Smiling, smiling, and smiling.

Man, this is really taking on a life of it's own. ;-) All of this smiling. LOL.

Anyway, here are a few pictures of Myles and me on the bike. I went to have my hair cut and then my daughter took our picture once I got back on the bike and got ready to leave. Look how cute Myles looks.


And I decided to make Myles and my ride that day the smile for the day. So Day 10 of smiles was all of the people who stopped to look at us and smile, the kids that waved, the older people who smiled and waved, not to mention all the pictures that were taken. I think that we gave quite a few people a good reason to smile. What do you think?


Day 11 of smiles was a hand written card to a very dear old friend. Yes, a real hand written card instead of an e-mail card. This will surprise her completely, and I know that it will bring a smile to her face.

Day 12 of smiles....hmm, what did I do today? I haven't yet, so I need to go and do something. I think that I'll send an e-mail card to someone tonight. Someone that would have no clue that I was thinking about them. I'll report back later. Until then, keep smiling.
hugs,
Charlie

Happy Saturday, and Myles' first ride.

Okay, I just have to start off with telling you how Myles and I got to work today. I got my motorcycle out, put Myles in the front carrier that I got and off we went. I loved it. He is so cute. But I need to get him some goggles to wear so that the wind doesn't dry his eyes out. It must have worn him out cause he is in his pen, with the door open and sound asleep. Sweet baby.

This is my Harley, notice the flag on the back? that is for Angie's Amazing Race, our fundraiser to help kick cancer's butt.

Doesn't he look tired?

Are you asking yourself about my smiles? Okay let me get you caught up. But I've got to tell you, it is funny because at the end of the day I am thinking about what smile I might have caused or what I'm going to do tomorrow. And then I've just got to share this with you, without me really expecting anything back I am getting smiles given to me. Double smiles for all of us.

Smile day number 8. I helped someone get something that they have wanted for a while now and couldn't have. to make a long story short, Mom decided that she needed to give one of her puppies away, it is just too much for her right now. My friend Cathy has loved one of her puppies since he was born. So I told Mom that if she was going to give him away, she really needed to think about Cathy. Well, guess who has a new baby. Here they are together.

This Cathy's first dog that is all her's. And she is like a little kid with him. Isn't he just sweet looking? Looks nothing like Myles, right? Hard to believe that they are brothers.

My Smile for day 9 was a simple one, I had a date with my Hubby. We have been so stressed lately, not even really able to talk with one another, so last night just the two of us went to dinner and then to our favorite book store. It was nice being out with each other, no talk of problems or troubles. It was really nice.

Okay, stay tuned for today's smile. Wonder what it will be? Do you think that me and Myles driving thru town on my bike would count as a smile? LOL.

Hugs to all.

Is it only Wednesday?

Seems like it should be next week already. What a day. I got up this morning, checked on Mom and went to the studio. I was there for about an hour when I got a phone call from the dialysis center and they told me that Mom's blood cultures had come back and that she has a very serious infection in her blood system and that I needed to take her straight to the hospital. If this infection continues it will end up in her heart. So, I closed down the studio and headed back into Wilmington to get her and take her to the hospital. We got there, and of course we had to wait and wait. My sister even came and waited with us. Finally when we got to see the doctor he sent us back home. Now, we had been there all day waiting, and then when she finally got into a room, got dressed it the "Cute" hospital gown, and was resting in the bed the doctor came in and told us that there had been a mistake and that she shouldn't have been sent to the hospital because the antibiotics that she had gotten the day before were working on the infection.

Was I a bit upset? Yes. But what can you do? So she got her clothes back on and we came home. She went right to bed, and I came in and laid down for about 15 minutes before having to leave for a meeting.

My emotions are running high right now, but I did really good and didn't say anything mean to the nurses or doctor. Good girl.

My smile for day 7 is this - I sent an e-mail with a copy of a quote from a book I'm reading. It talks about friends. There are 6 different parts, I'm saving the other 5 parts for other days of smiles.

have a great night,
Charlie

Day 6 of smiles and Mom's first day at dialysis

I was so scared this evening, really. I went to pick up Mom from her treatment, I got there around 3, thinking I would get there in plenty of time. I went in to let them know that I was there, but that I would be outside with Myles. About 4 I went up to sit on the bench located outside the door to the treatment center. After a while Eddie pulls up in Mom's truck and I'm sitting there getting a bit upset that he was there. My mind was going like this - here I am, sitting outside waiting for her to get done and now he pulls up. Why didn't someone let me know that he was coming, I could have stayed at the studio. You know how thoughts like that pop up in your mind? I was hot and tired of waiting out in the heat. But those thoughts left as soon as they came, I took a deep breath and just relaxed. Eddie walked up and told me that they had called him and told him that she would be late, she had started running a fever and they had to give her antibiotics. We waited for about another hour, and finally I saw the door open and the nurse was bringing out an "old" lady. I almost cried out loud. What had happen to my Mom?
She could hardly walk, she was white, and very sick. She was throwing up, had no idea where she was, and she wasn't the person that I knew.

I got her in the car, barely, and started driving home. She was so out of it, doing strange things. She kept trying to fix the window, then she started punching things on the dashboard of the car, only there wasn't anything there for her to touch.

When I got her home it took over 5 minutes to get her out of the car, it was like she forgot how to use her legs. As I got her to her feet she just started getting sick all over the place, and I didn't know what to do. I got her in the house, to the bed, but I couldn't get her all the way on the bed.
She was so sick. Finally Phil got here to help me with her, he even went and got a thermometer and some Tylenol for her to take. Her fever was up to 102.5, and she was in so much pain. She couldn't even remember where the bathroom was, and just kept talking out of her head.

It is now after midnight and her fever has broken and she is sleeping peacefully. Thank God. I've seen her after surgeries, when she was on the "happy drugs", but I've never seen her like this. I don't think that it was the dialysis that did this to her, I think that it was an infection from the surgery last week. Man oh man. What an afternoon.

My smile for the day.....this morning I brought Mom a rose, a wooden one that I had bought for her this past weekend at the festival.

Okay, I'm going to bed now. Tomorrow is a new day.
blessings to all of you.
Charlie

Five days of smiles.

Today was a day I may remember for a long time, it is the day that Mom and I went to the Dialysis Center for her orientation. We left the house a little before 11 this morning and we went to a place called the Trolley Stop so that Mom could get some hot dogs. The Trolley Stop is a place that we went to a lot when we first moved to the Wilmington area back in 1976, and since we figured that hot dogs would be something that she might not be able to eat after tomorrow we wanted to go there together and share a dog or two. They were as good as I remembered them being, and it was nice with it just being the two of us, eating and talking.

We got to the center around 11:45 and they took us right in and starting talking with us and filling out paper work. We were there until 2:00, and by the time we left Mom was so tired that she was very slow in walking and talking. We came home and she went right to bed and slept for hours.

Tomorrow will be her first treatment, starting at 11:30, and it will last for 4 hours. Please keep her in your prayers.

Did I do something special today to cause a smile? I don't really know. I know that while I was with Mom today I did everything I could to make it easier for her, to help her feel safe, and to keep looking towards the future. When she broke down and cried I was able to put my arm around and her and give her a squeeze and a hug. I could rub her back at times, hold her hand, and when things got to heavy I did my best to make her laugh. How I love this woman!!!!!

Then tonight for dinner Phil, Mom, and I sat at the small table and talked and ate. There were a few times tonight that she would say something funny and just bust out laughing. One time she had to cover her mouth cause she was laughing so hard. It was a nice dinner.

Mom and I sat in the living room and watched a "strange movie", actually Mom was laying down in Hunter's bed and I was sitting at the table. Hunter's bed is in the living room for now, just in case you are wondering. Mom fell asleep, and I looked over at her and there she was sleeping on her side with her three beautiful dogs laying around her and sleeping. It was so peaceful, I looked at them and just smiled. So, maybe today is a day for me to smile, what do you think?

Have a wonderful night.
Charlie

Sunday night and day 3 & 4 of smiles.

I really love Sundays, for many reasons but the main reason is that Sunday night is Family Night. That is when my children join us for dinner or whatever we might have planned, and it is a time of getting caught up on all of their activities and a time of just good plain old laughter and love. I look forward to this night all week long, I love being with my family!!

I was really surprised tonight, as we were sitting and eating dinner my new daughter-in-law looked at me and asked me what my 3rd smile was. I looked at her and I realized she was reading my blog, hello Kim, and it thrilled my heart. How wonderful that she would want to read my thoughts and was looking forward to what I might say next. See, God blessed me so much with her, don't you agree? Anyway, the guys all just sort of looked at her and at me, they have no idea of what we were talking about. But that didn't matter, I went ahead and shared yesterday's smile with her and so now I get to share it with you.

While I was driving to the festival yesterday I was thinking about what item I could mark as my free gift for the day. I really had no idea of what item to pick, and so I didn't. While we were sitting up our booth two young boys walked up and wanted to know if we had anything for free. We told them no, and they stayed there for a while and just looked at the things that we were sitting out. Then about an hour later they came back and on of the boys kept picking up things, looking at the price. I asked him if he was looking for something special and he told me that he wanted to get him mom something. I asked him how much did he want to spend and he told me not a lot since it would be her money. Then he left again to go play for a while. I didn't see him again until later that evening, and he walked by and came in to say Hi. I asked him if he had gotten his mother something and he said not yet. I got up and went and picked up a box that I had painted and gave it to him and told him to take it and give it to her. He looked at me and asked if he could take it without getting in trouble, and I told him that he could take it and not to worry about being in trouble. He smiled and took off running.

Here is my young friend, and what a beautiful smile he has, don't you agree?

Here are some Photos of the festival.

This is our booth, can you see the new baskets? My friend Cathy is making them now and went with me to this festival.

The cute pig is what we did in class this past week. He was the first thing to go. And I love doing these sunflowers.

These pickles glasses are left over from the pickle festival, and Cathy took some of them and make this cute basket.

This is Cathy and me, right after we got set up. We are soaked from the rain but we hung in there and got it all set up anyway. It turned out to be a beautiful day after all.

It was a fun day, and I was glad to share it with my friend.

Day four Smile I guess you could say is more like a laugh. My children always can find things to laugh about, we have such a good time together. I spent my day with my Mom, and then I took a nap. When I woke up it was time to take off for our family night. We went to dinner, with only an hour to spare before the movie that we were going to go see was to start. We went to a place that is right beside the movie theater, and it has pool tables set up, along with hugh t.v. screens. The girl came up to tell us that the kids could rent a table for 12 dollars, and I cut her off by telling her that we were going to a movie and that no one would be interested in playing. She walked away and all the kids just looked at me, and started laughing. I'm sitting there wondering why they were laughing. Finally Kim told me that I cut the girl off while she was talking, which I didn't really see it that way I was just telling her that we weren't interested in playing. Then the waitress came up to take our orders and I must have done something to her, and the kids just started making fun of me. When she came back to take our orders I looked at her and told her that I really am a nice person. When I placed my order I was sweet, and even reached out my hand to touch her arm. Well, the kids went with that and really started laughing. They said that I probably really scared her, and when I touched her arm I must have sent her off in the wrong direction. The drinks didn't all come at the same time, and then when our food came they brought me something that I had no idea what it could have been. Don't you know they got a kick out of that? So, even though I didn't get to do something nice for someone today, I was involved with helping someone laugh.

Here is a photo of Phil, myself, and the kids on father's day. We went bowling and had a blast. And this is a photo of my present to Phil, a painting of his dog, Drake.

Have a wonderful night and I'll be in touch soon. (Good night Kim :-) )

Day 2 of Smiles.

Since I was in the studio all day long getting ready for a show tomorrow, and knowing that I would be there all day long I needed to get my smile done early. I knew someone that needed some money, and so I wrote a check and gave it to them and told them to put it towards whatever they wanted, and then just walked away. I hope that it made them smile, if not on the outside then at least on the inside.

I painted all day today, doing final touches on pieces. I've got 6 windows that I'm taking tomorrow, and glasses, floor cloths, clay items, and some other things. I'll take pictures tomorrow and post them later.

Hmm, wonder what I will do for a smile tomorrow. I think that I will pick out a piece and decide to give it to whoever picks it up first. That is always a good one to do.

Mom will start her dialysis on Tuesday, starting at 11:30. On Monday we will go to the dialysis center and check it all out, that way she won't be going in cold on Tuesday. Please keep her in your prayers.

blessings to all of you.
Charlie

Trying to have 100 days of smiles.

Okay, so this book that I'm reading is really good. I've laughed a few times as I've read some of the things that has happen to the author. The title of the book is "I'm Not Suffering from Insanity, I'm Enjoying Every Minute of It!" by Karen Scale Linamen. This woman is funny, but she really gets the point across. So anyway, she has a chapter in the book where she went on a quest to cause 100 days of smiles. I decided that I wanted to do it too. So this morning I went to McDonald's for an egg mcmuffin, just my luck I was too late. I went ahead and ordered a large diet coke and pulled up to the window to pay. I decided that I wanted to pay for the car behind me, you know to do something nice that would cause them to smile. I asked the cashier how much their bill was, that I wanted to pay for it. He told me it was 10 dollars and some change. Darn, I didn't have that much on me and told him that I couldn't do it for that much. So much for causing someone to smile. But my look must have been funny on my face cause he just looked at me and started laughing. I just smiled and pull up to the next window to get my drink and off to the studio I went. Since the cashier got to laugh, I am going to count that as my first day of 100 smiles. I'll pop in again tomorrow to let you know what smile I might have caused.
Smiling with you,
Charlie

First day of the rest of her life.

Today begins a new life for Mom. We went to the hospital this morning and she had her surgery for the temporary port so that they can start her on dialysis tomorrow or the next day. She and I have been talking alot, and we are talking about her possible death. Not that I'm saying that she is going to die, but there are things that she wanted to make sure that I knew, and she also had questions for me.

This is a different walk for me, but I am going to stay positive for her and help her to look to the future. And I am starting my strong praying for her, I will stand in for her and speak life for her. I believe that God can do anything, and I'm expecting great things in her life. And if it is God's will for her to join Him, well then He will carry us both in His arms as we face each day. I mean, look at this special time together He is giving us. This is a time in my life that I will always remember.

DL, girl you are a woman of my heart. Your prayer language joins mine, together we will stand in prayer. Thanks so much. Sandy, you have become such a dear friend and I can't wait to see you next month, it will be a wonderful time. Diana Lynn, Katie, and Karen.........you continue to bless me with your words of encouragement.

Take care my friends,
Charlie

Thoughts......

Life is a challenge, and it seems to be more challenging each and every day. As I've told you many times, I keep looking for the future and believing that it is a beautiful future. But at times I just can't see for the darkness. Okay, let me tell you what I'm talking about.

We are still facing a lot of problems with our finances, and it is overwhelming at times. We still owe a lot for the business, and we have plans of paying everyone, it is just going to take us a while. Our bills for the family keep falling behind because when we get a good amount of money it goes to pay the business bills. People keep on telling us to file for bankruptcy, but we don't want to do that. We want to pay everyone, and not leave bills and people hanging. Then we are having problems with the IRS. Plus a few more things that have popped up, and then I find myself just sitting here wondering what shoe is going to drop next.

But now if I was reading this from a friend I would stop what I was doing and pray for them and also send them words of encouragement. I would also remind them to speak positive words, and not to speak anything that would open the door to Satan or to let him come in and cause evil in their life. So, why am I not doing this myself? Why am I so small in my faith right now? Where is the woman that would take her Bible and walk around her property 7 times, praying a wall of fire around her home, asking God to be on the inside and to keep all evil out. (At the time we lived in New Bern, N.C., which is the witch capital of the U.S. at the time.) Where is the woman that would stop whatever she was doing and get on her knees and pray when God told her to. Where is she?

I am here. I'm just wounded right now. But I've been reading a book that my Mom got for me and it is like reading my own story. And the part I just got done reading hit me right between the eyes. God has gone no where, He is right here with me. Instead of telling Him that I know that I should be praying, that I should be doing all of this stuff, and then I just put it on the back burner. My faith is weak. But His isn't. I am not going to ask God to please hold on to me, since right now I'm having a hard time holding on to Him. I am asking Him to please not let me go. I am also just going to start talking to Him as I would a friend, and ask Him to remind me to pray, to call on Him. Is this making sense? I can't even take another step on my own right now. I want to crawl up in His lap and rest in Him.

I am still at my Mom's and will be here for a while longer. I am enjoying spending so much time with her, and today was special, sad but special. Mom has been in kidney failure for a while now, and she has had operation after operation, but nothing has worked. Today we went to her kidney doctor, and he was telling her that things were moving right along and that he would see her in August. But before she left his office he sent her upstairs to do some blood test and wanted her to wait to get the results. I had my sweet Myles with me so I had taken him for a walk and was putting him back in the car when the nurse came out to get me. The hair was standing up on the back of my neck. I went into the room where mom and the doctor were sitting and he told me what they had found out. Mom's kidney function is down to 9% and has to go on dialysis now. And I mean they went right to work getting everything set up. By the end of the week she should be on the machine, 3 times a week for about 3 to 4 hours a day.

Of course she was very upset and sees this as the end of her life. I kept telling her to look at it as her glass is half full. The doctor said that in about 6 weeks she should be feeling better, she has felt so bad lately. He also told her that she can live another 2 to 8 years. That is wonderful. But I'm now walking in her body, am I. I can only be here to give her all the support that I can, and love her each step of the way.

So, the next shoe? Who knows. I'm praying for a miracle in our finances. Please pray with me. Pray that the last house that we have will sell within the month, pray that the two lots that we have will also close this month, pray that God will lead me to the right job (yes, I'm leading towards shutting my studio), that God will protect my DH and guide him each day, and ask God to be the great physician in my mom's life and body. That is alot to ask of each of you, but I need these blessings in my life. God knows the desire of my heart, and thank you for praying for my family.

sorry that this has been so long. and I wonder if you actually made it to the end of this. I hope you did. I'll be back in a few days. Until then, take care.
Charlie

I'm back in the studio.

Well, all of the company is gone, the kids are back from their weeklong honeymoon trip, and I'm back in my studio. Thank God. I missed being here and painting. Painting and my puppy, Myles, smooth my spirit. I can pick up a paint brush and all else goes away for a while, and when I hold Myles up close to my heart I am very content.

Here are some more pictures of the wedding.

This is Philip, Mr. Bear, and me right before the wedding. Mr. Bear has been with Philip since he was a year old.

Philip, Phil, and Charlie Pittman, the minister, are waiting for the bridesmaids and the most beautiful bride to come walking down the beach.

The groomsmen walked the ladies down to the front. 10 groomsmen and 10 bridesmaids.

Love is in the air. Aren't they beautiful? This has become a new tradition for the beach weddings. There are three containers at the front, two are full of sand and the biggest one is empty. The bride and groom each pick up a container and together they fill the bigger one. This way their sand is mixed together, never to be separated, as so are their lives. Pretty neat,

huh?

And now I am proud to introduce to you, Mr. and Mrs. Philip Aster McGee, II, to you.

Now for the reception Photos. Enjoy.

Brother and Sister dance together.

This is one of the table decorations.

Here are some of the guest at the wedding. Chip and Nancy.

And here is Stan and Kim with one of the youngest guest, Sonya Rose.

Here I am with Hunter and Phil.

Of course, what would the reception be without Mr. Cow and Mr. Bear?

Phil, being the best man, gave the toast, and what a toast it was. So much fun. Here is the proud mom with her youngest son and new daughter.

Oh my gosh, they are just so beautiful.

Still Mommy's little boy.

Kim's Dad is also making a toast, and the singer gets Mammaw up and dancing. Way to go!!!

Monday night, and I have a new Daughter.

The wedding of my son, Philip, was this weekend and I now have been blessed with a beautiful new daughter. She is the type of girl that is not only beautiful on the outside but her spirit and just as beautiful. If I could have picked a girl for Philip I would have wanted to pick Kim, I love her that much.

This is a picture of the two of them at the rehearsal dinner looking at the groom's cake that Kim got for Philip.

My friend Becky crossed stitched this piece for the kids. and this really is special because Becky has had arthritis since we were in our teens.

My brother-in-law, Johnny, came in on Tuesday and cooked all day on Wednesday and Thursday for Friday night's rehersal dinner. Bruce came in to help him and also to be here for the wedding. Thank you Johnny and Bruce, I love you.

Look at the cute couple. Aren't they beautiful together?

Okay, it is midnight and now I want to go to sleep. I'll be back later to help fill in with more pictures and words. And again, thanks for all of your uplifting words and prayers. You have become really important to me.

Still Believing.

Charlie