Kid's Cutting Hair :/

Eddie the Barber

I have lived through several traumatic hair cut incidents with most of my kids.  When Bonnie was little, she just clipped a tiny bit off the ends of her hair.  Maggie cut her some fine bangs and almost made Dan cry when he saw the Ziplock bag of her long golden hair that she wacked off around 3 years old.  She told me she wanted to look like Aunt Vick (I am guessing Aunt Vick had bangs? :)   Annie wanted a mullet at least on one side of her hair. (You know business in the front, party in the back, well at least on one side!) Tonight, was the big occasion for Ed.  I, being the ever-busy, non-observant mom, got him ready for bed, tucked him in and Bubba asked, “Why does Eddie have a bald spot?”  I am like, “WHAT??”  I yanked him out of bed and into my bathroom to see the damage! Yep, he scalped himself on the side of his head.  Thankfully, the other side is quite long and blonde and will be the PERFECT, comb-over solution in the meantime…..Sure wish I would have listened to the Holy Spirit that warned me to put the scissors up high after I cut Eddie’s hair last night!  Oh, well!  At least he is a boy!  He is so going to rock the comb-over!! Who knows?  He may start a baby trend!!

Following Your Passion

I so appreciate Quarterbacks like Colt McCoy, Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford.  They are such awesome role models for my boys, young men who followed their passion and worked hard to achieve their dreams. I sat up last night, by myself and watched the finale of The Elite Eleven, the show that takes the best quarterbacks in the nation and picks the top 11.  It was so intense and yes, I even shed a few tears for the boys who didn’t get picked.

I read Tebow’s new book and loved it and now I just finished Growing Up Colt.  What an incredible young man.  Bubba is reading it and I told him that he should use that book as a guidebook for his life. Colt went to bed early his whole career, making sure he was rested.  He never drank or partied and took a vow to stay abstinent until marriage. He attended church every week through college. I so admire Colt’s parents and their dedication to their sons.  They were tough and required their kids to keep their commitments and to work hard.  They even got criticized for it. It’s so easy as a parent, to let our kids off the hook.  It’s definitely harder to enforce rules than letting them slide.  I feel so certain that God has called Dan and I to raise these kids to serve God, to be leaders and to work hard.  Basically, to counter the world that thinks kids should do whatever they want.  I want my kids to identify and to follow hard after their passions.  I never really knew what mine was and stumbled upon it when I got involved in Young Life. When my pastor told me I had a call on my life, it was like a light when on.  When you have a passion for something, it drives you, it brings you pleasure and it’s the only thing you want to spend your life doing.  It's something you would do for free and if you can make a living out of doing it, that's a blessing!  Right now, Bubs passion is sports and I know he is smart enough to be a doctor or something that requires a high education but he picked out his degree already at the U.  He said he wants a Masters in Sports Administration.  I am happy that he wants to spend his life following his dream in the sports world (after his stint in the NFL, of course!)  The girls are still changing their minds from teacher, to pop star, to Olympic swimmer so when they set their sights on something, I will work hard to help them follow their dreams too!

Ramen Noodles

Bubba having fun with Ramen Noodles!

I vividly remember LOVING Ramen noodles when I was a little kid.  Many times, I would have them as an afternoon snack after school.  I must have passed that love to Bubs.  He can pound himself some noodles.  As a baby, he used to crack me up, slurping up the whole long noodle.  It has been his “special” meal that he would request if he had a choice.  I hated to tell him that it cost 10 cents a packet.  We drain the juice so it’s not as unhealthy with all that sodium.  I try to think of it as just pasta!  I have to admit that I still enjoy some Ramen Noodles now and then! 

 

Today was a monumental day!  Bubs learned to make his own Ramen Noodles. Dan showed him what pot to use and how to turn on the stove.  He suggested that Bubs read the directions and measure the proper amount of water too.  Yet another milestone at our house! LOL!  How did my noodle, slurping baby grow up so fast, to a kid who is allowed to operate the stove?  Geez, this raising kids business is just a blur, kind of like when Bubs shovels in his noodles!! :) Poof and they are gone!

Walmart

For many years, Dan has done all the grocery shopping for the family!  Not because he wanted to but because it was just easier.  I have been either pregnant or had infants, so he would go on the way home from work.  He has gotten really proficient at it and I greatly appreciated it because I never liked grocery shopping.

Well, for the first time in 12 years, I have a few hours without any kids since Ed has started school.  With Dan helping coach Bubba’s football team, he is gone most nights so I have taken on the responsibility once again.  Dan has never been a Walmart fan and even though for years I told him he should shop there, he resisted.  Finally, he tried it and was stunned.  He could not believe how much cheaper they were compared to Publix.  Cereal is over $1 a box cheaper.  Dan thinks we save about $50 a week by shopping there. (We should so be getting paid for this free advertising!)

Last week, was the first time, I have done the big grocery shopping trip.  I can’t say I have missed it.  Dan called me and walked me through the experience, reminding me of things to buy and even how to load my basket, LOL!  I actually did pretty good and only forgot a few things.  The weird thing is that I was actually kind of nervous, totally out of sync and pretty overwhelmed.  It’s not my favorite chore and I am secretly hoping Dan will miss it and start up again after football. :)

I can't really say it's "Where shopping is a pleasure"  but it is cheaper!  In the words of my mom, “Where else can you buy shoes, make-up and groceries?”  

Holy Homework

Bubba's "Hibis"

I don’t know if I am having allergy issues or what, but my head was not prepared to deal with the onslaught of homework today!  It was like a folder explosion happened on my counter.  Papers flying in the air and me who was suppose to help all four Wog kids at the same time.  I was tempted to hide but that wouldn’t have been very motherly of me, would it??  I called out triple spelling words, four different memory verses, tried to learn Latin and tried to remember phonics rules, all at the same time. I was seriously rethinking my stance on cloning.  A couple extra ME’s would have been awesome today.  

Eddie's Handiwork

Eddie pitched in too and used blue crayon inside Maggies’s folder on her homework chart and did some serious black crayoning on her spelling list.  I was trying to look up scriptures for Bonnie’s paper and checking out Bubba’s "Hibis" he created, a horse and a Miami Ibis combined!  (That was kind of the highlight of the afternoon and made me laugh, when mostly I wanted to cry!) Bonnie swooped in and told me she was going to make dinner because at that point, I had retreated to my bed, nursing a headache! I pray to Jesus that He covers my children and gives them the mind of Christ and His supernatural wisdom because I surely fell short today, in giving them what they need.  Wait, did I sign Maggie’s reading log??  Let me go check! :)

Born to Blog

I have people ask me all the time, "How do you have time to blog?"  Here is the answer!  I can write and post a blog sometimes in less than 10 minutes.  I type fast and have pictures galore to use. I don’t labor or worry (Sorry for the regular typos!  I am thankful I have a sweet sister in law who will text me if she sees something and I will fix it.) If I have to locate older pictures, that may require a little more time, but I have my pictures organized chronologically, so I can usually find them fast! :) 

I really wish I started blogging years ago, when I first heard about it.  I guess I probably didn’t need it as much as I do now.  I was born to be a communicator.  I spend my days with the five Wogs and a dog, so the blog is a great thing for me.  Communicators will explode if they don’t communicate, so my blog is really therapeutic for me!  My kid’s don’t really want to hear my words of wisdom, like why it’s not smart to stand on the shaky playhouse to dive into the pool or why you shouldn’t tie that rope around your sister’s neck pretending she is a horse.  They don’t know that I was anything other than their mom. Every once in awhile they hear something or see a picture and seem shocked that I actually had a life before kids and traveled the world, even all the way to Israel! (Now, that should be a future Blog for sure!)  It comes so easy to me and because I have been a compulsive picture taker, I have photos for anything and everything!  

I can tell when some people hear about the Wog Blog they think it’s the most self-indulgent thing. I guess it is really but the great thing about the blog is it’s optional.  If people don’t like it, they are not obligated to read it.  I am sure my distant Facebook friends are so relieved that it has curbed the amount of posting I once did.  Mary Black told me one time she had to hide me on Facebook because of all my Miami posting during a game!  LOL! Now I can just funnel my chatty self into the Blog.  I don’t think I have anything life changing to offer just humorous, real stories about raising the 5 Wogs and a Dog and possibly some sentimental moments or helpful hints. I never want for a topic and have a plethora of pending blogs in my head!  The 5 Wogs and a Dog give me more material than I could ever use.  Dan doesn’t mind and even tries to act mildly interested and has even added things here and there to the blogs!  So, that’s why I love to blog!  It has been so much fun and really has blessed me the most. People I never thought would read it, comment or mention it to me when I run into them.  We have fans and it cracks me up. Some get hostile if I miss a day!  One friend told me, that it got her through planning her wedding. It gave her a mental break and usually a laugh!  That makes me feel good!  Now, I just need the t-shirt, “Born to Blog – The Wog Blog!” (Talk about self-indulgent :)

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Is there anything more beautiful than a sleeping child?  I don’t think so!  When school got out in May, with the kids home, Eddie stopped taking naps.  I hated to see that day come!  Eddie is wild and having that break in the afternoon was nice, not having to guard his life.  The good thing was we didn’t have to tip toe around anymore and Bubba could get stuff out of his room if he wanted.  Eddie sure gets tired though in the afternoon and many times will cat nap on the couch while he is watching one of his favorite shows!  The real fun is keeping him awake if it’s too late for him to sleep.  One time, Maggie had a squirt bottle and every time he would glaze over and stare out the window of the car, Mags would give him a quick spritz to wake him up!  I know it seems so wrong but if you’re a mom, you understand how much that 5-minute nap in the car will screw up the rest of your day!

 

The best thing about us ending 12 years of naps at this house is early bedtime for Ed!  Tonight at 6:30, he could barely keep his eyes open.  I still have him in the crib because he hasn’t climbed out yet (I pray I didn’t just jinx it!)  We have book time at night and I put Ed in the crib with a book and he looks at it until he goes to sleep usually!  Tonight, I peeked in there and he said to me, “Can you lay down with me?”  How could I resist?  I gave him lots of hugs and laid down in Bubba’s bed and slowly watched Ed drift away into dreamland.  It was so precious to watch.  YES, I took a picture of him with a flash but don’t tell Dan!  Eddie was too peaceful and angelic that I had to capture that moment!  Dan says all the time that I ruin the moment by trying to capture the moment with a picture but the reality is I won’t remember the moment very long if I don’t have the picture!

My sisters have transitioned into life with most of their kids moving out and now living on their own.  I don’t know how they have done it.  I am so happy and grateful that all my five babies are still at home with me.  When I lay down at night, all of them are safely tucked in their beds!  I think back to a story that still makes me cry.  When I lived at home, I would always throw my leather jacket on the stairs at night and miraculously it was always hanging in the coat closet the next day. The last night I stayed at home before I moved out, my mom heard something downstairs and ran down to see what it was.  My Daddy was sitting on the bottom stair holding my jacket and crying, knowing it would be the last time he hung it up for me.  I didn’t know that story for a long time until a friend of my Dad’s who knew about it, told me.  I wept, somewhat out of control and called my mom and asked her about it.  We both cried some more.  Parenting isn’t easy and so much harder than I thought it would be.  You are never really free again after you have children because they forever have your heart.  I trust that God will prepare me for that time when I must let them go, but for now, sleep in heavenly peace sweet babies!

Our LAST First Day of School

When I found out I was pregnant for the 5^th time I surely thought I would die.  I never really believed people when they said, “We are so shocked!”  I was like please…..Well, I totally had to repent because, I WAS SO SHOCKED!  I had always wanted another boy but had given up on the prospect and had moved on, content with my family! God had other plans and I am so very thankful!!

That surprise has blessed us beyond measure!  What a funny, little cutie he is!  He has been pampered and loved by his four siblings possibly more than any other child alive.  Bless Maggie’s heart! She still attempts to hold him on her hip even though he is almost as big as her.  He is one lucky little boy.

Because he is so adorable, he gets pretty much whatever he wants.  I worried that when he started school it would be a rude awakening for our little, spoiled boy.  All my other kids entered happily into Sunday School classes with Ms. Vanessa but Ed has opted out.  I’m not sure why, honestly.  We seem to always be going to church in shifts and someone will take Ed home.  We went to his school to register in the spring and he totally freaked out and must have said a thousand times, “I don’t want to go to Aunt Page’s pool!”  I have no idea why he thought we were at his swim lessons.  I was worried when we went to his Open House this past Saturday.  He put on his Cars backpack and boldly walked right in his classroom and was checking everything out, with a smile on his face.  He loved the fish tanks and the guinea pig, Henry.  I hope he doesn’t poke out Henry’s eyes like he tries to do with our dog, KC.  Some little girl wanted his Thomas trains so he took them and crawled under the Thomas Table to protect them from the little girl.  He seemed to like both his teachers and it was a great experience for him!

Well, today, as Dan pointed out was our LAST, first day of school with one of our kids.  He was saying it like, THANK YOU JESUS, we survived but I immediately got choked up.  It’s a milestone we have done four other times and this would be our last baby to walk across the school threshold.  It officially begins the slow process of turning our kids over to the world, little by little.  I pushed my sadness and creeping melancholy away, and focused on what an exciting day this was for Eddie!  The night before, the kids helped get him ready!  He tried out his new tennis shoes and ran around the house at lightning speed, with his new backpack on.  He was pumped.  He was so precious all dressed up in his Cars attire, even down to his undies and was ready to go to “Cool!”  Dan and I walked in, took some pictures and Eddie showed Dan the fish.  Dan hugged him and I waved goodbye and off to the Thomas Table he went.

 

I have to admit it was very nice to run errands and actually get what I went for and to do Yoga without him jumping on my back!  I zipped in and out everywhere I went and had forgotten what it is like to focus.  I didn’t have to protect any kids from oncoming cars or buckle any in car seats.  It was just me and me alone. It was freakishly quiet though.  I thought about him all day and almost drove by the playground to spy.  With my man truck pipes it would have been impossible to sneak by so I didn’t take a chance of ruining his first day.

 

I got in the carpool line to pick him up and was giddy with excitement, about seeing his pretty, little face!  As I rolled up, I heard his teacher tell him to watch my wheels and to not move until the wheels stopped.  I swear he grew at school and didn’t look like my baby who I had dropped off.  I buckled him in and he says, “So, how was your day?”  I cracked up and said, “NO, how was YOUR day at school?” He told me he played in the boat and didn’t even get wet!  He played with a “boy” and the Thomas Trains!  I read the paper in his folder and he apparently had a lot of fun at Stretch and Grow Exercise class on the playground! LOL!  He sang songs, read books, painted wheels on a school bus and learned about the color red!  The teacher said he was PERFECT and had a blast!  I am so grateful and relieved!  Now, I just need to figure out how I am going to tell him that he doesn’t go to school tomorrow just Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays…yikes! 

Tea and Talk

I love my girl’s imaginary games.  I didn’t have sisters close to my age and it really blesses me when they play nice together.  The cutest thing they have done in a long time is to set up a talk show they named “Tea and Talk!”  They got out a flowered tablecloth and their tea set and asked me to come for an interview. They were adorable asking me all about raising 5 kids and my marriage.  They were so serious about it and did a great job pretending they knew nothing about me!  All was going well, until KC decided to assault us and to steal a cookie from our tea party.

They also recently played an Indian game. When we went to Cherokee in NC, Maggie got the cutest little Indian baby so they set up a whole Indian camp, baby and all.  Annie was of course the warrior with her Indian spear that she got from Cherokee.  They dressed Bubba in black and he was the horse.  I don’t think I love anything more as a mom than listening to the kids play these games!

They are also very creative in the pool and build crazy forts and play all kinds of games.  Last week, they had a train of rafts with Maggie as the horse driving them all around the pool with Eddie as the caboose.  Dan kind of flips out with the forts they build but I think it’s cute.  Yeah, it looks a little white trash but one day, the pool furniture will stay put and we will be sad that no one is stacking it to make shelter from the coming storm!

I know with how fast they are growing up, that these imaginary games won’t last much longer.  My prayer is that the kids will remain friends and really have Tea and Talk when they get older (that is a great concept for a show, Oprah…)  I think an imaginary world is a wonderful thing and many times I go there myself when my reality is too much! :)  Gotta go…it’s Tea and Talk time with my girls!

Bubba = Football Fanatic

First Day with Helmet and Pad

I remember the first football game that Bubba watched with Dan when he was about three years old.  Dan would explain things to him and he retained it. He retained EVERYTHING!  This kid can tell you what a team wore 3 years ago and who they played in their Bowl Game.  He corrects his Dad on a regular basis with detailed football information on scores and such.  I just assumed all boys were like that since I was a girl.  I marveled at his attention span and thought it was weird how obsessive he became.  He never got into toys besides Star Wars. He asks for jerseys for every Christmas and birthday (and they ain’t cheap!)  

I will always appreciate Mrs. Meredith, Bubba’s beloved 1^st grade teacher.  He has always been aggressive and I had some concerns so I had a conference with her.  I told her that I was going restrict him from playing sports if he got in trouble at school and she gave me a good talking to and a good education that forever changed me.  She strongly discouraged me from ever punishing Bubba by taking away sports.  She said that she had the same God-given passion for sports and it severely affected her when her parents would punish her in that way. She said many people pray for that kind of dedication and passion and I shouldn’t squelch it.  She said I should in turn, encourage that passion and help him pursue it.  That meeting gave me an insight into my son that I have never forgotten.

Loving his first team jersey

Bubba has played three seasons of Flag Football. We finally decided to jump into the Pop Warner swirl after him begging us for years. Bubba finally had his first tackle football game in St. Augustine today! I was so worried about the practice schedule and it being too hard on him.  So far he has loved every minute of it and is sad on the nights he doesn’t have practice. I really admire Bubba because he is very self-disciplined and dedicated when he wants to be.  To get ready for the season, he stopped eating sweets for the summer. I can’t even count the times I have begged him to eat dessert and he just says NO!  He started training at the park and would run a mile.  I don’t feel comfortable with him going over there alone so many times I would go out there with him to watch him.  

Working hard getting in shape

One night, he had me use the stopwatch for each lap he did because he wanted to improve his time on every lap.  He blew my mind when he shaved off 40 seconds by the final lap and met his goal. It might have helped him that I was screaming, Go, Bubba, Go Bubba at the top of my lungs!  He did tire drills, push-ups and sit-ups and also refuses soft drinks all on his own.  He made a bet with me that if he doesn’t drink one for a year, he will get $75.

Coach Dad and Bubs after first game!

He did great today probably because of all the Wogs that were dressed up, cheering in his team colors!  I am so going to print us T-shirts “Bubba’s #1 Fans!”  It was really the cutest thing I have seen in a long time, all those miniature football players running around.  (Don’t tell Bubba I called them cute but they were!)  The rain cut the game a little short so all the Wogs and my Mom hit the Dairy Queen to celebrate his inaugural tackle football game!

DQ Celebration!

Bubba doesn’t seem to be tiring of Football yet. If he does I will be his #1 cheerleader with whatever he decides to pursue!  My prayer for him everyday is that he will grow strong in stature and in Godliness!  For me, I’ll just keep yelling, Go Bubba Go!

Allison & Nicole

St. Augustine Amphitheater

For years and years, Dan has wanted to see Allison Krauss in concert.  We’ve called her his girlfriend because he is obsessed with her music and says she has the voice of an angel.  We were poised and ready to see her in the Florida Theater years ago on my birthday and as fate would have it, Bubba got terrible croup and we had to forgo the concert.  We ended up Karaoking at home instead!

Allison Krauss and Union Station

For Father’s Day, I bought Dan tickets for the show in the outside Amphitheater in St. Augustine.  He has been giddy with excitement about seeing his “girlfriend” with his wife!  A few days ago, I kept having this urgency to call a dear friend and old youth group kid, Nicole who lives in St. Augustine.  I am so happy I did.  She is such a dolly.  She lives right across the street from the venue and told us to park at her house.  She was also going to the concert with some friends!  She told us about a great restaurant and even let me use her bathroom and charge my phone at her beautiful house!!  Talk about a blessing!!

When I think about it, Nicole has always been a huge blessing in my life.  I met her when I became the Youth Pastor almost 20 years ago.  She was a precious Jr. High girl!  I had the honor of watching her grow into a talented, kind-hearted, beautiful woman. She did have that hippy stage much to Dan’s dismay! LOL!  One time, Nicole’s parents went out of town and she stayed with us.  She is the one who taught us all about Sushi!  We went out with her, tried it for the first time and she even ordered for us.  We took her on countless youth group trips and parties and had a lifetime of fun together.

Nicole is like a rock, so steady and calm.  I watched her navigate through loosing her Dad at a young age.  She has always been a leader with quiet strength.  She is also a very hard, diligent worker.  When she was in high school, she had an opportunity to have an internship and my Pastor hired her in the afternoon to be my intern.  She was so efficient and organized and helped me so much.  Nicole was a sweet presence in my office and I loved being with her. Years later, when she was in college, she came back for a summer and was the youth intern!

 

Now her and her husband have a very successful jewelry company Blue Water Jewelers and I am so very proud of her!  I have such great love in my heart and fond memories of the sweet times we have shared together.  Nicole is a true blessing to all who know her.  Now we even got to share a concert together with Dan’s girlfriend! LOL!

Happy Meal Toys

I will really be happy/sad when Smurfs are out of the McDonald’s Happy meals.  I don’t even think my kids really dig the Smurfs even though I am desperately trying to indoctrinate them by buying them Happy Meals compulsively!  I am REALLY trying hard not to obsess about the ones I don’t have and trying not to freak out and throw a repeat Smurf back through the drive-in window!  I LOVED the Smurfs when I was young and secretly wanted to be Smurfette.  I thought I would pass out when I saw Smurfs On Demand!  I gathered my children around and told them of my great love for the Smurfs!  They kind of tolerated it and were somewhat disturbed by Gargamel and his murderous thoughts and plots to kill all things Smurf!  I really love that I have a couple Smurfs currently in my purse.

I really went nuts with the Star Wars toys when Bubs was little.  OMG doesn’t even begin to describe how somewhat psychotic I went.  It didn’t help that Bubba was as bad and obsessed as I was.  With your first toy, it showed you the pictures of all the Star Wars characters to come.  We ate more fast food then any human should ingest in a lifetime.  We would drive to multiple restaurants hunting and negotiating with the drive through worker.  I am pretty darn persuasive and I used that talent to work over many young teenage cashiers. They couldn’t resist the pressure I was putting on them to switch out my toy or to dig around and look for General Grievous. I knew the restaurants phone numbers by heart, possibly having them in speed dial and would ask if they got their new toys in. If they did I hauled all the kids out for MORE kid’s meals.  Poor Dan would have to drive through the in town restaurants and ask if they had gotten the Clone in yet.  I enlisted family and friends too.  I would randomly get Star Wars toys brought to my house and even to church (sorry Lord!)  

The freakiest thing by far was the Trading Night Bubba and I went to.  We dressed up in our Star Wars T-shirts and took the doubles we had and all the other nuts came with their extra and you traded.  It was a glorious night for us and we got Princess Leia and Chewy too!  As if you didn’t think I had a problem by what you have read before, just wait for it….I ultimately bought the toys off of EBay that we couldn’t find to complete Bubba’s collection.  It was a great sense of accomplishment.

Now the problem with the Smurfs is the kid’s are just mildly interested so I really have to control my inward Smurf stalking and just accept whatever comes in the meals…Pray for me!  #smurfintervention

The Things We Do For Our Children!

Tonight was kind of hilarious!  Annie had a Science project and had to collect different leaves and preserve them in wax paper.  That sounds easy enough! WRONG!  It kind of became a comedy routine.  We found a few leaves in our yard.  When we went to pick up Bonnie, Annie and Maggie went to the school playground and swiped some sycamore leaves while I waited in the carpool line. They brought back the deadest leaves I have ever seen that were all curled up.  I sent them back to get “less dead” ones!

I only texted Jesse, Annie's teacher, 3 to 5 times sending her pictures of leaves to see if they were acceptable.  (Yes, future teachers of Wog kids may want to withhold your cell number :) I thought I had all we needed.  Dan was going to be the designated ironer because irons and me don’t mix.  I am somewhat of a compulsive T-shirt maker.  I really should have had a T-shirt design business.  I actually have looked at those T-shirt makers online to purchase and dreamed of making themed shirts for every occasion.  When I make all these shirts, Dan always irons the design on them.  I freak out and never iron long enough and it peels or I burn them.  Dan’s the iron man!  I was really wishing I had posted the picture of the leaves on Facebook and ask friends just to drop them off in my mailbox!! (I will try that with Eddie's project!) I’m trying to enjoy the movie Jaws with Bubba  (if you can really enjoy that movie!) and Dan informs me that I am missing a leaf :/  It’s one that looks like a Christmas tree.  I asked Dan where in the heck I am going to find that at this time of year.  Bubba who is spaced out and who I didn’t even think was listening pipes in, “There is one down on Forest Marsh with ropes tied to it.” Really????  So I jump on a bike, and I drive up and down Forest Marsh looking for ropes on a Christmas tree.  I never saw ropes but thank you Jesus I spotted this tremendous looking Christmas tree bigger than my house.  I was really nervous and wondered if I should knock on the door and ask if I can break off a limb.  I decided I would just ride real slow and snatch a piece off.  OF COURSE, right when I was getting ready to do it, a lady walked by.  I broke out in a sweat and then I finally snatched a piece and jammed it in my bag, riding home as fast as I could home before the leaf police got me.  I texted Jesse and told her if I get arrested, I’m calling her to come get me! :)

SOOO, now onto the ironing.  Dan follows directions and it looked really weird and opaque.  We are both college graduates and should be able to figure this out. It was getting embarrassing.  I asked him if I should go Google how to do this but we decided to call mom!  She said we probably had the iron too hot and scorched the wax paper.  We tried it all again with the same results.  I said, “It is what it is!”  What I really was saying is, “There ain’t no way I am stealing any more Christmas trees tonight!!” LOL

Alexandra = Bigness

I marvel at my niece Alexandra Smith for so many things.  One of the things that I can’t believe and at times causes me a bit of concern is the size of her BIG high heels.  I think she may need an intervention about this issue.  I am not sure that she can even walk flat-footed anymore. I think it’s a severe hazard for her and could possibly lead to a broken ankle. I feel like someone who loves her needs to speak out and I think that is me! :)

I honestly think that it all started when she was born.  I think she was seriously traumatized by the size of the bows her mother would put in her hair.  I think she may have long-term neck issues as a result.  She moved on from big hair bows to big hair. I have never seen such curly big hair in my life.  The feats that her mother would go through to slick her mane up in a hair bun were frightening and possibly life threatening.  Now the poor girl has moved on to the highest heels they make.  I even heard rumors that she is having some custom shoes made to win the Guinness World record of high heels!

She is big in other ways too even though she is just a tiny little size 2 thing.  She has big faith and perseveres even when she is terribly disappointed.  She is big in talent. She can dance and choreograph dances that bring people to tears. She has always operated with God’s favor and is happy to give Him the glory.  She has always had big dreams and visions.  She never settles for less than the best. She gives all she has and sacrifices herself for others.  She is big in self-confidence and will fight for what she believes.  She isn’t a people-pleaser and will speak the truth with love even when it isn’t popular to do.  She is big in her desire for excellence and is progressive and cutting edge always figuring out new things and new technology.  She doesn’t worry and isn’t controlled and hindered by fear.  She launches out, takes chances and goes for it when others sit back and say it can’t be done.  She will work all night to make something happen and she is big on power naps anytime, anywhere with anyone!  She is a person that I have BIG love for and admire so much for being so brave and such a pioneer in so many things at such a young age.  She has taught me so very much and is so patient with me. I can't wait to see what BIG things are ahead for this little power house girl!  I love it that my girls have her to follow after and to emulate.  My final word for her is "To keep going after the BIG things in your life my dear one, never stop dreaming BIG dreams and please watch your step with those BIG high heels!" xoxo

She said these are acceptable LOL!

James = #1 Wog Blog Fan

Me Holding James as a Baby at Lisa's B-day Party

James dressed up as Dan for our Costume Party

There are certain people in your life that just totally crack you up.  One such individual is James McDonald.  He has been such a supportive Wog Blog fan that he is going to be featured in this one all by himself! :)  He and his beautiful wife Jesse have received a few shout outs but this one is all about James!  This should make his day for sure! 

Youth Group Classics

I met James upon his birth I am pretty sure. I used to babysit James when he was just a baby in the crib with a pacifier.  I would always be terrified that he would wake up. One time he did and I felt all around the edges of his crib desperate to find that pacifier and eventually had to turn on the light, which really hindered him from going quickly back to sleep.  It’s a wonder I had so many kids after those traumatic pacifier experiences! LOL

He grew up and was a reserved kid but it was all just an act. He was just resting up before he unleashed his dynamic entertaining ability. James joined the youth group and we took him on a trip to the Dominican Republic. Yes we thought we would die a few times but overall it was a coming out of sorts for James. (He gets mad at me when I talk about how he had to have an IV in the DR and the fact that I video taped it so I won't go there!) He came alive that trip at least to me.  He stared in the dramas we did and blew me away! 

James as "Jesus" in Dominican Republic

Later on, our church joined the YouthQuake Live cast and that’s when James became a true star! He was so hilarious that I am not sure I will ever forget such memorable characters as Crazy Tony!  He has ever since, been a creative force behind YQL and even had the inspiration for the incredible YouthQuake Live Musical!  He wrote most all the songs and wowed us all!  Pure genius! He also was a Young Life leader and continued to use his creative giftings for God’s work! 

Young Life Ski Trip

YouthQuake Live at BC

There is no doubt that had James pursued a movie career he would have made it big but he chose the greater work, God’s work.  He has been a Youth Pastor for the last few years and last Spring I was privileged to be included in praying for him as he was ordained and set into the ministry.  He is now also the Worship Leader for our new modern service.  He did communion last week and really moved me. I am super proud of him! I love to see old youth group kids, blossom into what God has called them to be!  I know greater things are still ahead for James and I can’t wait to cheer him on!  I am really honored to have him as the #1 Wog Blog fan! 

The Graduate

Ordination for James