So I was in Birmingham this weekend. I believe I’ve mentioned it once or eighteen times.
What I didn’t mention was that I actually worked as part of the LifeWay event team for the Deeper Still conference. Seriously. They gave me a walkie-talkie with an earpiece and everything. Sadly, I had to give it back when everything was over and that makes me sad because I discovered this weekend that people take you seriously when you walk around with a walkie-talkie and an earpiece. Well, except for the people who know me in real life who just died laughing every time they saw me.
I will write about the weekend tomorrow, but right now I have to go to bed because part of my event team duties involved selling $2.00 t-shirts at the merch table and I think all 14,000 women in attendance bought one.
(You don’t know how happy it makes me to use the term “merch”. It makes me wish I had merch to sell so I could walk around and talk about my merch table. Apparently that word and a walkie-talkie is all is takes.)
But, in the meantime, I have to share that Caroline passed a major milestone this weekend. I also want to warn you that if you are not a fan of the hunting you should probably leave at this point and come back for the rest of the weekend re-cap tomorrow.
On Friday afternoon, P texted me this photo.
Aww. Mama’s little baby has on camo face paint.
I texted him back and said, “I LOVE IT. I LOVE Y’ALL!”
And then Saturday morning I was walking around the concourse looking very official with my walkie-talkie and earpiece.
(In reality I was going to meet my friends, Heather and Kelly, who had brought me a Peppermint Mocha but were told they couldn’t bring it in the arena. I was DESPERATE for that Peppermint Mocha and not above telling someone it was for Beth Moore just to get it in the doors.)
(Also, they let me walk right in with it and I didn’t have to resort to deception. I owe it all to the walkie-talkie.)
Anyway, I’m walking around the concourse when I receive a text from P that says, “Caroline shot her first deer this morning.” And it was accompanied by this photo.
Y’all.
The weirdest part is I felt tears of pride well up in my eyes.
And I spent the rest of the day saying words I never would have imagined saying seven and a half years ago, “LOOK Y’ALL! MY BABY GIRL SHOT HER FIRST DEER THIS MORNING!”
The best part was people acted like they were genuinely interested.
Or maybe it was just the walkie-talkie that made them feel like they had to listen.
Good gravy, what brand of toothpaste does P use? He has got the WHITEST teeth on the planet.
Girl, you have me rolling. The best part is that I just went to dear friend’s baby shower on Saturday, she’s having a girl and her hubby is an avid hunter. He said he was planning on taking her hunting, the mama said no. I, however, told them that she may LOVE to go hunting with her daddy! Only time will tell.
Where’s the blood on her face? That’s what they did to me when I killed my first deer.
Yay for Caroline! So what sort of first deer ritual did she have to partake in?
GO CAROLINE!! GET IT GIRL!!
The walkie-talkie ear piece set was my favorite thing about working as a manager at a major book store chain.
And way to go to Caroline for bagging her first deer. I know ya’ll have to be proud as can be. And I must say that I am insanely, and I do mean insanely, jealous over the fact that ya’ll are going to have fresh deer meat. That is one thing I miss about living in LA and working graveyard at the local subway/gas station, all the deer meat I could score off of the hunters.
Yay for the first deer! Got here from pioneer woman’s blogroll and I love this post because it’s a breathe of fresh air from hunting down recipes all day! Expect me to come back for more! 🙂
I love it! Go Caroline. Okay, I need a walkie talkie.
Hello! from a total Lurker here in Maine! I found your blog back when you did the “Hair” posts and have been hooked since.
My husband is what I jokingly refer to as the “Mighty White Hunter” in our family. As a matter of fact, he just came home from a trip to PA for the start of hunting season there. We now have 2 button bucks in our freezer. Well, one’s in the freezer and one is hanging in the garage waiting to be processed. He also brought home pheasent. Can’t wait to try that.
My husband wants desperately for both of our boys to be hunters too. However, only one is interested. The first game taken by my oldest last year was a Moose! This Mama was so proud she posted pics of her boy with his kill on Facebook, much to the horror of her not a fan of hunting family members! I totally know how proud you were of Caroline. Hunting really is a wonderful bonding time between the Dads and their kids!
So, congratulations to Caroline from us here in Maine and congratulations to you for joining the “Proud Mama’s of Young Hunters” club!
Awesome job, Caroline! So exciting!
one of our cousins proudly put on facebook yesterday her daughters picture with her first wild hog she shot… only in the South…
Second, Beth Moore is coming to Lubbock in Sept. can you come work that event? I’ll bring you Starbucks…
Love the face paint photo!! They are a cute pair, for sure. 🙂 I’m not into the hunting, mainly because I expect it requires a good bit of patience and also probably the ability to keep quiet. I am no good at either of those things. But I do love to shoot targets and I know T is just waiting for the day that his girls are old enough to handle some sort of fire arm. 🙂
I don’t blame you for thinking of resorting to drastic measures to get a Peppermint Mocha in there. Peppermint Mochas are not to be toyed with. Serious stuff. I wait all year long to drink them round the clock at Christmastime. Maybe not around the clock, but at least one every other day or so…
So cool! Good job Caroline!
She needs her own tv show. “Buckmaster’s presents: Hunting with Caroline” or “Pink Camo” or something way more creative but it’s still early and I don’t create well before caffeine, and then, THEN, you could design some fashionable hunting themed product line for her and you’d have your very own “Merch” available in all the Bass Pro Shops and Cabelas out there. It’s a Gold mine I tell you. Gold MINE!
Hooray, Caroline! I personally don’t like venison because my dad’s concoctions in the kitchen are a little sketchy (at best), but I can totally appreciate the hunt and kill! 🙂
Way to go Caroline, I think it’s awesome. I’d be a very proud Mama too.
She’s so brave! Way to go Caroline.
well, if it makes you feel any better I got a walkie talkie when I worked at the Gap many moons ago and I swear, I felt my IQ points increase the minute I put it on!!
And don’t worry you aren’t too proud..yet. My dear old ,over the top southern cousins from Mississippi have sent CHRISTMAS CARDS with pics of their “victims” as the main photo. I lie not.
And agreed Peppermint mochas are worth a white lie,no doubt.
Caroline, you ROCK!!!!!!
Congrats on the deer AND the walkie-talkie. Maybe that is what you should ask Santa to bring you for Christmas???
I am a lurker too…found your blog last year from another one. And I never comment because sometimes I think it is weird to comment to folks from other states that I don’t know…BUT…my six year old got his first deer this season too. And I cried like a baby with pride. I pure had to repent I was so puffed up! And I sent the picture to everyone I knew whether they appreciated hunting or not! And then I ordered an 11×14…yes I said 11×14 for his bedroom. Several weeks later I think I am so pathetic. Mainly because it is actually sitting in the living room propped up RIGHT BESIDE the most elegant nativity set you will ever see…But the picture looks nice! ha Good job Caroline!
Congratulations, Caroline!!! (I probably won’t tell Gabe that Caroline got a deer since he didn’t.) And I can’t wait to hear more about B-ham. I’m going to love reading about all the fun from everyone’s different perspective!
Yay, Caroline! She will remember that trip with her daddy forever!
And yay you for the walkie talkie! I’ve always wanted that kind of authority…even if it is mostly pretend!
Oh the power of the walkie talkie!
Congrats to Caroline. Nothing would make my son in law happier than for his little girls to go hunting with him when they are older.
congrats Caroline!!!
You are too funny!
It was SO good to meet you Friday night! I’m sorry that I was all like…Ummm, are you Melanie? YOU MAKE ME LAUGH SO MUCH and then hugged you and ran away from the excitement over meeting you. 🙂 And I looked back at the picture we took together and I’m quite sure I have the craziest eyes ever. IT’S ALL FROM THE EXCITEMENT!!! 🙂
And I think I was the only idiot that didn’t get a t-shirt. By the time I went to buy one all the ‘merch’ tables were taken down 🙁 But that’s okay.
And congrats Caroline! 😀 That’s a real feat in these parts! 🙂
I am impressed. It is so awesome that she gets to have this special experience with her daddy. My girls aren’t into the hunting, but they love to fish with their dad. My boys, on the the other hand, love it all.
Congrats to Caroline! Nothing like your first really successful hunt!!
AWESOME! She just looks so proud of herself. I love it.
Aww, gave me chills! I bet her daddy was so proud!!
Jansen wore his bright orange long sheeve t-shirt and camo pants yesterday. We had a long chat about how he was going to learn to shoot a gun like his daddy. He’s only 3 months, but I think he is really excited about it!
I know the power of the walkie-talkie — back in my career days, I worked for a historic site that hosted a Civil War event each year, and got to wear one. I was mad with power for 48 hours every August.
Congratulations on the deer! Our church hosts a hunters’ safety class each year, and hunting is big up here in the great white north. 🙂
Thank God you were in the south.
Aww.. Daddy’s girls are the best. 😉
Way to go, Caroline!!!
Way to go Caroline!!!!
I used to love going hunting with my daddy. My daughter, who is 8, has a compound bow and aim that her brothers would kill for. But, she is a pacifist and only shoots targets.
Are you going to get it’s head mounted for her?
Yeah, that could be your 3rd mounted deer head on your living room wall that P always wants!!
Okay, so how did I not get lucky enough to purchase my tee shirt from you?!
And as a southern mama, I am so PROUD of Caroline for bagging her first deer. You go girl!!
I have followed your blog for awhile, but had not seen this post yet today. My son, Caleb, age 8, shot his first deer this weekend too!!!! I posted a picture to my FB page and someone commented that yours was about Caroline. You should have heard the cheers (and yes, tears) when he dropped it! I know EXACTLY how you feel. Congrats!!
I was fully expecting a picture with blood ob her face! My brother showed up at our school’s talent show with deer blood on his face after his first kill.
WAY TO GO CAROLINE!!! I know exactly how you feel about the pride welling up inside you when it comes to your child(ren) killing some kind of wild animal. All that is missing is the blood smeared on the face ritual. I know, don’t ask.
Awesome, way to go Caroline!! I would have cried proud mama tears. All that and a merch table? Wow! LOL!
AWESOME!! To the deer, the merch table and the walkie-talkies!
You guys got it goin on!
Congrats to C! Way to go girlie!!
And I LOVE the walkie too! I wear them for our cruises — oh my the POWER of the walkie. People listen to me and respond. I miss it once I’m home.
Caroline – Awesome!! My 13 year old son, a hunter, is so impressed! Big Mama and P – you know, her future husband is going to love that she can hunt. A man’s dream! 🙂
I saw you this weekend at the conference (recognized your picture from lurking on this blog). You did look totally official. In fact, I considered for a moment coming and introducing myself as a faithful (but, albeit silent on the comments normally) reader of your blog, but (1) you really did look so busy and official that I hated to bother you and (2) I had already totally acted like a crazy stalker with Sofie and I am a smart enough girl not to make the same mistake twice. : )
I’m gonna go with, you were in ALABAMA and everybody’s daughters hunt down there!
Now we have something in common. My baby (16 years old) killed his first buck this year!!!! Enjoyed seeing you at Birmingham.
Melanie! Send that pic in to the “Boerne Star” and they’ll publish it in their sports section! You think I’m kidding …
Love, Your Biggest Fan In Boerne (but not in a creepy Kathy Bates/Misery kinda way)
Awesome post.
Girl, you earned and owned that radio. Welcome to the team. You passed the test, you are MerchMama now! Nice work. You could wear your own camo face next time. It would match the DS merch. THANK YOU!! Can’t wait to read tomorrow’s post.
Don’t mess with C now. She is tough stuff and I love her for it!!!
Okay seriously laughed until I cried when I read about your walkie talkie and ear piece.Also the merch table.You are such a bright spot in my day.I so wish I could have been in Birmingham over the weekend.You know, since all my pretend best friends were there.You,Angie,Sophie,Kelly,Jessica… Way to go Caroline with getting your first deer! She is a true woman!
Well…..looky there! A deer! What a riot!!!!
LOVE IT!! Now there is a man who took seriously his role as man-educator. My girls love it when Patricia is gone and we all go shooting together or do some other manly thing. They aren’t just learning about how to hunt or whatever it is, they are learning about the character of a man and they are setting that bar high for any potential suitors. Tell your man, WELL DONE!
No honey, you’re in Alabama, they are truly interested. Either because they have hunting kids/dads in their household or that’s one less deer to total someone’s car!
Yeah.
More of this.
Just like this.
You do know how to perfectly conquer a keyboard, my friend.
I am so glad for the moments and your voice and I’d listen to you all day, walkie talkie or no 🙂
Awwww! I’m so proud of her!
My 10 yr. old boy killed his first deer this year, he’d be so upset to know a younger girl got her first!
Only in the South!
Congrats to Caroline! My husband is an avid ‘I love guns’ person, but has only had a couple of opportunities to go hunting. My father-in-law, however, hunts EVERY weekend in good ol’ Mississippi. Next year we are planning on flying our oldest son (will then be 14) to spend a whole week hunting with his papa (gulp!). I think it’s AWESOME that a girl Caroline’s age will even go out hunting with her daddy. I hope she keeps it up!
Get it Caroline, I can’t even imagine how proud you were! That’s awesome!
Do you EAT the deer? I really hope so! In our area, people hunt and leave the carcass and take the head… as a trophe. It makes me so mad. My husband put away a lot of meat so far this season… I love deer. YUMMY!
Awww…it seems like just yesterday Anna Katherine shot her first deer…tender moments. Now just wait ’til your sweet baby girl decides she wants to have that photo on her birthday cake at a camo-themed party!! Nothing like slicing a piece of dead deer covered in frosting to say Happy Birthday, Princess!
Oh how sweet! Why shouldn’t you be proud?!? The boys are 3 and 5 and I can’t wait to see their faces when (read: after they bring it home) they shoot their’s! Being married to a hunter sure changes our perspective doesn’t it?!?
#3 is on the way (March) and if its a she, she’ll be getting her lifetime hunting license, just like her brothers….I’m not discriminating!
Somewhere in a box, I have a picture of Caroline’s Mama proudly displaying a deer that she shot. Since it was a picture that I never thought I would see, it was proudly displayed in a frame in my first apartment in Houston. It’s pretty much when I realized that P was THE ONE.
More than likely, the picture is still in the frame in a box along with all others that were stashed during the move back to Beaumont that I couldn’t find the time to unpack because I had TWO babies, and now I just move the box from place to place.
Just read this post and the post from today – Love, love, love it! I live about an hour from the Birmingham area, and I wish I could have attended the Deeper Still conference.
By the way, women probably genuinely cared about your daughter’s first deer. It is Alabama 🙂