Birthday Rings

Okay...so this picture probably needs a little explanation. LOL!  But I think you will find this an interesting.... no, I think you will think this a romantic story.  Let me explain:

Yesterday, August 4th, was  my 47th birthday.  Thank you all for the sweet wishes!  "Oh what a celebration" was had!  It began with blueberry pancakes, floating around the pool to the tunes of "Wicked" (Isaac temporarily moved to Brock's house), basketball in front of the garage, garden fresh tomatoes from brother-in-law Charlie, yummy cake from of Grandma (Mary McBee) from the new bakery downtown Berkeley Springs (try it out... it's across from the Ice House), a poem from Isaac, Captain America costume from Levi, and ended with a memorable family dinner at my favorite little French place in Winchester, VA, called La Nicoise Cafe!  Violet's surprise (I just know it is a wagon wheel) is arriving Monday!

The evening was topped off with a roaring rendition of "The Potter Puppet Pal's Mysterious Ticking Noise" in the back of the suburban... for 45 miles!  It was a loooong ride home!

So, what's with the "Birthday Rings"?  Well, a really special surprise for my birthday was a story revealed by my mom.  The freckly hand you see there is mine.  (Don't you just love my manicure!?)  This ring was a birthday gift from Caity.  I've always wanted an Irish cluddah ring.  Now I have one to match hers, Ashley's, and Aunt Tammy's.  Isn't it pretty!

Now, the top hand is my mom's.  (Her nails always look good!)  See the ruby ring?  I've known these hands all my life and never did I know that mom had a ruby ring!  Guess where she got it?  This precious "Birthday Ring" was a gift from Daddy (Bobbie McBee) on her 16th birthday.  He gave it to her when he took her to Lurray Caverns for her Sweet 16th Birthday surprise in a '52 Olds.  We got to hear all about some of Daddy's cars and how this one met an unfortunate underside semi truck when he fell asleep driving through town, among others!  Apparently, my grandmother (Edith Roysten Daniels) was not too happy the gesture.  "Grandmama" felt that it was wrong to receive such a gift from a b.o.y.!  She even insisted that mom return the ring to daddy because it wasn't "proper"!  Ooooooooo...

Mom kept it.

"Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies."  

Proverbs 31:10

Hott Love at Lurray Caverns!

Here we are for a summertime Hott adventure!  We drove down to Lurray Caverns, VA, for a tour with the kids yesterday.  After lunch with government spies at Brown's Chinese Restaurant, we got our tickets and waited in line to proceed 150 feet below the surface of the earth.

Waiting for us were some spectacular sights.  I think the coolest thing for me was the sounds and music of the "pipes".  Kids also climbed this giant ropes course, got lost in a garden maze, and panned for gold in the village.

It was a blessed day, for sure!  Here's something even cooler.  56 years earlier, PapPap (Bobbie McBee) took Grandma (Mary) to Lurray for her Sweet 16th Birthday!

Today, I am 47!

"Heaven and the heaven of heavens belong to the LORD your God, 

the earth with all that is in it." Dueteronomy 10:14

Who's Going to Chick Fil-A Today?

I am!  Are you?

And, I'm ordering a chicken pickle sandwich!  This soon to be 47-year-old-grey-haired-Hott-mama-of-four has many fond memories treating our family to a meal at Chick-fil-A; including weekly stops on the way to track meets, regular visits after toddler gymnastics, to even breaking the miraculous news that I was pregnant to my husband in Chick-fil-A's Hagerstown, MD, location!

"God created marriage.  No government subcommittee envisioned it.  No social organization developed it.  Marriage was conceived and born in the mind of God" - Max Lucado

Another Stranger in the Supermarket

Do you ever get to grocery shop alone or are your children always along for the fun?  See what happened to me in Food Lion the other day when I met a "stranger" in Aisle 4!

Link to today's column "Hott Flashes" on Moms of Faith is here:
http://momsoffaith.com/2012/07/strangers-in-the-supermarket/

Please link to your friends!  Thanks for listening to "my story"...
love, a

Colorado Midnight Movie Massacre

Writing this week's column for Hott Flashes had my heart all in knots over the awful shooting in Colorado at the  midnight premiere of The Dark Knight Rises.  Here is the link to the post:  http://momsoffaith.com/2012/07/the-bright-knight-goes-to-the-midnight-movie/

This picture of Jesus is included in the book I mention, Heaven is for Real.  It was created by a child named Akiane who also experienced seeing Jesus similar to how Colten did in the book.

Imagining that those at the movies saw Him too.

Please share and pray with me for understanding.  If you haven't already, read Heaven is for Real... "You're gonna like it!"

Because, you know, Heaven IS for real.

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.  2 Peter 3:13 KJV

Colorado Midnight Movie Massacre

           The Bright Knight                                            VS                                The Dark Knight... Rising



http://momsoffaith.com/2012/07/the-bright-knight-goes-to-the-midnight-movie/

I had just completed reading Heaven is for Real the morning the midnight movie massacre at the Batman's premiere of The Dark Knight Rises hit the news.  I can't stop thinking of Jesus meeting those 12 when they entered heaven, how the Heavenly Father mourns over the suffering this has caused, and how God's heart must ache even for James Holmes, the murderer.

Above is a picture of Jesus drawn by a young child named Akiane who experienced seeing Him similar to that of Colten in Heaven is for Real. Can you just imagine Him among the turmoil that night?  I heard that a three month old baby was in the theater too.  I bet Jesus held that baby the entire time.

Please share...  and pray for understanding.  If you haven't already, read Heaven is for Real!  "You're gonna like it!"

love, a

The Dark kNight

Dear God, 
Please comfort those directly touched by the massacre which occurred at the midnight showing of "The Dark Knight" out in Colorado.  As a mom all the way across the country, I have a hard time understanding why things like this happen.  Please provide your light around this country as it struggles to heal from the "dark night", another gun tragedy.  Amen


“For You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord shall enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop; by my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” (2 Samuel 22:29)


Just posting a prayer for those killed and injured at the midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises". Please add your prayers too if you wish.

Shushed in Church... Again!

http://momsoffaith.com/2012/07/what-to-do-when-your-children-are-shushed-in-church/

Has it ever happened to you?  Oh my goodness, peel me off the pew, I was so embarrassed.  LOL!

Food Drive and Energy Express

Sharing Mercy in Morgan County, WV

For this morning's church service, I had two very important, super cool, totally awesome announcements to share with the church community.  And I blew it!

So, here I go, needing to send out an apology to the folks at FUMC for arriving late for service...again!  Seriously, we Hott's are attempting to join the 8:15 a.m. service celebration and bring our family to a unique worship event.  Sadly to admit, I got "caught" sneaking up the back steps to the balcony, late,...again!  (quack, quack,...LOL! - inside joke)  Again, I need to ask forgiveness for being an interruption as we were earlier this month (see tomorrow's column: "Hott Flashes" for more about that.)

As I waddled in with my crew, I realized that I had missed an important opportunity to share a chance for us to show mercy with other folks in Morgan County, WV.  You see, a teacher had contacted me earlier in the week and asked me to make an announcement to our congregation.  Here is what's going on:

Tomorrow, June 16th, there will be a Canned Food Drive to benefit the Backpack Program.  The Energy Express Team will be collecting food outside of the Family Dollar next to Food Lion.  Matt Tolliver, Warm Springs Intermediate School Guidance Counselor and Director for Energy Express, is coordinating this effort to generate food supply for the Backpack Program.  Have you heard of it?  Morgan County has approximately 200 identified students county wide that are at risk.  These kids have little source of food when they are at home.  The Backpack Program is an effort to provide kids with easy to prepare meals when they are away from school and over the weekend.  This Food Drive will help the supply throughout the  year.


In case you were wondering, hunger is real in W.Va.!  As a substitute teacher part-time in our county, I have seen first hand the effect this program has had on students.  At the end of a Friday, I saw a backpack full of food go home with a six year old.  With huge eyes, the student said to me, "Yeah!  Mrs. Hott!  Now I won't be hungry this weekend!"  A piece of my heart cracked as I felt like I was in one of those Compassion International videos.  Believe it or not, there are kids in our county that go home from school with nothing to eat until the following day, or over a weekend, when they return to school.  Hungry kids produce poor learners and can, quite possibly, be a source of behavior issues in the classroom.  Feed the tummy and we also feed the minds too!  Believe me, these hungry students could be sitting right across from your child at school.


While I have your attention, Matt also needs volunteers to assist students with reading at Energy Express.  You are welcome to drop by Warm Springs Middle School anytime, Monday - Friday, until July 26th.  If Matt has enough volunteers to read, he is hoping to also introduce a writing program.  Both reading and writing have been identified a critical areas of need among elementary age students in Morgan County.


Want to share some mercy in Morgan County tomorrow?  Just as God has shown us mercy, let us also share the same in our community.  Thanks Pastor Rob, for helping me understand more about mercy this morning.  And if you find yourself late, like I usually am, I am sure that Matt can accept food donations at Energy Express (WSMS), or at several of the drop off locations, including First Church.

"Be you therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful."  Luke 6:36

$1000

Hmmmmm...  what would this 46-year-old-grey-haired-mama-of-four do with a $1000?  Probably shop for school clothes!  LOL!


Seriously, yesterday was July 9th and I found myself in Target with three of my four hottlings.  Guess what was out for purchases ALREADY?.....  School Supplies!  (Can't you just hear the moans?)


Well, I don't know about you moms but this one is NOT ready to succumb my summer "stay"cation just yet!  Here on Hott Mountain, where is plenty of summer left, we'll be floatin' around all afternoon.


Just submitted an application for a random $1000 blog scholarship.  Although it sounds like a marketing thing, wouldn't it be nice to find an extra 1000 bucks for school clothes.  I'll tell you something:  these kids are taller each morning when they wake up!  


Spending most of the summer barefoot (remember those days?), I can't even imagine what we will need for shoes.