She's willing to sacrifice her dad

Like most cities in Texas on Friday night, Athens becomes a exciting place when the Hornets are home playing football. Last night was no different. The lights at Bruce Field where lit brightly and the metal bleachers left you with a frozen cushion. If you know what I mean? However, Mollie didn't let all the excitement from the night leaving her with the opportunity to sacrifice her dad for her own safety.

Let me explain.

Earlier in the day, every kid in the entire district was either bused or walked to Bruce Field for a district wide pep rally. The kids had a great time but I ended up so tense over the fear of losing a student that I really couldn't enjoy the fun. It's always comforting to have a little duck row behind you with 20 kids and there are people everywhere and you have to walk down out of the bleachers and into waiting buses. My biggest fear is that one of my 1st graders is going to take a flying leap over the rails or something. Fortunately, that didn't happen and we made it back to the school with everyone accounted for. Anyway, on their way back to the high school, evidently some high school kids got in quite a scuffle and the police had to come and 6 kids were arrested. We've heard that there was a switchblade involved. Because of all the problems related to possible retaliation and such, every administrator in the district had to be at the game to monitor and run interference. Kids were not allowed to congregate under the bleachers, by the concession stand or at the restrooms.

Back to the sacrificial heart of Mollie. We were walking up to the stadium and Mollie said that her principal had told them that they could not go to the concession stand or restroom without a parent. She looks up at Wade and said, "Daddy you can just go with me and if someone comes after us with a knife, then I'll just push you in their way and I'll be fine." Not that Wade wouldn't willingly sacrifice himself for her, but she just said it with such a calm voice that it was like no big deal, daddy will get stabbed, but I won't drop my coke and sour straws!

Happily, no sacrificial stabbing occurred. But if it ever does, I'll be sure to stand with Mollie, because she has a plan.

And the Hornets won!!

Sandy C

She's becoming a fashion critic

Last night, we had dinner out with some friends to celebrate my birthday. Nothing big, just a visit to Jalapeno Tree! I LOVE the green sauce. I think I'm going to stop ordering off the menu and just start eating my weight in chips and green sauce. (That may eventually cause my arteries to clog and I may not make it to my next birthday!)

Anyway, we got there before our friends. We were waiting to be seated and Mollie looked at what Wade was wearing. He had on jeans and a red striped T-shirt. It was nothing she hadn't seen him in before. She looked at him very seriously and said..."Dad you could have worn something decent." Since when is she the fashion expert? She's the one who refuses to wear anything but flip flops or camo CROCS. It doesn't matter where we are going. The flip flops are either camo or have the Texas A&M symbol on them. We also have finally gotten her to stop wearing mess shorts and T-shirts everywhere we go. Now she's wearing knee length shorts and baby doll tops. I've also heard her make comments recently about what I'm wearing. She's only 10 and we have already become a fashion embarrassment to her.

I'm sorry to say to Mollie Cat that just wait until she's 14 or 15 and Wade drops her off somewhere with his shorts and work boots on and kisses her goodbye. She will be wishing for jeans and a red striped t-shirt!

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

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!

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!