Dave Thomas

The Dave Thomas Foundation has a survey for adoptive families (and adoption workers). It only takes a few minutes (sincerely less that 4) to fill out. If you have a couple of minutes it would be great to click and fill it out. If it helps adoptive families then it is definitely worthy of the time:)

On the river..

Jacob, Ben, Kelsey and Kade spent the afternoon on the river. I am always asking Jacob if he has pictures. he always responds with "there's no where to keep a camera safe". Today Steve Cagle took these from his porch. Thank you Steve (and Kelsey for emailing them to me!). So now I have "on the river" pictures:)

Musical furniture

My furniture sure does well to be moved so often:) Tonight Sarah turned everything around so she and her friends can watch a movie on the projector. It is very nice to have tile floors, otherwise it is likely my furniture would not move nearly as much!

It has rained on and off for a few days, tonight is really nice (if a bit muggy) and the kids are all outside running around. A softball game has already come and gone with the victors cheering. I noticed Seth (big time ball player) has settled on the couch with a game boy. A sure sign he is running low of "fuel". Zack was running too high and no longer has the privilege of playing outside. I sure will miss summer nights and before long. When school starts back we will be buckling down for routine again. 8:00pm running free is not likely in two weeks:(

Birthday with Friends

Tonight some of Sarah's friends came to eat and watch a movie together. Sarah helped me make Chimichangas, corn on the cob, fresh salsa and strawberry cake(again...lol). They sure are a sweet group of girls! All heading off to colleges in different directions in a couple of weeks. Sarah's birthday was a good excuse to get together once again:)

"the church"

I grew up and raise my children to know that "the church" of Jesus Christ, "the church" of God, our "church" is not a building. The building is simply where we come together to worship. "The church" is the family, the people. That said, there is a sign in front of our church that reads "Savannah Church of Christ". I know what it means. Yet the building it sits in front of is not the church!

On our way to the family reunion Saturday I noticed the sign above. On the way home I pulled over on the side of the road to take these pictures. My riders asking the typical "why are we stopped??" questions. I love the wording on the sign. Loved it enough to what to blog it..lol..so I have:) The church that meets in that place left a very nice image in my mind after seeing their sign. Very nicely done!! I think it is true of every building, they are simply buildings until God' people are there

Happy 19th Birthday Sarah!!

Sunday brought Sarah's 19th birthday:) Sarah is such a wonderful lady!! She will be leaving for college in just two shirt weeks. It is so hard to imagine.

The pictures are kinda funny..... First is Sarah and her homemade strawberry cake, the second is Seth who when they handed Sarah her gift bag blurted out "hurry up and open your glove!" Inadvertently telling Sarah what we (Seth helping Caleb and I pick out the glove) bought her. He was funny, but mostly he was wanting her to hurry so they could go play softball! The last picture with her glove:) My biggies usually get money, yet this year Sarah wanted a softball glove. her softball/baseball skill has greatly improved over the last month playing on our field with little brothers and sisters! I think Sarah is looking forward to intramural softball in college!

A blond, a brunette and a redhead

I laughed after I got home from our family reunion. I had taken both these pictures and realized the girls were sitting in order....a blond, a brunette and a redhead!

My Keyboard:)

I finally have a new keyboard! My blogging has suffered due to severe frustration. No when I mess up all the spelling it is totally me:) Not my blizzard (as in DQ) destroyed keyboard.

SO much has been happening. Some good, some bad, some happy, some sad....so basically the same ole same ole:)

Sam is on his final count down to coming home, yet he just continues to struggle. We had a very good family session last Thursday. We talked about the "big issue" to us here...Safety. Samuel has to be exhibiting safe behaviors. Safe for himself and others. We talked and made it clear that for Sam to come home he could not have any criticals or holds for the next month. That was Thursday. This afternoon they called to inform me that Sam had been in a hold for aggression. Sam has to best of staff, counselors, doctors, teachers, mentors and resources....but all those cannot make Sam's choices for him! He has to choose.

My tweeny girls are still in "I don't care" mode. But we are working on it:) Unlike them, I do care!

On a neat note, Tasha went with the youth group tonight to Second Creek to the area wide devotional and had a great time. Chelsea came home spouting praises for her behavior. Tasha had a wonderful time. She was buddy to our dear friend Mary Margaret (who is 5 years older) and had so much fun.

Doug and Caleb left tonight for a week of football camp. Being a Senior at camp is a big deal and they were very excited.

John had excitement at work today. He is working at the movie theater and someone was arrested at the theater. In our small town that is very news worthy.

Jacob was working on Friday and while using the weed eater he cut into a hornets nest. Jacob my eternal optimists reply when I asked if he was alright? "Yeah, I'm fine. I was able to outrun all of them by three." Three to many to me. Last time Jacob was stung by a hornet his eyes swelled shut for a day..and he was seeing through squints for a couple days. His hand is still swelled but he is "fine":)

Our week begins again today and with my trusty (I hope trusty) new keyboard I should be back in typing action.

The picture above is just silly. Last week after a trip to McDonald's I decided that there are serious cut backs everywhere, yet apparently there is a cheese cut back!

Grannie and Pa's

After the reunion on Saturday Scott took the bulk of our bunch on home and I took Caleb (along with Sarah, Tori and Seth) to look for kicking cleats. They are hard to find( nearly impossible) in our little town, so while we were close we looked. We also found "the perfect" cleats:) Thank goodness! After our hunting session we all went to eat leftovers(very very good leftovers!!) at Grannie and Pa's. It was a short visit, but I was so glad we were able to be there:) These pictures were taken there. Once again with well-loved cousins:) Except for Sarah who is all by her silly self. I asked her to "smile" and she did...lol...although I doubt she expected mom to share.

Whitworth Family Reunion

The last Saturday in every July find the Whitworth family gathering. They have for as many years as I can remember. Scott's grandfather Whitworth was one of 12 children, 10 boys and 2 girls. When we married twenty one years ago all 12 of those children were still living. Like many big families there are endless supplies of cousins:) I always enjoy the day and it is so special to get to spend it with my children. I know the someday my kids children will have "endless supplies of cousins" and I hope they too take the time, if only one day a year, to be with them!

I Dont' Care!

What a waste of a good teenager. The "I don't care!" attitude is running rampant at the moment in a couple of my tween/teen girls. Today as the comment was slung as me I laughed (what else do you do to totally ridiculousness) and told her she didn't have to tell me that, I know she doesn't' care... its obvious. Doesn't care first and foremost about herself, about the impact of her actions on her! Of course she really does care, and would like to say "mom won't let me....". WRONG. Mom, unfortunately for Mom, does not make the choices for her daughters. Life sure would be sweet if they did everything I wanted:) But, life is about free-will. If you are mentally and physically capable, then you have a whole host of choices to make in your future.

I really think teens need an appointed kicker. When babies don't listen to our "don't touch the oven" they get burned, that feeling and those words are(hopefully) embedded in thought. Teens need self kickers....when they do something that hurts themselves? A kick. LOL...A thought:) Although someone would likely charge a couple of my kids "kickers" with child abuse!

In a perfect world our children listen and learn. There would be no selfishness, no disrespect. LOVE PEACE and JOY. I TOTALLY understand the thought in the 60's flower power movement. But, it's not real. Reality is really well-rounded:)

I can say that my Smotherman family "reality" is every bit as well rounded as could be. Currently I have a teenage girl sitting beside me refusing to "talk to mom". As soon as I have that talk I am bee-lining it for an "opposite spectrum child". And I have quite a few actually:)

I think as parents one of the absolute toughest things is getting so caught up in the screaming child that we can't hear the whispering one. It is a lesson of balance... we, just as surely as our children, need balance in our parenting!

MSYC visit

Last night Doug went to visit MSYC and took Seth with him and his buddies Will and Cliff. It was very sweet of Doug to take Seth. Seth(and Doug) was home very late. We walked into the kitchen and talked as he told me his "6 year old interpretation" of the evening happenings. It was neat to watch Seth tell details, he loved the trip! All talked out we got to bed around 12:30am.

Graduating

There are all kinds of graduations....but today Michael had one of his most waited graduations. He was able to ride the riding lawn mower! Michael has been waiting a very long time. He is a great push mower and always eager to help out around the house with Dad. He had not been able to mow before because he could not reach all the pedals without coming off the seat, which stops the engine on our mower. Michael tried to talk Scott into bungy cording the seat, to which brought the whole "there is a reason for that safety measure" talk. But today as Scott let him try? He could do it all:) Can you tell on his smiling face? He was telling me about his new accomplishment.

Warning....Adult Content

The title of this blog totally defeats the wisdom inferred in it...but it had to be said. This issue is right beside this one in my little Life Script e-publication. It SHOULD be an adult issue, yet it is written simply because issues like this are no longer ADULT and they are causing extremely serious problems.

I can remember about 10 years ago when I had a child bring up oral sex. I nearly died. I, truly, believed I had done a good job preparing my girls(as they came first in my parenting) about the "birds and the bees". It seems today in our society it is no longer about the birds and the bees....we have to add in ants, slugs, snakes, caterpillars, and a whole lot of dirt issues! As a Christian it frustrates me to even have to talk about such things, yet as a mother in this world? I have to arm my children as best I can. Truthfully informing. It's wrong to believe that these issues will not find our children, will not be known to them. We live in a very immoral world. So it is fitting that we, as in other areas of our children's lives, be the "informers" to our children. Many years ago I was caught unaware. Today I will likely be caught unaware at times too, yet I hope I can give my children the understanding ....more importantly the faith....to make good choices and KNOW why those are best.

Adult Content? I wish!

Silly Sarah and Seth!

We have crazy dinner conversations at times, but tonight Sarah and Seth turned dinner into "dinner and a show". Sarah was making up a silly song for Seth, ending with comparing him to Nick Godwin his baseball hero:)

MSYC fun

I picked everyone up from camp Friday morning. What a week:) The awards portion was lots of fun(lots of ribbons). I'm glad it worked out that they could all go.

cousins

I know I don't live too far from Sandy and her family, yet an hour is a long way when you are as crazy as me! Seth and I stopped by on our way to MSYC to leave her books and a few other things. The boys played out front for a little while. Seth looks like a giant beside her boys. Sandy has the sweetest little boys. I have said it before and I will likely say it a bunch more in the future...

Sandy is a great mom!

Pa's work

Bill (aka Pa) did lots of little things that needed to be done. He went to the hardware store to get the right nail to hang the new clock Sandy gave me. (btw Sandy...it kinda clashed with the kitchen red walls, but went really well downstairs, matched the couches...thank you!), he found the right hanger to hang my new platter. I love love love what this platter says!! He also put up the new ball and bats holder on the backstop (and everyone is very thankful those balls have a place to go!). Thank you Pa!!

Our friends

I know I have posted about prayers for our friend Natalie Cravens. Natalie has spent a long year fighting cancer. What a winner!! Natalie will be entering her Senior year along with her twin sister Nicole this Fall. Natalie has been Victoria's Bible teacher this week at camp:) I could not,in a million years, think of anyone more wonderful to teach any of my girls. Last night Natalie and Nicole were at church and I took this picture of them with Sarah. Nicole is on the left and Natalie on the right:) Natalie has a great site on Caringbridge (don't you think that is the neatest website ever?). I am so thankful that Natalie is doing great!

MSYC Church at Freed

Sarah, Seth and I went to church at Freed last night and stayed for the talent show. Victoria(Twinkle Twinkle Little Star) and Mercedez (I can't remember to which my children will die...it is a very popular song..lol) sang and Ryan did gymnastics to 007 music. Stuart and Doug were in the counselor show. I am so proud of Stuart and his decision to be at camp this year! He has had a great summer. He is a good leader and did a lot of the announcing last night:) I am glad we were able to go:)

a quick visit

Bill and Nancy come down and spent the night Tuesday night. It was a quick visit, but as always so nice! Bill worked on little projects (hanging my new platter, hanging the clock Sandy gave me, fixing the computer desk, hanging the bat rack on the back stop and likely a few things I have forgotten!). Nancy, the girls and I were able to visit and play rummikub:) My house is really quiet this week. Quiet when my teenagers are sleeping that is. Chelsea said someone at church commented that the house must be very quiet with everyone at camp and her reply was, "you'd be surprised at how loud it still is." I think John's rock band singing (lol..sorry John) coupled with Caleb's "surround sound" (aka..vibrate the whole house system)....it's still loud:) But the mornings are sweetly quiet! Well, except for the fact that the roofers are here putting new shingles on..lol:)

More pool shots

We do not live at the pool, but the pool does always present fun pictures.