Youth Sunday

Generations of Youth Ministry

Today was a great day for many reasons.  It was a day of reflecting, of gratefulness, of being proud of my Bonnie and so much more.  It was Youth Sunday at church and it was the first year my Bonnie was able to participate!  She has grown up year after year enjoying Youth Sundays. She has been so excited and did a great job in her skit and also in the youth praisers.  As a parent, you pray your kids will serve God and be involved in church but when it happens, there is nothing like it!!  I am not sure many people get to experience what I did today. Over 15 years ago, I did my first Youth Sunday as the Youth Pastor at my church.  It was so much fun.  I talked our Pastor into letting us surprise the congregation and on the fly take over the service.  He loved the idea and said let’s do it.  He called me up for an announcement and then kids came running in from the back, interrupting me and I asked them what the heck were they doing. They proclaimed that they wanted to take over the service!  Of course we had been practicing profusely but it was fun to surprise everyone.  It went great and the church loved it.  I just love that we are still doing Youth Sundays and I love even more that James and Kelly, two of our favorite kids, are still there and training up my daughter. 

Kelly and "Baby Bonnie"

Today, Kelly talked/cried (an annual tradition!) about how much she was impacted by the generations that were present and she mentioned what a blessing it is for her to be ministering to her youth pastors daughter (Bonnie.)  I joined Kelly in shedding tears and was truly grateful to the Lord for this moment. I would love to know how many youth pastors stay long enough to see THEIR youth pastors kid born, grow and join that same youth ministry.  I would venture to say it’s a very rare thing indeed.

My mom and I were just talking about that first youth Sunday.  My Pastor forced me to share in church that day and I was very nervous. Thankfully, I shared about my parents and especially my father and how his unconditional love and affection had impacted me.  It happened to be my Dad’s birthday too.  He died less than two months later and what a HUGE privilege it was that I got to publically commend him for being such an incredible father to me.

Youth Group made a quilt for "Baby Bonnie"  I passed the
Youth Pastor baton to Kelly (on far right) this night.

I feel grateful because I have never ripped out the roots of my family from my home church. It makes me sad at the thought of ever loosing the heritage my family has at my church for my kid’s sake. People love them and watch out for them. I watched my parents weather the ups and downs through the almost 40 years of attending our church. I am sure they were tempted to leave on occasion when a new exciting church was starting but they have stayed where God planted them and as a result their entire family of almost 30 members, serves God.  Because their roots go deep, they have incredible fruit to show for it.  I sadly think back to all the families who bailed out, ripping their roots out in the bad times, scattering their family. So many of my peers aren’t even serving the Lord or raising their families in church. My greatest desire for my kids is for them to serve God all the days of their life and put Him first.  I want them to run hard after God with all of their heart and change the world. I am so thankful for James and Kelly who acknowledged the call of God on their life and are now there to guide and help my children grow in their faith. 

His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. Luke 1:50

Shopping with Eddie

"Have you seen Maw Maw?"

Yesterday was a trip.  My mom and I took Ed for the big momentous occasion of buying his first backpack for school.  Do I have like five he could use, ABSOLUTELY, but it’s nice for once to have a new one that you pick out!  He chose a Cars backpack with an attached lunchbox.  He put it on and wore it proudly through the store while mom and I shopped.  

Ed's proud of the car he suckered the
lady into buying him!

Mom went to try something on in the dressing room and Eddie started yelling, “MAW MAW, WHERE ARE YOU?”  He marches up to the cashier and barges in front of the lady checking out and asks, “Have you seen, Maw Maw?”  The cashier said that she hadn’t.  It was all I could do to keep up with him because he disappears down every aisle.  I was thankful that he had his new backpack on because it made him easier to spot! I have never seen such a self-confident, obnoxious child that chats with everyone he sees TOTALLY uninhibited. We finally got out of the store and he wore that backpack all day!  He was so cute and played “school” all day, “Bye Mommy, I’m going to cool (school)!” I would tell him to have a good day!  It was pure cuteness! 

Going to School!!

The funniest thing that he ever did was one day when we went to the Dollar store to buy yet another matchbox car.  He picked his car and went right up to the cashier and butted in front of the elderly lady and handed it to the cashier.  She scanned it and handed it back to him while I was walking up.  I was totally appalled.  I quickly got a dollar out of my purse and tried to pay the sweet lady.  She said she was happy to buy him a car.  What a little turkey. The cashier thought Eddie was her grandson! LOL!!  And people wonder why I hate shopping!! 

Parenting Ain't for Sissies - Part 5

Bon's BFF on the Ichetucknee trip

I’ll never forget the first time I realized that my children’s schedule will dictate what we can and can’t do.  When Bonnie started pre-school and I wanted to go to the mountains, I realized we needed to work it around her school schedule.  As you can imagine, with 5 kids it’s completely insane.  Every time we try to go anywhere someone has to miss something.  Usually it’s some VERY important Miami game.  I had planned to spend 4 days this weekend at the river.  I am not joking.  There was a conflict EVERY DAY until I finally had to acknowledge God that maybe we weren’t suppose to go for some reason.  

Bus Accident

One of the conflicts was Bonnie’s first Youth Trip to Ichetucknee.  I almost threw up leaving her in the parking lot with the yellow school bus.  I have had some traumatic bus experiences in my life.  Once on the way to a Young Life youth camp, Southwind, our school bus wrecked but it was just a minor accident but still freaked me out because those school bus drivers act like they are driving a sports car half the time.  The most memorable bus trip of all time was when our bus driver fell asleep, crashing into a tanker, almost killing 48 kids coming home from the Young Life camp, Windy Gap.  God totally protected us and Dan was the one who suffered the most being on crutches for weeks and not being able to drive.  All and all I have to remind myself that my children are on loan to me from God and they ultimately belong to Him. This year of letting Bonnie go places without me has been somewhat excruciating and I really miss my elementary baby girl that was always with me.  I am so very thankful though for James and Kelly, Bonnie’s Youth Pastors, who I trust and love very much.

Bonnie's 1st Youth Group

When I have forged ahead with vacation plans even though a faction of the family didn’t want to go, it bums me out and I feel bad.  The bottom line is there is never a perfect time to go on vacation.  It’s always this big negotiation.  Almost every trip we go on, it’s such a hassle working through the details, I question whether it’s worth it.  Of course, once we pull out of the driveway, it totally is.  Not sure if I will get that River trip I was dying for before school started so I am just focused on enjoying every moment I have with the kids until they go back to school whether it’s home or away!

Teachers Change Lives

The Rogers love America as much as the Wogs!

I feel guilty!  I have spent the whole summer dreading school.  People are shocked when they ask me if I am ready for my kids to go back to school and I respond with a “HECK NO!”  We have such a relaxed, stress free, fun time together.  I don’t have to hassle them to do their homework and be on their case.  Of course I want them to learn but the amount of work that it entails, burdens my soul.  I feel so much pressure to spend the time they need doing their homework, projects, reading... but it’s literally impossible with four kids. I was shocked as a parent when I realized even though I graduated with honors from college, that didn’t mean I would know how to teach my own children. With Bonnie, I panicked and felt like a failure because I have no recollection of phonics rules or much anything past K5 apparently.  Education changes, lingo changes and the terms for things too. 

I am so very grateful for the help God has sent me.  My mother in law has been a teacher for 30 years and last year they moved back to Florida having moved when I became pregnant with Bonnie.  I felt like the Calvary rode in!  She is dedicated to my kids being educated and has the skills to teach!  Praise the Lord!

Teresa took Bonnie for her first pedicure!

Another person that I couldn’t have survived without is Mrs. Teresa Rogers (She is so going to cry when she reads this!)  She is one of the best friends I have ever had.  Her love and commitment to my family astounds me.  Most people have to take us in small doses and we eventually weary them!  Teresa has been a consistent force of support for the Wog kids and me.  She drops off presents constantly of fresh fruit from their yard, patriotic gifts and secret Peter Brook for me!!  She takes the Wog kids on dates and blesses them with special gifts on their birthday!!  She makes us feel so special and loved!!  

My love for Teresa really began the year after my Dad died.  She and my father share birthdays. (That must be why she is so special :)  No one knew it was my Dad’s birthday, or the first time we would celebrate without him.  She walked into my office with tears streaming down her face and handed me a rose.  That wasn’t the first time we would cry together.  It meant the world to me (and I sit hear crying again at the love and kindness she extended to me that day!)

It's wonderful to have a teacher who loves boys!

Mrs. Rogers tutored Bonnie for years for free and would also pick her up early for school to help her on a regular basis so I wouldn’t have to drag my infant and kids out early in the morning.  She believed in Bonnie and always encouraged both of us!  We have cried together, prayed together and rejoiced together through the years.  I admire her so much and have never met another teacher like her.  She is so kind to her students, never yells at them and brings out the very best in every single one of them.  Her students are never the same when they leave her class.  My kids have been blessed with other wonderful teachers as well but have also had teachers who act like they hate teaching and are so miserable.  I honestly would love to tell them maybe they should find another profession. What a gift a true teacher is.  One who does whatever it takes to teach a child. That’s Mrs. Rogers. Bonnie had trouble in math.  Mrs. Rogers researched and found Touch Math, a hands-on skill for creative minds.  IT WORKED!  My baby was successful in math because Mrs. Rogers went way beyond what is expected.  She uses songs to teach multiplication tables and is so dedicated to making sure her students learn the basics.  She gives them a firm foundation to build on.  If there was ever a person born to teach it is Mrs. Teresa Rogers!  I am pretty sure when you look up teacher in the dictionary, her picture is there!

The thing that is keeping me from being totally depressed about school starting is that my Maggie gets to have Mrs. Rogers and I look forward to the impact it will forever have on Maggie’s life!! Thank you Mrs. Rogers for staying the course, not quitting and being an example to so many of what a true teacher should be! XOXOXO

Infomercial Junkies

My kids really crack me up!  They are obsessed with infomercials.  They sit and watch them and believe everything they see!  Last night, Bonnie was so excited! She saw this eye cream advertised that instantly takes away the bags under your eyes and suggested I buy it! LOL! 

Bubba was watching one commercial where you put the turkey and everything in the glass oven thing and it cooks it to perfection.  I asked him why he was watching it and he said because Tim Tebow was getting interviewed on all the ESPN channels and he didn't want to see him!!  Mags and Annie love Pillow Pets and “Happy, Happy Napper and we love to play with you…”  and beg me to buy them one!  Another favorite that the kids are just sure that I need is the Space Bags that suck all the air out and make your storage bags flat.  The one most recently that they all want is Slushy Magic.  You pour your ingredients in and shake it, and it instantly makes it frozen. I wonder if that works because that would sure be nice!  I think the whole world enjoys the ShamWOW cloth that is indestructible and soaks up gallons of water too!  I love that one myself. 

 

Let’s not forget the Snuggie!  I have laughed so many times at that commercial with all the adults at a sporting event in the stands in one of those!  I have to say I caved and all the kids have Snuggies and love them!  My dear friend Lissa bought me one too and I am a believer in the benefit of the Snuggie!  All this proves that advertising works!  Now if my kids just had the 3 payments of $19.99 plus shipping and handling to try them all out!! #scam

KC's BFF Ellie

Susan our wonderful neighbor giving
KC a birthday present of Dental chew sticks!

God is so good to me!  If you have been my Facebook friend for long, you have lived through our first year of dog ownership along with us! It's been so much more challenging than I expected even though I was the only one in reality about the amount of time having a dog would require. The number one person who has encouraged us and saved us on numerous occasions is our next door neighbor Susan. We moved in nine years ago and she had dogs.  My kids were scared of dogs and through the years, Susan has helped them overcome their fears and would eventually let my kids go on walks with her and even hold the leash!  I was a self-proclaimed dog hater but I grew to like Susan’s dogs because she trains them to be so good and mannerly.  They obey, they don’t jump on you or run away.  (Unlike SOME people’s dogs LOL!)

Ziggy and KC

When we got home from the mountains without KC, and told Susan about her, she was the one who pushed us to go back and get her.  She promised to help us out but I am not sure she knew how much that would involve!  Susan and her dogs, Ziggy and Sadie were there for KC’s homecoming and have watched KC grow up from 11 pounds to 60.  KC LOVES Susan and her dogs.  Ziggy, the younger one, enjoyed playing with KC but then KC got big and would hurt her on occasion with her rambunctiousness.  Sadie just tried to avoid KC all together because she was such a bugger.

Ellie the Water Dog!

KC is known for her romps in the marsh across the street.  I can’t even count how many times, Susan has crawled through the bushes and helped us retrieve that dog.  The worse time ever was the day she got lost in the big marsh in Indian Woods while walking with Bonnie and Bubba.  That marsh is vast and I was very afraid we would never see her again.  The kids were in tears and after an hour of us calling and looking I thought all hope was lost.  She loves getting in my truck and we would rev the engine and try to lure her out to no avail.  Dan gave up but Susan and her husband Randy kept looking on their bikes long after dark and praise the Lord, KC finally came out in the place she had entered, all covered with muck.  Randy rode her home because I couldn’t put her in the truck that filthy and once again our neighbors saved the day (and KC!) Even this past weekend, we left the gate open and KC high-tailed it to Hucks backyard and I called Susan in case she saw her.  She was on her way home and picked KC up in her car off of Forest and yet again saved her life!  Talk about patience….geez!

The Lord has done the greatest thing for us.  Susan got a new dog named Elle (we call her Ellie.)  She said Ellie reminds her so much of KC which is probably not a good thing.  Sweet and lovable for sure but wild and naughty as well!   The first time Ellie came to meet KC in the backyard, she dove in the pool and never came out.  It took a group effort to drag her out with her yelping the whole way home.  She is quite the swimmer!  KC was walking around the pool looking at Ellie like she was saying, “What the Heck?  Can you get out and play now?”  They are now BFF’s but can only have play dates in Ellie’s backyard or it will just be a swim fest.  We don’t really understand why KC hates water.  Hound dogs should like to swim. 

The results of play dates with Ellie!

Having Ellie is the best thing that has ever happened to KC and us!  Ellie wears her out and helps us have a good day!! KC requires so much exercise. If Dan doesn’t ride her on the bike for 5 miles than she is one naughty dog at home.  She is perfect when she is exercised.  The kids walk her constantly but they can’t do it enough but Ellie can!!  God bless you Ellie and may you live long and play hard!!

Birth Order

If you have spent anytime with me, I have probably questioned your birth order and have given you a run down on what kind of person you should be based on your birth order!  I need new people to diagnose because my family is sick of it. Dan doesn’t want to hear about him being the baby of the family anymore and that’s why he likes presents and parties!  Or Like when I tell my Bonnie to quit being such a bossy, know-it-all firstborn, trying to organize everyone.  Or how I explain to people that I am a quasi-firstborn/only child because of the 10 year age gap with my siblings and that’s why I am a bit schizophrenic.   Birth Order truly gave me insider information on how I was wired and helps me so much understand my kids.  I learned how it’s important to not shaft Maggie, my middle child, all the time, to do ALONE special things with her without being smashed by her brothers and sisters.

All of my knowledge came from the awesome book, Birth Order by Kevin Lehman.  He also writes books on other topics and I read a parenting book that changed me forever.  He has five children and he harped on the fact that you can’t be all things to all people or you will exhaust yourself.  You can’t make all the play dates, parties, clubs, events, sleep-overs and such.  He kept his kids as close to home as he could and he doesn’t regret it.  Time flies so fast and making family memories are the most important.  I sometimes feel bad for my kids because they don’t get to do a lot of things with their friends but poof they will be grown and I want family memories more than anything when they think of their childhood.  It honestly set me free and I am pretty sure I quit a playgroup that very week.  My kids got sick every time I went and I dreaded it and finally the dang light bulb went on in my head and I realized I didn’t have to go anymore!! FREEDOM!!  It might sound weird but it resonates in my soul that it is the right thing for my family!  It took TREMENDOUS pressure off of me learning how to say, “We don’t do sleep-overs!”  We have to juggle so many people to do anything and logistically we only have one extra seat in the truck and now KC occupies that, so we are full! We really have the most fun together on all of our adventures and tomorrow they will be grown and on to their own lives, sniff, sniff :( #lovemybabies

Parenting Ain't for Sissies - Part 4

Five kids are a lot to take care of everyday. It’s three meals a day which is 15 plates total plus snacks.  It’s exhausting and I am not “suzy homemaker” like my mom.  I love my kids but I don’t love cooking at all.  We keep meals simple and I can flat dish out the food if everyone stays out of my way! When I make spaghetti, I dump all the noodles in a bowl, dump all the sauce on top, add the parmesan cheese and put it on a platter and with a big knife cut it all up and dish out the 5 plates for the kids!! I get my kids to help pour milk, make the salad and lay out the plates!!

We always use paper plates and plastic cups.  That means we only have to wash silverware and pots.  It’s not classy but it’s quick and easy and saves time.  The kids put their names on their cups and we try to use the same one all day, rinsing them out after meals. For me it’s about all sitting down together and giving each child the spotlight to tell about their day.  Eddie makes up all kinds of stuff and cracks us up.  He has quite the imagination.  The real fun is everyone guarding their plate from the dog.  She is stealth and can grab a cup of milk with her teeth and sit it carefully on the floor and lap it up without spilling a drop.  Pretty freaky!

Here are a few more time saving tips I use throughout the year that helps us with our overwhelming life.  I pre-pack the kids school lunches the night before.  I get all their lunchboxes laid out and put the snacks in the night before.  I lay out all their clothes including hair bows too!  It helps cut down on the chaos in the morning.  We have four, large, storage bin (one for each kid in school) on the shelf in the laundry closet where we keep their school clothes including socks!  Speaking of socks…it’s super fun over here sorting socks. Thank God Hanes makes different color tips on their socks for different sizes!!  That’s a lifesavor!  We also make sure their school work is packed in their backpacks!  The real fun is keeping KC from chewing up all of the above!! The honest truth is we manage because Dan is an extraordinary Dad.  He gets up with the Wogs, makes breakfast and finishes backing their lunches while I sit quietly and drink coffee.  I just fix the girls hair and they are out of the door!  I am grateful that God gave me Dan as my partner because we are a good team and surprisingly we really like each other still!!  #teameffort

The Grocery Fairy

Almost four years ago this fall, my childhood BFF, Paulette, started bringing me her BOGO’s (Buy one, get one free) from Publix.  I was in the pit of depression, totally overwhelmed, exhausted and 6 months pregnant.  She didn’t know how to help me and bringing me the extra groceries she didn’t need, was her way of helping and blessing me.  I cried chronically especially if you asked me if I was pregnant.  Dan asked me one day when I was going to tell people I was pregnant again and I said NEVER!  I told him just one day, poof, I would show up at church with a new baby and people probably wouldn’t even notice.  My kids took care of it though and made the announcements at Sunday School and I thought their teacher was going to collapse having only one son.

I admire my friend Paulette so much!  She took a Kingdom Assignment challenge at church.  She received a $100 to make a difference in the world.  She had the bright idea to launch the Grocery Fairy.  My kids had named her that because she would bring them treats like powdered donuts that their health nut Dad wouldn’t ever buy them!  Paulette had the idea to encourage people to adopt a family, or donate to BEAM with the extra BOGO items. For us it wasn't a financial need but a logistic need of dragging 4 kids and an infant to the store.  I can’t tell you how much fun it’s been.  We never know what she is going to bring and she will never know how much she has saved the day with her drop offs.  So many days I would dread having to go to the store to get through the week to get juice boxes or school snacks and she would bring just what I needed.  Most of the time, we never see her because she is sneaky!  We open the door and groceries appear!!  It’s magical!!  After I had Eddie and got hormonally stable again and feeling back to my old self, I told Paulette she didn’t have to give us the groceries anymore and she begged me to let her continue.  We became best friends when we were babies and it helps keep us connected and gives us wonderful visits when we can catch her doing a drop off!  Plus it takes a village to feed these kids and she feels she is doing her part as my friend!!  I am not too proud to admit that I need help and LOTS of prayer from my friends!!

The GF's Birthday!

Paulette is a true visionary and pioneer and her Grocery Fairy movement has expanded to local schools and throughout the community and beyond  She is a regular speaker at church events and school PTO’s.  She even got a National Award out in California for the true difference she is making in countless lives!  She has been in the paper, on TV multiple times, on radio shows and who knows where her good deed, starting with her BFF will take her!!  Fly on GF, Fly on!! #beagroceryfairytoo

Parenting Ain't for Sissies - Part 3

Generations of youth ministry!

Wow does time fly!  I had a big reminder of that tonight!!  Oh so many years ago, probably getting close to 20, when I was the Youth Pastor at Beaches Chapel, we did our first Progressive Dinner on Bikes.  You go from house to house having appetizers, salad, dinner and dessert on bikes.  Oh how fun for the kids and stressful for the leaders!  It’s quite interesting keeping 40 plus kids from doing stupid things and keeping them safe!  Two students that participated in that madness were the current Youth Pastors, Kelly and James!  Oh the fun we had together back in the day and the craziest part of it all is now my baby girl is one of their youth group members.  She has loved this past year so much and has had a blast!  It does my heart good that so many of the things Dan and I started have been continued by Kelly and James and now our girl gets to enjoy the fun too! Tonight was awesome! We hosted the dessert part of the dinner and made Brownie Ice Cream Sundaes!  The kids ate dessert, played basketball and swam in the pool!!  They were all so well behaved and polite!

My Bonnie!

For me, the “growing up so fast” part of parenting has been the hardest to digest.  Poor Kelly and James!  I drove them nuts so freaked out about her joining the youth group.  I still can’t really believe she is old enough and I honestly wish she were still a little girl!  She is so beautiful and sweet and I want to keep her that way as long as possible. 

I have worked with youth most of my adult life and I know a lot about teenagers but it’s a whole different ballgame when it’s your innocent, beautiful daughter.  You see it from a totally different perspective.  I want to publically repent for not being more compassionate on freaked out parents who were overprotective.  I would be more overprotective if I could but I restrain myself and let her grow up so I won’t loose her.

James and Jesse

James is a bit of a bugger though.  He likes to send me tormenting texts when Bonnie is in his care like, “Was Bonnie missing a finger on one of her hands?” or “All Bonnie needs is money for dinner and a bullet proof vest because it’s a rough area!” Crap like that and I laugh to myself at how I can repay him when he has a blonde little girl that looks just like Jesse!! Oh the paybacks I am planning!!  

Kelly has been great!  She is patient with me and even texts me lovely pictures of my girl at her first camp!!  I am grateful that two youth groups kids that we helped raise as their youth pastors, will be there for my kids and help us train the Wogs up in the way they should go!  #thecircleoflife #thankful

Organized Chaos!!

Parenting Ain't for Sissies - Part 2

The Produce and Guitar Player 

It’s been a few funny days of major band drama.  As a parent, you want your kids to be creative and to express themselves but good heavens sometimes it’s over the top.  The 5 Wogs have created a band called the “Little Peeps.” They have the look of a hip hop band with sideways hats and bling but the songs Bonnie writes are deep, spiritual and somewhat hippy! I have to refrain from cracking up half the time because they are so darn cute and serious about it!!  They spent hours practicing and setting up. They convinced me to get out the Karaoke machine, microphones and they set up the band in my room. 

Where the magic happens LOL

My rule has been since I moved into this house, that no toy and no rough housing allowed in my room.  My last bedroom was the playroom with a play kitchen and everything.  It drove me to madness.  I was trying to fight off the anxiety of their band sprawled out all over my beautiful room.  I couldn’t stand it anymore and kicked them downstairs in my nice living room that I desperately try to keep in one piece.  My favorite items are these two Queen Anne chairs that my mom and I “rescued” out of the dumpster at Dillard’s when it was transferring from Gayfers.  My mom surprised me when I was out of town and upholstered them in leopard skin and they are my prized possessions.  I pray to Jesus that KC doesn’t chomp down on them.  Anyway, back to the band. 

Maggie has been fired a couple times and has broken down in complete hysteria.  I actually had to form a temporary band and accompany her on the piano until they reunited. Then Annie was made the producer instead of the drummer and she shed some tears.  I am the manager and I am suppose to get them “gigs” but I am too busy right now in conflict resolution.  They vote all the time on stuff and are really dedicated.  They finally put on a concert and Eddie and Maggie had a big fistfight in the middle of it because Ed wanted the microphone…..imagine that!!  Bubba said that if I can get them enough paying gigs, they are going to buy Maggie a junior drum set…dear Jesus help me continue to be a “Fun Mom” but do we really need to add to the noise in this house?? #earplugsinthedaytime

Parenting Ain't for Sissies - Part 1

My Babies!

I am going to write on parenting for a few days.  I have spent a lot of time with my little darlings over the summer and have a lot of good material!!

This parenting gig is hard. People say to me on a regular basis, “I don’t know how you do it!”  The truth is NEITHER DOI! I never set out to have five kids.  I love each so dearly and I am so very grateful to God for giving me all five healthy babies but to be honest, it’s scary and overwhelming everyday!  The thought that Dan and I are responsible for raising all these kids TOTALLY freaks us out.  One time we were sitting at the stoplight near our house and we both glanced in the back seat and saw five faces looking back at us and we stared at each other and said silently, “How did this happen?” LOL  

Fun with Dad!

I’ll never forget when I emailed my Pastor and asked him to be praying for us when I found out I was pregnant for the FIFTH time!  I had moved on.  I had closed up shop, getting rid of baby equipment and settling in with my four peeps to raise!  Annie JUST got potty trained and I was seeing the light at the end of the tunnel of babyhood. (I am totally singing that song, “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel for me!!!”)  My Pastor didn’t email me back but called me because I think he sensed my desperation and shock in the email.  He told me that the Holy Spirit had spoke to him and told him that he was giving us another child because He trust us and we were up for the task!  Holy Cow!  I so appreciated that and have reminded myself MULTIPLE times!  

Just Chillin' around the pool!

We have two secrets to our survival!  The first is GOD!  If God’s mercy and grace doesn’t cover us and help us then the Wogs are doomed!!!  I know that love covers a multitude of sins as the scripture says and I am betting on it!  I apologize to my kids when I blow it, when I am not a good example and when I say what I am thinking instead of what I should say!  Our rule that we have stuck to is, we NEVER miss church unless we are out of town or someone is really sick.  I want my kids feeling really weird when they grow up if they don’t go to church weekly.  It’s called a HABIT and I am training them up!

Dining out with 5 Wogs is always a thrill!

The second thing we rely on is humor!  We try to have a lot of fun.  We joke, we laugh and we try not to take things so seriously.  WHO CARES if you don’t get your laundry done, or your dishes? Your kids don’t!  Is the best thing that you had movie night with your kids, cuddled with them and ate popcorn? YES!!!  I try to remember that since I am always behind on housework and sometimes miss great moments with my kids trying to catch up. I want to create memories and good times for my kids and checking off MY To-Do-List is not the way to do it!  I pray everyday, “Jesus help me!” and guess what?  HE DOES!  God is awesome and goes out of His way to do help me, with good deals, with good “rock star” parking, and His great favor!!!  I tell my kids on a regular basis, only with God will you truly experience fulfillment and success!  Nothing else will satisfy!! Jesus help us raise the 5 Wogs and a Dog!! #desperate

"Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." Joshua 1:7-8

Sleep

Eddie snoozing

Sleep and I have never been friends!!  My earliest memories are lying in my bed with my mom next to me, with me pinning her arm down so she couldn’t leave!  My mom used to turn the radio on in my room to help me sleep and that’s how I got so proficient at the song “Devil Went Down to Georgia.”  (I’m guessing my mom thought the country station was OK!)

My teenage years I did sleep better, usually until 11 AM.  One morning my Dad and Judge Simpson were standing in the road talking.  I was asleep in my room and these crows started squawking and driving me crazy.  I lifted up the window and yelled, “SHUTTTT UPPPP!”  My mom was sitting downstairs and looked out the window and saw Judge and Dad look and then huddle closer like they were trying to be quiet! LOL  I had no idea they were even there!

What really messed me up was having kids.  I wasn’t a great sleeper on a good day and then I had to get up all night with infants for almost a decade.  I would panic after feeding the baby and say, “OMG, if I don’t go to sleep RIGHT NOW, they will be up again in 2 hours!  Thank God for Dan who was the best infant Dad of all time.  He would get up and deal with all the non-feeding times the babies woke up.  He must have walked them miles in the night!

Mom and Bubba in the hospital

I had a total miracle happen right after I had Maggie.  A friend told me to wear earplugs.  I started by jamming tissue in my ears and it helped tremendously.  Then I moved on to real earplugs and it truly has saved/changed my life!  I know it sounds unmotherly to wear earplugs but I was waking up when a squirrel walked on the roof or the paper man threw a paper in the driveway.  Earplugs drown out the insignificant.  You still hear kids cry or doors slam but it filters out the unimportant sounds that drive light sleepers crazy.

The sad thing is my Bubs is a freaky sleeper too!  He is pretty much banded from sleep-overs.  One time he was at Maw Maw’s house and woke her up at 3 AM and told her he had been awake for an hour.  Makes me feel bad that I passed that bad trait on to him.  Jesus, give him peace!  I believe the devil loves to torment us in the night and steal our peace.  I wake up and panic over the stupidest things and lie there and obsess.  I always pray figuring the devil will leave me alone if I am praying and let me go back to sleep!  Sometimes, I feel as though all nature is against me!  Last night, I layed in bed listening to CRAZY raccoons fighting in the yard….geez!  I was thinking REALLY bad thoughts that involved a gun!!  I guess the good news is we won’t even need sleep in heaven or if we do, the devil won’t be there to bug! #sweetdreams

KC's Birthday Bash

The Birthday Girl!

I woke up before 7 AM with the Dog barking which is unusual believe it or not.  I guess she was excited about her big day and wanted to get everyone going!!  The girls had already started the birthday decorations and were making all kinds of plans!  They cut out all these pictures of hound dogs and made signs and even put angel wings on one LOL!

Girl's Decoration

We took a trip to the store and all the kids picked out a special dog toy or bone for KC.  The biggest shock of all was my mom called and told me to run by because she bought KC a present.  My mom was VERY vocal about her dislike for this dog from the day we met her in the mountains.  I think she has grown on my mom over the last year probably because of how much the kids love KC.  Mom got her two butcher bones and even put a bow on them!  I think mom secretly wishes KC was her dog!! LOL

Maw Maw's gift!

She has had a lazy birthday taking a couple walks, a couple drives in the car and lots of naps! When Dad got home, he fried up a sirloin hamburger and we sang “Happy Birthday” to KC!  The kids all gave her their presents and Maggie even tried to get a crown on her head! 

Cheers to KC

KC ran off chewing on her bone and Eddie started yelling for some cake.  What the heck kind of birthday is this with NO cake??  So we had popsicles and all toasted to KC!  We also watched a slide show of the day we met her and Eddie said, “Awwww, I miss KC!”  I totally understood what he meant because I sure miss the 11 pound KC too!!  She ended her celebration by a Playdate with her new BFF, Ellie and even got some dental chew sticks!  With all the dentist in the fam, dental health is a must!!

Happy 1^st Birthday KC!! We pray that you live to celebrate many more birthdays with the 5 Wogs!! We love you!!  #5wogsandadog

KC's Tales - Part 3

KC in the garbage cans!

Shaking with fear at Dog Park

We gave up keeping KC off the couch

The Story of 5 Wogs and a Dog - Part 3 - The Conclusion

We had an idea for her some fun, 

So to the dog park where she could run

In the corner she shook with fear, 

And didn’t want any dog to come near

Later, we went to the beach, 

With water, sand and birds in reach

Thinking she would have some fun, 

But she just sniffed, and sat in the sun

In the Car, KC loves to ride, 

Even has her very own side

To put her head into the wind, 

Greetings to all she happily sends

The battle of the couch never ends, 

Dad pushing her off determined to win

Stealing dinner off the counter, 

Dad’s never screamed any louder

From digging holes, escaping the lawn, 

Stealing food, the fun goes on

From chewing shoes, toys, mops and dolls, 

To backpacks, lunchboxes, she chews them all

But the love she has brought, 

The family fun on the walks

The Dog Whispering shows, 

Learning dog tricks that anyone knows

KC brought our family together, 

And impacted us forever

A True Love story for all, 

The story of 5 Wogs and a Dog!

Food stealer

1st time at Beach

KC's couch!