We Knew It!!!

Yesterday, there was a fire in our town. It bellowed black smoke and became quite a concern at school. It wasn't very close to the school but it appeared to be. Spencer was on the playground after lunch when they saw it getting larger and larger. Well, to our surprise, the story according to Spencer's teacher was this: Spencer became very panick-stricken and began to cry. As he was crying, he asked his teacher if he could please go and check on his sister in the bandroom to be sure she was okay. The smoke looked like it was close to where she was according to him and he was sick with worry.

Now, is that not the sweetest thing ever? His teacher calmed him down and let him know it was not close even though it looked like the smoke was and the class prayed together for the school and the student body. Right after that, Spencer began to worry again and this time it was about the firefighters so they had to stop and pray for them, too.

I told Erica, "And you wonder sometimes if he really loves you.." She had a sweet smile as she glanced over her shoulder at him in the car. We can only pray that they will always feel this way about eachother!!!

MR CLEAN

Hello....Scott here making my rare post to the family blog....so today Jack comes out of the playroom and announces that he has cleaned it "all by himself". (Spencer was preoccupied with the re-enactment of a recent scene from a Batman cartoon).

Anyways, a few minutes later, I find Jack in the bathroom and ask what he is doing and find that he is cleaning the sink and counter and has removed everything from under the cabinet so that he can "organize" it. He also adds that he has just finished straightening not only his room but Erica's as well. He said he just felt like cleaning.

I am a little concerned particularly when I realize that as I write this, he is now walking around the family room straightening things on the shelves--this could be some underground brainwashing that has taken place by hmmm.......his mother!

I guess for now we will just enjoy the benefits of a clean house-----I wonder how he feels about the fact that the yard really needs to be mowed.....I'll let you know later how that goes.....he's freakin me out.

Sure is Quiet Around Here

Well, today was a very quiet day. I ran a few errands this morning after walking the lake with Scott and I have been home most of the day. It is SOO quiet .... except for Chip scratching at the door every now and then. He has been my partner in crime today; well no crimes have been committed but it makes life sound more exciting if I word it that way. I was listening to this message from a pastor I found today. It ended up being exactly what I needed to hear. It was on faith. In a nutshell, he spoke on Hebrews on 11 and how as our existence as mother's, our whole life is on faith. We are not going to see the immediate fruit of our labor but that it is completely done in faith. Well, that sure made me feel
a little better about my failures this week as a mom! I have definitely spent some time in the last week doubting motherhood, feeling as if everything I do is in vain with no results. I'm glad someone was able to take me back to scripture and remind me of this important truth. Hebrews 11:1 says Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what do not see. Hello??? I hoping for lots of things and I'm certain that I'm not seeing what I am hoping for!! However, if you read down further in Hebrews, God's promise is this. Hebrews 11: 6 says And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. So I spent the greater part of the afternoon pondering that thought as well. Though there were bumps in the road, how amazing that I can be reminded of His promise to me personally. I am thankful that God gave me a fresh perspective this afternoon......if you are needing one, I recommend you read Hebrews 11 and 12. I hope it will lighten your load. Blessings :)

Boohoo ....

This my friend, Sharon, and her daughter, Alexis, who started kindergarten this week. I captured this picture in her classroom this morning. What I find amazing is I remember her being born and taking them a meal when she came home from the hospital!! Where does the time go???? Jack will love seeing Alexis on the playground and at lunch. She has always said she wants to marry Jack. I think they would make a beautiful family together!!! Don't you agree???

A New Way to Fog???

So tonight, I was gone and Scott was with the kids. They had spaghetti and layed around watching old home movies he had finally converted to DVD. I thought this was funny to even write. It almost sounds as if they were watching them on reel!! Anyway, Spencer decided at bedtime that the spaghetti didn't agree with him and he didn't feel good. He walked off to our bathroom and Scott finished getting Erica and Jack ready for bed. You might be wondering why he walked off to our bedroom. You will see in Exhibit A (LOL!) Glade Tropical Mist Deodorizer which is located in our bathroom. A few minutes later, Spencer yelled for Scott. As he walked across the house, he said there was this haze in the family room which became more engulfing as he approached our bathroom door. As Spencer is sitting on the potty, he is holding this spray can and decided to spray the WHOLE CAN out while he was doing his business "because it smelled really bad." Scott told him, "Are you trying to kill yourself? You can't do that and sit here inhaling it for ten minutes! Don't do that!!!" Spencer wobbled off to bed ... I sure hope this high wears off before school tomorrow morning!!!

Another First Day ....

Well, it came ... the first day of school and summer is officially over. I hate to admit this but I was ready. They may not have been ready but I was. They were getting stir crazy -- bickering was at a new level and boredom was setting in. We had an extra two weeks and I could tell we did. We had an amazing summer with wonderful trips that we continue to laugh about and made some great memories. The highlight of this year is Erica started middle school and she can wear flipflops!! The boys both love their teachers. Jack's teacher asked me how I discipline him. She thinks he is too cute for that. I thought... hmm... give him a couple more weeks; you might change your mind!!! And Spencer already called yesterday in the afternoon with a headache to see if I would come get him. Can you believe that? It was only the second day!! But we are having fun wrapping books and getting folders in order and packing lunches. I hope the rest of this year will be as good as this week has been!

Happy 11th Birthday, Erica!!

Wow .... 11 years really go by fast. Scott and I are thinking how old we are getting and that we should NOT have an 11 year old or a child going into middle school!! Are we really that old already? All in fun, of course ..... Erica is growing up ... she is on the swim team at school this year trying that out, today is her orientation, I had to buy PE clothes so she can start changing, she is changing classes this year every 47 minutes .... she has a locker now for God's sake!!! She can wear a woman's shoe instead of kids ... she got money for her birthday in which we went shopping together and she bought her own clothes she picked out ..... she wants Altoids for her purse.....yet there are endearing things that still make her innocent and sweet ... a lingering hug first thing in the morning ... temper tantrums but then I hear those only get worse .... "can I sleep with you tonight?" questions ... and still doesn't like scarey movies :) Yeah for us!!! Oh, the fun has only begun!!!

Toe jam to my day??

Toe jam or ..... well, hmmm...... today was Erica's birthday and we met Scott for lunch at Chik-fil-A. We were in the parking lot leaving and we ran into a good friend in the parking lot. He rolled his window down and we were talking and someone came behind him so he needed to move his car out of the way. As he moved it, he moved it right over ... yep, you guessed it! Right onto Spencer's foot! Before we could even get the scream out, he stopped on his foot for 5 or 6 seconds .... well, based on the swelling and the purple on his toes and underside, we wanted to be sure there were no broken bones --- yeah, did I mention he only had flip flops on? Well, Spencer handled it fine, the xrays at the doctor's office and all. Our friend, however, well, he was a little distraught and felt HORRIBLE ....poor, poor ...... wouldn't you love to know which friend ran over Spencer's foot???? Like we said, accidents do happen and sometimes they happen to Spencer more than the other two!!! We are definitely going to remember Erica's 11th birthday!! When we are old gray, we are going to be sitting around recounting the day ... "honey, you remember Erica turning 11?" "Oh don't I ever ... that was the afternoon it was 98 degrees outside and 'the Brickhouse' ran over Spencer's foot in the parking lot at that chicken place, you remember that???!!!!!" We love you GB!!!! One thing's for sure --- we know how to make some memories together!! :) I share this story only because it really was funny and it turned out completely okay. No broken bones --- just some swelling and bruising ---- Spencer is already back in action this evening and refusing to sit still!!! All boy ... 110% ....

Brotherly Love!!!

This week, Jack got a balloon from Chik-fil-A and it takes a lot of air to blow it up. He was so proud that he could do it. Right up to when Spencer would find it and let the air out. The second time this happened, Scott and I were in our room and we hear in the kitchen, "SPENCER SCOTT PEARCE! How many times do I have to tell you??? I'm telling on you!" We hear Jack's little pitter patter stomping and he comes around the corner and says, "Mom, Spencer let the air out of my balloon again!" I asked him, "How many times has he done this?" Jack said emphatically, "TWICE." I ended up asking Jack what he thought I should do and he said we should spank him. So we told Jack to send Spencer back here to us and to go get the spoon. Jack marches off to take care of this situation. He returns with Spencer and the spatula. We told him we would handle it and closed the door. Now, Spencer is standing there looking at us with this look of "Are you serious?" Of course we told him no but scream really loud while we hit the bed and we giggled and got a real kick out of this and Spencer thought it was pretty funny that we were playing a joke on Jack. Spencer played the part very well and Scott walked out with Spencer (and Spencer gave me the thumbs up sign! after we did address him letting the air out of the balloon) and Scott told Jack we took care of it. The best part? As Spencer passes Jack in the doorway, there was no "Spencer, are you okay? Did it hurt? I'm sorry ... mercy abounds....." nope, not from Jack. He passes Spencer and says, "AND don't do it again." Deadpan stare. Wow ...... I think we have some work to do ....

Highly NOT Recommended

Erica joined the swim team with the school. She cannot compete at a varsity level but she can begin training and practicing. So we decided to let her try it for a couple weeks and see if this is something she would like to pursue. This week has involved being at the community pool and the boys and I can swim for the next two weeks in a different area while she practices. Tuesday, we were there and I had my feet in the pool and there were two other African American girls in the pool swimming and they kept getting closer to me. I struck up a conversation with them and found out they are going into 7th grade and their school, favorite subjects, where they live, etc ... small talk, right? Which by the way, I am known to be so good at. Well, let me tell you that it isn't always a gift. I found out one can swim and other gets around on her own .... so I suggested they go off the big diving board and I'd cheer. You already know where this is going. The one jumps and swims to the side - no problem. The other one jumps - comes up, sinks, starts splashing and next thing I know, the lifeguard is blowing the whistle and diving in to rescue her. Now mind you, I am sitting on the other side of the pool ready to cheer and I'm watching this and in my mind, I am looking at her thinking to myself, OMG. She can't swim. She jumped in and her idea of getting around on her own is sinking? The lifeguard gets her to the side and he then walks her to the office where she fills out a form. I wondered what they were talking about ... "no, I can't swim but that nice white lady suggested I jump off the diving board .... oh, you can call my momma and she can come and kick that nice lady's rearend for suggesting it ..." Both girls returned and I asked them, "Sooooo, what happened to 'I can get around on my own' to I really can't swim????" She got anxious. As if they made me feel any better. I am pretty sure that I will never EVER suggest to anyone to jump off the diving board ever, EVER again .... where is God when you really REALLY need Him to just suck you up into Heaven? I mean, COME ON ... where is a good rapture when you need one??????!!!!! Thank God Erica did not know this was happening to me and praise God that Scott was not there ... they both would have died instantly.........I was only wishing ..... :) LOL!!