To my children...

Above All Else
by Debby Boone

So much to say and just a lifetime left to say it.

How quickly time passes.

If I had my way, I'd keep you safe within my arms

While the storm of life crashes.

I won't always be with you, my child,

But words I can give.

When the winds of hope are dying down,

These words will live.

Above all else, know God's the One who'll never leave you.

Look to Him above all else.

He is love you can depend upon, a heart set to care.

If in the darkest night you should be lost, He will be there.

He’s the Everlasting Father,

In His hands you’ll never fall.

He’s the One who holds it all,

Above all else.

He’s the Author of your laughter,

He’s the Keeper of your tears,

He’s the One who you must fear

Above all else.

He’s the Giver of the kingdom

Bought for you right from the start,

And He’ll ask you for your heart

Above all else.

So much to say

And not enough time left to say it.

Just love the Lord

Above all else.

Not for all the chocolate in the world...

"I wouldn't give up my family for anything - not for all the chocolate in the world." Charlie, from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Hospice House

What a wonderful place!!!! My uncle Jackie has been staying in the Spartanburg Hospice House for the past week and a half. Everyone and everything there has been sweet and beautiful for him. The nurses and staff are wonderful and talented!! The facility is gorgeous and well thought out for the patients and families.

I have been blessed to have the morning shifts with Jackie while the children are in school. The first week he was still able to carry on conversations sometimes and it was very sweet to be able to spend time with him. This week is a little harder for him and the communication is almost completely gone. I spent a very quiet morning with him today and felt so blessed. First to have been blessed with a husband who sees the value in a woman staying home and not working in the work force. I also feel so blessed to be able to have these days to share with my family and be there for them. It was sweet to be able to sit by his bed today in the quiet. I've never been with someone dying before, it's an awesome experience to be able to be there. Just to hold their hands or give them a drink of water. I've always thought of myself as a person who can help children. Artie was the one who was good with older people. My thoughts have drastically changed this week. In some ways it is like a little baby again. Holding hands, rubbing backs and heads, in and out of bed, getting drinks, just giving love.

When I first found out I was pregnant and having a boy 17 years ago I was scared. All I knew was little girls. I didn't know you could love little boys. It feels the same way now. I didn't know you could enjoy being with some one knowing it was the end of their life. I am blessed!!!

God is so GOOD!!

Our neighbor, Barney, is moving out. His mother died recently and he is moving into her home, which of course is coming complete furnished. He has been giving us things on a weekly basis as he has been slowing switching homes. Last night he hit his kitchen.

Here is a running list of just some of the things we have been given: glasses, cups, mugs, canning jars, plates, saucers, set of pots and pans, blender, Tupperware, silverware, kitchen utensils, colander, toaster, coffee pot and filters and coffee, grill, can opener, soup bowls, baking trays, Pyrex dishes, knife block, ice trays, complete unopened dish set for 8, 2 end tables, a computer chair.

That's just last night. Previously he's given me his mama's sewing machine and beautiful stand and chair along with her sewing kit, an older computer for the children to play on and computer desk, lamps, flowers, a washer and dryer (two weeks after our dryer finally died) . He's given Artie his mustang house (a fabric storage building with floor - Artie has turned it into a workshop), wood, books, a fan - more than I can't even keep up with out there!!

Tomorrow Artie is picking up a storage cabinet.

I'm so sorry for Barney's loss of his mother, but I believe she had been sick for some time and he is happy for her place with Jesus now.

We are a disposable family. Everything we have is temporary. Having 7 children in one home - nothing lasts too long. That goes from appliances to kitchen items to furniture - don't get me started on the windows!!! :-) If a average size family gets 10 years from a washer - that equals about 2 years of use in the Quinn home!! Pretty much - it runs all day every day. We use what God gives us until it is all used up and then He always comes to our need and supplies more!!! It has been like that from the day we married.

When I was pregnant with the twins (and a little scared of the future) we had four children and were temporarily living in a 2 bedroom house. We had just moved to town and were using a house from Artie's boss - Mr. Mickey - while we looked for something big enough. That was - big enough for the 6 of us - we didn't know about the twins yet. When I found out the twins were coming I have to admit - panic set in. Here we were 6 people living in a 2 bedroom house!! God was so good. We found a lovely old house (key word could be old, but lets make the key word lovely). When I went in the hospital to have the twins we were still living in the two bedroom house. When I came home we directly drove to the new big house. Artie had been working the month before trying to get things ready while taking care of his pregnant wife (a tough job in his life!!) and his four kids all at the same time. There was still so much to do. Our friends and family came in while I was in the hospital and did it all. Finished the painting, moving the furniture. When I walked in, the sheets were made on the beds, everything was unpacked and they had stocked the frig with food. God is soooo good and does always provide.

It's been like that our whole life. There is a need and God provides. Sometimes it just overwhelms me. Someone offered us a couch or something one day when we were first married and I was trying to decide if we really needed it or not - Artie told me not to turn down anything anyone gave us - there was gonna be a need for it. And it has worked out that way.

The one thing that sticks out in my mind is that God usually doesn't give us what we need until the need is already there. I think if we had waited on a house big enough for a big family to get pregnant, we would still just have one or two children. Trust God.....

Thanksgiving

We had such a full Thanksgiving this year. The children all being in public school this year, have picked up every type of virus going around. It has been a mess!! I still haven't caught up on all the laundry yet.

We missed Thanksgiving with Artie's family but were blessed to all be well finally the day of Thanksgiving. We went and had dinner with all my granddaddy's brothers and sisters and all their children and grandchildren. It was so much fun. I love to be around my mimi and grandy all I can!! My daddy and Karen were there and all my first cousins who I hardly get to see. I wish we all lived closer and could visit more.

Mimi is getting ready to have surgery in a couple of weeks for a hernia in her chest. We are all praying for a quick recovery for her. She has been sick for quiet a while with reflux and they are hoping this is going to fix it all.

It was good to eat her dressing and gravy for lunch. We took turkey, gravy and green beans. There was so much food. I didn't hear a count of how many people were there, I'm guessing about 50? I hope this becomes a tradition. Brenda and Emily and I have cooked Thanksgiving for 2 years now at home; but, I so love being with the big family more.

At the end of the day, we all got together and Artie lead us in a prayer to God for what we were thankful for. The children make me smile so. Terry was thankful for Thanksgiving, Brenda for family and friends which prompted Terry to also be thankful for Mama and Daddy. Bobby was thankful for Squanto :-) (see, he is learning something in school) and Troy said he was thankful for second chances. There are such moments of brightness shining through the days here and there. Artie was most thankful for Mimi and Granddaddy and being able to share Thanksgiving with them - his grandparents have all passed away, so he's adopted mine as his own. He loves them so. And I was thankful that Artie is still my best friend in the whole world. The next day we celebrated being together for 26 years (we started dating when we were in junior high).


By the way, the children have all been well for a whole week now. They went back to school two days and I already have 2 home sick with a stomach ache and throwing up!!!! There are some things I'm never going to like about public school. Mrs. Coggins (the office lady) said they had so many sick now, I had been hoping while they had all been separated over the holiday they would come back to school all well. Maybe by the end of Christmas break???

Our Family

After the storm and the picnic, we were able to snap a few family pictures. We might end up using one of these for our Christmas picture. :-)

Bobbie's new "friend"

Picnic Time

After a day at the beach, there was a huge storm. Everyone was scrambling through the rain to get back to their cars. Artie went to the trunk of our car and got our picnic and we sat under the pier and had a lovely meal together. It's so nice those times I am prepared. :-)

Folly Beach

The next day after the reunion we had a fun time at Folly Beach.

The Oxendines

These are my grandmother Mildred's - otherwise known as Nanny (my mama's mama) - brothers and sisters. That is Uncle Neil on the far left, Aunt Betty in the USA shirt, Aunt Lois in the flowered shirt and Uncle Sherman on the far right. I am so blessed to have such a godly heritage. These are some of the most wonderful people I've ever known.

Most of my friends knew my Aunt Violet from when she lived in Spartanburg. This is the family she belonged with, one of my nanny's sisters. :-) She was the sweetest thing!! I miss her so.

Tami, are you still reading? How many brothers and sisters were there all together? Nine or more? List out all the names for me. :-)

Oxendine Reunion

I have been wanting to post the pictures from our family vacation to Charleston, but just haven't had the time. I am trying to catch up a little. Here are some fun pictures. We had such a good time. All of the children, except Brian, went as well Artie's mom. This was my mama's family reunion. Most of the family live in Va, but came to my cousin Vicki's house for the reunion. She has a beautiful home that has been featured on HGTV in What You Get for the Money.

It was so nice for me for Artie's mother to get to meet my family. She has never met most of my mama's family. I was proud to show them off!!!

~~ That's my aunt Coella in the cute little blue hat ~~ :-)

Easter Day

Our family
The children The boys
The girls
Me and Artie

Sandy

Sandy,

I can't get my chat box to work right now - I don't know what's up with it.

The kids go back to school tomorrow (they've been out for 5 days - 1 snow, 1 teacher work day, 2 weekend and 1 MLK Jr day) so anytime tomorrow morning will be good. It's the only day I'm here all day.

Love you,
Kelly

BTW, did you see the old pictures I posted of my cousins Chrissy & DeAnna and Tami & Terri? I guess I shouldn't let you feel left out. I'll have to dig a really good one up!!!! :-)

Do you have my cell number?

I am from...

I found an old post from Elizabeth at Real Learning today and decided to try it for myself. Wow, it made me cry to write it.

I am from...

I am from Count Chocula, Spaghettios and Little Debbies, shopping at malls and eating Chick-Fil-A and Long John Silvers (anywhere in a day's driving distance), grabbing a quick chili cheese a plenty from the Beacon (where my mama and daddy use to date) and listening to Elvis.

I am from bike riding, Girl Scouts, dancing and gymnastics. Reading more and more books, the older I get, the more I love them.

I am from a two story white house trimmed in brown, with a room of my own and a play room beside (one of the benefits of being an only child) with a piano in the living room waiting on me to practice!!

I am from a old fashioned Baptist Church - filled with my family and friends and stained glass windows on the sides.

I am from a little southern town, full of yes mam's and ya'lls. Summers spent toasting my body in the warm Myrtle Beach sun, watching the leaves change in the fall and even every now and then enjoying a little snow (even here in South Carolina!!)

I am from THE USC - a converted gamecock through and through.

I am from the USA, my daddy and grandfathers all serving in different branches of service, with my son blazing straight ahead to follow in their footsteps (against all his mama's better judgement!!).

I am from my nanny and papa's house, the one you had to get to by driving up the road covered in trees. I loved to look at the sunshine peeking through every time I road up the hill, sleeping in my papa's night night shirts and helping my nanny cook chicken pot pies for his lunch (we knew there were green peas hiding there - shhhh!! papa doesn't know) and then later playing nurse to my nanny as she was sick and dying.

I am from my Mimi and Grandy, who moved back home to help take care of me when my mama died.

I am from the Oxendines - the most loving people I have ever known, always good for a laugh and a hug, always make you feel better about yourself than you know you really are.

I am from the Clarys - strong, sturdy, God fearing, always there.

I am from my Carolyn, who always stood by my papa's side - even though she wasn't always appreciated for all she did by everyone - she has all my love and respect.

I am from Daria, who taught me what it looked like to love Jesus on the outside of your life.

I am from my daddy, a hard worker with a big heart.

I am from Artie - we grew up together. Picnics at Miliken, days at Carowinds, nights eating tacos and watching movies, hours upon hours planning our lives together (seems like there was talk of having a baby or two?), :-) lots of smooching in a little white Celica. :-) I am who I am because of him.

But most of all, I am from my mama. My heart and soul. My desire. My example.

Looking back over my life as I write, the coolest thing is seeing everyone who made me who I am - all love Jesus. I have been so blessed with such a godly heritage. God is good!!

Okay Chrissy, here's your picture. DeAnna's in the front again, seems to be a theme going here. I'm in the middle and Chrissy is the cutie with the pigtails. We were swimming in the kiddie pool at the apartment we lived in for a while when I was little. DeAnna and I have on matching bathing suits - while Chrissy is the star with the red one on.

It's so funny to hear from Tami, I just saw Chrissy at Wal-Mart today. She looks so good. I wish we all had a long weekend to hang out together!!! Maybe we need a weekend at Myrtle Beach or Gatlinburg!!! :-)

I got an e-mail from my cousin Tami this morning and it got me to thinking of older days. :-) We used to have so much fun together. I wish we got to see each other more often. I found this picture in an album of Tami and me and my other cousins. It was taken at my grandparents house. I'm the squinty one in the middle. Terri's the cool teenager standing up with the pigtails, Tami's in the front and DeAnna's in the back. Aren't we stylish??? :-)

Now I need to dig one up and embarrass, I mean show off, Chrissy too~~~ can't leave her out. She must have been a tiny toddler when this picture was taken.