Dog Attack...Almost

Dear Jesus help me…I know you guys wish I would get a life and just accept that I am a dog owner and DEAL WITH IT!  I totally agree.  Well, I have these moments where I feel like I am having an out of body experience.  I had one today.  I was walking down the road and my dog took off going faster than I can run, dragging me behind.  Dan thinks I am ridiculous when I told him about her sporadic behavior.  He reminded me that I am in charge, yeah right!  I do pull on her but it takes a few blocks for me to recover from the shock.  First, the shock of being dragged by a dog, second the shock of running so freakin’ fast.  When I was in PE class at BCS, our coach would make us run a mile and I HATED it!  I vowed to never run again.  I joined the track team, but I picked long jumping to minimize my running.  Today, I could almost hear my legs say, “WHAT THE HECK??”  My muscles were like, “Uhhhh, HELLO, you don’t run!”  I know people that drive by think I am some champion sprinter at how fast I am running or they may not even see me because of the rate I streak by….my lungs were burning and I surely thought I would die.

So…later on, I was on the phone, praying for a friend of mine, who was having a bad day.  KC had calmed down, thank the Lord.   I was in the middle of praying and a pit bull started growling and stalking me. I mean REALLY stalking, like hunched down, walking slow with murder in his eyes and I was petrified.  I stopped praying for my friend and said, “OMG, I am going to be attacked by a pit bull.”  My friend, who is a dog person, takes charge.  She told me to not act afraid, yell at that dog to stop and to leave me alone.  She told me to act like Caesar Milan.  I said, “Please, that stuff doesn’t work.  He does some Dog Voo-Doo.”  My heart was beating out of my chest and KC ducked her ears down and acted scared too.  I was praying the pit bull would get zapped by an invisible fence but no luck.  He crossed the road and got about 10 feet from us. I did my best Caesar in charge stance, stomped my foot and told that dog to stop.  I couldn’t believe it. The dog stopped and turned around.  I really think it was my friend on the phone rebuking the dog/devil but whatever…..I lived!  I still can't believe I have a dog and that she makes me run.  #neversaynever

Last Baby Tooth

Who are these big kids, with big teeth?

Tonight, Bonnie was at her grandparents.  She came home and gave me this tiny little wrapped up present with LOADS of tape.  I ended up cutting it open and unfolded and unfolded the napkin to reveal a tooth that Bonnie lost…HER LAST BABY TOOTH!  I swear I had to hold back the tears.  Wow, I remember wondering if she would ever get a tooth.  She was 9 months old before one came in.  She took her sweet time getting her mouth full of teeth and poof, now they are all gone.  I am in shock.  Bonnie thinks I am over reacting, which of course I am.  I told them the other day, that I love to look at their faces.  They said that sounded weird like I was a stalker or something but they are slowly morphing into adults and their faces are maturing.  I marvel at how unique each one of my babies are and how beautifully made by God.  I am also thankful they have great dental care by family members!  I feel confident that all the Wogs will have great teeth!

Bubba being so freaking competitive, just went in the bathroom and ripped out his tooth! Crazy boy!  Bonnie is in the bathroom scolding him, “Bubba that tooth was not ready!”  She told him to jam tissue in his socket! I see a future dental assistant in the making!!  I am hiding and hoping Bonnie will take care of it!   Bubba just admited, “Yeah, it wasn’t ready!” LOL

Forgiveness Works

I have been meditating today on the importance of forgiveness.  So many times, we allow an offense to end a close relationship.  It’s happened to all of us!  We disagree or we react and let things fly out of our mouth and immediately we wish could take it back.  Words linger out in the air and they have great power.  I vividly remember times when people have made comments to me that have speared my heart and they have no idea.  I can even remember one from 1^st grade when a girl made fun of the new beautiful outfit my momma made me. Don’t mess with my momma!  (Maybe I still need to pray about that one LOL.)  

One of the hardest things is forgiving a person that has hurt your loved one especially your kid.  When someone makes fun of one of my kids I have to hold back Momma Bear….who honestly would like to inflict injury!  I laughed so hard last night, watching Good Luck Charlie on Disney.  The mom went to talk to a teacher and lost it and chased him around the school. I know every mom who has had to confront a mean teacher would have secretly LOVED to behave like that!

I have had relationships where you have to forgive because this person will always be in your life whether you like it or not.  It’s the best route always to release someone and to trust God that He will justify you somehow.  I like the thought of God vindicating me.  For some reason I think he will do a much better job than me!  Time usually works all the mess out and when we look back, it usually wasn’t such a big deal after all. I know the Bible says don’t let the sun go down on your wrath.  I totally get what that is saying but so many times it’s so much better if I sleep on it and hold my sassy tongue.  I try to make it a habit of giving it a day and duct taping my know-it-all mouth shut.  I put myself in time-out and it works!!  Honestly, that is probably why Dan and I never fight or maybe it's the fact that our life would fall apart if we did with the mass amount of kids that we have :) Sometimes, true forgiveness brings people even closer and bonds hearts deeply together.  Above all, how great it is that our God loves and forgives an endless amount of times!  Thank you Lord that we never run out of Your forgiveness!

Spirit Wear

Go Jags! Ed was mad about the shirt..guess he's like Dan!

I don’t really know why I am so obsessed with spirit wear.  I love to be decked out from head to toe in the appropriate spirit wear of the moment.  What I love even more is having all my kids and I matching! (Dan has defected from our matching outfits.  I don’t know what’s wrong with him :)  I am really trying to control myself.  I’ve blogged about my compulsive patriotic clothing obsession before but it’s not just that.  I love when all my kids are in their BCS Lions, Miami, JU and most recently our Jaguar clothes for Bubba’s football team!  

Go Canes!

I really was stressed out last weekend.  They sent home an order form for Bubba’s football pictures……Dear Jesus help me!  They had blankets, cups, necklaces, keychains, license tags, magnets and more.  I honestly had to go lay down after Dan left, with the order form because I was in an emotional spiral because I wanted it ALL!  Against my will, I was VERY conservative.  If I only had an unlimited budget….everyone would be wearing pictures of Bubba whether it’s a t-shirt or a nice Snuggie on a cold winter night!  

Go JU!

I am secretly planning on creating my own line of Bubba Spirit Wear as soon as I get the pictures but don’t tell Dan!  He just doesn’t get it!  He drives me nuts.  He has the nerve to put on a Boston Red Sox cap on his way to Bubba’s Jaguar football game!  I have to admit, I threw a fit and berated him enough that he ditched the hat, just to shut me up.  Did he put on the Jaguar hat that I laid out for him? NO!  He is just so dern rebellious!  The best thing of all is that Bubba is as bad or worse than me!  He drives Dan crazy too!  Dan thinks we need an spirit wear intervention! I think Bubba and I are going to open a Spirit Wear shop when he grows and I can’t wait!!  

Go Lions!

Sun Stand Still

I am very thankful for all the wonderful people that God has put in my life that go out of their way to bless the Wogs!  Lately, people have slipped zebra gifts in my box, blessed my kids with presents, helped my kids with their fundraisers, and others who gave me Peter Brooke and books!  I have had a run of blessings lately!  Yesterday, a friend, gave me the most awesome book by Steven Furtick, SUN STAND STILL!  It is just what I needed!!  I am pacing myself through it and trying to soak it all in!  I love to read and set time aside every night after all the little Wogs are in bed!  Some people have morning time with God but I prefer nighttime!! I do read a devotional most mornings but the time I am most alert is at night!  Steven Furtick’s story is quite amazing!  He picked up, as a young, on-fire, kid and moved  to a new city, with a few friends to start a Mega-church.  Old, experienced Christians made fun of him, demeaned him and thought he would never accomplish what he set out to do.  I pray I never do that to the younger generation!

The opening of his book hooked me like I couldn’t believe and I really felt like God was making the connection so ridiculously obvious so I would know He wanted to stir me up and encourage me.  Steven talks about when he moved into town and stood in line at the arena to see a U2 show.  The song came on “City of Blinding Lights” and he leaned over, and told his buddy that one day he would preach on that stage where Bono was singing to a packed house. (That is my favorite U2 song, not a well-known one and that’s what amazed me.  On special occasions, Dan will always turn that U2 song on for me because I love it so much!)  Four years later, Steven and his buddy were pulling up to that same Arena with a line of people around the building, waiting to get in for a special Easter service.  Steven’s friend reminded him of that conversation, as they were seeing the fruition of his audacious faith.  He said he loved that Bono was his opening act (four years previous!)

I love young people so much and so admire them!  I don’t understand when people disregard their input or ideas.  Revolutions are always started by young people not the old and crusty! (Sean Yost's favorite quote of all time :)  I remember when I was young and ambitious and saw God astound me by answering my bold prayers.  I remember so vividly times when people told me it wouldn’t work, and thought I was crazy!  I appreciate crazy! I want to live with that kind of faith again and believe God for BIG things!  I want to see city’s transformed and lives changed.  I don’t want a boring, routine Christianity!  I want Bible-style miracles and crazy answers to prayers.  I want to be like Joshua, who had faith to take the Promise Land when others didn’t.  I want to pray powerful prayers like Joshua who prayed to God for the sun to stop. God answered his prayer and the sun stopped so he could finish his battle and destroy the enemy completely!  Lord, please help us all be bold and courageous all the days of our life and to never shrink back from attempting to change the world for You!

Facebook...What the Heck?

Doesn’t Facebook realize that we don’t want to think this much :/  They changed up the whole thing today and I don’t have the energy to locate the stuff I would like to see!  I have really cracked up at all the comments and pictures that people have posted!!  My favorite is “Dear Face book, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”  That’s the truth!   Some other honorable mentions are “YOU ARE NOT GOOGLE+, STOP CHANGING WHAT WORKS!”  Some are too naughty to mention but did make me LOL!

I know they constantly have to keep developing new things and some improvements are great and helpful!!  I like how you can have private groups and the lists of people are pretty cool but why do they feel obligated to keep jacking everything around and moving buttons and locations.  Maybe it’s a global conspiracy to confuse us or they are bored and enjoy confusing millions of people at the same time.  Whatever the motivatio,n I just wish they would stop.  I still don’t like that picture stream across the top of our profile.  It always has weird pictures that I mean to X out but forget.  I like those people who put pictures there that say something all together! Not sure how they do that but I thought it was pretty cool!    Now they have way too much information flowing.  They have this scrolling feed on the side!  It’s all just too much to take in and I have a headache.

I still laugh at my first days on Facebook and how unnerving it was.  What is a “post”, what is “wall?”  Where is the inbox?  What are those red numbers that pop up and what do they mean.  What is “tagging” someone or “poking” someone. I didn’t post anything for a long time! It’s all a total bunch of nonsense but sure has connected this mother of 5 with lots of adults that I love and that I would have never stayed in touch with otherwise!  Let’s all pray that the Facebook people take a nice long vacation and leave us alone!!

Edwardo the Non-Talker??

Today, I had a shock!  I picked Ed up and I asked the teacher if Ed talked too much and she said NO that she wishes he would talk more!  LOL!  I told her to just come home with us!  After consulting with Bubba and Bonnie about it, we decided she meant maybe answer questions that she is asking and cooperate.  I can’t imagine him being quiet at all.  I think he must talk when he is supposed to be quiet and clams up when he is suppose to talk. Who knows??

Every night at dinner, we all sit down, pray over our meal and tell about our day.  Each kid has everyone’s undivided attention to share the good, the bad and the ugly!  Eddie really hasn’t kicked in yet.  I am waiting for him to start unleashing the secrets of his day.  He pops off weird things like, he knows how to drive my car all by himself and that kind of freaks me out.  What I am really looking for is new friends he has made, or something he learned or pretty much any detail at all! 

I read in his daily report that he had Stretch and Grow Class today and I asked what he learned.  He threw his hands up in the air, stretching real high!  I guess that is a start!   Honestly, he does look taller! :) The funniest thing is the Family Tree he did.  I seriously laughed out loud thinking about the poor teacher helping him list his family!  She was probably like, “Yeah Right!”  I did notice that KC was listed before Mommy and I am just a little bitter about that!  We apparently have someone living here named “K-in”  Maybe that’s the darn gecko!! :)  All I know is there is nothing better than seeing his pretty little face running to the car!  He hops in and asks everyday, “So, how was your day!”  I’ll keep you posted if the truth is ever revealed about Eddie’s day at school!

Patiently waiting to be picked up!

Like Father Like Son

Dan loves sports as much as Bubba and I am so happy they share that bond together.  Dan has told me stories when he was a boy, he would sit at the top of his stairs and listen to the football games his Dad was watching downstairs.  Bubba has figured out what AM station the football games are on and lays on the floor in his room, by the radio, listening to the game while poor Eddie and Bonnie are sleeping.  Dan cracked up!  I couldn’t  believe Dan made him turn it off!  You would figure he would remember when he was also desperate to hear the outcome of a big game! 

Dan and Bubs are dedicated!  They have to be because Miami has had some rough years.  Before we got AT&T U-Verse,we didn’t have the channels that the Miami games were played on and it was a pain!  They tried to watch it on the computer but most of the time they would go to Sneakers and watch it.  They started meeting up with the same Miami fans and made some  U friends.  I was at the stoplight and a mom with U beads around her rearview was next to us.  My kids did the U with their hands out the window and we ended up chatting with her. (if you have ever sat at the 5 way intersection at Penman, you know how long we had to chat!) I mentioned that my kid Bubba went to Sneakers a lot to watch the game since they weren’t televised and she cracked up because she was one of his Cane buddies.  What a small world!

I am really grateful that Bubba doesn’t require much sleep.  I was so worried when he was 7 years old and went to Gainesville or “The Swamp” to see Miami play the Gators.  It was the first time he saw his beloved Hurricanes play.  Unfortunately for Bubs, the Canes lost and he learned the “F” word from a nice, female, Gator fan who screamed it right in my boys face…nice!  Even her husband looked disgusted with her after Dan shamed her for talking like that to a child!  The highlight for Bubs was going to the IHOP and running into a Miami cheerleader!  I was totally freaked out that my poor boy stayed up until 1 AM in the morning! (He says it was 3 AM...oh my!)

It’s been a total blast to watch Bubs play tackle football!  I had no idea that I would love it so much!  I love nothing more than to see Dan patting Bubs after a good play and them discussing the game!  It so blesses me to know that Bubs and Ed will always be Dan’s favorite buddies to watch football with…now we will just pray for one descent Miami season!

Gecko Madness

I am not sure why baby geckos have decided to take up residence in my bathroom.  It’s the craziest thing!  Dan says to leave them in hopes they may eat the mosquitoes that hunt Dan and drive him to madness in the night!  If I wake up and Dan’s not in the bed, I know mosquitoes were having him for a midnight snack!  We caught one baby gecko and kept it in a jar for a few days and the kids took him to show their friends our “pet!”  Then, Bubba took it to the big lizard tank he has in his class and released it but I don’t think he lasted long.  

B & B's Hospital

Last week, I was walking up the stairs in semi-darkness and thought I was picking up one of the girls hairclips and low and behold it was an ALIVE baby gecko that scared the heck out of me (and I probably scared him too as I tossed him across the room.)  Then there is that gecko that lives in my shower.  Several times, I pull back the current to take a tub and the little thing scurries out before I drowned him.  Today, Annie found one and I am really surprised this one is still alive since Ed “helped” pick him up!  Bonnie and Bubba have him in the hospital and asked me to get up in the night to check on him….I honestly considering a quick flush to gecko heaven.  All I really know is that I would love to have a gecko free bathroom for an extended period of time….I am not a fan nor have I switched to his insurance. :)

Happy Face

Ed gets little Happy Faces at school if he behaves himself.  Wednesday I picked him up, and his teacher told me that he was having trouble listening in circle time and did not get a Happy Face or get to go into the Treasure Box.  We pulled out of the school, towards home and he asked if he could go to the Dollar Store to get a car.  I said no because he didn’t get a Happy Face at school.  I asked him if he was going to start listening at school and he said NO and then I asked him if he wanted to get a toy in the treasure box and he said NO!  I cringed because I was hoping the Treasure Box thing would be motivation!  I guess he likes to talk more than listen….not sure where he gets that from LOL!

 

Today he cracked me up.  He finds this happy face magnet on the refrigerator and says, “Look Mommy, a Happy Face, now I can go to the Dollar Store!”  I totally cracked up!!  He is a smart little cookie!  I don’t think Ed understands he needs to behave, to get a legit Happy Face and not steal one off the fridge!!  Oh well, I just hope he can get by on his cuteness!  It sure works on me! :)

Dan's "Work" Trip??

Dolphins vs. Patriot

Dan has been gone for four days to Miami this week, on a “Work” Trip.  He calls me with whooping and hollering in the background and I am really questioning how much work is going on. He went to the Monday Night Football game and the next day went Deep Sea Fishing….I guess this is corporate team building or something??  Must be nice!  I am home alone with 5 Kids and a Hound Dog in the words of Eddie “All by myself!”  Then he sends me a picture of the view from Dinner…unbelievable!

View From Dinner

The worst thing that happened is when Bubba decided to blow dry his hair, at the same time Maggie was and blew the circuit!!  None of the upstairs sockets worked or the TV downstairs.  We spent two days blowing our hair dry in the living room! LOL!

View from Hotel Room

Here are the extra things that I have to do while Dan is gone….

Take out recycling and garbage

Take Bubba back in forth to football practice in South Jax at night (while trying to keep Eddie awake)

Make Lunches

Make Breakfast

Drive all the Kids to school

The worst one by far…MAKE MY OWN COFFEE (first day I forgot to put water in the dang pot, duhhhh)

I know you are asking yourself, “And what do you do??”  I know!!  I am very spoiled and miss Dan TERRIBLY.  As bugged as I am about these “Work” trips, I am really happy he gets to have some fun.  Dan and I both rarely do anything for ourselves. I know it’s sad but we are very happy and have started having these secret dates where he brings home take and we hide in our bedroom and eat it while the kids watch a movie.  It’s so fun! (Until Eddie finds us and wants to share our dinner!)

Deep Sea Fishing

I have to say my kids really stepped it up this week.  Dan told them all to help out while he was gone and I was stunned. While I took Bubba to football, Bonnie pre-made all their sandwiches and even labeled all the bags with their names (such a firstborn thing :)  The first morning I freaked out.  I popped my eyes open and the sun was streaming in my room and I panicked.  I ran downstairs and Annie and Maggie had let the dog out, made themselves breakfast, ate and were dressed. Then they finished packing all the lunches. I was stunned and stoked!  I ran upstairs and woke up Bonnie and Bubba and miraculously they were all on time for school and didn’t leave anything at home :)  They are really making extra effort to get along and help me and I am so thankful!  Bubba and I discussed at length whether Dad would even come home.  Bubba said maybe he can take a bus to Miami and just meet Dad at Miami games! LOL  Thankfully, Dan did come home from his “Work” Trip!  Bubba was bummed!! LOL  He was hoping to commute to Miami! :)  I am just trying to figure out how I can go on this kind of "Work" Trip!

God's Angels

I’m always amazed at how God helps me, by providing just the people I need, to get through the day.  Sometimes, things just go crazy, all at the same time.  Yesterday, I was all organized and ready for a smooth day.  I got to school and was getting ready to walk the basketball players over to the park.  Annie’s knee popped out and she couldn’t walk.  The love and the care that was extended to her and to me was overwhelming.  First her teacher, Jesse McDonald was so sweet and compassionate towards Annie trying to do whatever to make her feel better.  I carried her to the cafeteria while a couple other mom friends watched Eddie and kept all the other kids organized.  She had Ms. Vanessa, Ms. Sheri, Ms. Stacie, Ms. Kate, Coach Sean all watching over her and loving on her, so concerned.  Then Mrs. Rogers let Annie stay in her classroom and fed her a donut (the best cure ever!) while I got the kids situated at the park!  The Lord provided a sweet mom Chrissy to watch all the basketball players so I could run carry Annie to the car.  

Two of my angels!

Then my sweet friend Christy called her husband, who is a doctor and he calls me from surgery to check on Annie and later calls, offers to come by my house to look at her knee and insist that I bring her to his office for him to X-ray her knee and figure out what’s wrong.  Oh the love that we felt!  I am so grateful to God for Beaches Chapel School.  I know my children are cared for and looked after!  With all the many Wogs kids, it is so comforting, for them to be in a safe place, with a group of people that I trust and that I know love my babies!  In this world, this is truly rare and quite a gift that I am very thankful for!  It really does take a village sometimes….

William Smith Rocks Literally

Warning - shameless family plug coming….On my daily attempt to walk KC this morning (we won’t talk about how she did today!), I had my iPod pumping the YouthQuake Live album that was produced by my nephew, William Smith.  He did the whole thing in his bedroom and it totally blows my mind.  He is so talented and did such an amazing job!  I was in tears by the time I got home!

When I was young, my brother got into music and started playing guitar.  Actually I started playing before him.  I think that is honestly when my brother started liking me.  I wasn’t a little punk messing up stuff in his room anymore. We bonded for sure!  I still have dreams of Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones that would pump through the walls, into my bedroom, late at night!  I think that might be when my mom purchased some nice headphones for him.  LOL!  He immersed himself in music and has such an incredible ear.  He could play anything that he listened too.

It’s been an incredible thing to watch how supportive my brother has been to his son, William and his music passion.  My brother built William a sound studio in the garage with everything he needs to produce music!  I love to be with my brother and William when they are playing music and analyzing a recording!  William consults with his Dad and together they have figured out amazing things!  What a special bond and a gift between father and son that rarely happens in our world anymore.  I am so ridiculously proud of William and I know God has great things in store for him.  It’s not just because of his incredible giftings and talents.  I believe it’s because of his precious heart before the Lord.  He serves God and worships with abandonment and is such a wonderful example to my boys!  I can’t even count the times that we have been on the phone and I pray for him for school or the music project he is working on and when I finish, he launches into a prayer for me!  What a powerful intercessor he is as well!!  Oh, how that blesses me!

Today, I am pretty sure I got saved on my walk. LOL!  Worship is an amazing tool of God.  The Bible says to put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness!  I so believe that verse!  I can leave the house totally overwhelmed and hopeless and once I start worshipping it builds my faith and fills me with joy.  The Bible also says, that the joy of the Lord is my strength! Today, I got a touch from God on my walk! My heart is full of hope and joy! I was fist pumping..."There's freedom in the name of Jesus...Freedom from all sin!"  The song, You Hold Me Now, is so moving….”No weeping, no hurt or pain, no suffering, You hold me now, You hold me now!  No darkness, no sick or lame, no hiding, You hold me now, You hold me now!”  Some days you just need God to hold you!  Thank you William for pouring your heart and soul into this album and blessing countless people who listen….(Download off iTunes if you need a lift today!) 

A Walk in the Park?? NOT

I am really trying hard to be a better dog owner.  Since the kids are back in school, I am trying to be faithful to walk KC.  The first couple days were really good!  She would stop every once in awhile and sniff around but for the most part walked pretty good.  The last couple walks were somewhat life threatening.  Dan has always told me that when he rides her on the bike, when they get to Forest Avenue near home, she kicks it into high gear and he better hold on for dear life.  I experienced it first hand. We crossed the road from Florida Boulevard and took the turn to Forest.  She turned into Greyhound race dog and dragged me as bushes were whacking me in the face.  I am not a runner like Dan.  I busted my knee in college when I was skiing through some trees in Colorado and ever since it hurts my knees if I try to do aerobics or run (and also dance too much at church :)  I was actually pretty excited the next day.  I wasn’t even sore and I attribute that to my faithful Yoga I have been doing for 6 months.  I guess it has strengthened my knees or something.  Or maybe it’s my half-price running shoes I bought LOL! (But don't tell KC, please)

So today, I was hopeful for a leisurely walk around the block. We got down to Kings and she lays down in the yard and gives me that, “I ain’t moving” look!  I was kind of embarrassed honestly.  I just know that people are riding by judging me on how I can’t control my dog…AND THEY ARE RIGHT!  I bent down and started petting her and she thought I was playing with her and started rolling around.  All of a sudden she jumps up, grabs the leash in her mouth and takes off back towards home.  I was running as fast as I possibly could.  These surprise-running jaunts are freaky.  I think she just doesn’t want to walk is the bottom line.  I guess that’s what you get when you adopt a hunting dog.  Praise Jesus we didn’t see any squirrels.  If that happens I could have lost an arm out of the socket…

YouthQuake Live

The host with the most....Sean Yost!

There are times in our life that we make a random decision and we have really no idea how it will affect our lives and the lives of others. In 1995, I kept getting these phone calls from a Sean Yost, a local youth pastor.  I was a youth pastor at my church and a Young Life leader at the time.  He kept inviting me to this new thing he was starting called YouthQuake Live.  I blew him off for as long as I could then he wanted an appointment to come talk to me.  I admit, I was irritated.  I was out almost every night of the week with, youth group, youth group fun nights, Young Life and Wyld Life (Young Life’s Jr. High outreach)  I was at a point in my life where I was trying to set boundaries and not take on anything additional.  Sean came to see me and brought Bowen Slade, also a local youth pastor, who was helping Sean start YouthQuake live.  It was a monthly, Christian outreach that was much like a Christian Saturday Night Live. They were so sweet and enthusiastic and invited Dan and I to come and bring our youth group.  They wanted to interview us about our Young Life involvement.  Of course, they suckered me in and I said yes.  We took a bus of kids to a strip mall in Ponte Vedra and it changed my life forever. There were probably only a total of 50 kids in attendance and we brought half of them. The passion that the kids in the cast had for Jesus and their zeal was contagious.  Those teenagers worshipped like crazy and I was shocked.  Sean spoke and still to this day, I can tell you his message.  It was so real and personal and my youth group kids flocked to the altar and I sat in my chair utterly amazed at how the anointing affected my youth group kids.  Needless to say, I was totally hooked forever.  We started doing a skit every month with our youth drama group and I joined as a leader and started helping with organization and promotion.  It was such an exciting time.  I was truly honored to be in leadership with such sold out, passionate, people who truly wanted to change the world and believed with God we could do it. 

Two of my favorite firstborns who make YQL happen!

We started these monthly prayer groups with local youth pastors and got all of them on board with YQL.  We started moving YQL shows from church to church and the shows started really growing.  All the Youth Pastors came together and we brought in recording artist, Eric Champion, for the first True Love Waits YQL show.  My church hosted it and I laugh now but I remember us sectioning off with yellow tape so people would only sit in the center section.  We had maximum amount of attendance and quickly had to remove the tape and set up more chairs for that concert.  It blew our minds and was the biggest YQL up to that point.  It continued to grow at an incredible rate topping out at over 5000 people at the Jacksonville Landing. 

I presented Sean with a 15th year
anniversary gift - a REAL light saber!

I truly believe that YQL is a visible example of that scripture in the Bible that says, where there is unity God commands a blessing.  I think it pleases the heart of God when churches come together to reach the lost.  His favor, blessing and anointing has always been on YQL and I think it always will as long as someone with Sean Yost’s heart is at the helm.  I have worked very closely with Sean for all this time and my respect and admiration grows daily.  He lives what he believes and that is my favorite thing about him.  There is no “real” Sean that you get to know eventually, disappointing you.  He is the real deal.  What you see is what you get.  He lives what he believes and wants to be all that God has called him to be. He sincerely loves people and will promote anything that he believes in.  I don’t think he has a competitive bone in his body.  He wants everyone to succeed.  He lives that verse, “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.” (Phillipians 4:8)

Pregnant with Bonnie!

Recently, he introduced me to a local pastor and the introduction he gave me was shocking.  I smiled and stood there and afterwards wept when I got home, the whole next day and every time I would think about it.  I didn’t even recognize the person he was talking about.  He was so kind, complimentary, and gave me WAYYYY too much credit for growing YQL and so many different things.  He loves me and sees more gifts and talents in me than I do. He has always insisted that I be on the YQL board with him and truly values my input and opinions. (which is a rare thing :)  I am truly thankful and humbled to serve with Sean.  I had no idea that random decision to be interviewed would so profoundly impact and change my and Dan's life forever, also my own family, youth group kids and next year, my own Bonnie! YQL has developed hundreds of Christian leaders and inspired countless others to make a difference in the world locally and through missions.  Today, Sean is on his way to China to start a YouthQuake Live and my heart and prayers are with him and always will be.  Thank you Sean for being an incredible example to all who know you!  Thank you for believing that we all can change the world and for teaching us if you aren’t living on the edge, than you’re taking up too much space!

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9/11

It started out as a beautiful September day!  I was hanging out with my babies, Bonnie and Bubba, watching Barney.  My mom called me to ask if I was watching footage of the plane that crashed into the Twin Tours.  I quickly turned it on.  I sat there and watched and felt so sorry for those onboard and those in the building.  As the nation was watching, another plan flew into the other tower and terror struck all of our hearts.  Shortly after, a plane hit the Pentagon and then another went down in a field in Pennsylvania.  We knew it was all planned by the devil himself. The whole country was just waiting for the next one to hit and prayed it wasn't in our city!  Our President came on and pronounced that we were at war.  I immediately panicked realizing I had no idea where Dan was.  The day before, he flew through New York for a business meeting.  We had talked by cell phone but I had no hotel information.  I started frantically calling his office and everyone I could think of that might know a number where I could reach Dan.  Cell phones weren’t working due to the volume of emergency calling. It took me all day to finally make contact with him and I was a wreck.  I BEGGED him to immediately rent a car and come home. He was in Vermont and was sure that flights would start back the next day.  Of course Bubba decides to cut 4 teeth that week and was up every hour for nights in a row.  I remember vividly laying on my couch and hearing a loud jet go by and the terror that I felt.  I thought we were getting attacked and slowly realized that it must be an Air Force jet patrolling our borders and what a relief that was!  Our church hosted a prayer service and I dressed in Red, White & Blue along with Bubs and Bon and cried my eyes out, feeling so sorrowful at the pain that our whole nation was experiencing together.  Dan could not get a rental car and I was so desperate for him to get home to the kids and I.  It was the longest week of my life sitting around all day and night watching the horrifying coverage and the incredible rescue effort that was going on at the World Trade Center.  People from all over the nation flocked to New York to volunteer. 

 

I became Miss GBA, (God Bless America) that week and bought as much patriotic clothing as I could. It was also an amazing time of unity in our country like I had never experienced!  Even our partisan Congress stood together on the Capital steps and sang God Bless America.  It was truly a sight to behold. Our President came into his own, that week and turned into the strong leader that we needed to keep us safe for the rest of his presidency.  We all cried through the incredible service at the Washington National Cathedral listening to Billy Graham comfort the nation.  We also witnessed the love between our President and his father sitting together along with all the other living presidents.  American flags sold out everywhere and were flying on almost every house.  It was the most patriotic time in our country that I had ever experienced.

Finally, Dan was able to rent a car and started making his way home to us.  He drove through New Jersey and saw the tremendous smoke and devastation from across the river.  Dan was stunned and couldn’t believe what he witnessed.  He spent the first night at his parents in Delaware and FINALLY made it home to us.  He pulled in the drive way and I ran downstairs and we both hugged each other and both cried, so very thankful to still have each other and to be together as a family again.

Every year after 9/11, I would sit all the kids down and make them watch this CNN documentary video that I had bought that captured the whole catastrophic event.  We would all sit there and cry. Dan happened to walk in from work one day and gave me quite the tongue lashing telling me to NEVER make our babies watch that video again.  He said I was traumatizing and scaring them.  The kids were so relieved LOL!  I was disappointed. I don’t know if I will ever get through a September 11^th without reliving those painful moments or shedding a good amount of tears.  If not, I’m OK with that because it’s good to remember.  It’s good to feel and to empathize with others.  We must always fight for freedom because in one generation it can all be lost.  That’s why I make it such a priority to educate my kids on our American history, sometimes maybe a little too much. You think?  Dear Lord, we pray for the victim’s families and loved ones this painful day and ask for your grace and comfort to be with them today and always.  God bless America forever and may we continue to fight for freedom!

Labor Day River Trip

Watching the Rain

It’s always so touch and go if we can make it to the River.  Something always seems to pop up.  A couple kids were sick and so Saturday morning the decision was made to go!   We are so blessed to have this family River House.  The kids never remember life without it!  We got down there Saturday by dinner after football and got up the next morning and headed for the beach.  It’s a sandy area right around the curve in the River.  We are quite the sight getting down there.  

The River is so low that we haven’t put the motorboat in for quite awhile.  We had Bon and Bubs in rubber boats, Dan, Ed, Mags & KC in one kayak and Annie and me in the other kayak.  The dog was going nuts.  She acted like she was going to jump out of our boat at one point and into Bonnie’s rubber boat. We finally made it to the beach and the kids had a blast.  They have wars in the boats and Bonnie calls this rocky area the Galapagos Islands and she walks all around as a tour guide. The dog decided she wanted everyone to stay together and chased Bonnie down stream on the bank barking her head off until Bon came back.  She kept jumping in boats and the kids would paddle her around.  KC kept bossing everyone, wanting the kids to get back on the beach.  It was hilarious.  Annie is amazing and the strongest 6 year old I have ever seen.  She got in that rubber boat and kicked herself all the way home! :) She even kayaked me the whole way one time!  (I did offer to paddle, I swear)

Nothing like rain on the tin roof! :)

We finally went back to the cabin and it was a big day for Bubba and Annie (daredevils of the fam!)  They both did the high rope swing for the first time (and scared me to death) and we all cheered.  After lunch, it started raining from that tropical storm.  Dan was exhausted from the football madness, (having practice almost every night.)  He conked out in our bed.  Eddie wanted up in the bunk bed and wanted me to come up with him.  I laid down with him and promptly went to sleep.  For the next hour or so, I have no clue what the 5 kids and the dog were doing.  I knew they weren’t outside running around the property or in the River because it was raining really hard but geez, what the heck kind of parenting is that??  I was so relieved when I wiped the drool off my face and all the kids and dogs were intact!  They were so cute.  They had set up a pet shop with all their stuffed animal and were buying them from each other.  We ended the day with a fabulous grill fest by Dan!   Wow, that could have been bad, very bad….   Oh yeah, another monumental thing that happened is Ed dressed himself for the first time "All by myself"....my baby!

Eddie loving him some of Dan's ribs!

Rubber Ducky You're the One!

Holy Moly….I have never seen such a frenzy for Rubber Duckies!  The kid’s are selling magazines and cookie dough.  When they sell two, they get this tiny little Rubber Ducky keychain.  I’m pretty sure I saw them in the Oriental Trading magazine for 10 cents apiece or something. LOL I've never seen my kids more motivated for a school fundraiser. Who knew??

Duck Hospital

The chaos over the ducks in my house has been unbelievable.  They steal them from each other, and break them on an hourly basis!!  I have repaired more ducks than I care to count :/  Oh yeah, did I mention KC loves them too?  She punctured Bonnie’s zebra duck!  Bubba is harassing people night and day to purchase something and resorting to stalking because he wants the whole sport collection and of course now Annie does too!  Maggie has her sights on a pink cheerleader and a super hero!!  Eddie stole one today in the office when I wasn’t looking….geez, (Jesus forgive me for not driving the duck back up there but I figure he will break it before I can get back)  

Then I hear how their “friends” (no names of course) plug up the sinks in the bathroom and float the little demon duckies around!  I think this may be a global conspiracy to drive parents off the ducky edge! I just went a little psycho after my 3^rd repair today, raising my voice saying, PUT YOUR DUCKS AWAY!  I just know I will be having duckie nightmares for quite awhile,  Sighhhhh! :)

Opening Weekend of Football

It’s been a long year of waiting for opening weekend of football.  I think Dan and Bubs have been in a semi-depression since Miami’s bowl game last December.  I thought Bubba may cry with joy, he was so excited and said, “This is the day I have been waiting for all year!”  Unfortunately, my kid can’t get a break!  Miami is in trouble with the NCAA and many starters were ineligible including their quarterback. They have a poor new coach who has to deal with the mess.  CAN MY KID JUST HAVE ONE FREAKIN’ GOOD MIAMI SEASON?? Bubs so should have been born in the 80’s….

The Wogs believe strongly in tailgating (even at home) and Dan always buys cool snacks for the kids.  He got little sliders, cheese sticks, pizza poppers and the best Taquitos (Ed’s favorite!)  Eddie called them something like Cosquitos or something hilarious and we kept getting him to say it.  Miami was playing Maryland and the teams were warming up.  I asked what was on their helmets and they said it was a turtle shell, apparently their mascot.  

Finally, it was game time and Maryland came running out in the most unbelievable uniforms, helmets and cleats anyone has ever seen. Apparently the owner of Under Armour graduated from there and surprised them in the locker room.  The helmets didn’t seem to fit good because they kept flying off the players (or maybe the players were throwing them off because they were freaked out by the psychedelic thing they had going on!)  I was wondering what the creator was on, at the time he designed these beauties!  I couldn’t figure it out until Bubba told me it was their state flag.  (Don’t ask me how he knows these things??)

Dan had a running commentary about their uniforms.  He said, “If your flag looks like that, it doesn’t deserve a tribute.”  I was wondering if something was slipped into my Taquito and I was having an out of body, Alice in Wonderland moment.  Dan especially LOVED their cleats.  He said, “ Their Shoes are so yellow it looks like 22 penalty flags on the field.”  Miami played so hard and actually had a chance to win towards the end.  I was personally relieved that the game went as well as it did.  One of his final comments was, “Their tactic of ugly uniforms worked on the poor Miami Hurricanes.”   The great part of the night was Bubba saying he loved the uniforms and thought they were cool!! LOL!