April 2012
3 posts
3 tags
Defeating Adversity
By Cotter McAnally
(Cotter wrote this essay on the assigned topic for a competition on his football team. Consequently, he was chosen to meet Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson) Cotter McAnally
Defeating Adversity
Even though I’ve had a pretty good life, I’m no stranger to adversity. Sometimes, the situations have made me sad, while other times the adversity has upset...
2 tags
Kaylyn's Speech to the LISD School Board
(Given prior to our move to Arizona)
My name is Kaylyn McAnally, and I’m an 8th grader at Shadow Ridge Middle school. I’ve volunteered to speak tonight to voice my opposition to the plan to rezone Garden Ridge Elementary that splits the community between Forestwood and Shadow Ridge Middle schools. Some people may argue that this doesn’t affect me, but those people would be wrong. First, this...
2 tags
Kelsi's speech to the LISD School Board
Given prior to our move to Arizona
Hi, my name is Kelsi McAnally, and I’m a third-grader at Garden Ridge Elementary. My older brother Cotter is a 6th grader at Shadow Ridge Middle School, and my sister is an 8th grader there, too. I’m here today because of the plan to split my school and send me in three years to Forestwood Middle School instead of Shadow Ridge Middle School. I’ve been told...
August 2011
4 posts
3 tags
Cotter, on his first day of school
(dated 8/9/2004)
At the end of a fabulous first day of school, Cotter had this to say:
“I sure wish I could sleep in tomorrow.”
4 tags
Cotter, professional carpenter
(dated 5/27/2003)
Cotter definitely has my carpentry genes. He was walking around with my measuring tape today, charting various items in our home. At each one he’d stop, measure, and proudly announce: This one is…..11 (or 8 or 18, but never anything else)….pounds long.” I tell you, it’s tricky converting from standard to metric. I still haven’t got it figured...
2 tags
Kaylyn coloring outside the lines
(dated May 19, 2003)
Kaylyn: Uh Oh. Kelli: what’s wrong? Kaylyn: I can’t use these Crayons. Kelli: why not? Kaylyn: Well, on the box, it says for children ages 3-5. I’m six. Kelli: I think it’ll be okay. Kaylyn: are you sure? Kelli: I’m sure.
1 tag
Remembering Mac
(Originally written September 2, 2003)
It was a year ago on August 28, that my uncle Gene died unexpectedly from a brain aneurism. Over the weekend, my aunt Nancy spread his ashes atop a mountain at Elk Run Ranch, where he was the ranch manager for several years, after a long career at the helm at Saddle Mountain Ranch (both of which are just outside of Steamboat Springs, Colorado). Joining her...
July 2011
1 post
2 tags
Kelli & Proverbs 31
Kelli will be the first to tell you that she’s not perfect. And my aim here is not to discuss her imperfections because i’m no more perfect than is she. but I’ll tell this, with each passing day I fall more and more in love with her as I realize what a blessing she is to me and our family. Year after year, especially during that time known as “Mother’s Day,”...
June 2011
34 posts
1 tag
KMM #31
March 26, 2003 Once upon a time a little berd levd in the forist. The forist was very cam becus not so much anamals. The kide of berd was a robin. Robins are red. Wen berds flie in the skie it is good exersis for them. The berd levs in the tree. The berd hads baby. The berds best friend is a fox. This fox is nice to berds. Wen the fox coms to see oether berd they are a fade. But some berds are...
1 tag
KMM #30
March 19, 2003 Wen Jesus was boren in a little barn a gerate big Shining star sind upon the little barn. Jesus is the moste seshel persien in the wereld becus we love him becus he fers loved us. Mery and Josuf had to travel to bethahem. Now Jesus is in heven. When Jesus was born in a little barn, a great big shining star shined upon the little barn. Jesus is the most special person in the world...
1 tag
KMM #29
March 18, 2003 Once upon a time in the forist in the trees there levd a Mother eating lesderd. The Mather was a bedrd. One day the Mather berd and her baby berd wet out to eat. Thy foud a lesderd a spesh- el lesderd too. The lesderd ran away becus he was afurad of berds. And they levd happule ever after. Once upon a time in the forest in the trees thre lived a mother eating lizard. The mother was...
1 tag
KMM #28
March 12, 2003 My scoool is cool becuss I have lost of freeiends. They are veree nice to me. My scool culers are blue and yellow. There is a big egel is in the scool. The egel is a big pesher. I like my scool. My school is cool because I have lots of friends. They are very nice to me. My school colors are blue and yellow. There is a big eagle in the school. The eagle is a big picture. I like my...
KMM #27
March 11, 2003 Last nint I had sam freds com over to my hous. Gayle hlpt me with my kit. Today I brot my kit for shoentel. My kit had pekshers on it. I hope that kit can fli. Last night, I had some friends come over to my house. Gayle helped me with my kite. Today I brought my kit for show-and-tell. My kite had pictures on it. I hope that kite can fly.
1 tag
KMM #26
March 10, 2003 It waws butafall. In the worm pritey cool June. Me and Hayley were owt flieing kist. We were wering hot clos. The brees waws butafall. We had fun It was beautiful in the warm, pretty, cool June. Hayley and I were out flying kites. We were wearing hot clothes. The breeze was beautiful. We had fun.
1 tag
KMM #25
March 6, 2003 It was December. I was going out to the gardin to pik sum flouers for my Mommy becas she is sik. I pit rois for her. It was snowing. Win I gav her teh flouers she felt beter. It was December. I was going out to the garden to pick some flowers for my mommy because she is sick. I picked roses for her. It was snowing. When I gave her the flowers, she felt better.
KMM #24
March 5, 2003 It waws april, me and Macy were eksplering in the gajel. We saw an elefunt. We were skerd. We ran. I went to my friends hous and my hous. We told our mommys. It was April. Macy and I were exploring in the jungle. We saw an elephant. We were scared. We ran. I went to my friend’s house and my house. We told our mommies.
KMM #23
March 4, 2003 Shelby and me wint on a cat rolercoster. We werer at the carnuvel with Sum of aor friends. There was a later on the rolercoster. I will go to the carnuvel agen. Shelby and I went on a cat rollercoaster. We were at the carnival with some of our friends. There was a ladder on the rollercoaster. I will go to the carnival again.
KMM #22
February 27, 2003 Saturday I went I over to a game plas. I playd ar Hackey with my brother. I wan. It was fun and ti was cool. I hope we can go ther agen. Saturday, I went over to a game place. I played air hockey with my brother. I won. It was fun and it was cool. I hope we can go there again.
KMM #21
February 25, 2003 The other day I saw pepel with no legs playing voleball. I was serpris. I was fun and It was cool. The other day I saw people with no legs playing volleyball. I was surprised. It was fun and it was cool.
KMM #20
February 24, 2003 Saturday I wetn and saw jemastiks. Thy were fliping over the bar. Thy were boys. It was fun It was fun. Saturday, I went and saw gymnastics. They were flipping over the bar. They were boys. It was fun.
1 tag
KMM #19
January 30, 2003 2 nits ago I wocht a basket ball game. Grls wer playing. We wer rooding for the hackees. and we had fun. Two nights ago I watched a basketball game. Girls were playing. We were rooting for the Huskies. And we had fun.
1 tag
KMM #18
January 29, 2003 Yeser day My M Mommy was fiinge to Nashvel. I am mesing her. She will M hav fun. Peepl will tell her wht to rite and she will rite it. I hop she has fun. Yesterday, my mommy was flying to Nashville. I am missing her. She will have fun. People will tell her what to write and she will write it. I hope she will have fun.
KMM #17
January 28, 2003 Once there was a trex wech was a baby. He was lost and afade. He Weshd he wud be home. In he foud his family. Once there was a T Rex which was a baby. He was lost and afraid. He wished we would be home, and he found his family.
1 tag
KMM #16
January 21, 2003 I like sprege flouers gro on the thee. Its byootyful. I like the flouers. It will be fun. I like spring. flowers grow on the tree. It’s beautiful. I like teh flowers. It will be fun.
1 tag
KMM # 15
January 16, 2003 In thee months wich will be May. May 5. I cat wat until My brthday. I will be 6. And I will have a good brthday. In three months, which will be May. May 5. I can’t wait until my birthday. I will be 6. And I will have a good birthday.
1 tag
KMM #14
1/13/2003
Last week ar gmom had a brthday. We had cac weth
flouers on it. The flouers wer bloublue. It was a fun. Last week our G’Mom had a birthday. We had cake with flowers on it. The flowers were blue. It was fun.
1 tag
KMM#13
01/06/2003
For Christmas oen of the thags I got for Christ is a little raber grle. She had a hager, a butafull Dres, a shert and a scrt wethe snow flacs all over it. For Christmas one of the things I got for Christmas is a little rubber girl. She had a hanger, a beautiful dress, a shirt, and a skirt with snow flakes all over it.
1 tag
KMM #12
12/18/2002
Once upon a time Jesus diide on the kros for are sins. I love jesus becas he loves us and he is uliv now so we can go to hevne. Once upon a time Jesus died on the cross for our sins. I love Jesus because He loves us and He is alive now so we can go to heaven.
1 tag
KMM #11
12/17/2002
Me and my family are going to dever for Christmas. We are going to see g mom and g dad. We are going to hav fun. Me and my family are going to Denver for Christmas We are going to see G’Mom and G’Dad. We are going to have fun.
1 tag
KMM #10
12/16/2002
The there friends Macy, Hayley and Gayle. Thae wre playing hidingo seek. Macy was the coatre. Hayley and Gayle wre hiding. Macy coutid two ten. Tae wre having fun. There were friends Macy, Hayley, and Gayle. They were playing hide-and-go-seek. Macy was the counter. Hayley and Gayle were hiding. Macy counted to ten. They were having fun.
1 tag
KMM #9
12/6/2002
a log log tim ago there was a little dansr. it levd in a volckana a long, long time ago there was a little dinosaur it lived in a volcano.
1 tag
KMM #8
Wosapatim there waz a littl crab. it was snoing the wutr waz frizing and the littl cab livd hayyleavr aftr. Once upon a time there was a little crab. It was snowing. The water was freezing. and the little crab lived happily ever after.
1 tag
KMM #7
12/4/2002
It is my brthday. Imm having fun my frezs ar her imm having cac and it is fun It is my birthday. I am having fun. My friends are here. I am having cake and it is fun.
1 tag
KMM #6
12/03/2002
I like Cresmus Christmas At Cresmus there is Cresmus Chres trees decorations I likk Cresmus and ribon and lits and ca presents and good candy. I like Christmas At Christmas there is Christmas tree decorations and ribbon, and lights, and presents and good candy.
1 tag
KMM #5
11/25/2002
I likk sweming pols in the sweming pols there is wotr it is fun I like swimming pools in the swimming pools there is water it is fun
1 tag
KMM #4
11/20/2002
thes aor my fns thes is Nikki and thes is Rachl and thes is April and thes is Aimee and thes is Shelby and thes is Kaylyn and thes is Shyanne and thes is Erika and thes is Billie These are my friends this is Nikki and this is Rachel and this is April and this is Emiley and this is Aimee and this is Shelby and this is Kaylyn and this is Shyanne and this is Erika and this is Billie
1 tag
KMM #3
11/18/2002
The scool playgrad has sids, borz, Tetr totrs and segs. its fon. The school playground has slides, bars teetertotters and swings its fun.
1 tag
KMM #2
11/12/2002
I liik Ranbo I liik Ran I liik Clozs I like rainbows I like rain I like couds
1 tag
KMM #1
Kaylyn was an early writer (age 5). Here are reprints of her original writings, with my translations.
10/24/2002
I likk insacs Budrfals lade Bugs Wrms I likk Plas Rozis flors I likk crafts pecshrs I like insects Butterflies, ladybugs, worms I like plants roses flowers I like crafts pictures
2 tags
Ladies man
(originally dated 10/21/2004)
The other morning, Kelli was getting Cotter ready for school.
Cotter is 5, in Kindergarten, by way of refresher….
Cotter: Mommy, will you use gel to make my hair spikey, please? Kelli: No, not today. Your hair is a little too long for that, anyway. Cotter: But Mommy, that’s the way Ashlyn likes me to wear my hair.
It is ever so clear that this boy, like...
2 tags
Good shepherd
Originally dated March 14, 2004
Cotter (on the way to church this morning): Daddy?
Me: Yes, Son?
Cotter: Do you know what I think is pretty cool?
Me: No. Tell me.
Cotter: I think it’s pretty cool that one God can take care of, like, more than one hundred people at all the same time.
Me: You’re right, Cotter. That’s is very cool.
Kaylynism
Originally dated February 19, 2003 :
Kaylyn: ”No, no Kelsi girl. You’re not allowed to play in that lotion with your face.”
May 2011
3 posts
5 tags
My Thanksgiving list 2006
I am thankful for my bride Kelli, my greatest gift apart from salvation. I am thankful for my Kaylyn, a young lady who hungers for the things of God. I am thankful for my Cotter, my son who is a boy with kindness in his heart. I am thankful for my Kelsi Girl, my “Lil Bit,” whose love for God and others grows daily. I am thankful for my brother and father, my dearest friends as well as...
3 tags
Light bulb
Kaylyn: Do you know who invented the light bulb?
Kelsi: Thomas Edison!
Kaylyn: Not Thomas Edison.
Me: Humphry Davy
Kaylyn: That’s right.
Kelsi: What?! That’s crazy. My teachers have lied to me.
4 tags
The most important meal
Cotter: I didn’t eat breakfast. It’s the most important meal of the day. Except for lunch. And dinner.
March 2011
2 posts
3 tags
Just say no to the never ending pasta bowl
(originally dated October 15, 2005)
As we drove home after baseball games, we passed by the kids elementary school. The school billboard announced the upcoming red ribbon week for an anti-drug emphasis. The following conversation ensued.
Kelli: It looks like Red Ribbon Week is coming up.
Kaylyn: We’ll do lots of activities to stay away from drugs.
Kelli (testing): So, just what are drugs,...
2 tags
Kelsi, thanking God
(from the archives, dated Oct. 19, 2005)
Last night we prayed with Kelsi, as we do each night, with each of our children. Kelsi decided that she was going to thank God for everybody in our new church who she could remember by name. After surprising us with a pretty lengthy list, including several people we wouldn’t have thought she’d really “know,” she fell silent for...
February 2011
2 posts
5 tags
Questions for heaven: Adam & Eve, Omniscience
(Dated July 11, 2004)
Cotter: Daddy? Me: Yes, Son? Cotter:Who was the very first people ever, before we were here? Me: You mean the first person of all time? Cotter: Right. Before our family, who were the first people? Me: You remember that God created Adam on the sixth day? And that God put Adam to sleep, took out one of his ribs, and created Eve? (note: this statement was also used as an...
3 tags
Leg Whiskers
(dated 7/30/2003)
“Mommy, your legs are growing whiskers!”
- Cotter, age 4
January 2011
7 posts
2 tags
Marjorie McAnally, 11/30/1929 - 7/10/2006
Dated July 10, 2006
My grandmother died this morning, after a short fight with liver cancer. God was merciful; she never had significant pain at any point. She offers a simple testimony of a disdain for religion but faith that Jesus is the Son of God, and her Lord. I witnessed her account that her hope was placed solely in the work of the Christ on the cross, and by faith I believe she is in...