17 Years

Happy Anniversary to Kearsdad and me!

I love you Kearsdad!

High School Football

I have always hated football. Never liked it on tv...not college, not professional. When I was in high school I hardly went to any of my school games. The college I went to didn't even have a team. That was just fine with me.

So why did I choose to go sit at a high school football game tonight, yelling and cheering and groaning for a team from a school that my children don't even attend? The answer...those boys I have come to love so much. Those teenage boys that Kearsdad and I have come to claim as our own. Talk about love. It amazes me how a handful of boys have changed my perspective on life and on the things I "enjoy".

God blessed Kearsdad and I with two beautiful, sweet girls. Neither of us ever felt the urge to "try for a boy". I have, truthfully, been very happy to be surrounded by pink and purple and Barbies and Polly Pockets. But in the last few years, God has brought these boys into our lives and I am so glad. They bring another dimension to our lives. Of course, they don't live here (not really, anyway)...they go home to their own parents. I don't have to pay for their food (okay, so that's not completely true...I do feed them alot), I don't have to pay for their cars or gas, or deal with the discipline issues (although we do put our two cents worth in when necessary). I get to enjoy all the fun without having to deal with the "parent stress" of teenage boys.

But I sure do love those guys. I am thankful for the chance to share in their lives. I truly enjoy watching them grow into the young men God wants them to be. They bring me to tears sometimes. They make me smile most of the time. So, even though they don't read this...DW, SM, DD...(and DMc, even though he's mostly grown) I love you and I am very proud of you.

Who knew football could be so much fun?

It's All About Choices

Junebug talked yesterday on her blog about doing the things we want to do. She said someone told her that we do the things we really want to do, and she was thinking about the truth of that statement. Made me think about it. I also spent the better part of the day working on the Scripture guides for a prayer service. I wrote a lot about holiness and choosing obedience and holiness; challenging teens to be salt and light. So between Junebug's musings and my own...I've been thinking alot.

I stand by my original comment to Junebug that we pretty much do the things we want to do. On the surface, that sounds pretty selfish, and it can be. But it doesn't have to be. If I choose holiness, then I am going to want to do the things that bring glory to God. That applies to every area of my life. For example, I WANT to hang out at my house with my husband and kids watching the Braves or Andy Griffith. But tonight began a new FAITH semester. My desire to reach teens for Christ and teach other teens to do the same is stronger than my desire to sit on my duff in front ot the tv. That desire doesn't come from me, it comes from Him, because I have surrendered my will to Him.

Another example...Sometimes there are events at church that my children are involved in. Now, everyone who knows me knows that I love my children, but I don't love "children's stuff" (sorry Junebug and SUG and BB...I love you too, you know I do). I don't necessarily WANT to do those things. But I DO want what is best for my children. I WANT them to know that I love them and support them and am proud of them. I WANT them to feel secure in my participation and involvement in their life. Those WANTS are much stronger than my desire to do something else.

Sometimes (often) I fail miserably and wind up back in my self-centered world. But I try very hard to daily surrender my will to His. See, it's all about choices. Kearsdad says that often (ask any 10th or 11th grade boy at our church) and it's true. We do what we want to do. The question is, who is controlling our wants?

The Graduate

Today was the big day. For those of you who have been following the life and times of Sammy the Dog, today was the day he graduated from Puppy School. He completed all of his training, and he even has the certificate to prove it. The only class he didn't do so well in was "Loose Leash Walking", but that wasn't enough to keep him from graduating. Kearsdad says he thinks anyone who pays their $99 gets a certificate, but I still think Sammy was an excellent student. He wasn't so impressed with the certificate, or with the graduation cap he wore for his picture. But he did like the treat his teacher gave him. And he liked playing with his new friends, especially the dachshunds Bailey and Gideon. Gideon is the puppy I mentioned in an earlier blog. He and his owner have come a long way and we enjoyed getting to know him. Bailey is the itty bitty dachshund with the great big attitude. Overall, it was a great day for Sammy. On the way out of the store, we bought him a new box of treats, a new toy, and a new 25 pound bag of puppy food. Oh....he now weighs 39.5 pounds.

What a Wonderful World...revisited...

Sung by Kearsdad, to the tune of What a Wonderful World:

I see panties on the floor,
Bras too,
Socks all around,
And two blue shoes,
And I think to myself,
What a messy little girl.

Yes, he sang it. Nicely too, I must add. Last night. While putting people to bed.

Tagged-Name Game

Dee tagged me for this Name Game, so here's my Name Post.

1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.
2. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of their middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.
3. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog-post containing your own middle name game facts.
4. At the end of your blog-post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag.
5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.


J-Jesus is the giver and sustainer of my life.
E-Everyone in my house enjoys watching Braves baseball. If they don't, they are told they will enjoy it anyway.
A-Annex-that is where I spend a LOT of my time, hanging out with the teenagers I love.
N-Neat is how I would really prefer that my house be kept, if I could get the rest of the people here to cooperate.

I tag: Junebug, EC's aka CM, A's mom aka SUG, and "N"itials consultant Manders!

Ponderings

So, in spite of my attempts to avoid it, the push to end summer and get back to "real life" insists on forcing itself upon me. The last few days have confirmed it. No matter what I do, the world just goes right on...I realized the other day that Banana starts ballet this week. Beginning Wednesday afternoon, I'll be carting her back and forth to her multitude of classes again. It didn't occur to me before last week that dance class would follow the school schedule.

And then there's church...new year there too. Everyone has promoted, all the regular classes have started again, or will be soon (at least the Sunday night crowd understands my devotion to the true end of Summer-Labor Day). But it's all anyone is talking about...back to school, back to routine, early nights and early mornings, blah, blah, blah...

It leaves me wondering, as I do on occasion, exactly where I fit into this craziness. I have said out loud once or twice that I am not quite sure where I fit in. I don't adhere to the "school" school of thought, maybe it's the latent rebel in me. I don't know. But I just don't fit there, and sometimes feel very much the misfit because of it. But then, I really don't fit in the "other" camp either. Not really. At least, not that I can tell. I do know that my family is doing exactly what God has called us to do and I am completely happy and satisfied with that. I just sometimes feel like no one else (other than Kearsdad, of course) understands me. I hesitate to even put it into words, or maybe I don't know the words. Maybe there is someone out there that shares my point of view, but I haven't found them yet.

But anyway, today is one of those days when I'm left to ponder such things...

Stinkin' Hot

That's what it is. Just plain, old, stinkin' hot. Air condition is blowing, fan is blowing, and it is hot. Stopped at Bop's today and got the girls Confetti Cones and me a milkshake. They were good, but they weren't even really cold. They got all melty between the window of Bop's and the window of my car. Drove between the banks across from the mall...one sign said 108, the other said 109. That is just plain HOT.

I really love summer, but right about now, January is sounding pretty good.

Of Catalogs and Books

My house is currently littered with catalogs and books. The catalogs are filled with more books. These are all school books. This is a phenomenon known only to homeschoolers. It has occurred to me that I am (I think) the only homeschooling person in this little blog circle-except for Dee. So I thought I would explain this phenomenon to the rest of you. It may be that no one is even interested...but anyway...

The whole textbook/catalog thing is a year round issue. Beginning in April, I started receiving in the mail catalogs for the 2007-2008 school year. There are thousands of options for everything from phonics to Latin, addition to algebra, and everything in between. I poured over these catalogs, making lists and deciding which books I would need for the new year. But that isn't all. There is a whole internet world full of more choices. Most amazingly, are the "Used Book" sites. The ultimate thrill is to find a "Like New" set for less than 1/2 the original cost. It is, at least in my house, a mission worth spending hours searching and comparing.

That leads to another phenomenon. The book "trade" At the end of the school year, and throughout the summer, I sort through all of our books for those that I no longer need. Many of these are the Teacher's Edition. Now, anyone who has ever purchased textbooks knows that the Teacher's Edition is the most expensive part. You have to pay extra for the answers. The quest begins to sell as many of these books as possible. So online I go to list my books and to wait for someone to come along and buy them. Then I can use that money to go and buy someone else's used books. This year I managed to purchase almost 1/2 of Kat's new stuff with money I made from selling old stuff. How cool is that??

And the ultimate payoff is when all that stuff begins arriving at my doorstep. This time of year is topped only by Christmas (when all those gifts I ordered start arriving). Books show up on my doorstep several times a week! Then I get to go through them and see all the cool stuff my kids will be learning. Right now, my house is filled with a mix of the new stuff that has already arrived, and the old stuff that still hasn't sold. Soon I will get tired of looking at it and will just take it somewhere to give away. But not before I try to sell it one more time. Anyone need a Forth Grade Reading book???

Who Can Identify this picture?

Disclaimer: None of the Polly Pockets involved in the making of this post are, or have ever been, involved in any recall. Thank you.

A Hair Raising Experience

Well, I hope it isn't.

I am going to get my hair cut and hi-lighted tomorrow. Not an unusual thing...at least not usually. But tomorrow I am going to a STRANGER. See, the girl that has done my hair for years (has, in fact, cut all of our hair) has become increasingly undependable. So I have given up waiting for her to get her ducks in a row, and I am going to a stranger. I have an appointment for 10 tomorrow.

Even though I am frustrated with Ms. Undependable, there is that comfort level thing. And the feeling that I am betraying a trust. But life must go on, and my hair must be cut and hi-lighted before the gray hairs take over my head and it droops any further.

So, either I will find a really great new hair styling person tomorrow, or I will go into hiding. If you don't see me for a few days, you'll know it didn't go well...

She's a 7th Grader!

The 7th grade transition banquet was last night. Everything went smoothly, and there were a LOT of kids there. There are some kids that I have never seen before!

When we got out of the car at the church, Kat commented, "Wow, this is weird! this is the first time I am coming to one of these when it is actually for ME!" She was so excited! I was excited for her. It is still a little strange to realize I have a child that old. I'm looking forward to much fun to come though...and I see potential for some great new relationships for her, and for improving on old ones.

Kearsdad asked me last night if I was sad at all. No. I'm really not. I guess part of it is that I know what to expect. I am not, like some moms, dealing with an unknown. I think that helps a lot. I know the students, I know the adults, I know exactly what she'll be doing and what will be expected of her. And I know Kearsdad and I will be along for the ride. I think that is the most exciting part...looking forward to going through it with her. We are blessed, because she is looking forward to going through it with us as well. There are a lot of kids her age who don't feel that way, who don't want mom and dad around. I am so glad she isn't one of those kids.

So...we are one step closer to the completion of this transition. I'll admit, it felt a little weird to me too. When Boss ended last night by asking parents to stand behind their student and put their hands on them as he prayed for them, I had to remember, "Oh yeah, he means us!" Cool.