Go Heat!

Last week was the culmination of months of preparation, fundraising and great expectations.  Bubba and I were going on a school trip to Washington DC.  Although I was very nervous about leaving my family for four days with our psychotic schedule, I was very excited about experiencing this trip with Bubba. 

I worked like a crazy person preparing to leave.  I always want to bail out of a trip right before because of the extreme work it takes to leave.  I was doing school uniform laundry until midnight, the night before we left.  I felt like a walking zombie. The mental warfare was so great and I honestly didn’t know if I could handle it.

When I finally got to the airport and got on the plane, I “let it go!” (Yes, I have the movie Frozen on the brain and regularly pop out movie references!)  Bubba was so excited and to experience so many firsts with him was such an honor.  I just didn’t realize how many firsts he would really have…  LOL!!!

Our leader, Jennifer Shephard, has a calm personality (unlike me who is a tightly wound, ball of nerves!)  The whole trip was so peaceful and organized.  Even though we packed a ridiculous amount of things in the day, there was no stress until….

We got dropped off for lunch and after we ate, we still had a little time before we had to head back to the bus.  Bubs asked if we could walk a block down to the Verizon Center which is where the Washington Wizards, the NBA team, plays.  The Miami Heat were playing there that night!  We walked up to the building and someone was coming out of the door.  Before it closed, I grabbed it and we slipped in the lobby of the facility.  Bubba was freaking out thinking we were going to get in trouble.  I told him to calm down, I wanted to get a picture of him and then we would go.  

A guy came off the elevator and was looking at us. Bubba said nervously, MOM he’s going to kick us out!”  I said who cares hurry up and let me get my picture!!!  The guy noticed Bubba’s Heat jersey and asked if we were there for the game, which didn’t start until 7 PM. I told him no that we were from Florida, my kid loves the Heat and wanted to see where they were playing.  He then asked if we wanted to come to the game!!  WHAT???  He went on to explain, that the game was sold out but they decided to sell individual suite seats, which is very unusual!!  I didn’t really know if we were allowed to leave our tour group so I told him I would check. He gives me his cell phone and told me to call and let him know!  I asked him if he could let Bubba inside to see the court in case we couldn’t go to the game and he said sure!  He took us up in the employee’s elevator and into a suite!  Bubba was in heaven!

When we got back with our tour group, I told Jenn what happened and she exclaimed, “YOU HAVE TO GO!!  This is your trip!!”  I didn't want Bubba to miss any of our tour and Jenn assured me that the only thing we would miss was a Hip Hop performance. We laughed knowing that Bubba would probably rather be at the Heat game!!  My heart started beating chaotically!  I called Dan and after being with me for over 20 years, and knowing how God regularly blesses us in these crazy ways, didn’t really act that surprised and said YES!  Go to the game!!!  I called our new best friend, Zach and told him we were all in!  He proceeds to tell me that if I could get there around 5:15, he would let us in before the gates open and Bubba could watch the team warm up…WHAT???  I didn’t tell Bubba that info and kept that little surprise a secret!

We went to the Holocaust museum and I told Bubba to try his best to forget about the game, and to really focus on all that he was going to see and experience.  He did a lot better than I did.  My heart was racing and I was almost in a panic at what I had done.  I used to be fearless before I had five babies that depend on me.  I was envisioning us getting murdered on the street trying to get home to our hotel, which was in Virginia.  Kelly Trent did her best to pump me up.  She got on Google and mapped out our whole route home to the hotel and told me I could do it and to be brave!  I was getting ready to leave and was wondering where I should get a taxi and a sweet faced museum worker, walked up to me and asked if she could help me with anything.  I laughed because I must have looked like I needed help!!  She also pumped me up, confirmed Kelly’s expert directions and told me where the best place was to get a taxi.

 

Here we go…push past the fear and just do it was my inside voice.  I had to put my brave face on because Bubba was getting nervous.  I hailed a cab and despite almost getting hit getting in the cab, it went pretty smooth.  We got to the Verizon Center, called our contact Zach, and he came down, gave us our suite tickets and took us into the arena.  Bubba’s face was priceless.  All the players that he knows so very much about where on the court (minus Lebron who was “resting” for playoffs according to Bubba) it was crazy. We roamed around and Bubba talked to some of the players and got their autographs!  As I watched Bubba, I marveled at the favor of the Lord.  You can’t earn it.  You don’t deserve it but he still goes out of his way to bless us. 

An announcement came over the PA system that the doors were getting ready to be opened so Bubba and I started heading up to our suite. We were treated like VIP’s which was so funny and felt like a joke!  I asked an attendant where the restrooms where and she said, “Ma'am you have your own bathroom in the suite!”  WHAT??  

A man and three kids came into the suite after Bubba and I.  One of the kids had a Heat jerseys on which surprised me since we were in Wizard land. I asked the man if they were Heat fans and he said his kids were but he was more of a Miami Hurricane fan??  WHAT??  I laughed and asked him why since we were in Washington DC…..wait for it…..He says because he is a former Miami Hurricane basketball player?  I called Bubba over and they began having a great U conversation!!   I sat through the rest of the game in awe at how God orchestrated all of this to bless my boy! WOW, WOW, WOW!!  I called Dan and apologized that I was with Bubba at his first NBA game and that his Dad should be experiencing this with him.  He was so funny.  He said had he been there, he would have never gone to the Verizon center, gone into the lobby in the first place and none of this would have even been possible! 

It was all fun and games until it was time to leave…Lord help me! What was I thinking??  I had to put on my brave face again and act tough as we walked through the dark 6 blocks towards the Metro station. Bubba was looking all around worried.  I told him to walk fast, don’t look or respond to anyone on the street.  We focused forward and made it to the entrance.  It was pretty daunting taking the escalator down underground.  It was pretty empty and thankfully a security guard helped us get the right ticket and told us to go downstairs and to get on the Blue line not the orange.  We kind of panicked when there two blue lines going in opposite directions.  There were a couple people that didn’t look like derelicts so we asked them which one to Franconia.  They were super friendly and helpful.  We got on the subway and there was a pretty scary dude on there and we couldn’t understand a word from the announcer.  Bubs hopped up with every stop to check the map to find which stop we were on.  After a couple stops, the scary guy got off and our two previous friends were still there.  We started chatting with them and the nice lady thankfully was getting off at our stop so we could relax and just follow her!  

We were suppose to get picked up by our hotel shuttle but missed it because the van said Hampton Inn on the front. We were staying at the Holiday Inn.  That would have been great info for them to tell us when we scheduled a pick-up.  I was a veteran at this point in cab rides, so we took a quick cab ride to the hotel and felt like rock stars when we successfully made it back alive to the hotel!!  Thank you Lord for helping us!  Thank you Zach for hooking us up!  Thank you Jenn for letting us go and thank you Kelly for pumping us up telling us we could do it!!!  It was an experience we will never forget and it reminded me that our God is ever mindful of us and goes before us to prepare blessings galore!!  Go Heat!!

Bubba's 13th Birthday

I am in amazement that my firstborn son is already a teenager. Bubba never really asks for anything for his birthday.  I was surprised this year that he wanted Nike Elite socks and to go with some of his football friends to the River!  I was really excited that this birthday, which is on Valentine’s Day, was also on the day of the Middle school dance.  He loves to dance and was looking forward to it.  Bubba woke up throwing up on his birthday.  The little kids had the stomach flu the week before but I thought we were all in the clear.  He stopped throwing up in the afternoon and really wanted to try to go to the dance.  I didn’t think he was going to make it when I watched him sit down on the stairs on his way to the shower.  He was still so weak and decided to skip it, which broke my heart.  I had even bought him a new red dress shirt and black dress pants for his birthday.

Thankfully he bounced back quickly and Dan took a truckload of boys to the River and they had a blast!  They played games and much to my surprise even swam in the freezing river!  I think Dan may have had more fun than the boys!  It wasn’t exactly the 13^th birthday weekend I imagined for Bubba but he seemed happy!  Definitely happy with all the new socks!! His grandparents got him an Academy gift card and I thought he would cry with joy!  He bought the brightest neon yellow hoodie I have ever seen!

Bubba opened up a whole new world to me when he was born.  I learned so many amazing things that I would have never known about.  I became obsessed with Star Wars along with Bubba and went to extreme lengths to get EVERY Star Wars Burger King toy.  Yes, I will admit to buying the last “impossible ones to find” on EBay!  Can you say obsessive compulsive?  I learned to enjoy being a soccer, basketball & football mom.  I still watch Toy Story movies by myself and will never give away Woody & Buzz dolls.  Of course, I became a devout football fan of the Miami Hurricanes and have bought more orange and green than I thought was humanly possible!

There are so many things I admire and understand about Bubba and I feel like we have a special bond. I am savoring every moment with Bubba.  He is now taller than his older sister and is getting ready to be taller than me too!  In a mere 5 years, I will be packing my boy up for college.  I think that is why I cried so much on the last Toy Story movie.  The thought of packing up his room is a day I dread. Bubba is an overachiever in school.  He is independent and a leader.  The first time I realized that he was a natural leader was when he was in K3 and a mother told me his son begged to get Darth Vader shoes just like Bubbas!  Bubba is kind and compassionate and more than people think. I have so enjoyed having him as my son and look forward to this next stage of his life!  I believe great days are ahead for my Valentine boy!

Edwardo's 6th Birthday

Eddie celebrated his 6 birthday last Friday.  He is such an interesting kid.  I have all types and sizes for sure but he constantly shocks and amazes me with how unique he really is.  We started talking about his birthday immediately after Christmas. The rule in our house is we are not allowed to talk about a person’s birthday until after Christmas! That is when our birthday season starts.  We have a kid’s birthday every month until July (except May because I wanted us to focus on Mother’s Day that month!)  After the previous kid’s birthday is over, we can begin talking about the next kid’s birthday.  They think it’s so we all focus on the person’s birthday and that they are the star but the real reason is so that mom doesn’t get pushed over the edge and have a #gingersnap!   My brain can only process so much information believe it or not.  Yes I am a master multi-tasker by necessity but even I have limits, people!

My kids loves commercials. They are a marketer's dream.  They sing the jingles and fully believes everything they hear!!  We have ice makers, slushi makers, the go-go pillow, hot hues and more!   Eddie made it very clear that he wanted the Flipeez, a blue hat that has ears that flip when you press a button.  He also wanted “Party in the Tub”  It’s a contraption you put in your bath water that makes it look like a disco-tech with colorful strobe lights blinking!  I easily found the Flipeez much to my surprise at the “As Seen on TV” section in Walgreens.  The Party in the Tub was not as easy so I quickly bought that online and you won’t believe it, I got 2 for the price of one!! ;)

Just so Dan and Bubba didn’t have a total breakdown, I bought some baseball paraphenial on clearance!  Bubba never asked for anything except footballs and jerseys.  He went through a brief Star Wars obsession but has fixated on sports for most of his life.  Eddie cracks me up with his requests.  He wanted to ride Go-Karts at Adventure Landing.  He mentioned the chocolate fountain at Golden Corral but I pretended not to hear it.  Last year we went there for his birthday and that was enough to last for years to come!

We loaded the Wog bus up and headed out to the Go Carts. Of course it’s a northeaster kind of night.  I still have the image of Dan in my head of him holding up his hands shaking them because he thought they were getting frostbite as he was driving at breakneck speed.  All and all, it was a short, expensive successful hour at Adventure Landing! All his siblings pitched in their game tickets and got him a set of planes that he loved!  

And YES, he loved his Flipeez hat and wore for 4 days straight.  The recent 82 degree weather has really been jamming him though.  He has been partying in the tub for days and also using his colorful painting to make our tub look like a rainbow or Graffiti in the Tub!  I just really can’t believe my baby is already 6!  What a wild six years it has been!  I am grateful to God for giving us the bonus boy!  I can’t wait to see what is in store for him! I know for sure it won't be boring!

 

Poor Possum

We have all kinds of critters around our house.  A hawk swooped through our back yard a couple days ago and scared the kids and the dog!  We have a creepy owl that swivels its head around and hoots like crazy.  We have a serious raccoon problem and boy are they sassy.  They come in my garage and pilfer through our garbage bags and don’t even budge when I tell them to go.  I have chased them with a bat before to get them the heck out of my garage.  Speaking of bats…they seriously try to fly into my hair around dusk and totally wig me out.  Squirrels sit on the garbage can and act very put out with me when I interrupt their rummage through my garbage.  Foxes sashay down the sidewalk like they are trained pets.  It’s craziness.  You would think the word on the street would be out that I have a crazy coonhound that would love to assault them and bring them to me as a gift.  No such luck.

 

I am not an animal person.  I can tolerate fish and I did love my cat very much even though he defected and died at a neighbor’s house to escape Wogville chaos. Last Monday, was mind blowing.  Annie has been one of those kids who beats herself up on a regular basis. She has gotten Ouch Awards at school for using the most band-aids. Bets have been made if she can stay on her feet during a soccer game for more than a couple minutes.  Her baby pictures consist of many scrapes and bruises on her face, from all her antics.  She has never been short on bravery.  She is a fearless one.  Blood doesn’t faze her and I told her she should be a surgeon when she grows up. 

 

Monday when we came home from school, she jumped out of the car while I was getting the mail. Her neighbor friends were playing in the cul-de-sac.  They seemed to be having the best time.  She didn’t come in for hours.  Annie loves to eat and I couldn’t believe she never came in for a snack.  Well, little did I know that she was doing a surgical procedure on a possum skeleton that they found in our yard. I guess I should have looked into what was detaining her from pounding her afternoon snack. 

When it was getting dark, she finally came inside. She very proudly had a Ziploc bad and apparently the neighbor’s gloves, thank God. She showed us a tooth she had extracted out of the possum skull. I was disgusted and of course told her to wash her hands pronto.  She casually told me that she was sticking it under her pillow because she needed some cash.  She was going to trick the tooth fairy.  I honestly don’t know what to say many times to my kids. They constantly amaze me and not always in a good way.  All I could really think was how sorry I felt for the tooth fairy.  I never really considered that children would enter into such trickery and deception.  My friends and family are anxiously waiting if the Tooth Fairy ponies up some big cash for the extra-large possum tooth.  If she does, I think that may take care of any road kill along the highways.  Big business for sure!

I admire Annie for her ambition and courage. Who knows if we have another dentist coming up in the future!  I am just thankful she put on some gloves for the surgery!

MLK Day 2014

Our schedule is so frenzied and out of control.  I have people tell me I should limit my kids activities but what they don’t realize is with the kids doing just one extra curricular, that’s five extra things a week to manage.  I don’t ever want pity because Dan & I did this to ourselves.  I know with God’s help, friends & family, they will all get raised even though they may miss some things every now and then because I space out.

We had one of the most memorable & enjoyable days as a family that I remember in a long time.  Typically, we only have family togetherness when we go to our family River house.  We rarely have a day all together to just play.  Play we did….We all went to the Tides View Preserve that is such a cool place.  The best part is that I only have to ride with all five kids in the car for just 5 minutes!!  Car rides together are possibly the worst.  It’s like a bunch of caged animals at times, which usually comes with vomit too.  

The Tides View Preserve is on the corner of Atlantic Boulevard and Mayport on the Intracoastal Waterway.   The kids love it so much and on a blue, sunny day, it’s breathtaking!  We usually go there a couple times a year.

 

One trip was especially memorable….in a bad way!  It was our favorite day of the year, the day you get FREE Chickfila food if you dress like a cow.  I know people scoff and mock me for parading all my little cows in for some free food (Dan doesn't particpate…) but I bet they aren’t dropping $50 every time they take the fam to eat there either.  You get really humble when you have a large family and really change your high standards of many things like a clean car, a clean house, clean laundry, glass plates & cups and yes, dressing up and looking ridiculous for some waffle fries!

On the way home from our Chick Extravaganza, the kids suggested we go to the preserve to cap off a perfect day of food!  I really gave them a thrill by taking them over that scary overpass off of Mayport! They squealed with delight!  We were happily frolicking in the woods, dressed as cows, finishing off our milkshakes when we rounded the corner and rudely woke up a homeless man sleeping on a bench.  He greeted our cowselves happily and we hurried by, out to the dock.  The panic ensued and a question arose….will or will not the homeless man be waiting to jump us, to kill/rob us when we enter the woods to get back to our vehicle.  If this conversation was videotaped and put on TV, I have no doubt it would have gotten a  #1 rating and we would be bigger and richer than Duck Dynasty!  We actually could have really used their camouflage clothing and guns.  I don’t think the cow costumes were doing the trick. 

We came up with a detailed exit strategy.  I, as the brave mother, would go first.  If I got shot, the kids would separate & run towards Mayport road and call someone to come pick them up!  Then we argued if a homeless person would have a gun and some Cow Wog said they could have jumped some other preserve-goer and stole their gun.  Annie shows us what she is going to do if the man jumps us and kicks her double-jointed leg freakishly high into the air, kicking a milkshake out of her siblings hand splattering it all over the decking.  Usually a fistfight would break out over a spilt Chick milkshake but we were dealing with bigger, life-threatening issues.  We took a different path out and walked as silently as 6 Wogs could possibly be.  We saw a cleared area that was not a designated path but we decided to loop around and try to sneak to our truck.  At one point we were all running like cow-banshees and jumped a metal gate and finally made it safely to the truck.  I gunned it and 6 Wog–cows lived to tell about it!

 

The funny thing about this is the poor homeless man was probably more scared when he opened his eyes to 6 big-eyed cows staring at him.  He probably snuck away from us!

Well, today’s visit had low drama & little excitement, thank God!  The scariest moment was when two kayakers rode by.  Annie assured us VERY loudly that she didn’t think they would kill us.  It was the most beautiful, sunny day I have seen in a very long time and I was grateful to have all my Wogs together just having fun!

Worry About Today

People ask me all the time, how I manage all that I have gotten myself into with 5 kids, their activites, housework, dog and having a job too.  In a conversation with my mom today, I told her that I have really come to realize the power and truth of Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” I break out in sweat and have chest pains if I focus too much on what’s ahead….college, weddings, Olympics… :)  It steals my joy and robs me of my peace.  I think I actually quoted my version of the verse to my mom that went something like this, “Worry about today, tomorrow will have enough crap to deal with!” LOL  

I said in my last blog that Matthew 6:34, is the verse that I will try to focus on this year and I am really trying to live this way. Yes, I truly believe in planning and being productive but focusing on my schedule for just one day is truly the secret to how I haven’t run away from home!  Well, also Google calendar is a big part of it too.  I learned how to set reminders in the calendar to text me and email me all through-out the day.  I also set reminders on my phone for projects for the kids, things to get at the store, when to pick up who & where.   I do have 81 reminders but I won’t focus on that :/ If it doesn’t make it into my calendar or reminders, I am in trouble. But even when that happens, so many times, the Holy Spirit gently reminds me!  Also, I am blessed with friends and family who always are willing to help me get a Wog somewhere they need to be.  

I studied this scripture today, Philipians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

I believe that we must choose peace.  At my house, it’s not an easy task.  It’s chaos central but the peace I am talking about isn’t found in a worldy way but in a supernatural way.  Peace for me comes through focusing on God and how powerful and mighty He is.  Peace comes through trusting him that he has everything in our life under control. My schedule & to do list is nothing God can't handle!  Peace comes for me through prayer!  I pray all throughout the day, by myself, with my prayer partner, and with our intercessory group at church.  My nephew comes to our prayer group. Last Wednesday, he thanked everyone and said how much the group has meant to him over the last few years.  I couldn’t agree more!  I know these people cry out to God for our requests. We have a Facebook message thread and usually communicate everyday a personal need or a need of someone that we know that is facing a challenge in their life.  My requests are usually something like, my kids are sick, my dog ran away or I have a big event that will be a disaster if God doesn’t pull it together!

So my goal is to focus on what I have to accomplish today and believing that God will strengthen me, equip me & remind me of what the heck I am suppose to be doing!  My life is a living example of HUGE dependence on a God who cares about me and who helps me live today with peace and joy! Why people try to do life without God in the mix is beyond my understanding!  I need all the help I can get raising 5 Wogs and a Dog!  JESSUUUUUSSS!

New Year's Resolution 2014

I have never really had a bunch of new years resolutions.  I think it would only cause me stress to my overloaded life.  I try to eat right, exercise regularly and have my quiet times and feel OK about those areas.  I  could probably focus more on housework & cooking though!  My only new goal for this year is to blog regularly.  I am pretty saddened that I haven't posted in months.  I have no idea why I have slacked for so long except my hectic schedule.  Now I have it in my reminders and my goal will be to post once a week.  With my wild Wogs and dog, I could blog eventful things multiple times a day.  Why do I like to blog?  I feel like it documents my life and will provide a record of my kid's lives when they are grown.  I also do provide entertainment and insight into my life to the people who care.  I have people ask me on a regular basis why I am not blogging.  It's not for a lack of material or desire for sure.

When I think about last year, it was filled with crazy, busy, awesomeness. This will be a quick update so if you despise Christmas-type letters that recap the past year, close this quick!  Here are some highlights:  Bonnie continues to make us so proud.  She is a special young lady who is very talented in ways I don't even understand.  When people say she is a lot like me, I just laugh.  I didn't have nearly her leadership skills at her age. She is much more brave than I will ever be.  She boldly does YouthQuake Live, dances & cheers with such confidence.  I am always amazed.  I couldn't do half of what she does!

Bubba had quite a year.  He STILL loves Football and spends every free moment absorbed with it, playing it, reading about it, drawing plays, wearing jerseys, playing football XBox game, coaching his siblings in the yard.  What makes me the most proud is that he was a Little Scholar again with Pop Warner, having a high GPA!  He LOVES the Miami Hurricanes and loved going to the Football camp over the summer.  We won't talk about him breaking his arm playing football :(

Maggie accomplished her goal of making the Company team for NancyDance Studios.  She is a strong, skinny little thing and dances for hours and loves ever minute of it.  Tears flooded my eyes when I saw her first Company Performance at the Tree Lighting Event.  I was never more proud!  She gets to dance with two sweet friends and has shown such dedication and hard work!  

Annie is a swimming beast.  She loves it and never complains about practice 5 days a week….even in the winter!  She made us so proud last summer when she won a high point award at the City Championships and won first place in her age group for the breaststroke!  She is calm, cool and collected.  Dan and I had never been more nervous and I actually thought I was going to pass out or vomit.  I couldn't handle the pressure obviously!  

Eddie is a wild man!  He makes me laugh constantly.  He communicates his feelings quite freely.  I was never so happy when he wrote his numbers on the back of my check book.  Being the 5th kid, he hasn't gotten the school help that he deserves!  I was like Hallelujah!!!  Then when he whipped out some addition, Dan and I fist pumped!!  We know great things are ahead for our boy and time will tell what direction he goes in!

KC the dog has started to calm down. She hasn't destroyed any prized possessions lately. She did manage to escape several times over the Christmas break and drive me a little crazy.  We sure love watching her run and hunt at the River.  We just are not able to go very often as KC would like!

We have had our challenges and exhaustion raising 5 kids and a dog.  I am honestly not sure how people raise kids without a real relationship with God. I have cried out loud, "JESSSUUUS!" a thousands times this year and I truly believe He has walked me through all my stress, fear and our schedule.  My daily time listening to God and writing down the words He says to me, have been my life line.  I constantly over-commit and over-schedule and God constantly shows up and helps me!  

I know my time having my whole family together is quickly slipping away.  I have witnessed my siblings kids slip into adulthood and I am trying hard to keep my family together as a unit as much as possible which is proving more difficult the older they get.  

Dan & I are not perfect, we make mistakes, but we desperately want our kid's to have the best life possible and we are working as hard as we can towards that goal.  My prayer is that when my kids are raised that they will look back over our time together and see our effort at creating memories, protecting them, guiding them and most important, teaching them to pray and to trust God.  My scripture I will try to focus on this year is Philippians 4:6-7 "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything!"  Lord help us all and bless 2014!