My adventures as a mom

I'm Back!

2010-10-13T14:35:00.002-05:00

So here I am in my 3rd full semester of college round two. I am taking 15 hours which i have done before but this time, it is all upper division classes. Four history classes and one Geography class. It is hard but will definitely be worth it in the end.

One thing I am having to learn, and believe me it is a hard lesson, is to let some things go. You know, the things that someone else is completely capable of doing? And, for me, this is really hard. I like being in control. Why on earth raising six kids has not already taught me this lesson, I will never know! ;)

Well, now I've gone and done it.....

2009-04-28T09:51:00.003-05:00

I am going back to school......

I am in the process of meeting with my advisor so I can start with a summer class or two.

And God is so obvious in all of this it is amazing.

Before Christmas, knowing that due to the economy my hours at my office job would decrease, I decided to go through "Substitute Survival Training" and begin subbing at the local schools. After Christmas break, I visited some of the schools and told them to call me if they needed a sub. I got a few calls to sub some of the younger grades (K, 1st, 4th). These are great kids but, I discovered quickly that one day a week with them was probably enough. That is just not where my calling has been or is today. But, each day with them is a wonderful adventure because the are so genuine in their feelings.

Then, I got a call from the high school. Okay, so I am a youth director and I have a freshman. Let's just say I know a few of the kids. My first day to sub there I was walking down the hall and got 3-4 hugs from my youth. Wow! That is the way to start your day! Teenagers actually Happy to see you! I was hooked. Everyday I would come home from subbing talking about this and that and how great it was. My boss at the office is wonderful. He is very supportive of me doing this as he knows we have five kids still at home.

Each day I subbed I tossed around the idea of going back to school in order to teach. I knew it would take a lot and just wasn't sure it was what I should do. I knew I "wanted" to but was it really the "right" thing. I finally did that thing that I should always do first but seem to forget and do it last......I prayed. I asked God to show me what He wanted for me. Should I just keep subbing or should I go back to school?

So, one night, my husband (who never comments on stuff unless I ask) looks at me and asks "You really enjoy subbing don't you?" I grinned ear to ear and said "YES!" He looked at me and asked "Why don't you go back to school so you can teach?" I told him I would really like to and he said to go for it. ***Wow! Thank you God for that Sign! ***

But, am I ever really convinced with one sign? Okay, so there is a first time for everything. I started making some calls. I talked with the secretary at the high school. I talked with the local university. I made an appointment with the History Department Chair. (I really like history, government, social studies) He was very helpful. Pulled my really old transcripts (I had gone the this University before). Looked at all my classes to see what he could give me credit for taking. He told me that the way to go if I wanted to teach history, would be to get my Bachelor's in History with a Minor in Social Studies and Secondary Education. (57 hours!Yikes!) This would put me in the position to teach History, Social Studies, Economics, Government. The minor making me more "marketable". Okay.....

So I talked to my friend at the high school again. History is mostly taught by coaches but not completely. The English department has 14 teachers so there is a large turnover. Science is another possibility.

Back to the University to talk to the science department. Knew immediately that was the wrong path. Does the word "calculus" have that effect on anyone else?

That leaves English. I meet with the English department chair who happens to be the one who has approved my History degree plan. He was very helpful as well. He had already seen my transcripts as he had to look at them for my History degree plan and the only thing that I had not been told before was, either way I went, I would need to take a Fine Arts class which could be drama, art history, music appreciation, etc. *Side note: Here is God again: We have started a drama group at the church and I know nothing about drama and here is an opportunity to learn* He showed me basically what I would need to get my English degree and said he would put a degree plan in the mail as soon as it was approved. And, then I could decide my major.

At this point, I could go either way. My brain is saying English but my heart is saying history. So, still looking for some guidance (notice I am doing this a lot earlier in the game than last time) I prayed. The next day, I got my appoved History degree plan in the mail. I decided I would wait and get my English degree plan and compare the two. And then I decided, the smartest thing to do would be to pursue English. More jobs available in that field. And then.....

I was called to sub a World Geography class for two days. Oh, and the way I got called.....yep....that's another God thing. I was subbing for two periods that day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Rather than just rest on my laurels (always wanted to say that), I went by the school office to see if there was anything I could do. There was, the secretary needed signatures from several teachers so off I went. One of the classes was the WG class. I walked in and a lot of the kids knew me and told the instructor he needed to call me to sub for him. He asked my name and how I knew the kids. I told him I was their youth director and they were my son's friends. He said he would keep me in mind. That night, he called me to sub the next day as his regular sub was not available.

We talked about what he wanted the kids to do. He was very specific about how they needed to complete the assignments. He emailed me the lesson plan and the next morning, I was there. He called me in the middle of the day asking if I could sub the next day as he was still sick. I said sure and he gave me the information for the next day. He started explaining why he has them do the assignments the way he does and how it is to help them retain the information. The next day the kids had a test over labelling a map. It was of the middle east. After everyone in this one class was finished, one student said she had not realized that the land Palestine and Israel were fighting over was right between them. Well, that spurred a wonderful conversation. I was hooked. I spoke to the teacher the next day and told him was I was trying to decide between. He looked at me and told me I had the right background to teach a class like his. The fact that I was firmly planted in my beliefs and already had a heart for teenagers was something to consider in my decision. He said I could effect how they looked at the world. Whether it was from a distance with no perspective, or from an educated perspective understanding why things happen the way they do.

Then, that night, I had dinner with my future daughter-in-law. She said she could see me teaching social studies or government better than she could see me teaching English....

I looked on-line this weekend and discovered there are two classes I can take this summer to get started on my schooling in History but nothing in English......

So, this morning, I emailed my advisor. Who, by the way, lived a few houses down from my in-laws for a very long time. Oh look.....another God thing!

To God be the Glory!

Please pray for me!

Exercise

2009-03-24T09:08:00.003-05:00

I used to walk miles everyday but, after breaking my leg at the knee a year and three months ago, it just hurt. It would send sharp pain through my knee everytime I tried. I thought I had it licked when before Christmas I actually made it to the end of my street but then it kicked in again. How frustrating because I cannot stick to an indoor exercise routine. I have joined gyms and for the first 2 weeks I am religious about going but then ...... let's just say the kids keep me hopping. Well a week ago yesterday I decided to try again. My poor dog has gotten fat and I am out of shape so.....
I did it! I actually walked without pain for two miles....TWO MILES! I have walked almost everyday since. AND my dog did not pass out either! But I am not sure she is enjoying it as much as I am....she keeps giving me that "don't you want to go back?" look. But I just keep on walking.

Chapter 1: Catchup begins

2009-03-19T16:27:00.007-05:00

The trees changed colors. And fall was upon us. The youngest boys played 5-pitch on the same team and we had fun! The last few games were a bit chilly. And then came Thanksgiving and the Indians were everywhere!

We caught this one running through the house!

With the cooler weather came hunting season. No cans were safe from the beebees!

More later......

I'm still here!

2009-02-25T08:04:00.001-06:00

After my computer crashing....completely! And losing all of my links to anything....I am back!

Kids are still driving me crazy!

Will add more later

Wow!

2008-10-31T12:20:00.003-05:00

I cannot believe it has been two months since I have been able to get on here! Long story but the end result was having my computer wiped clean and starting over. Cheaper than a new computer but not a lot of fun.

Well it's Halloween and all my little dumplings - except the 20yo and the one in high school band will be out begging for candy. I can't wait! LOL! We had our fall festival at the church Saturday night and our youth put on the best Haunted Maze we have had in a long time. And, my kids got candy!

We went to the high school's "trick or treat trail" on Tuesday. We played games and my kids got candy!!!

We are going out tonight into the neighborhood and, my kids will get candy!

I am like Garfield here....I love this holiday! :)

Last day of summer vacation

2008-08-25T13:08:00.003-05:00

It was Friday. The last Friday before school would start. It had been raining off and on all week long so there went our trip to the lake (no boat and there is no way the grass had been mowed). No spraypark - they (the children) didn't want to go. But, MMMMOOOOOMMMMMM what are we going to do on the last day of summer?????? They wailed.

So, we went to my dad's house - Sir, as all the grandkids call him. He still lives in the house we grew up in. He was taking it easy on this quiet Friday. So, we visited for a short while and we decided to go to the park. After all, we can walk to Sir's park. (We live in the sort of country and can't walk to the park). So, off we went to the park. We walked past the swingset and playplace and ran down the hill to jump the creek - just like when I was a kid. We went to the amphitheatre and climbed the surrounding walls and sat in the "watchtowers" (the tops of the wall corners). We climbed trees to get down and walked along the rock walls around to the back and jumped off. We talked about the games I played there as a girl. There is a dolphin statue at the park that has water spraying on it and is there to be played and climbed on. We took off our shoes and ran into the water and onto the dolphin in our clothes - just like when I was a kid. I shared stories of coming to play in the dolphin with my sister and our best friends. We climbed some more trees and went back down to the creek. The creek has rock walls on either side and runs through the town getting wider in places and narrower in others. I jumped down into the creek and told the kids to come on and follow me. They did. We went through the tunnel under the creek with me passing on stories of how we did this when we were little and would stop under the sidewalk and yell when people would walk over us. We climbed out on the other side and climbed back up to the street - just like when I was a kid.

We walked back past Sir's house and up the very long hill to the church that I grew up in. We found an open door and I took them inside. I showed them the sanctuary I was baptized in. I told them stories of going to church and sitting in the balconey. We went up to look. I told them stories of singing in the choir and going to lock-ins and climbing up the ladder into the steeple. We walked through the church and I showed them the music room and we check to see if the elevator worked - just like when I was a kid.

We left the church and went around the corner to the school I had attended. It is no longer a "real" school but only houses the gifted program for the elementary students. As we walked past the playground I told them about playing kickball and hopskotch and racing and playing basketball. We walked down the sidewalk and they walked up the grass hill - just like when I was a kid. We walked around front and walked in the door and we were met by a lady asking if we needed any help. I explained to her that I had gone to school there and wondered if I could take my kids on a tour. She asked when I had been there and I told her @ the time. She asked me the name of my 6th grade teachers. I told her - Mrs. Martha Brush, Mrs. Betty Cox, Mrs. Nelson and Mrs. Cooper. She smiled and said "I am Mrs. Cooper" Wow! that was amazing! What was even more amazing was that was the only year she taught at Gary and had just returned the year before. She said for us to feel free to wander and introduced me to a few of her colleagues.

We walked through the school with me sharing stories, answering questions, showing them my old classrooms, cafeteria and auditorium (the auditorium still has the same wooden seats!) We finally walked out and down the steep ramps to the street - just like when I was a kid. Okay, so I usually ran down them.

We walked back to my dad's house and headed down the road. We stopped at the store and bought ice cream and chocolate sauce and waffle cones and came home and ate sortof sundaes.

All in all, it was a very good day. And I got to act just like when I was a kid.

Meet the teacher

2008-08-21T20:01:00.003-05:00

Tonight was the big night! We went to the new school and I do mean brand new building new school and met the teachers for 3 of my little darlings. We are so excited. My kindergartner has the same teacher that #3 child had, my 2nd grader has the same teacher that #4 child had and, until tonight, I had never met the teacher the 4th grader has! 2 out of 3 ain't bad! We got the principal that I like, we have the nurse that fully understands my way of thinking. Unless it is broken, bleeding profusely or is running a temperature it needs to go back to class. And we have the office people that I get along with really well. You know, the ones that you can call and they know you and don't put you through all kinds of craziness just to get a note to your child. The kids are really excited to be going to the new school and I am excited that I will actually have 3 at the same campus. I've never even had 2 at the same campus.

2008-08-18T11:37:00.000-05:00

Your Hair Should Be Blue

Wild, brilliant, and out of control.

You're a risk taker with an eye to the future.

What's Your Funky Inner Hair Color?

The Insanity has Begun!

2008-08-06T13:28:00.003-05:00

On Monday night, my 2nd oldest started band camp. It occurs every night this week except Wednesday and next week it will be twice a day. Dance tryouts for my oldest daughter for competitive dance are next Thursday Friday and Saturday as well as the beginning of the dance team practice for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders competition which, if we score high enough, means we will be performing at a half-time extravaganze at a Cowboys game. As exciting as that sounds, one must understand that I am NOT a fan of "America's" team. But, I will go, I will cheer for my daughter, and I will wear the colors of whatever team happens to be playing against Dallas that week. And, hopefully, my husband will stand between me and whoever I offend with my cheers and boos! LOL!

Summer is slipping away so we are doing as much as can in these last few "dog days" of summer.

Band camp starts tonight

2008-08-04T13:21:00.003-05:00

Pray for me! Band camp starts tonight and it is just the beginning of the crazy life called school. From here until November, there will be something going on every night of the week with 1 or more children. Right now the 14yo schedule will look like this starting with the first week of school... Monday: band practice; Tuesday: scouts; Wednesday: Youth; Thursday: Football game he plays in; Friday: Varsity football where he plays in the band....And that is just the first one. Girls will have dance 1 evening a week but probably not the same evening. youngest boys are playing fall ball and I am praying they are on the same team!

I am starting my casserole and crockpot recipe searches as well as trying to find "different" things for lunches that are fairly easy and don't cost a fortune. Any help is appreciated!

August already!!!!

2008-08-01T12:53:00.003-05:00

It is so hard to believe it is August and school will start in just 3 short weeks! I think this has been a great summer! We have gone to the lake, discovered a splash park in our town, played in the sprinklers, ridden bikes, gone for walks... and we will keep on going until school actually starts!

Church Camp and the Epilogue

2008-07-28T13:25:00.003-05:00

Worship Wednesday night was a night of keys. We were each given a key and the sermon was about being willing to use the key to unlock the cell we have put ourselves into through our own doings and THEN we were to give the key up so we could not unlock the door and go back in. I have to say the teens were all for giving up the keys (except the one who thought his key was really neat) but a few of us adults have grown accustomed to the cell and are not willing to step out of it as it is unknown territory and little frightening. I gladly accepted the key so I can let myself out but I held onto it not really ready to stay out....well, let's just say God had other plans. After being home a couple of weeks, I have discovered my key is gone. I let myself out and now I cannot get back in! Yikes! God what are you thinking!!???!!! Oh, you probably think I can handle it....well....I'm glad You can because I am going to be following YOU! Oh yeah, I'm supposed to be doing that anyway aren't I???

Also, during the sermon, Pierre stopped and said "I see someone under a tree tomorrow afternoon reading their Bible. I don't know who you are but you need to know that God will show you the scriptures you are looking for" Well, I made the joke along with several other counselors about "wonder how many kids will be under trees reading their Bibles tomorrow" LOL! The next afternoon, I was trying to get the counselor I had loaned my swimsuit to so I could go swimming. I sat down on a bench basically between the two camps and sent her a text. While waiting for her response I decided to go through the scripture for our next small group session. After I had done that, I decided maybe it was time I sought God in my struggles....gee, what a novel idea? LOL! Prayer is one of my strong suits and some have said it is my calling but, I have really strayed away from it over the past couple of years because I didn't want to hear what God had to say so I decided to look up scriptures on prayer. The first one I read was 1 Sam 12:23 "As for me, far be it that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you..." Ouch...talk about slapping me right in the face. This was followed by 2 Chron 7:14 which was a scripture aimed at me and my friend who I was also looking for scripture for her and then Rom 8:26 which spoke to both of us as well. So here I am still waiting for a response to my text and thinking "God, I will do better. I make that commitment now" I gathered my stuff and stood up and as I did, I realized I was sitting under the biggest darn tree at camp. Needless to say, I told Pierre what had happened when I got back to our camp. He asked me to share that with the group that night and I did. And, I am still holding to that commitment and going to Him in prayer everyday lifting up those I know are in need and those who He places on my heart.

Thursday night at camp is usually a night of tears and LOTS of them! This thursday night was different. Altar calls had been made and answered through the week and the focus for this night was on taking the next step. Understanding who we are, why we are here, and what we can do when we let God take the lead. As he finished, he had kids stand up according to what they felt called to do. One of my youth stood under a call as a teacher or youth director. I stood and prayed with Him knowing that God is going to do great things through this young man. As we walked out of worship that night, the youth and I began plans to start a Bible study to get further into the Word and it is now in its 3rd week. God is Good.

It's coming, we have just had company!

2008-07-22T08:04:00.001-05:00

I will give my last church camp installment tomorrow. we have had company and I am just now getting caught up on my house!

Church Camp Part II

2008-07-15T07:24:00.003-05:00

Second day of camp....

We have worship and small groups and free time in during the day and then our main worship service at night. During our small group session in the morning, I was finally getting the kids started talking and we were headed in a good a direction when my co-leader got to the group and blew the whole discussion out of the water. Talk about frustrating! I just tried to go with the flow and roll us somewhere close to back on track. By the afternoon, small groups was not an interest to them and the session was crazy. No one wanted to do anything but talk to the person next to them about what they were going to do when they got back home, who had met up with who, and who would make a cute couple.....anyway, when we finally got a topic going that everyone was interested in (okay, so it was nothing to do with our curriculum but at least we were all talking together) here comes my co-leader and it all goes out the window.....Argh!!!

So we get to worship. They band is awesome, again! And then Pierre starts talking about forgiveness. About God's forgiveness, about our forgiveness. Well, I don't know of anyone in our camp that could not relate to at least some form of unforgiveness at some point in their life. One of my ADHD Asbergers kid was still for the entire 2 hours we were in worship. Talk about a milestone (and he wasn't asleep either, he was listening). Then he hit the nail on the head where I am most impacted....forgiving yourself....."Don't even go there!" I shouted in my mind. "There are things in my life that I have done that forgiveness of self is not possible!" That is when I heard the message loud and clear, one that I have heard before but it just slapped me in the face..... "If God, who is the creator of all things, all-powerful, all-knowing, can forgive me for my sins - no matter what they are - who am I to put myself above him and not forgive myself" Yep, a lot of junk went in the trash on Tuesday night that should have gone there a long time ago. Funny how we hold onto things.

Our family group met after worship and there was not a kid among us who was not at least slightly moved. I was not in enough control of my cracking voice to pray so I asked one of the young men in the group we married if he would pray, and he did. And, it was an awesome prayer.

Our small group on Wednesday morning was a little better than Tuesday. I paired everybody up and gave them two minutes to learn as much information as possible about each other and discover their greatest dream and greatest fear. We talked about each one and then I gave them "homework"! LOL! I told them they had to seek each other out after we did the ropes course and before our next small group meeting and pair up again and ask their new partners the same questions and share them with the group. They agreed. Oh, and it had to be someone they didn't already know.

We did the high ropes challenge course that day. I have a fear of heights. Not so much the heights (I love the view) but more a fear of falling from a great height! So, my kids are on the course and I am encouraging them every step of the way. The one who is afraid to move because she can't feel the harness, I convince her to step to the lower pole and she will not only feel the harness but will have a wedgie that will remind her it is there for the entire section. *grinning* I convince each of them to keep moving, it is only when they stop their fear can take over. Let me tell you, I can be creative from the ground encouraging these guys! LOL! I had one camper that all she did was climb to the top of the cargo net and come down. I was really proud of her for accomplishing that! Then it was my turn....well....let me just say that I talk a good game. I did make it through and then had to ride the zip line down. Now, I like zip lines. I just don't like that you have to lean forward looking down over the side of a 30ft tower to start the zip. I yelled....loudly.....really loudly....then when I went past the youth holding the ladder I yelled "Wheeeeeeeee!" He laughed at me and said, "That's not what you sounded like up there!" LOL!

To be continued......

Church Camp Part 1

2008-07-13T12:38:00.003-05:00

I call it Part 1 because there is no way I can possibly get all of it into one post.

Counselors go down on Sunday night for our own worship service to get more in the spirit for the campers arriving on Monday. Later after the service, I walked into our senior high worship area and found a man walking around and praying over all the area and over all the youth to come. Already, I am hooked as prayer is my strength and sustanance.

Monday morning is always hectic with the arrival of the campers, meeting our cabin people, and getting everyone settled. We met with our directors and discovered that this senior high camp was going to be a lot different than ones in the past. I am all for changes but was a little skeptical about some of them.

We met with the youth and broke out into our small groups. These are our families for the week....talk about dysfunctional.....ours definitely was. :) We started out getting to know each other with giving our names and an animal that starts with the same sound. Now my phone has all these new names followed by animals! LOL! Our group definitely did not "gel" at the beginning. Our worship service started with an amazing band. The lead singer fully praising God in all that he did. and then came our speaker....Pierre Moranza....This is truly a man about God. His message on Monday night, although I will admit that I could not tell you exactly what it was about, was very powerful. It began with an introduction as to who he was and what he had witnessed in his international ministry. He spoke of things that occur in other countries on a "regular" basis that are considered "unbelieveable" here in the states as we have so much other "junk" that we worry about that we just don't or won't have the faith to believe in them. He spoke of miracles he has witnessed and ones he had only heard of but knows that they are possible! I think the overall, at least what I got from it, was it is up to us to open ourselves up to the possbilities of God rather than limiting ourselves by our own shortcomings and interruptions.

After worship we met with our "family" groups. The kids that came from our own church. Well, let me tell you about my "family" group. I have two ADHD kids who have also been diagnosed with Asbergers. And then I have one who is trying to figure out what she is supposed to do and one who is looking for answers. They don't "gel" in youth......definitely not "gelling" at camp. So, there was another group, who did not even know each other as they were from different churches so our groups got married. I will tell you how that worked out in another post.

My one camper who is looking for answer is a 6'2" teddy bear. He carries himself as one who does not need anyone yet is so open to God it is amazing. He and I basically met last year at camp and through crazy circumstances (a severe case of poison ivy) he came to know he could trust me. He suffered many hardships this past year and he and I only briefly saw each other during the year but he was back at camp with us and what a blessing. On Monday night he was in tears and wanting to believe in God's miracles but still not letting me know what he was struggling with so I was just there for him. If he had been two I would have scooped him up and held him tight and not let anything hurt him again but he is this very tall young man (I am all of 5'2") who I could hug and talk to and that is what I did. I spoke about God being in his heart and that would be where his strength and comfort would have to come from in the harsh world we tend to live in.

Another thing that Pierre really touched on was prayer and the power of prayer and the importance of prayer. I fully believe God gifts each one of us with something to further His kingdom and through much of my Christian life, I have been told that mine is prayer. Well, let's just say that I have fallen short of this gift over the last year. My prayer life has not been where it should be and the more Pierre talked the more I just say "Amen" and hang my head in the shame of a child who has not held up her end of the bargain....I am changing that....I will get into that in another post....

Church Camp

2008-07-11T15:22:00.001-05:00

One word - wow (and I mean that in the most awestruck voice I can muster). Will post more after some sleep and prayer.

Church Camp

2008-07-06T13:48:00.001-05:00

I am leaving today for camp!!! Can't wait!!! Will post pictures, etc. next weekend!

Kids and what they say.....again!

2008-07-03T14:30:00.005-05:00

I broke my leg at the knee two days before Christmas and I am just now really starting to be able to "get into" my workouts again. Yesterday as I was working out to my tape, my youngest walked in and started watching me. Finally, he just shook his head and said, "That lady is really wearing you out isn't she?" Okay, you try and do step aerobics and laugh at the same time!

Church camp starts on Monday! Yeah!!!!! I am going, my oldest is a counselor, my next two are going as campers, and my youngest 3 will be at grandma's. Yep, my sweetheart is getting a week off.

The start of All-stars

2008-06-26T08:31:00.006-05:00

We WON!!! 14-4 against the west. How is that for excitement.....The East beats the West! We play again tonight. I just had to share this picture. It is the only one I got as he does not appreciate pictures like his momma does....

And last night we had water games with the youth. We were one short to have equal teams so I got to join in the fun!

And one last picture....my sweetheart with the tomato crop!

Mother of Year???? I don't think so

2008-06-24T15:20:00.002-05:00

So, my 14yo has made the All-Star Team! Woohoo!

He has made a comment during the last couple of weeks of the regular season about his cleats being a little tight. I am thinking that we will have to buy a new pair for the fall season. When he came off the field for practice last night, he showed me his blisters on his toes that were caused by taking his socks off because they made his shoes too tight.

I am thinking "WHAT??? You just said they were a little tight two weeks ago!"

So off to the store today to buy new cleats so he will have them for the first game tonight.

He has been wearing a size 9 or 9.5 so I ask the kid in the store for a 10.5.... I am thinking that will give a little growing room. The kid comes back and they don't have a 10.5 but they do have an 11 and an 11.5

Drew puts the 11 on his foot. I am thinking "growing room". His toe is smushed into the end of the shoe. The 11.5 is a little better but still tight.

WHAT????!!!!! You have been wearing a 9!!!!!

They are out of size 12-14. So, off we go to another store and ask for a 12. They also are out of size 12 but they have a 12.5 we can try. I am thinking, "okay, if it just happens to not be too long we will go ahead and get it and he can just wear one of his regular socks under the baseball sock to make up for the difference in size"

I should not have even bothered having that thought. The 12.5 fits. Yep, that's right, it fits!

My poor baby has been wearing a 9 all season and is now in a 12.5.......

Now I know what "a little tight" really means!!!!!

The good news: I didn't buy a 10 AND 11 to get him through the season!?!

My kid's comments crack me up....

2008-06-18T22:51:00.002-05:00

In the car the other night with 5 kids.....

It was late, they were grouchy, I was tired, we were headed home.....

They kept fighting and arguing until I had finally had enough! I spoke in my most authoritative car voice....."The next one who yells or touches another person in this car will NOT go swimming tomorrow. You WILL go to the lake with us but you WILL SIT on the picnic table and NOT get in the water. You WILL NOT EVEN be allowed to wear your swimsuit!" Should've stopped while I was ahead before the swimsuit comment as my 5 year immediately said "Oh....so we will be sitting there naked, huh"

Yep.....all anger got pushed out by the laughter.

Where did I come from???

2008-06-16T11:18:00.002-05:00

I never did get around to giving an background info on me when I started this blog so here goes.

Where did I come from?

I come from a Grandfather born in Oklahoma territory who was the son of a very strong women. She must have been....the only pictures of her husband, he is cleaning his gun and has jug of "something" beside him! She also helped to raise my dad as his mother passed away when he was very young.

My mother was born and raised in Arkansas (we always teased her about wearing shoes). She had 2 sisters and 2 brothers and amazingly enough all of the girls ended up in Texas.

My Dad was in the army when he was "assigned" to my mother by the general. She kind of requested him. The first night they went out, she wasn't really sure what his name was but knew he was nice and good-looking. They never looked back. They were married and Dad was transferred to Pennsylvania where my sister was born.....Skookelhaven (that is not spelled right) is where she was born. Soon after dad was transferred to New York for six months and the on to Taiwan. (this is where the story gets good!)

My parents spent 2+ years in Taipei, Taiwan. Mom and dad lived next door to the same neighbors they had in New York. I was born on the U.S. Army base in Taiwan. We stayed there until I was about one. We have all kinds of cool stuff from being over there. Just imagine the plane trip back to the states.....17 hours with a 1yo and a 2.5 yo!

As I grew older I realized that not only was I born in Taiwan.....I was "Made in Taiwan"..... My husband used to tell me he wanted a tattoo. I always said fine as long as you don't mind me having "made in Taiwan" tattoo'd on my...... Needless to say, he does not have a tattoo! LOL!

From there we moved to Virginia while dad worked in Washington D.C.. We were there probably 3 years. I do remember things from Virginia....like the time I climbed all the way to the top of the apple tree in the back yard and Mom had to call the firemen to come get me.....something about little limbs.....I was having fun!

From Virginia we moved to Alaska. Wow! Is it ever beautiful there! We got to see the Northern Lights. Dad got his pilot's license and would fly to the Kenai Peninsula fro lunch..... If you have ever wondered, moose do run across the tundra! We lived on base and there was empty land behind our house. During the spring we had to watch out for moose and we could only go in the little woods as there were bears in the big woods. Sometimes we had to stay on the school bus due to a bear alert or a moose alert. That just meant one or the other was wandering around the neighborhood.

After 20 years and 8 months in the army, Dad retired and we moved to Texas. His dad lived here and he wanted us to have the opportunity to get to know him. My dad made an awesome choice!

I will add more of my adventures in Alaska (there are many) and I really like to think about it especially when it is 100 degrees here. Always helps to think about snow.......

Tag! You're it!

2008-06-10T07:02:00.008-05:00

Okay, I was tagged and I don't know how to add a link but here goes....

1. What was I doing 10 years ago: I was pregnant (well, with six kids, that's a given) I was pregnant with my 2nd daughter, experiencing the hottest summer I can ever remember with 30 days of temps over 100 and no rain from Feb to Oct. We would sit in the living room under the fan (running full blast - did I mention I was pregnant?) playing cards and board games with my oldest who was 9 and my 2nd oldest who was 4 (made his own rules). And, we did a lot of coloring with my 3rd who was 1.5. Okay so I was actually the one coloring.... We also put up a swing set that took nine hours and believe it or not, it is still in our backyard.

2. Five things on my "to do" list:
Clean out the attached, enclosed, air conditioned garage so we can make it into two bedrooms.
Actually write our summer schedule down.
Actually write the youth summer schedule on my calendar.
Get my appraisal license (yes the market is slow right now but it will come back, it always does)
Enjoy my kids.

3. Snacks I enjoy:
Brownies
Cheese
Snickers
Popcorn (the sweet kind)
Dove chocolate with caramel

4. Things I would do if I were a millionaire:
Build a youth center for my church
Take all my youth on a mission trip
Build a slightly bigger house (5 kids still at home, husband, me....two bathrooms...)

5. Places I have lived:
Taiwan
Virginia
Alaska
Texas

Now, I am tagging you!

My t-baller sliding into home

2008-05-19T22:33:00.002-05:00

You gotta love the slide.....especially when you realize nobody on the other team even knows he is scoring a run!

Things kids say.....again

2008-05-15T20:28:00.002-05:00

My 14 yo had a friend over to spend the night the other night. He stayed most of the following day. Sometime in the afternoon, my 5yo asked me when we were going to turn him back in.

Later in the week as we were sitting at the dinner table, the discussion turned to being grounded and who had been grounded for how long and why. My 5yo popped up and said, "I can't be grounded. I am too cute and cuddly".

A couple of days later the discussion turned to the 5yo growing up. I asked him when he thought he would be old enough for me to ground him. He said, "Probably when I am 14. No. I will still be too cute and cuddly"

Gotta love them!

2008-04-14T21:27:00.000-05:00

You Are Flip Flops

You are laid back and very friendly.
Cheery and sunny in disposition, you usually have something to smile about.

Style is important to you, as long as you can stay casual.
It takes a lot to get you to dress up!

You are a loyal and true person, though you can be a bit of a flake.
You tend to "play hooky" and blow off responsibilities a lot more than most people.

You should live: By the beach

You should work: At a casual up and coming company

What Kind of Shoe Are You?

Struggles

2008-04-01T09:01:00.002-05:00

I just got an invitation from http://diggingforpearls.blogspot.com. I don't know how to do the link with her name. It was an opportunity to join her survey of the 10 struggles of Christian women.

Boy, this really got me to thinking about things.

After all the time on crutches and God teaching me that I do not HAVE to do EVERYTHING. I still struggle with letting others help me. Part of that is the realization of the blessing it is to be ABLE to do things I want/need to do. My youth group got a real boost because I am mobile again.

Did God let my house fall in because I needed help? No. Did God let my children suffer because I needed help? No. Did God let my family go hungry because I couldn't stand in the kitchen and cook? No. Did God take care of the little things by the people in my life reaching out and helping? Yes! He was there throughout all of it and He is still there.

And yet, when another adult offered to handle the painting day in the youth room so I could spend time with my husband on his birthday, it was still hard for me to say okay. But, I did! And for me that was HUGE! Of course, there is that little voice inside of me that keeps saying - she offered so that you would not be tempted to climb the ladder with a brace! But, I also know it was God's way of showing me that I have a support system. Now that I have learned to lean on it a little bit, it is easier for me to lean on HIM a little more often.

No more crutches!!!

2008-03-25T08:32:00.000-05:00

Woohoo! I am finally off the crutches! Only took 3 months but I am off of them. Of course I still have the brace that runs from my ankle all the way up but I now have both hands free! Now I can do all my stuff again! All my cleaning....laundry........cooking.........YIKES! Where did those crutches go!?!

I have a new physical therapist. He is the best! He makes me walk everyday (he, of course, rides his bicycle). He encourages me every step of the way and extends the walk every chance he gets. He is tough but loving. His strategy to get me to walk farther is a very cute smile and the words...."Awww, Mom, you can do it. It's not THAT much farther" Did I mention he is 5 years old and very hard to say no too?

Update on my pastor: His kidneys are improving and they are back to just a liver transplant. He did have a transfusion yesterday as he had several small tears in his esophagus that had to be stitched up. He should go on the transplant list today. He is very weak but still in good spirits. This is all due to Crohn's disease causing sirhosis of the liver. Thank you for your prayers.

Prayers

2008-03-19T22:15:00.000-05:00

I don't know how many people read this but this is to ask for prayer. Our pastor has been admitted to the hospital in liver failure and now his kidneys are involved and he has an infection. He is on an IV and antibiotics. He has a shunt to relieve the fluid build up and is scheduled for a battery of tests tomorrow. I believe this is in preparation of putting him on the transplant list. This man is not only my pastor but a very good friend and more like a big brother than just a friend. Please pray for answers, for the doctors wisdom in treatment and his and his wife's strength in this time of trial.

Thank you

What Kids Say

2008-03-11T10:05:00.000-05:00

On Sunday, my 7yo amazed his children's director. When asked about Palm Sunday he said"That's the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and every threw their coats and palm branches down in front of him and cheered for him" Wow! I was amazed too. Then, just about the time I am telling all my neighbors about my wonderful son, he hops on his bike, rides across the yard, "tooting" the whole way, jumps off his bike and yells at his brother "Wow! That fart lasted through the whole yard!"

My 5yo was telling jokes the other day. You know, the ones that really only a 5yo gets. No one in the car was listening or laughing when he says "Tough crowd, is anybody alive out there?"

9yo in church on Communion Sunday. We are sitting in the pew right after a prayer when she realizes it is Communion Sunday. She looks at me and says out loud. "Cool! We get to eat today!"

Kids are Krazy!

God's Wonderful Hug

2008-02-28T08:55:00.000-06:00

Last night, at the high school, there was a youth rally.....Fish the Planet.

The bands were awesome, the speaker was great! I am sitting in the upper tier of the gym, still on crutches when he begins speaking of praying with people, asking if for those who are new believers to come and pray, and asking for those who have accepted Christ but then have made some really bad decisions, choices (me), lately to come and confess your sins and let someone pray for you and your healing (me). Then he began asking for people to pray with the kids. He calls for youth directors (me), youth pastors, adult leaders, more women (again, me). Again, I am sitting in the upper tier of the gym knowing that getting to that area of prayer on the bottom floor is NOT what God wanted for me. Thus began the mental pity party. Not only am I guilty of making bad decisions lately, I am also unable to do what I love more than anything, and that is sit down one on one and pray with someone.....I am worthless......Oh look, they need more women.....yep, I am really worthless at this point......I am on crutches and I am not jumping up and running down to be a part of this......this really sucks.......life is hard....I am supposed to be down there.....Praying!!!! When a women whom I have never met puts her arm around my shoulder...."What is your name?" "Margaret", I reply. "Well, Margaret, God just laid it on my heart to come to you and pray for you" And with that she lifted me in prayer not having any clue what was going on in my life but praying knowing God and I both are aware of my life and my struggles.

What an AWESOME GOD we serve!

I learned some things last night. I do not have to be in the middle of everything. I do not have to do it all! It is okay to lean on Him. God will provide for my needs even when I cannot get to Him...He comes to me with a hug and a resounding I LOVE YOU! Things that we all know but, the reminders are the things that carry me from one day to the next.

Really not liking the crutches!!!!

2008-02-07T22:25:00.000-06:00

I am still on crutches for another 3 weeks! AAARRRRRGH!

Well, youth was interesting to say the least on wednesday night. We spent about 15 minutes on Revelations and the rest of the time on Ash Wednesday, Lent, the church calendar, the preparation, fasting, praying.....everything....they had so many questions.....

And then there was the Ash Wednesday service. After explaining it to them, two of them came up to me and said they just really weren't sure about the whole ashes on their forehead thing. I assured them it was a choice to get them or not but really hoped they would attend the service. They did! They did not get the ashes but they did stay for the whole service. Anxiously awaiting our conversation next week!

Back to the crutches thing.....I am completely bummed out. I know that things could be so much worse but today I am having my own little pity party. I have done my best to put my best foot forward and stay positive but all I really want to do is cry and I will later on. But tomorrow is a new day....a gift from God and I will enjoy it and learn as much from this experience as I can. I am, however, pretty sure I did not pray for patience....hmmmm.....maybe somebody else prayed for it for me..........

This week

2008-02-05T17:12:00.001-06:00

I am sitting here in front of my computer thinking of all the things I need to do this week. And the most important (aside from my kids) is to go the doctor and see if I can turn in my crutches! Living for Thursday.

And what has this whole experience taught me? Well, that would take an entire book!

I am getting ready for youth tomorrow night. We are studying Revelations and playing games in order for them to at least retain a little bit of what we are talking about. But, tomorrow night poses an interesting dilemma....It is Ash Wednesday which cuts youth down to an hour. An hour that I want to spend talking to them about Revelation and Ash Wednesday and Lent. What to do what to do......

I have new pictures that I will post this week.

Wasting time

2008-01-29T08:48:00.001-06:00

4 Jobs I've Had

1. Real Estate Appraiser
2. Sale clerk at Dillards
3. Secretary
4. Office Manager

4 Movies Watched Over and Over
1. Star Wars
2. It's a Wonderful Life
3. The man from Snowy River
4. Grease

4 Places I've Lived

1. Taipei, Taiwan
2. Ft. Richardson, Alaska
3. Annandale, Virginia
4. Texas

4 TV Shows I Watch
1. Between the Lions
2. Cyber Chase
3. Fetch
4. Ghost Hunters

4 Places I've Been (on vacation)

1. Carribean
2. Florida
3. Colorado
4. South Dakota

4 People Who Email Me Regularly
1. Online friends
2. Cheer friends
3. My sister
4. my friends

4 Favorite Things to Eat (just four???)

1. Seafood
2. Chocolate
3. Deviled eggs
4. cheese

4 Places I'd Rather Be
1. in bed
2. someplace with snow
3. on a cruise
4. golfing

4 Things I Look Forward to This Year
1. summer
2. Christmas
3. Thanksgiving
4. My anniversary

If you're reading and feel like wasting some time of your own, please consider yourself tagged! And please leave a comment and let me know if you did this - that will waste even more of my time and yours. (copied this part from Kym)

2008-01-22T18:53:00.001-06:00

Well, here is the story of my leg. DH was already at the golf course and I drove out to join him. I got out there, jumped in the last available cart and met him and our friend on the 2nd hole. We played that one and went on the 3rd where I sent my ball into the brush. We were searching for it and found others and my dh fell on a rock and we thought he had cracked his kneecap. But, he was okay but it did spark a discussion on broken bones. I made the comment that I had not broken anything more than a toe. Not two minutes later we headed to the next tee box. I was going down a hill and I hit a rock on the side of the path. I bounced out of the cart onto the path standing on my left leg at which point I felt it break. I was working so hard to keep myself in the cart that I was still holding the steering wheel. At this point I was jerked back into the cart that was still moving forward. The back wheel of the cart then hit the rock and I bounced back out having the good sense to let go this time. I landed on my butt and have a major bruise to show for it. The golf cart continued forward but without me. I sat up and thought I was okay but quickly realized that i needed to lay back down or i was going to pass out. After 6 children with no drugs, I had learned to manage pain and figure out where it was coming from. DH was asking me where it hurt and I was trying really hard to determine if I had hurt anything but my leg. I decided that was the extent of any major injury and my dh and our friend put me in the golf cart and got me up to the suburban. We found out at this point, that even with all his injuries to his back and right leg over the years, he can still pick me up and put me in my car. We got to the emergency room and got checked in. They got the x-rays and called the orthopedic doctor and then got a cat scan. Now, the cat sat there and stared at my leg but I don't know how much scanning it did ****grinning****. They put me in an immobilizer and sent me home with instructions to call the doctor in the morning. We were at his office at 10 the next morning and learned that it would not require surgery and they were not going to cast it so I can bend my knee and won't have to deal with a stiff knee. So, I am in a brace with bendability at the knee which can be removed for showers!!!! I broke the bone where the tibia and the knee bone meet. I have to stay off of it for 6 weeks. I am having additiona x-rays on the 11th to be sure nothing is out of place. Now for the lesson to be learned.......If you are ever bounced out of golf cart.....LET GO! The sore muscles were almost worse than the break. I could barely lift my head off the couch on Christmas morning. And, I am still dealing with whatever I did to my right bicep muscle.

The good news is I am down to two weeks and 2 days before I can put weight on it!

Guess what I gave myself for Christmas?!

2007-12-31T14:42:00.000-06:00

2 nights before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, especially not the lady on the couch with a broke leg! Yes, I broke my leg @3:30pm on Sunday, December 23rd. I would love to say I will soon post a wonderfully courageous story....however, it is just a story about my fun day of golf.

Two posts in less than a week!

2007-12-05T13:40:00.000-06:00

I am tracking down pictures from the service. I KNOW they were taken, I just have to figure out whose camera was flashing! LOL!

This morning I got a phone call that every parent of every child that is really moving in some weird directions wants to get......My oldest son called me this morning. The conversation started with "Guess what really great thing I did last night?" Okay, the boy is 19 years old. His father and I eloped at 19, his girlfriend's parents eloped at 19....and, aside from that...he acts like a 19 year old boy......My mind sped from one idea to the next and finally settled on...."you got engaged or you eloped?" His response included a chuckle at my answer. "No, Mom. Better than that!" Okay....what could be better than that....was it better than that like he stuck his truck so far in the mud it took 3 trucks to pull it out? was it better like he joined the circus? was it better like, he......hmmmmm..... "I give, what did you do?" His response brought tears to my eyes. This is a young man who has spent the last 8 months trying to spread his wings and fly in almost every direction we have taught him not to go. He was drinking (not driving but still drinking), he was smoking (not anything illegal but still smoking), he was running around with people who did not see any since in going to church. The scariest comment he made to me was when he told me, it was his time to live and he would try to find time for God later. Yikes! But back to his reponse..... "Mom, I reintroduced myself to Jesus last night".......Wow! Thank you Lord for staying with him and putting the right people in his life, and giving me the strength and courage to just hang on and have faith. Amen.

Has it been that long?

2007-12-02T19:44:00.000-06:00

I didn't realize how long it has been since I have posted anything. Life does get a little hectic!

Our youth are in charge of one service a year, and that is the Hanging of the Greens. This is the first Sunday in Advent and we have the opportunity to set the stage for the rest of the Advent season. And.....tonight was the night.

One should understand that this is one of the most stressfull yet fun things that I do with the youth all year. We start the end of October giving out the parts.....Mary, Joseph, Simeon, the Innkeeper, Zechariah, the Maji, the Shepherds, the Angels......not always the same characters (except of course, Mary and Joseph), but parts to be given.

The first and second year I was in charge of this, I had found the most wonderful book with the service already spelled out and all I had to do was decide if I liked the hymns that were suggested or if I wanted to put in some different ones. Year 1 was fairly smooth, stubbling over lines and difficulty keeping them focused but overall okay. Year 2 was the year my husband and I went on a cruise so I was not there for the next to the last rehearsal and just barely (due to plane trouble) made it to the final rehearsal we do the afternoon of the service. But then, year 3 came along. I decided to combine a new service with parts from the old. Added a little bit of humor and off we went. The final rehearsal before the service was spent searching for my son when it was his time to play guitar or his time to speak, shutting down all the noise and just keeping up with everyone! I turned into someone I did not know existed. I became a woman on a mission. A mission from God. I spoke in a scary deep voice that used every bit of "projection" I had ever learned in any speech class. I was firm with that "MOM" look that would put any teenager, with even a smidge of since, into silent submission. The time came for the service and I did not see how it was ever going to work. I still had kids who did not know their lines or their cues or their places. Even though they had been in on every single rehearsal. And yet, through the Grace of God, it came off without a hitch (except the pastor missed his cue).

This year, I found 3 services and pieced them together along with parts written by me. Parts were handed out the first week of November and the rehearsals began. Last Wednesday, I sat all the kids down in the sanctuary. Half of them were too busy trying to text their friends and make jokes to have a clue what was going on and I started to let "that lady" back out. But, God took over. I began speaking to them about what this service is all about. It is an opportunity for the youth to set the mood of the church for the rest of Advent. To reach out to everyone present and touch them with the message of God. I cannot remember all the words I spoke, I know I was fighting tears as I spoke. It has been awhile since I truly let God take over and speak through me. When I finished, I realized I had been talking to myself as well. I had pointed out that this was much bigger than the kids and much bigger than me. This was not about what the church thought about my job as a youth director, but about what I was doing to glorify God. The kids quietly left the sanctuary. I don't know if it was quiet contemplation but I like to think God had touched their hearts. One of them came up to me later and said he just wished everyone "got it". That all of his friends realized what this was truly all about. I picked up my phone only to hear a voicemail that left me tears. "You gave a great message tonight. God has a plan for you. Hang in there." Those words will stay in my heart for a long time. "God has a plan for you"...... Tonight we got together and did a final run through, working through the logistics of the banners hanging, the poinsetta placement, the candles, the speed of speaking, the songs...... At 6pm it began.... I cannot tell you how it all went as I was behind the scenes and helping people make their entrances......I can tell you the solo I sang felt "right". I can tell you everyone was in their places and speaking their lines....and I can tell you the sanctuary was full and the comments that followed were good and praising the youth. Once again, they surpassed my expectations and amazed me. God bless each and every one of them. They are the biggest part of my heartbeat. God is so awesome to bless me with the opportunity to work with each and every one of them.

2007-11-13T09:09:00.000-06:00

My two cheer girls

Notice the nicely curled hair? ***grinning***

And that's my youngest flying high!

What a whirlwind trip saturday was...we left at 5:55am and returned at 1:20pm. The cheer competition was in Plano. Amanda's team (the youngest) took first again and Sydney's team took second again.

What a Weekend!

2007-10-29T09:17:00.000-05:00

Friday night I took the youth to the local Haunted House where we donated canned food and had a fun time. Half of the fun is watching the kids jump and scream as we went through. The other half was watching the other adult with me jump and scream....hee! hee!

Saturday morning (after oversleeping 1/2 hour due to kids waking me in the middle of the night) I jumped up grabbed the girls and off we went to our first cheer competition of the year. Mind you this is the 5th year for the oldest and the 3rd year for the youngest. Half way to the competition which was about 1.5 hours away in the middle of nowhere, I realize that I never grabbed the girls socks! Had everything else except the socks! We got into the town where the competition was located and found....yep, you guessed it.....Wal-Mart! I haven't been that happy to see one in a while! We ran in grabbed the socks and headed to the high school. As we are driving I realize that every place I go, I seem to find a need to visit Wal-Mart....hmmm.....is it a mental thing...... Anyway, I digress.....we get to the competition and I have the coach calling me as I am trying to finish makeup and pull rollers out of the youngest as she performs first. Fortunately, she is the one whose hair curls on command. I get her ready and inside and it is on to the other one's hair. This is the one whose hair you ask....beg....plead...anything just for it to hold the curl long enough to compete She has 24+ small sponge rollers in her hair as they are the only thing that we have found to at least try to curl it. If I ever wanted to invest in a fake curly pontytail....saturday morning was the time. Finally she is ready too and in we go. Coaches are freaking out as they are afraid my girls are going to be nervous because they did not have the same amount of time to settle in.....mind you.....this is NOT their first time and they actually prefer not to be there before they hit the warm-up mats. But, we will do better next time as I will NOT forget to turn the alarm on after I set it! The girls' teams did great and the oldest won 2nd in their division while the youngest won first in theirs. And back on the road headed home and in the driveway by 1:12PM.

One would think this would be the perfect opportunity to sit and rest.....NOPE! We have to go to.....yep, you guessed it.....Wal-mart! WhooHooo! This time it is for the extra stuff needed for the Fall Festival at church.

We get home and get costumes together and mom drops for about 20 minutes and believe me I cherished all 20 of those minutes. And then we are off again to the church. Just before I am leaving I notice the tell-tell signs of a migraine! No! Not now! In goes the advil and out we go. Final preparation and rules for the haunted maze.....fall festival has begun.....food is served and let the games begin. This year was awesome as I had plenty of warm bodies in the maze and I did not have to work it! We had an estimated 150 people (members and non-members) attend our fall festival. It was great! Fall festival over....clean-up done....home by 9:30pm and one would think I would have the intelligence to fall into bed! Of course not! I have not at this point seen my husband for more than about 20 minutes so we crash @ midnight.

Sunday morning up and at 'em we have church. I really did not expect that many youth to make it to Sunday school but they fooled me and about 2/3rd of them showed up! After church I headed to the golf course to spend some quality time with my sweetheart and then back home to take the kids to Crusaders and have our sunday evening youth gathering. Needless to say, I skipped choir and dinner was chinese take-out. Everyone was in bed by 9pm except....yep, me....LOL! At this point, there is not enough left of me to really care.

Got up this morning and the youngest child is running a fever. Personally I think he is just worn out from the weekend but, I am now home, disinfecting and feeling bad about letting my boss down today. But, if keeping him home today will keep him well....I will gladly do it. (no, i would not take him to school sick but there are grandparents around). He is feeling much better now so the trick will be to keep him quiet today.

And the thing about weekends like this.....I really do enjoy them....I know that far too soon, my kids will be grown and gone and doing things in their life that they do not need me. But, I also know (from my own mom) that because we have fun together now, they will still want me to be there later.

Counting all six of my blessings this morning and thanking God for giving me the ability to allow them to do things they enjoy doing.

Did I mention their is a baseball playoff game tonight!?! LOL!

Will post pictures as soon as I get them from the other cheer mom....something about not only forgetting the socks but the camer too! OOOPS! :)

October Fun

2007-10-23T10:06:00.000-05:00

It has been so busy lately. Can't imagine why?! We had the rose parade last weekend and both girls and my oldest son were in the pre-parade performance. Then my two oldest boys marched in it with their bands and my oldest daughter marched with her cheer team. We had to be at the stadium at 7:45am and did not leave the stadium until 11:30 as my boys marching bands were the last two units! I have to say the two youngest boys were good as gold. So, off to McDonalds we went for a celebration then when we finally got home, Mom took a nap!

This weekend we have a baseball game, cheer competition and the youth group is running the Haunted Maze for the church's fall festival.

The next weekend we are doing my youngest daughter's birthday party a early so my dear sweet husband can take me away for a weekend with another couple for golfing and fun. He usually goes on an exotic bow hunt but this year he and his friend decided to spend their money on the wives! How sweet is that!?!

Fall weather has finally arrived and I was so happy I had already gotten out the warmer clothes. I sent the kids to school with coats in their backpacks and they came off the bus yesterday afternoon wearing them.

I will post pictures from the competition and from the parade as soon as I can. Not that I am a proud mom or anything! *grinning*

Where did September go?

2007-10-08T07:20:00.000-05:00

Wow! It is already October 8th! We have put out the Halloween stuff and my #5 child has become a 7 year old. We had a family party on Sunday and the kid party will be later this week.

Saturday morning #3, 4 and 5 wanted to go for a walk and I said okay. When they were not back in a reasonable time I walked outside to discover the neighbors having a garage sale and guess where my little dumplings were...... We now have "new" toys to play with. Next time they ask to go walking, I will check the neighborhood first. LOL.

Not much is going on around here other than just life. Trying to get Christmas shopping done but I am having trouble finding things I want. We already have too many toys and movies out the wazoo. So, I am looking for things that are fun but they can learn from them as well. Nothing like giving myself a challenge!

Busy, busy, busy

2007-09-18T14:00:00.000-05:00

I am the proud parent of an 8th grade Student Council Reporter! I went today to hear his speech. Wow his voice has gotten deep! Yikes! Another cool thing was the kids I knew wanted me to sit with them. So, there I was, in the middle of a bunch of teenagers listening to my son's speech while all the other parents were on the front row.

We had our youth lock-in on Friday night. I was expecting @ 18 kids........Actual head count.......drum roll please........31 youth! We had a video scavenger hunt, played games, ate lots of food and stayed up all night long! Yes....I stayed up too! Saturday was spent asleep on the couch while my husband kept up with where the kids were. Gave him a chance to watch golf and college football too. He kept saying he was going to the lease but, I am sooooo glad he didn't! I finally came back to life @ 5pm and was back in bed by 10pm.

Progress reports come out tomorrow so we will have some idea how everyone is doing. I don't know if I am looking forward to that or not. Everything coming home looks good so we should be okay.

I finally got the living room finished and am going to order the window treatments this week. As soon as I get it all together I will post pictures. Of course, all this painting has made me want new kitchen cabinets and furniture. All in due time.

Jason's birthday is coming up quicker than I want it to so we are going to sit down and make our list of invitees and what the theme will be.

We are also getting ready for a flamingo fundraiser in youth. I hope everyone who gets flocked has a sense of humor about it!

My baby's birthday

2007-09-06T07:53:00.000-05:00

I can't believe my oldest is 19 today! Yikes!

We are into our second week of school and everyone has been early every day!!! Hurray!! After last year, I wasn't sure that would ever actually happen. It is really great because the kids are really helping out in the mornings. We pick out our clothes the night before. Well, the 13yo just lets me know if everything he plans to wear is clean. Yes, he will be learning how to work the washer and dryer this fall. :) Most nights we are in bed by nine and only once have I had to wake everyone up. Of course that was the morning after the 13yo had a ball game and nobody got in bed before 9:45pm and nobody remembered to set their alarm clocks!

This morning I was out of bread. I have been setting the bread machine every night so we have fresh bread for sandwiches every morning. I was just going to bite the bullet and give everyone lunch money. Not an easy task when they are at 4 different campuses and because of the different grades, they each have a different cost for lunch. This is when my 1st grader said, "Mom, we don't have to have sandwiches, we can put together a lunch of snacks like carrots and stuff". So, on the advice of a 6yo, we made snack lunches! I love it when the kids help out.

Now that they are back in school, I am working on finishing painting the house. I finally picked out a color for the living room. I don't know if I like the actual color or the name the best! Friendly yellow! Now isn't friendly what we want people coming into our home to think?? LOL! Now if I could just come up with a color for our bedroom.

The first day of school

2007-08-27T10:27:00.000-05:00

Last night as spent making lunches, making sure school supplies were all together and loading the back of the suburban with more supplies than Wal-Mart!!! And, there will be more to get when my oldest gets home from school as the jr high does not have a specific list. It has to come from each teacher! I think I am just going to open my own school supply store or become a professional supply shopper. I have shopped every two weeks for the last 6 getting things together for 5 kids in school. Whew!

This morning the bread was baked sliced and turned into sandwiches (yes, I am going for mom of the year here!LOL). Breakfast was served. The clothes laid out last night were put on, hair brushed, teeth brushed (I hope *grinning*) and we were off to school. We left early which around here, as I am sure it is true everywhere, the first day of school makes for more traffic than any other day. My first grader is asking me to walk him into class. I am trying to decide how I can do this and still get everyone to school on time and not get into the really heavy traffic when he grabs his stuff, gives me a kiss and hug, and disappears out the door. There goes one! My #5 is starting 1st grade! Mommy moment 'sniff' Then we venture to the next school where it dawns on me as she steps out of the car that #3 child is now in middle school. Another mommy moment - sniff, sniff, tear - On to campus number 3. Oh No! #4 child is now in intermediate school!!!! What is going on here! None of them are that old!!!!! Sudden major mommy moment with mommy wanting to grab all her babies and bring them all back home! But, no. Now it is to campus number 4. On the way, my #2 child reminds me that next year he will be in high school. Well, not if I have anything to say about it! I can keep him in 8th grade forever!!!!! HA! Of course, we all know that is not going to happen. As I started driving to #6 child's pre-K, he starts singing happy birthday...... yep, I am glad I took the day off from work as the tears are flowing. It got even worse when #1 child who is in college and lives with my dad called me and remembered my birthday. Then my husband called to see if I was home. He stopped by and brought me roses and cupcakes.

Needless to say it has been an emotional day! And it is just now 10:30am.....

School starts tomorrow???

2007-08-21T14:26:00.000-05:00

My baby starts school tomorrow!

We have put him in private school for Pre-K and he starts tomorrow! Yikes! His teacher is Miss Amanda (yes, just like his sister) and he will be going 3 days a week. Fortunately, he does not need his school supplies until next week. I will probably pick a few up this evening so he has a reason to carry his backpack tomorrow.

Meet the teacher is this evening for Amanda and Jason. The school district was generous enough to give 15 minutes between the meetings to get from one school to another. Hmmmm.....we will see how it works!

Wish me luck!

Last night was interesting

2007-08-15T06:58:00.000-05:00

My oldest boy came by last night to get his guitar and bring me the football schedule so I can watch him play in the band. (We love marching band, it is paying for his college). While he was here my husband came home and decided to challenge Ben to some wrestling. Ben did not want anything to do with it as he was afraid his dad would get hurt. I did not want them wrestling as I was afraid they would go all out and I would end up at the emergency room with both of them trying to explain what had happened and that it was not abuse! LOL! I insisted they agree to not break any fingers as Ben has band camp this week. Well, they went at it and Ben got the best of his dad twice. And, of course, this was in the front yard where all the teenagers walking around the neighborhood had a front row seat! Johnny kept saying that he had "let" Ben get the best of him. After it was all over Ben, with a silly grin on his face, asked me if that now meant he was the "dominate male" at the house. I asked him if he was ready to start supporting the whole family and he decided he did not want that role.

And, as is typical around here, at one point when Ben was getting the best of Johnny, the youngest boys jumped on Ben to help their dad. It got him laughing enough that he lost his grip. Then we learned how fickle their loyalty is........Johnny was starting to get the better of Ben at one point and they jumped on HIM to save their brother! They were just watching to see who was winning and break it up so it would last longer.

Ben and Drew were wrestling and Drew would start laughing every time he picked Ben up so he naturally dropped him and Ben got him. I think if they ever seriously got into it, Drew would win. But, playing......Drew just laughs too much!

I should probably call Ben this morning and be sure he can still move with all the wrestling he was doing!

We are picking up the packet to enroll Luke in preschool today. Please pray everything goes smoothly. I have a really good feeling about this.

I have to finish up the fall calendar for youth today too. Everything is pretty much in place, I just have to finish getting the materials together and do the final planning for the activities in September.

Which means I had better get busy!

Where did the weekend go?

2007-08-13T07:16:00.000-05:00

Wow this weekend went by fast! And I don't really think we did anything!

I started Christmas shopping on Friday! Yeah Me! Friday afternoon I took the kids to Hobby Lobby and will be going back today as I got some more Christmas ideas. I used to have all my shopping done by October 1st and all my wrapping done by Thanksgiving. It certainly made the holidays easier to enjoy. I am determined to get as close to that as I can this year. For reasons of growth spurts, some of the shopping will have to wait until a closer time but if that is all I have left, I am doing great!

Saturday was the big grocery store trip. Come to think of it.....that is all I left the house for besides church this weekend. It was just too hot to do much of anything. Sunday evening the kids wanted to kiddie pool out. Johnny, Drew and I got out our pitching wedges and did our best imitations of the pro golfers we had been watching.

All in all it was just a great family weekend.

The kids are looking forward to school! At least most of them are. Ben actually starts a week before we do. Ha! Ha! Big college man has to start school before his siblings......awww...poor baby! Of course, he gets out before we do for Christmas. He did get moved back in with my dad. I am soooo happy about that! The rest of the kids that are in school start on the 27th, which just happens to be my birthday! Happy Birthday to me! I'm kidding. I will really miss having them around. I am looking for a good preschool for Luke. Please keep me in your prayers on that one.

September marks the beginning of Flamingo season in our church. It is a fundraiser where we flock peoples yards with pink flamingos for a price. Once you are flocked, the removal fee of $5 is paid and you can flock whoever's yard you want to! The pastor has asked that we limit the number of times his yard can be flocked! Gee! I wonder why?

Our golden retriever is officially an inside dog right now. She will go outside with me to get the laundry off the line and if the kids are outside but then it is in the house for her! Lots of vacuuming at my house! I think the neighbors dogs are jealous. Especially since everytime Abby gets out she goes over to them. I really do think she is saying something akin to "HA HA I get to go inside and you don't!" I think this because they don't seem to want to talk to her......

We have this week and next week before school starts so I will probably finish up supply shopping today and clothes shopping this weekend. It feels good to actually be getting this stuff done before the night before. It has only taken me 5 years to get back to that.

Is it time for school yet?

2007-08-09T07:16:00.000-05:00

I love the summer with my kids. Yesterday I came home from work around 1pm to find a hole in the girls' bedroom door. Seems the youngest was being kept out and decided to find a way in with the bathroom stool. Someday they will be gone and the house will have no more holes or broken windows......ahhh the dreams of the parent. Of course reality snaps back in and you realize that along with that neat house comes a very quiet house too. Yesterday afternoon we were dealing with the typical "there's nothing to do outside" and me saying "use your imagination" to which my youngest replied "I put mine in the closet and I'm not getting it back out!" He just turned 5. How do you argue with that! LOL!

I had youth last night and it was a very small crowd so we started trading stories about things that happen in our lives and my coffee habit came up......let's just say if I don't have a cup of coffee in my hand, you really don't want to talk to me yet. This is a well know fact at church camp. One of my campers the first year decided to get up with me (I get up an hour before them so I can have my coffee, wake up and get that all important alone time before kids). She very brightly said "Good Morning!" as i walked past her and muttered in a not so inviting voice something akin to "whatever". I was not aware that she had followed me out of the cabin as I was completely focused on the coffee I was promised would be ready at 6am. I got my cup and went out front to sit on the swing, drink my coffee, thank God for the beautiful day and just be alone and quiet when all of a sudden I became aware of this camper standing beside me. What was she doing? She appeared to be talking. I tried to non-chalantly glance around to see who she was talking to when I discovered it was me. My mind began to look back on the day before trying to decide what I had said or done that gave her the impression I wanted to speak to a teenager at 6am. Heck! I don't even really speak to my husband at that hour! And, yet there she was.... I started listening thinking maybe there was some great catastophe in her life that she was trying to overcome. To have disturbed my quiet coffee time it was going to have to be big.... much bigger than my boyfriend broke up with me or my mom doesn't like me. It was going to have to be something along the lines of I just found out I'm dying big. But as I began to listen I realized......this was just noise....mindless drivvle. I can only imagine the look on my face as my mind was still trying to comprehend WHY she was there. As the coffee began to soak into my brain and my brain began to function on a semi coherent level, I tried to explain to her that this was my time alone. She did not seem to be hearing what I was saying. So, I finally looked her in the eye and stated "you are interrupting my time with God". An uncertain look came over her face as she realized that I did not want her there at that particular moment. She took her leave and I realized what I had said. So, now, instead of pondering the days events I realized what I had done. And at church camp of all places. I had claimed I was spending time with God. Pretty sure he had been listening, I spent the next 20 minutes drinking my coffee and praying.......ALONE. :)

I did see the camper later that day and had a great conversation with her. She did not get up with me the rest of the week, though.

I started this about my kids and summer didnt' I? Well, after youth last night I got home and my husband asked me to get steaks for he and I. Like I am going to turn down a steak dinner. As I am heading to grocery store the kids are getting ready to sit down in front of the tv again. I yelled something as I walked out about shut it off and go outside not really thinking they would listen to me. I came home and there was nobody in the house. As I walked out the back door (I should mention it was now dark), I saw my husband mowing. (I will check how he did in a little while) . I walked out to our patio to see if he wanted the steaks inside or outside (we have a shop building where the grill is) when I saw my 6 and 8 yo doing something in the grass. The six year old (Jason) was doing pushups with the 8yo (Amanda) on his back. I should at this point say that Amanda is actually a pound lighter than Jason and just barely taller than him. Suddenly, I was passed by a streak of blue, it happened again and again when I realized my 5yo (Luke) was running laps around the patio. My 13yo (Drew) and 10yo (Sydney) were asking if they could go run in the neighborhood. As Luke went whizzing by for the 7th time or so I asked what everyone was doing. As he passed me on the next round he grinned and said they were all in training. I don't think I want to know for what but they were outside so I did not argue.

I cannot wait to see what today holds. This is one of my days off.

In case anyone just counted in that paragraph and only found 5 children, my oldest is living with my dad while he attends college. He is 18 and graduated in 2006. I will tell stories on him another day! :)

I am trying to figure out how to post pictures and as soon as I do I will put them up.

Off to the wonderful world of parenting!

Maggie

Welcome!

2007-08-07T13:11:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my blog! I have never done this before so it is definitely a learning experience. I have no idea who will read this but here goes.....

I have always liked writing and this is a great outlet for me. With six kids there is always something going on here. Last night I learned the ins and outs of tape-ball (new use for duct tape) and also learned how patient a 13 year old boy can be with his siblings.

Someone once told me I should write a book so I sat down and came up with a title...."Yes, I am crazy and Yes, we know what caused it" Now I just have to come up with the pages to follow.

Besides my crazy crew, I am a youth director. My kids just weren't enough, I had to go and adopt everyone elses!

I look forward to writing here and seeing if and who reads it.

Maggie