Three letter words...

Have you ever thought about three letter words? We all immediately have "those" words that pop into our minds when we say 4 letter words....but do you have three letter ones?

Aim, Aid, Age, Ark,Bag, Bad, Bar, Beg, Cab, Cap, Car, Coo, Dad, Dug, Dog, Dye,Egg, Eye, and then comes the yuckiest of all three letter words.....

FLU

That is the word of the day at my house. Bella, Michael and Vcitoria all have the flu. Type A, now tossed into the Swine Flu category and treated as such.

You would know that I had an appointment TODAY to get the flu shot for my crew. Those appointments still on with the exception of my sick ones.

Prayers for this to FLY by would be greatly appreciated!

The games begin....

The games began tonight. Our first soccer games. My BLT team (Bella, Lita and Tasha) at 6pm and Victoria's first game began at 7pm. All my football guys had practice before the games. Stuart and buddies (Ben and Andrea) came home and ate dinner before joining us at the game. Above are the spectators:)

My BLT team won 2-1. Tasha scored both goals, but with lots of help from sisters and team-mates!! My girls are not run of the mill girls, they are tough. One little guy on the other team was really playing rough against Tasha and on the way out of the park Sarah asked "Why didn't you do something?" Tasha's reply? "I was afraid I might hurt him." (lol) Although true. It was a great game!

Tori's team lost, but played really well! My camera does not do well after dark, so a 6pm game will be when I post Tori pictures:) But here she is as she waited for her game:)


The trio:)



My Bella:)



My Tasha:)



My Lita:)



The referees on the "big kid" field? None other than my guys John and Jacob:) They have been doing this for 5 or 6 years? Not sure how long, but sure am proud of the way they handle themselves!



My football guys walked over to the soccer field (same complex) after thier scrimmage. Cute guys! I missed the Ryan shot, but got Michael and Daniel(likely because Ryan was running...he is like the energizer bunny!)

My Michael:)



My Dan:)


The last picture was taken of John, Seth and Stuart playing around during half time. THIS is why I have so many tough kids, this is why my kiddos love to play....who wouldn't with big brothers like this? And in the case of Seth here? He has 12 of those big brothers to keep up with!


I sure do love watching my kids play!

Merry Christmas from Santa:)

Last Christmas a very special "Santa" left this in my mailbox. I have been studying for my Bible class lesson this week on "Excuses" and decided I needed to stop all my time constraint excuses and use my gift! Today I did:) There are simply no words to describe who wonderful I felt...lol....until I picked up my kids! I am very grateful to my Santa!

Sam

Chelsea and I took Sam back to RTC this afternoon. I filled out the question and answer portion of the paperwork on our way back. Did Sam work on coping skills, controlling his aggression, verbal abuse.......so on and so forth....?? Not really. For the entire visit Sam was with Scott or I. He did not have the opportunity to "work" on those things at home. Why? Primarily because he has not shown any progress and I am unwilling to "see how it goes" with my little ones. Sam has lost about 12 pounds. I think it is likely all the meds. He is on so much for aggression and adhd and impulse control....I think it affects his appetite. Wish wish wish ....I wish things were different. I wish Sam was fine. But it is wishful thinking at this point. He really has a long way to go.

Extreme Pleasure

Last night Sarah called to see if her little friends could come to church this morning. Sarah picked them up at 8:30. When I asked why 8:30 she replied, "So I can bring them home and feed them breakfast before church." That simple line gave me such extreme pleasure! My daughter whom I love dearly "gets it". I know she's smart. I know she can do anything she puts her mind to doing. Yet in this case? In serving others? She thought of their true NEEDS first. The little trio sat at my table eating Hannah Montana cereal and yapping. Pleasure.

When they finished Chelsea called them to the laundry room for flip flops. They spent the over night visit Friday night talking about how much they wanted flip flops. We tried Seth's on them, they were much to big, and we just didn't have any to work. Chelsea found some on clearance this morning as we were shopping early. The oldest little girl was the only one who had flip flops (or shoes that fit at all). As the two little ones danced around tickled to death over their flip flops I watched with a smile. So simple it is to share joy. IF we are truly trying to please the child. These children are so simple it makes you want to cry. The oldest was not jealous or whiny. She smiled at her sisters just like we did. She had flip flops and she would not ask for some. I smiled and told her I thought we had some purple ones that would match her dress if she wanted to go see? Her eyes sparkled as she tried on the purple flip flops. Extreme Pleasure. All for the price of clearance flip flops.

As I sent kiddos to the van my Rosie was the last one out the door. I smiled and told her "Don't get tickled at the girls". Rosie laughed. A big deal for Rosie early in the morning. The joy just contagious.

Giving to others, sharing with others, the simple acting of sharing our meal....it brings extreme pleasure. I am so very thankful for moments to share in such a way all my family experiences it!!

My rooster!

I am a fairly intelligent person, truly. I am even reasonable about accidents. It always amazes me that my children "THINK" they can hide things from me. That it would be better to "do it themselves" than to ask for help. Perhaps its an age? I really don't know, but I do know as of this morning I have a rooster in my house. Why? Because my Victoria decided it would be better to CUT gum from her hair than to tell mom she went to bed with gum. I always wonder why they think that's going to work for them?? Seriously, she looks like a rooster. Her 1 inch cut dead center in the crown of her head. Very little way to cover that up.

I was standing in the laundry room with Chelsea dressing kiddos for church when I saw Tori. I asked what happened to her hair? The typical, yet aggravating to mom, answer "I don't know?" I asked if someone else cut it? "I don't know?" I yelled (yes yelled...so everyone heard me) "Every girls privilege is gone until we figure out what happened to Victoria's hair!" Several, "I don't know"'s later (with heads popping out of doors to look) I heard a voice from the end of the hall. That voice belonged to Lita and she was getting out of the shower but heard the whole thing. Her voice said? "Tori cut her hair because she had gun in it!" Ah...the truth. The very thing that sets you free can snare you when caught in a lie.

Victoria and I had a talk. A talk in which I explained how easy it is to get gum out of hair. One which told how long it takes hair to grow. One which explained how angry it made mom to accuse others based of my believing her...her lie that is. Privileges gone, reality sets in. It would have only been a talk from mom about going to bed with gum in your hair if the truth had been told before the hair was cut. Or about the consequences of cutting your hair before coming to mom. Until that lie slipped in all was truly fine.

On this Sunday morning I thought about Adam and Eve, about God and his forgiveness... The truth really will set you free and a lie can ensnare us into a whole host of things that we never thought about. My 10 year old sure didn't, but next time? It will be very clear to her about the consequences of a lie.

As a mom I just hope those consequences are awful enough (in her mind) to jar the truth out of her next time!

Being Blessed

We are crazy most the time...lol...well, crazy busy. In the midst of my day today came one of the BIGGEST blessings I have ever received.

There are no words to explain the love I have for my children. As I spoke to Stuart and Doug's mom a few days ago we discussed the fact that NO ONE cares about the boys as much as she and I (and Scott, but this was a "mom" talk). I know that is true. I share relationships with people who I do know and some I do not. Those relationships are all because of the love of my children. Today one of my "people" who I do not speak of often (only because of privacy)blessed me so greatly. I cried. How can you not when you receive kind words and blessings??

I blog so much about life, yet there are some really tough things that never make it here. Some tough choices and conversations that do not belong here....but today? I just wanted to say THANK YOU!! I love you B!

All in a day.....

Above are my flowers Miss Hannah Ryan helped me pick out at Wal-Mart yesterday morning. They match the kitchen exactly! I have enjoyed them all day:)

We were up early early this morning. It was so dark and rainy my kiddos watched movies on the projector until nearly noon. For the most part it has been a nice rainy day.

Joe came home late last night, Doug and Stella came in for the night, Sarah picked up three little girls that live down the road and brought them home for the night, and Sam is home for the weekend. Lots of people, lots of activity, but thankfully all at home:)

Chelsea and I spent the better part of the morning making fudge, petit fours and tea cakes for Courtney(our friend and extra child of sorts) shower tonight. Courtney is a super neat girl who graduated from FHU in May. Her hometown is Jacksonville Florida and she wanted to stay close by (as her Fiance lives close by). Courtney has had a room at our house, although mostly to house her clothing and "stuff". Probably one of the best kids I have (because she was never hardly here...lol). She stayed with her in-laws-to-be most of the time. Her wedding is in barely two weeks!! Her room is now empty (kinda sad!). Chelsea is in the wedding so I and a couple little people will be traveling to watch Courtney become Mrs Caruthers:)

The little girls Sarah picked up yesterday are real cuties. Bad situation in life, but sweet girls in spite of it all. Sarah took them to a movie (their first) and had a slumber party:) This morning the youngest announced it was her 5th birthday. They had to be home after breakfast so we "made" an impromptu cake. Someday I will blog about this sadness of this trio, but not today:(


Sam is here against our wishes. His Doctor felt Sam needed a therapeutic visit home. We are "earners" and Sam sure hasn't earned free time. He has done alright, but has really been with Scott or I the whole time. He does not play well with others and we have been hypervigilant with watchfulness. He was not too pleased with his birthday gifts. We had not celebrated his birthday and did so tonight. Sam had broken his glasses and lost one lens. It cost $195 to replace them. We spend $100 per birthday, so obviously he had a BIG birthday. He was frustrated, even though he got some new jeans, puzzles, and neat crayons and a sketch book. I accidentally got the wrong kind of sketch book (and will buy one without a spiral before he goes back). The pictures are, to me, really telling of Sam's emotions. You never have to guess how he's feeling.... Sarah began to act silly and he did smile.

Sam aggravated at the singing is rolling his eyes.

Mad about the sketch book...wish I had remembered about that!

Finally laughing at Sarah!


This afternoon I spent a long time playing Phase 10 with Dan, Lita, Bella and Tasha. I love that card game, although with 5 people it can take a very long time to play! We finished off just in time for dinner:)


Seth, Michael and Ryan spent most of the afternoon fishing on the PlayStation:) I wish I had taped the guys conversations while playing. They are so serious about new lures and HUGE fish:)


I laughed at Sarah in her favorite sweatshirt. A few days ago she had just finished looking at an Eddie Bauer catalog I got in the mail. Sarah decided to look online for more "favorite" clothes. She misspelled the name twice before looking down to realize she had this sweatshirt on! Sarah said it was a blond moment(for my no long er blond child). Laughing tonight as she retold the story to her dad she said, "It was kinda like looking for your sunglasses while they are on your head!" Funny girl!

Neat kids...

Tonight Stuart and a couple of friends came home for dinner. I had to smile as Stuart called me about 3:30 to ask what I was having for dinner. Scott is out of town and I do "cheat" when he is gone (meaning kid loving meals that are easy to fix). I asked what he wanted and he was "fine with anything". Thankfully Chelsea ran by and got some thawed chicken(because all mine was frozen), butter and crackers for Ritz chicken! We had chicken, limas, corn and homemade bread. Chelsea made chocolate chip cookies and I made some fudge. We have been trying out recipes and this was one of the "easy" ones. Frankly it was pretty gross fudge. I really wondered if it was truly possible to have yucky fudge? Know that it is possible!

After dinner Chelsea went to Florence and I put kiddos to bed and played cards with Stuart and Ben. It was a really nice evening!!

I was in bed when Chelsea called to ask me to let her in (I had locked up with her out). In her arms???

THIS:


I laughed thinking about Tim Hawkins saying "Eating a Kripsy Creme is like eating an Angel" rofl... When they are hot that is a funnily serious analogy! Chelsea, being Chelsea, got enough for everyone to have them for breakfast! Thank you Chels:)

Thoughtfulness

My stepmother is an incredibly thoughtful woman. I could have told you that:) Today she and dad (dad's part being the son of Granny and the Grandfather of my girls) dropped two gifts by to Chelsea and Sarah. They were "Granny bags". Each one came with a handwritten note and this is what it said:

Chelsea/Sarah,

Here is you a “Granny Basket”:

* Plate of Granny’s to hang on the wall or to put on your dresser as a jewelery catch-all;
*Antique tea glass, called Bubble Glass, to use as a vase or whatever creative idea you come up with;
*Pair of gloves,
*60’s era scarf
*Non-matching costume jewelery-earrings and necklace;
*Hankie- to use as “something old” on your wedding day! and
*One of Granny’s nighties with shoulder wrap (bed Jacket).

All are old and we hope you treasure them.

Papa & C.R.

I laughed at Sarah as she said "that something old (meaning the hankie) will really be old by the time I need it!" lol:)

As I took the pictures with the girls I thought about how special Granny was. I thought about what she meant to my children, especially my oldest girls. Then I thought about the unique creative and loving gift Clara Ruth put together....it was simply priceless!!

Neither

"Neither rain nor snow nor dark of night" is a pretty neat thought when it comes to delivery people. It simply implies in one phrase "dedication". This week the pre-school has delivered mums and roses. I smiled as I thought of the "neither rain" because it certainly has rained! Glad we did not have to weather the snow too;) Last night as Jacob was helping me pick up my flowers after church it reminded me again of the phrase "nor dark of night". I am so thankful for children who will help out their mom and thank goodness kids are not (or rarely ever) concerned with rain or snow or dark when it some to doing things they want to do. GLAD my Jacob wanted to help mom! Although I should probably add "....nor fire ants!" because one mum was full of them and Jacob was stung several times! Thank you for helping mom Jacob!!

And while I do not have a picture of it:( Thank you John for bringing my Youth Group kiddos home from the Wednesday Ice Creme Sunday Social! I love you guys!

Rain Rain and more Rain

It has rained and rained and rained in our county. Flooding occurred last night and many people had to be rescued from their homes. There was no school today due to the weather. The forecast is still looking wet! Jacob and some friend had been out today looking at the water. He came through the living room looking like this. I think Jake is ready for rain:)

They arrived!

My Christmas Cards have arrived:) I know, call me crazy, but I love cards and it is a slightly big deal. The gathering of my children gets harder and harder as they get older. The "matching" is certainly a big deal. I have always thought that there are so many faces I want to show and crazy clothes interfere. So, using a new printing company (suggested by Andrea..thank you!!) I created my card. We send out a bazillion and I got the whole bazillion at a forth the price I paid last year! BIGTIME blessing!

Scott laughed at me saying I might want to wait just a little bit before sending them. As silly as it sounds I will likely be late getting them off, but at least they're here!!

This is who we used:

For Dad from Seth:)

Dad is on the road this week and missed all the action. This is for him:) One of Seth's favorite series of pictures.

"This was a BIG TOUGH guy!" Seth said as he looked at the game pictures with me:)




Note the flag is IN Seth's hand!

To blog or not to blog??

Everyday I sit in my computer desk and try to discern what is blogworthy and what is not. A HUGE chunk (in truth most all) of my life never makes it to the blog. I sit here in joy and frustration, in laughter and sorrow, in peaceful moments and crazy ones, yet most things are private, personal or just not things I wish to remember ...perhaps I should say.."there are many things I will remember just fine without ever committing them to type".

Tonight, in something I rarely talk about, Janet (Stuart and Doug's mom) called and asked me to pick her up at the hospital. Not an unusual request, she calls several times a week. She had been in a car accident earlier today (very very fortunate to not be dead) and she needed a ride home. For many years I have had a relationship with Janet. I suppose it began over 8 years ago. It followed with many years of her personal struggles. Stuart came to live with us and later Doug. Janet lives less than a mile from our house. It has been hard many time to parent with her down the street and yet most times so very easy.

Stuart and Doug are two incredible young men. I have no doubt that they will be successful in the Kingdom of Heaven and on this earth. Tonight as I drove their mother, their birth mother, home I prayed for her. I wish she was truly able to see the blessings her boys are to this world. I wish she could be whole (emotionally and physically).

I do know this one thing...of all the things that could be said, this is absolutely true: She loved her boys enough to allow them to live here, to be part of our family, to enjoy their teenage years, to become Christians. She allowed us to work together and parent these two guys. Easy? Of course not, it's not always easy parenting with your husband (you can imagine throwing another adult into the picture!), but it worked. For those things I will forever be thankful and grateful!

Sometimes I shy away from the hard side of my life, but I suppose I should at least peek there from time to time. It is because of the hardships that I have the blessings!

Birthday dinners:)

My dad and stepmother Clara Ruth take my kiddos out (usually individually) for their birthday. Victoria's birthday fell in the middle of the week my Granny died. With soccer in full swing it has been hard to find time to go out. Today with all the rain, soccer practices were cancelled Dad and Clara Ruth came by to pick up both of my September birthday girls and they all went to the Mexican restaurant to eat. Chelsea ran in to tell Dad he could drop the kids at the scrimmage (and took a picture for mom!). The girls loved it!

Flag Football Scrimmage

Seth had his first scrimmage tonight. It rained through the whole thing:) But they played for a little over two hours (until we saw lightning). Super fun:) Seth loved it...of course:)

We are so lucky to be on the same team with some of our favorite baseball people. Seth and his buddies Briley and BB are both playing with him. We got our jerseys tonight, we are the Steelers (now one of Seth new favorite football teams...haha) I loved taking pictures. Rain pictures are always so cool...overcast skies seem to produce the crispest pics!

Seth and BB:) The teams tailbacks....they do a great job working together!


Seth running...this was a touchdown run:)

Ads and Emails...

I saw an add on TV for this nice commitment by Yoplait. I love the idea. I love the thought and respect this company shows in the fight against cancer. I do. But as I watched that commercial, the part where you put the tops in an envelop and mail it in? I thought about the stamp. Call me crazy but that stamp likely cost you more than the lids you are sending in. What if everyone just donated online (no postage) every time we ate our favorite thing? If I decided every time I ate my "hearts desire" I would donate, it would be so much more cost effective! Of course the Yoplait and Post Office would miss the benefit, but I imagine they are doing fine anyway.

This morning a friend, Tammee, who rarely sends email forwards sent this one. I sure do like it. Perhaps the most incredible thing we all could do to begin the fight against cancer is to pray. A small request. Just one line. How simple. Please do!


Dear God, I pray for the cure of cancer. Amen


In another email I received the message and picture below, pretty neat idea. Now if my vehicles were just new enough to HAVE a panic button I would be sleeping much safer:)

PUT YOUR CAR KEYS BESIDE YOUR BED AT NIGHT

Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents your Dr's office, the check-out girl at the market, everyone you run across.

Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.

This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this:

It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar rapist won't stick around... After a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there...... This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

P.S. Would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone. My Mom has suggested to my Dad that he carry his car keys with him in case he falls outside and she doesn't hear him. He can activate the car alarm and then she'll know there's a problem.

From Tween to Teen!

My Tasha has left the Tweens behind and is now officially a TEENAGER:) Pictures do not ever do justice to her wonderful personality! Her favorite chips? Flamin' Hot! Her favorite sport? She has no favorites....loves them ALL! Her favorite sound? Laughter, and you will hear it a bunch if you are around her very long.

Happy 13th Birthday Natasha Ruth!!

Middle School Homecoming Week

Today is Monday of the Middle School Homecoming week. The kids are allowed to dress up each day according to the predetermined "days". Today was Team Logo and Hat day. These are my Middle Schooler on the way to school:)

Sweetness

Seth : "They found a snake chicken in the nursery at church" Thinking mom is really ignorant of snakes he followed with, "That's a snake that looks like a chicken." haha..that would be one scary snake!!

Kids do say the darnedest things! I have really been overwhelmed over the last few weeks and lost track of the silly sayings. I am going to have to work on that !!

I do so love the things my children say. I love the sweetness which is leaving some as they hit the tween years. Last night as Seth was going to sleep he lay beside me and whispered, "Is it okay if I snuggle with you?" Those times will be gone before I know it. The little moments in time will leave as my children all grow up. I find myself clinging to the moments so much more intently than I did 10 or even 5 years ago. As moms (and dads) we really need to cherish the sweetness before our children grow up!!

I wrote the portion above and saved it a few days ago, thinking I would come back at some point and finish it. It was very very funny to have Sarah say this to me in church this morning:

"Mom, we don't have any sweet kids anymore!" She said this after she asked Victoria to sit with her and Tori said she was sitting with Mercedez. Sarah in frustration said, "That's really annoying mom!" I so understand her thoughts, so much so I said it 3 days ago:)

Tori did redeem her "sweetness" by coming to sit with Sarah this morning as worship began. Sarah and Tori took a 3 hour nap after lunch and then took "dress up pictures" (something Tori had been begging to do). Today the pictures ended up being "rainy day" pictures. Pretty appropriate with all the rain!