Happy Birthday, Mom!

" Nana" turns 80 on August 26!

Congratulations, Mom. We love you!
Ooops, told your age!

CAMP MEME!

We love having the grandsons come to visit ... short visits ... they tend to take over one's life (as grandchildren are supposed to do!). This year, She Who Brooks No Challenge decided the summer visit needed to be extra special and came up with the idea of making it a real 2-boy summer camp, with field trips, crafts, cooking, recreation, etc. He Who Is Out Of His Mind said he would help. Voila -- Camp MeMe! What were we thinking?!?!?

Blackberry picking at 5K Orchard, near Donaldson.

Making popsicles in the Mess Hall.

Visiting Ka-Ho-Da Indian Village near Murfreesboro.

Pow-wowing at the ceremonial fire site atop the Ka-Ho-Da Temple mound.

Meeting the Clark County Judge at the county courthouse in Arkadelphia.

Models of World War II aircraft on display at the Clark County Historical Museum.
(Photo by Wylie Greer.)

Checking out the Civil War cannon at the Clark County Library, Arkadelphia.

Cooling off in the Best Western pool. (Aunt JuJu works there.)

Big Fist and Big Grin of the Jingle Bell Tribe with their handmade costumes and trail pouches on the last day of Camp meMe 2008.

It was a blast!
Hey, what're we doing next year??!!

Song #1 - Happy Birthday, America!

The inimitable Ray Charles starts our Happy Birthday card to America.

Song #2 - Happy Birthday, America!

The Gaither Homecoming choir helps us celebrate -- solos by Terry Blackwood and David Phelps.

Song #3 - Happy Birthday, America!

Our national anthem -- never sung better. God BLESS America!

A Grateful Nation Thanks You

To those who made it home ...

... and those who didn't:

THANK YOU.

Rock on, MOM!

There's nobody like a mom ... and no one as special as MY mom, Carleene Jackson! Naturally, I don't tell her that nearly as often as I should, or as she deserves. Need proof? It's 7:16 pm on Mother's Day, and I haven't even called her yet today! Man, I'm toast. I'll try to call her right after this blog.

I don't have enough time or words to give Mom the tribute she deserves. I'll just keep trying to be a son she can be proud of. That is a full-time job! At least I'm a clean-shaven son again -- that makes her happy for sure!

We were sharing mom memories this morning at church. Here's the first thing I thought of: now that I've been a parent myself for more than 30 years, I realize that parents don't know everything after all, and sometimes don't actually know what to do or say about this or that problem or situation -- but my mom never let on. She was a rock. She projected faith and confidence all the time -- whatever inner struggles she might have felt, she acted like she always knew what to do or say and made her kids feel very secure, safe, and certain.

The only other thing I'll mention, among the thousands that could be listed, is this: I knew from my earliest awareness that Mom knew and loved JESUS. He was real to her, and she made Him real to me, too. To know what a Christian was, I only had to look at Mom and Dad. What a great, priceless heritage. Thanks, Mom! Happy Mother's Day.