Thanksgiving Day

What a fun day of family and food!  It started off with a bang!  I woke up hearing dogs barking before 8.  KC got out of the back gate and the neighbor grabbed her and then KC’s BFF Ellie came in the open back gate and jumped into the pool and swam and swam. LOL! Then the smell of cookies baking started drifting through the house!   Dan is obsessed with the Pampered Chef stone and loves making cookies on it.  It drives me crazy because it is heavy and hard to handle!  It is most definitely true that the cookies cook to perfection on that stone!   I was happy to let him cook away!

Dan was on the way to his parents in the morning to visit and Eddie left the door open on the way out and KC escaped and frolicked all over the neighborhood and drove Dan crazy!  They finally got her and brought her home.  The kids visited their grandparents and then we went to Maw Maw’s for an awesome spread of food and desserts.  It was insane.  The kids had a wonderful time playing with their cousins.  Ed was in heaven being free to come in and out and even played football with all the boys!  The girls were in Shelby’s hair salon and looked beautiful with their hair all braided and perfect :) 

This is the one of the two or three times a year we are  all together and we can get caught up on all the current events in each other’s lives, birthdays, weddings, boyfriends/girlfriends, funerals :/, funny Ed stories and more!  We have so much fun cutting up and joking with each other! Of course, there are the plethora of naps always by Jaime and Zach!  I know my kids will cherish these rare times together with the whole family.

I am so thankful my mom is still with us.  She got sick last year at this time and was in the hospital through Christmas.  It has made our time together since, even more valuable because we know we could have lost her.  She has been such an incredible example to follow.  She has always been completely dedicated to her family and none of us have every doubted her devotion to us or to my dad.  Her house is so beautiful and she goes to such effort to make everything perfect using her beautiful serving pieces.  It’s so much work but such a blessing to us all!  I am very thankful today for such a hardworking, overcoming, positive mom who has laid down her life for her family!  I pray we have many more Thanksgiving together!

A Thankful Heart

In my prayer time today, I felt like God was convicting me for not being thankful enough.  I feel like I am very thankful but as I started assessing my life, I saw areas where I have envy and jealousy. I quickly repented and started running through my enormous “What I am thankful for” list.  I realized that the cares of this life really do bog us down and burden us whether we see it or not.  It’s very hard when you see hateful people prosper or when people who live very selfish lives keep being blessed.  It’s especially hard when you live a life of sacrifice and serving and you are mistreated, exhausted and behind.  You see people with maids, manicures, new cars and bling and it’s so easy to let the green monster of envy slip up on you and not even realize it.

I was overwhelmed today with the fact that the marriage, children and family that I have is more precious than any material possession and there is nothing I would trade it for.  I feel like I need to start making Thanksgiving crafts like my kids do to always keep it before me!  (Well, I won’t go that far…)  My kid’s lists are always so funny.  Eddie was thankful for Eddie LOL!  Annie was thankful for the couch, TV and the U (I wonder who has influenced her.)  

Here is my short list:   I am thankful for a faithful husband, healthy kids, my mom, my crazy dog, house near church/school, my truck, my fenced in backyard, true friends who love me despite myself, my church, kid’s school and dedicated teachers, my extended family, my health (which was sketchy last year), and to live in America which is still the most blessed nation on earth!  I am most thankful that I have a relationship with a God who loves me, forgives me and gives me endless chances to fulfill His will for my life.   I pray that this Thanksgiving we will all open our eyes and truly appreciate how blessed we are. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Annie's Turkey Feather

Wild at Heart

A couple years ago, my friend Sean Yost, told me to read the book, Wild at Heart.  He said it would give me an insight to raising my boys.  I took the book on vacation with me, to the mountains and spent many nights reading segments out loud to Dan.  What a tremendous book, shedding the light on how our society is emasculating young men.  Single moms raise so many boys now.  As a result, they are loosing the ability to learn the basics that all men knew, in times past.  It really educated me to embrace my boy’s aggressive side and not try to beat it out of them. 

The revelation that I received from that book was that I married a true wild at heart man!  I never really appreciated all of Dan’s capabilities until I read that book and saw how deficient some young men grow up to be.  I married Dan when he was only 22 years old.  He never lived out on his own but has always been so capable and confident.  Through the last almost 17 years of marriage, there has been nothing Dan hasn’t accomplished, if he desired to do it.  I remember one of the first things we did when we were dating.  We went to the gun range and shot all kinds of guns. We would also go out in his boat and go to dinner different places.  When he was still in college, he worked at a marina, on the weekends and would drive these million dollar boats around on a forklift and totally freak me out!

I have a strong, opinionated personality but what I respect about Dan is he sticks to his guns (literally, LOL)  He isn’t bullied or pushed around by me or anyone else and stands firm on his opinion.  He deals with issues and conflicts so much better than I do.  I don’t always like that he doesn’t listen to me but I do love that I am married to a real leader and the true head of our household.  It bothers me greatly when he gets attacked but he takes it in stride and keeps going. 

I am grateful that my boys have a father who will teach them how to shoot a gun, hammer a nail, fix a toilet, change a tire, chop wood, drive a boat, how to grill and who has loved their mother with his whole heart and made me feel like a true princess our whole marriage!  I have always felt very loved and very safe with Dan because I know he will do anything for his family.   I am blessed to have a wild at heart man, who leads his family with integrity and strength!

Our Straight "A" Night Out

Well finally, we paid our kids off!!  We told them we would have a night out at the Town Center for all the kids making Straight A’s on all four of their report cards.  It’s such a total miracle and we were so proud of them.  We have been so busy every weekend, we haven’t been able to celebrate.  Annie was somewhat harassing me like I was being a slacker or trying to shaft them. I kept trying to make her understand it was their schedule that was keeping us so busy! Tonight was the night.  I was looking forward with just being together with my family!  On the way there, we all said what we were thankful for.  Bonnie said Chick-fil-A Peppermint milkshakes, Bubba said waffle fries, Mags and Annie said their family and then Eddie pipes in that he is thankful for his mommy and daddy because they are nice.  The whole car went, “AWWWWW!!!” It was really precious and surprising!

The Turf at Dicks

We planned on meeting Dan at the Chick-fil-A at the town center.  Our little trick is to go through the drive through and then after we pay, tell them just to keep the food in there because we are coming in.  They always look at me strange but those teenagers have probably never tried to order and pay with 5 kids loose!  At least in the drive through, they are all buckled down.  Annie was crazy. She hurt her finger a couple months ago and the old fingernail fell off in the middle of dinner.  She was so proud and keeps showing everyone her middle finger and also the old nasty fingernail.  It was so gross!  Then the girls went up to order something else and Annie comes back with gift cards.  I was freaking out.  I tried to get Bonnie to take it back but she was like heck NO! Talk about a reality show.  Annie finally put them back but I didn’t look where.  Then Eddie starts spitting out the chocolate chips from his peppermint milkshake onto the table!  My cup got a hole in it, and water was like a fountain going all over me, the table and the floor!   You know you are a spectacle when other tables are kicked back, facing you and laughing long after they have finished their food.  We finally got out of there and went to Bubba’s Mecca….Dick’s Sporting Goods!  The kids acted like crazy psychopaths running and rolling around on the turf area in front of Dicks.  Annie had her shoes off, Maggie was doing cartwheels and Eddie was squealing and rolling.  It was insane. Then we move the chaos inside.  The girls start running up the escalators and Eddie lost Bonnie and kept asking strangers, “Have you seen Sissy?” They would crack up!  Then he keeps giving all the mannequins big hugs and Dan was freaking out!  We had to get out of there before something destructive happened.  Bubba wanted to spend the night there.  We went to the pond to see the fishes and Eddie asked if he could pet them. Lord help me!!  Thankfully, we made it back to the car and home safe (the fish made it too!!!) Shewww, I am kind of hoping they don’t get such great grades this quarter! LOL

Afters Concert with Bonnie

Wow what a great night!  Bonnie and I went to the Come to the Well Tour that the Afters are playing on.  We have been so excited to see Jordan play!!! (My niece Alexandra and Jordan are getting married in December! All 5 Wogs are in the wedding! Jordan is the drummer for the band) It was sold out and we were lucky and squeezed in up front in the VIP section!!  Jordan came out and played the drums with the opening act and it was so great to see him.  We also got to see Sean Yost, Theresa from the Promise and Bonnie's school teacher, Mike and his wife Christy.

I met Jordan when he came to Beaches Chapel School when he was in middle school.  I was the youth pastor at the time and led the daily chapels. Jordan was always a stand out kid.  Not because he was boisterous and loud but because he was always focused and mature.  He had a quiet strength about him. He never acted up or was disrespectful like so many Jr. high boys are.  Jordan had recently got a guitar and I gave him his first guitar lesson and got him up on stage playing during chapels.  It’s a joke we talk about all the time because I am no musician and Jordan is a genius.  He has a God given talent that has impressed me so much through the years. He not only plays every instrument but is a very gifted producer. He joined YouthQuake Live and played on the first album we ever did.  That is when he got to know Alexandra and they began dating.

What I love so much about Jordan is the fact that he pursued his dream to work in the music business with his whole heart and achieved his dream.  It’s a rare thing for a child to do!  We all have dreams and most of them stay just that, a dream that never comes true.   I plan on supporting my kids in their quest pursuing their dreams.  I know Jordan’s mom Angie, must sit in that crowd and be overflowing with joy and pride in her son!

We had a very special moment last Christmas with Jordan.   He surprised Bubba and gave him one of his first guitars.  Bubba had been begging for an electric guitar for years.  It was the most kind, generous things and I promised we would protect it so it can go in Jordan’s hall of fame museum one day!

Bonnie and I cheered, sang and worshipped and even held a cell phone up during light up the sky.  I leaned over and told her that when I used to go to concerts we would stop and buy lighters and all light them up.  She looked shocked and possibly afraid at the thought!  I realized how dangerous that might be, LOL!  My brother gave me a big hug during the concert and we laughed about the countless concerts we went to together back in the day!  Some of our favorites were Tom Petty, David Bowie, and we can’t forget the Rolling Stones.  We sure have come along way and I love that my brother, who is an incredible musician himself, will have a new son who can share the love of music with him and William.  God is good!

Lighting up the sky!

Jordan invited us to their tour bus and we got to see where they live on the road.  It was super nice and we had a great time visiting with the band!  I am very excited to have Jordan as an official family member even though I have loved him for many years.  (No, it’s not just because of the red hair!) It’s been a wonderful thing to watch him grow into such a successful, but still sweet young man who is sold out to God and making a difference in people’s lives all around the world.  I know he and Alexandra are going to do great things for God, more than they could ever ask or think and I am so happy I get to be their cheerleader!! 

We ended our girl’s night out with a Peppermint milkshake from Chick-fil-A.  It really doesn’t get better than that! :)

Senior Day

Last night, Bubba asks me if we are going to honor all the “seniors” at their last STARS Basketball game, which was today.  He was talking about the 5^th graders on his elementary basketball team.   It will be their last year playing on this team.  I had a very stressful, long day and even though I thought it was a brilliant idea, my heart sank because I knew today was even more packed.  I wracked my tired brain about what I could do on the fly.  NOTHING came to me and I am rarely short on ideas.  I have a dear parent on the team who has always pitched in when needed so I asked her opinion and she had a great idea to hold up signs and talk about qualities of seniors that would spell seniors by the end.  I loved it and thought it would be so perfect.  

I was so conflicted because I’m pretty sure it was yesterday when I was watching my 6-year-old boy playing on his first basketball team.  Now he is getting ready to leave elementary school and I’m not ready!!  I love more than anything watching him play ball, whether it’s soccer, football or basketball.  He has an internal drive and is so aggressive. He never seems afraid (even though I am sometimes) I love seeing the “eye of the tiger” come on him during a game.  (He has that song on his iPod and has worn it out for sure!  That would have developed during our Rocky movie fest we had! :) 

I was running at full speed from the moment I got out of bed at 6:30. I started out at the Indian Parade at Eddie’s school and I have never seen such an adorable, serious little Indian who kept his hand in the “How” position like a pro!  I was very proud of Ed!!   Ed has been pulling on his ears for a couple days so I had to run him to the doctor to get it checked. (yes, he had an ear infection even though he keeps denying it!)  I ran real fast and got the “seniors” bouquets of suckers versus flowers!!  I was checking out and saw frames with a big mat and had the idea to get a team picture together.  I called my brilliant niece to see if she could help me get the picture off Facebook since I wasn't going to be at my computer but she was driving but told me how to do it on my phone.  While I waited at the doctor’s office, I downloaded the Walgreen app on my phone, swiped the picture off of Facebook and sent it to get printed at Walgreens.  I was feeling pretty hip and smart (briefly!)

  

I picked up the generator for the game from an awesome friend who has let me borrow it for all our games, so we could play music and have a scoreboard.  I went to store and bought cupcakes for the game, picked up the pictures, ran home put them in frames and was almost late for the game!   The moment came and we honored our 4 seniors and the smile on Bub’s face was worth the beyond insane hustling that I went through!  Dan was asking me why I do that to myself and was it worth all the effort. I really don’t care if anyone appreciates it but my boy!  I will be packing him up tomorrow to go to school at the U and YES, I believe moments like this are worth my time and energy!! I sure love my kids and as my mom says, I am desperately trying to hold back the hands of time that seem to be going at record speed. And yes I am crying if you are wondering!!! So congratulations "seniors!"  You will be missed next year!

Hedge Jumper

Tree Walker Coon Hound she is!

WOW, today I had a new experience with KC.  We were on our morning walk and she was doing her usual ADD routine, sniff, jog, stop.  I was messing with my phone trying to get some music going and she takes off at a full sprint after a squirrel right through a hedge and low and behold I jumped the hedge like a professional hurdler.  Pretty sure I missed my calling when I was on the track team.  I long jumped but clearly, after today,  I so should have tried the hurdles.  I always wonder what people driving by must think with the dog walking/dragging me around the neighborhood.  I hope they get a good laugh for the day!

Missed that one!

After that experience, I started hunting squirrels too!  I would see one and try my best to distract KC on the other side of the rode.  Sometimes she would take off for no reason and force me to run faster than I knew I could.  A policeman, who lives at the end of Forest and a lady were in the front yard when we streaked by and I could see them, staring in utter amazement.  One guy who watched KC drag me into the ditch, asked who was walking whom?  I said there is no confusion with that question…its KC.  It’s been so much harder to train a dog than my kids.  My kids have never blatantly disobeyed me like this dog does.  She is stronger and more stubborn than all my kids!

Tonight I had to run the kids to practice and put a big chair in front of the garbage just in case she decided to rummage through it for the kid’s leftovers from dinner.  I came home to the biggest mess.  She MOVED the chair, opened the cabinet, pulled the garbage out and disheveled it for every last crumb.  I couldn’t even deal with it.  I left it and went to bath two kids and put them to bed.  Luckily, by the time I finished all that, Bonnie came home, and cleaned it all up for me, Praise Jesus for lots of kids to help me take care of our one dog!!