| Page 51

Vintage Valerie: Lauren and More

Valerie Basham

August 28, 2014

As I mentioned in my last post, I had several photos of Lauren that I wanted to share, but they would have exceeded my self-imposed fifteen photo limit. I thought I’d fit in with “Throwback Thursday” and share some of them today…along with a few others I came across. 🙂

I was so excited to be able to set my six month old Lauren down on the floor to play with toys one Sunday morning, that I snapped a photo of it! The church in West Virginia had just completed this new nursery and Lauren had just learned to do something new – sit up all by herself! Hard to believe this girl is wanting to start driving now!

Lauren and her dad showing off her new purple coat, Christmas 2000.

Lauren is one year old in the above photo, and I just love her little face as she sees the lit candle coming her way!

Great Grandma got Mitchell (3 months old) laughing so hard when we visited her and Pawpaw in Mattoon in November of 2002. Mitch still has the same sweet smile – except with teeth! Lauren isn’t quite so sure what to think of Great Grandma’s silliness. 😉

Lauren’s first VBS at Hot Springs Baptist Temple, summer of 2001. She was two years old.

Lauren, taking a break from bubble mowing, in Topeka, Kansas, 2003.

I showed a similar photo yesterday which had Terry in it. Terry and Lauren were getting ready to go out witnessing in Burnet, Texas. She was so excited to get to go for her first time! She put a pen in her shirt, to be like Terry, who always had one in his shirt pocket. It was so sweet, I had to photograph the moment. She was seven years old.

Mitchell is all decked out for church on a Sunday morning in Burnet, Texas. He was about four years old.

Mitchell got this HUGE icicle off the house when we lived in Hope. We had something like eight inches of snow in one night and it pretty much shut down the town. Which was fine with me. 🙂

Last, but not least, I found this old photo from our one and only trip to Florida in April 2004. Unbeknownst to us, it would the last time we’d all be together with Dad on this earth. This was taken at a restaurant in Titusville, Florida. I didn’t think I had many photos of that trip, since I didn’t own a good camera back then. Stumbling upon this and a few other photos from that time is like tripping over a block of gold! It makes me gasp, stare, smile and want to tell the world.

So world, thanks for letting me share. 🙂

With a heart of joy,

Fifteen Beautiful Years

Valerie Basham

3 comments

August 27, 2014

My precious Lauren Kassidy turns fifteen years old today! I wanted to do fifteen photos of her, one for each year, like I did for Mitchell a few weeks ago. As I started looking through pictures, though, it was really hard to choose just fifteen! I have so many sweet ones of her. The one above is, obviously, her hospital photo. I noticed it has gotten a little stained from being stored and moved so many times. That made me sad because the memories of her birth and the days that followed as I took my own first wobbly steps into motherhood haven’t tarnished at all. In fact, it’s so vivid, it’s hard for me to believe it’s been fifteen years. *sigh*

I did narrow my selections down to just fifteen photos. I may share some at another time for a “Vintage Valerie” post. Please click on the photos to enlarge them if you have difficulty seeing them.

Lauren is such a blessing to our family. She is growing into a very quiet, poised young woman. She is very disciplined – she gets up at six o’clock to begin her school work everyday, without being told! She works hard and expects perfection from herself. She is tenderhearted toward the things of the Lord and listens closely during the preaching. She often asks questions about the Bible or a sermon. She has already faced some trials in her young life, but she has clung to the Father’s hand and has shown courage that I doubt I would have had at her age. I am so thankful that she knows Christ as her Savior and seeks to do His will.

Lauren is everything I’d ever want in a teenager and more! In short, to know her, is to love her, and I love her with all of my heart.

Happy birthday to my amazing girl!

Hindsight Is 20/20

Valerie Basham

2 comments

August 25, 2014

“Hindsight is 20/20.” My dad would say this after I informed him of the results of what I had just learned was a poor decision. How frustrating to see so clearly something you would have liked to have seen a day, a week or even an hour before! Once you make a call on something, it’s over.This is true of marriages, business decisions and purchases. If only we could see into the future about certain things!

What about trials? Have you ever had 20/20 hindsight on those? Perhaps, looking back, you can see how maybe you were the problem when you had originally thought it was someone else? Yeah. Me too. That stinks. Or maybe you can look back and see some good that has come from a trial, something that you would not have had or appreciated very much before that burden pressed forcefully on your shoulders?

I’m reading a wonderful book by Dr. Peter Masters called The Personal Spiritual Life. I’m only three chapters into it and already I’ve been convicted several times. Chapter three outlines Paul’s positive plan for holiness. One point is that we must fight the flesh. Everyone fights their flesh about something. It may be anger for one, gossip for another, laziness for yet another. One thing is sure, we each one struggle in some area(s). This thought led me to recall something from one of the churches my husband pastored. Some people got very angry at his stand for God’s Word. I was afraid they may actually try to harm us or our property. The worst thing that happened was that someone put sugar in our gas tank and ruined the fuel pump. The events of that time brought out terrible anger in my heart. I had been angry before, but never to that level! It was actually hatred for certain people. I shared it with my husband one night, and as soon as I spewed it out (because anger doesn’t seep – it spews), I immediately felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit for my words and feelings. I repented of it and began working on that weakness in my life. I now guard carefully against anger. It’s one more thing I must fight my flesh over.

Today, some years removed from that situation, I can see clearly that God was using that time to shape and mold me. I didn’t know I was capable of such anger. The circumstances of those turbulent times were like fire, bringing the dross to the surface so it can be removed. Viewing these past experiences as part of God’s plan for my life helps remove the bitterness I was feeling about them. How can I be upset about something which God used to refine me? I want to be pliable in the Potter’s hands. God uses the wicked people in the world to bring about His will for His children (e.g., the Sabeans and Chaldeans helped bring about God’s will for Job’s life in Job chapter one.). Realizing this, how can I be angry at those people who harmed us in the past? It was all part of God’s plan to bring about good for me.

Not every trial has been explained to me, nor will I ever understand every hard thing God has put in my life. Romans 4: 3-4 says, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:” My experience gives me hope, and hope is a very good thing.

Perhaps you’re struggling today with a trail. Maybe you’re wondering what it’s about? Why you? What are you supposed to learn? Just keep trusting Him. One day, it will be in the rear view mirror and you’ll have 20/20 vision. Until then, remember that it’s all for God’s glory.

It’s not about us, it’s about Him.

With love,

Are You Ready for the JW’s?

Valerie Basham

3 comments

August 20, 2014

Please forgive me for the following, rather hick video. I thought making a video would be easier and quicker than writing, so I am trying it. I hope this information helps. Thanks for reading…I mean watching!

Here’s the lecture by Dr. James White, which is a great starting point for understanding the JW cult:

Click HERE for a link to it on Youtube.

Click HERE for the 20 Questions that I mentioned in my video.

Click HERE to write me and say I’m not a hick.

Just kidding.

Have a great day!

Echocardiogram

Valerie Basham

5 comments

August 19, 2014

I just wanted to post an update on my heart. I have received several encouraging words from friends who are praying. I just want to say thank you. Tests like these never seem important or scary when it’s on someone else. When it’s me, I’m a little concerned. I think we are all that way. I know you each have your own lives and problems to deal with, so the fact you are taking time out of your life to pray for me, means more than I can say. Words can not adequately describe my appreciation.

I finished wearing my heart monitor yesterday and mailed it back to the company. I went to the doctor’s office bright and early this morning for my echocardiogram, which is a fancy ultrasound of the heart. The lady who did the test was very kind. My follow up visit with the doctor is September 8, so I was concerned that I might have to wait that long for these results. “If they see something, they will call you today or tomorrow. If I see something, I’ll get up and leave the room during the test and tell them.” She got me hooked up and then told me I could go to sleep during the test if I wanted to. I said with a laugh, “Sorry, that won’t be happening. I couldn’t sleep last night, much less right now!” She laughed too. I asked if it was okay to talk during the test. And that’s pretty much what I did the entire 45 minutes.

At the end of the test she said, “I didn’t have to leave the room.”

“Yes, I noticed. I was watching carefully for that to happen.” I said with a smile.

I haven’t heard anything official on the any of the tests I’ve had done, but I am encouraged that at least there was nothing so serious that the sonographer had to call for backup.

Thanks for reading and, most of all, thanks for caring.

Mexican Lasagna

Valerie Basham

3 comments

August 18, 2014

I am certainly no Betty Crocker. Or, Ree Drummond, for a name from this century. 🙂 But I do stumble upon some easy and tasty recipes now and then that I enjoy passing along. I hope you like this one!

Mexican Lasagna

Make in one hour or less, 9-12 servings

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef

1/2 cup chopped green pepper (I didn’t have any, so I didn’t use any.)

1/2 cup chopped onion

2/3 cup water

1 envelope taco seasoning

1 can (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained

1 can (14.5 oz) petite diced tomatoes (or Rotel if you’d like more zip)

6 flour tortillas (I used the large ones)

1 can (16 oz.) refried beans

3 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend

Directions:

In a large skillet, cook beef, onion and green pepper until beef is no longer pink; drain. Add water and taco seasoning, bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for two minutes. Stir in the black beans and tomatoes; simmer, uncovered, for ten minutes. (I cooked mine for ten minutes and it was a little too thick for me, so just simmer until it isn’t too soupy. You just want a happy medium, as with everything in life…but this is actually achievable!)

Place two tortillas in a greased 9 x 13 pan. Spread with half of the refried beans, then with half of the beef mixture; sprinkle with 1 cup cheese. Repeat layers. Top with remaining tortillas and cheese. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted. Top with sour cream, avocado or anything that floats your boat. 🙂

First Day of School {2014}

Valerie Basham

2 comments

August 12, 2014

Monday, August 11, was the first day of school for our family! I try to always take first-day photos, like every other mother in the US, but this year, I did something different. I found these cute signs on Pinterest and printed one out for each of the kids. They are made to look like chalkboards, so you fill them in with white chalk. I liked how they turned out. In case you can’t read the signs below, they have a place for their name, age, favorite book and what they want to be when they grow up. I was afraid that my 10th grader would frown upon this, but she has a sweet spirit and went right along with my whims.

Lauren, age 14 (almost 15!), favorite book: A Wrinkle in Time, wants to be a head librarian.

Mitchell, age: 12, favorite book: The Mysterious Benedict Society (which he also loves because his Nana knows the author), wants to be a writer.

Leslie, age 9, favorite book: Understood Betsy, wants to be an interior decorator.

Laci, age 7, favorite book: the Young Cam Jansen series (she discovered these books at our library this summer), wants to be a teacher.

Matthew, age 4, favorite book: Caps for Sale, wants to be Daddy.

When I awoke Matthew on his first day of preschool, I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up so I could write it on his sign. I expected him to say “The black power ranger” or “A ninja fighter”. I was way off. He didn’t hesitate for a second before answering, “DADDY!” On his paper, it says, “When I grow up I want to be a Daddy!” But really, I should have written, “Terry Basham, II”. He wants to turn into his daddy someday. I didn’t expect that answer, but it sure was a great way to start my day!

We had a great first day of school. I was a bit stressed trying to figure out a good schedule and making sure everything got done, but by the grace of God, I made it. We received all of our books several weeks before school started, so that was a blessing. Last year, Mitch started science late because the books didn’t arrive until mid-September. It’s a good feeling to have everything ready to go.

I think everyone will enjoy the year. Although, when our first day was almost over, Mitchell said, “I can’t wait for Thanksgiving break!” So, maybe my expectations are too high.

Summer’s End

Valerie Basham

4 comments

August 12, 2014

Besides being Mitchell’s birthday on August 8, it was also the last day of the library’s summer reading program! The older ones loved volunteering and the little ones had a great summer of reading. The theme was “Fizz, Boom, Read!” so science was the focus of the activities. The kids each got an animal shape to put their name on when they signed up. Each time they read five books, they got a sticker to put on their shape and a small prize.

Leslie read the most books of anyone in our family, with a grand total of 135!

Laci wasn’t too far behind with a total of 110.

Matthew came in third place with 60 books, which were read to him.

Lauren and Mitch had a great time volunteering. This was Lauren’s second time to do it, but Mitchell was a newbie. As you can imagine, they cannot wait until next year!

Some of my family members far away wanted to see photos of Mitchell’s cake and party, so here they are:

This is *not* musically accurate. I apologize to all of the piano aficionados out there.

Leslie Anne was my right-hand girl when I was decorating this. She makes a great assistant.

Mitchell’s reaction…and Matt’s… to seeing the cake the first time. 🙂

He’s TWELVE!

Laci drew him a picture. She had to explain what it meant. It was cute, just like her.

Leslie made Mitch a card, too, and also added $5 of her own money, without being told. This touched my heart so much that she and I both teared up. I know that she and Mitchell have struggled in their relationship. This is evidence that the Lord is working in the hearts of my children.

What a wonderful way to end the summer.

A Dozen Photos for a Dozen Years

Valerie Basham

7 comments

August 8, 2014

It seems like yesterday I was holding my beautiful baby boy for the first time. He was stout – weighing over eight pounds despite being three weeks early! At age eleven, random strangers assumed he was a teenager. Today, he is twelve! He is now as tall as I am and weighs as much. He is, and always has been, very active. He loves playing the piano. In fact, he plays all. the. time. He joyfully plays for church when our regular pianist is away, which is a blessing.

He also loves being around people. He would talk the hind leg off a mule if I let him try. I love that about him, though. He is friendly, helpful and enthusiastic about everything. Since he was a baby, he has started each day with a smile. He is always happy to face a new day. The only thing that sometimes brings him down is math, but I can understand that. 🙂

I remember when I found out that I was having a boy, I was a little scared. Lauren was almost three, and I wasn’t sure if a boy and girl could play together well. When I told my parents that I was having a boy, my dad said, “Good. Terry needs to have a son.” Dad was right. That son has made us so happy. He and Lauren have been close friends since the day he came home from the hospital. As is often the case, my worry was for nothing.

I am thankful to see the Lord working in Mitchell’s life. He is far from perfect, but he has a tender heart for the things of the Lord. There have been times that he has confessed sin to me and his dad – sin that we wouldn’t have known about otherwise – and he has come to us with a broken heart. I pray he will forever stay close to the Lord and do His will. That is my whole reason for living, to help my children learn to walk in truth.

I hope you don’t mind if I share a dozen photos of my guy? Thanks for indulging me.

Happy 12th birthday to my strong, smart and sweet Mitchell! I love you.

The Heart of the Matter

Valerie Basham

6 comments

August 6, 2014

If you read my blog or know me in real life, you know that I’m rather…oh, what’s the word? Excitable? Energetic? Psycho? Any of those will do. In 2006, while several months pregnant with my fourth child and during a rather stressful time in our ministry, I developed a heart flutter. I told my doctor about it and said it sounded like a harmless heart issue. He said to cough or rub my eyes and it would stop. He mentioned having an EKG done to confirm, but due to the nearness of delivery, it got pushed back and then totally forgotten. The heart flutter randomly occurred in the years since, but the doc was right, coughing usually stopped it. So I never had it checked.

During July, I had episodes of this heart flutter, only they were stronger, lasted longer and wouldn’t correct with coughing or rubbing my eyes. Remember earlier, when I said I was excitable? Okay, okay! (whispering) Psycho. Well, when these heart flutters wouldn’t quit, it sort of sent me over the edge. Please pray for my husband, because I pushed him over the edge before flinging myself there. After hitting rock bottom, Terry shook himself and helped me up. He convinced me to go to a clinic in town because I have yet to find a regular PCP (primary care physician). They referred me to a cardiologist. I saw her last Friday. I had an EKG in the office, which came back normal. We were both surprised that the doctor used the word “normal” to describe any part of me. Needless to say, it was a comfort. She prescribed some tests before giving me any type of diagnosis. I am to wear a heart monitor for two weeks and have an echocardiogram on August 19. On September 8, she will gather all of the data and let me know what’s going on with my heart. If you think of it, I would appreciate your prayers in the coming weeks.

The heart monitor is not at all cumbersome. In fact, I forget it’s there until I catch the wire on our door handles and jerk myself to the floor. When that happens, I’m suddenly reminded that I’m wearing a heart monitor. I am supposed to live life as usual and if I experience any fluttering, I will register it on the monitor. Since seeing the cardiologist last Friday, I’ve had NO symptoms. It would be great if I found out I had nothing wrong besides an over-active imagination.

I get to wear this thing for the first two weeks of school, so I figure if that doesn’t bring about heart flutters, nothing will! 😉

Thanks for being here,