If it were that easy!

I sometimes struggle, well frankly, I always struggle with my children who do not follow the rules. I know occasionally everyone slips, although with concrete and firm rules, I still wonder why? Why is it so very hard to do the right thing? Why is it so seemingly easy to do the wrong thing and on the flip side, so seemingly hard to do the right thing? I am forever saying I am a "mean what I say person" and I am. I am also a rule follower. I listened to my parents. I had tremendous respect for them. Not from fear, from love. I wanted to do the right thing. I tell my children so often in times of trouble "The truth will set you free". I know that is true. Consequences are always there, but the truth will give you opportunity to do right!

I know Jesus told the the adulterous woman in John 8:11 "Go. From now on sin no more." That thought came to me when I was thinking about the truth. The truth literally (along with Jesus Christ) set the adulterous woman free. Obviously there were consequences for her actions....yet a second chance was given. Life. When Jesus told her to go and live right...to go and sin no more....He did not tell her how. Just to do it.

Jesus did not give her a 12 point recovery plan....just go and do right. I know Jesus understood the "big picture"...lol...better than we can ever conceive!! Yet He simply told her to "sin no more". Today we sometimes seem to get caught up in the "getting over" a problem and actually hang-on to the sin.

It amazes me the unique personalities God made. I know of some people who quit smoking "cold turkey". Never picked up another cigarette. They "left and did not smoke anymore". I know of people who, through shear will power have done great things! I also know of people who realize they needed help. Not a weakness unless you do not find that help! This is the way it is with my kids. I have some, like the two boys above, who can quickly and concisely make good choices and when they are in the wrong? They can just as quickly and concisely change their behavior. Will power! It is an incredible blessing! I also have children who need help. Who need someone to guide them through their struggles. The choice to change is the same, alone or with help! I am always proud of my children who chose to change and do right. Much like that woman in John 8, they realize that there is nothing that they and God cannot make right!

Cowboy Day

Today was Cowboy Day for my third graders. We have had Cowboy day every day for a lot of years:) My cowboys are awfully cute today! Ryan wanted a picture of his poster too:) It is really hard for this "old mamma" to help with solar systems and not include little Pluto.... This is the first ever poster we have made and not been able to include Pluto!

"Lake of Joy"

Seth had to draw a picture this past week of his favorite family vacation. His teacher wrote the picture was of "Lake of Joy" which I immediately knew was suppose to be Lake LaJoie. The picture above was taken last year on our trip. We always go on the first weekend in May. That seems like a long time from now, but looking over my day timer? It will be here very soon:) There are many things that will happen here before then, which will pass the time even quicker!

This week has been so busy for me. Appointments everyday. I have had sick children home with me two days this week.

Yesterday Isabella went with me to Kroger to buy groceries. As the food was being rung through I noticed a teen magazine. I quickly told the cashier that it was not mine. I looked over at Bella who said "I didn't put it in". But, she had been looking at the magazines while I search for heartburn medicine for Sarah. I knew she was not being truthful. Next came the movie "13 going on 30", again same thing, I looked to Bella who said "I did not put it in there". As I got to the van I asked Bella, "Did you really think I would not see them?" No reply. I talked to her on the way to pick up the other children. I explained to Bella that if she did not take ownership and apologize I would not be taking her to any more stores with me. Without an apology or ownership I could not expect her to not do it again. I gave her several hours to think about it and after dinner called her to my room. I simply explained that in my 25 years of shopping, never had any items jumped into my buggie. Never. I did tell her that I have had babies pull things into the buggie if I got close food, but that is still not jumping. I simply explained that I knew she did it. I was not asking her if she did. I was simply asking her to take ownership. She did not. Consequences were given. She was mad. Although I am certain, only mad at being caught.

Today Zackery sits with me in time-in, screaming, head butting the computer cabinet, yelling hate at anyone who walks by (obviously in my house that is a lot of passer-byers and a lot of yelling). He totally assumes no responsibility for his actions.
His favorite words are "I don't want to sit here", "You don't never get on to anyone else!" John beside me rolled his eyes whispering to me"doesn't he pay attention?" Knowing, as most people who live here, that of course others are corrected.

I had my talk with Sam and his Ms. Sarah this morning. Scott could not join us, he has had corporate people in this week. Sam is beginning to understand that there are consequences and he is responsible for the outcome of his behavior. A big step in the right direction!

It is just 9 days until Scott and I leave for our trip. It is 15 days until Chelsea leaves for the Virgin Islands with the Peirce family. Just about 20 until Jacobs surgery and 20 until Sarah leaves for Italy.

Planning and preparation is a big deal now. I have moved into "get ready" mode knowing that the next month is going to fly.

Shannan, my sweet friend, is keeping Isabella for the two weeks I will be gone. I am so very thankful. Bella is my tough one to leave. I have no doubts whatsoever that Shannan can top her:) I also know that Bella is a wonderful helper when motivated and will hopefully help Shannan:)

Tennessee-Memphis Basketball!

Seth crawled up behind me half way through the second half and fell asleep:)

Ryan nail biting!

Tasha and her monkey enjoying the game:)

Tonight was a ballgame most Tennessee sports fans were watching!! Scott and I watched with the kids. My kiddos were all (I think all) cheering for Tennessee, so they were not disappointed!

Happy Birthday Cade!

PARTY JUMPER!!

Seth helping Chance:)

The party goers:)

This afternoon Sandy and Chad had a party for Cade(pictured directly above). He is now 4 years old! What a fun party! Sarah, Seth and I rode over with Dad and Clara Ruth. The kids all had a great time:) The adults did too! Below is Sarah and Cooper:) Cooper did not get to play on the party jumper. Isn't he the sweetest?

I love weekends:)

I sure do love weekends! Doctors offices are closed on weekends:) I seem to have my day timer filling so quickly with appointment after appointment.

Vanderbilt called yesterday and we are scheduled for Jacob to have his surgery on St Patrick's Day. The same morning that Sarah leaves for Italy. I will be with Jacob for his stay, usually 5-7 days.

This morning Sarah presented $1600 that was raised at the High School for the storm victims to the Junior Axillary. The Junior Axillary is buying gift cards, clothes and other needed items for those who lost their homes. Sarah said she had never held that much money:) Come to think of it....neither have I. That is a lot of cash:)

Today Joseph will be playing in Memphis. The boys basketball team will be entering Regional play.

Sarah, Seth and I will be going with Dad and Clara Ruth to Henderson to Cade's birthday party. Seth is so excited:)

John put up his new full size bed set he got on free cycle. John is loving it! Our friend Ms. Wilda put it on free cycle and we caught the email:) Doug and John went to pick it up yesterday:)

Choosing a Camera

I love pictures. I love taking them. I suppose my greatest hobby is phototgraphy. Well, it might tie with reading:) I have been looking to upgrade my current camera, a Sony Cyber Shot:


I have been looking at this SLR Cannon Rebel:



So.....in order to make a better choice I bought the "SLR for Dummies" book shown here. I love this book! I have been reading in the Doctors offices:) I am in love..lol.

Go Tigers

Chelsea came home last night, arriving after 8 pm. She will be in Gatlinburg once again this weekend the admissions staff for CYC. She had to leave the house this morning at 5am. Chelsea asked me to be sure she was up by 4:30. Caleb is also going to CYC with the Second Creek Church of Christ. Caleb needed to be at Second Creek at 5:30 to leave, so he needed to leave the house by 5am. As I got ready to go to bed Sarah said, "Hey Mom will you wake me up when you get up?" I smiled and told her I was getting up at 4:30 to be sure Chelsea was up, but she quickly said "not that early". I told her I could get her up at 5 when I woke Caleb, she said , "no, not that early either". I finally smiled and just asked her what time she wanted up? "Six" she said:) My CYC kiddos were up and away and safely headed to Galtinburg by the time I was getting everyone else breakfast. I left the house at 7:15 again headed out of town. Mercedez had an appointment with our dermatologist Dr Mac Jones in Jackson. So Bella, Mercedez and I were off:) Sarah, once again being an incredible helper, got all my little ones to school. Our appointment went well. Dr Jones did some blood work to check for other reasons for the excessive hair. We talked about treatment options and left feeling good about them. Although laser treatment is out for us. It is expensive, painful and not permanent (some having hair back within a year). After talking, we decided that by the time Mercedez(now 120 is a young woman technology will likely have new options for her to choose if she wishes.

Mercedez did so very good while they were taking blood! She chose where we ate lunch:) We drove through Long John Silvers(Mercedez loves shrimp). We dropped by Sandy's in Henderson. Just long enough for me to leave Chance his birthday present (I have been so tardy in that!!) and a small sack of jeans and things Seth has outgrown. I sure do miss getting to see Sandy!

We got into town and ran home for a few minutes and were out the door again. Daniel had a Doctors appointment at Pickwick. We left there and had just enough time to get back to town to the pharmacy and them back to the line at school.

Scott got home about 4:30:) Yeah!

I had a bunch of kiddos here to paint bodies by the time Scott was home. Sarah had a few friends and they made matching shirts for the ballgame. Our Lady Tigers began Regional play in the tournament here last night. They won a close game!

Sam

This morning I was up and going a little earlier than usual. Thursdays is our day for family counseling with Sam. Everyone other week we travel to Memphis and in between we have phone conferences. Bella and I dropped my biggies off at THUMP and were headed out of town by 7. Sarah took the elementary school kids to school for me:) Caleb woke feeling sick. Calling me after I was on the road. He stayed home and worked on recovering.

Scott is still traveling. He is in Hammond Louisiana today. We all miss him while he is away.

The visit with Sam went really well. Sam is working on self control,impulse control, respecting others personal space, and defusing himself when angry. I think as parents of children who have behavior issues, we all wonder if anyone else will "see" the problems. If those we seek help through will realize there is a problem?? I certainly did. But, I can say, he staff and Sam's counselor Ms. Sarah see Sam and in seeing him I believe they will truly be able to help him. What a relief! To actually feel and see help at work!

Parenting

There are days as a parent when I feel on top of the world. It seems that all things are working together and I am coasting to the finish line.

Then there are other days, those days that seem to weigh me to the ground, when I feel the world is ALL on my shoulders.

I laughed this morning, catching up with Scott about the kids, telling him I was going to write a book The Bad Apples of Parenting. I thought it a likely title. It seems that one bad apple, one bad attitude, can make the whole world fall.

It is at these times I HAVE TO realize that (I sure hope in my case) it is not the parenting that is the issue. It's the choice of a child to step outside of the realm of love and respect. It is these times when verses like 1Thess 5:18 (the 'give thanks in all circumstances' verse) are hard to hang with. ALL circumstances?? Give thanks when I have a child who is out of control? Give thanks when I have a child in rtc who is still behaving badly? Give thanks when my teenager is not thankful?? Sure does seem backwards! Those are the things I pray to change...not be thankful for....right? Wrong. If I am truly thankful, I am thankful that my children(bad apple attitudes or not) are here with me one more day. I am thankful for the experience I gain. I am thankful for the knowledge that if there is an "out of control" I know there is a "in control", I pray my child learns the difference. I thank God that my child is in rtc, it gives him the opportunity for a future. I thank God for my unthankful teenager, they have the intelligence and freewill God gave them, they will someday understand that I love them. If there were all perfect apples in my bowl how on earth would I know the difference between sweet or tart, both good and yet so different?

Parenting is a battle. Just as surely as our walk with Christ. There will always be the battle with sin. Satan is patient. He will wait for that little kink in my armour. He knows what frustrates me....he seeks to add to that frustration. The key, and I do mean a key (as in key to success) is to not allow Satan in my life. I have to turn over my frustrations to God. Thank Him, believe that He will bring me through. KNOW that He will bring me through. This morning, as I think over my talk with Joseph last night...I am at peace. He has this week to think. I have this week to pray. Prayer always removes the load of the world:)

Pot of Gold

I had to laugh when my friend Carole sent this to me!! The caption read:

Finally, someone was able to photograph the pot at the end of the rainbow, and wouldn’t you know it…

Although as a mom to a big family....I can certainly attest to the wonderful invention of the toilet!! It is literally a pot of gold when you consider life without it!!!!

Spell Check!!

I must add this for all you readers of my blog. Spell Check is not currently working for me....or it seems any bloggers. I do like to spell....yet find myself extremely typing dyslexic! So many apologies for those who are trying to read my blog! lol Just pray that the issue is resolved:)

Keeping ahead of Isabella!

My silly Izzy is running through school work like crazy. While in Mufreesboro I bought two school books in addition to our other work. On is a complete 4th grade comprehensive ciriculum and the same book on 5th grade. I had Isabella sit down and do the first 4 lessons. They were reading and answering questions. In 15 minutes she was done, I pulled the book over and graded. She had not missed a single one! So, I asked her to just keep working. After nearly an hour of diligently working she looked up and said, "Mom, do you think I can doing something else? I've worked to page 59." Silly child was at page 112 the next morning. There are 759 pages. I am thinking she will be done with the entire curriculum in two weeks! Tonight I was was talking to Shannan who thankfully gave me some good ed helper sites! I am not concerned that Isabella will not be able to test back into school at this point. I have decided, simply keeping her busy is the issue!

Just bored...

Sunday afternoon Doug and Will and Cliff called to ask Scott if they could cut down a tree in field, because they were bored! A 70 foot tree! Scott did asked which one. Doug said the one Will and Cliff caught on fire. The day after my mother died the two boys (Will and Cliff...I think with other help) caught the tree on fire and part of the field. The fire trucks came and put it all out. Leslie thier mom, a sweet friend of mine, was so upset. Of course I was not even home, so the drama was lost to me. But Scott was here and is very big boy "activity" friendly was quick to tell the boys,"No you may not cut the tree down!" Thank goodness they asked first!

Silly boys.....yet I have found boys can think of the craziest things!! lol

Psalm 141:3

Joseph is 17, will be 18 in August. A big boy(young man). He works at Burger King and is a hard worker at work. Joseph also plays on the basketball team for the high school. He is a Christian and a good guy:) Those are all great strengths! Teacher and adults will tell you he is a good guy, no trouble at all.

All that said, as with everyone, there are things that he needs to work on. He is aware. He is just unwilling to work on correcting them. The big concern is communication! Here is an example of me trying to communicate with Joseph:

Joseph: Mom, can I go to the bowling alley?
Mom: Alone?
Joseph: No!
Mom: ....( With who?
Joseph: (shrugs) I don't know
Mom: You don't know anyone going?
Joseph: Yeah I do!
Mom: Who's going to be there?
Joseph: Some people.
Mom: What people?
Joseph: girl basketball players
Mom: Do they have names?
Joseph: Yeah
Mom: .........and they are?
Joseph: ____ and ____ and ____

To me, it may sound crazy, but if he had just said, "Mom, can I go to the bowling alley with ___and __and____ until 10 to bowl and hang out?" I would have been "Sure Joseph!" Instead it is like pulling teeth and I find that I always wonder what he's hinding? I talked to him about it. He understands. I thought we were good about this. This was yesterday.

This morning, I was dropping off the boys at the high school and told them"I'll see you this afternoon". Jacob said "okay mom", John said "okay bye mom" and Joseph said under his breathe as he shut the door, "you won't see me".

Okay, pretty serious disresepct in my book. I could have called him back to the van, as it is always best to take care of issues immediately, but Joseph has become so angry and disrespectful it is just not a converstaion I want all 12 of my younger kids to hear (as they are all still in the van). So I drive away. Call Scott, who confirms that there is an out of town basketball game tonight. I will not see Joseph after school. He (Joseph) certianly did not communicate that with me. I thought about going back to school and just calling him out of classes to talk. Yet, Joseph would be so angry he would have a terrible day (and likely blame me). After the last week and talking nearly everyday about communication, I KNOW he understands! After eight years of being the same. I really am frustrated. I have not changed the rules. I am holding him to the same level of accountability everyone else is held to. He is just not earning my trust. HIS choices. Not mine.

Joseph is currently struggling with girl issues, struggling with school and struggling at home......ALL, I feel, due to communication. Communication is not some abstract term I thought of to torture my children. Thankfully, it is the greatest blessing to those children who learn it!! Communication can take you far in life!!! Tonight, the lack of communication is removing Joseph's phone and computer priviledges. Scott is traveling and will be home Friday. We will re-evaluate when he returns. The clencher to this is that tonight about 1am Joseph is going to call for a ride home. I suppose that will be as fine a time as any for our talk about communication once again.


The disrepect this morning had me thinking of Psalm 141:3 "Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips".

persistence

Seth is likely the most persistent child I have. He is also smart, changing strategy to manipulate the outcome. Not that it works very often, but he sure does try. Yesterday and today I have had a time with him wanting to go to Carlton's room (against the rules) and play Tony Hawke on the Nintendo. I have told him time and time again "No". A few minutes ago he proclaimed "Well, I guess I will just keep asking til you say yes!" I smiled and said, "I guess you will keep being disappointed when I say no. It's against the rules!" He walked away....lol:) I told you he was smart!

In the midst of this ongoing desire of Seth's to play in Carlton's game I came to see a reccuring factor.....Carlton. Apparently Carlton is instigating the "play". He and I had a very serious talk about ground rules. He "didn't know". I think that's called deflecting. Or more appropriately called.....lack of ownership!!! He is now informed. I do not mind Seth asking a million times, thankfully he does learn from asking. Which really mean his insistance and asking is not repititous! But Carlton? He is more than twice Seth's age and is not learning! Perhaps that is not true, he is trying to manipulate in a poor way!!

Where oh where??

Where oh where is my daytimer??? It is now moving to serious! We have been home since last Thrusday and I did not schedule anything while the kids are home, yet tomorrow is fast approaching and I cannot find my daytimer. For the last ten years I bought huge ones, but this year settled on a neat-neat one I found with lots of writing space but small enough to fit right in my purse. Perhaps that is the big problem 'small enough'! The last place I had it was right there on my computer desk, beside Sarah in the picture. It was on top of my Bible and beside the monitor. I had been googling the number for our dermatologist. At least I know it was there...lol:)

President's Day

My children are home yet another day this year. President's Day is a welcomed holiday for my kiddos who seem to have been home more than school in to month and a half we have been in school this year. I have posted this picture before, but the kids love it(me too)!

Unity

This morning in worship our minister talked about pictures like this one. David used a picture taken a few years ago in his illustration. Caleb used his artistic ablity to fix this up yesterday. We all find them funny because the head is too big for the body. We laugh mostly because they are so ill balanced. He talked from Eph 4:1-6. The head and the body...the calling and the walk....when weighed, they must be equal. How do you recognize a balanced person? Well, as in the picture above, they likely aren't teenage boys:) But, with time and prayer, the body will catch up!! I have several boys, all the teens have been baptized, and they have the belief( the calling) portion down pat. They believe and they know Jesus!! It is the behavior(the walk) that we usually work on. As a mom, I do think that this is one of the sweetest and most fulfilling blessings, to see my children grow in Him!


BTW, I have to mention that my son, Caleb, is the one with the biggest head! haha KK!
.

Tenacious Tasha

Sports. My family seems to live for them. While other moms are trying to get thier kids outside, mine are fighting to get out. Ready to go for any pick up game....football, basketball, soccer, baseball....you name it, they love it. In the big picture of life, sports is a great teaching tool, at least to those who love them. There are so many life skills that are wrapped up in any game.

Today Scott had the kids at the park and came home talking about the football game. Seth, the smallest of all players, thinks he is a 250 pound linebacker! He grabs hold and does not let go....lol...ofcourse he is like a Feist dog that just gets carried across the line hanging onto pants (or shirts). Ryan, my second youngest boy, is likely one of my best athletes. He has the zig and zag, perfectly timed zigs and zags. But, as dinner ended Scott quietly turned and said, "But you know who was the best football player out there playing?" I had to laugh and smile as Scott nodded to my hardheaded silly way-to-athletic GIRL, Tasha. I have teased Scott for years that she would be the first All-State Football Girl:) Tenacious is Tasha!

Even my hardheaded kids truly learn great life skills through sports! Basic life skills that come with no names, no programs. If you want a good game choose teams well....if you want a masacre, which leaves no one happy, load one team (there's no victory in that kind of win).....take turns.....remember who is on your team....cover your teammates (and they will cover you).....pass(no one loves a ball hog).....play fair or you will be asked(likely not nicely) to leave..... everyone gets a turn....cheer for the underdog (or the baby of the family...nothing like building confidence!).......it's just a game! There is always tomorrow....always time for another game.....the world never ended with a basketball game.....prepare for the next round.....smile, there is nothing like being dirty, sweaty, thirsty and tired!

Stuart and Scott

Stuart has seemed to run back and forth today between school and home. He took Nicholas and Ben back and lunchtime....then was home by dinner.....took John to the movies and is now on his way back to school. I caught these pictures of Scott and Stuart going over the mail before Stuart left. It is a joy to see your children grow up and be such neat people:)

Valentine's

Sarah and Doug's night :) Sarah is with her boyfriend Patrick and Doug is with friend Morgan. The pictures were taken at Erin's house. Her sweet mom fixed dinner for everyone. The five girls are all seniors and have been through school together. It is hard to imagine they are at the end of thier senior year!

Ball

I seem to spend my weekends being the hub of play. I have teen boys just drop by to play. I love it. My little ones love it:) Just brings more people to play. I love the silly scenes my camera misses: Clint riding a little pink bike with Seth in front of him, Jonathan learning to ride the wave board with teachers half his age and height! It's those pictures that I take with me, and more times than not..... do not get on camera!

This picture below? I went back inside to get my camera, our funny friend Cliff pulled up with his lunch. He found a lawn chair and a cooler at my back door, drug them to the edge of the driveway and sat back for his dinner and show! lol:) Funny guy:)

Doug and Seth

I found these pictures this morning as I was looking at the table shot. I laughed. I am not sure who took them, but the fact that Doug was playing with Seth was sweet!

it's awfully early

It's awfully early to already be in trouble. I find that in this group is a ring leader and the rag tag followers. So each are writing for mom. As much I as I hated having to learn the multiplication tables, I have some kiddos that will write them enough they aught to have them committed to memory for life. Pictured above are my writers.

This morning Caleb, Doug and John went to the farm to help Papa and Clara Ruth get their new organ in the house. Papa said it was a two man job, so I sent three teen boys with man strength and teen minds to couple with his one arm and man's brain (Dad is still recovering from rotator cuff surgery). I think Clara Ruth has them country ham and biscuits for their effort:) A pretty good trade in my mind! Likely took her 4 times longer to get breakfast than it will take them to get the organ in the house:)

Jacob called last night from Indiana. He is having a great time at Paoli. No major accidents. His good news/bad news for me was that this time he had cell coverage (good news) but he left his charger at home(bad news). Although, since he is there with Kelsey, he is not likely t use up the battery chatting and texting, so he should be fine. If you look here you can see the snow cams.

Chelsea is in Gatlinburg at Winterfest. Freed is there this weekend and next with CYC. She will travel back Monday and return for next weekend. I think this time last year they actually had snow!

Sarah babysat last night so Scott and I could go out for Valentines (better late than never!). We ate at a new restaurant in Adamsville "The Saw Meal", it was really good!

Stuart and his friends ate out, caught a movie and came back to the house. Stuart said,"our movie was really bloody!" I thought they saw Jumper and was surprised, did not seem to be a bloody movie. He then said, "No, we saw Rambo." Part of me, the part that grew up in the Rambo generation just wanted to say "DUH!". Instead I said, "Let me guess, he killed everyone except for the few, the very few, that he liked??" Stuart surprised said, "Yeah, how did you know?" rofl:) Some things just do not change!

Paoli

Jacob is headed to Paoli with Kelsey and her family this afternoon when school is out. He is excited. He loves skiing! Miss Amy found him some Burton ski pants (thank you Miss Amy!) which he really loved. He is packed ready.

I kissed and hugged Jacob this morning as he will leave before I see him again. After school is the high school parent teacher conference. I will be there all evening seeing my 6 kiddos teachers. Unlike elementary school where we have one teacher, they each have at very least 4, and some 6 teachers! It takes a while. Thankfully my dear friend Kelly is picking up my crew and babysitting until I return:)

candy candy candy

Candy is given on this candy ridden day. Each of our children recieved chocolate. Each showing thier "candy personality, some gobbling it all down immediately. Some nibbling and putting it away for later. Some saving the whole thing, want to have it later to look at too. I no longer have try to get them to eat in moderation. Our dentist assured me it was better to eat a pound and go brush your teeth than to eat draw it out....sugaring(my word not his...lol) all the time. But, I have found that if I said one peice, someone would have two. So I do not draw those lines. "Enjoy" are my words:) When it is gone it is gone.

I ran to Wal-Mart at 5:30 this morning (actually drove...it is freezing outside!!). Pick-up candy for Summer (who I forgot about being here when I bought). Also had to pick up snack for several school parties.

When I got home and we were gathering our bookbags, Tasha realized her Valentines were all gone. After a long search we had to leave for school. Tasha crying and me frustrated. The is a law in my house I refer to as "Smotherman Law" it reads as this: "If you leave something out, do not expect it to be there when you come back, it will be gone." My kids should all know this. If you leave your homework on the kitchen table? It will not be there tomorrow morning!

Tasha did (and I saw her) put her Valentines on top of my desk. Which suggests not natural law, but stealing. So after dropping everyone off at school we bought more Valentines, which she filled out in the van. Tasha was 8 minutes late for school but in much better spirits!

Intervention for Zack

We are still actively searching for intervention for Zack. His behavior is not any improved (not that I expected it to be). Yesterday he was not being safe so I had him go to his room. When I say that("I sent him to his room") I fail to explain that Zackery's room is right off the kitchen, part of the old living room we divided into single bedrooms with my trio got into trouble. I can hear him and see him. He is not in Siberia. I told Zack he could watch a movie, read a book, or play in the room until the others finished thier Valentines. Zackery raged. He stomped his deo and threw peices of it at people, not life threatening by any means, but gross and messy. He then threw papers, a baseball glove that hit Ryan in the head (it was intentional), a hammer (that did not hit anyone thankfully). He screamed and soaked up negative attention for way to long. When Scott asked what was all over the floor (the deo was waiting for Zack to clean up), Zack calmly answered, "I threw that when I was mad". I am exhausted with beaurocracy. It has been established that Zack has some special needs. I had rather not wait on bodily injury to do something. I really am angry (truthfully that word in not to strong, I am) that Zack is not qualifying.

I talked to our counselor yesterday. I was talking about Sam's success with the program at Youth Villages. But, I told him I know that we cannot bring Sam home and expect any kind of success unless Zack has had the same (or comporable) program. This is tough!

Valentine's Day

Michael's class had a Valentine box contest. This is a picture of Michael and his Heart Air Balloon:) Pretty cute!

Stacy

All that pit talking has me thinking of Stacy. I thought I would add a couple of pictures, yet they are not that good (blurry). I am not as good as Sarah at the "taking pictures of pictures". I will have to scan sometime. Yet even blurry they bring me joy. Joy was always around with Stacy! And frustration...lol....we always seem to forget that part, she sure did have a mind of her own!


This Stacy, me and my brother Jon. I imagine we were 1,3 and 4. Stacy was so solemn!! She was prone to temper tantrums. My mom said she would hold her breath as a baby until she passed out. That is an awfully strong will:)

This is my family:) I was a Senior in high school when this was taken. Mom and Dad in the front and left to right in the back is: me, Jon, Stacy, Jennifer, Sandy, Randy, Lorie, Christie and Matthew.

This was me on my wedding day with Stacy and Jon:)

I have no idea where this was taken, actually that's wrong, I think it might have been taken at the National Zoo in Washington DC. But location is not that big a deal, it's always who you are with!! I love this picture:)