Back 2 School 09

Wow where has the time gone? My twins are entering into "the years the count" ! Thats how they refer to it.. So what have I been worried about the past 10 years lol? My precious daughter is starting her 1st year as a real Lady Eagle (7th grade sports)and my baby boy starts his last year at the Primary. It's so bittersweet. I can't help but wonder where Amelia would fit in all this if she where here (pre final repair surgery) I do know God had bigger and better things for her. I also know he has great things for the 4 He has let me keep. Its an emotional day and I'm sure it always will be. But, I wont cry I will just be thankful for what I do have! I am so blessed to have kids that keep me laughing. If that picture could talk you would be laughing too! Have a blessed day..kiss your kids and tell them that you love them even if they think you're dumb! :D

Again I'm glad these pics can't talk!

Our tradition a pic of him standing by his name...I wonder how much longer he will let me do that?

Another year closer...

Well summer is quickly coming to an end. My twins are another year closer to graduating from high school. They will be 15 in Sept and I just shutter everytime I think of that. Adrienne will be 14 and I look at their lives and realize they are at a point where I can't make all the decisions for them. I have to give them to God and pray that over the past 15 years I've instilled something good in them. I see my daughter already struggling with choices which path to go down. I see my sons trying to figure out who they are and what that means their battles with God and how much they are willing to relinquish to Him. I watch them and just wanna run up to them and turn them in the right direction but know I can't. When I was their age I had already messed up so much more. I guess in a sense that's a victory I have to take these small wins and cherish them. I know God has their hand on them. I just have to rest in that knowing He is in control.

On a happier (however you wanna look at it) my baby will be 7 Friday. He's growing up so fast going into 2nd grade. He is such an amazing kid just full of energy and totally fearless. I look at him and cant help but think Thank you God for knowing what I needed because at the time I really didn't think I "needed" another baby. I know that sounds harsh so don't get me wrong I love my kids with everything in me. I hope tomorrow is a special day and this year brings lots of great things for him. I'm guessing since he hasn't lost many teeth it will be a year for lots of tooth fairy visits LOL

I know I haven't blogged much this summer but it's been super busy and I will blog with pics as soon as I get a chance.

The Mother's Day card I didn't get!

I got to typing and thinking about life and how truly blessed I am to have awesome children who honestly try to make my day special. I have 3 teenagers so its very easy for them to get "sidetracked" but they don't on this day. But, I also can't help but remember there is 1 hug, card, kiss, I love you, that I'm not getting. I think sometimes when does this heartbreak stop and I'm constantly reminded it doesn't b/c a piece of my heart is gone..it's in Heaven. There is joy and peace in knowing I will be reunited with her again. I know it will be a joyous day. But for now I will cry when I think of her and long for that day when I can hold her. I will remember her every Mother's Day, Christmas, July 1st, May 29th and Halloween and pretty much every other day in between. I will continue on some days as if nothing is wrong and those are the days when God has granted me that peace that only He can give. I know He is with me b/c those days....aren't everyday and He always assures me that she is perfect now which was her wish all along. I heard this song once that had nothing to do with what I took from it but it was called "If I Could Do It Again I Would Do It The Same" I have to admit for 1 more day with her I would go through it all again. As I looked through my 4 homemade cards from Bren I wondered what I would give to have a homemade card from Amelia. Ya know the ones on notebook paper with the funny lil drawings of "Momma" and you have to laugh about b/c you hope that's not what they see when they look at you. I treasure those cards more now than ever those are the ones that matter. As Darius Rucker put it..."It Won't Be Like This For Long"...sometimes it's shorter than we think. We don't get to choose when our kids grow up and we don't get to choose when they go Home but we do get to choose how much love we can show them. I had 7 years with Amelia and they were honestly the most trying years of my life but they were also the most rewarding. If God gave me the oppurtunity to do it again...I would b/c being her "Mommy" was worth every ounce of pain. I don't know what I did to get a child like her but I thank God He decided to bless me! I miss her dearly and I can't wait to get to that "Big House"



To my sweet Amelia:
You are a true "for real" princess now sweet angel and I will see you soon. Thank you for letting me be your mommy it was an honor.

Ok so it's been a while...

I know I never got around to the Chicago trip blog and now I'm slacking on just the "normal" stuff and those who know me...know "normal" has been redefined. "Normal" is running around everyday of the week with my kids. Well these last few weeks since I've been home...(month even) has been no different. I came home to Spring Break for the kids. My twins welcomed me with the flu...sick in bed almost ALL WEEK. They were mad I guess when you get a week long illness you are supposed to get to miss school not miss your week off school. We were still in the middle of boys club basketball which by that point...I was over! Bren however was not...he loved it. We also kicked off softball and baseball and of course soccer. Bren was involved in 3 sports and it was chaotic. Saturday is his last soccer game and all the bruises from boy's club basketball are healed. Justin and Jeremy are fine. Jere is finishing up AP stuff and getting ready for end of the year trips and exams. Justin is enjoying a leadership cell group and really growing in Christ. Adrienne tried out and made the volleyball team...which I'm still not sure how I feel about that. She is in the process of trying out for basketball. She is also playing softball. She is a center fielder and she loves that position. Bren is playing baseball and has found a new love for it. He is still going to be a baseball player when he grows up...as well as an artist, firefighter and a police officer...by that time he will be used to be so busy and may be able to pull it off! I got to celebrate a friend of mine's birthday and hang out with her and some of the youth from our church it was amazing and I got to eat at Fuji's which was a very fun experience. We have been having so much at our Lifechange on Wednesdays it just keeps getting better and better every week. I've barely had time to look up much less sit down and blog...I'll leave you with some pics...and will blog soon about my husbands new shift...he will be home with us from now on at nights and not miss all the games and fun and I might get to cook dinner more. I'm not sure how I will do or how easy it will be but I know God is in Control so it will be just fine. Well we had a Passover Dinner at our church and after we and by we I mean my whole family and 3 extra kids/teens Micah, Andrew and Jarred went to a friends house and dyed eggs and they decided to smile for a photo op. Well I just thought this was too cute to not take! They dressed alike and on accident of courseThis is Bren and his friend Tucker...they played against each other and I can't wait for them to be on the same team.
Ok I saved the best for last...this was Bren's first attempt at a practical joke. Notice the Crunch Berries...and then Notice what's in the bowl (Frosted Flakes). Bren switched the bags and Justin was the victim. He was not all that happy about his lil brothers attempt at humor! Thank you Disney Channel for giving him that idea...I got a good laugh out of it of course...I always look into the box before I pour my cereal...and I dont know why I do that.

Conspire...our trip to Chicago!

Well I lost my whole Chicago blog somehow...not sure so I promise Im going to make a slideshow when I figure out how and post about it...Sorry long story short I had a blast I don't want to live there but it was fun and poppy seed buns are pretty good. I also love my husband and we may survive after our kids leave the nest. :D

What I've learned since my last blog!

I thought it would be fun to reflect on some of the things I've learned since my last blog...Some of this will be funny some not so much. I realize the older I get the more I learn about life and being a mother.

1. I've learned driving around Mississippi there is no "scenic route"

2. I've learned one of my boys doesn't use soap and he feels pretty good about that. But, he does wash his hair with shampoo and I should be proud of that. (this threw me) If you know my boys you can probably figure out which one I'm talking about.

3. I've learned no matter where I go I always run into someone from Paragould...and that is strange to me.

4.I've learned I need a break from my kids at the expense of missing one of their games.

5. I've learned I can't do everything...and some days I can't do anything...right.

6. I've learned for some things 4 years can change a lot and for others it changes nothing.

7. When my kids talk about Amelia it reminds me how much they miss her and it hurts me so deep down I almost can't stand it.

8. I've learned that some people may never change.

9. I've learned living for God is not the popular choice like I once thought and there are many sacrifices for that. .....All worth it I might add.

10. I've learned girls dont not have the same standards as we did as teens and I didn't think I had many!

11. I've realized that lately God as painted some of the most beautiful sunsets...and I should really enjoy them.

12. I've learned that if you don't like the weather in Northeast Arkansas don't worry it will change.

13. I've learned my son is a pretty good basketball player.

14. I've also learned Boy's Club basketball is very very time consuming.

15. I've learned that somedays I'm just hard to get along with...

16. I've learned that you cannot make up for that hour of sleep and it stinks really bad.

17. I've learned I did not miss my calling by not being a painter.

18. I've learned I have so much to learn about being a Godly friend, wife, and mother.

Last but not least...I've learned my kids are so precious and they grow up soo fast ...also they clean up well and look so cute at weddings! :D

Big God answers very small prayers

Ya know from my blog I have some strange thing happen with 3 teens and a 6 year old in the house. Well that is an understatement for what I'm about to tell you. Please note I'm only blogging this so I can remember it years from now. Well my son, Brendan has a stuffed animal named Super Boo Jr he rarely leaves home without him. So we had a busy night planned and Dana (friend) and I decided we would take our kids to eat between cell groups(older kids) and basketball practices (younger kids) We decided on Taco Bell and so far everything was going smoothly. We left Taco Bell and rushed off to basketball practice...so far so good. We leave basketball practice and run jumps out of the truck and immediately says open it back I left Super Boo Jr in there....you see where the ugly turn comes in? Super Boo Jr was not in the truck he wasn't anywhere to be found. Well I told the big kids to watch Bren while I ran back to Taco Bell to pick up Super Boo Jr...(Oh yea Super Boo Jr is a green dinosaur and he just so happened to be dressed in a tuxedo...yep I said a tuxedo) I ask the people in Taco Bell if they have seen it and they said I don't think so...as if they wouldn't have remembered seeing a green dinosaur...WEARING A TUXEDO! I looked around the place even in the men's bathroom I mean I had to I had a 6 year old at home crying. The dinosaur was nowhere to be found. So I'm off to the gym where I knew he didn't have it just to make sure for the sake of argument. Nope it wasn't there either. I stop at this point and think..."Seriously?" Well I decide I will just go back to Taco Bell b/c I know he left it there and give them my phone number so if they "find" it they can contact me. This is where the story gets really interesting. The manager at Taco Bell ask one of the employees if he has told me? So I'm like "Told me what?" So she starts to tell me this story about one of the employees taking this dinosaur and playing with and then selling it to a customer. Ok so I'm running around like a crazy person looking for a stuffed green dinosaur wearing a tuxedo and they are telling me an employee of Taco Bell sold my kids Super Boo Jr?????? Have I dropped into the Twilight Zone? I proceeded to ask this manager what their policy was on lost items in the store of course to find out...that was not their policy...(Good to know) The manager calls the employee and he denies everything. I also realize this employee waited on us and even watched Bren play with Super Boo Jr. This employee even suggested no lettuce on Bren's taco b/c I had forgotten to say that. I was irate! I go home still wondering if there was a full moon or maybe April Fool's Day had come early. Why would someone do this? Well Bren was full blown balling when I got home. I felt like there had been a death in our family. The big kids were even upset and very angry at Taco Bell even Adrienne and trust me that's a big deal. My friend Marsha called because she was picking up something from Wal Mart for me and I told her what was going on. Her husband told her it was a theft and I should report it to the police. At first I honestly laughed thinking seriously? I did reconsider and thought what will it hurt. I call the police station and talk to the investigator on duty and turns out he's someone I know. I told him it was going to be a strange conversation and he agreed it was a first for him. He never made light of it though because he realized my son was very upset. He called Taco Bell and took a report. He called me back and assured me he would work on the case...(it sounds really funny just putting it like that) Once the officer called me back Bren ran in there with tears still in his eyes and asked if they found him? At this point it was 11:15 and he was still awake. I told we would have to pray that the person that had him would do the right thing. The next morning my husband had to get up with us because he was leaving for his Pastor's Retreat and he prayed with Bren before we left for school. I took Rick up to the church and was telling the story to a few of the ladies up there and one of them said she had just found a smaller version of a green dinosaur and put it in the nursery. This was Duece Super Boo Jrs Mini Me. Bren knew he lost it at church but had decided someone had thrown it away or picked it up. He was very happy to know he at least had Duece back but said I still am praying that Super Boo Jr gets found too. We go through the whole weekend with Bren still saying I'm still praying and I believe he's going to be found. Rick asked me Monday morning what I was going to do about this guy because I hadn't actually "pressed charges" yet. I really considered what that meant and told Rick if Bren still has faith I'm going to just have faith too. Well we start off on our normal Monday night routine running Justin to his cell group and getting Bren to his basketball practice when my phone rings. It's the Paragould Police Dept and its the officer who is handling this situation. He says I'm looking at one green dinosaur! I was shocked he said someone had a "change of heart" and he "knew someone that knew someone" I didn't really care I was just happy he found my baby boy's best friend. We get up to the police station and walk in and the woman at the desk is holding him. Bren's face was priceless and to see that look it was almost worth it. ALMOST! I think those looks are God's gifts to the parents for never giving up. So lessons learned?
1. Double check and make sure your kid picked up everything they walked in with better yet make sure they leave it in the car!
2. Slow down because if your in a hurry you will forget something it's a wonder I haven't left a kid somewhere as busy as I've been lately.
3. Have the faith of a child and never give up because our BIG BIG God answers very small prayers.
4. Trust Him! I am learning alot from my kids and they trust God with EVERYTHING from the smallest to the biggest if they pray about it they believe it will happen. Imagine if we prayed about little things and believed and trusted God with it.
5. Somethings can't be replaced it's not always about money.
6. Just for fun I'm going to throw this in there for my friends that know Super Boo Jr. We are going to a wedding this weekend and I got an "I told you so" from my Brendan...He did not buy that dinosaur a tuxedo in vain! Now Super Boo Jr will be dressed appropriately for the wedding and noone will look at him strange...(that's yet to be determined) Did I mention Super Boo Jr wears "converse" sneakers with his tuxedo? Oh yea that's "Pimp" that's a quote from my 14 year old son. :D
7. This smile is worth however ridiculous I looked or sounded while trying to figure out what happened.