THE PIERCE BRIEFING

The Definition of You

2011-12-21T00:21:00.006-06:00

You know sometimes when you say things to your children, and then after they go to bed and the house is real quiet, God tells you you made a big mistake? No? Well, it's not pretty, nor pleasant.

Yesterday and today were end of semester test days for both the punks. This school year has been hard for both of them...learning to adjust to Jr High and High School has not only been a social adjustment, but an academic adjustment too. They are both in harder classes, and honestly struggling to keep their head above water. They both have hours of homework most every day, and they have made good grades in spite of the difficulties.

Tonight we looked online at their test scores. Some were good, some not good. And to put it bluntly, I focused entirely on the "not good" and went in to my little rant about grades...again. Believe me, it's not a healthy rant. In my head, I intend to encourage to study more, try harder, do more. But when it's mixed with MY pride and MY expectations, it comes out like I'm telling them they're not good enough. And that's where He got me.

After the boys went to bed, I sat here at my desk trying to figure out ways to make it better...to fix it. And then He tapped me on the shoulder and with all the patience He has, gave me the most beautiful picture of grace. And it didn't look anything like me in that moment.

Knowing you need to make it right with your kids is hard. Saying I'm sorry is humbling. I went in to their bedrooms and knelt beside each of them and told them what amazing boys they are. That their grades do not define them. That I love them the same whether they make A's or F's. That the fact that they are mine is enough.

I thank God He does not count my worth as my ability to please people, or ability to do my job well. When He looks at me, I want Him to see someone trying to live a life that is pleasing to Him no matter how often I fail. And when I look at my boys, I don't want to cloud my view of their worth at how good they perform on manmade tests.

I want to see them as boys growing up to look like their Father who cares for others and not what others think.

It Was Almost Audible

2011-07-20T14:24:00.001-06:00

In 4 days my family gets on a plane to end up in the capitol city of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. This has been in the works for eleven years. We just didn’t know it.

In 2000, Steve and I went on a cruise to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary. The last port of call was in Roatan, Honduras. It was a beautiful sunny day as the boat pulled up to the dock in the crystal blue waters. We had arranged to go snorkeling that day in a private resort area. God obviously had a hand in the bus ride to the resort because as it turned out, the bus was overcrowded so Steve and I had to sit in the front seat next to the driver…giving us a full, unobstructed view of the sheer poverty present along those narrow streets through the city. It took my breath away. I guess it was the first time I had seen anything like that. If I’ve seen it before, I don’t remember.

We arrive at the resort and without hesitation, I can say that day stands out in my memory as the best day Steve and I have ever shared as husband and wife, besides the births of both of our punks. The sun was intoxicating, the water beyond refreshing, and the sights…the beautiful beach and the myriads of fish we saw underwater…just can’t be explained with mere words. We were miles away from the poverty and despair of the other side of Roatan.

As we ended the day and boarded the boat to leave Roatan, both Steve and I stood on the side of the boat…looking out at the city…unable to speak. Both of us had just experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Immense beauty and immense poverty. We couldn’t talk. We were both experiencing burden.

It’s so easy to come back to real life and forget what you see. Fortunately, God didn’t let us forget it. From that day, God has put Honduras in our path/eyesight many, many times. In fact, it became so obvious and for lack of a better word, “freaky”, I started making a list of all the times we heard stories about Honduras, met people from Honduras, heard about Honduras on the news, and watch people shop for their vacation home on House Hunters International in Honduras. I know it sounds hokey…and believe me we got to laughing about it, but I can’t explain it any other way than God wanted us to remember Honduras.

Steve responded to accidents at work with cars bearing Honduras license plates, he was listening to The Ticket radio one day and Gordo was talking about a missions trip his dad took to Honduras, we were watching the local news at night and they gave the weather and temperature for Honduras…twice. I’ve pulled up a website I’ve never visited before and there was a banner ad for trips to Honduras. I was pulling the back off of a piece of furniture in the boy’s room one day to fix it, and of course it said “Made in Honduras.”

I stopped making note of them in 2009, but from 2000 to 2009 God had shown us Honduras 23 times. I don’t know if that means anything to you, but to us…every time we turned around we were getting writing on the wall. It would have been easy for us to dismiss one or two sightings, but 23? Impossible.

While we haven’t felt any clear direction of what God wants to do through us in Honduras, we have felt burdened. In 2006, we started sponsoring a little girl named Anny through Compassion International in Honduras. It has been amazing to see her grow and thrive in the Compassion program. It’s a small sacrifice for us, but a huge opportunity for her.

So when people ask Why Honduras? I just tell them we are doing what we can to be obedient to what we hear and see. Doing what we can to make a difference in the world and open our eyes to the needs of others. Doing what we can to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.

In 4 days, we will hug Anny.
In 4 days, we will get to see where she lives, meet her family, and see where she learns about Jesus.
In 4 days, we will travel with an organization called Bread for a Hungry World to feed and love people who live in the city dump. Yes, you read right.
In 4 days, we will get to visit a daycare where Bread is already at work.
In 4 days, we will get to pour concrete, or build chicken coups, or lay flooring.
In 4 days, we will put words to work.
In 4 days, we will put love in action.

Back At It?

2011-05-30T22:17:00.003-06:00

Today is Memorial Day 2011. We had nothing "planned" on the calendar. It was nice. Slept in. Went to wake up Caleb and had this conversation:

Me: "Caleb, I'm going to pick up Cody. While I'm gone get up and get ready so we can go eat lunch with Daddy. Do you know where your phone is?"

Caleb: "When you shoot, you get a phone."

Me: "Whaaaat?"

Caleb: "You shoot the basketball and get a phone."

Me: "Okay, where are you?"

Caleb: "On the basketball court."

Me: "Okay, when you get finished playing, wake up and get a shower."

This was a funny exchange since Caleb was obviously talking in his sleep. That boy is the hardest sleeper I've ever known.

He is still covered in bruises from the paintball games last Saturday. He's a tough cookie.

I can't believe he is graduating from 6th grade this week...and we will be done with elementary school in our lives. If I think too long about it, I cry so I've tried not to think about it too much.

Slow down tough boy...slow down.

Dear Cody & Caleb...

2010-09-14T23:44:00.003-06:00

Dear Cody & Caleb,

A few days ago your dad and I celebrated our 15th year of being married to each other. As we told you in prayer time that night, it hasn't always been days of cupcakes and lollipops... a few days have been licorice...really black, nasty licorice. But I can tell you this... that we love each other more today than we did on that Labor Day weekend back in 1995. Lots of people say that, but it's really true. Looking back now, we barely knew each other. But God has been so good to us...and even though we've both made some pretty big mistakes, He's used them for good and brought us closer together. He's the yen to my yang (even though we aren't Chinese), and I'm the creamer in his coffee (even though he doesn't drink coffee). There have been lots of good and fun, and goofy times...and those are tucked away in my love memory bank.

I am thankful for your dad. From day one, he stepped up to his role of provider and protector masterfully. He is a hard worker, diligent in gaining favor with his employer because of his ethics and honesty at work, has a good reputation, is a loyal friend, is a good son and son-in-law, and a good brother and brother-in-law. I think his shining accomplishment so far has been his role of daddy...and you boys are so blessed to have him as your father. I love how he protects and nurtures you, but also how he gently nudges you to spread your wings to try new things and soar to new heights. He is a great picture of the way your Heavenly father loves you.

Tonight I am praying for your future wives. I'm hopeful that it's SEVERAL years away, but I already have a sweet picture of both of them in my thoughts. I pray that God is already molding them to be the helpers that you both need, and that most of all they are falling in love with Jesus more every day. I am praying that you will continue to grow and become great men who look a little bit like your dad, and a whole lot like your Father.

I love you,

Mama

Fourteen Days

2010-03-31T00:44:00.002-06:00

Tomorrow it will be two weeks since I have slept in my big king size bed, worked in a one-person home office with nothing but the sound of iTunes or FoxNews in the background, gone to lunch with my sweet hubby and sat on the same side of the booth playing Words with Friends together, and kissed my two sweet punks before they went to bed. A long two weeks. It is true that the simple ‘tasks’ of life seem so much more precious when you don’t get to do them.

Fourteen days into the tour and I laugh about the list I actually wrote down of things I wanted to accomplish on this tour. Blog, work on getting pictures organized in my computer, take pictures of each new city, and other things I won’t even post because it seems so outlandishly ridiculous now that I’m sitting here fourteen days later with ONE blog post under my belt and literal days where I did not step one foot out of the venue in Different City, USA…much less take a picture. Where did the time go? Oh.my.gosh. Life on the road is so much different than what it looked like in my head…and what it looks like in yours.

Here are some observations from my first two weeks…

*There is NO private time…none…nada…zilch. MAYBE when you go to the toilet, but even then, you’re not guaranteed a private stall, or that the bus bathroom door does not open either by accident or on purpose while you’re sitting on the toilet. This is hard for a girl who likes her alone time.

*I can sleep on a moving vehicle. This is a shock to my husband I know…because of the fact that I don’t even like to let him drive when it’s raining because I need to feel in control of the vehicle. Baby…I have not once stayed up and sat next to the bus driver to make sure he doesn’t veer off the road or stop in time. Aren’t you proud of me?

*It is hard to accomplish even the smallest list of To-Do’s while sharing an office (and I use the word “office” very loosely) with 6-7 other people…and a host of other people coming in and out of the “office” all day long for various reasons. Although difficult to get things accomplished, this has become one of my favorite things and something I discovered I miss about working in an office with other humans.

*Although the artists do get some down time during the day working around interviews, sound checks, etc., the crew and production staff literally work from the time the buses roll into the venue in the morning until they roll out of the venue at night. I’m not saying they are rolling steel all day or performing surgery, but still available all day long...usually 7 or 8 a.m. until midnight. These are long days people.

*The dressing rooms at the venues are always a surprise as to how clean or dirty they will be. One of the crew guys made the joke by saying that as soon as you even walk into the arena at Billings, you instantly contract syphilis. After seeing that girls dressing room/shower area, I’m not sure he’s much off. Two words…shower shoes. Need I say more?

*My food schedule is wacky. I don’t usually eat breakfast…which is okay for me. Then I eat lunch in catering around noon or 12:30. Dinner is served from 5 to around 6:30, but I start my evening responsibilities at open doors, so I cannot eat dinner then. Which means I’m eating dinner at midnight usually with after-show food. That in itself could pose lots of issues…but thankfully it’s been okay.

*I’ve already seen someone in their underwear…but I won’t tell who. Our bus is the bus with girls on it so people are used to not being undressed on that bus. But sometimes I have to go to the MercyMe bus for things, so I always yell “girl on the bus” when I get on…but evidently I didn’t yell loud enough one time. Let’s just say…it brings workplace unity to a whole ‘nother level.

*Some of the most fun I’ve had is at night when we get on the bus to leave for our next city. I am sharing a bus with eleven other people consisting of Stacie, a pretty, young girl from Franklin, TN. who coordinates the VIP’s for the shows; Kyle, a young geek from Sacramento, CA who helps with getting the show online every night for viewers at home to watch; Francesca Battistelli, and her drummer hubby (who are newlyweds), and their crew of two; and Fee Band which is Steve Fee and three band members and their crew. It is a great mix of people…and some super nice and funny guys. We usually sit around in the front lounge until around 2 or later…until we can’t keep our eyes open…just talking, laughing, and eating (those guys are constantly looking for food to eat).

*Days off are a welcome break from work…and usually the only time I get to see the cities. I’ve enjoyed getting to see some of Casper WY, Spokane WA, Ashland OR, and today, Sacramento CA. It’s been so wonderful to step off the bus and see mountains, or look out my hotel window and see a river in the middle of a forest area. It just reminds me of how creative our God is, and how very, very blessed I am.

*I feel very blessed to be a part of the ministry of the Roadshow. Like someone mentioned on Sunday during our “church”, we tend to count the success of the show by how many people came, or how much merch was sold, but the stories of the people who came and were blessed, or hear how their lives were changed by what they heard… that’s the true success of the Roadshow…and I love that God is right in the middle of it all.

*I miss my friends. I miss my shower. I miss my mom and dad, and sisters…and nieces and nephews. I miss my Abby. I miss my sweet punks…and I miss my Mr. McWonderful. ‘Missing’ is undoubtedly the hardest thing about what I’m doing. In the words of TobyMac, “baby hold on…just another day or two…” And that’s what I’m doing…holding on until I get a few days closer to holding all three of my babies.

I Thought Twice...and I Did it Anyway

2010-03-18T00:07:00.007-06:00

**Update: I tried to add pictures to this post until today and could not...so I'm posting anyway. Hopefully I'll get some pictures to work later.

Today was day one of my big adventure. About 6 weeks ago, it was decided that I would go on The Rock & Worship Roadshow as Tour Accountant. Even though I have worked for MercyMe for about six years now, I have never been out on the road with them, and this was a great opportunity for me to know “that” side of what I do from my home office every day. And since the Roadshow is only in its second year of existence, it was a good time for me to go and establish some organization to the accounting side of the tour. Right up my alley since my middle name is organization…or Denise…or whatever.

I immediately started planning for this awesome opportunity by…what else, buying some new jeans and a pair of Converse. For the past several weeks I’ve been going back and forth in my head…I’m excited about this opportunity…what the heck do I think I’m doing?…it could be fun…that’s a long time to be away from home…I’ll get to be in alot of places I’ve never been…Gina, you’re 46, you do not need to be sleeping on a bus! So it’s been like that for a while. And here I am…46 years old, living on a bus (a nice bus), going through 24 different states in 6 weeks…and getting to play a part in a great ministry!

I want to document my experience, especially for my kiddos to enjoy reading what I’m doing every day. Today was Day 2 of rehearsals for the 7 different bands that are out on this tour. I flew to Nashville with the MercyMe guys and arrived about 2:00 today. Most of you know…flying…not my most favorite thing to do, but I was prayed up and had lots of people who “know” me praying too. It was a great flight…uneventful, but I have to say I am paranoid about people and behaviors on planes. I sat next to some French people, who were quite pleasant, and spoke mostly in French. I guess there were quite a few of them who knew each other on the plane, and they kept getting out of their seats going and talking with each other. I wanted to scream at them that “the Fasten Seatsbelts sign is on for a reason people!!”, but I managed to refrain from yelling on the airplane…for the sake of being labeled as the crazy lady on Aisle 23.

We arrived in Nashville and went straight to the rehearsal warehouse. Here’s where the horror stories I’ve heard from the crew start coming to life…as far as the cleanliness of the facilities go. Let me just say…the bathrooms…not pleasant. I’m caught up on my shots though…so I think I’m good. I worked most of the day while listening to rehearsals…love to work during the creative process!

The buses pulled out of Nashville at midnight, and here I am. Trying to walk straight on a moving vehicle…trying not to think about whether I’ll be able to sleep on a moving vehicle. I’m pretty tired, so I’m not too worried.

I’m missing my Mr. McWonderful tonight and my sweet punks. They are away on a little vacation too…mountain biking in different scenery…and they are so excited. When we decided to do away with our home phone, and decided to add Caleb on to our mobile account...I never knew it would bring me to tears.

Tomorrow morning I wake up in Indianapolis, IN. for the first show of the tour. There’s excitement in the air with a new tour starting. Praying for God to show up at each and every arena…and that He’ll be glorified in everything that happens.

P.S. Francesca Battistelli is on my bus right now.

P.S.S. David Crowder is much taller in person than he looks in pictures.

P.S.S.S. The MercyMe band guys told me there would be days on this tour when I wouldn’t take a shower or want to change clothes. I hope to prove them wrong.

P.S.S.S.S. I hope I don't fall out of my bunk tonight.

Quotes of the Week

2010-02-02T22:54:00.005-06:00

Last Saturday night we were spending some time together all piled up in our bed getting ready for bedtime prayers. Lately during our nighttime prayers with the punks, we have been choosing one specific thing to pray for. This helps them really focus on what they're praying about and keeps them from praying the same prayer over and over...the one that rolled off their tongue in memorized form and if they got out of order they had to start over?.... yeah, that prayer.

Anyway, that night we were specifically praying about something that might be happening in the near future that would entail some time away from home for me. There hasn't been a definite decision about it yet, so we were praying that God will work out all the details if He wants it to happen.

Caleb's prayer was that if I go, I would be safe. Of. Course. Because Caleb is soooooo my son, and he definitely has alot of my characteristics, and that's one thing I pray about alot too. Anyway, Mr. McRecognize.that.someone.might.be.anxious thought it would be fun to play a game of competition between the punks naming stories in the Bible where God miraculously saved someone's life or kept them safe. Do you see how brilliant this man is? I heart him.

So Caleb started and named I think Jonah and the whale. Then Cody went and named Daniel in the lions den. They went back and forth each getting a count to twenty to name the next one. Pretty easy at first, but getting more difficult with each passing turn.

And with that introduction, I give you "Quotes of the Week:"

With his chest puffed out at his turn, Cody proclaimed "Meshach, Reshack and Abednego."

At one point when his time was quickly running out, Caleb exclaimed "the crossing of that sea! What color was it?!"

Cody, impatiently waiting his turn while Caleb is thinking of his answer: "Ohhh! I've got two! Holy crap I'm good."

Run as Fast as You Can

2010-01-26T14:01:00.011-06:00

If you read my last post you read that God has been working in Steve's and my heart about a country that He keeps putting in our path. I have a story to share about that, but it's still being written. One day I was doing some research...searching out mission organizations that reach out to that country and I was led to Buckner International. I hadn't heard about or thought of Buckner in many years, but I did know the name. When I was little, I remember, although with very little clarity, that my parents 'adopted' a teenage girl named Julie from Buckner. From what I remember, we only had her on weekends because she went to school either at or near Buckner, but I vividly remember the old red brick building.

Anyway, poking around on Buckner's website, I found one of their ministries called Shoes for Orphan Souls (SOS). The more I read, the more I was interested...especially since they minister to the country that holds a piece of my heart. I told Steve about it and he fell in love with it too...enough that he has spent many hours volunteering there in the last several months on his days off.

This past Saturday a group of people we share Sunday morning small group with went with our families to SOS to volunteer. We were excited to finally be able to take the boys this time... except that Caleb ended up being sick so he couldn't go.

This place melts me. I'm not gonna lie. It's just shoes...boxes and boxes full of shoes. Athletic shoes, boots, sandles and more placed in large box bins lined along the walls of a warehouse.

But when I pick up a pair of shoes and think of the child who's going to receive that pair of shoes, I melt and realize it's not just shoes.

"According to The State of the World's Children as reported by Unicef, there are 148 million orphans around the world. Orphanages do not receive enough funding to support the children in their care. One of the greatest and most immediate needs is a pair of shoes. Many of the children receive one pair of shoes to last the entire year, and some don't have shoes at all." Shoes for Orphan Souls collects shoes, sorts them, and then distributes them to children in need in 68 countries all over the world. I love the simple, yet gigantic measure. Shoes can give a child hope and a smile.

As I volunteered to pack boxes full of athletic shoes to prepare for shipping, I, of course, gravitated towards the boys shoes.

And as I held a pair of size 3 running shoes in my hands, I couldn't help but think about the little boy who would open up his dirty little hands to receive this pair of shoes...hurriedly put them on his dusty little feet and look up with the biggest smile on his sweet little face. I can imagine that he will run and play for hours on end...possibly days on end...just soaking up the feeling of how fast he can run. And he will have hope...and a smile.

And what it did for this boy? Well, I can only hope it gave him a small reason to be thankful and to fall in love with helping others a little more.

This will move you.

This is Me Not Planning

2010-01-12T23:58:00.002-06:00

Oh sweet internet, I have missed you. Here it is the 12th day of 2010...a new year, and I haven’t seen you in many months. Well that’s not totally true. I haven’t seen MY blog in many months...I have seen plenty of others. And honestly, I don't feel ready to write today because I feel like I need to close out 2009 first before I can begin 2010 (could that be the accounting brain of mine?). I didn’t finish 2009...and I had so many other stories I wanted to tell and so many more pictures I wanted to share. But I guess I let my perfectionism get in the way of the true enjoyment of just sitting down and writing. I wanted all the stories to be in chronological order...and so I kept putting off writing a new story because I hadn’t written the old. I’m guessing this is why many people stop blogging all together. They pause...and then get overwhelmed at the need for orderly succession. I’m that kind of person. I’m stepping off the ledge here people...trying to be more spontaneous.

So first let me start with...Hi, my name is Gina. And I am a perfectionist and an orderly person. I like spreadsheets and check-off lists (this is where you say in unison “Welcome, Gina”). Today, I will start writing again and not even apologize for the fact that I didn’t finish blogging about 2009. I will write what I feel and post pictures of my punks doing and saying crazy things...and be okay with the missing data. (I think I just threw up a little bit in my mouth.)

A new year always brings with it a review of the old year...what hurt, what made me happy, what I wish I could take back, and what I wish I would have done a couple more times. And then there’s the Resolutions...that will inevitably get broken by Day 2...usually. It seemed like January 1st came and went so fast this year that I didn’t even consider making any Resolutions...just as well. They would have just forced me to make yet another checklist of things I am currently working on, and things that I need to do in the future. Another checklist to check things off of. {Sigh.}

I know God made me the way I am, but I also know that satan can use perfectionism to keep me from taking risks, dreaming dreams and doing hard things simply because I get bogged down with the details...the planning...the totally leaving God out of the picture. And just like every other year, I want 2010 to be a year of stepping out of my comfort zone...off the ledge, and for me to look more like Him at the end.

Our family is planning a trip this year as an exploratory trip...to find out how God wants to use us. As of right now, we do not have a date, reservations, airplane tickets, or even a specific destination city. We just know we’re supposed to go. We have no idea what God is going to show us when we get there. I’m a little afraid. Scared of what He may be calling us to do. I’m also scared not to go because God is stirring my heart so much for this place. I don’t want to end up one day with the regret of not obeying God and missing all the blessings He has for us.

And I don’t want to live my life just checking things off a list. I want to be fearless, brave and excited to face the unknown. I feel like I should be wearing a cape right now. And maybe a cute pair of boots.

“This is God's Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.” Jeremiah 33:2-3

Happy 50th Anniversary

2009-09-25T23:00:00.005-06:00

Today is my parents' 50th wedding anniversary...September 25, 1959. I don't know if you grasp the colossal feat that is these days...but that just doesn't happen much anymore. Thank you mom and dad for putting up with each other, for putting the other one ahead of yourself, for sacrificing for each other, for loving each other...and for commitment. Commitment even when you were unlovely...commitment even when it didn't seem worth it...commitment even when the odds were stacked against you.

A few things you might not know about my parents:

*Both of their dads had to go with them to get their marriage license because they were both underage...but NOT pregnant.

*Mom originally wanted 12 children. I thank you Daddy for putting your foot down on that one.

*Dad burned the end of my mom's nose with the push-in cigarette lighter while on a date.

*They went to the thriving resort at Turner Falls for their honeymoon.

*They have lived in 15 houses/apts. in their 50 years of marriage.

We celebrated their anniversary on a cruise a few weeks ago, and we will be celebrating again in a few weeks at a party. They are celebrating today by themselves in Galveston...enjoying each other's company just like they have for 50 years. They not only love each other, but they like each other...and that may just be the key.

Mom and Dad, I love you...and I thank you for giving me and my sisters a stable home life...and for never making us wonder if you'd be together forever. I'd really love it if you'd go another 50.

We've Reached a New Low

2009-09-23T22:38:00.003-06:00

Excuse me while I get on my soap box, but I really need to get something off my chest…and since it is my blog, I think I’ll do it here. If you don’t want to hear the rant…it’d be best to move on now.

Since when did coaches become so “win at all cost?” I’m really, really sick to death of it.

Caleb is playing football for the Optimists this year. There were no open spots on the team where most of his friends from school play on, so I just signed him up and they placed him on a team that needed more players. Fine…I have no problem with him meeting new kids, us meeting new adults, etc. Everything seemed well organized…we were enjoying the practices…Caleb is loving playing…so everything was going well until…at last Saturday’s game, Steve was asked to be a monitor which is basically someone who counts plays. You see in Optimist rules, every player must play at least 9 plays each half. So basically you have 2 guys for each team…one calling out numbers, the other circling plays so that each player can get their allotted plays in. This is done so that every kid can get playing time and learn the game…RIGHT? I mean that’s why I signed Caleb up for football…he wanted to play, he wanted to learn how, and the coaches sign up to teach them, right? No…wrong. I realize I am generalizing to the inth degree and that there are a lot of good coaches out there, but sadly, this is not our first experience with it…and I’m just ticked that ELEMENTARY sports has come to this.

So Steve was doing his thing last Saturday…circling plays while the other guy with him is calling out jersey numbers. Steve is keeping the coach informed of what players still need to get in plays all during the half…but the coach is not putting in those players. And because 7 players did not get in enough plays during the first half, those players got to play the entire second half…it’s the rules. I’m glad…because you know what? Those parents…the parents of the 7 players? They paid the same amount of registration fee, bought the same uniforms, have sweated their butts off at the same practices, and purchased spirit wear…just like the coaches’ sons…and just like the coaches’ friends’ sons who have played every play. And do you know what else? Those kids…those 7 kids? They all have the desire to play…they want to play, they want to learn, they want their parents to see them run with the ball or tackle another player. Most of them don’t care if they win or lose…they just want to play and have fun.

This coach had the audacity to come up to Steve after the game and say “hey man, sometimes you just have to circle some numbers whether they play or not. Everyone does it. It’s okay.” Oh, you mean, everyone cheats so that the favored players can play as much as the coaches want them to and so it will stop being about learning a game and having fun, but it all becomes about winning at all cost? You mean that? First of all, he is seriously barking up the wrong tree if he thinks Steve would ever do that. I’m surprised Steve was able to keep his composure and walk away from the man. I’m actually surprised the man still has eyebrows after the look Steve game him. Needless to say, I’m sure Steve will never be asked to monitor a game again.

Please tell me that our society hasn’t come to this…that winning is more important than having fun with other kids playing a fun game. I’m not talking about not keeping score…I totally agree with keeping score and kids having to learn how to win and lose. That’s not it. And I am not talking about sports in upper grades like High School and College. I don’t have a problem with that being about a kid’s ability, or lack thereof because there are scholarships being handed out for that. But people, I am talking about elementary kids…6, 7, 8, 10 years old!

Most parents put their kids in sports to learn…learn the game, the rules, strategies, sportsmanship, winning and losing…and most parents desperately want their kids to have fun and get some exercise. There is nothing better than seeing a kid beaming about the catch he just made…or the tackle…or the ball he just hit…or the homerun he just made. And when you’re a grown up, you really don’t think back about your sports experience in elementary and think “we were top dog” or “we beat every team.” Because at that point, NO ONE REALLY CARES if you won every one of your elementary games…seriously (sorry to shout, but it's true). You know what you remember? How much fun you had playing with your friends. Throwing the ball around to each other…tackling each other…sharing bubble gum and peanuts with your teammates, making goofy faces for pictures, and having snacks after the game.

I played softball and basketball when I was in elementary school. I can honestly say when I think about those days, I couldn’t tell you how many games we won. We were the Cottontails (the mighty, mighty Cottontails)and as you can tell by the name, we were good and we won plenty…but I didn’t keep count. And the trophies? They’re dusty and dirty and in a rubbermaid container high on a shelf in a storage shed. But I do remember I played with some of my best friends and we had so much fun in the dugout and on the bench…and playing around at practice…and going to get ice cream with everyone after a game. I remember crying after losing a softball tournament we were so close in winning…but the tears stopped soon after when I got to spend the night with one of my friends from the team.

When I see what I see these days, I think it really matters more to the testosterone-driven coaches than the players whether they win or not…because they make decisions based on what they think will make the team win at all costs. I love to win as much as the next person, but not at the cost of cheating a player out of their plays, at the cost of a kid feeling inadequate…at the cost of a kid’s self-esteem. Because that hurts...it really hurts.

“A Coach's Guide to Developing Self-Esteem”…Individual and team performance is directly related to how an athlete feels about him/herself. Your athletes will learn faster, perform better and have fewer performance problems when you help them feel good about themselves. (competitiveedge.com)

Wow, thank you. I feel much better after getting that off my chest.

9/11: Remembering

2009-09-12T18:10:00.008-06:00

Yesterday I was a complete emotional wreck all day. I'm sure most of this was attributed to the fact that we had just returned from an amazing, completely exhilerating cruise to celebrate my mom and dad's 50th wedding anniversary... with all of my family and lots of friends. I was exhausted and a little disappointed to have to come back to the real world... but it was more than that. It was raining most of the day which didn't help the mood...but even more than that. There was a black cloud in my spirit that I couldn't shake...and I finally realized that it was due in large part to remembering 9/11 eight years ago. It still feels so raw to me...even though I lost no one I knew that day. It was just such a sad day for our country.

Eight years ago on 9/11, Steve and I woke up so excited for the day. This day we were closing on our first home...a house we had been waiting on for several months while they finished the construction.

We had a couple of errands to run before our 10 a.m. closing time and we were eager to get going. The boys were 2 and 4, so we were dropping them at their mother's day out program before running our errands so they could play. Since our current house was packed and the refrigerator empty, we ran by Kroger to get some lunchables for them. Steve went in the store while I waited in the car with the boys, and I will never forget the look on his face when he returned to the car. While in the store, everyone was huddled around a TV watching the terror unfold. At that time, only one tower had been hit.

He left the radio on while he whispered to me what was happening and I remember the pit in my stomach as he told me what he had seen. As we drove the boys to their center, I went back and forth as to whether or not I wanted them away from me that day. I finally decided that I would rather them be there playing...away from the news and media, and so we dropped them off...gave them kisses and hugs and headed straight to a store with televisions where we could watch the story. As we stood with hundreds of other people staring at another plane hit the second tower, we knew America would never be the same again...we would never be the same again.

We finally had to leave for our closing and felt such bittersweet feelings as we signed the papers. Joy at having a new home for our family, and yet complete and utter sorrow at so many people in our nation losing loved ones. While I wanted to stay glued to the TV all day, we couldn't...which was probably one of the best things that could have happened as I look back. We had furniture being delivered at the new house, and we had to meet people at our old house to begin moving stuff.

I will forever be grateful to many friends who no doubt would have rather been with their families that day but instead came to help us move. And that evening, others, who we didn't know that well, came to help us unpack boxes and organize. A friendship bloomed and they remain some of our best friends to this day. Our kids played together, running and jumping in empty bedrooms, and remained oblivious to the sad events of the day...and we unpacked boxes, stopping to cry every once in a while.

Yesterday, while I watched recaps of the day eight years ago, I again felt the sadness of so many women and men becoming widows and widowers, and so many children losing a parent. And my heart was broken. And yet today I woke up with a renewed thankfulness for family, country, friends and the fact that God is still in control.

Because That's the Kind of Friend I Am

2009-09-03T23:39:00.005-06:00

Since I will be out of 'pocket' the next several days doing things that I most assuredly will tell you all about upon my return...I thought you deserved something to look at while you're here.

This is what happens when the punks both sign up to learn instruments the same year. You're welcome.

First Day of School 2009

2009-08-24T22:00:00.002-06:00

Today was the first day of school...a day that marks the end of sleeping in, riding roller coasters, riding bikes, and playing in the water for a while. And every year when this day arrives, I'm amazed at how fast the summer went...and how fast my babies are growing up.

The night before always brings a flood of memories washing over me. As I playfully tousled their hair and brushed the bridge of their noses with my finger, I wondered when their baby face became so defined. I wondered when their arms became so muscular and hands became so strong. I wondered when I went from playing 'this little piggy' with their toes to their feet growing to be so big. I remember watching their eager eyes as they listened to the lyrical rhythm of me reading Goodnight Moon time and time again.

And as I leaned in to kiss them goodnight, they were in kindergarten all over again...waiting for butterfly kisses and bedtime prayers. Waiting for dreams of dinosaurs and red wagons. And I... I was savoring this moment...treasuring this memory.

As my strong, handsome boys left for Jr. High and 5th grade this morning, I swallowed hard and thanked God for every new day He's given me with them.

Goodnight stars, goodnight air, goodnight noises everywhere.

Last Ditch Vacation

2009-08-22T22:37:00.006-06:00

Since we have plans for a big "family" celebration vacation later this year, we decided to take a short vacation with just the punks this past week to San Antonio...one of our favorite places to visit. We decided to make use of our Six Flags season passes and make that our main activity while there.

Just like when I was a kid, our boys really like hotels. We probably could have gone across town to a hotel with a pool...and they would have loved it just as well. We made good use of the pool within an hour of our arrival.

I love watching the punks play in a pool...with everything they have. They seriously love water! I also like to (and this may sound totally creepy, but not intended to in the least) watch their bodies as they swim. They are so unique...and I love noticing the differences in their body structure as they grow and develop. They are beautiful to me.

All boy...and yet stunning...

Every little feature screams "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." And I couldn't help but notice how Steve and I share our eyes with each one of them...the green eyed pair...

and the blue eyed beauties...

We're pretty happy to be their parents...and downright giddy to be away on a little vacation with some of the funnest people we know.

After swimming, we went down to the Riverwalk.

...ate some great mexican food...

did some sightseeing...

...and of course, we had to at least drive by it...

Then back to the hotel for um...play. Seriously one of the reasons the boys love hotels is because I let them jump on the hotel beds...and one of their favorite things to do since they were little boys is jump from one bed to the next seeing how high they can jump.

And of course there's the wrestling.... Like I said...all boy.

Monday morning we got up and went to Six Flags.

I used to love roller coasters when I was a little girl...and even into my twenties. Somehow with age, my body has not followed my heart and I don't handle the coasters too well. I was bound and determined that I would ride some coasters with the boys...part of their enjoyment is seeing me scared and hearing me scream (sounds sadistic, but they love it)...and I wanted to experience it with them. After dry heaving after the first three rides, I decided to just be the photographer for the rest of the day.

This was the boys' favorite ride...Superman. They rode it a total of 9 times over the course of the two days we were there.

I opted out of this ride...for obvious reasons...

Another favorite was Scream...again opting out. Caleb was sure to remind me that this was the same ride where the girl got her feet cut off in Ken-tuc-kee when one of the cables snapped. Thanks son.

Back again on Tuesday...more rollercoasters until the water park opened at noon...

We all rode this together...and although I had trouble getting started, I "beat" because I went the farthest...shocker, I know.

All I could think when I saw this was...wow, imagine how much pee is in there.

I rode this too. The boys tricked me into this...saying it was really a mild ride and that the intertube didn't go very high up on the sides. Uh...wrong. I saw my life flash before my eyes...up on the left....on up on the right...and up on the left...you get it. After I was able to swallow again, I realized that was one of the best feelings I had had in long time.

That night we ate mexican again...shocking again I know. They had a mariachi band that was pretty good...

...and a really weird Davy Crockett mannequin playing the fiddle on top of a replica Alamo wall. I would love to have been in the restaurant planning meeting that day.

Wednesday morning the boys got to do what they wanted to do from the first day at the hotel...use the luggage cart. I'm telling you...they are easily amused.

Before heading home, we went to the Alamodome and watched the Cowgirls in training camp.

We came home...closer as a family and feeling blessed we were able to enjoy so many fun things together...making memories to last a lifetime.

Ahhhh, summer...you never hang around long enough.

Going Deeper

2009-08-11T00:13:00.002-06:00

The ladies at my church are planning a Ladies Retreat coming in September where our theme is "Going Deeper, Reaching Higher." I have the privilege of blogging for that retreat. You might want to check it out.

www.goingdeepreachinghigh.blogspot.com

Imaginary Friends

2009-08-06T22:10:00.006-06:00

When Cody was about 4 years old (I tried to find my notes for the exact date...yes, I had a tab divider in my written organizer back then named "C&C" where I would write down funny things they said so I could use those notes to update their baby books...never got transferred to their baby book...but still have those papers somewhere in my keepsake drawer...and people, this is my keepsake drawer...

very scary...but it will get organized one day and get put into their respective keepsake folders...

which I am sure they will hang on to and cherish for the rest of their lives...right? Yeah, right. I heard I'm doing good if I get a phone call every once in a while when they're grown since I have boys. But I digress...)

Anywho, Cody had 2 imaginary friends back then. One was named Joey, and the other was named Jerry Narron. Jerry Narron was the then manager of the Texas Rangers. Joey, we thought, was a name pulled completely out of his, um, you know "imagination." He played with both friends...and if I remember correctly, Joey was always perfectly behaved, but Jerry had some behavior issues that were always having to be addressed. Cody would have backseat conversations with them...complete with asking us if Joey or Jerry could spend the night with him. We, of course, always said yes. Because we're nice parents like that.

These imaginary friends were a part of Cody's life for a good couple of years. It wasn't over the top...where he would open doors for them or ask for a plate for them at the dinner table or anything, but he would definitely have conversations with them...and of course they would spend the night with him...because once again...we're nice like that.

Imagine my surprise this past June...some 8 years later...when I met THE Joey. Cody was participating in a week long missions project with the CrossTrainers at church and we were talking about his day at the end of day one. He mentioned doing something during that day with his friend Joey. I said "who's Joey?" because I had never met a friend of his from church named Joey. He said, "you know...Joey, the boy who was my imaginary friend when I was little."

I have to tell you...this took me by a huge surprise. I said, "you mean Joey was real back then?" And he proceeded to tell me that he and Joey had gone to Sunday School together basically all their life. I cannot believe I did not know this. I felt so completely and utterly out of touch with evidently someone very important in his life.

I knew then that I would make it a point to at least find out all the kids that he shares his life with...even for an hour on Sunday mornings.

Now, does anyone know where I can find Jerry Narron? I have some things I need to discuss with him.

I Will Be Better by Tuesday

2009-08-02T20:49:00.002-06:00

Dear Cody & Caleb,

In the morning, I will once again stand outside a bus, and wave to you through a tinted window as the bus pulls away headed to church camp. Although I will be holding up my “I love you” sign language, you will wave quickly because not only is it totally not cool to act like you are going to miss your mom, you also have way more important things on your mind. Like getting to the dorm first to get best pick of the bunk beds…and getting your swimsuit on so you can be the first to the lake. You might even make it your mission to be the first to get “blobbed” from your group this week…or decide which candy you will eat your weight in this week from the snack shack.

I, on the other hand, will be quiet for a long time on Monday. Daddy will do his best to take my mind off you leaving, but I will have no part of it for the better part of the morning. I will be quiet, and pray, and cry and hope.

I will be quiet because a part of me is missing this week…and it will be all too silent around the house. I will miss you telling me jokes, and asking me to take you to Six Flags EVERY day. I will miss every little thing that I take for granted on a daily basis…and I will commit to never taking those for granted again.

I will pray because you are being driven there on a big bus by a total stranger in whom I have just entrusted to get you there and back safely…and yet I know that that driver is not in control of your safety. I will pray because I believe there is no better time in a child’s life to hear from God than at camp…and I want that for you.

I will cry because…well, because that’s just what I do…and when I think about this being the last year for "children's" camp for one of you, it gives me one more reminder about how fast you are growing up.

And I will hope…more than anything, I will hope. I hope you will laugh until your belly hurts. I hope you will sing with no thought of who is listening. I hope you will have so much fun that it’s hard to sleep at night. I hope that when you see someone who needs a friend, you will be a friend. I hope for you to be listening…really listening when God whispers in your ear…hope that when you feel led, you will act…, and most of all, hope that you will never, ever be the same again.

Love,
Mama

They Complete Me

2009-07-27T13:19:00.002-06:00

These guys melt me...

...and I am so blessed to be wife and mom to them.

Today I am sitting in a beautiful hotel room...relaxing, reading, blogging, watching TV, sleeping...all because they know me. They know that I need time away to refresh...to have a couple of days with no responsibility...no one needing me for anything...no deadlines to meet...no house to clean or laundry to do...nothing...but getting filled up again.

So thank you boys...most especially Steve because you knew the need and you are demonstrating to the boys what sacrificial love is all about.

I love you.

Quotes of the Day

2009-07-24T23:19:00.003-06:00

We had quite a bit of time in the car today, and that usually leads to some ~~weird~~ interesting conversations among the boys. I give you...Quotes of the Day.

Caleb had his bare feet upon the console between the front seats and Cody made the statement "Caleb, your feet are really soft."

Caleb: Thank you.

Cody: That's not good.

Me: Yes, it is.

Cody: I don't want my feet to be soft. I want them to be rough so one day when I'm trapped in the Amazon they will protect me.

Huh?

Cody: I can just sit down and write without thinking what I'm going to write next. It just comes to me.

Caleb: That's not good.

Cody: That's good, right mom?

Me: Depends on what comes out.

Cody: Magic.

Did I happen to tell you that Cody's end of year writing project was entitled "The Three Magical Unicorns" and told the story of how three magical unicorns carried donuts on their horns? Yeah, I thought so.

I am Still Alive

2009-07-23T07:06:00.003-06:00

Well hello internet...my long lost bloggy friend. I have missed you...have you missed me? Saying that the last month or so (has it been that long?) has been a little busy is about the biggest understatement of the year...so my updating has been on the back burner...and I'm not quite ready to post at length. But I'll be back...soon. In a few days, I am going away (but not far) for a little trip by myself (a gift my hubby and punks gave me for Mother's Day) to rest, read, write, think, rest, etc. I can imagine that there will be some catching up on my blog during that time...since I am dying to get some things "on the books."

I'll see you in a few...after I check into my hotel and sleep for ~~days~~ hours.

Sweet Design Wednesday

2009-06-17T22:40:00.006-06:00

I knew you were holding your breath waiting for this week's installment of Sweet Design, so here it is. You're welcome.

Every year in May, one of my biggest ~~headaches~~ pleasures is finding end of year teacher gifts. Between the two of my children, there are 9 teachers to buy for, not including our principal, music, art, gym, etc. And after this year, the nurse really deserved something special from my family.

Some years I have tried to make teacher gifts...but this year I decided to go easy...and cute! I bought these keylettes from an Etsy store called SewMuchDetail, and they are so adorable...and very sturdy. I wrapped them together with MercyMe's 10 CD (I get a really good deal on those too :) to make a really useful and meaningful thank you gift.

They came wrapped in cellophane with a cute little coordinating tulle bow and her business card on each. She does great work and her designs are...well, sweet.

Happy Birthday Caleb

2009-06-15T21:09:00.004-06:00

Dear Caleb,

Ten years ago today, you changed my life. I never thought I could love another baby as much as your brother, but the day I found out you were growing inside of me, I fell in love with you and discovered just how much my heart could expand and grow.

When Cody was a little over a year old, your daddy and I started talking about having another baby. I was so close to my sisters and daddy was close to his brother, and we wanted him to have someone like that...someone he could depend on, be friends with, and of course, look after us when we got old. We really had just begun discussing it over a few weeks, when I started feeling a little different. My pants were starting to get tighter, and it was getting harder for me to breathe while wearing them.

I considered getting a home pregnancy test, but decided I would just go to the doctor and get a blood test...to be positive of the results. On the morning of October 27, 1998, daddy drove me to my doctor, they drew blood and sent me on my way. It would be later in the day, possibly the next day, before they would have the results. Daddy took me to work and I started my work day...trying to concentrate on anything but that test.

A few hours later, I received a call from the doctor's office telling me I was definitely going to have a baby in about 7-1/2 months. I was SOOOO excited...and surprised!...I guess that it happened so fast this time. Your daddy came by my office to get me for lunch. When he opened the door to my office, our eyes met...I smiled and shook my head yes...and he got the biggest grin ever on his face. We hugged and kissed for what seemed like eternity...and we began our journey of loving you and taking care of you. You were expected to join our family in person on June 24, 1999.

Cody was about 18 months old at this point, and although we told him about you, he really didn't understand. He couldn't understand why I kept telling him stories about my belly button.

On November 12th, you made me sick for the first time and as I got up from hugging the toilet, I smiled. I was happy as a lark that I was throwing up. That continued for about the next 7 weeks, and although it was kind of rough...I still loved it...because it meant YOU were there!

On December 31st, I heard your heart beat for the first time...and I smiled.

On January 27th, I felt you move for the first time...and I smiled.

On February 2nd, I saw you for the first time on a sonogram...and your heart was beating...you were growing...and we decided not to find out if you were a boy or a girl until we met you on your birth day...and I smiled.

In the next few weeks, my belly starts growing at a rapid pace...and we discovered you would definitely be a soccer player!...and I smiled.

On April 23rd, too early for this, I started having small contractions and vomiting. My doctor sent me to the hospital to be checked out and found out I had a virus that was making me have contractions and was slightly dehydrated. They gave me medication and sent me home to bed rest for the weekend...and as much as this scared me, I smiled because you were going to be okay.

On May 13th, I stopped being able to wear most of my shoes. My feet and ankes were so swollen, and wouldn't go down even after rest...but I smiled because I knew it wouldn't be long until you were here...and I always preferred being barefoot...and pregnant.

That next weekend, we painted your nursery...and when I looked at Pooh and friends and imagined you there...I smiled.

On June 8th, my doctor sent me for another sonogram because he felt like you were getting big...and when he found out that you measured 8 pounds, 11 ounces in that sonogram, he scheduled me for surgery the next week...and I smiled a really big smile.

On the morning of June 15th, I got up, showered, got dressed, put my makeup on, did my hair, got my suitcase, kissed Cody goodbye as Ne-Ne took him to daycare with her...and we left for the hospital. We got to our room, got prepped for surgery, and got anxious for you to be here.

At 9:00 a.m., they took me and daddy into the operating room. They gave me some medicine to numb my stomach and Dr. Kallam began the process of taking you out. Daddy talked me through the whole thing...step by step of what was happening...and at 9:40, Dr. Kallam announced you were a big, strapping boy! He took you out and you were mad and crying...and I smiled and smiled.

I watched them get you cleaned up while they were taking care of some other things with me...and I listened to your precious cries. The nurse held you up to my face and let me kiss you and tell you how much I loved you...and I couldn't believe how big my heart was right then and there.

In the last 10 years, you've amazed me at how different from your brother you are...yet how alike you are. I love how you are tender-hearted and caring...and how thoughtful of others' feelings you are. You've got the sweetest smile and the most infectious laugh. I love that you still like to cuddle and hold my hand, and I love that you are brave and protective.

And as much as I would like to keep you wrapped up in my little cocoon forever, I know that God has something much bigger in store for you...and I wouldn't want you to miss that for the world. You see, as much as I love you...it can't even compare to the love He has for you. And I smile when I think about where that love will take you.

Love,

Mama

I Know You Don't Deserve This

2009-06-10T13:54:00.007-06:00

I know this is supposed to be Sweet Design Wednesday but I'm so behind on posts, I just decided to throw this one out there because something made me think of it today...and since for about the past 3 weeks I've been having memory issues probably related to this, but possibly related to menopause (since I'm blaming any shortcoming on my part these days on that even though I have no definite evidence that I am entering menopause), any time I think of something that happened in the past, I'm probably going to blog about it...even if it's not a great memory because it's a memory and one day I probably won't have any of those anymore... between the family history of Alzheimers and MS...I'm basically screwed...and yes that was the longest run-on sentence in history...so sue me...I wasn't an English major, but I always did really good in English...or is it 'did really well' in English?...I probably should have majored in it. So anyway, I was reading something today about "kids pooping in pools" and it made me remember the time when my kids were younger...and summers were spent just finding a suitable pool where they could play in the water without drowning and I could either play with them or play with the other mothers that were there because seriously playgroups are more about the moms than the kids...and if anyone tries to tell you differently, they're lying....I am not even kidding.

Anyway, this one day we went to a small community pool that was mostly 1-2 feet all the way through and had lots of things to play on for the kids...like this...

This is around the time Caleb had just finished potty training...so basically it was our first time at the pool with him wearing a swimsuit with no swim diaper. I think you can see where this is going...and it's not going to be pretty.

At some point during my in-depth conversation with my playgroup friends about politics or world peace or 'can you believe that Justin Timberlake left Britney Spears for Christina Aguilera...talk about moving from skank to skankee' and other important things like that, they started blowing the "get the heck out of the pool because someone pooped in the pool" whistle. I was ticked. Why would someone bring their kid that wasn't potty trained and let them loose in the pool when we were all enjoying such a nice play day with our friends and now we're going to have to listen to them all whine and cry because they have to get out of the pool?

I called Cody out of the pool, then picked up Caleb to take him to our chairs to wait out the "cleaning"...and I noticed his swimsuit was a little brown around the bottom edges. Oh my gosh...my precious little munchkin was the pooper! HE CLEARED THE POOL! Did I announce this? Did I apologize? Um, NO. I wrapped him in a beach towel...asked him loudly where everyone could hear..."do you wanna go pee-pee while we have some time to kill?" He was starting to say he pooped in his pants...but I started talking really loudly and walking very quickly toward the restrooms so he couldn't be heard. I would not be that mom. I got him cleaned up...but the evidence was still lingering...if you get my drift. We had to call it a day.

What did I learn from that experience? It was going to be a LONG time before I let the boys go swimming again without swim diapers. Caleb finally talked me out of them for camp last year.

Caleb's Got Mad Smarts

2009-06-01T23:40:00.000-06:00

Monday morning was the 4th Grade Awards Ceremony and Caleb got to show off his smarts. He received not only awards in Social Studies, Texas Readers Club, and Citizenship, but he received...

*Special Recognition for being in the Duke University Talent Identification Program. This means that his grades are in the top 5% of students for his grade level...and

*Principal's Award for Outstanding Character.

I'm so proud of him for overcoming his anxiety he faced earlier this year to excel in all of his classes, getting Commended Performance on his Math Taks and ONE point shy of Commended Performance on his Writing Taks.

He's a great student...

...a great helper in class...

...and a great friend.

Caleb, I'm so proud of your accomplishments this year. I pray you will always believe in your ability to do great things through God's help. You are going to be an awesome 5th grader!

I love you...to the moon & back.
Mama

P.S. If this post sounds like I'm bragging about my kid...I am.

Oops, He Did it Again

2009-05-29T22:41:00.005-06:00

You might think this story originated today. But you'd be wrong. This story originated on an early day in August of 1972. That would be the day my Mr. McFearless was born...with a penchant for all things daring and adventurous. I've heard the tales of his exploits as a boy/teen growing up... things I doubt even his mother knows all about. Tales of sitting on the end of a tractor that is headed up a steep hill and jumping right before the tractor topples...and tales of finding his way on top of his church where he and his sidekick played. This and more found its way as a way of life for my Mr. McRisky and eventually led to his choosing a career where risk is a daily calling. I knew this going in. And I admit I liked it. I liked the fact that he was brave and strong...and took chances. I still do.

What is a much harder pill to swallow though...is that both my punks were evidently born with the same gene. I think it was in between the birth of the boys that Steve stumbled across this, and it seemed to validate every daring, risky stunt he had ever pulled. I read the book too, and as much as it scares me to say it...I want the boys to live their life passionately, with adventure, and bravery...and yes, risk. I want them to have warrior hearts and fight for what is right and just. I want them to climb trees and mountains...and travel long roads for a good cause. I want them to be roller-coaster loving and fast go-kart driving...and to face their fears with The Sword in their hand. I want them to be high-divers and long-jumpers...ahhh, yes...JUMPING.

Why on earth would you slide when you can jump? That feeling of falling through the air is only rudely interrupted by a wrong landing...a crack and an ankle that is now pointed sideways instead of straight. Such is the story of a 12 year old warrior boy who grabbed his ankle, popped it back into place straight...and has a tremendously high pain tolerance.

Today started out as any other day...me going in to wake up the boys for school. I knew both of them would bound out of bed because Caleb had a field trip to go to, and Cody had his end of year party at a local park. Cody jumped out of bed and donned his most comfy shorts and his grade-level tee. Caleb turned over and told me he didn't feel good...he had a headache and was sore all over. I told him he was probably sore from football camp they had just finished the night before...to get up and get dressed and I would get him a Tylenol to help with the aches. As soon as I felt his head though, I knew there would be no field trip for my feverish youngest warrior boy today.

On the way to take Cody to school, I called to make an appointment for Caleb. We've gone through too many Fridays of being sick without going to the doctor...only to suffer through the weekend before being able to get some meds on Monday. Told Cody I would try to make it to his party at some point during the day.

Caleb tested negative for strep and flu...so evidently a virus of some sort... we're very familiar with this routine. As I'm walking out of Caleb's doctor's visit, I get a call that went like this:

"Hi Mrs. Pierce, Cody has taken a fall here at the park and his leg is hurting him quite a bit. We think you need to come get him." I'm thinking...okay, he's probably sprained his leg or something...it happens and he'll get over it in a day or two. And then she adds, "And the school nurse is on her way too. She thought we might need to call an ambulance."

Now is when I don't want him to be a warrior boy...I want him to play nicely with his friends, fold his hands, say his prayers, read a book...and how about SLIDE down the bouncer slide instead of jumping!

So today ended up being the polar opposite of a normal day (although it's becoming more of a norm for us it seems)...and a day we spent here...again...just a closer location this time...

...with this

and after x-rays and a CT scan...this...a fractured fibula...

...and a fractured ankle,

and some good pain meds.

And why is this punk here with me?

'Cause there was no time to run him home to fight off his virus. Good thing we ended up at the hospital. Poor boy...brother had to one-up his sick day.

So after the wrapping...

and splinting...

...we got to do this...

Our living room now resembles a M.A.S.H. unit...

for the crippled and infected.

After being home for a couple of hours, I went out to find this...

Cody's teacher had brought by Get Well balloons and stuffed our mailbox full of handmade get well cards, Sudoku puzzles...and candy from his classmates. So sweet.

We are adjusting to a new look...

and trying to live with the fact that our summer is going to be way different than we had planned.

We follow up with an orthopedist next week...and find out if there will be a surgery with a cast, or just a cast. Neither will work with the season passes to Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor they received as Christmas presents. Neither will work with swimming, or mountain bike riding...or playing an impromptu game of baseball or football on the ranch.

Would he do it again? Tonight when he was asking for more pain medication...no. Ask him again in a few days...he might possibly say 'yes.'

They can't help it...they take after their dad and they're wild at heart. It's a treacherous combination.

Sweet Design Wednesday

2009-05-27T21:32:00.004-06:00

I purchased both of these items at 75% off at Joann's and with the help of my sistas, couldn't pass up the idea of making it into a front door decoration (I don't know why they were bothered that I still had my Christmas door decoration up...in April!).

Anyway, I didn't like the design on the front of the pail, so I made my own out of scrapbook paper and a sweet font, and decoupaged it to the front of the pail. Then I de-footed (?) the bird, and hot glued him on the top of the pail. Now it's proudly hanging on my front door. Isn't it sweet?

Conversation of the Week

2009-05-26T15:07:00.004-06:00

This was the conversation on the way home from school today:

Cody: If I had a monster truck and one of those hot rod motorcycle guys pulled in front of me, my truck would run over them and I wouldn't even know it.

Me: Cody, you shouldn't talk about running over people, on accident or on purpose.

Cody: It's not like I'm ever going to have a monster truck!

Me: Still, even without the monster truck, you shouldn't talk about running over people.

Cody: If they were aiming an RPG (rocket propelled grenade) at me, could I run over them?

Me: Yes son, if they are aiming an RPG at you, you can run over them.

I'll be expecting a call from the military recruiters any day now.

Game Over!

2009-05-24T23:28:00.006-06:00

We have finished another season of baseball here in the Pierce household...

and not only have Steve and I welcomed the end of seemingly endless practices and three to four games a week, the punks are enjoying the time off too. They now have more time to do this…

...which they are completely obsessed with right now. They are both truly thrill-seekers and like a lot of different activities…this one scares me, but to them it isn’t much fun unless it scares Mama a little.

Both boys moved up divisions this year…Cody to majors and Caleb to minors. Cody’s team ended the year in 4th place which is great for a first year division team, and Caleb’s team ended the year in 1st place…which is awesome! They both played different positions this year and had fun playing on teams with their friends.

We saw both boys learn some important lessons this year…about the game and people, and we saw and heard some things we wished we hadn’t in the stands and dugouts. But with every year, Steve and I leave the season with a clearer view of the ‘big picture’…and that’s a valuable thing for our punks.

Happy Birthday Cody

2009-05-23T20:53:00.004-06:00

Dear Cody,

Twelve years ago today, you changed my life. I dreamed of a day like that, but honestly didn’t know if it would ever come true. You don’t realize it now, but 34 is pretty late to be starting to have kids. But God is good…and the only explanation I can give is that He loves me so much.

On Valentine’s Day of 1996, your daddy said the sweetest words to me…let’s start a family. So we began thinking about you, and praying for you. Finally on September 8th, I felt like I was pregnant so I rushed to the store and bought a home pregnancy test. The test came back negative, and I was so disappointed. That’s one of the toughest disappointments there is as an adult. We continued to pray, and dream and hope.

Since I was feeling different even after finding out I wasn’t pregnant, I made a doctor’s appointment for me on September 16th. When the nurse wanted me to take a pregnancy test, I told her I already had and it was negative…she still wanted me to take another one. So I did, and I was seated in the waiting room to wait for the doctor. The nurse opened the door to call me in and when I got to the door, she said, “Your test was positive.” Unfortunately, you’ll never know what those words mean to a woman, but let me just say…they are awesome! I started shaking…I couldn’t write. I began to cry…and as I got in the car to leave, I began to whisper prayers of gratitude to the Lord. I was a mother…a mother!…and at that moment I fell head over heels in love with you.

I rushed home so I could tell daddy in person. I wasn’t sure he would comprehend since he was sleeping from being at work all night…but he perked up pretty fast when I said those words…”I’m pregnant.” He was in shock, and then he cried. He kept hugging me and telling me he loved me…and then for the first of many times to come, he kissed my belly and told you he loved you.

That day was the day we began to care for you…to make sure you were safe and well fed…and loved. I began to see the doctor once a month, and he told me to expect you on May 23, 1997. We couldn’t wait for that day to arrive.

On October 31st, we saw your heart beating on a sonogram…and I cried. You were 10.6 weeks old.

On December 4th, I heard your heart beat for the first time…and I cried.

On January 2, 1997, I felt you kick for the first time and it felt like little tiny butterflies fluttering around…and I cried.

On January 3, 1997, we saw you again in a sonogram…and discovered you were a boy…and I cried!

On January 11, 1997, you gave us a scare and I was put on bedrest for the weekend…and I cried more than I’d ever cried before. I believe that was the first time you enjoyed doing things that scare me.

On May 21, 1997, I went in for my appointment and my blood pressure was high, so the doctor told me no more working…and I cried because I was ready for you to come. I went home and waited.

At 7:00 a.m. on May 23rd, you made your intentions known. You woke me up and I started having pains. At around 11 that morning, my contractions started being about 1 to 2 minutes apart, so we woke daddy up and left for the hospital to wait for your arrival.

After a long day of pain and waiting, the doctor told us around 9:45 p.m. that you weren't going to budge from your comfy little home, and he thought he should go in and get you. I was prepared for surgery, and at 10:45 p.m., the doctor cut me open and pulled you out. You started crying and it was the sweetest cry I had ever heard.

The nurse held your face up to mine and I kissed you and told you how much I loved you…and I cried.

In the last 12 years I’ve watched you grow and learn, laugh and cry, be gentle and rough…and I’ve loved every minute of it. You are witty, and smart…and handsome and sweet.

You are mine…and yet I decided 12 years ago to give you back to the One who gave you to me. And He is weaving together a wonderful, beautiful, amazing person…and I smile and smile.

Love,

Mama

The Big Day

2009-05-19T23:25:00.003-06:00

This past weekend, we went to Southhaven, MS to celebrate the high school graduation of my twin nieces, Ashley & Hillary. I shall dispense with the customary "where did all the time go" and "wow, I really feel old now" comments and just say there are times when you feel like you're standing totally still and the world is moving all around you. That's how I felt this weekend. It doesn't seem possible...yet here it is. One of those times... when your mind plays images over and over again and as much as you'd like to slow down the alarming rate at which life moves, there is nothing within your power to do so.

Dear Hillary and Ashley,

What a beautiful weekend we shared with you in celebrating leaving one stage of your life and entering another. In times like these, the word "proud" gets thrown around alot, but take it to heart because you girls have a lot to be proud of, and I am so proud of both of you and the accomplishments you’ve made.

This is typically a hard time in the life of a young person. The world is at your door, yet there is so much fear of the unknown and of leaving the safety net of home and family. I want to encourage you both to face your fears head on…and do hard things. When you face challenges and choose to plough through, you become stronger and more brave…which leads you to take on even more adventures. This is the time…the time you really decide who you are going to be. Some can’t get past the high school years…they cling to those halls and memories, and never quite embrace the field before them.

It’s also the time when you decide who God is to you. He’s no longer just the one you say nighttime prayers to…but the one who longs to hold your hand and walk you through every decision, every question…every circumstance. He is always at work…and He wants you to join Him in His work. My prayer is that you will. I pray you will develop a Kingdom dream…one that will let you see the BIG picture and one that will not allow you to get swallowed up in the status quo. I pray you’ll work hard…and be responsible. I pray you’ll love with abandon…not only those you look like you…but those who don’t. I pray you’ll live a life of sacrifice and service…and not regret that one minute.

And when you make mistakes...and you will, know that there will always be love waiting in the wings for you. Be true to yourself…be true to your God. Hate the devil…and love God with equal resolve. And know that I, for one, am on your side…always. I love you.

Sweet Design Wednesday

2009-05-13T13:52:00.004-06:00

I've had several babies to buy for recently and for three of them I ordered these:

Little appliqued onesies with coordinating bibs...one for a boy and two for girls.

LOVE this little owl print.

And this one is for a baby whose mom is especially fond of cupcakes.

I ordered all these from this Etsy store, and am very happy with the quality and the cuteness!

Then this precious baby rag quilt was made for me by one of my sistas, Kristy, with fabrics from Hobby Lobby. Soooo sweet and cute for a special baby girl, and is practically already famous. If you want one, I think she is taking special orders. Comment here on my blog, and I'll get her email address to you.

Happy Wednesday!

Abby is a Dork Dog

2009-05-11T22:08:00.006-06:00

Evidently sometime tonight, we let in some behemoth fly and it has taken great delight in driving Abby crazy. Jaynie, sit back and enjoy. These are for you:

As I sit and write this post, Abby is in the living room sliding around still trying to catch that fly. Between the storms this morning and the fly tonight, she's likely to need stronger drugs tomorrow.

A Guest Post from Gina's Baby Daddy

2009-05-10T18:14:00.003-06:00

Steve called me this morning and told me he wanted to "Guest Post" on my blog today...and because I am generous like that, I agreed. No really, he always says the sweetest things to me and I knew that if he wanted to post it for the internet to see, it must be special to him. So without further ado, here is the love of my life...

Steve here. I just wanted to take a moment to tell you about Gina, “The Mother”. While Gina is great at everything she does (the list is endless), there is one role that stands head and shoulders above the rest. She has learned many skills in her life but there is one skill she was born with, and that’s being a mother. Moses parted the red sea and Gina is molding two lives. They both knew what God made them to do and they did it.

When Gina and I were dating, I could see how she loved Allison, Darren, Ashley, Hillary, and Tiffany. She loved them like they were her own and I knew then that she would be a great mother.

If you know Gina then you know she loves her boys. But to those of you who have had the privilege of seeing her love her boys up close and in person, then you are truly blessed. When she gives Cody or Caleb a big hug and tells them that she loves them, I know they will never doubt it. Whether it is a school project, doctor’s appointment, talk about how to treat a girl, ballgame, or anything in between, Gina is there.

So to the greatest, most tender-hearted, loving, non-virgin mother (Mary’s kid was perfect) that has ever lived I say, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY GINA!!!

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T17:17:00.003-06:00

I was watching Grey’s Anatomy week before last. It was the episode where Izzy’s mom comes to visit her because she is in the hospital with Stage 4 metastatic melanoma. Evidently, their relationship is strained because even though she is facing death, Izzy would rather her mom go home than stay by her side. She made the statement “we do better loving each other from a distance.”

I know this is a non-reality TV show…but that statement made me stop and think about how true that is about a lot of mother/daughter relationships…and how it couldn’t be farther from the truth about the relationship between my mom and me.

This is the distance between my mom and me…103 steps to be exact from my backdoor to hers. When I tell people I live next door to my parents, some people laugh, some apologize. And you know what? I give thanks. I’m thankful that when I need to borrow a cup of sugar, or eggs, or laundry detergent… I just walk across the yard and I don’t even have to knock. I’m thankful that when I need or just want to talk, I can be there in a couple of minutes. I’m thankful that my kids are getting to grow up really “knowing” their grandparents. How many people miss that blessing?

The speed at which life moves is no stranger to my thoughts. I know that one day if the Lord doesn’t return before then, I will have to say goodbye to my mother just like she said goodbye to hers this past November. Until then, I will enjoy every 15 minute pop-in visit, every evening we somehow end up just hanging in the backyard, every time she watches me walk home when it’s dark out…and waves to me before I round the corner out of sight, and I will treasure every Mother’s Day I can walk 103 steps to kiss my mom and tell her I love her.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom.

Pics of the Week

2009-05-08T18:38:00.007-06:00

With Mother's Day coming up, I chose to post some of my favorite pics of when the boys were little. Being a mother has been one of the best experiences of my life...

We were constantly going into Caleb's room in the morning and finding Cody in bed with him. As you can tell, Caleb wasn't always thrilled with that.

What is it with that finger thing?

Yes, we used to have a white couch...A WHITE COUCH! I purchased it pre-marriage, pre-kids. Not a good idea.

Caleb in mommy's lipstick. Had to really fight back the laughter while I got on to him for that.

Cody always loved writing in his Bible...with crayon.

This was a common picture. Cody was always grabbing Caleb's hand and kissing it...real hard...like with his teeth clinched...until Caleb would cry.

During one of my numerous photo sessions...and Cody ALWAYS ended up crying at the end. He could not handle being still that long. Caleb was so obedient...but he was 6 months old.

I love my boys!

The Making of a Horror Flick

2009-05-07T22:11:00.008-06:00

My phone had to be replaced today, and as I was hot-syncing my old phone to my computer so that I wouldn't lose anything on it, I noticed there were some videos that had been taken on my phone. I knew Cody had "borrowed" my phone at the baseball fields a few weeks ago, but I had never seen his handiwork until today. Oh my...there were three videos made, and I'll share one with you here. If you can actually understand any of it...and you know anything about Cody, you will totally appreciate the humor in this. All I can say is...my kids watch WAY TOO MUCH Survivor Man, and think way too much about dying. Okay, they get that part from me.

Evidently, he's going to marry a woman named Janet, and have a kid named Billy...and hopefully he will be rescued...from the baseball fields.

Sweet Design Wednesday

2009-05-06T10:16:00.004-06:00

Yes, my fascination (dare I say obsession?) with birds is alive and well.

This feathered friend was rescued from Hobby Lobby and put in her rightful spot above my desk...and I LOVE her.

Projects

2009-05-04T23:07:00.004-06:00

Today was a school holiday, and like most days when school is not in session, the boys like to see what they can create, invent, build, etc. After they rode bikes, built nunchucks, whittled a spear, painted said spear, repaired a fence and planted some flower seeds, they decided to build a dam in the front yard.

If this swine flu outbreak closes their school for a couple of weeks, I'm pretty sure they'll start an addition on to the house.

Sweet Design Friday

2009-05-01T11:48:00.004-06:00

I know, I KNOW...it's supposed to be Wednesday...but you wouldn't even believe how stacked my desk has been this week. I've missed you internet.

Is it weird that even office products turn me on these days...how can you NOT buy these file folders? They even make you think there's something other than boring accounting papers on the inside!

I bought these jewels at OfficeMax (way cooler stuff than Office Depot!), and the brand is DiVOGA.

I am seriously obsessed with birds and trees...as you will most assuredly see in future "sweet design" episodes.

Pic of the Week

2009-04-24T10:27:00.004-06:00

As we get deep into baseball season each year, I love to go back and look at this:

This is only 3 short years ago. I'm feeling a little nostalgic this morning.

Education at its Finest

2009-04-23T14:41:00.002-06:00

Today is National Take Your Child to Work Day although I’m not really sure it’s National but anyway where we live it is so we are participating because my kids are all like “the teachers really want us to learn about different careers” and I’m all like “no, the teachers just want a day where they don’t have to put up with half of you kids,” but it’s their bad because the good kids are the ones that are home because their parents don’t mind having them home and the bad kids’ parents don’t want them at home because…hello…they’re bad even at home except for my niece and nephew because they’re not bad but they still had to go to school today. So anyway I told Steve he really needed to take the boys to fight crime with him today because the last time I tried to teach my kids what I do at work they’re all like “mom, this is soooo boring” and I’m all “I know kids…it’s accounting just deal with it and keep shredding,” and “hey we get in free to every mercyme concert.” And they’re all “I know but you never take us” and I’m all “I know because me and daddy have to have a date night every once in a while.” So I’m all “Steve you really need to take them to catch some robbers” and he’s all like “I’m not even working that day so I can’t take them” and I’m all “well what are we gonna do so that I can say they worked on take your child to work day?” and he’s all “I’ll take them mountain biking because you get real tired after you do that so it’s kind of like work.” And I’m all “okay, but shoot a delinquent gangster squirrel or something while you’re out there so it will kind of look like you took them to work.” And that, people, is why we don’t homeschool.

Sweet Design Wednesday

2009-04-22T19:50:00.003-06:00

I'm glad everyone doesn't drive white, black and silver cars.

This ain't your father's ~~oldsmobile~~ volkswagen. If it is, he's probably very sweet himself.

Should Have Gone With Ants

2009-04-21T19:55:00.009-06:00

First: Cody had a project due this week at school where he had to build a model, and then write a paper on the process. He built a replica of the treehouse that he and Caleb helped their daddy build. FYI...if you are a creative person at all, these projects will cost you way more than is probably intended by the teachers.

The only thing missing is the arsenal of guns kept there.

Second: Okay, I'm not saying this guy needs to find a different line of work...but can he really still be employed after this advertising idea?

and Third: I will spare you the picture of my other eye which is now conveniently infected just as the other one was starting to feel better. I have purposefully not posted on here for a few days because I know how easy it is for viruses to spread on these here computers. You're welcome.

Warning: You Might Want to Choose Other Friends

2009-04-17T17:48:00.005-06:00

Remember this?

Well exactly three weeks later (almost to the hour), we got to go again. But this time, it was Cody who decided that he couldn't let his brother get all the attention.

Cody was playing an 8:00 p.m. baseball game, was up to bat, squared up to bunt...and the beast that was pitching did his wind up and threw the ball (we're guessing 50-60 mph...I do not kid when I say he was a beast)...and Cody could not get out of the way fast enough. The ball hit him square on in the right chest area. It stunned him...kind of doubled over a little...took a drink of water and went to 1st base to run the bases. By the time he made it home, he was out of breath, coughing, and threw up three times.

He kept telling us that his breathing didn't feel normal...so we took him. Back to the ER...same intake nurse...same crowd.

After we had been there about an hour, Cody said his breathing felt normal again...but they wanted to go ahead and x-ray his lungs and ribs to make sure there were no contusions.

The good news is...no inside contusions...only bruising and soreness. He's got a nice bruise in the shape of a baseball.

He was happy to be leaving the hospital...as were we.

And because we are equal opportunity parents and because we had not had dinner yet, we told him he could decide where he wanted to get a midnight snack. He chose...Waffle House. If you've never been there after midnight, you must put it on your bucket list.

The rest of our week has not gone any smoother...

Steve took a spill while biking this week when his back brakes failed him...

and I got a nice case of the conjunctivitis.

You might not want to ride in the car with us...or let your children play at our house. I'm just sayin...

But isn't this beautiful?

Clear eyes finally! I am now keeping him in a glass case.

Promise

2009-04-12T22:38:00.003-06:00

I've never seen the nailprints in His hands...but I've felt His hands around me as I read test results and struggled with a life changing diagnosis.

I've never seen His nail-scarred feet...but I've felt Him walk beside me down hospital corridors and unfamiliar paths.

I've never heard Him speak...but I've felt His breath in my ear as He spoke words of comfort...and hope.

I've never seen His blood...but I've felt it wash over me at every indiscretion and offense.

I've never seen the empty tomb...but I've felt the victory of a man who death could not hold.

My Dear Savior,

Thank you for not taking the easy way out. Thank you for your sacrifice, and your blood shed on my behalf. But most of all, thank you for being true to your Word...and leaving that cold, dark tomb to give us hope, HOPE and a future. May my life reflect your sacrifice.

...That Makes Me White as Snow

2009-04-11T17:30:00.004-06:00

I have never been worthy...my sins are as drops in an ocean.

A careless thought, a hasty word, a life unsurrendered...

Guilt is piercing...and begs me to withdraw knowing there is nothing I can do in my own power.

But...Jesus.

"...without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." -- Hebrews 9:22

Pics of the Week

2009-04-10T13:52:00.004-06:00

This is Easter Sunday in 2004. I could still get away with dressing them alike.

That year, we had lunch and an egg hunt over at some of our sistas' brother's house...and it was cold that year.

A few things never change though...

Our kids are as redneck as they come. Nothing commemorates the resurrection of our Savior like getting tattoos.

Sweet Design Wednesday

2009-04-08T09:07:00.003-06:00

I love going to Sweet Tomatoes. Not only do they offer great variety and great taste in food, their decor is sweet. It's very clean, contemporary and minimalist...

and they use words on their walls...which would improve any restaurant in my opinion. Unless the words are "You'll pick up a good case of salmonella here."

I May be Ex-Communicated

2009-04-07T12:15:00.002-06:00

A couple of weeks ago during Spring Break, the boys and I went with some friends to the Fort Worth Zoo.

I realize I'm creeping into dangerous territory here...and it may get me kicked out of Mommyville, but [brace yourself] I hate the zoo. I hate the zoo for what it is...and for what it could be. It could be a sweet place to take the family and leisurely stroll through the nature preserves...oohing and aahing over the animals who are entertaining you...they frolic and play with each other...they do tricks...YES, TRICKS! They might even jump, and run...and hop. But this is not what the zoo is...my friends, the zoo is BORING.

It is so packed with people you have to stand in line to see the animals. Sleeping.

I know animals have to sleep...but do we not have the technology to get them on our sleep schedule so they could be awake to entertain us? The monkeys/apes are clearly the only half-interesting exhibit there because they will actually poop into their hand and then eat it...and as disgusting as that is, at least it gives you something to watch and tell your kids NOT to do.

They're also great at picking bugs/fleas off each other...I'm okay with that because THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING.

Seriously, would it be asking too much to throw some raw meat in the lion and tiger cage every once in a while so we could see them in their natural state? How awesome would it be [and I'm going to whisper this so that not everyone can hear], if they put a zebra in the lion's habitat? That is entertainment people!

I mean there's a reason why the Discovery channel is so popular...we love to see animals do what they do best...hunt, kill and eat. And if the zebra can actually out-run or out-manuever the lion...that much more the entertainment. Patrons would actually be cheering the zebras on!

Okay, I'm sick...I know this.

Sadly, I guess the ATM's were sleeping too. We never did see those.

A Little Better

2009-04-06T15:48:00.004-06:00

An update on Caleb for family and friends:

When I got home from my scrapbook retreat yesterday, Caleb was still running 102 fever and looking and feeling bad even though Daddy had taken VERY good care of him while I was away. When he woke up this morning around 11 a.m., he looked and felt a little better (maybe because mommy was home???...just a thought). I went ahead and called his Pediatrician just to ask her opinion about the fever since we've been on antibiotics for 6 days now, and she wanted to see him.

She changed antibiotics for the strep throat, and we have a little different plan of attack with regard to the eyes because now it appears that the infection may have moved over to the left eye also. We follow up with the Opthomologist on Wednesday.

The most obvious change from last week is that he has lost 6 pounds since last Tuesday. God love him...he just looks so pitiful.

But I knew he was feeling better when he did this:

He's BAAAACCCKK!

Thanks for loving and praying for him....

Pic of the Week

2009-04-04T13:47:00.003-06:00

Here's what they should look like...

Precious.

Here We Go Again

2009-04-02T19:55:00.005-06:00

Remember this? Surely so...because it was only a short 13 days ago. We abided by all the doctor's orders and instructions...and it seemed to work. Caleb had 3 full days of 'well' eyes...and seemed to be doing fine. Well other than developing strep throat sometime on Tuesday and missing school on Wednesday. Then this morning, he woke up with a swollen, red eye. I just laughed because seriously...this is our house the past 2 weeks.

I know alot of you have much more serious illnesses and stuff going on in your house...but I am feeling beat down...seriously beat down.

So is he.

I called to see if we could get him in to an opthamologist close to us but was told we needed to follow up with the same Dr that saw him after his "accident"...so off we go to get him from school and make the drive over to that Dr. He and his dad entertained themselves while waiting for the doc...

and then when he was examining all of this...

he said, "now that's technology."

Come to find out...Caleb now has a bacterial infection that is highly contagious. Does that make your eyes itchy just thinking about it? So no school the rest of the week...no touching each other...washing hands alot...stronger antibiotics.

After we picked up his school work and sat at the kitchen table working on it all afternoon, I seriously felt like I was a homeschool mom. And I am so not cut out for that. Thank you God for great teachers and great schools! After a while he said, "Mom I can't keep my eyes open"...and he was like this in about 30 seconds...

Great...now I have to sterilize my favorite blankie and my favorite Target pillow!

Sweet Design Wednesday

2009-04-01T22:38:00.003-06:00

Back for my third installment of Sweet Design Wednesday. I love, love, LOVE this laptop case. I purchased it from here and there are lots of sweet things to peruse in her store. There are many bags in stores for 14-15" computers, but very few for 17"... and those that are there are BORING.

I carried this on my trip to Nashville, and it not only fit my laptop, but the cord, the wireless mouse, and all my important papers with room to spare.

Bye, bye black leather office products. I say "Buy American, Buy Cute!"

When We All Get to Heaven

2009-03-31T18:35:00.002-06:00

This was a conversation at the boys table at Beach Club Bible Study today:

Me: Jesus being Savior of your life means more than just getting to go to Heaven when you die...it means putting Him in charge of your life here on earth.

Boy #1: I thought when you get saved you don't die.

Me: Your physical body dies, but your Spirit has eternal life in Heaven.

Boy #2: I wonder if there will be Red Bull in Heaven.

Cody: In my mind I have a picture that all of our spirits look like egg rolls and when that day comes, there will be a bunch of egg rolls rising up to Heaven.

Yeah...it's spiritually deep at the boys table.

Ride for the Heroes

2009-03-31T08:14:00.006-06:00

This past Saturday all three of my boys did the Ride for Heroes in Aledo. This is a bike ride that raises money for first responders of East Parker County. The boys have really become bicycle enthusiasts, and this was their first official ride challenge. My first challenge was getting up at 6:00 a.m. on a Saturday to go with them. This was my second challenge:

They did great though. Caleb made it 3 miles...and those were probably the hardest miles...mostly uphill and the wind against him. Steve and Cody both made it through the 8 mile route.

And this was the ride home...

As an added bonus, we received a call later that day that Cody's name had been drawn in one of the raffles. He won a pop-up canopy. We've been wanting one of those for the really hot baseball games. Cody's lucky streak continues...remember this and this? I think he's trying to think of a way he could turn that into a career.

Pic of the Week

2009-03-27T13:22:00.003-06:00

Here's a picture from around this time of year back in 2004. I get the goofiest lookin' grin on my face when I look back at pictures from my boys at this age...they were so stinkin cute. This was taken in Glen Rose at the Dinosaur Valley State Park.

Happy Friday everyone!

Jesus Loves a Good Mattress

2009-03-26T09:21:00.004-06:00

Yesterday as I got out at the Sprint store, I looked up and saw this.

It was the most amazing cloud sky scene I've ever seen. It's like Jesus totally forgot to make his bed and left his pillow top down for us to enjoy.

I hope you had cool clouds where you are too.

*This reminds me of a funny story of when my older sister and her family were living in Korea. They were outside one night there and someone pointed out the Big Dipper, and one of my nieces (who shall remain nameless) said...and I quote..."they have the Big Dipper over here too?"

Sweet Design Wednesday

2009-03-25T23:08:00.006-06:00

I know...you didn't think I could make it two weeks in a row on a theme? Ah-hah! I am actually posting this at 12:09 a.m. on Thursday, but I can hit a button to "fake" the date, so it's still Wednesday!

This beauty was made by one of my bff's Kristy. I picked out the materials from my fav Hobby Lobby...and Kristy sewed it up for me. It is a rag quilt...and this picture doesn't do it justice...it's so beautiful and soft. The more you wash it, the softer and prettier it becomes. I know you want one of your own to cuddle up with on the couch.

Frankly, I overdid the pink in it because this house is drastically short on pink.

ER...and George Clooney Nowhere in Sight

2009-03-22T17:49:00.004-06:00

This is what happens when you play King of the Hill, and someone decided to de-throne you. Caleb got two eyes full of mulch...nice dirty, soily, grungy mulch. Beautiful in a flower bed...not so in the eyes.

After many flushings with water, ice packs, a nap, and a shot of ClearEyes, they still weren't better. He was still having trouble opening his eyes and seeing well. Momma called the Dr and the Dr said, go to the Emergency Room. Oh how I wish he would have said, "no more monkeys jumping on the bed." So we go here.

It didn't stop Caleb from looking out of the side of his eyes to watch basketball though. I think there was some big game on or something.

Caleb had a comedian for a doctor...but Caleb's a tough crowd. He did enjoy his eyes being orange though, and we really enjoyed the black light show.

I grabbed my favorite blankie before we left so he'd be all comfy.

This is Caleb's favorite picture...after they dilated his right eye. He thinks he's famous now.

We thought we were getting a pirate patch, but no such luck. This is pretty cool too though.

And of course, we had to go through the Jack in the Box drive-through at about 12:20 a.m. to get his favorite...a chocolate shake.

An opthomologist who was consulted by the ER doctor made special arrangements to see Caleb on Sunday morning...yes, you heard me. A doctor went out of her way to open her office, call in a staff member to get our info, and examine Caleb to see how he did overnight. While it frightened me a little that she actually did that, I was relieved when she told us the corneal abrasion was already healing. Then she told us she would have to take Caleb as payment for a Sunday visit...because the ER had already claimed Cody.

She diagnosed Caleb as having Toxic Conjunctivitis, for which she prescribed liquid gold to drop into his eyes 4 times per day...for 7 days. It seems cheaper when you say the drops only cost $2.96 each time you put them in his eyes...so I'm telling myself that over and over again. She also gave him these super cool shades to wear because he is sensitive to light probably until Monday night.

The best part...Caleb is going to be fine. His eyes will heal...and he will be playing King of the Hill all over again. But only if it snows.

Sweet Art & Design Wednesday

2009-03-18T01:43:00.004-06:00

On Wednesdays (or at least today because sometimes I can't keep up with things on a weekly basis), I'm going to post pictures of things that make me smile...things I love...things that have good design and beauty. 'Why,' you ask? Just because. I love good design and art.

I commissioned this little jewel from Denyse, and I love it! You should check her blog, Quirky Bee Designs to see her other creations. Now I am able to wear my babies close to my heart every day.

Perchance to Sleep

2009-03-17T11:55:00.004-06:00

I hate it that the very place that is supposed to bring rest, relaxation, peace...really just brings this:

This house is a natural disaster. The laundry's as high as the doorpost. I have to got to get that pile of work done tomorrow...the start of the tour added so much paperwork to my desk. It's spring break and I need to spend time with the boys...and oh, Steve took off work this week, so we need to be together as a family...but I need to work this week. I am so failing at eating better...and that great idea I had to get a personal trainer? Yeah, she's kickin my butt so that every other day I cannot move another body part. I need one more director for VBS...I wonder who I could get? I hope the zoo's not crowded on Thursday because I would really like it if we could get a parking space up close and I would like it even better if I don't get 42 work-related text messages while I'm there. The yard is totally overrun with weeds...we need to weed & feed so we have a small chance of having a half-decent yard this year. I can't believe the twins are graduating from high school this year...what should I get them for graduation? I wonder how Alli's feeling? She has strept throat. I wonder if I'm missing papers that have come home with Cody about Jr. High? Surely I need to be doing something...signing up for something...buying something by now. Oh, thinking of buying something...Cody needs new baseball gear this year...and we can only get the striped baseball pants at one sporting goods store in town. Need to get there this week. I hope that spot on Caleb's cheek heals up...maybe I should have it seen about. That reminds me, I need to follow up on that insurance claim. Our back porch really needs some work done...need to fix the fence and gate. I need to make sure I get the page kit done for Legacy this week so I don't wait until the last minute like I do everything other week...except when Kristy does it. I need to organize the beach club stuff better. That filing stack is not going away...I have got to get to that. Only 3 more baseball practices this week. Oh, I'm supposed to go there tomorrow night, but Steve is working and Cody has baseball practice...must see if Pawpaw could get him to practice and back. We have got to get our passports this week, but I need to get a copy of my birth certificate...I forgot where I go to get that? I need to check on that this week. Did I make the house payment this month? I'm sure I did, but I better check myself. I need to go back to the Sprint store and find out why I can't hot sync my phone...argghhh. If I can't hot sync my phone, I might as well give up because I will never be able to remember my schedule. I need to reschedule my trainer appointment so I can take the boys to the zoo. I need to remind Steve to get the tires rotated on the car. I wonder if the garage door is closed. Did I set my alarm clock? Spaghetti sounds good for supper one night this week. Did Abby go out? Why is the dog next door barking? I really want to see Confessions of a Shopaholic. I wonder if Izzy is going off Grey's? Why am I thinking about that? I haven't taken my shot in 3 weeks. My memory sucks. Great...I wonder how many years until I'm in a wheelchair. I wish I knew how to change the header on my blog by myself. I haven't had my quiet time this week...I'm a loser. God, do you hear me? I'm glad our Sunday School teacher is teaching on 'balance' right now...I could use that. If I could just have a few more hours in my day...that'd be great.

I'm seriously frightened to go to bed.

What Happens When Boredom Sets In

2009-03-09T22:03:00.001-06:00

2 Army men...$0.50

1 box Aluminum foil...$2.50

1 Whirlpool tub...$750.00

Boredom in the house...

PRICELESS!

Only a few casualties...

We're Going Green

2009-03-03T21:04:00.003-06:00

In an effort to cut down on wasteful...well, waste...we are now allowing Abby to eat to her fill from the trash can...

and we are saving all that wasteful energy expended using a dishwasher by letting her do this...

We are practically tree huggers.

The Future Mrs. Pierces

2009-02-27T22:23:00.003-06:00

Last night at dinner, we asked the boys to each tell us how they would describe their future wives. After blushing uncontrollably, Cody went first and said in this order:

*Nice
*Caring
*Adventurous

Then Caleb said:

*Kind
*Caring
*Adventurous
*"Risky, but I don't mean gambling."

Cody interrupted and said, "and good looking." Caleb grinned and said, "yeah, and good looking."

When Steve asked why they didn't say "christian", Cody said, "oh, I just understood that to be part of the package."

Girls and Grits

2009-02-27T21:49:00.004-06:00

I knew this day would come. A Girl stole Cody's heart this week. He came home from school Wednesday...talking about her and grinning from ear to ear. He couldn't get enough of her...spending most all the afternoon and evening playing with her...barely coming in the house to see us. Here is the Girl...

Cody is really into skateboarding right now (be warned Kristi Paul!) and the brand of this skateboard is Girl. A boy brought it to school on Wednesday and said that he had gotten a new one and asked Cody if he wanted it. He was so excited...he brought it home and attached his Trucks (don't ask...I don't know what they are either...just what they're called) to it and spent all afternoon riding it. The next day at school, the boy asked for it back... something about losing his new one.

Cody was heartbroken. I told him it wouldn't be the last time his heart would be broken by a Girl.

Thursday afternoon, Steve picked the boys up from school and they went biking again. Caleb couldn't wait to call me from the car on the way home to tell me of the crash he had. (They love to tell me when they get hurt to see if I will get scared or not.) He evidently hit the edge of a tree with his bike and went over the handlebars and landed in a heap. When Steve found him he asked him what hurt, and he said "my arms and my legs." Steve immediately saw our Health Savings Account laying there in the heap with him. But...this boy's got grits. He got up...dusted off and came home with some cuts, scrapes, bruises...and a story to tell. And yes, I was scared.

These pictures are after he cleaned up...I won't tell you the part about him crying all the way through his shower because it burned so bad.

Throwing Myself Under the Bus

2009-02-25T21:31:00.001-06:00

Last week I began working out with a personal trainer. 'Why' you ask? I have no idea other than I just LOVE me some pain and can't get enough of it. Really I am trying to work on strengthening and hoping losing weight will come along for the ride.

Anyway, the first day I worked out with a male personal trainer who was basically showing me the ropes before he assigned a regular trainer to me. We went to a machine where you lay down and put your feet on a lift with weights. The exercise is to lift the weights extending your legs and then bring them back down to your chest. Well, I think you can see where this is heading. There's an awful lot of pressure on your stomach as you come back down, and well...you're rear-end is basically up in the air. And you guessed it, between rep 23 and 24, I passed gas. It was the most dainty little fart you've ever heard...but a fart nonetheless.

Undeterred, I just kept going like it was totally normal to fart between reps 23 and 24...just a part of the exercise if you will. But inside, I was wondering if I could ever top that degree of embarrassment. Perhaps tomorrow I will wear my white pants and unexpectedly get my period.

The Anti-Frisbee Dog

2009-02-23T21:46:00.005-06:00

Here is something that will entertain you...even if you are not a dog lover (sorry it's so dark).

You might enjoy these prayers from a dog also:

Dear God:
Why do humans smell the flowers,
but seldom, if ever, smell one another?

Dear God:
When we get to heaven, can we sit on your couch?
Or is it still the same old story?

Dear God:
We Dogs can understand human verbal instructions,
hand signals, whistles, horns, clickers, beepers, scent ID's,
electromagnetic energy fields, and Frisbee flight paths.
What do humans understand?

Dear God:
More meatballs, less spaghetti, please.

Dear God:
Are there mailmen in Heaven?
If there are, will I have to apologize?

Dear God:
Let me give you a list
of just some of the things
I must remember to be a good Dog.

1. I will not eat the cats' food
before they eat it or after they throw it up.

2. I will not roll on dead seagulls, fish, crabs, etc.,
just because I like the way they smell.

3. The Litter Box is not a cookie jar.

4. The sofa is not a 'face towel'.

5. The garbage collector is not stealing our stuff.

6. I will not play tug-of-war with
Dad's underwear when he's on the toilet.

7. Sticking my nose into someone's crotch
is an unacceptable way of saying 'hello'.

8. I don't need to suddenly stand straight up
when I'm under the coffee table .

9. I must shake the rainwater out of my fur
before entering the house - not after.

10. I will not come in from outside
and immediately drag my butt.

11. I will not sit in the middle of the
living room and lick my crotch.

12. The cat is not a 'squeaky toy' so when
I play with him and he makes that noise,
it's usually not a good thing.

I've actually heard Abby praying some of these...so I know they're true.

March is the New January

2009-02-21T18:38:00.008-06:00

In my line of work, January is notoriously a busy month…so much so that I start hating the month of January beginning in November… and the past few years February is starting to get on my nerves too. Thus the reason my blog posts have been few and far between. When you’re knee deep in payroll returns and journal entries, really nothing your kids do can give you enough momentum to actually take the memory card out of the camera and plug it into the computer…oh, the tremendous labor that takes. So I thought I should recap our big moments in January and February for the books.

I flew to Nashville for business meetings in the middle of the month, and this was the only actual proof that I got on a plane.

I take that command very seriously.

The day after I returned, the boys were in their school's annual talent show. This year Caleb danced with 4 other boys to Stayin' Alive...and it was sooo cute. We finally got to see Caleb do his sweet dance moves (he's the one on the far right in every picture)...

...and what he would look like if I had married a black man.

Cody performed with the same group he was with last year and they danced to "Bad" with a West Side Story/street gang vibe. Totally awesome...and Cody (he's the one in the white t-shirt up front) also showed us his sweet dance moves...

...and what he would like like if I had married Michael Jackson.

Then in February, like everyone else in this flu city, our house spent the last half of one week and the first half of the next week like this...

which caused me to break into an early Valentines gift...

The boys got over the flu just in time to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Normally if our boys got clothes for Valentines they would have totally booed me...but these aren't just any clothes...they're bicycling shorts with a thick layer of padding on the booty. Nothing says love like...well you can probably finish that line.

They obviously think they are "all that" while wearing padded undies.

On Valentine's Eve, Mr. McRomance had arranged for us to go on a date... securing child care (Thanks Tam!) and picking a secret place for us to go. He took me to the Italian Inn, and we sat in one of their private booths... evidently a much sought after treasure. The booths have doors on them so you are literally sitting where no one can see you...oh, but they can hear you because we heard the juiciest things coming from the booth next to us. Not really...they were pretty boring in fact, but just think of how much more exciting this story would be if we would have overheard a marriage proposal, or a lover's quarrel...or a planned bomb attack. Okay, I'm sick...I know this.

Anywho, this restaurant has been around since the 60's, and they have singing waiters and great food. The other cool thing...which I'm sure is a little less cool now to the owners of the establishment, is that they let you write on the walls and doors. So we claimed our spot of history in the first private booth on the east wall...or was it west? I know Mr. McSmartypants will let me know which is correct...and also the exact time we were there...in military time language.

Mr. McRomance had also planned ahead and arranged for the waitress to bring flowers to my table and the gift he had purchased me. Which brings me to a point of annoyance in my marriage...there is no way I can out-romance this guy. I have tried to think of ways to be more romantic than him...because it is a competition...but he is so good at it, the things I do seriously look like a bad attempt at a first date. Thank you babe for all the thought that goes into nights like this.

The rest of the month has been fairly uneventful except for Upwards Basketball...for which I will devote an entire blog posting when it's over so I can document which awards my sons will most assuredly earn...but likely not for Bible memory. Is there an award for hiding your uniform in the bottom of the dirty clothes hamper until midnight the night before games? Because if there is...both my children will win this trophy hands down.

A Boost of Self Esteem

2009-02-20T19:30:00.000-06:00

One of the teachers at my kids' school does this exercise during the 4th grade year, and I have to say I think it's one of the most precious things they do at school...period. They pick one student per day and have every other student in the class write something nice about that student. They bring the strips of orange self-esteem home in a lunch sack...and I can't tell you the pride in the look of Caleb's face when he read to me what everyone in his class said about him.

And this is his favorite...because he knows to a boy his age 'wicked' is really a good thing.

And then yesterday, he came home with a letter from his school saying "I am pleased to inform you that your child has been identified as one of a select group of students qualified to participate in the Duke TIP." After I read it and soaked it in...I talked to Caleb a little about it. I asked him if he wanted me to register him, and he got tears in his eyes and said, "No, not really." I asked him why, and fighting back tears he said that really none of his friends got the letter and could go with him, so he really didn't want to go there. Evidently he thought he was going to have to go away to Duke right now. Precious. After I assured him that it was just an honor, and he would get a certificate saying so, and a newsletter and some other things, he smiled real big and said "Oh, okay, then yes!"

I refrained from telling him that as parents we will be hounded by Duke for the remainder of his school years wanting us to spend his inheritance for the opportunity to go there.

Happy Birthday Mom!

2009-02-19T22:44:00.003-06:00

Here is proof my mom is greatness...and always puts fun with family and making memories at the top of her priority list. She also pretty much watches my children any time I need her...and that is double greatness!

Happy Birthday to the best mom in the whole world...I love you!

And Six To Go...

2009-02-11T22:54:00.003-06:00

Last night was a big night. It was the parent information night at the local Jr. High…the same Jr. High School where my oldest will go in a few months. This day has been looming for a while, but I can usually swallow hard and manage to forget it for a while. It wasn’t quite as easy to forget last night as I listened to all the opportunities and responsibilities that lay ahead of him in the next couple of years.

He’ll be 12 this year. Which doesn’t mean 12…it means we’re two-thirds done. There are plenty of reminders that our work is two-thirds done. He is wearing deodorant without being told now, he is somewhat conscious of wanting to wear matching clothes and we haven’t bought him a kids meal in quite a while. But there’s those nagging thoughts…have I taught him enough? Have I told him at least two-thirds of the things I want him to know…about family, about life…about God?

I didn’t cry last night…oh, those tears will come soon enough…at the end of year party and the clap-out where he will walk the halls of his elementary school for the last time…and when I drop him off for the first day ‘there’…that place that will turn my little freckle-faced, rosy-cheeked, lanky boy into a teenager.

I will brace myself for those days…but right now I don’t want to dwell on the fact that time is flying by…I want to soak in every precious minute with this great kid. He likes Survivor Man and Myth Busters…but can still recite almost every line of most Sponge Bob episodes. He doesn’t like ice cream, but loves chocolate chip muffins. He likes books about history and shooting guns. He loves swimming and baseball and riding his bike. He’s picky about the way clothes feel…not the way they look. He’s almost as tall as me. His room is usually messy with nerf darts, candy wrappers, and socks. He loves hangin with his daddy. He’s nice to his brother…most of the time.

So go away ticking clock. I want to enjoy every last minute of this…

I'm a Little Bit Rock 'n Roll

2009-02-11T09:02:00.003-06:00

I grew up with the Osmonds...watching mostly Donny & Marie. I even had a dream where I married Donny and he wore purple socks. I wish I could say then I got up and played with my Barbies...but I was twenty-something when I had that dream.

So imagine my delight this morning when on the way to school the boys were discussing the phonetic alphabet. This is the alphabet cops use when reading off letters so that there is no question about what letter they are saying. Believe me, in this family we are required to learn the phonetic alphabet...just in case we're ever in an emergency where I have to yell to Steve..."call my MARY OSCAR MARY!"

The boys are still learning what all the letters are and when Caleb said the "T" was Tyrannosaurus, I knew he was in trouble. But when Cody said the "O" was Osmond, I knew that boy is gonna do just fine.

There Might Be Something To This

2009-02-08T23:03:00.003-06:00

Caleb has been coming home from school the past few weeks telling us about the movie he is writing with a friend from school. I know it has something to do with Bunny Foo-Foo and Sprinkles Land (which I think is totally adorable), but when he starts in with all the aliens and different kinds of gun they use in Sprinkles land...frankly, I lose interest and do what all mothers do during times like these...nod, pretend I'm listening, while all the time thinking about what could possibly possess all those girls to go on The Bachelor?

Anyway, he's totally serious about this movie...and I think he might even have a promising career after seeing this in his room...

All I know is any land called Sprinkles is a place I want to be.

Pics of the Week

2009-02-06T22:59:00.000-06:00

Larry Boy thinks he smells freedom...but he would be oh so wrong.

\

Music Monday - 33 Miles

2009-02-02T18:12:00.003-06:00

You really need to check out the group 33 Miles. Our family loves them...they kinda have the Rascal Flatts vibe going on.

We love (and know) every song on their newest release "One Life", but we really love and sing really loud on #5. It just says what you want to say to some people...

Apologize

It’s been going on for so long
All the words we said wrong way back then
And I still hear them all in my head
It keeps playing over and over again
I can’t run, I can’t hide, it don’t matter how hard I try
To move on, but

I don’t want to leave it, bury it and forget
I’ve already wasted so much time
Can’t wait another moment, am I all out of chances
For you to believe it’s on my mind
I’ve gotta let go of my pride and apologize

I thought I would never let go,
never thought I could know what it’s like
To wake up, holding what I gave up,
After all this time still trying to find
What it is to forgive even when it isn’t that easy
so please believe me, cause

If I caused you pain, I will take the blame
You can put it on me
if I broke your heart, if I left a scar
let me say I’m sorry

*See...I do listen to other music besides MercyMe, but I make sure to listen to a MercyMe song before and after every other group I listen to just to be fair.

Pics of the Week

2009-01-30T23:48:00.006-06:00

I totally stole this idea from "my fellow blogger/friend whom I've met a few times but really don't know all that well, we're connected in a way through business but I feel like I've known her forever already," Denyse. Of course she had to one up me already because she put up a picture from a mission trip...but here's mine...not quite as spiritual. Thanks for the bright idea Denyse! (You should totally check out her Etsy store too...she's quite talented! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=63959)

These pictures are from January of 2004 when Caleb played a lion in the Early Childhood Program's Circus.

Look at those eyes...couldn't you just eat him up???

Finally Home

2009-01-28T16:50:00.003-06:00

Grab a kleenex and check out the new Mercy Me video...

Awesome!

www.mercyme.org/blog/

Quotes of the Week

2009-01-26T21:21:00.002-06:00

Well I've got three nuggets...all from Cody this week. Funny...it always seems like it's Cody saying most of the quotes...don't really know what that means for his future, but....

This morning he was discussing how he was going to pick which college he was going to by putting every school over $20,000 in a hat and drawing a name out. I then asked him, "well how are you going to pay for college?" He then said, "with my smartitudes."

Then tonight after Upwards basketball practice, he told me he was able to say his memory verse for this week by looking at it and memorizing it real fast. I asked him to say it to me and he rattled off some 'version' of the verse and then said, "that's interpreted into Cody language."

On Sunday nights, Cody attends Cross Trainers, a Bible study for 5th and 6th graders that also teaches them a different part of service in ministry. We asked him what he learned last night and he said they studied "how you are defined." I'm pretty sure that he was supposed to learn that he is defined by how much he allows Christ to be a part of his life, but when we asked him, "how are you defined?"...he said, "a boy who is totally on the up side of the awesome scale." I think they teach humility too. He was absent that week.

Nashville

2009-01-22T20:49:00.003-06:00

Well I made it to Nashville today with little trouble. I did set off the metal detector at the airport...and got pulled to the side and put inside the space age looking clear tube that shoots puffs of air at you...was so appreciative of the new hairstyle. Then I got wanded and frisked...but there was no extra charge for that so it was okay.:) Evidently jewelry and underwire bras will set those things off...who knew? Traveling with one of my bosses seemed to take my mind off of the constant gnawing of fear in my stomach...and being upgraded to First Class didn't hurt. Did you know in first class you don't even have to ask for blankets?...they're just there waiting for you...oh, and the snack was better than coach, but of course I didn't take one because I seriously could not manage to put one thing on my already shaky stomach. I was trying to "Notify my Attitude' as my mom told me to do about flying, but....

If you prayed for me today, thank you.

We had a great day of meetings and having lunch at J. Alexander's with a guy that is about to be hired as Simpleville's Creative Director. I really love the vibe of Nashville, and the guys that work at Simpleville are great. Total visionaries and salt of the earth types. I'm really thankful I get to work with these guys. Also, the office was full of writers today...Addison Road and others writing new songs and we would hear them trying them out through the office. Love the creativity happening right there.

I am now sitting in my hotel room in my pj's (shout out Kristy!), watching TV, and missing my boys...all three of them.

Tomorrow morning, I'm working on one of my wishes for this year. And then, I'm back on my return flight...but I'm not thinking about that right now. I'm off to sweet dreams...where there are no airplanes...just cruise ships.

Flying High

2009-01-20T00:56:00.006-06:00

This week I will do the thing that scares me probably more than anything in life...flying. I know most of you do not share this fear because even while I am laughing and trying to make jokes on the outside that I'm scared (and the worst stomach ache ever on the inside), I hear a plethora of responses..."you'll be fine," "it's such a short flight," "nothing bad's gonna happen,", and perhaps the best from my brother-in-law, "suck it up." Okay, I KNOW ALL OF THIS. But isn't that the way it is with most fears? Generally they are unfounded and silly, but that doesn't help...because I'm enclosed in a metal tube thousands of miles in the air with no option to get out when I want. And I know I'm supposed to have faith and depend on God to calm me...and I really try. But for the most part, I would really just like to take an enormous amount of drugs and be incoherent for the ride. Somehow I don't think my boss or co-workers would appreciate that side of me in our meetings.

About 15 years ago, I was on a Southwest Airlines flight headed for Houston to visit my parents. This was a surprise visit...the ticket had been purchased by a friend of mine and sent to me so I could surprise them for a special service they were having at their church. We were about 25 minutes into the 50 minute flight, and there was a loud "boom." That is not a sound that is supposed to happen when you are thousands of miles up in the air. I wasn't sure to panic until I saw the flight attendants start going up and down the aisle very quickly...back and forth to the cockpit...collecting drinks and trash along the way. They weren't being all perky and cute anymore...so I KNOW something is wrong. Within minutes, the pilot had turned the plane around and we were heading back to Dallas. The pilot came on and said that one of the engines had blown out. I'm not a mechanic, but I'm pretty sure that airplanes only have 2 engines, and if one of them blew, what would prevent the other from doing so, especially with so much pressure being put on it for having to perform for two? And I'm not an engineer, but without engines, I don't think those airplanes glide very well.

About 10 minutes before we were to land, we were told to put our heads between our knees and brace ourselves. There were many firetrucks and ambulances waiting on the runway for us when we made it to the ground...thankfully, safely. All I could think of was that my parents didn't even know I was on the plane...I hadn't prepared to die that day...they would probably be mad at my friend for buying me the ticket...heck, I'm mad at my friend for buying me the ticket...I left my apartment a mess...I'm glad I have on clean underwear, and yeah...I really don't want to die this way. I had to immediately get on another flight to make it in time for the service, and then fly home later that night...which I did while quietly sobbing the entire flight.

I told myself I would not let my fear get the best of me, and I've flown several times since then but it is certainly not my favorite mode of transportation. I have been known to grab perfect strangers on either side of me when the plane takes a sudden drop or hits an air pocket. Yeah, that's not good.

Not only have I had my most frightening experience on a plane, but I've also had my most embarrassing moment on a plane. When I went away to college in Missouri, my roommate's dad died unexpectedly about our second or third week there. She and I flew home within hours of finding out, and we had a stop somewhere between Missouri and Austin, TX. We were not supposed to get off the plane, and so I made a quick trip to the restroom while we were stopped. Evidently I was unsure how to properly lock the restroom door because while I was sitting there...you know...the door opens and I am face to face with the pilot. Nice.

I know planes are safer than automobiles...and if planes could fly about 100 feet off the ground, that would be so much better. It doesn't help that there was a plane crash just last week, and I cannot get away from the news stories! I know that most people LOVE to fly, but I'd honestly rather have a root canal. So would you please offer up a little prayer for me this week if you think about it? And if I don't make it, would you please put "I Told You So" on my tombstone?

Cody Needs to Study Harder

2009-01-18T23:07:00.003-06:00

This was a conversation in our house this week:

Cody: Isn't Obama our first Indian-American president?

Steve: No, African-American.

Cody: Whatever.

I don't think he'll be asked to give any speeches on MLK day.

I Already Know How to Pray, Right?

2009-01-12T23:26:00.002-06:00

Last night at the end of choir practice, our worship leader introduced a man to us who is at the very least a "prayer guru." After listening to him list the many people, organizations,...countries he has taught how to pray more effectively, I wanted to hear more. He has been mentoring some of our church staff in that area for some time now. Sadly, I don't remember his name, so I'll just have to refer to him as Mr. Prayer Guru.

I've always thought of myself as a good pray-er. I mean, I do it...which is half the battle. But honestly, alot of the time it feels like I do it by rote...not really expecting God to move in any 'miraculous' way because of little ol' me's prayer. Sometimes it feels obligatory...praying for the safety of all my family, our provision...blah, blah, blah. How sad is that? That prayer has become so stale...so ritualistic...so same song, second verse? I've had conversations with my boys about not saying the same thing in every prayer...yet I find myself doing the same thing. To invoke the powers, I have to say my special chant...much like the "Oh zephyr winds which blow on high, lift me now, so I can fly" chant from Mighty Isis days...afraid if I leave the request for safety out, they might not be kept safe.

Then Mr. Prayer Guru had us do something I hadn't done in a long time. We were to go with 1 or 2 other people into the sanctuary and pray...by letting the Holy Spirit tell us what to pray. You see prayer has become one of those things that gets cut short by my "to do" list. I only have limited time during the day, so I must budget it accordingly. It hurts to admit that...to say it out loud. But it's true.

A couple of other girls and I sat down in the sanctuary where our youth normally sit. Almost immediately, God began putting things on my heart to pray for our youth...the ordinary, yes, but out of the ordinary too. I can't tell you when I have specifically prayed for the youth of our church, but they weren't prayers for safety or provision. They were prayers for deliverance, and strength to stand against Satan's attacks. They were prayers that they would become leaders who would stand up against sin...and that they wouldn't bicker among themselves. They were prayers for purity and conviction.

That exercise helped me see...I've been in my prayer box for too long...limited to the four walls of my every day, run of the mill, requests. No more. I can no longer be limited to pray what is only listed in numerical order in my prayer journal. I will approach the Savior with the extravagant prayers...the unfathomable dreams and visions. I will pray believing...for miracles and change.

I'm praying for something big this year. What are you praying for?

I Think I Could Squeeze In One More Thing Today

2009-01-09T23:58:00.001-06:00

Today was a jam packed day. It started VERY weird, and sad...but ended happy.

This morning I let Abby out to use the bathroom before taking the boys to school. I let her out in the front yard because she's much more likely to get to her business fast when she's there vs. roaming the 4 acres behind our house. She heads to the far edge of the lawn (near the street) and starts to poop, and I watch because she seems like she's in some distress, if you know what I mean. Turns out she was paying the penalty for eating the 2 tampons she ate earlier in the week (sorry guys...I know that is NOT what you expected to read here...but hey, be thankful there are no pictures accompanying this post).

While this is going on, there are several cars passing by because it's evidently rush hour on our street and I guess these drivers are so intrigued by watching my dog poop, one of them does not see the precious little kitty crossing the street and runs over it. Well it begins to flop all over the street (I'M TRYING TO LIVE!..private joke) and I'm like frozen in time watching this. Abby sees the kitty flopping around and is now not only trying to finish pooping out tampons, but wants to go chase the kitty that is flopping around the street. She starts walking toward the street still hunched over in the poop position. I look around for the hidden camera...and finally snap out of it and get Abby's attention to go inside. I close the door silently praying that someone will call the cat catcher to come pick that dead kitty from out in front of my house. All this before 8 a.m.

Then I went and had a little Photoshop lesson taught by my new best friend, Andrea...which I thought I could conquer in probably an hour. Okay, three hours later...I still do not have a clue what I'm doing in Photoshop. But maybe my head was still in the fog of what happened this morning and I just couldn't focus enough.

I got home, and Steve took me on a surprise lunch date. He had packed a picnic lunch in the back of our SUV and he took me to the lake and we sat in the back and ate lunch with a view of the lake and the ducks. It was so sweet and romantic. But he's like that...always doing romantic things like that. He's always leaving me little notes, and gifts...and has taken me on several romantic dates. I remember for our first anniversary (many years ago), we were exchanging gifts. He had written a poem for me and had it printed and custom fitted into a mat that fit into this little cottage frame he had found that looked like something I would love...and I did. I can't explain it very well...but let's just say you could tell it took a lot of time and effort to do this very personal and well thought out gift. I gave him a... dumbbell. I. am. not. kidding. He had asked for one a while back so he could exercise at home, and I was just trying to get him something he asked for. I seriously felt so bad. So I guess you could say he is the romantic one in our family.

*Note: He does have one or two flaws. He forgot plates so we had to improvise.
*Note: He also left the radio on too long and the car battery went dead...we had to get a jump to get back home.

*Note: It was in the 70's today with a cool breeze.
*Note: This was so peaceful and relaxing.
*Note: Steve is wearing clothes...they're just shorts.
*Note: Please do not leave me comments about my desperate need of a pedicure. I know this and it is on my to do list.

Note: I love you Mr. Romance.

After we got a jump and made it home, he unpacked the car of our picnic stuff, and repacked the car with his and the boys' bikes. When the boys got home from school, I worked, and Steve took the boys and one of their friends mountain biking...their most recent hobby which they all love. These are some pictures from last Saturday when they went biking at the same place.

*Note: This frightens me.

*Note: As does this.

*Note: This is sweet and one of my favorite pictures so far this year.

When the boys got home and cleaned up, we decided to take them to our new Dave & Busters. They've been wanting to go...and since we hadn't done anything else all day, we decided it would be fun. They LOVED it.

*Note: Cody had a lucky streak tonight.

Do you know what they bought with all their tickets they won playing games?

This...complete with 6 'different' farts.

I believe I'll be getting an extra crown in Heaven for being the mother of boys...and Abby.

A Fallen Officer

2009-01-09T23:53:00.000-06:00

Rest in peace Officer Smith.

And Such As...

2009-01-09T00:28:00.002-06:00

I have been asked to participate in an interview at church this Sunday about Beach Club, and I'm pretty sure it's going to turn out something like this...minus the sash and diamonds.

No autographs please.

One Step Forward, One Step Back

2009-01-08T01:20:00.006-06:00

*Update: Evidently I posted the bird picture below without words... although I had posted words...they evidently disappeared. I was saying how I am also obsessed with birds right now. I'm stamping them on scrapbook pages...I bought a beautiful larger than life bird to hang on my office wall (as soon as my hubby gets to that on his ever-growing 'to do' list, I will post a picture), and I found this little cutey at Target. I left the matching nest there, but am pretty sure that will get taken care of later this week. Maybe it should be one step forward, TWO steps back.

In an effort to hold myself accountable for my 2009 Wishes, I am succeeding in one...making every day special. I've decided we're going to use the new Christmas dishes all year long this year...because I love them, and because they make me happy. I don't think the boys care as long as they're loaded with food.

That being said...in full disclosure, I bought the dishes at, um...Target. Yes, I am still obsessed with that dang store.

Dog for Rent

2009-01-05T22:01:00.005-06:00

Seeing Marley and Me this past weekend made me think alot about our own lab. *Note to self: Never trust anyone else, especially people who are not parents yet, on whether a movie is suitable for my children. What has the world come to when you take your children to a dog movie at Christmas and want to crawl under the seats at times for the inappropriate scenes? And really, are Christmas movies really supposed to have dogs dying in them? But I digress...

Our Abby is a very good dog...except for the occasional thunderstorm during which she will jump in the kitchen sink (and more than once breaking dishes), or on top of the stove (once turning on the burners), or on top of the washing machine (more than once knocking off the box of detergent on the floor). Sweet, sweet dog. Um, yeah.

I never knew where the term "my dog ate my homework" came from, but evidently they owned Abby in her previous life.

This dog loves to eat paper. Maybe she's missing fiber in her diet, but if you drop a piece of paper on the floor, she gets it and takes it away to eat it.

At least she has good taste.

Now I think her actions would improve if I could just get her to eat the Bible...

Wishes for 2009

2009-01-04T00:15:00.002-06:00

I love New Year’s resolutions…not because I ever stick to them, but because it’s like a list…and I love lists. I love putting things on lists that I’ve already done just so I can check them off. But this year I have decided to do a list of New Year’s Wishes. We’ll see if I have any more success with those.

*I’m going to go ahead with the most common recurring resolution. Actually it’s been in my list of resolutions for as long as I’ve been alive I believe, but I will put it in the form of a wish and say I wish I was a size much, much smaller…and I wish I didn’t have to exercise to get there. Okay, now that’s out of the way.

*I wish I could keep up with my filing this year. This will not happen…because it never does.

*I wish Starbucks delivered, and Diet Coke was available by faucet.

*I wish I could get paid for watching reality TV.

*I wish I wasn’t obsessed with Target.

*I wish I had even one scrapbook finished.

*I wish I could see close with my contacts on, and far with my contacts off.

*I wish there was a magic cleaning fairy who would dance along behind every member of my family and return things to their rightful spot.

*I wish I could say “I’m caught up.”

*I wish that I led a more creative, artsy life, and that ‘that dream’ I have would come true.

*I wish I wouldn’t save the good candles for a special occasion.

*I wish I saw every day as a special occasion.

*I wish I could turn back time and record every minute of my boys on video.

*I wish I wouldn’t hurt the ones I love the most.

*I wish I didn’t judge others.

*I wish I knew what God was trying to tell us about Honduras.

*I wish I would learn to live one day at a time…and not worry about the future.

*I wish I would give more, and ask for less.

*I wish time didn’t fly.

*I wish I loved God enough to start and end every day with Him. I wish I loved Him enough to lay down my pride and let Him take control of my life…freely, completely, and unconditionally. I wish I loved Him enough to sacrifice my wants and desires in order to understand His perfect will for my life.

*I’m thankful God gives me a new day every day…a new chance to start and end every day with Him. He loves me enough to nudge and correct me so that I’ll let Him have complete control of my life. He loves me enough to work out His perfect will in my life in spite of me.

I hope you get the things you wish for in 2009.

Homemade Christmas

2009-01-02T00:46:00.000-06:00

This last Christmas (2008), I recommended that we make homemade gifts for each other. Please shoot me if I ever recommend that again, but I did enjoy making some gifts for family members. I couldn't post pictures earlier, because we had our last Christmas gift exchange just yesterday and I couldn't risk those being seen beforehand.

I (and I use that term very loosely because my good friend Kristy really did all the work on this...but I picked out all the fabric!) made a rag quilt for my mom.

Then I made some rag scarfs for my twin nieces...

I also made some canvases for different family members:

*The words on this one say "Embrace the Journey."

*There is a phrase at the top of this that says "Walk with me and be my friend forever."

*The words on this one are History, Journey and Love.

*This one says "Remember."

The pictures aren't great, but I really enjoyed the creative process on these.

Bad Boyz, Bad Boyz

2009-01-02T00:24:00.001-06:00

Steve had to work New Year's Eve this year and that always leads to some interesting stories. PUT DOWN THE BEER PEOPLE!

There was the girl who was trying to break down the door of a house because she thought it was her house...in another city. She had already peed and pooped her pants while trying to get in. Nice.

Then there was the teenage couple he caught in the park in the back seat of a car...who were just finishing getting dressed. The girl had on the t-shirt with a guitar pick on it that says "Pick Jesus." Indeed.

Six Flags...Now Rated PG-13

2008-12-30T00:00:00.005-06:00

*Note: The bottom portion of this post is rated PG-13, so you might want to keep the kids off this one.

The boys received season passes to Six Flags this year for Christmas, and since we are the parents of said minors, we get to accompany them, so we received season passes from ourselves also (allow myself to introduce myself...huh?). I know that Six Flags is supposed to make you happy...it's the happiest place on earth, right? Or is that Disney World...I forget. But my kids think it's the happiest place on earth because it's here and because we can go there many, many,...many times.

Well the day after Christmas was the first of many, many, many more trips I'm sure, and it did not make me happy. Oh sure, seeing my kids enjoy it made me happy...I'm not totally heartless.

But standing in all those lines...and people, it was hot. I know it was December 26th, but it was a humid 76 degrees when we went and probably 96 degrees inside the line buildings. And I'm a slight hater of dirty places...and yes kids, Six Flags is a dirty, dirty place.

And because this...Six Flags brings out the skank in people. I know it was warm this day, but girls (read skanks) were wearing their backless halter tops with their bikini top underneath with their low rider jeans...I am not kidding. And I know there are many, many,...many more 90 degree days where we will be lucky if they're wearing the jeans or the halter.

And I'm all for expressing your opinions, but people are getting much more vocal with them and wearing them on their shirts...AND WE GET IN LINE RIGHT BEHIND THEM.

I tried to stand really close to her so my kids could not read her shirt, but it was impossible. They didn't ask...and hopefully won't ask their friends when they get back to school. The real sweet part was...she was in line with her 7 year old. Evidently, Mothers of the Year go to Six Flags too.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Bathroom

2008-12-27T00:52:00.004-06:00

This story will confirm 2 things: (1) I am a dork, and (b) Steve has the patience of Job.

Last Tuesday night was our last night in Mississippi where we had enjoyed pre-Christmas festivities with my sister and her family. During the night (actually about 3:45 Wednesday morning), I got up to go to the bathroom (an aggravating, irritating activity because either I am getting old, or because I have the bladder the size of a peanut). Anyway, as I get up out of bed I hear someone in the bathroom which I assume is my dad...because he also gets up a million times a night to use the bathroom (which is because he IS old...sorry I had to throw you under the bus like that dad) and as I open the door I see someone walking down the hall towards the living room in black sweat pants (the kind that make swishy noises when you walk), and what I believed to be a black jacket and shoes. I thought it was weird that my dad was dressed and walking away from his bedroom, but I was sleepy so I dismissed it...for about 2 seconds because that's when my brain starts up with all the scenarios. After I finished in the bathroom, I went into the living room and then the kitchen and didn't see anyone. Then I went to my mom and dad's room and...(play scary music here) both my mom and dad were IN BED! Okay now I'm kind of freaking out.

I go into our bedroom and wake Steve up (here's the part where his patience comes into play) and I tell him I think someone's in the house because I saw someone come out of the bathroom in black clothes, and because daddy is still in bed, and because I most certainly will not be able to go back to sleep until you get up and look around the house in your underwear. So he gets up (I think he kind of half believed me because usually when this scenario plays out in our own house, he rolls over and goes back to sleep. When we were first married he got up and got his gun about the first 6 times, but after that...no, he just rolls over and goes back to sleep).

He "clears the house" (that's cop lingo for looking behind every door and in every room in case you haven't watched COPS before) and he finds the back sliding glass door unlocked and the door leading from the sunroom to the living room unlocked (cue scary music again...I'm serious, my heart was beating a mile a minute). He tells me to wake up my brother-in-law and so I did telling him we thought someone had been in the house. He and Lisa get up and we (read I) began telling them the story and telling him the back doors were unlocked but evidently I SCARED THEM OFF because they left without taking anything.

That's when our discussion in the living room starts waking up our 5 children asleep in said living room. Ashley starts to rouse and ask what's going on and Steve told her I saw someone leaving the bathroom and we thought someone was in the house. That's when she says, I went to the bathroom a little bit ago and I didn't see anything. Then Steve asks her, "are you wearing black swishy pants?" (he is an investigator after all), and she pulls back the covers showing her sweat pants and says "yes." Omg...I totally thought Ashley was a robber and I woke up the whole house because of it.

After my apologies to everyone and telling them to go back to sleep because we have to get up in 2 HOURS to leave for home, we went back to bed. I thought Steve was going to reassure me that I did the right thing and everyone should be as good a citizen as me...but this is what he said to me before rolling over and going back to sleep..."you're killing me smalls."

Nice.

Celebrate the Day

2008-12-25T11:04:00.006-06:00

Over our pre-Christmas trip to Mississippi, I purchased the Relient K Christmas CD at the urging of my niece, Ashley. There is a song on there that I've been thinking about non-stop since I first heard it. Some of the words are:

"...the first time that you opened your eyes

Did you realize that you would be my Savior?

And the first breath that left your lips

Did you know that it would change this world forever?

...This baby would one day save me.

And I celebrate the day that you were born to die

So I could one day pray for you to save my life."

Today I celebrate those precious eyes, and first breath that opened the way for my salvation. I pray your family will celebrate this day...and the baby that changed this world forever.

Yes Caleb, There is a Santa Clause

2008-12-21T18:42:00.006-06:00

Well today the charade ended. There have been signs for months, maybe years, that I don't have babies in my house anymore...that my boys are growing up and I can no longer deny the fact that they are one step closer to not crawling up in my bed for a tickling/giggling session anymore, or taking bubble baths, or calling me 'mommy.' Today, Caleb told me he doesn't believe in Santa Clause anymore.

And I know this conversation should not have led to tears, but come on, it’s me...and most things that make me realize my boys are growing up leads me to tears. We were riding home from church, and my niece, Ashley, asked Caleb something about Santa. He immediately looked at me, and his eyes filled with tears. He said, “I kind of know it’s really you and daddy, but I still believe.” Just seeing him get emotional made me teary and I asked him why he was crying. He said, “ever since I was five, you wanted me to believe in Santa, but the kids at school told me it wasn’t real.” I know he was emotional because he thought it would make me sad because he didn’t believe anymore…that’s how sweet and tender he is. I hugged him, and told him that we only wanted him to believe in Santa because it’s just a fun thing at Christmas…and it’s okay that he doesn’t believe anymore. “Santa” will still visit every Christmas and we’ll still have fun “believing.” About 30 minutes later, you could tell he was still thinking about it and he said, “I still kind of believe in Santa, mom.” I asked him why and he said because he still wants to tell little kids to believe, but in my heart I think it’s probably because he thinks he might not get as many presents…either way, I’m okay with that.

And while I’m sad that the childhood innocence of believing in Santa no longer exists in my house, I want to make sure I always see the positive side of things too. Like, not having to watch what we say to make sure we don’t give it away, or not having to buy double gifts and making sure Santa looks like a rock star…believe me this gets harder as they get older and a stocking full of hot wheels cars do not cut it anymore. And then there’s not having to get up at 5 a.m. on Christmas morning to make sure we capture on video the first look of excitement in seeing what Santa brought.

But then again, we will never again capture on video those precious little faces and the first look of excitement in seeing what Santa brought. Those tubals can be reversed, right?

Yeah, They're Equivalent

2008-12-18T21:27:00.003-06:00

Tonight our family played Christmas angels. After we finished, we were talking to the boys about how good it is to give at Christmas, and how blessed we are that we can give. This is the end of that conversation:

Me: No matter how much we give, God always gives us more back.

Caleb (my sensitive, thoughtful one): He gave us our life.

Me: (tear in my eye)

pause...pause...pause

Cody (my not-so-tender one): And a Wii!

Really, what more could you ask for...life AND a Wii.

Ahhh...Those Were the Days

2008-12-11T23:35:00.004-06:00

I picked this jewel up at Target tonight, and Steve was all, "you've got to be kidding." Nothing makes the age difference between us more apparent than this. When I was pretending to be Karen Carpenter in the bathroom mirror at home using my hairbrush for a microphone, he was in diapers.

Hodge Podge

2008-12-09T22:47:00.003-06:00

This is Abby being nosey about my camera...the one she'll run away from every time I try to catch her drinking out of the toilet.

Steve got a SWAT call out today. These are the times that being a police officer's wife makes me nervous...when he flips on his lights and siren, knowing that he is about to be going 80+ mph in rush hour traffic trying to get to a hostage situation. The boys love it when it happens though.

It turned COLD today...REALLY COLD. It was sleeting a little, and I heard rumors that a little snow even fell. Tonight when we came home, I was the last one to get out of the car and the boys thought it would be sooo funny to lock me out of the house in the cold garage...

They're not going to think it's so funny in the morning when I wake them up the way my dad used to wake us up...by flicking us on the face with ice cold water. I'll make sure I have my camera ready then too.

One for the History Books

2008-12-09T22:37:00.003-06:00

This is the first year for my nephew Jeremy to participate in the Hanging of the Green at our church. I always love this service...the youth lead in worship and decorate the sanctuary for Christmas. They did a great job...that's not the history making part...this is...

Jeremy wore a tie! I bet he did wear his silky sport shorts under his pants though.

Christmas Spirit

2008-12-07T00:15:00.002-06:00

For the past 3 years, this has officially been what has gotten me into the Christmas spirit...seeing MercyMe in concert. Tonight we were able to take my mom and dad with us. My mom asked me a couple of days ago if she needed to take her ear plugs. Um, yeah...I hope so!

I don't talk about my job much on this blog because frankly there's no way to make accounting even remotely sound fun...but I do love these guys...and their ministry...and their creativity. Alot of people have negative things to say about their bosses, but I can honestly say these guys are some of the nicest and most generous people I have ever known. I've been with them long enough to know that what you hear in their music is what their lives are...on and off stage...business and non-business. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be associated with them and get to work with them...and I am also grateful for free concert tickets!

And no, I cannot get free CD's or concert tickets for your entire family, or arrange for them to sing at your 10 year old's backyard birthday party.