But I'm Not a Missionary!

If you're a reader of my husband's blog, then you know that Scarlett and I have been away for ten days and my husband was forced into temporary bachelorhood. Why would any wife leave her husband and her two year old son for ten days? Why? Because she heard a call.

When Scarlett was four, a missionary came to our church. He showed pictures of the Chinese people and he spoke about their need for the Gospel. After the service, he prayed for people in the congregation and he laid his hands on Scarlett. Since then, she has had an unusual love for the Chinese. She began praying for them nightly, she told me that she wanted to go there and she loves all things Asian.

Last year, I told our missions pastor that if they were ever planning a trip to China, he should take Scarlett because surely she was meant for such things. He told me that if she went, I would have to go...and by the way, there was a trip to be slated for next year. "But I've never felt the call to go to other nations. I'm not a missionary!" None of this helped, but I knew that if they went, Scarlett had to go.

I mentioned the trip to her and I saw her eyes light up. "Yes, Mama! Oh, please can we go?!" What can you say to your child who wants to go save a nation?

"Ok, well, we'll wait and see when they're going." I knew that from that day until he day we left, Scarlett's little heart would be aching to visit China. She was just made that way.

"Lord," said I, "I was not built to be a missionary. I like clean showers and french fries. I like tv and home, cars, comforts and the like. I wouldn't be good at this!" He reminded me of a scripture that we have all heard thousands of times before: "Train up a child in the way they are to go and when they are old they will not depart fro it." This scripture actually means, "Get to know your child and encourage them in the things of the Lord. Whoever their heart is in, make a way for them to serve the Lord in it." So, I signed up for the trip without knowing any particulars.

I didn't know when, or how much, or for how long: I just knew that Scarlett needed the opportunity to go on this trip.

More about how the Lord provided and things about our trip in the coming days. All I can tell you is that I was even more blessed than she was, but I'm sure you already figured that out.

How Patriotic of Us

This past Independence Weekend, we were undeniably blessed to be invited to Williamsburg, Virginia, to the house of Not-So-Classic's childhood chum, Aladdin. Every time we are with Aladdin and his bride, Jasmine (who else could she be?) we are showered with love. It is impossible to feel anything but blessed while in their presence.

This past weekend was absolutely wonderful. Not-So-Classic, Scarlett, Bubba and I drove down on Friday and didn't come home until Monday! We even went to Colonial Williamsburg on July Fourth. What could be more patriotic than that? Surrounded by fifers and drums, Bubba saluted all the flags he could see while Scarlett and Timon, Aladdin and Jasmine's son, skipped about looking at colonial things together. They were excellent playmates.

The weekend was filled with great food (Aladdin makes the best pancakes EVER), fireworks, site seeing, swimming and friends. Thank you Aladdin, Jasmine, Timon and Simba for a wonderfully relaxing time. Thank you for feeding us, housing us and dealing with a two year old in your home all weekend. You are amazing friends and like Paul said to the church in Philippi, "I thank God in all my remembrance of you, always offering a prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all." It is always a joy to be around friends who demonstrate the love of Jesus.

Speaking of Brother Bear

The last two posts have all been about Brother Bear surprising Scarlett for her birthday in May; however, Brother Bear did more surprising than that a week afterward.

He drove the Little Mermaid down to Florida allowing her to believe that they were going to South Carolina to visit a family friend for his engagement party. When they got to South Carolina, he kept driving. He took the Little Mermaid for her own surprise trip to Disney World, but not for her birthday because that is in January.

No, he had other reasons.

Reasons that Classic Mama knew about months before hand, but was very good and didn't tell anybody. Reasons that included fireworks at Cinderella's Castle and the Little Mermaid finding a prince who gave her, not a glass slipper, but something clear and shiny none the less.

Congratulations, Brother Bear and the Little Mermaid on your engagement!

Isn't he just so romantic? :)

Who Scarlett Met at Disney World

I really should say that these characters met Scarlett. :) It was Star Wars weekend so the main attraction for my little sci-fi fan were these guys...

I cannot even begin to retell all of the fun my brother and I had with her. It's really swell that he wanted to give her this trip--just her. She could pick where she wanted to go and what rides she wanted to go on. It was a blast and I can't thank him enough. I really think my brother should write a how-to book for uncles called "Uncles Should be Fun". It would be a best seller. :)

Scarlett's Surprise Birthday Trip

It took us a few months to set up with many pieces to put into place, but Brother Bear's vision of a surprise for Scarlett was pulled off a day before her birthday.

He showed up early that morning, before she was awake, so that we could plant all the clues for the scavenger hunt around our house. Once, she slept though a hurricane, so I wasn't worried about her spoiling her own surprise. After all the pieces were hidden, Brother Bear hid himself in the basement stairwell.

A bit groggy and wondering why were were waking her up so early on May 26th, Scarlett humored us by reading the clues from a cypher that her Uncle Brother Bear "sent" for her. As she found each clue to the puzzle, her eyes became more awake and she was giddy putting the puzzle together on the page with small holes cut out of it. The message? She was going to Disney World...right now. Mom and Dad had already packed her bags the night before and what 's that? Here comes Uncle Brother Bear from the stair well!

A few hours later, Scarlett, brother Bear and I were exiting off our plane and finding our resort in Disney World.


More about the trip itself, why I was there and who we met there tomorrow...