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.
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Monday, August 25, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
The Insanity has Begun!
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.
Summer is slipping away so we are doing as much as can in these last few "dog days" of summer.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Church Camp and the Epilogue
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.
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.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Church Camp Part II
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......
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......
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Kids and what they say.....again!
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.
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.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Mother of Year???? I don't think so
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!?!
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!?!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
My kid's comments crack me up....
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.
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.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Tag! You're it!
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!
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!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Things kids say.....again
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!
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!
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