School's In 2012

People ask me constantly what I am going to do with myself now that all five kids are in school.  My first thought is to recover.  I think I had a mini-break down last night.  “Mini” because I was too tired to have a real one.  I didn’t have the energy to cry.  I just layed down and put a pillow on my head and faked sleep so my kids wouldn’t talk to me.  I am not one of those moms who is thrilled when the kids go back to school.  Yes, I will appreciate the break and will enjoy the quiet time but my Fall schedule is such that I kind of want to run away.  I physically don’t know how I am going to manage it.  I am very grateful for grandparents close by but I still have to be the one to keep the kid’s schedule in order.  We will have YouthQuake Live, dance, cheerleading, gymnastics, soccer, swimming and football as their extra-curriculars.  Then you throw in tedious, detailed homework and projects, plus Ed’s therapy appointments for his toe-walking. People frivolously tell me to cut things out that the kids are involved with.  I think to myself is it really fair to cut their activities that they love because I had a large family?  My guilt will not allow me to punish my kids for my choice to have five kids.

 

My first order of business is to find my own daily routine. I have always faithfully maintained a quiet time and it has become my secret for survival.  Almost a year ago, I began listening to God and typing out what I feel like he is saying to me.  I am pretty ticked that I waitied until I was in my 40’s to start doing this.  I always feel like I have to be productive and read the Bible and do Bible studies, which I still do, but to sit quietly and listen is almost painful for my wound up self.  God soverignly tells me what to expect, what’s coming and how to respond in the right way.  He encourages me, lifts me up and gives me hope.  I have been through some rough, sad things the past few months and had God not prepared me and told me they were coming, I know I wouldn’t have had the faith to press on.  I am so grateful and addicted to this communication and wish everyone that is a Christian would start this habit, preferable the day you get saved.  It has been life changing.  My other top priority is weekly prayer.  I have been going for 4 years to a prayer group on Wednesday nights.  I barely roll in every week, typically completely hurried and stressed. When I sit and pray for an hour for other people, it calms my spirit down and allows me to regain some peace.  I am forever grateful for prayer warriors who pave the way for God to move and to do miracles!

I am now in charge of walking the dog and I have to say, she actually saw a squirrel today and didn’t even chase it.  I called Dan and told him and we lamented like psychos that we seem to be domesticating her.  Dan said all we need to do is to take her to the River and let her hunt for a weekend to remind her of her purpose.  Yeah, we are weirdo’s I know!  I am also dedicated to doing daily Yoga not because I am one of those creepy flexible types, but because I believe it saved me.  I had a freakish illness a couple years ago that never got diagnosed where I lost feeling in legs and arms, had trouble breathing and had vertigo type feelings.   I started doing Yoga and I slowly got back to normal and felt better mentally about myself too!  I don’t like clutter but every drawer and closet is overflowing and I intend on changing that.  I clean out constantly but with 5 kids in 2 bedrooms it’s almost impossible.  Every kid needs some stuff but multiplied by 5 and it looks exorbitant.  I pray that God helps me in this area! 

I have come to the conclusion that if God doesn’t multiple my time, bring things to my remembrance and give me supernatural wisdom on how to organize my life, I am sunk.  God has faithfully been there for me.  I have lived a life, always in over my head.  If God doesn’t show up and do miracle, I would have crashed and burned so many times!!  I am choosing this day, to get in faith, to seek God first everyday, to exercise and to believe that with God all things are possible.  He didn’t give me these 5 kids to abandon me.  He promises to never leave or forsake us and I am dependent on God’s help to guide and raise these children to be all that God has called them to be!! Can I get an Amen?? :) 

U2 by UV

I don’t ever go out at night anymore.  I was throwing away a newspaper and a picture caught my eye.  It looked exactly like U2.  I read the info and it said it was a U2 tribute band playing at Freebirds.  I texted my family to see if anyone wanted to check it out.  My sister Shar and Brett jumped on it!  We were all freaked out that the show didn’t start until 9. Dan and I almost bailed we were so very tired from our hectic life with 5 kids!  My mom was like, “You should go, Honey!  You will have a great time!”

We picked up the Godards and headed to Freebirds. When we were walking up to the door, we were stoked by the U2 music blaring out the door.  My sis and I started dancing outside!  We walked in and it was incredible.  This band has mastered every U2 song they did, to perfection.  “Bono” had every nuance and crazy singing down to the last note!  I have heard cover bands before and they bug me when they deviate from the original!  This band had done their homework, and put some serious time in preparation! It was the most authentic performance and completely shocked me!  I know Bono would even be impressed!  We danced and fist pumped until we were sweaty! 

 

I thought Shar may get in a fight when a girl got in front of her and cramped her dancing space.  Shar has weapons of mass destruction in her elbows!  They are dangerous and she was getting ready to use them!  As the night went on, the whole crowd danced and became more engaged.  Honestly, it was impossible to just be an observer!  Brett and Dan were even dancing and grooving!  The band gave it their all and acted like they were having fun as well! 

When I was getting dressed, I asked Dan if we would be old people at the concert and he said no we might be the young ones!  He reminded me when we saw U2 a couple years ago in concert, how old the crowd was!  I am pretty sure it was the same crowd that has followed them for the last twenty something years!  It felt weird being out and about until late in the night, but it was such a total blast and I am so grateful I didn’t miss it! 

For the night, I forgot about the cares of my life, my messy house, and my overwhelming to do list!  I got to be 17 again when I followed U2 from show to show, even stalking them to Dublin, Ireland!   I want to thank U2 by UV for coming to Freebirds and giving me the best night I have had in a long time!  Sometimes all you need is to go out and dance your heart out to some U2!

Lunch with Dad

Some ideas are great and then quickly turn to chaos. That was our day yesterday! It was National Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day in response to the liberal attacks against their Christian values.  I thought it would be a fab idea to pick up Chick and have lunch with Dad!  Dan is somewhat of a Chick addict and loved the idea.  It never occurred to me that eating at a Chick would be harder than eating at the White House.  We first tried the Queen’s Harbor one and I couldn’t even turn.  I assured the kids that the Chick at Regency would be easier to get into because it was in a big shopping center.  Well, I was wrong again.  I couldn’t even turn into the parking lot. 

We decided to just eat somewhere else and eat Chick later!  We were almost at the exit for Downtown and we had no food.  I asked Siri to locate a Subway and I finally found one.  It was in a really sketchy area of town and the kids asked me if we were going to get killed based on the gang-type characters loitering around the parking lot. I falsely assured them we were fine!  I made Bubba go into Subway to pick up our order and poor guy, was car sick and rushed to the bathroom to puke!  This lunch with Dad day was turning into a disaster.  With the complaining and fighting going on in the car, I threatened to turn the car around and to forget the whole ordeal.  They promised to be good so we pressed on to Dan’s office.  

We found a meter and met Dan at the door of his office building.  It was quite the thrill to ride up the elevator and all visit Dad at work.  The receptionist seemed thrilled and said she had always wanted to see us all together.  My inside voice was thinking, “She wanted to see the freak show!”  We broke out lunch around Dan’s big desk and I suddenly realized what a bad idea subs with lettuce and shredded cheese was.  The kid’s were being very good and leaning over but still it looked like a whirlwind of sub droppings everywhere.  Dan’s boss came in and thank God, I think the vast amount of kids may have distracted him from the cheese/lettuce fest going on!  He seemed like he was in a trance, staring at all Dan’s kids.  He has no kids and I think he was shocked what five kids really looks like up close and personal.  Eddie gave him knuckles and was endearing!  

Finally, he left and I started crawling around on the floor scrapping cheese out of the carpet with my fingernails.  I was stressed!  We got out of there before disaster incurred and walked over to the Landing.  It was a beautiful day and I got to show the kids where I worked during college.  (What were my parents thinking letting me work downtown at the Limited??)  We finally made it safely to the truck and I was grateful!  We stopped back at Chick-fil-A at on the way home and thankfully found a parking lot and got milkshakes for all!  I was determined to support this company, who has every right to maintain their Christian values!  I hope their sales were off the charts!  By the time I made it home from our adventure, I had to lie down I was so spent!  The kids had a blast and I think Dan’s co-workers respect him on a whole new level!!  LOL!

River City Swim Championships 2012

We have been anticipating this past weekend since Annie started swimming!  She started swimming in May and took to it immediately and seemed to pick up the strokes very quickly!  We were amazed at how well she did at all the meets! Dan had to install a row of hooks over her bed for all her ribbons she has won!  We were warned that Annie might be overwhelmed by all the mass hoopla of the championships.  I have been very nervous about it all.  I kept telling her it wasn’t about winning as much as doing your best and having fun!  Yeah, I can hear Dan saying in my head, “If your not first your last….(rick bobby)” But seriously, she has only been swimming for three months and she just turned 7.  

We got on the road and halfway there I realized I forgot to eat lunch and forgot to feed Annie.  What???  Thank God Annie had given me a massive list of snacks to bring so she was OK.  We thought we timed everything out good but then the Matthews Bridge was closed. We also hit a traffic jam.  I was starting to panic that we would be late but we got there right on time and I was relieved. It was almost an hour of driving to get there.

We arrived and found our BAC tent and Coach Paul welcomed us and pointed out where everything was located on the grounds of Cecil Aquatic Center. Annie warmed up and we waited for the call for her event.  We got her checked in and rushed around the building to watch her swim.  I thought Dan was going to cry.  Her best stroke that she has won many ribbons for is the backstroke.  If she cut just a second off, she could have placed!  Bless her heart, she got a late start.  She said she could hardly hear the whistle. She swam like crazy and caught up but didn’t cut the time she needed :(  Dan was visibly upset and so was I. We found our girl and thank God she was unfazed.  I love that about Annie.  She is typically very steady and calm.  She seemed more concerned about getting back to our tent and getting her promised fruit snacks!!  Apparently that is the secret to successful racing! :)

We were trying to stay cool under the tent and I glanced up and saw the most wonderful sight, John and Carrie Wyatt walking towards us!  Now that is true friendship.  A swim meet is something you typically do only if you have a kid swimming due to the sheer chaos and heat!!  They said they wanted to cheer Annie on and they certainly did! She swam her best breastroke time!! I ran into a friend, Lisa, who has three boys swimming and that was so fun to catch up!  She keeps up with me and my tribe through the blog so it has motivated me to get with it and start posting again!!  It was a great first day!

 

On Sunday she had to be there at 7:30, which meant a 6:30 departure.  I drove separate so I could disperse the Wog kids at a more descent hour.  I arrived right when Annie was finishing warm-ups! I ran into my childhood best friend Paulette’s sister Dee Dee.  She is a swim coach and her kids swim for the Wahoos!!  We had a great chat and it was a special treat to see her! 

Annie’s first event was her 50 Freestyle and we were so excited! She moved up in the advanced group about three weeks ago and is swimming a lot more so we were hoping she would have more endurance. She shaved off 6 seconds off her time and even got a high five from Coach Bob!  We found out that she was swimming the backstroke on her relay team and I was so happy.  It would give her another chance at her best stroke! She was also going to swim on a relay for the freestyle.  She started the relay and swam her heart out and gave us a nice start and we ended up winning!!  

Later, while she was having her secret weapon snack of fruit snacks, one of her coaches said hi to her.  Annie hid her head and acted so shy.  She really likes Sara who is one of the best BAC swimmers and works with Annie’s group at the pool.  After she recovered, she gave Sara a hug and couldn’t wait to show her the first place relay ribbon!  Sara did awesome in her race and was the 1^st runner up for the whole city!!  Annie really loves being on the relay teams.  I am working with her trying to her to be friendlier. What little 7/8 year old girls don’t have much to say??  I guess Annie!! I know she is shy but I told her there is a thin line between rude and shy.  She needs to at least say hello!!  

She did great on her freestyle and it was time for her reward for swimming so hard, a JUMBO shaved ice!  She got to tell Coach Dunbar thank you and goodbye and her response was this, “NO, thank YOU!  It was such a joy to watch you swim!!” I thank God for the day I ran into Coach Cynthia in Kmart and shared with her about Annie's joint issues and how we needed to start her swimming.  I just know it was not an accident that my dear Young Life friend was a beginner swim coach!  That was a God-ordained divine appointment.  Annie loved every minute of championships! She didn't act nervous or uptight at all! (unlike her parents! :) This summer has been a life changing one for Annie.  She has gained self-confidence from her new skill and I am sure all this swimming is keeping her joints strong!!  God has a plan for every child and I think that is the biggest challenge for parents is to help them figure out what that is!  I really believe Annie has found her calling! It's a perfect fit for her calm, competitive, self!  I am really proud of Annie. She listens and does what her coaches say.  She hasn’t complained one time except if she has to miss a day swimming!  I pray that the Lord will continue to bless her dedication and commitment with many wins and good times swimming!!   It is pretty funny that my ginger self hangs out by the pool almost daily!!  Thank God for sunscreen!!!

Bubba on Sports Radio

Wow what a day!  Bubba was so blessed to go to 1010XL 92.5 Sports Radio Station and be on the air with his favorite host, Mike Dempsey who has a football program!  This all started on Sunday morning when Dan and I were getting dressed for church and we heard Bubba talking really loud in his room about Tennis. We both looked at each other and went in his room and he gave us a thumbs up and mouthed that he was on the air.  Dan was like, “Dude, you don’t know anything about Tennis.”  When Bubba got off the phone, Bubba told us he knows everything about tennis.  We were like, “What???”  The next day, I saw my friend Jill and told her about Bubba calling into the station.  Jill has a connection at the studio and worked it out for Bubba to get a tour the station.

Bubba was so excited and could hardly stand it!  He got dressed in his Pop Warner Jag jersey and topped it off with a Miami hat of course!!  My friend Jill hooked him up and off we went! We walked in the station and they had Bubba’s name on the board like he was a really special guest!  It was so cute. The staff could not have been any sweeter and attentive to him.  Terry at the front desk welcomed Bubba with a gift bag with a hat, shirt and mini football.  Bubba was pumped because he loves any kind of sports paraphernalia!  They truly treated him like he was a celebrity!!   I guess he was for a day!  


They took him into the producer’s area and he learned all about what she did.  Her name was Donna and she is pregnant with a son!  She talked to Bubba and was so nice to him.  Finally it was time to join Mike on the air!  We went in and met Mike Dempsey and he told Bubba how things worked!  Jill and I also got to sit in and were very impressed with the operation.  Donna and Mike work really good together and Bubba said if he ever has a show, he hopes Donna will be his producer!  LOL!  Mike prerecorded a couple segments, which was really nice because it gave Bubba a lot of time to talk to him about sports. They talked about the Jags, the Red Sox and Yankees and of course the Hurricanes!!  Bubba told Mike the sports he played and that he makes straight A’s.  Mike treated Bubba like a peer and couldn’t have been more welcoming and kind to him!  The big moment came and Mike introduced Bubba and they talked on the air.  

Unfortunately Bubba had to fit in a Tebow dig, which I talked to him about on the way there.  I reminded him that we live in Tebow town and to go easy on his Gator Hating but he apparently disregarded my advice.  I guess it didn’t help that Mike is a Seminole so they obviously had a connection!!  Bubba did great and thoroughly enjoyed this experience and keeps asking me when he can go back.  I think he would like me to drop him off there everyday!!  

Later in the night, my friend Jill texted me that they may even start a Kid’s Sports show now because Bubba did so well!!  Who knows what the future holds for Bubba but after this experience he may go into sports casting.  Good Lord knows he has put the time in to educating himself in all things sports!  I have always marveled at Bubba and how he has never deviated from his sports passion and obsession since he started following the Miami Hurricanes when he was 4.  Jill knows this first hand because she has been Bubba’s art teacher for years.  She has been so thoughtful to me and has texted me pictures of Bubba’s projects.  Jill said that he always negotiates with her to work in orange and green or the U into whatever project they are doing.  She said she usually lets him do it even when she really shouldn’t! :)  He is a persistent little sucker!  I think after this experience she has sealed her status as Bubba’s “ favorite teacher of all time”!!   I think he is the most dedicated little fan I have ever met and I pray that God uses him to do great things in the sports world!!

Beach Fun July 2012

As if I didn’t have enough of the beach on the 4^th of the July, I actually suggested we ride the bike as a fam to the beach. Last night we ate at the Pier restaurant and were amazed at the people on the beach at 8 PM at night, I think it was the awesome power nap I took that made me energetic or something.  We had an early morning and a VERY hot swim meet at UNF so the nap was needed!  I asked Dan if we could take KC since she hasn’t been walked much because of the heat.  We have only taken her a couple times to the beach and she was not a fan.  She hates water and didn’t really like the whole experience.  I thought it was time to give her another try!  We ate dinner and then jumped on our bikes.  It was beautiful at the beach and the perfect time of the day for my ginger self. 

 

Ed went running into the water and way out in the ocean with waves crashing over him, I was freaking out.  I yelled at Bonnie and Bubba to hurry and get him as I started rushing through the waves.  What was he thinking??  I must teach him some healthy fear!  All the kids and I were out in the ocean jumping the small waves and having fun.  Poor Dan was stuck on the shore with KC howling like crazy for the kids.  He waved us back in and we were shocked that KC had waded out in the water up to her neck. The kids were thrilled and stayed in to play with her!  We walked her down the beach and picked up some shells! Annie wanted to climb in the lifeguard chair and I think she may be a lifeguard when she gets older because she looked like such a natural!  All the kids climbed up and I snapped some pictures of my cuties!

Times like these, remind me how truly blessed we are to live by a beautiful beach.  I am so thankful that God gave me 5 healthy, fun kids and I enjoyed them very much today!  The times when I have them all together are fleeting and I know it.  I have watched my sisters and brother release their children into adulthood and it’s painful to watch.  All parents desire their kids to grow up to be thriving adults but right now I relish the times when I have all five of my babies together.  That’s why I bug them so by taking so many pictures!  When they all fly the coop, I will be so grateful I captured so many precious memories!  For now, I just ignore all their complaining and keep snapping away!!!  

Independence Day 2012

I LOVE the 4th of July Holiday!  I look forward to this patriotic holiday every year!  It’s a time when everyone comes together and celebrates our great country.  We truly are the best country in the world and all you have to do is travel some to figure that out!  It is pretty stressful resisting all the awesome red, white and blue things in the stores and I can’t say I didn’t over indulge some!  I love it that my kids will dress patriotic for me the Sunday near the 4^th.  They did not complain at all and that’s impressive having 5 kids.  


After church was over, Pastor Dave said that he was sitting behind Bonnie and couldn’t believe she didn’t have any patriotic clothing on.  He said he was going to scold me about it when she turned around and he saw that indeed she did have a flag shirt under her jacket!  LOL!!  I almost screamed when I saw a Team USA shirt at Walmart for the Olympics!  I splurged and got myself one and it’s now my favorite T-shirt!  

We started the day with Annie swimming at 8 AM.  Her swim team was having a swimming party!  Dan came home and guilted me into going to the beach saying it’s an annual tradition since I went last year.  For years I have “sacrificed” and stayed home from the beach fun with sleeping babies!  I can’t  anymore in good conscience send Dan to the beach with 5 kids.  I agreed and started the long process of preparation.  I thought I was being really smart and didn’t pack any lunches so we would be forced to come home when the kids got hungry.  We loaded our water, towels and chairs on our backs and headed out on our bikes.  What a crazy entourage we must have looked like.  We ran into Clay Sones who was very proudly decked out in his American best!  It made my day!  The level of Patriot clothing on the way to the beach was mind-boggling.  I loved all the USA support! 

When we got to the beach my nephew Britt Sanders had put a tent up, thank the Lord that I quickly but my chair under. I had sunscreen on, a hat, a long sleeve swim shirt, a chair with a lid under a tent!  I don't think this ginger had a chance of getting sunburned!  Britt even had patriotic decorations, as did others on the beach!  It was so inspiring.  Unfortunate for my sisters, I had a long sleeved swim shirt on that I am pretty sure was wool and doesn’t breath at all. We had a west wind that was blowing hot hair on my back and I thought I might pass out from the heat.  I verbally kept reminding everyone of my misery.  


Finally the wind shifted and I thought I might survive. Of course all 5 Wog kids stayed in the water for hours. They got on their cousin’s Sup boards and saw dolphins and stingrays up close.  Ed had his cousin Isaac paddling him around like he was King Edward!  The whole shafting them with no lunch was an epic fail thanks to my sisters.  They kept slipping the hungry little Wogs food and prolonged my torture at the beach.  We finally left for home and I got to enjoy the mass patriotic chaos on 1^st Street!  I happily greeted people and commented on their attire! It was awesome! 

Dan cooked an awesome dinner of pork and ribs and put on quite an impressive display of fireworks!  Ed was so enthusiastic and I realized it’s probably the first time he has ever seen fireworks! I hope Jax Beach reinstates the beach fireworks next year for my kids. We ended the night watching some fireworks on TV in the AC, which was pretty nice!  Tomorrow I am going to hit up the clearance patriotic sales and I can hardly wait! God Bless America!!!