returned with several of the youth. They had been visiting with a local woman and she had let them help her role out and cook homemade tortillas.You can't get that experience on a routine vacation!! As lunch was prepared, again I took on the french fry grease. Cindy and I cut and cooked potatoes for hours. My hands were very dry before we reached this village, now they are smooth and silky!

We left that village and headed back out across the desert on our way home. We made it across the border about 10:30 Tuesday night. We drove into Eagle Pass and got a hotel. We had the most amazing shower!! We left early this morning and headed home. We got back into Athens around 4:00.

I could list the blessings I received from this trip. I won't. Instead, below, I am going to add to my list of things I am thankful for from my previous post. We will head back to Mexico in May for a trip back to the Copper Canyon and the Taramauran Indians. I am glad to be home but anxious to return!

26. I am thankful for the beauty of Mexico.

27. I am thankful for the people we met and how appreciative they were of what we did for them.

28. I am thankful for shared worship time between our group and the villagers.

29. I am thankful that the people are so happy even though it seems to us that that's impossible.

30. I am thankful for getting to know Kyle and Cindy Henderson in a new light. (hours over hot grease can bond people)

31. I am thankful for safety to Mexico and back.

32. I am thankful for our youth minister, Chris Stapper, and the kids he brought along on the trip.

33. I am thankful for indoor plumbing.

33. I am thankful for a soft mattress.

35. I am thankful for toilet paper and being able to flush it down the toilet.

36. I am thankful for asphalt and paved roads.

37. I am thankful for a warm shower with soap and shampoo.

38. I am thankful that Wil and Mollie got to see how less fortunate people live and that the world does not revolve around them.

39. I am thankful for Dr. Mettetal, who is our family doctor,and how he uses his profession in such a selfless manner.

40. I am thankful to have shared this experience with Wade, Wil and Mollie and the other 35 or so people who went along.

Sandy C.

With Thanksgiving

After reading Toni's post about all she's thankful for, I thought I would make a list of my own. I, too, was at the Thanksgiving Potluck dinner at our church. We went around the table and each person in our small group told what they were thankful for and couldn't repeat what someone else said. It was easy at first and then the men got silly. So after golf clubs, garage door openers, etc. we realized how lucky we all are. So here's my list...

1. I am thankful for my husband. His laughter and sense of humor are contagious. He makes me laugh and he also can make me angrier than any other human being. I love him, anyway!

2. I am thankful for two healthy children who constantly challenge my patience but give me so much pride.

3. I am thankful for my parents who taught me early on in life what a relationship with Christ was all about. They are also passing their faith and prayers onto all 7 grandchildren.

4. I am thankful that Wade and I have good jobs and enjoy our work.

5. I am thankful for the 18 children that I teach everyday. They are each special in their own way.

6. I am thankful for my in-laws. They love our children!!

7. I am thankful for our large "small" group at church. Each member has been such a blessing to me in the past 3 months. We have gotten to know each other in a special way. It's great to have such a support group who share your faith.

8. I am thankful that our church has such a vision for missions and that Wade and I have the opportunity to share in that work.

9. I am thankful that we live in America with freedom to worship God, choose our leaders, and do pretty much what we want.

10. I am thankful for my friends at school. These friendships are tied together with a love for our profession as well as respect and love for each other.

11. I am thankful for our Sunday School Class. It's wonderful to go into a class and come out a better person just for being there.

12. I am thankful for my sisters. We have a close relationship. We don't always agree with each other's decisions in life, but we love each other.

13. I am thankful for my 7 nieces and nephews. They are all such blessings!

14. I am thankful for my extended family, which is considerable. I can't wait until Christmas Eve when we will fill our house with aunts, uncles and cousins for a wild game of Chinese Christmas.

15. I am thankful for our home.

16. I am thankful that Wade and I are able to support our kids' hobby of showing heifers. The experiences we have had with Wil and Mollie and the friends we have made are priceless.

17. I am thankful that I am a Texas Aggie, Class of '92.

18. I am thankful for Diet Coke! I am even more thankful if it has a lime.

19. I am thankful that I have grown up in small town America and was able to return after college.

20. I am thankful that my parents and Wade's parents live very close.

21. I am thankful for Ebay. It has changed my shopping experience.

22. I am thankful that Wil got all B's on his report card! Mollie got all A's.

23. I am thankful for having the entire week of Thanksgiving out of school this year.

24. I am thankful for Chris Tomlin. I love his music!

25. I am thankful for God's grace, mercy and forgiveness.

There's my list. Where's yours?

Sandy C.

Diet Coke and the crevice on the back of my front tooth

Anyone who knows me well knows that my very favorite drink is Diet Coke. It's especially refreshing if it's Diet Coke with lime. It's even greater if it's a Route 44 Diet Coke with lime from Sonic. Anyway, I drink an insane amount of this beverage everyday. I drink a can on the way to school each morning. I don't drink coffee, so I feel like it's justified at 6:30 in the morning. I usually drink 2 more 20oz. bottles throughout the day at school. I may even have another can or two before bedtime. Who needs water? Right?

I have often thought about what all that carbonation is doing to my pearly whites. I know that I need to bleach my teeth. More recently I have had several cavities and my sister-in-law, the dental hygienist, says it's due to all the soda I drink, even though it's diet. Imagine that! It doesn't stop me however, from indulging every single day. Well, today, I was running my tongue on the backside of my bottom teeth and I felt something missing. I thought, oh my goodness, my tooth is crumbling. I'm going to loose my entire front tooth. It's going to chip away with every drink. Then I will have to have all this dental work done to fix it, Wade will suggest a gold tooth or something, I will say "absolutely not" and then he will forbid any more diet coke in the house because of all the expense I have caused with my little "habit" as he calls it. I can be over dramatic sometimes, but that's all I could imagine. Anyway, I went to the nurses office and got a throat light thing, and looked in my mouth, and sure enough something was missing on the back of my tooth. I could actually see the crevice at the base of my tooth. I emailed my sister-in-law and asked her about it. She said she thought it was just plaque that had come loose. She reminded me that I tend to have excess plaque. Then she reminded me that excess plague is caused by all the soda I drink. My goodness, can't a girl enjoy a caffeinated, refreshing drink, even though it's seems as if I have one in my hand all day long. It could be worse. I could be drinking something a little stiffer!!!

So....I have to wait until Nov. 9 to have my teeth cleaned so Wendy can remove the rest of the plaque. Every single time I rub my tongue against that crevice on the back side of my tooth, it reminds me......I need a Diet Coke.

Sandy C

"At least mom, the numbers aren't reversed!"

It's hard to believe we have been in school 8 weeks. Wil and Mollie got their report cards last week. Mollie is a very good student. She is very proud of having all A's. Wil on the other hand, is not ashamed to say, as long as he is passing, who cares?

So last Friday, on the way home from school, I asked Mollie about her report card. She said, "all A's, of course." She works very hard and is one of those kids who does her homework without any arm twisting or complaints. Most of the time, she has it done before she gets over to my school.(She's at a different campus and rides a bus over in the afternoon.) If she doesn't have it finished, she always wants to get it done when she gets home. I love that about her. She really is very conscientious about doing her very best and she is not afraid to brag about that very fact.

Wil....on the other hand.....He is extremely bright! He is an avid reader and especially enjoys reading nonfiction books on WWII, the Civil War, medieval times, and other historical books. However, we always get a knot in our stomachs around report card time. We know he has the ability, but we really never know how he is going to perform. When I got home last Friday, I ask him for his report card. I ask him how he did and he gave his standard answer,"I think I did pretty good." He always says it with an ever so slight apprehension in his voice. So..drum roll....he had an A in Language Arts, a B in Math(which is his most difficult subject)and a C in both Science and Honors Texas History. I was very proud of the A and B. I was disappointed in the other grades. He absolutely loves his History class and has already learned so much. He can rattle off all these historical facts that I have no idea what he is talking about. His actual grade was a 74. When I ask, "Wil, why do you have a 74 in Texas History?" He looked at me with a very serious look on his face and said, "At least mom, the numbers aren't reversed?" That's one thing I love about him, his brutal honesty. So, I had to go into lecture mode and explain to him that he is not working up to his potential and that we realize he is capable of much, much, much more. Wade on the other hand, was just happy he was passing everything.

It's so hard for me to imagine how God could have given us two totally different children. They are polar opposites, to say the least. It is much deeper than their gender and their report cards. I wish Wil cared about his grades as much as Mollie. I realize nothing I can say can give him the desire to work up to his potential, like Mollie. I also realize I can't force Mollie to eat potato chips and ketchup, like Wil.

I love their differences!!

Sandy C.

The fun has begun

WOW! What a busy couple of weeks!!! School has officially started and I am feeling the impact. My feet are achy and as usual, my voice is starting to crack. That happens every year. I think it's because of all the "extra" talking I have to do this time of year. I also have to have my voice at a decibel that can be heard over 17 kindergarteners when they all appear to not be listening. I should be labeled a fireman instead of a teacher. I feel like I am constantly putting out little fires. Don't spit on her, don't poke him with your scissors, please get in line, when my voice comes on, yours goes off, please raise your hand, stop playing in the sink, keep your hands to yourself, go to the restroom...quickly and tuck in your shirt, where should your hands be, etc, etc. The list could go on and on and on. Overall, I do have a wonderful class with very smart children. My voice should recover in a few weeks and things will become as normal as a kindergarten class can be. (Whatever normal is) I also should stop hearing my name called in my sleep rather quickly, I hope. I am looking forward to the next 2 years with this class.

Just a few of the funny things that have happened so far...

*One kid argued with me because he was convinced I could recognize a drawing of his brother, Earl. I didn't know he had a brother and all he had drawn was a circle for the head, a bigger head for the body and straight lines for the arms and legs. How could I have missed it?

*One little boy actually took 10 minutes in the bathroom on more than one occasion. He said he was trying to get his pants up because he was sweaty. He now gets a count of 20 and then he has to be out. He can do it!!

*I was reading the book NO, David! The same child who was convinced I knew Earl wanted to know where David had learned all his bad attitudes that his mother says you shouldn't have.

*One child was on the way to the gym for PE with the rest of his class took a detour to the playground without anyone knowing it and blended in with another class. The teacher finally figured it out and went and found him. He had his priorities straight.

*Because of the standardized dress code, all students must tuck in their shirts. That is a task that can be accomplished for kindergartners, but it is hard. I have a child who gets his shirt tucked in and buckles his belt. He just forgets to button and zip his pants.

All this and we have only been in school 7 days. That's what happens on a campus of 600 Kindergarten and 1st graders.

The adventure continues.....

I am officially the mother of a TEENAGER!!

At 12:29 am this morning I was the mother of a teenager. Wil is 13 years old today. It's so hard to believe. Where has all the time gone? He is such a great kid!

I grew up with two sisters. My oldest sister had a daughter 6 years before Wil was born. My dad began thinking his chances for a grandson were slim. (He has been blessed with 3 more grandsons since Wil.) When he was born after a very long and difficult labor, we couldn't have been more excited, especially my dad. He even shares my dad's first name, William. When Wade and I brought him home, we had no idea what we were supposed to do with him. I had many conversations with my mother over the phone about why he was crying! It usually was because of obvious things, like hunger or being sleepy! He was actually an easy baby and slept very well. I did not work for the first year of his life. He and I spent our days "talking" and napping and playing. What a great time! I wouldn't trade that year for anything. There is something special about a boy and his mother! Whatever "it" is, we share it without question.

Time has flown by with many adventures for Wil....climbing into the washing machine when it was agitating(no broken bones!), locking my mother-in-law out of the house and refusing to open the door when he was 3(she had to call me at school-20 miles away-to come unlock the door), and almost cutting off the end of his index finger in a freak accident(I passed out. He handled it fine.) He then went to school, went through speech therapy, for what we thought was cute, got glasses, started showing his animals, and the most recent adventure was when he backed my mother-in-law"s car into Wade metal shop. She was in the car with him! I am sure we are in store for many more in the years to come.


Wil has grown into a great kid! He is bright and funny! He is a boy that loves video games, movies, history(Civil War is his favorite), loves to read(comics, science fiction, nonfiction, etc.), has great compassion for animals(especially his show heifers and our cats), is affectionate and very loving, loves to play his trumpet, likes drama and hates to play sports. He says he officially retired after one season of tackle football when he was 9. The most important thing I can say about Wil is that he has a personal relationship with Christ.

He made that decision last summer. What a moment in his life and ours as parents! I am so glad that as he goes through these difficult years as a teenager he will have Christ walking with him. I can't say I am not terrified at the notion at what the world will throw at him. He belongs to God and my prayer for him each day is that he will follow Christ, not the crowd. I want him to depend on God for protection and wisdom. As his parents, Wade and I have a responsibility to teach him to make good decisions. Our expectations for him are high. We expect him to respect us and others. We expect him to follow our rules. We expect him to be responsible(a work in progress). We expect him to spend time with God. We expect him to go to church. We expect him to do his best in school. We expect him to consider the feelings of others. As his example, I struggle to do these things sometimes. I want him to realize that we all fail, but because of God's grace and mercy we are forgiven! What an awesome responsibility we have as parents! I am so glad that I have Jesus Christ to help me through.

So as we celebrate this momentous occasion in his life, I look back over the past 13 years with amazing happiness. I look at him (at eye level, because he is almost as tall as I am) and my heart just burst with pride in the fact that I am the mother of Wil, the teenager.

Sandy C

I wanted to post some pictures, but for some reason, Blogger won't let me. Check back later.

Tour Of Homes

Wade and I built our humble home about 5 years ago. It sits on almost 6 acres. Wil and Mollie's show heifers graze in the pasture out back. We also have 2 dogs (including a 12 year old Bassett Hound named Webster), and too many cats to mention. I took these pictures in the evening, so I couldn't show the yard or all the pets.


This is the family room. As you can see, we do spend actual "family" time in here. Wil, as usual, is doing his own thing, but at least he is in the room with everyone else. Mollie, as usual, is sitting with her daddy. She is probably trying to talk him into letting her do something that I have denied her.

Here is the kitchen. The cooking appliances don't see a lot of action. I only cook out of necessity and certainly not out of pleasure. On top of the cabinets, you can see my collection of vintage lunch boxes. I have about 25. Most of them I have found on Ebay. I collect the ones that remind me of things from my childhood. I have a Strawberry Shortcake-this was my sister's favorite toy. I have a great Sesame Street one with Bert and Ernie. I love watching that show before I started school. My favorites are my Holly Hobbie lunch boxes. I have 2. That was my favorite doll. I played with her and her friends all the time. Over on the cabinet, you will find more Ebay stuff. It is a vintage Lustro-Ware red, canister set. That is one of my best finds yet!

Here is where we eat! We try to spend dinner time together as a family almost every night. Wade and I think this is one of the most important times of the day with Wil and Mollie. I grew up in a family where this time was cherished and so many memories where made. Hopefully, the kids will continue this with there families sometime down the road. Also, over to the right of the table, you can see yet another great Ebay find. It is a unbelievable vintage 1950's era red metal, rolling tea server.

That's it! I realize the places I have shown revolve around family time. I didn't do that on purpose, I guess that is just what fills my mind when I am at home. It is our home and I love it!!

Sandy C

What a great job!!

Softball update....We finished 3rd in the state!!! Not a bad acccomplishment, I would say.

Now, it's time to get focused on school. I am going up on Tuesday to check things out and see exactly how much work I have to do in the next two weeks. I will start making a list of the things that need to be done. I am going to try to do a little at a time, so I don't get so overwhelmed. I usually do that to myself each year and this year I am not going to let myself get all stressed. I'm not, I'm not!!!! I also will get my first look at my class list. Because I am a looping teacher, I start over every two years with a new class. This is the year for that. I have prayed about these kids already. I know God will place on that list the kids who need me most. We will be meant for each other. Even those difficult kids will be with me for a reason. It's for me to teach them to read and count and add and subtract numbers, but it's more than that. I have the responsiblity to be a good example for them. They have to learn to get along well with each other. They have to learn that they have to follow rules and that there are consequences for not. They are so funny..I can hear them saying things to each other that I say. They sure keep me accountable.

That is the exciting part about starting over this year... getting to know a new group of kids and their families and seeing the growth in each one over the next two years. After all the years of teaching(13), it's still a great job!!

Maybe I am looking forward to going back to school...maybe!!

Sandy C

Where has the summer gone?

I was in Wal-mart and saw that school supplies were out on the shelves and backpacks are hanging everywhere. I got a big knot in my stomach. That is not a good sign!!! I think it means that our summer is almost over and I have to go back to work soon.

I really haven't thought too much about school this summer. That is a change for me. I have too many other things to keep me busy....MY CHILDREN!!! That is not a complaint. I am happy they are involved in so many activities. Wil has stayed busy with the youth group at church. Of course, Mollie has had softball. That doesn't count our vacation and show heifers.(That is another story, I will have to share later!) I wouldn't trade this time in our lives for anything. I hate seeing them grow up so fast in front of my eyes. Wil is going to Jr. High!!!!

I guess, after the state tournament next week, I will start working on getting things ready for all my new kindergarteners. Once I start going up to the school, I will really start feeling depressed. Oh well!! Life goes on......

Sandy C

I love my church!

Our church is such a great place! It took us almost 13 years to get to FBC Athens, but we made it and are so thankful that God has led us to a place where we have connected so well with so many people who share our faith.

Wade and I both were brought up in church. My parents took my sisters and I to church every time the doors were open. (Wade's story is similar, but this is my blog!) Not only did we go to church, but my parents led by example. My mom always worked in the church and constantly cared for other members. She has such a pure heart! My dad didn't always go to church with us on Sunday, because he worked, but when he was able, he was there. We were expected to have a relationship with Christ and we all three made a profession of faith at various ages. I went to the same church regularly from the time I was born until I went off to college. Regretfully, I didn't get involved in a church in College Station. Then, Wade and I got married and moved to Huntsville and never got involved there either.

When we moved back to Athens in 1994, we started back to church where I had gone all my life. I know now it was because that is where I felt the most comfortable. We felt connected at times, but as the years went by, people our age seemed to be dwindling. We had no social interaction with anyone at church, except my parents!! The children's ministry was almost non-existent. We were involved, but I always felt like a big piece of the spiritual puzzle was missing.

We started praying about what we needed to do. We were very torn because we had history at the church, especially me. I felt like my parents would be upset and I have real issues with big changes. We knew the Lord was leading us somewhere else, we just didn't know where, as difficult as that was. In January 2005, we got a call from a couple we know that are members of FBC Athens. They invited us to a small group party. As soon as I got off the phone, I knew it was time to visit a new church. It was God's way of answering out prayer. We went to the party, and had a great time. Remember, we were not used to having any kind of social interactions with couples our age! We decided that we would visit the next Sunday. (It actually was several Sundays later, because I got sick and then we were out of town.) Anyway, I waited until the Saturday night before to call and tell my parents. Of course, my mom cried, but they both understood. With Wade's hand in my back forcing me into the door, we went to Sunday School. The kids were apprehensive, but they both had a great time. Our Sunday School class ended up being just what we were looking for. We couldn't have felt more welcome. I guess the rest is history, you could say! We didn't visit any other churches because we knew we had found our "home" as soon as we walked in the door.

Since then, we have been blessed with many new friends, spiritual growth and maturity, wonderful opportunities for service, mission work in Mexico, a great small group that meets and genuinely cares about one another, we have seen Wil come to know the Lord, the children ministry is expanding, our Sunday School is the best, but most of all we have a renewed faith!

God is so good to use other people to accomplish his purpose for us. He used our friends to make the phone call to invite us to a party. He used the leaders of our SS class to make us feel welcome, because He knew how hard it was for me to go in the door the first morning, He used the pastor and other staff members to speak to us spiritually. The list could go on forever.

Wow! What a ride! We truly believe we have arrived at the place God had intended all along.

Sandy C

Go Diamonds! Go!

The softball saga continues....Mollie just finished up district play with the Diamonds, the team that picked her up for playoffs. They won the tournament!! This means we will move on to the state playoffs week after next. We have had so much fun this week watching the girls play. Mollie has done a great job. She hit the ball very well. Her fielding still needs some work, but she is improving.

The team won the first two games very easily. The third game was a different story and the game came down to our last at bat. They were able to win by one run. The night before the game Mollie and I prayed that the team would do well and try their best. The next day we prayed right before we left. After the game, I reminded Mollie that God answered our prayers. She said,"Coach prays with us too, before every game, didn't you know that?" I was so touched. I was so impressed that he led the girls in prayer
there at the ballfield. The next night we played the same team again for first place. Before the coach let the girls go out on the field, all 13 girls had their heads bowed in prayer. Not only is he teaching the girls wonderful softball skills, but he is teaching them to build their faith in God. I am so glad that Mollie is learning that she can depend on our Heavenly Father for anything, including a softball game.


The Lord has blessed her with a great summer! Her confidence is off the charts. Not only did she get picked up by the first place team, but she has had a part in helping them win a place in the state tournament. I am so thankful for Jeffrey Fulgham for giving my daughter so much confidence in herself, giving her the chance to see how it feels to win, teaching her how to be a team player, and most importantly, how to rely on God and to thank Him for answered prayers.

Go, Diamonds! Go!

I hate housework!!!

I have ask myself why is it that I dislike cleaning house so much. Is it because I know that within 1 hour or so the kids will mess it up again? Is it the monotony of it all? Am I a messy person? or Is it just boring?

The answer to the first question probably is the biggest reason. My kids, even though they are 12 and 9 can still make huge messes. Wil loves Dr. Pepper and he always breaks the little silver tab off the top of the can before he drinks. He just puts them wherever he is sitting-on the computer desk, on the end tables and I also found a considerable stash behind his bed. Mollie has a problem picking up shoes. I constantly have to remind her where her large collection of CROCS should go, certainly not on the living room floor. Mollie does do a great job cleaning her room and she loves to mop. There may be hope for her yet!! I am worried about Wil. He struggles to keep his hair clean, much less his room.

I do also think that house cleaning is very monotonous. It would be great if you could clean the bathroom and it would stay clean even though you use it regularly. I don't know where all the dust comes from either. I dust one day and it seems that within 2 days it's all back again. I think that is why I put some things off. It's like, why bother? Day to day chores, like laundry and keeping the kitchen clean don't bother me that much. I will confess, I do let a load of laundry stay in the dryer for several days. I'll remember it when I am needing to put a fresh load in there.

I don't think I am a messy person. I pride myself on being somewhat together most of the time. My mom, who my children call Cookies, taught me very well how to clean house. I have 2 sisters and we all had chores to do growing up. I think my older sister got most of the cleaning genes from Cookies. She is the clean freak in the family. My younger sister and I both lost out, I think.

Cleaning is very boring. Wade says he thinks I could get things done faster if I wouldn't go from one thing to another without finishing what I start. I agree with him and I am working on that. I just am trying to keep it more interesting, I guess. Sometimes I will be cleaning my bathroom and I will leave that to get a load of laundry out of the washer, which is when I will discover the load I left in the dryer 3 days before, I will fold that load. Then on the way back to the bathroom something in the living room will catch my eye and off I will go to do that chore. Wade says Cookies is the same way. I evidently got that gene from her. I am trying to get one thing done at a time and it does work better. I can get done a lot faster.

I think it might all boil down to the fact that there are 100 other things I would rather be doing. Those may include watching daytime TV, ( it's summer and I don't do much of that during the school year) reading a book, doing things with Wil and Mollie-like going to the movies, going swimming, etc. We are leaving for vacation on Saturday and I always like to leave the house clean when we are going to be away. I just finished the floors, but of course writing this blog has gotten me off track. I am going to have a goal--I want to get all 3 1/2 bathrooms cleaned and our room clean before I go to bed tonight. In between, I have to get a hair cut, go to Walmart and go to church tonight. I think it's an attainable goal-if only a good movie doesn't get me sidetracked.

Sandy C

It's all about Mollie

I have written about Wade, Wil, and now it's Mollie's turn. Mollie is my 9 year old, independent, perfectionist, basketball playing,heavy hitting softball all star, daughter. She is the sort of girl who refuses to wear pink, purple or anything that would lead someone to believe that she is a "girly-girl".

She has just finished playing regular season softball. Her team ended up 5-5, which was a little disappointing for Mollie. She always wants to win!! We started the season a little bumpy. The league rules state that you must be 9 before December 31 to move up to the next league. Well, Mollie's best friend's birthday is December 31, so she got to move up. Mollie's birthday is in April, so she had to stay down in coach pitch. However, the Athens league broke it's own rules and let several girls move up, even though they did not meet the age requirements. Mollie wanted so badly to move up and her dad and I considered letting her do that. After thinking about it for several days, we decided to teach her something. Rules are rules, and we were going to follow them. She was upset, especially after the first practice. She was the only player on her team that really had any experience and later we found out that only her and one other girl in the league followed the age rule. As the season started, we saw Mollie becoming more and more of a leader and a very serious softball player. Her skill level shocked us. She was hitting hard and playing great at 3rd base. She began to "coach" some of the other girls who were less experienced than her. Wade and I were so proud!!!

Last week, the coach of the first place team called Wade and asked him about using Mollie as a pick up player during the district playoffs. We had noticed him hanging around during some of her games. (His team is organized in Chandler and they follow the age rule strictly.) They are an excellent team. Boy, was Mollie excited! She has already gotten to practice with them and will continue to do that until the tournament.
She may not get to play much, but the lesson she has learned is worth so much. You have to follow rules. You may not like them, they may seem unfair, but in the end you are rewarded. Our hearts are just bursting with pride!

Sandy C

Now that she is so confident, she wants to be on the Lady Aggie softball team! WHOOP!

My Baby is growing up!

Today I finally realized my son, Wil, is growing up before my very eyes. We sent him off to youth camp! This will mark the first time he has had an extended stay away from home without the rest of the family. He was sooo excited!! I was excited for him, but it didn't make it any easier for me. He will be 13 in about a month and it seems like only yesterday that his whole world revolved around Thomas the Tank Engine and eating Little Debbie's Chocolate Cupcakes.

I figured out this morning that he is still not old enough to be embarrassed by the affection shown to him by his mother in public. As we were walking up the sidewalk I hugged and kissed him goodbye. Still having issues with the leaving him at the door scenario, I walked him inside the building and hugged and kissed him again. Poor boy! Wade, Mollie and my mother were also close behind. Anyway, without hesitation he hugged and kissed me good bye again. I love his big hugs! I thought about that after we left, are we embarrassed to show God's love in public? Do those around us know that we love Jesus? Whatever the answer, without hesitation, He loves on us!!! WOW!! Thanks Wil for reminding me of that so clearly.

When he gets home on Monday, I am sure he will be full of stories, have a very tired body, and hopefully have a heart filled with Jesus! I am so proud of him!

Sandy C

Now if he only remembers that swimming in the lake at camp does not constitute a bath!!!

I am gleaning!!!!

I have stepped out and decided to give this blog thing a try. I chose the title gleaning for my blog, because I hate that word. For whatever reason, my husband, Wade, uses the silly word all the time. Now it has just become a huge joke that drives me nuts. He first used the word several years ago when we were attending another church. He was teaching our class and he used it to summarize the lesson. You have to know Wade-I was shocked to here him use such a "fancy" word. I didn't say anything about it, but he used it again a few weeks later. That is when I finally had to confess the issues I had over the use of the word. I don't know what it is about the word--it may be the sound of it, but, to tell the truth I think it's the fact that Wade uses it. He is a very intelligent agricultural banker, but to hear him say it, just doesn't seem right. After we moved to FBC Athens and started attending a small group, he used the dreaded word one night. I just mentioned to our group the hang up I have about the word. Several weeks later, we are going through our bible study and there it was--in print!!! Everyone had a big laugh over it and now it is a big inside joke. I think seeing it in print made Wade feel validated in some strange way.

I do love my ag banker and his silly words.

S Carter