Name Confusion

We went out to dinner tonight.  Ahhhh...no cooking for mom. Yippee!  As we sat at our table talking my big girl started questioning my little diva about who she loved.  The answer was the typical daddy, mommy, sissy, bubba...  Then, oldest said in all seriousness, "I love John Boe."  We looked at her a little puzzled.  Then she said, "I love John Boe and Jane Boe."  That time I got it.  I began laughing so hard that tears were rolling down my cheeks.  My sweet love looked at me questioning.  I had to catch my breath.  He said, "I don't get it.  Who are these people?" 
John Doe and Jane Doe

We had ourselves quite a laugh.

Little League Parenting

Preseason baseball tournament started last night.  I love watching my boy play ball.  I have never enjoyed watching baseball.  But I LOVE watching my boy.  But I must be honest.  I was not looking forward to last nights game.   In fact, I was very tempted to stay home. Have a really turned into one of those little league parents. We've got some very nice boys on our team.  But athletic ability isn't quite there.  I know think I know why this happened.  I really think God is trying to teach me something.  I've already been struggling thinking about what the other boys at school would say when they "kill us" in baseball.  I've already been struggling with my attitude when they talk about how their team has four all star players or how good they are.  I know it's not about winning.  I know it's not about being the best ball player.  In fact, the sermon Sunday was about Passion and Purpose. " Is you purpose to raise your kid to be the best ball player in the league or is it to raise your kid to love and serve the Lord with everything in him?"  Ouch, that hurt.  It hit me right between the eyes.  So, as I struggle with my attitude throughout this season I know my purpose is to teach my child how to show love in every situation.  My purpose is to teach him about attitude.  My purpose is to teach him that when others say unkind things our reaction should be that which would be pleasing to our King.  It's not going to easy.  I must watch my every expression and word.  I know he is watching and will learn by witnessing my every move. 

My tough baseball player is full of love.

Jellybeans and Roses

Somehow the kids and I started talking about jellybeans on Easter after all the festivities (church, lunch, and Easter egg hunt).  I started telling them about how my Grandma Betty liked jellybeans.  So, we decided to pay a visit to her grave.  We took some jellybeans with us and some roses from our yard.  As we got close to the graveyard Laura said, "We have to wear our pants crooked for Grandma Betty."  Grandma always had the middle seam of her pants twisted in some way or another and it has been a great source of laughter for us.

So here stand my silly kiddos with jellybeans, roses, and twisted pants for their Great Grandma Betty.

We love you Grandma Betty and we miss you.  We hope you enjoyed the jellybeans and roses we left for you.

While we were there we decided that their Great Great Grandma Ruby needed some jellybeans, too.

So, we dug a small hole and buried jellybeans just for her.

and we arranged some on her headstone.

It's great to remember and share stories of those that have gone before us, those that are partially responsible for our exsistence and took a part in molding our family into what it is today.

Spring "Break"

So much to say. Been avoiding posting all week as I really want to share the good things happening. But here goes...Worst. Spring. Break. Ever.
-spent the first 3 days of break moving everything we own
-moved into temporary housing (2 weeks in gpa and gma's empty house) Didn't think it would bother me, but it has struck many emotions within me. I sure do miss my gma!
-attempted to make choc chip cookies while my love was working hard on moving the last few heavy things. Oven doesn't work. 25 minutes on 500 degrees and chips were just beginning to melt.
-F1 tornado went thru the neighborhood of the house we were scheduled to close on Thursday. Neighbors all had a single tree down. Not us. We're pretty "special" apparently. 5 trees down for us. But hey, we made the news.
-$500 going to stump removal now on a property we no longer own
-doing laundry at the temporary housing when toilet starts gurgling and nastiness comes up from the bath drain
Let's just say that if my kids weren't watching I would have curled up in a corner and cried. Now I'm sitting around looking at boxes. Can't find anything but will be moving again in a week and a half (Lord willing). So, I don't dare unpack anything.
I'm grumpy, moody, and frustrated. I'm working on a very short fuse.
But God loves me and walks with me in spite of it all. Thanks for not throwing in the towel on me God.

OCD

I am a creature of habit. I like to know what's going to happen. I like for things to be organized and settled. Clutter is not my friend! I do admire those that look past it and call it life. I want to relax enough to let things go. But I'm a bit OCDone who likes organization. Everything has a place and everything in it's place. In fact, I recently read a quote that was so true of who I am at times. "I have CDO. It's like OCD but the letters are in alphabetical order as they should be. Funny to read but often frustrating to live. Frustrating for my husband and kids as I nag and insist that things be put away properly. I need to let go. I need to let my kids live and enjoy. I've often read another quote, "Excuse the mess. We're busy making memories." How many memories have I allowed myself to miss out on because things weren't tidy? Grrr! It's embarrasing to think about and quite disappointing. So, I'm going to try to let loose a bit. Allow creativity in my children that is not limited to "clean" creativity. Let loose and live. Enjoy! Laugh! For the clutter will still be there tomorrow, but the ones I love might not.

Building Up or Tearing Down

My desire is to raise my children to love the Lord with all their hearts and to want to serve Him in everything they do...or at least I say that is my desire. But sometimes I let myself get in the way. I want my children to love others, to be respectful, to be a person others want to be around. But so often instead of teaching and guiding I find myself tearing down and ridiculing. Is it It is so often pride. What will others think of ME when they see my kids acting that way? What will others think of ME when they hear my children speak? But it's not about me. It's not about my pride. It really should be about showing my children what it is to walk with the Lord daily and how He respinds the many times others watch me, His child, behaving or speaking the way I do. See, it is my job duty to show my children what a true life lived daily for Christ really looks like. Man that's hard impossible to fake to those who love you most. I want to be sold out. I want my kids to remember me showing not telling about how God wants us to live our lives.

Accomplishments

I cooked dinner, did laundry, helped kids with homework, packed two boxes, and made a short post all since 4:15pm. It feels great. It's 8:45pm and now I'm off to bed. It's exhausting accomplishing things. :-)