This is one of those quandries that come with being a bi-wwekly. It was actually possible to get this story in when it broke this past week. However, our next issue isn't until the 30th. By then a story saying "Hey, did you hear about this student who found a wad of cash in a wall in New Orleans?" would be met with "Yeah, I did, a week ago."
I talked with Marty Youngblood, the campus minister at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Thursday. Obviously, I need to find a way to cover it that hasn't been done yet, or at least hasn't been overdone. Marty said it's been pretty much nonstop and if the anonymous homeowner decides to come forward that could start the cycle up again. The school's Web site has a video of Trista, though I was unable to open it and have to figure out what the deal is with my media player.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
No, they don't live in a shoe ...
When I first heard about Andy Hammack and family last fall, it was through the regular column by GBC Executive Director J. Robert White. I only had the copy of the article first and hadn't seen a picture, so when I learned they had 10 kids, I assumed there were some twins or even triplets in there to help things get to that number, but no there weren't.
Something I can't believe I left out of the article is that neither Andy nor his wife, Elizabeth, come from big families. I want to say (from memory) that both of them had one sibling. Writing it up, I kept coming back to sports analogies. When I would play baseball with my brother and our neighbor growing up, we'd always use "ghost man" to fill in for us. In other words, one guy would bat, another pitch, and another field. If you hit a double, you called ghost man to run from second while you went to bat again. Rule was, though, that he could only advance as many bases as you got on the next hit, so for Casper to score from second you had to hit another double. Worked fairly well, actually.
Getting the lead on this one, I wanted the reader to get a feeling of being overrun. That's why I listed their typical order for McDonald's. Didn't make that up. Andy told me matter-of-factly. For a crew their size, I expected him and Elizabeth to sound a little more tired than they did. On the contrary, both had good senses of humor. I mentioned that today to get any kind of recognition for a high number of kids, they have to be born all at once following a merry-go-round of fertility drugs. If memory serves, the number to beat is eight. I don't even know what you'd call nine kids at once. Nintuplets?
That assumption I'm sure came from me taking everything about my three-year-old and multiplying it by 11. When she was an infant, it seemed I had more bags of weight on my back than Juan Valdez's pack mule just for us to go somewhere. The amount of plastic little possessed toys (see previous post) must be mind-boggling.
Both Andy and Elizabeth were quick to give a lot of credit to their older kids, particularly Nathan, Bethany, Mary and Sarah. I talked to Nathan and Bethany and they both seemed like good kids. I mentioned how Bethany and the older girls have taken to sewing which helps out with costs. It's not like they're made to though, it's just something they like to do, and have a knack for. Nathan likes baseball and is an Andruw Jones fan, a tidbit I wasn't able to fit into the story. For sure, they both are miles ahead of where I was in maturity and responsibilty at their ages.
Something else I picked up from writing this was the importance of perspective. To a lot of kids who get everything, they would cringe at the idea of having to share so much. A lot of parents, including myself, would initially think of things such as buying birthday/Christmas presents and how in the world to pay for everything rather than feel blessed with 11 beautiful kids. This family truly makes it with a team effort and closeness others on the outside wish they could have.
That being said, I still think I could only handle two, maybe three.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Yesterday was easily one of the worst days of my life.
At around 9:30 in the morning, I hear my phone ringing at work and on the caller ID notice it's my wife's cell number. She had gone to see the doctor that morning for a 12-week checkup on our baby due in October.
Whenever I see it's her number I don't go through the formal "Christian Index, this is Scott" biz. A simple "hey" or "How ya doin'" is fine. This time I picked up and asked, "How did it go?", referring to the appointment.
After a moment of silence, she softly said through her tears, "It's not good."
A moment later she told me that the doctors couldn't find a heartbeat. She had miscarried the baby. It's cliche, but this is one of those things that happens to everyone else. Not you. I instantly started crying, said a few more things before letting her know I was on my way. Hung up. Cried some more. Told my co-worker, Kelly, what had happened. Got my stuff. Asked her to tell everyone to be praying for us, and walked out the door. In the parking lot I broke into a run toward my car. I had to get to Amy.
On the way home I turned the radio off and sat in silence. Crying came and went. They were those cries where you hit the dashboard and don't know snot is coming out of your nose until it reaches your lip. She had to stay at the hospital a while longer, so I actually beat her to the house. When she got there I went to her and we hugged each other, cried and apologized. For what, we didn't know, but that was about all either of us could think to say.
The rest of the day was long and a blur at the same time. Phone calls to our families. I called a guy in our church small group, Gregg, who let me know he and his wife, Lynn, had gone through the same thing. Even though he was at work as a middle school guidance counselor, he prayed with me over the phone. Amy had to drive back to the hospital to schedule a D&C to remove the baby, so I went to our daughter's school to pick her up. While there, I learned from her teacher how she had gone through a miscarriage and underwent the same procedure Amy was scheduling at that moment.
Getting home, I gave Rylee and her friend, Reese, their lunch and put them down for a nap. First though, I explained to Rylee as best I could what happened. We didn't want our families to get there (they were on their way) and Rylee be confused as to why they were sad and start asking questions. I felt clumsy telling her (Amy did a much better job when she got home). I explained that the baby went to heaven. She asked why. I said something was wrong with it and God took it to heaven, but mommy will have another baby soon. Other stuff was said, but that was the main part. I held it together okay until Rylee started to tear up and say that she wanted the baby (calling it "her" baby) that mommy already had. She had already been excited about being a big sister.
My folks and younger brother arrived. Hung around. To try and just do something, my dad, brother and I go outside to work on my Jeep. That night we all went out to eat.
A storm of emotions have gone through me. I've realized that I experience a concoction of feelings whenever I hear Amy or, when it's not just a 3-year-old's temper, Rylee cry. First comes guilt, because if they are sad I didn't protect them. Anger follows because whatever caused this must pay. Also mixed in there is sadness due to the fact that they are unhappy and a try-and-fix-it mentality that often does more harm than good. There's some kind of papa bear mentality in me that stirs whenever my daughter or wife are hurt, be it emotionally or physically.
We understand the basic rationale for miscarriages. Something was wrong and it's the body's natural way to end the pregnancy. Doesn't make it any easier. Through all of this, though, we both know Jesus grieves with us and holds our future in his hands. God has loved us through the many people who have called and told their own stories of losing a baby. Friends have told us to let them know if there's anything, anything they can do. People just say that, but I know these folks are really there.
It's a rough time. Right now the emotions are still raw. It's hard to believe getting past it, but I know we will.
At around 9:30 in the morning, I hear my phone ringing at work and on the caller ID notice it's my wife's cell number. She had gone to see the doctor that morning for a 12-week checkup on our baby due in October.
Whenever I see it's her number I don't go through the formal "Christian Index, this is Scott" biz. A simple "hey" or "How ya doin'" is fine. This time I picked up and asked, "How did it go?", referring to the appointment.
After a moment of silence, she softly said through her tears, "It's not good."
A moment later she told me that the doctors couldn't find a heartbeat. She had miscarried the baby. It's cliche, but this is one of those things that happens to everyone else. Not you. I instantly started crying, said a few more things before letting her know I was on my way. Hung up. Cried some more. Told my co-worker, Kelly, what had happened. Got my stuff. Asked her to tell everyone to be praying for us, and walked out the door. In the parking lot I broke into a run toward my car. I had to get to Amy.
On the way home I turned the radio off and sat in silence. Crying came and went. They were those cries where you hit the dashboard and don't know snot is coming out of your nose until it reaches your lip. She had to stay at the hospital a while longer, so I actually beat her to the house. When she got there I went to her and we hugged each other, cried and apologized. For what, we didn't know, but that was about all either of us could think to say.
The rest of the day was long and a blur at the same time. Phone calls to our families. I called a guy in our church small group, Gregg, who let me know he and his wife, Lynn, had gone through the same thing. Even though he was at work as a middle school guidance counselor, he prayed with me over the phone. Amy had to drive back to the hospital to schedule a D&C to remove the baby, so I went to our daughter's school to pick her up. While there, I learned from her teacher how she had gone through a miscarriage and underwent the same procedure Amy was scheduling at that moment.
Getting home, I gave Rylee and her friend, Reese, their lunch and put them down for a nap. First though, I explained to Rylee as best I could what happened. We didn't want our families to get there (they were on their way) and Rylee be confused as to why they were sad and start asking questions. I felt clumsy telling her (Amy did a much better job when she got home). I explained that the baby went to heaven. She asked why. I said something was wrong with it and God took it to heaven, but mommy will have another baby soon. Other stuff was said, but that was the main part. I held it together okay until Rylee started to tear up and say that she wanted the baby (calling it "her" baby) that mommy already had. She had already been excited about being a big sister.
My folks and younger brother arrived. Hung around. To try and just do something, my dad, brother and I go outside to work on my Jeep. That night we all went out to eat.
A storm of emotions have gone through me. I've realized that I experience a concoction of feelings whenever I hear Amy or, when it's not just a 3-year-old's temper, Rylee cry. First comes guilt, because if they are sad I didn't protect them. Anger follows because whatever caused this must pay. Also mixed in there is sadness due to the fact that they are unhappy and a try-and-fix-it mentality that often does more harm than good. There's some kind of papa bear mentality in me that stirs whenever my daughter or wife are hurt, be it emotionally or physically.
We understand the basic rationale for miscarriages. Something was wrong and it's the body's natural way to end the pregnancy. Doesn't make it any easier. Through all of this, though, we both know Jesus grieves with us and holds our future in his hands. God has loved us through the many people who have called and told their own stories of losing a baby. Friends have told us to let them know if there's anything, anything they can do. People just say that, but I know these folks are really there.
It's a rough time. Right now the emotions are still raw. It's hard to believe getting past it, but I know we will.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
An article that didn't make it
Awhile back the Index was sent some DVDs for a prospective review to be put in the paper. Rylee and I watched two of the movies made for kids and came up with the following story, written from her perspective. The review in this form will never see the light of day in print. I guess that's what blogs are for.
Recently, new DVDs sent to Index production editor Scott Barkley were viewed by himself and his three-year-old daughter, Rylee. Both watched the DVDs, produced by Wacky World Studios (wackyworld.tv), with Rylee reporting what she observed.
The first video, Don’t Miss the Boat, was told from the perspective of two grandparent roaches retelling the time they spend their honeymoon on Noah’s ark. The second video, Slingshot Slugger, related the story of David and Goliath and teaches kids how no matter your size God is bigger than any obstacle.
Numbers represent the minute mark of the video.
New Roach Approach movies teach kids about faith
By Rylee Grace Barkley
Both of the movies daddy and I watched were about cartoon roaches that do these funny things and have adventures. During the movie they also talk about God. A man named Bruce Barry made them. There's one part on the DVDs where he teaches kids they can draw bugs, flowers and faces if they can just start by writing the number 2 or things that easy. That was one of my favoritest parts.
The first movie we watched was called Don't Miss the Boat! It was about 38 minutes long. In it a little boy cockroach named Squiggz is told by his granny and paw paw about the time they were on Noah's ark.
:02 Daddy says the cockroaches look a lot like the little aliens in Space Jam.
:14 The granny and paw paw – their names are Nana and Lou – have talked about how they had just gotten married and now were on the big boat a man named Noah made. People laughed at him for making the big boat – daddy says it's called an ark. Anyway, this thing just ate up Lou and then spit him out. Daddy says the thing is called an aardvark. It's funny-looking. I ask why it spit out the bug and daddy said 'cause God didn't want it to eat him.
:15 Daddy says," Movie line alert" when Noah is worried about the animals not coming to the ark and God says, "If you build it, they will come."
:21 The funny-looking-elephant-aardvark-thingy thought a plug in the bottom of the boat was a doughnut and tried to eat it! They have to put it back in! Okay, they do.
:23 Daddy, where's the mommy and daddy?
I don't know.
Is that the big boat?
Yes.
That Noah built?
Yes.
Where are the animals?
Inside.
Where inside?
Just inside. Now watch.
:25 There's this little bug who was a bug at the start but now she's not a bug she's in this brown thing hanging from the ceiling of the ark I think she's going to come out a butterfly.
:31 I got it right! She was a butterfly. She had helped the two cockroaches. Even though all the animals got scared and tired being on the boat God took care of them.
:38 I liked this movie. Noah listened to God even when people made fun of him. Daddy said that sometimes we have to do the right thing and listen to what God tells us, even if that means some people laugh at us. There were some times on the boat when they were in trouble and it looked like the boat was going to sink, but daddy said God was in control and took care of everybody.
The second movie we saw was called Sling Shot Slugger and was more about Squiggz. Lou, his paw paw, is in this one too. Daddy said this one was going to be about David and Goliath. David was a little boy and Goliath a great big giant.
:03 Squiggz is skateboarding around. My uncle Taylor does that. Taylor is better at it than Squiggz.
:08 A big, dirty 'sterminator with a big belly is coming to get Squiggz, his friends, and even his grandpa, who is trying to fish in a crab tank. Daddy and I go fishing, but not for crab.
:09 The 'sterminator says "Hammer time" and starts to dance around pretending to crush bugs with a hammer. Daddy thinks I can't hear him but he starts to sing really softly: My music hits me so hard, makes me say "Oh my Lord," Thank you for blessing me, with a mind to rhyme and two hype feet, it feels good when you know you're down, a super dope homeboy from the Oaktown, and I'm known as such, and this is a beat, uh, you can't touch ...
:14 Now Paw Paw Lou — in the movie I think he's called grandpa, but I like paw paw — is telling Squiggz about David and Goliath. That's because Squiggz is scared of the big 'sterminator. Lou is telling how Goliath was a lot bigger than David. David's favorite sheep – he was a shepherd, and they took care of sheep – was named Shemp. Daddy wonders if Shemp was the replacement for a more talented, funnier sheep, whatever that means. I shush daddy. He talks too much sometimes.
:17 The 'sterminator's belly is really big! I think there's a baby in there. My mommy has a baby in her belly ...
:29 Daddy! That little boy stopped the big man!
I think I liked this one even better than the other one. Even though Squiggs was a lot smaller than the 'sterminator, he beat him. When David beat the giant, he bopped him on the head with a rock even though everyone thought Goliath would beat him up. God helped David and the little guy won. Hey, I'm little. God can help me do big stuff too! Both of the movies were real good. My best friend Reese comes to my house every day. I'll tell her about them and watch them with her.
Recently, new DVDs sent to Index production editor Scott Barkley were viewed by himself and his three-year-old daughter, Rylee. Both watched the DVDs, produced by Wacky World Studios (wackyworld.tv), with Rylee reporting what she observed.
The first video, Don’t Miss the Boat, was told from the perspective of two grandparent roaches retelling the time they spend their honeymoon on Noah’s ark. The second video, Slingshot Slugger, related the story of David and Goliath and teaches kids how no matter your size God is bigger than any obstacle.
Numbers represent the minute mark of the video.
New Roach Approach movies teach kids about faith
By Rylee Grace Barkley
Both of the movies daddy and I watched were about cartoon roaches that do these funny things and have adventures. During the movie they also talk about God. A man named Bruce Barry made them. There's one part on the DVDs where he teaches kids they can draw bugs, flowers and faces if they can just start by writing the number 2 or things that easy. That was one of my favoritest parts.
The first movie we watched was called Don't Miss the Boat! It was about 38 minutes long. In it a little boy cockroach named Squiggz is told by his granny and paw paw about the time they were on Noah's ark.
:02 Daddy says the cockroaches look a lot like the little aliens in Space Jam.
:14 The granny and paw paw – their names are Nana and Lou – have talked about how they had just gotten married and now were on the big boat a man named Noah made. People laughed at him for making the big boat – daddy says it's called an ark. Anyway, this thing just ate up Lou and then spit him out. Daddy says the thing is called an aardvark. It's funny-looking. I ask why it spit out the bug and daddy said 'cause God didn't want it to eat him.
:15 Daddy says," Movie line alert" when Noah is worried about the animals not coming to the ark and God says, "If you build it, they will come."
:21 The funny-looking-elephant-aardvark-thingy thought a plug in the bottom of the boat was a doughnut and tried to eat it! They have to put it back in! Okay, they do.
:23 Daddy, where's the mommy and daddy?
I don't know.
Is that the big boat?
Yes.
That Noah built?
Yes.
Where are the animals?
Inside.
Where inside?
Just inside. Now watch.
:25 There's this little bug who was a bug at the start but now she's not a bug she's in this brown thing hanging from the ceiling of the ark I think she's going to come out a butterfly.
:31 I got it right! She was a butterfly. She had helped the two cockroaches. Even though all the animals got scared and tired being on the boat God took care of them.
:38 I liked this movie. Noah listened to God even when people made fun of him. Daddy said that sometimes we have to do the right thing and listen to what God tells us, even if that means some people laugh at us. There were some times on the boat when they were in trouble and it looked like the boat was going to sink, but daddy said God was in control and took care of everybody.
The second movie we saw was called Sling Shot Slugger and was more about Squiggz. Lou, his paw paw, is in this one too. Daddy said this one was going to be about David and Goliath. David was a little boy and Goliath a great big giant.
:03 Squiggz is skateboarding around. My uncle Taylor does that. Taylor is better at it than Squiggz.
:08 A big, dirty 'sterminator with a big belly is coming to get Squiggz, his friends, and even his grandpa, who is trying to fish in a crab tank. Daddy and I go fishing, but not for crab.
:09 The 'sterminator says "Hammer time" and starts to dance around pretending to crush bugs with a hammer. Daddy thinks I can't hear him but he starts to sing really softly: My music hits me so hard, makes me say "Oh my Lord," Thank you for blessing me, with a mind to rhyme and two hype feet, it feels good when you know you're down, a super dope homeboy from the Oaktown, and I'm known as such, and this is a beat, uh, you can't touch ...
:14 Now Paw Paw Lou — in the movie I think he's called grandpa, but I like paw paw — is telling Squiggz about David and Goliath. That's because Squiggz is scared of the big 'sterminator. Lou is telling how Goliath was a lot bigger than David. David's favorite sheep – he was a shepherd, and they took care of sheep – was named Shemp. Daddy wonders if Shemp was the replacement for a more talented, funnier sheep, whatever that means. I shush daddy. He talks too much sometimes.
:17 The 'sterminator's belly is really big! I think there's a baby in there. My mommy has a baby in her belly ...
:29 Daddy! That little boy stopped the big man!
I think I liked this one even better than the other one. Even though Squiggs was a lot smaller than the 'sterminator, he beat him. When David beat the giant, he bopped him on the head with a rock even though everyone thought Goliath would beat him up. God helped David and the little guy won. Hey, I'm little. God can help me do big stuff too! Both of the movies were real good. My best friend Reese comes to my house every day. I'll tell her about them and watch them with her.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Baby on the way
Only six weeks in the process, but he/she is doing fine along with his/her mommy. He/she is the little blob in the lower-right.
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