It's football time!!!

I just initiated the 2008 football season! I yelled, "Get 'em!"

That's all I really know to yell since it's all I ever heard during football season at my house growing up. So when my team is running down the field I yell, "Go! Go! Go!" and when my team needs to make a tackle I yell, "Get 'em!" and if I really mean business I yell, "GET HIM!" (over emphasizing the H-I-M.) Sometimes they listen and sometimes they don't.

Most of the day today has been spent watching football. We went to the mall for a little bit this afternoon to buy Ivey some new shoes - yes, we have to spend a fortune at Stride Rite because she still wears an EXTRA WIDE shoe! Those of you moms out there whose children have feet that are abnormally wide or narrow know what I'm talking about! It's absolutely rediciulous how much those children's shoes cost! However, there's not much guess work in it because they usually only carry ONE black dress shoe and ONE tennis shoe in XW. Anyway, they were having a buy one, get the 2nd 50% off, so we took advantage of it. I mentioned to Chris when we left that the mall isn't as busy now that football season has started. I kind of like it. I guess most people are at their own children's football games or at home watching there favorite college team play. Anyway, today kicked off a great football season. So, GO GET 'EM TIGERS! WAAAAAAARRR EAGLE, HEY!

Catching up

Well, I haven't written much in the last week. I didn't feel like I had anything overly exciting to write about... just life going on. The younger kids started preschool 3 days a week last week, so that's been really nice. The mornings go by super fast when they're not here - funny how that happens. But, nontheless, I have had a chance to get some things done that would normally be a nightmare with them around trying to "help."

I'm super excited about this weekend because college football season starts. The other night I was reading off to Chris what teams were playingon TV this weekend and next weekend and then I found myself continuing on...and on...as if he really cares who's playing on TV in October! I was just so excited I couldn't help myself!

Anyway, we have gotten some really good rain here and I hope that has helped our drought situation. I know it's been good for my plants and flowers.

Lastly, I have started taking a class on Sunday nights about parenting. It is specifically a study on a book called The Blessing. It is a really good book - a few things are questionable - but overall it's the only book out there that approaches the idea of giving your children, spouse, family members and friends "the blessing" like in biblical times. The five "steps" are:
1. Meaningful touch
2. A spoken message
3. Attaching high value
4.Picturing a special future
5. An active commitment
This class has truly been a God-send for me because it has really made me aware of making sure that I bless my children as they grow. This has become especially important to me with Morgan since he's the oldest, but of course it's very helpful for Ivey and Gavin as well. Two Sunday nights ago we talked about "Meaningful Touch" so I decided that I would try something with Morgan that night. I have to admit that it was a bit awkward and I had to just decide to humble myself and do it. As he was laying in bed and we were talking, I put my hands on both sides of his face and said, "You are very special to me. Did you know that you are special to me?" He said, "Yeah. I think it's like a kid instinct." Yeah, I guess so. Even though I parent much like my own mother did, there are certainly a few things I knew that I wanted to do differently with my children. One of them is to ALWAYS tell them I love them. "I love you" just wasn't something that was said in my house growing up. Not that we didn't love each other, but it was just assumed that we knew, but, unfortunately, sometimes it wasn't. So, I am always telling my kids that I love them. Another thing that I have changed is praying with my kids. Chris or I try to pray with Morgan every night and now we have prayer time with Ivey. We really try to model praying - adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication - and not just offer some sort of general, thrown-out-there prayer. Taking the class has really opened my eyes to the importance of the words we speak - in love or in anger. This week we are studying "Attaching High Value" so I'm excited to learn more about that. Just wanted to share a little bit about what I've been learning...

The chore assignments.

Gavin is armed with the Endust, Ivey with the Windex and Morgan gets ready to vacuum. They look excited, don't they??

Tuesday we had a fun evening together. We laid beach towels on the carpet and ate a "picnic" dinner consisting of grilled cheese sandwiches, beans and potato chips. I was trying to butter everyone up for the chore list I had made earlier in the day. I was tired of bits and pieces of the house being clean at different time, so I decided that I wanted the whole house cleaned at once - and what better way to do than for everyone to help! So, after dinner everyone got their assignments, we turned up the music and everybody cleaned. We got just about the whole house cleaned in about 1 1/2 hours. There were a few, small things that were missed, but I finished those up this morning. It was a great way to get the house cleaned and for everyone to help take care of our home.

Where's Gavin?

I took this picture a couple of nights ago. I know it doesn't look like anything except a messy bed, but actually it's how Gavin sleeps. In the picture, it's about 10:30 PM and Gavin has been asleep about 2 hours. He wants to have the bathroom light on so he "can see his toothbrush." But he sleeps better in complete darkness because it's the way he's slept since he was born. So, I just thought it was funny that he gets completely under the covers to sleep. ISometimes he gets all the way to the foot of the bed and we have to pat the covers to make sure he's really under there. Usually I check on the kids before I go to bed, so I normally close the bathroom door and pull the covers off of his head so he doesn't suffocate. (Not that he really would, but it's mom thing ya know?) I didn't worry too much about the flash of the camera since he was under the covers.

Braves game

Ms. Gwendy, Grammy and Morgan

Happy Birthday, Grammy!!

Gavin is getting an airbrush baseball on his arm

Morgan got an airbrush A on his face

Riding to the Braves game

Watching the Georgia Tech band

At the game - Go Braves!

Daddy and Gavin

Mom and I

Our family went to the Braves game this past Friday night to celebrate Chris' mom's birthday. Sandy's actual birthday was Friday, so we got tickets for the family (and her closest friends) for the Braves game. We took all three kids and the little ones actually did very well. They stayed in or near their seats the whole time, ate a bunch of junk food and had a great time. We stayed for the entire game and even watched the Friday Night Fireworks afterwards. The Braves lost to the Giants, but that's okay. Ivey actually got her picture on the big screen. They started playing the theme song to full house and then put up camera shots of look-alikes in the crowd. They compared Ivey to "Michelle". We had a good laugh and she loved seeing her picture up there. It was also Georgia Tech night at the game. Before the game, they interviewed some of the athletes just inside the main entrance and had the cheerleaders there. Then, the whole Georgia Tech marching band came out. When I hear the drums start playing, I just get so excited - it doesn't matter what school they're from. I absolutely LOVE the band and would almost rather watch them than the actual football game. I was in the band in high school (drumline, no doubt!) and had the best time ever! Unfortunately, I went to a universitythat didn't have a football team or band, so I didn't get to continue that experience in college. But, if I had it would have been AWESOME! Anyway, Morgan and I just love watching the band, especially the drummers, so we had a grea time with that. Just hearing them made me fired up for the upcoming football season - WAAAAAR EAGLE, HEY! (I just had to get that in!) Anyway, we got home around 11:45 PM and, of course, the kids had all fallen asleep in the car on the way. We had a great time and enjoyed spending time with the family.

I'm sitting here checking my email and Chris is watching TV. The kids are playing and riding on the alligator seesaw. Ivey came up to me and said, "I'm going to talk to God. I need to tell him something." She climbed up beside me, crossed her legs, folded her hands and closed her eyes. She stayed very quiet and very still for a few seconds and then opened her eyes and got down. She said, "I just needed to tell him something." I thought to myself, "You go right ahead, honey. He's listening." I almost asked her to tell me what she needed to tell him, but I didn't. I'll let this one stay between the two of them. I wonder how God feels when the little ones to talk to him. I think he hears them and smiles. I think it puts a little "hop" in his step. Ivey likes to pray at the dinner table to bless the food. Tonight, this was her prayer, "Dear God, Thank you for today. Thank you for sending this food all the way down here. Thank you for keeping everyone in the whole world safe. Amen." I'm assuming she thinks God sends the food from heaven. He did in the Old Testament, so I guess he could again if he wanted to. Chris and I hold each other's hands and squeeze to keep from laughing out loud. It's just so darn cute!! And, I can't bring myself to tell her that everyone in the whole world is not safe. Everyone in HER whole world is safe, for the moment. But, she'll realize the realities of life soon enough so I just let her be. I love to hear her talk to God. It's just so innocent.

I also changed her dance day to Tuesday so that she'll be with other kids. She went again on Tuesday and had a great time with the other little girls. One day I'll get in there and take some pictures to post.

Today was Ivey's first day of dance lessons. I went to drop her off this morning and our car was one of two in the parking lot. At first I just figured everyone was late, but then, as we entered, we learned that actually Ivey is the only one in her class right now. I kind of felt badly for her, but she didn't really care. She doesn't know any different so she enjoyed her private lessons today. We'll see if some other kids join the class in the next few weeks. If not, then we'll probably switch her to a new class. I went to run some errands and then came back about 15 minutes before the end of class. She was so cute! I did realize that I need to buy her a leotard that's a size bigger because her little cheeks were hanging out - she comes by it honestly, poor thing. But, she had a great time learning some ballet and tap moves and can't wait to go back next week.

Please pray for Chris' side of the family. They are going through a very difficult time right now with a particular situation. Pray for openness, healing, reconciliation and restoration. I just finished reading an excellent book called When I Lay My Isaac Down: Unshakeable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances. At the time I didn't know why I was reading it, but I knew that it was no accident that God put it in my path. Just a couple of weeks later, I know now why I was supposed to read that book. God may allow us to walk through circumstances or experiences that we don't like and that we don't want. But, he is sovereign and he never leaves us. Sometimes we have to sacrifice our "control" and let God work - just like Abraham was willing to do when he was told to sacrifice Isaac. The outcome may be what we want it to, like God providing a ram for Abraham to sacrifice instead of Isaac, or it may not. In the times where God doesn't provide a "ram" for our "Isaac", we still must trust that He knows what He's doing. He IS sovereign and we are promised that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and who have been called according to his purpose.

Catching up

Okay, so, since my pre-teen parenting woes are starting to get old... yet, non-relenting... I must find something else to blog about. I have plenty of things to share, but I don't really want everything announced to the whole world. So, let's see.... Ummmm...

I signed Ivey up for ballet/tap classes today. She's going to take lessons at Off Broadway Dance Center just behind the McDonald's at Crabapple. They have a very reasonable monthly price there. She has asked me about it several times and I kept brushing it off. But, I really think she would enjoy it and just thinking about watching her try to do ballet or tap makes me laugh (in a good way.)

Gavin is so big now. He still isn't potty training although he totally knows what to do. He's going to be one of those kids that doesn't really care about whether or not they have to wear a diaper. He told me that it was bothering him the other day and I said, "Well, if you would go pee-pee in the big potty, then you can wear big boy underwear." That's the last I heard about that...

Morgan has decided that he doesn't want to play sports this fall which is kind of good and kind of bad. I really want him to have a hobby that he's interested in, but I have to admit that not having to tote the family around 2 or 3 nights a week to practices sounds really good! I'm still hoping that he'll find a hobby that is relatively inexpensive, yet is something he's truly interested in. Maybe it'll be school.... NOT!

Chris and I are doing great. We are starting back our routines of having date night on Thursdays. We can't do it every Thursday because of other things coming up which is fine. But, we look forward to the time to be by ourselves and talk about things. And, I believe it shows our children that mom and dad come first. They can thank us for that life lesson if a few decades. Chris is totally busy with work and I'm just chugging along here at the house. The little ones will start preschool three days a week on August 19th. Is it wrong to be excited about that? I surely don't want to wish away their childhood years, but it is nice to have time to myself. Of course, I'm already filling it up with things... Tuesday is Bible Study, Wednesday is housecleaning and Thursday is errands.

Other than that, I guess there's not much to tell right now. I'm still working out and running. I've tried to talk a few friends into doing a 5K with me on November 8th - we'll see which of them actually signs up. The race is the Big Pumpkin 5K Run/Walk. They are giving away a free long-sleeve technical (moisture-wicking) t-shirt to all runners. So, if you'd like to join us, then sign up on http://www.active.com/.

Parenting... sometimes I could do without it, but the good times far outweigh the not-so-good times... I think.

Having a preteen in the house... Lord, help me

One minute we're laughing and cutting up, the next minute I'm repremanding Morgan for something that I can't help but ask, "What were you thinking?" He pushes the buttons of his little sister, a three-year-old for crying out loud, just to hear her scream. Then, when I can't take another minute I decide to get involved and, miraculously, no one did anything wrong! Absolutely amazing I tell you. How hard is it to make your bed? Apparently, too hard for a 6th grader. He's part child and part adolescent. He still wants smiley-face stickers on his chore chart and he can't seem to be the "bigger person" in arguments over whose balloon his whose, yet he wants to stay at home alone and get allowance. So, how does this whole parenting thing work? I have absolutely no idea. I feel like whatever I did, whatever choice I made, whatever discipline I implented - it was the wrong one. So many questions, so few answers. By the time I figure this parenting thing out, they'll all be grown and married. Will he actually grow up to be a decent human-being that can keep his room clean, brush his teeth and take a shower without being asked to? Probably. Will he love the Lord and understand His grace and mercy? Hopefully. But, how do I get him to that point? I have no idea.

Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children, and no theories. ~John Wilmot

I have a "Youth"!!

Chris and I had our first "I can't believe this" moment as a parent of a 6th grader. Morgan is now a part of the youth group at church and went to his very first youth overnight event on Wednesday and Thursday. To be honest, I was a bit nervous but I knew it would be good for him in many, many ways. As we were getting his bag packed the night before, I was reading off the items that he should bring while he retrieved them and put them in his bag. About three items down on the list I said, "Ok - you need your bible." He immediately said, "What do I need my bible for?" HELLO!!!! This is a CHURCH event!! Where's your brain, child?? I think Morgan was concentrating more on the tubing, rapelling and ropes course part of his trip more than his spiritual development and growth... go figure! So, anyway, I explained to him that he would have bible study and worship time, so he was cool with that. I was thinking,"Boy, we sure do have a LONG way to go..." Sometimes I don't think the nerve endings in his brain exactly connect, but I guess that comes with the territory of having a pre-teen boy. Of course, being first time youth parents, we loaded the whole family in the car to pick him up at church once they got back. The first thing he said was, "That was awesome!" Thank you, Lord! I prayed so hard for Morgan while he was gone. I guess I feel like sometimes that's all I can do. I can feel the "letting go" starting to take place, little by little, and it's quite scary. I realize that I can't control everything he does anymore and that he'll have to find his own way sometimes - whether I want him to or not. So, I pray that God will grab Morgan's heart and not let go. I pray that Morgan will form close friendships with kids from church and that he'll enjoy being there and not another thing I have to "make" him do. I pray that he will love the Lord with all his heart, soul, mind and strength and that he will want to serve him in daily life. Oh, I'm not sure I can handle this whole growing up thing...