He's still working on me...

Does anyone else remember that song from VBS or Sunday school when you were a kid? I can't recall all the lyrics, but the chorus was "He's still working on me". I've had a week where God has been working on me. I don't know exactly what his intentions are--surprised you, huh? :) I've been reading some blogs and praying. I have also started trying to do a better job at spending time in my Bible. I'm not good at reading it. There, I've said it. I want to read my Bible. I take the time to read my Bible, and more times than not, I leave my Bible with a "why did I bother" attitude. Not, why did I bother with God. But more, why did I bother reading because I didn't understand and now I'm frustrated. I'm good at school. That's my gift. I can read, understand, retain, etc. However, when it comes to the Bible, I'm at a loss. I can read the words. I believe that God inspired those words. Why can't they "speak" to me like they do so many other people? I think I have Reader's block. I'm going to get out one of the many devotionals that I've bought to see if I can work from a "starting place" rather than just trying to find where God wants me to be on my own. Any one else ever have this restlessness with reading the Bible?

3 Girls, 1 Camera

About two weeks ago, I had the bright idea to take all three of my girls to have professional portraits taken. To my friends who have photographed my kids before--we'll be back, but we had coupons for this one! For my friends who have offered to photograph my kids, please know if I can drop them off and come back to get them when it's over, call me! The experience was not quite as bad as I anticipated, but it was not fun! With all of that said, we did get some great pictures. Here's a small sampling of what we were able to capture!

The foot picture did not turn out as anticipated. However, how can you not love those little piggies? Maybe when Blake is a little older, we can get her to cooperate and not pull the cover off and expose her hands! :)

As the baby, Blake ran the show. Well, actually she pretty much rooted and attempted to nurse on the photographer if she held her for more than 0.3 seconds. However, the photographer was really young and had no idea what was happening. She even commented that "Aww look, she's snuggling with me". Guess she didn't realize the open mouth was an indication that Blake was hungry and didn't really care whose boobs they were! The following picture clearly expresses Blake's opinion of the photographer!

Until next time....

Blake Alayne

Blake Alayne is the newest Dickerson. She was born April 12. She was the smallest of the three Dickerson girls--a whole 5lbs. 9oz. I was induced, but she was only 9 days early. I suspect that this tiny Dickerson will have a personality as large as her older sisters one day really soon.

She came into the world looking like this

Later she looked like this


(notice the "roll" of material on the newborn gown)


Then this



Now she looks like this




She's cute, huh?

I've been asked about her name several times...just like with the other two! So, here's her story. Blake is a name that I liked. I did not give her a "boy name" because Iwanted her to be a boy. She was going to be Brett if she was a boy. I like the name Blake...for a girl. Alayne is the most feminine verson of Allen (Chad's middle name) that I could come up with. I mean, with a name like Blake she needed something girly in the middle, right? And the fact that her initials are B.A.D. was kind of fun too! We generally call her Blake, but there's a little part of me that wants the Alayne to stick too. Blake Alayne. Perfect.

She is perfect. Physically, she appears to be perfect, but more importantly she is perfect for our family. God knew and provided this special piece at just the right time. I am very thankful that she sleeps all night, but honestly sometimes I get up and just stare at her while she sleeps. I look forward to rocking her to sleep, although I know I should put her to bed "drowsy but awake" according to "the experts". Who are those experts? I bet they never rocked a perfect baby girl named Blake Alayne to sleep!

Babydoll Birthday Party

Back several weeks ago, Kennedy was driving me up the wall asking questions. One question that sparked a conversation and a brilliantly fun idea was, "Mom, when did we go to New York?" Irritated and short on patience, I said, "about this time last year". Her eyes lit up and she said, "Mom, my American Doll is one year old! We need to have a birthday party!" And the idea was born...

We went to the store and bought a cake mix and some icing. "Grandma" quickly called the other young moms to invite them over for the party that afternoon. Each mom (and one dad) brought her own baby to the party. While the babies enjoyed playtime in the kitchen floor,



the kids did this

and this

AND...the "Grandmas" had a much needed chat fest in the living room. Maybe we should've been keeping a closer eye on the cupcake festivities. Between six kiddos, they ate 17 cupcakes and applied about 8 dessert tattoos each. (Jessica, notice kennedy's bow and headband in the middle picture. Our kiddos have a lot in common!)

For the kids it was great fun..."planning" the party and they even got to practice reading and measuring when they made the cupcakes without my help. For me it cost $2 for the cake mix and icing and provided a couple of hours to visit with two of my dearest friends.

Taylor Reid Dickerson

Taylor is our "middle child". She's a spunky, funny almost five year old. She came into the world making a statement. We had a baby shower the morning of August 27th and a baby that night...in the middle of hurricane Katrina! Taylor is precious. She loves, loves, loves to compliment people. She can find the sweetest things about people to appreciate like, "Miss Haven, I like your braces!" She's a helper around the house. Any time I sit to fold laundry, she comes running and wants to put away all of mine and Chad's clothes. If someone goes into the kitchen, Taylor is on their trail. Her first question will be "can I have a snack". After handling the snack situation, she will promptly put her stool right where I need to stand and begin asking a million questions about what I'm cooking.

Taylor admires her big sister and adores her baby sister. She doesn't use pillows to sleep because that's what stuffed animals are made for. Taylor goes wide open, and is often found sleeping 1/2 in the bed and 1/2 hanging off the bed as if she passed out when her head hit the bed. Although she can drive me crazy with questions and her need to "help", she can bring tears to my eyes with her sincere love for people.

Taylor is pretty, prissy, and patient. She is smart, sassy, and soft-hearted. She wears lipstick to the lake, but loves to play with worms. Taylor is my most special middle child with a personality the size of Texas! She was my Tater Baby, and then she was my Tater Tot. Now she's just my Sweet Tater!

Kennedy Nicole Dickerson

Kennedy Nicole is our first-born daughter. Her name is special to me. Kennedy was a name that Chad and I liked. Nicole is the middle name of a dear friend from college. Kennedy likes that she shares a middle name with her cousin Heather. I've never written a description of her, but here is a list of the first words that came to mind

beautiful
loving
intelligent
intuitive
rule follower
biggest sister
striking eyes

Kennedy is an avid reader. She's a phenomenal student. She loves Jesus. This year Kennedy became quite the softball player as well. Her favorite things to do are play school with Taylor, ride bikes with Tucker, and take care of Blake. I often find myself staring at her and marveling at not only her physical beauty, but that of her heart as well. Kennedy is one of the most compasisonate people I know. She is sincere in almost everything she says and does.

Kennedy's view of the world is simple, and it often makes us laugh. Several months ago she explained to me that she didn't need to go to college because she was going to work at the snowball stand. Our next "when you grow up" conversation she said that she wasn't sure if she wanted to be a lifeguard or a veterinarian. Most recently she asked if I would let her daddy go so that she can marry him. I love her. I pray for her to find a husband like her daddy and a career that she will love even if it is as seasonal as life guarding and snowball queen!

Do you want a fork or a spoon?

Bet you're already wondering what the heck that could possibly mean! This is classic. Classic what, I'm really not sure. But, it sounds like a great lead into a story!

After the wedding and the honeymoon, life began for the Dickerson Duo. Both of us worked in Tyler for the first two and a half months of our marriage. Like love-struck newlyweds, we rode to work together, met for lunch, rode home together, and spent every waking moment "in love" with each other. Let me stop here and let you in on a conversation between my mother and myself when I was much, much younger.

Mom: Shannon, come in here and help me cook dinner. One day you're going to want to know how to cook.

Me: No thanks! I'm going to be a rich doctor and pay someone to cook for me!

Mom: I'm sure you are going to be a rich doctor, but you still might want to cook.

Me: Nah, I can read. That's all you have to do to be able to cook, right? It's like a lab experiment.

Mom: Okay, maybe next time.


I'm sure some of you already know where this is going, but you're wrong. I did not mess up a meal...well, not that I'm telling you about now. I was smarter than that! I knew I couldn't cook. So, what does a young bride do when she has cooked both meals that she knows how, has gone to every restaurant in Henderson multiple times, and is trying to avoid another sandwich? Well, this nifty lady decided to provide her precious husband with Ravioli right from the chef...you know the one in the can from the grocery store by the last name Boyardee.


So, being the conscientious wife that I was, I asked Chad if he ate his ravioli in a bowl or on a plate. He very nicely responded, "it doesn't matter". I asked again only to get the same answer. So, I went with my preference--in a bowl. Still trying to measure up to his expectations, I asked him yet another question, "do you want a fork or a spoon?" to which Mr.Communication replied, "it doesn't matter". At this point, I began to get a little irritated with him because I wanted it to be like he was used to. I mean surely he had eaten ravioli before, right? So, our "first fight" ended with huge smiles and Chad eating ravioli from a bowl with a fork and a spoon!

What do ya think?

Ok, so we did see each other again and again and again. Clearly, he was smitten with me. I know, I wasn't surprised either. So we began spending what could have been our children's college education fund on phone bills. Chad made several trips to Arkansas, and I went home to East Texas some (though not enough to please my mother).

For Christmas that year Chad bought be an electric blanket. It was exactly what I wanted, but let me just say that when you get back to school in January and everyone asks, "What did he get your for Christmas?" the words "electric blanket" are immediately followed by "WHAT?".

But, let's back up just a moment...the day after Christmas 1999. Chad and I spent the day together. I honestly don't remember what all we did. I do know that about 8PM we went to an incredibly high-class restaurant called Taco Bell. We had gourmet tacos for dinner. Remember, we're poor kids at this point (now we're just poor old people). Afterwards, we went back to his parents' house and watched tv for a while. At some point they went to bed, and Chad pulled me into his lap in his father's recliner. He was so precious as he opened a small velvet box with a diamond solitaire ring. Remember, he is Mr.Communication. He said,

"What do ya think?"

Clearly taken by surprise (after all, I had only known this man about five months), I responded with, "That is pretty. Whose is it?" Apparently he didn't really appreciate my nervous humor because he just kind of laughed. Then he said, "ok, let me try this again" and went on to give me the sweetest speech that I don't even remember. Eventually in the speech, he asked if I would marry him.

I am sure you're wondering what my answer was, right? Obviously, I agreed to eventually marry him. I was no more of a risk taker then than I am now. June 2001 we did get married. (NOTE TO MY KIDS-->AFTER I finished college.) We just recently celebrated our 9th anniversary. I can honestly say the words "what do ya think" have been answered with the phrase "prolly, prolly so" about a thousand times in the last nine years, and every single time makes me smile with love for him.