Soccer .... in the Spring???

The boys are playing soccer at Colonial, a large church five minutes from the house. They had their first scrimmage game this past Saturday. I was really looking forward to it right up until I found out the game was at 8:15am on Saturday and the temperature outside was going to be 37 degrees. SOOO.....after we completely bundled up in layers, found our gloves and hats and I took blankets to wrap up in, we headed to the fields. This year, Spencer and Jack are playing on different teams. Jack was NOT very happy about this since he seems to always be on Spencer's team, which he likes ALOT. That is very sweet. But this is also good for Jack to be on his own, too. They each won one game and lost the other. Yes, I was outside with them for two hours. I think I finally got warm on Sunday afternoon and came down with a terrible cold/sinus infection this week. I am miserable .... and the laundry is OUT OF CONTROL!!!

The TOY MACHINE Hell

I don't know if you remember on our 6 week trip in the fall, I posted a story about Spencer's obsession with the stuffed animal toy machines that you waste your money in. Two weeks ago, Spencer earned some quarters to waste in the machine at the ice rink and crazy enough, the little "freak" won this lime green bunny and couldn't have been more proud as he continues to prove me wrong with his "toy machine claw skills." This past week, again, on Thursday, his mind begins processing how he can earn some extra quarters for when we go ice skating on Friday. I'm telling you .. I hope these persistent qualities pay off at some point as an adult. Anyway, we arrived at skating and he finds me with the "red hot lover" stuffed animal out of the toy machine hell!!! Seriously, a stuffed animal machine that attracts little kids has this in it? As a society, have we really come to this??? LOL!!! Unfreaking-believable ... it is actually on his bed and last night, he picks it up and holds out to Scott and says in his best raspy voice, "red hot lover!" I sit and shake my head ..... and sigh ....

A Pair of Skates

Who would have thought a pair of white ice skates could make a child smile so big ... I had to take this picture of Erica with her new skates!! Her feet are the ones on the left --- her friend Nyssa is on the right! Erica continues her ice skating lessons on Friday afternoon. It has been so great for her and she loves it. She is learning more techniques and made some neat friends in the process. In the group picture: Nyssa, Erica and Arya. The three of them are going to do an exposition together Easter weekend! More pictures to come then!!!

My NC Friend

This is my friend, KK, and her boys, Austin and Grant. This is who I met the first week of ice skating in January. She has been such a blessing to me the last three months. She has introduced me to so many other homeschool moms and programs and ministries!! I just wanted you to put a face with a name and meet a little ray of sunshine the Lord gave to me --- well, a big ray of sunshine!!! And the Lord smiles ....

A Jumpy Moment

Today, the kids and I met Scott for lunch at Chik-fil-A for his birthday. What a nice Dad, right?? Willing to meet us at Chik-fil-A ... kid-friendly atmosphere! Well, Scott is ordering our food and Spencer leaves the table with me to help Scott with the tray. Scott is waiting for this elder lady behind the counter to finish ringing up the order and make our drinks. Scott also notices the lady behind the counter seems to have slight symptoms of Parkinsons disease or something of the like. Spencer walks up with Scott and begins to wait with him, engaging into what is going on. He turns and looks at Scott and says, "Dad, she's jumpy!" At this point, I think Scott turned to Spencer red-faced and said, "Ssshhhh...I'll explain it in a minute!" You gotta love those moments when you wish the ground would open up and swallow you whole!!

A Day in the Life ... of School

We finally have blue skies today and the temperature is going up to the low 70's! We are very thankful for that today! I can't remember if I posted a picture of Spencer working with his glasses on. I am so thankful for these little things --- he doesn't complain anymore about reading and getting headaches! Spencer is working on his cursive - he has such nice writing! Jack is working on spelling and Erica is putting together and reviewing her scripts for Jailhouse Rock. She was feeling very polka-dotted today ..... 12 .... it is sooooo much fun!!!! We are going to have lunch with Scott today for his birthday and then we are going to the park before soccer practice! A busy day but productive!!!

Goofballs!!!

Spencer and Jack were goofing off while we celebrated Scott's birthday. Spencer wanted me to take this picture of him kissing his muscles ... and Jack, well, he is wondering if his other teeth are ever going to come in!! We are too!!!

Happy 37th Birthday Scott!!

We celebrated Scott's birthday last night since today is a little crazy with soccer practices. I made him one of his favorite dinners and Erica made him a strawberry cake with PINK sprinkles!! Next year he might want to ask for blueberry cake!!! Mom, the shirt you mailed him fit as you can see from the picture (he loved it - it's navy blue!) and we could not tell who was more excited over the gift card to Carrabbas! I'm hoping when he wears his shirt he will not wear his pajama bottoms! Happy Birthday, Scott!!! Sliding into 40 ..... oh dear!

Updated Bear

This is the family that has Bear now and this is an updated picture of him. He has really, REALLY grown and changed a ton! What a wondeful little picture of him and Chris .... I am so glad God provided this for us!! There are times I miss him and then there are times like yesterday the cell phone rang, the house phone rang, Jack was yelling needing help to chat online with Memaw, Erica needed help putting something together, Chip ran through knocking the box of popcorn and I thought, "oh my gosh, if there was only another dog here in the middle of this chaos!" Then I know this was the right thing to do. But we still can miss him .....

More Snow Play Pictures

I believe Erica thought she could boot ski down this hill. Didn't work out so well for Spencer in his tennis shoes and Jack, well, he just wanted to show off his muscles through his jacket! Our kids are "so boring" it kills us!!!! Never, never a dull moment .... including the large snow/ice ball Jack rolled down this hill and knocked over some girl as she was trying to climb up .....

Snowtubing at WinterSki Resort, WV

We decided we better make good on our promise to go snowtubing with the kids this winter, especially after moving them North! We packed up all the winter hats, mittens and gloves we had, some snacks and drinks fo the car and headed north on to WV for the day! It was a four hour drive but well worth the trip for the day. The kids were great on the drive and so excited to go tubing again. We arrived to a beautiful and fairly warm mountain day and boy, was it crowded! Everyone had the same idea but we still had a good time! And the hill was much steeper than it looked! Especially by evening when the lanes started icing over!!! Good times!

A Vision for Jack

This week, the boys and I were snuggling on the couch and reading a devotional about Vision. A man, Ben Carson, grew up in a poor area in Michigan and was labeled "dummy" as a kid. But when his mom took the TV away and gave them access to the local library, Ben realized his potential and caught a "vision" for his life. He is now a pediatric neurosurgeon at John Hopkins in Maryland. After sharing this devotion with the boys, we talked about how they could catch a vision for their lives and we talked about the gifts God has given them and what they might want to use them for. In turn, this is a small glimpse of the conversation.

Mom: Spencer, what do you want to be when you grow up?

Spencer: I just want to play football. I want to be a football player.

Mom: Spenc, that is great, I think you will make an amazing football player and I think when you get out there, you will be an amazing witness for Christ. Your character will share the love of God with everyone. (Spencer smiles.) And your passion for football is so cool.

Mom: Jack, what about you?

Jack: I just want to be a Dad.

Mom: Jack, you are going to be an amazing Dad.

Jack: I just want to play with my kids.

Mom: I think that is great. You are going to be so good at being a father one day. But...uh hum.. Jack, you are also called to provide for your family and your children. The Bible talks about providing and having a high work ethic, hard working, and providing. I know you want to stay home with your kids and play but it will also require you catching a vision at some point, too! Think about the things you would not have if your Dad didn't provide for us. (Jack is very quiet and you can see his wheels turning.)

Spencer: Jack, you are going to have to get a job. I'm not going to give you money. I mean, I will help you if you need it, but you are going to need to earn some money for yourself first.

Mom: Jack, honey, there is balance and I think God has an amazing future for you and I think He will use your gifts in very neat ways. I can't wait to see that.

Spencer: Jack, I'm not going to give you money unless you work.

Mom: Okay, Spencer, he gets it.

Jack: (still thinking) ... Sighs ... and says "okay Mom. I will get a job BUT I am NOT working past noon.

It was truly one of those moments that I will never forget. And no, it is not too early to have these conversations!!! It gets them thinking and creates wonderful dialogue! It was a time when I wish the video camera had been rolling! Needless to say, I have laughed all week about this little conversation and Scott said, "If anyone can come up with something that makes a ton of money and allows them to work only until noon, I do believe it would be Jack!"

Girls Being Girls ....

The kids spent the night at the Sabats while we were in town and the girls just had so much fun playing!! Are they growing up or what? These girls are so much fun .... I just love where we are at!!!!

Hotties ... LOL!!

What do you call a 40 something bald guy on a Harley attempting to look cool? Uh hum .... John Sabat! Check it out ---- somebody hit a mid-life crisis and I'm pretty sure my husband isn't far behind!!!!! LOL!!! While visiting Lakeland, I spent an evening at the Sabats and they have bought a Harley ... well, John bought a Harley and Dana is learning more about herself every day! All John needs now is a license and a HELMET! Too cool ... can't wait to get back so he can take me for a ride! I just love riding motorcycles!! And of course, Dana, well, she just wanted to sit on it and let me take her picture!

Spaz ......

I couldn't help but post this picture of Carly, my girlfriend's daughter. Is she not the most spunky kid you have ever seen??? If we could match our kids up, she and Spencer would definitely get married. Can you imagine what fun they would have married??!!!!! It sure would be fun to watch ...

Happy Birthday Spencer!!

The big "9" ... holy cow ... I feel like I just did this a month ago. Where in the world is the time going??? Last birthday before double digits. He is half way to leaving home for college when you think about it. And the training continues until then. Spencer is still such a neat kid. We continue to watch his passion and when he is happy, he is happy just like he was when he is a baby. And when he is mad, yep, look out because he is mad and he will be heard. The is another characteristic of his father that is a strength and weakness! Let me be heard!! I love his sensitivity, his love for the Lord, how he does everything with his whole heart, how he thinks and comprehends, and how he is starting to sleep later in the morning! I love how he hugs Jack and encourages him, how he picks and fights like a normal boy and we are so thankful for his life. He truly is the middle of the oreo and sometimes you can't help but want that first!!! He has also taken our move the hardest. As he says often, "All the friends I ever needed were in Lakeland and I want to go home." We honestly did not anticipate this coming from him but then again, he is the most tenderhearted of the three. Needless to say, we let him work it out, talk it out and then we feel guilty!! It just takes time but we sure had fun celebrating his birthday with him!!!

A Visit with the Brickhouse Clan

We had our second overnight guests! The Brickhouse family came up and we had so much fun! Krista got out of the car and I was so happy to see someone familiar and that I have history with that we stood in the driveway and cried!! I have never seen my boys so happy to be with friends. They played non-stop for four days. We had such a wonderful time with them and I wished they would have stayed a month! We ate and ate. Krista and I have decided that food is our love language and when we are old and gray and our husbands are gone, we are going to live together! We might way 400 lbs but we are great companions in the kitchen!! And I got the best morning hugs from her boys and Josh asks every night when he is coming back to Marshy's house ..... and Ben would come find me in the kitchen and wrap his legs around me and give me the nicest long hug ever ..... and every night, Spencer didn't sleep in his bed because he wanted to sleep next to Seth on the air mattress. It was such a blessing and we can't wait for their return ... after her fourth baby boy is born this summer!!!

A Really Sad Story ....with a Happy Ending

So the move was good, right? Yeah, right up until the part where Bear had tape worms, gave them to Chip and we had to find a vet three days after
arriving....and then after visiting with two dogs and needing the heartworm/flea/tick meds, it suddenly DAWNED on me. Wow, having two dogs is expensive. Really expensive. And then transitioning for the move, picking back up in school, having no friends, Scott is gone 12 hours a day, two dogs suddenly became a very huge burden for me. AND what are we going to do with TWO dogs when we want to visit Lakeland? We don't anyone enough to ask them to keep TWO dogs, let alone just one really good dog!! And Bear is "Jack" in the form of a dog! He gets really wound up in the evenings just like Jack. And his personality just really reminds us of Jack! He is vocal and sings and barks and is sweet yet he is still a dog and I'm OVERWHELMED! Well, the decision came to make a LONG-TERM decision. We decided we would need to find a new home for Bear. After a week of talking through this with the kids, we posted an ad. It was answered the first time and it just didn't feel right to give him to that family. The kids didn't think it felt right either. The next day, we received an email from another family. We interviewed them by phone (yes, we interviewed them! I wasn't going to send Bear just anywhere .. we love him and he is like a part of our family!!!) After talking to them, they wanted to meet Bear and we met at the park. Before we met and they even knew what Bear's name was, their family had decided to name him "Teddy" because he looks like a little bear. Needless to say, we met the most amazing, loving and wonderful family for him. They have two teenage twin daughters that have completely spoiled Bear rotten!!! They have kept his name and they have even sent emails letting us know how he is doing and also an updated picture of what he looks like. Giving Bear to another family was a very, very hard decision and yet in the midst of this, we also knew God was answering our prayer for the perfect family for him. Nothing is coincendence in life ... nothing. We have joked though about how much this will cost us in counseling ... giving their Christmas present away on Valentine's Day ... yeah, this could get costly. However, Chip is here to stay no matter what and he was very happy to have the little monster that chewed on his ears gone so he could have his sister back all to HIMSELF!!!! LOL!!!! King of the castle ... once again!!! Isn't this just a sad little story??? I thought so .... sniff ....sniff .... I really miss him too .....

Best Buds ...

This is my Dad sitting in the family room trying to keep warm with Spencer and Chip on his lap!! They are planning a trip here mid-April to see the kids in Jailhouse Rock.

A Promise in the Sky

One afternoon, I stood in the kitchen washing dishes and thinking. I was thinking about the move, thinking about the transition and really just on the verge of having a big, fat pity party. I was praying as I washed dishes and I looked out the back window watching the clouds rolling in. We anticipated some rain and a cold front behind it. I looked out because the sun broke through the clouds very brightly and suddenly, the biggest rainbow was in the sky right out my kitchen window. For some people, rainbows have no significance at all. For me, rainbows are significant in two ways. First, there is the promise of God saying He would never flood the whole earth again. We can be thankful for that. Second, Scott and I have always had rainbows as symbols from God for us. We would see them on special dates before we were married and we always thought, "It's going to be okay." When Scott's father died, he came home and told me as he sat at the cemetary for his father's final service, he had his head bowed and was praying about the future and our relationship and he looked up and he saw the biggest rainbow ever and there was not a raincloud around. He realized, "It is going to be okay." And we have seen them at various other times over the last 18 years and this day, I looked out at the rainbow knowing Scott was driving home as well looking at the same rainbow and we both realized, "It is going to be okay." No matter how difficult this transition feels or might be, God is here. At that moment, I knew I had to take this picture and as I did, I heard a loud thunder on the ground. It wasn't the weather .... a pine tree just fell in the backyard!!! Just like that ..... HHHhhhmmmmmm.....we might need to watch out for that!!!!

Snow for the Kids!

Another blessing was 6-8" of snow for the kids! To think Raleigh has not had snow like this since 2001 and we got a snow storm! What fun ... the kids loved it. All Erica wanted to do this winter was build a snowman. Just ONE snowman. So her wish and prayer had been granted! Raleigh pretty much shuts down when it snows so the kids played outside quite a bit those two days. What a distraction! We could not get anything done with school! They were so distracted! Bear loved the snow. He had the best fun burying his face in it and playing while Chip was not a happy camper at all. Chip is more of a Florida dog. I couldn't find boots for the boys either so we had to make due with tennis shoes. Do you know if you leave them in the garage, they freeze over night? Yes, these are the things that I did not remember from growing up in Pennsylvania. And what a mess ..... I had to email my mom and thank her for everything she let us do with the snow when we were growing up!!!

Another Month Gone By ....

Wow .... I am so far removed from blogging .... I really am trying to get back into some sort of groove but I am finding it hard to do right now. I don't even know where to start. I guess I can start with we survived the move. We packed the house up the day after Christmas and arrived to a beautiful day on Monday. After settling and working non-stop for a week with my Mom and Dad, we did get the house in order and begin life.
The kids started ice skating in January and I immediately made a friend, KK. She was a huge help to our adjustment and I know God dropped her in my life for purpose! She hooked us up with a homeschool coop and introduced us to Hollysprings Christian Theater! We met on Friday and I was taking Erica and Spencer to tryouts for the theater on Tuesday! Everyone we've met have been extremely warm and helpful. We waited all week long to see if they made it into spring's Jailhouse Rock and they did!!! Every Tuesday afternoon, they practice for 2 1/2 hours with about 30 other kids, ages 7 to 16! It has been amazing and such a blessing to us. Not only that, but a month in, Erica was invited to the director's house for a birthday slumber party for her girls! That was another answer to prayer as Erica continues to meet other girls her age. I have been really amazed and so proud of her during this transition. While she continues to have moments of being homesick, she has been stretched through this process. This has forced her to come out of her shell some and not be "so" shy with others. I have seen God do an amazing work in her life as she continues to become a young woman. The boys made some friends with KK's boys and we continue to meet people at the park. Our neighborhood kids have been a help as well. We have had a few opportunities but for the most part, the boys are being stretched as well. We have a lot to be thankful for. We rented our house the second month. And every time I feel discouraged, God provides a need or blessing through something else. We are a grateful people.....