.................Samantha and her balloons.

Our family moved to Wrightsville Beach the summer that Samantha turned 8, and we stayed there until she was in the 10th grade. She had many summers of walking over the the beach each day and spending her time in the water or laying in the sun with her girlfriends.

Samantha had a friend by the name of Dana that was a little bit more developed physically than Samantha was at the time. Dana had come over for the weekend and they decided to go to the beach and play for a while. Phil and I were downstairs working on the yard when all of a sudden Samantha and Dana came down the steps and Samantha was carrying the towels in front of her body. Phil looked at her and realized that something didn't look quite right about her so he called her over to him. As she got closer his eyes grew bigger.

There was another man standing there with us and Phil didn't want to embarrass her, but let's face it, there was no way to avoid that......Samantha had blown RED balloons up and had stuck them in the top of her bathing suit to make it look like she had breast. Phil told her that she needed to go back upstairs and let the air out before she went to the beach, and she turned around and did as he told her.

Over the years we have laughed and laughed about her doing this. First of all, they looked so big, that you knew they were not real. And then they were RED, and you could see them under the bathing suit top. What was she thinking? Walking over to the beach to jump and play and not expecting them to pop.

Let's just say that was the last time that she tried to make herself look bigger with balloons, toilet paper is a different story.

.................Samantha and the hearing impaired.

So Phil and I are out to dinner with a friend from out of town and we have having a nice quiet dinner when all of a sudden my phone starts to ring. I don't know the number and so I don't

answer it. Within a minute it is ringing again. Once again I hit ignore and don't answer. But when the phone rings for a third time I answer it, with an attitude because I'm thinking that it is a bill collector, when the man on the other end tries to explain to me that he is calling because he is with the relay service for those that can't talk. I proceed to tell him that he has the wrong number because I don't know anyone that would need that type of service....then he starts to talk to me as he is reading what is being typed to him. I hear "Mom, it's me, your daughter!!!" I'm thinking what? Then I proceed to tell him to type back to her that I'm going to kill her....and then I hang up.

Samantha's phone had been cut off and she wanted to tell me so that we could get her phone turned back on. So she decided to use her laptop, get in contact with the relay system and pretend that she can't talk and has them to call me. I wanted to kill her,but at the same time I'm proud of her for even thinking of doing something like this. What a girl.

.......................I've got to share some Samantha stories

My daughter is one of my biggest joys, she makes me laugh when I don't feel like laughing. I've just got to share some of her stories.

This picture is from a night when she and her daddy were watching a funny video on-line, they were laughing about it and then she started crying. Phil asked her what was wrong and she told him that she thought that she had messed up her teeth. We both asked her what she was talking about and she told us that she put super glue on the gap in between her teeth. WHAT? Yep, she put glue on her teeth trying to fill the gap in her teeth. She has been wanting to have her teeth fixed for a while now and since we can afford it she decided to try and fix her own teeth. I am happy to say that she got the glue off of her teeth and the gap is still there. Where does she come up with all of these ideas?

***************************I hate bill collectors.

Okay, I'm venting here, so bear with me. Do bill collectors really think they have the right to talk to people like they do. They always take every opportunity to put the person down. Do they really think that I enjoy not being able to pay my bills? Get real. Do they even bother to look at my past 1 rating for the past 30 years and then not get the idea that something major must have happened? Where do they get the right to talk to anyone like they are so high and mighty? It might be them one day in this position, and you know what........for the ones that call and talk that way to all of us that are facing the hardest times of our lives, I hope that one day they get to walk in our shoes. I pray for the day when I can pay everyone off, I'm believing that one day we will be out from this terrible nightmare we have been in for two years now and be able to lay down at night and not have "fear" as a bed pillow. I know that our lives are in God's hands........."fear" just refuses to leave. But I know that our release is coming......we will be able to walk with our heads held high again and not worry every time the phone rings. Life is hard enough without someone telling you what a bad person you are and how worthless you are. Why did I answer the phone?

These ladies are so good.

I got such a nice compliment today about my teaching skills. Sometimes you wonder if you are doing okay and then someone shares something with you and you take a deep breath cause what you are doing is working.
My Tuesday afternoon class is wonderful. Right now there are 5 women taking the class and it is a very relaxed time and we are opening up and getting to know each. I've always looked at my teaching as a ministry, you never know who you are going to have and how you might be able to touch someones life. And at the same time my life is touched each and every time.


This is Ruth and every time I'm with her I just fall more in love with her. And look how well she paints.

Brenda brought in a lid of a hat box, painted it with Italian Sage for a very nice green and then proceeded to paint the flowers on the lid. It turned out really nice.
Marian is so nice and she works so hard learning to paint. She is doing so well, look at how beautiful her piece turned out.

This is my sweet friend Cathy. She is going on Thursday night's to do any paper work that needs to be done and is helping with taking orders for supplies. She and I met at an art class 6 years ago and we have created a wonderful friendship over the years.

This is Judy and she is in the Thursday night class. Last week was her first time with me and we had a great time. She did really great with her bag. I'm looking forward to painting with her again.

Sweet Ruth's birdhouse.



This is Hope, she took classes from me last year and I was so glad to see her come back this year.

And here is Brenda again with your birdhouse.

Marian is really doing well with her painting. She takes her time and works on it until she gets it.

So these are pictures for now. Once again I want to thank my friend, Sandy McTier, for her designs. How many people do you know that you can call and ask for their designs and they just send them to you? She has blessed my life.

talk with you later.

Classes have begun.

Classes have begun again and I'm enjoying it. YES!! So far I've only had one class, The Tuesday Class at the Senior Center started last week and this week the classes at Poplar Grove will start. I was a little nervous because I haven't taught in months, but it went well. Here are some of the photos from last weeks class.
This is Brenda, she was with me last year when I taught and she is really very good. She likes to add her own flair to what ever she is painting, and it always looks good.

This is Ruth, her first class with me. She did a great job!

This is Marge, she is Ruth's friend. She kept painting and painting, sort of having fun and was into doing a few things differently, but when I looked at what she was creating I just left her alone, it really looked good.

And this is sweet Marian, her first class. She was so excited. She didnt' finish her piece yet but what she did was really looking good.

I was really blessed to have such nice women in my class and they all seemed to enjoy what we were doing.

Have a great day.

Charlie

Time for classes again.

The desire to start classes back up is pounding in my head. Now I'm praying for a place to hold the classes. I've contacted Poplar Grove, offering my services for a night or weekend class. I really don't want to hold them in my home until I can get wooden floors down, this carpet is way too cheap and I'm embarrassed to have others in my home. But fall is coming and it is time to help others get ready for the holidays. Please remember this in your prayers, I would love to find a spot to teach.

Thanks,

Charlie