Mrs. Troop

Yes, Please . . .

2012-02-05T16:28:00.000-06:00

No Saturday basketball games?
Sleeping in?
Nothing on the calendar?
Catching up around the house and time to work with the kids?
Putting away gargantuan piles of laundry and getting rooms back to "decent"?
Cleaning trash out of cars, cleaning out the fridge, doing some baking?
A date night with my Coach?

Yes, please.

A morning at church hearing God's Word (specifically James) and stories of NTM adventures?
Worshipping Jesus and helping kids sit still during the service?
Visiting with our church family?
Ice cream after lunch?
An old fashioned Sunday afternoon nap?

Yes, please.

Because tomorrow is Monday, after all.

Happy Sunday!

Because I don't say it often enough. . .

2012-01-31T20:39:00.001-06:00

I love my husband.

And I'm so glad to be sharing life with him.

This "raising kids" thing is exhausting. I've never been so tired.

I understand now, why my mother-in-law breathed a sigh of relief when her baby girl (and 10th child) was married. And another sigh when all ten kids had children of their own.

As our kids get older, I have more and more respect for those who have gone before me in this parenting journey. And survived.

The Coach and I are really just getting started.

So much laughter.

So very much forgiveness.

Lots of hard work.

And tears.

And joy.

So much joy.

(although I fear that sometimes the joy gets lost in the work)

The Coach has always been the man of my dreams. He's handsome, strong, hard-working, God-fearing, humble, teachable, loving . . . not afraid to walk in the door at night, roll up his sleeves, and pitch in with the chaos. He daily lays down his life and leads through serving (I'm pretty sure he's finishing up the dishes right now - case in point).

But he's come to be so much more than that to me (not that I don't REALLY appreciate the help with the dishes). He's the husband of my dreams. And we have the marriage of my dreams. A life shared. Two living as one. Best friends. Soul mates.

I could say that we've both grown eversomuch through sharing this life together. And we have. But the reason he's the man he is? He loves and serves an awesome God.

He is consistent, loving, patient, long-suffering . . . and gives me a LOT of grace. . .

And for all of the "yuck" that the stress of motherhood has brought out in me, it seems to have brought out the very best in the Coach. He's risen to the occasion, taken on the challenge, and made me so very proud.

I adore him.

(and he's SO handsome. . . has that already been mentioned?)

It is an amazing blessing to be sharing this life with him.

I just needed to say that, today. Giving glory to the Immortal Invisible Only-Wise God for creating this thing called "marriage".

And for letting me experience it.

It's a Battle. And I'm losing.

2012-01-26T21:58:00.000-06:00

It's finally quiet, tonight, at the troops. The four youngers finally gave up and stayed in bed longer than two seconds and promptly fell sound asleep. Sister finally finished her conversation with me about hair styles and got in the shower. Big brother went to the store to get milk for tomorrow (Thank you, Jesus, for another driver in the house!) and settled into his book. Son (#3) tried out all of the Coach's blue ties (for homecoming next week) and than finally quieted down with his book, too. Son (#4) isn't home from his game, yet (the end of season tournament that he won't be playing in), and the Coach is tap-tapping away on the computer on his Sunday School lesson for this week.

And I'm sick.

After a great morning at home with Little Man. . . cleaning. . . reading stories. . . baking Chocolate Chip Banana Bread. . . my head started hurting. Really hurting. My mental check-list began. . . (do you do this?)

Water? Check. Several glasses, already, today.
Vitamins? Check. Plus extra iron.
Breakfast? Check. Because sometimes I forget.
Rest? Check. Been to bed early all week.

But the head-ache persisted. I first sat, watching Little Man creating his "long long car" with Legos. Then sank to the floor. Wheels? Sure, I can find more wheels. Except the Legos wouldn't hold still.

Big Brother saved the day, picking up pizza on his way home from workouts. The Coach was at a game with Son (#3), the four youngers here with me, making lots of racket then whispering to each other, "Shhhhh. Mom's sleeping."

I did. Some. Here and there. Amid settling arguments about the computer timer and what was appropriate for snacks.

Eventually everyone made it home, the homework was checked, and forms filled out and signed, and showers taken, and laundry started. . .

Why does being sick frustrate me so much? Why do I snap at the kids when they squeeze next to me on the couch while my head pounds? Why do I say (more than once), "Just let me do it." to the Coach when he's trying to help.

Do I really think I'm the only one that can do things right?

Do I really think without me (it's one evening forgoodnesssake) the ship will sink?

Or is it more about control?

Is it more about wanting things done MY way? Because it's the right way, you know.

I continually fight my desire to be in control.

Why?

Maybe because it's the oldest battle there is. That tree of the knowledge of good and evil tempting me. That desire to be THE ONE in control. Make the choices. Be the "informed" one. The one who KNOWS.

What is best. What is right. What is good. What is out there. What my options are. What others think about it.

How to do it right. How to find it out. How to make it work.

Control.

It's such an illusion.

Because no matter how much I KNOW or how much I DO or what I might THINK.

I'm not the one in charge.

And in my heart of hearts? I don't want to be. I don't know. I can't always do. My thinking? It's flawed.

But I can trust in the Sovereign, Omniscient, Loving, Omnipotent, Heavenly Father who IS in control.

I can let Him KNOW and DO and be ALL WISDOM.

I just wish the whole process hadn't brought out such ugliness in this momma.

But I'll probably get another chance, tomorrow. A chance to be patient when I'm hurting. A chance to show love when I'd choose solitude. A chance to received help instead of being proud.

His mercies are new every morning. I'm so grateful they are.

In what shall henceforth and forever be remembered as. . .

2012-01-25T12:20:00.001-06:00

The year of sports injuries at the troops.

(sigh)

I'm going with "sports injuries" over "broken bones" because:
a) my leg wasn't actually broken - it had a stress fracture. NOT the same thing. So there.
and b) saying "sports injuries" means I can be included in the same category as my awesome basketball players. The "athlete" category. (And yes, I realize these abilities came from the Coach's genes, not mine.)

Trying to make the best of it.

Daughter (#2) is still sporting her neon pink cast (for a few more days), and Son (#4) joined the casualties, this morning, with a temporary splint until next week, when he, too, will be put in a cast for a month.

"What color will you get?" says Little Man, who knows the drill. And wants a sucker.

We've had a year like this, before (Daughter #2, Son #3, and Daughter #5 - all arms - all within a few months). We'll get through it.

We are blessed to have a kind, gracious friend who works in Orthopedics - who takes amazing care of us. So blessed. Although when you know all of the doctor's office staff (including the guy who puts the casts on) on a first-name basis, it may be a good indication that you've spent too much time there.

The worst part MAY be having Son #4 sidelined for 5 weeks. Because this boy NEEDS to burn some energy. Lots of energy. Every day. And without his daily shooting and dribbling drills, he may spontaneously combust.

Then again. . . he did break his LEFT hand. . . no reason he couldn't keep practicing with his RIGHT hand. . . hmmmmm.

Feel free to leave your "multiple broken bones in the same house" jokes in the comments. As well as any "do your kids drink milk or take calcium?" jokes. I'm going to go read some more here.

Happy Wednesday!

Thankful Thursday

2012-01-19T07:46:00.000-06:00

1. Good visit with a sweet sis-in-law last night. I would love to have that time with the other ten, too!

2. Smooth mornings this week getting the kids off to school. I have no idea why, but it's been melt-down free. Woohoo!

3. Clean house. At least it was, yesterday.

4. Laundry, Ironing, AND mending caught up this week. At some point. Although the laundry is never-ending.

5. Freshly colored hair - thanks to my sweet Mother, who is kind to put the color on for me now and then. Not quite ready to "go gray", yet.

6. A suit (on sale!) for Son #3 to wear in Homecoming in two weeks. I wouldn't say that shopping for it was "fun", but I'm so grateful for the Lord's provision!

7. A morning AT HOME with my Little Man, today. These are becoming more and more rare. I have to fight for a day at home, but he and I both enjoy them tremendously.

8. The Coach's gift of a CLEAN garage, last night. Things returned to the attic, leaves blown out, kids lockers organized. Ahhhhhhh.

9. An uninterrupted nights sleep. It seems like we've had a little girl (not always the same one, of course) in our room almost every night, lately. Last night everyone sleep better!

10. A much shorter to-do list, today. Some weeks I don't get anything done (that's on the list!) and other weeks I get to cross things off. I enjoy the crossing off.

The coffee just beeped (Totally forgot to make coffee for the Coach this morning before he left! And it had nothing to do with his story in our class on Sunday - I really DID forget!), so I'm off.

May the Lord bless and keep you, today. May He prepare the way before you and direct your steps. May we all be willing to receive the grace He offers us to face whatever this day holds.

Happy Thursday!

Thankful. . . Day!

2012-01-17T22:52:00.001-06:00

It's still Tuesday, right?
Because BSF with Little Man and Grandmother was this morning.
I think.
And lunch with Granddad at Chicken-fil-A (as my girls have taken to calling it).
Have you tried their Chicken Tortilla Soup? Mmmmmm.
Even a short nap while Little Man watched an episode of Phineas and Ferb on Netflix (how sad is it that I can fall asleep during a 15 minute obnoxiously noisy show. . . )

Then the real chaos began.

But I digress.

One of my goals in this New Year has to be more intentional in my daily activity. To stay off of the computer when my kids need me. To be more diligent in listening to them, what is going on in their lives, what they are concerned about. . . just be AWARE of all that goes on with them.

That basically leaves me time to write here. . . never. Sigh.

1. My newly licensed driver IN THE HOUSE. Woot woot! Congratulations are in order - he's a great driver - passed his driver's test with flying colors - and was much less nervous than his mother. Ha! Let's hear it for having HELP with all of the running around, dropping off, picking up. . . bless his heart. . . it's a good thing he's still happy to drive anywhere.

2. Good report on Sister's broken finger yesterday - healing well, no surgery needed. New PINK cast for two weeks, than hopefully a removable splint.

3. The freedom to start weaning myself from my ~~personal prison~~ boot. And if this thankfulness post doubles as a confession. . . I haven't worn it since yesterday morning. That's more like cold turkey than weaning. . . but I promise to do better tomorrow. Maybe.

4. Fun date night with the Coach on Saturday night. Revisiting a Chinese restaurant that we loved during our living-in-the-hood days. Have I mentioned, lately, that I love my man? And that he gets the "most patient husband on the planet" award this week?

5. Healthy kids. . . after coughs and snotty noses . . . and general yuckiness. . . the last part of Christmas Break and the first part of back-to-school. The Coach and I were sick last week. Not bad. Just not good. Grateful to be on the other side of it.

6. Clean laundry. Even if it's all over the Living Room floor.

7. Sweet girls who cleaned up the ~~Sunroom~~ School Room today (yes, they do come home FROM school and PLAY school - every day!). Of course, I had threatened to burn it to the ground. Apparently they took me seriously.

8. The 1/4 of a cow in my freezer. In various pieces, of course. We've already enjoyed some of it. Yesterdays pot roast was delicious! Love that I won't need to buy beef for a loooooong time.

9. The Coach's new series that he's teaching in our Sunday School class. It's been encouraging. . . and we've had some great conversations about it at home. Fruit of the Spirit.

10. The patience, tolerance, and general opportunities for growth that kids provide. I'm overwhelmed. But grateful that they continue to challenge me to depend more fully on the Lord.

11. That the strength of the Lord is sufficient. Even when I'm tired. And cranky. And don't want to hear the piano practicing, reading, memorizing, questions, homework, etc. I'm so very blessed. So. Very. Blessed.

Some days I feel like I'm failing as a mother. Failing miserably. I listen to my kids criticize one another. . . see them choose to disobey. . . hear my own voice threatening instead of encouraging. It only takes each of them doing one thing wrong and my whole afternoon is filled with correction and consequences. Because there are something like. . . I don't know. . . eight of them? And if one of them persists in a bad attitude, it's less than pleasant for the rest of the troops, too.

But you know what?

They ARE great kids. They love the Lord and their family. They work hard in school, take responsibility for their own assignments and deadlines. They are all making excellent grades. Practicing basketball diligently. Being good friends. Laughing and playing. Reading, growing, learning.

Sometimes I just need a reminder of all that they do WELL. And forget (for a second or two), that they aren't perfect. Although the $1 fine on any coats, shoes, boots, socks, or backpacks that are not put up by dinner time seemed to help, today.

Starbucks, anyone?

Turns out they still have a lot to learn. They still need love and patience and encouragement. They still need Jesus. Imagine that. Sounds like someone else I know. . . hmmmmm.

Trusting Him for it all.

Happy Tuesday!

Just a warning.

2012-01-10T17:17:00.000-06:00

Not sure if it's the boot. . . killing brain cells as I drag it around all day.

Or if it's the lack of sleep. . .late games, sleepy girls with dreams that wake them, early mornings.

Or maybe it's the cumulative affect of 16 years of being a mom. And losing brain cells with all of the pregnancies, one right after another.

Maybe it's too many episodes of "Phineas and Ferb" with my Elementary age kids. "S to the I to the M to the P!"

Or too many episodes of "Top Gear" with my teens. I always tell them that TV kills brain cells.

Could be the ten consecutive years of having kids in our precious school (only 14 more to go!). . . the assignments, notes, projects, ball games, and so many fabulous teachers (over 30 this year, alone).

Maybe it's the new glasses.

Or this cold that has been lingering for a week. (sniff)

Could be that I haven't run in about 9 weeks.

Or maybe the fact that my legs are no longer "runner's legs" (I use the term loosely, of course), but rather pillars of some kind of expanding jello-like substance.

Whatever it is?

I have no brain.

So no, I haven't gotten your e-mail, your phone message, or your text. Nor have I written you that note to tell you "Thank you" (I really AM eversograteful!). I most likely will call you the wrong name, or get confused about which kid is yours. Just ask my own kids (Poor Little Man thinks his name IS the other three big boys names followed by his. . . ).

I have hope, though! Because I actually KNOW moms personally who have survived these school-age years and seem like they have come through it with relatively little scarring.

Of course they could just be pretending.

I'm getting pretty good at that, too. ("Wash sheets? Oh sure! We do that on a regular basis! Of course!")

And did you know that if you have a Webkinz that you got for Christmas which may or may not be a fish? . . . he can't wear pants. And Little Man is NOT happy about this. So I'm warning you all. FISH CAN'T WEAR PANTS!

Whew.

Glad we cleared that up.

Maybe that is the REAL reason that I can't think straight. My brain is full of completely useless facts that, in the moment, really matter to my various children with their crazy different interests and tastes.

Have you HEARD the song, "Camouflage"?

(sigh)

I wish I could say I hadn't. I'm pretty sure it's taking up much needed space in my head.

Along with all of the lines to "Princess Bride".

"As you wiiiiiiiiiish. . . "

He Holds it All. . .

2012-01-09T08:21:00.000-06:00

I've sat down to write several times since Christmas. My thoughts have been scattered, my stories random, and I can't seem to make sense of any of it. Thank heavens for the delete button - when you are tempted to name your post "The Rant", it's the only way to go.

But the whining? It's got to stop.

Yes, I'm tired of "the boot". (Week five starts today.)

Yes, the troops have all had colds. And low fevers. And the grumpies (of which I am queen).

Yes, mornings have been trying for my little ones since school started back.

Yes, my list just keeps getting longer. And longer. And yes, I'm avoiding it by pushing it under the piles of mail, coupons, school assignments, and returned Christmas cards that I need to find new addresses for. Oh. And thank you notes that should have been sent LAST week and have only been started.

Yes, my beautiful daughter's hand/finger is STILL hurting. Ugh.

Yes, the house is a mess. What's new?

Yes, errands are piling up while I hope for a chauffeur. So I don't have to take the boot off and put it back on with each and every stop.

No, I haven't been to the gym since Friday. And it's unlikely I'll make it there, today.

No, I haven't planned meals for the week. Or even looked at the calendar. Yikes.

But you know what? God's grace is sufficient. I don't just say that. I BELIEVE it. Because I've lived it. Over and over again, He shows His love by giving me the strength I need for TODAY.

He will be faithful to do it, again.

In the meantime, I'll keep remembering my mother-in-law's button that says, "Stop whining, stop whining, STOP WHINING."

Because a mom as blessed as I am, has NOTHING to whine about. I have healthy (colds won't last) children, a hard-working (and handsome) husband who loves me, a warm home, cars that run (although I did discover that one of the new van's pockets is sticky - already!), oatmeal to fill my tummy, coffee to wake me up, a washer and dryer to keep working on the laundry, food to fix for dinner (even if I have no idea what it will be), and a Little Man to keep me company all day.

And since "The Cat in the Hat" is over. . . and Son #1 needs an appointment at the DMV for his driving test on Friday. . . it's time to get going.

Happy Monday!

The Gift of Quiet

2011-12-26T23:26:00.001-06:00

Sometimes I stay up after everyone else has gone to bed, just to hear it.

Because even though I love the noise and busyness, the buffets and baths, brushing the heads of long, clean, wet hair, the laundry being put away before bedtime, the songs, stories, and prayers, the visits with big kids, episodes of Cake Boss, the starting of the dishwasher and changing the last load from the washer to the dryer, and straightening things up for morning. . .

The quiet calls.

Sometimes I answer it even when I should be answering the wiser sleep.

My brain can focus, my heart can ponder, my spirit feels at rest.

Of course I can hear Him in the noise, too.

In the laughter, the kisses, the smiles, hugs, even tears. . . the basketball game with cousins, the giggling around the fire pit on the back patio in the dark, the trampoline jumping late at night, the movie with Granddad and Grandmother, the Christmas dinner leftovers (someone PLEASE save me from those rice krispy treats!).

But when it's all settled down, the Coach and the eight are sleeping, and I sit. Finally alone.

The quiet is mine.

Until my eyes won't stay open any longer and my head starts to bob. And sliding into bed beside my snoring Coach begins to sound even more tempting than the quiet.

The day after Christmas has ended. So tired. So blessed.

Sweet Dreams.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T11:40:00.000-06:00

How often does a mother of eight spend Christmas morning alone? I would be tempted to say, "Never!" but it wouldn't be the truth.
It's actually the second time in my 18 Christmases with my Coach. The first (several years ago) was because I had strep and could. not. get out of bed. Ugh.

But today? It's a funny story that I won't take the time to tell, but the Lord is teaching me flexibility. (grin) And my sick girl is asleep in her room, leaving me with the empty house and the quiet.

I'm not complaining.

I am missing the chaos and fun of the Coach's family Christmas up the street. The masses of food and tons of kids everywhere and lots of sisters-in-law to catch up with.

But the quiet is nice, too.

My heart has been pondering Christmas these last few weeks. Amid the chaos of school activities and family times and shopping and cooking. . . I've been purposing to focus on CHRIST in it all.

Reading through the Christmas story once again, thinking what it means to me. And to you. To all of us. . that He came to earth as a baby.

Tell me, WHY did Mary put baby Jesus in the manger when he was born? Am I missing something? I realize it makes for a lovely creche scene and all, but tell me one thing. . . you who have given birth. . . isn't the baby in your arms after you deliver them? I'm so confused. If the manger was the only place to lay Him (our King Savior Baby Lord), why didn't she just keep Him close?

But then I begin to think about Mary, the mother of our Lord. . . giving birth to a baby, not having even known a man, certainly not knowing Joseph well (courtship back then brought about even less contact than the Coach and I had!), in a strange place, a smelly, noisy barn. . .

I remember the birth of our first son. Child birth takes you out of every comfort zone you've ever known. And if you are a private person, like I am, it's a little awkward. Ok. A LOT awkward. And here sweet Mary is, we assume without her Mother or anyone familiar to give her comfort (although I suppose we don't really know who else might have been there), doing something completely hard and humbling. . .

Maybe I would have put the baby in the manger, too.

As I learn and grow and mature (hopefully!) and just plain get older, the trials of life, my own inability to do anything on my own. . . it's all drawing me closer and closer to my Savior. I'm learning to hear Him, to trust Him more deeply, to lean into Him when trials come. He has become my Comforter, my Strength, MY Faithful Lord.

Why do I still sometimes try to push Him away? Truthfully? Life is just messy. I look at my heart (deceitful above all things and desperately wicked), my motives, my bad attitudes. I look at my kids, their failings, imperfections, and weaknesses (which I have quite aptly passed along to them). I look at the Coach and see that he isn't always the perfect husband, leader, father that he should be. I look at my home, my messy cabinets, unfolded laundry, dirty dishes, sheets that need to be washed, a freezer that needs cleaned out. . . .

And sometimes I hesitate to bring my Faithful Father THERE.

Into the mess of it all.

But isn't that what Christmas is all about? He "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

The "likeness of men". We're messy. He came right into our mess and met us there. With our insecurities and pride and unforgiveness. He felt the cold and the heat, the hunger and the pain, the sadness and grief, the joy and companionship, the love and the hate.

He became like us in every way, except remained perfect . . . even though He felt it all. The good, the bad, the SIN of all mankind. He felt the guilt of every wickedness ever existing from creation to the end of time. He bore it all for us. So we could be forgiven, loved, secure, SAVED.

It wasn't pretty, perfect, or all smiles and flowers. But I'm eternally grateful He came.

Into our mess.

Into our NEED.

I think He can handle it.

So I'm praying that next time I try to put Him away from me. . . because I'm feeling unworthy, or embarrassed at my attitude or the ugliness that still creeps out, even after being His child for most of my life. . .

I'm remember that manger.

That He is with me IN it all. All of the mess that is ME and my life and my family and my circumstances. It's not as if He's going to say, "Wow! I never knew it was this bad!"

In fact, I know from experience that He'll just say to me, once again, because I'm so quick to forget. . .

"It's OK. I came for this. For YOU."

He can redeem the worst messes for His glory.

May He do so in my heart and yours this (imperfect) Christmas Day, 2012.

What a difference a year (or 17) makes

2011-12-16T08:43:00.001-06:00

The Coach reminded me this morning, amid lunch making, coffee drinking, and pony tail fixing. . .
that tomorrow is our 17th anniversary.

I knew that.

I just wasn't thinking about it at 6:30 this morning.

For some odd reason.

But as soon as he said it, my mind started wandering back to THIS day, 17 years ago. The day before our wedding day. The bridal luncheon, the rehearsal, the packing, preparing, doing all of those last minute things that needed to be done before I became Mrs. Troop.

What fun memories!

And somehow humorous in a way. . . to be thinking about that day. . . when I'm surrounded by piles of clean laundry that need to be folded and put away. . . a newly remodeled kitchen full of breakfast dishes and lunch fixings. . . Little Man watching Cat in the Hat beside me. . . my fancy (ha!) stress-fracture boot propped up on the ottoman. . . thinking about getting things in order here this morning so I can make it to my Weight Watchers meeting and on to the mall to see Son's (#4) class sing, have lunch with him, then attempt a Sam's run so we can eat this weekend, before I go pick up the younger kids at school, come home to supervise homework, eat dinner, then head back to Daughter's (#2) Varsity Basketball game.

On top of a BUSY evening last night with our precious Elementary Christmas Program, hyper kids, and a late night conversation with our teens about the perils of the high school dating scene.

Yes, life is much different than it was 17 years ago for the Coach and I.

But you know what?

I love THIS.

This 17 years later chaos and craziness. . . with three teens, one recently turned 16 year old driver, a Freshman girl who loves basketball, a Jr. High student (who plays basketball. . . and piano, too), a 5th grader who cracks us up when he's not making us insane (and yes, basketball), a sweet, funny, tiny 4th grader, a "praise the Lord for His grace to this child" 3rd grader, a spunky 1st grader and. . . well. . . Little Man.

And my coach. My amazing, wonderful, Godly, patient, wise, calm, hard-working Coach. Who still melts my heart when he walks into the room. I may have thought that I loved him on this day 17 years ago as I prepared to become his wife. But I really just loved myself. And maybe the IDEA of marriage and family and commitment.

And God, in His unending grace. . . has given us this precious LIFE together to learn to really love. Not just each other, but more and more each day. . . HIM.

Thanks for letting me pause just a second to remember that.

Happy Friday!

(And I once again, apologize to our sweet, patient families for getting married one week before Christmas! Whew!)

Thankful Thursday

2011-12-15T08:32:00.000-06:00

A quick list this morning, since it takes me all morning just to get the house picked up, do the breakfast dishes, start the laundry, and take a shower with this silly boot on my leg. Grrrr.

1. Finally getting a clear diagnosis on the pain in my lower leg. Stress fracture. And a boot. For a month.

2. The opportunity to learn patience.

3. The gift of something to NOT complain about.

Enough about the leg. . .

4. Lovely new 12 passenger van. In silver. The Coach SUPER DUPER (as Little Man would say) surprised me. The side pockets aren't even sticky, yet.

5. New kitchen counters and back splash which (if all goes well) should be finished up today. Woo hoo! I know we all want everything NOW, but let me tell you. . . waiting six years for something makes it THAT much more fun!

6. Three more days of school until Christmas Break. So ready for a break. So. Ready.

7. That I've done some of the Christmas shopping. Please don't laugh. It's not funny. I'm doing the best I can!

8. Christmas cards are ordered. Should be able to get them mailed before New Years. Ha!

9. Our desktop computer is fixed. And the photos are saved. Yay!

10. A chauffeur in the family. Really nice to be driven places so I can leave the boot on and not have to take it off to drive, then put it on to go in a store, then off to drive, and on to go in. . . you get the idea.

11. School Christmas program tonight. One of my all time favorite things. Ever.

12. Two kids in the High School choir this year. I'd join them if I could.

13. Online Christmas Shopping (for the things I HAVE crossed off the list)

14. Cinnamon candles

15. Cookies baking in the oven

16. Starbucks dates with my Chauffeur in his awesome new red truck

17. Chick-fil-A lunches with my parents

18. Wedding anniversaries

19. Family pictures through the years. . . Biggest Loser finales (I haven't finished watching it all on Hulu, so don't spoil it for me!). . . Christmas cards in the mail. . . Cousins to play with. . . Cafe' Mocha coffee creamer. . . Kids with sensitive consciences. . . Lunch with girlfriends. . . Hugs and goodnight kisses times 8. . . Getting text messages from the Coach during the day. . .

Really? I could go on and on.

But like I said. . . it takes me awhile to, well, to do pretty much anything. . .

So I should get started.

Happy Thursday!

Pondering Praise

2011-12-10T13:43:00.000-06:00

It's a lovely, quiet, Saturday afternoon at the troops. The Coach and Son #1 are off enjoying the 16th birthday gift. . . a doe hunt.

Thanks to the miracles of texting, we know he got his two does. We've even seen pictures.

Here's where this mom has to swallow and pause and remind myself that he's ALL BOY and it's ALL GOOD.

Because I'm not fond of the dead deer photos. Not fond.

Thinking so much lately about thankfulness and praise. . . I'm sure you get tired of hearing me! Ha! I'm learning, eversoslowly, to praise HIM in all things. ALL things. Even the hard ones.

But when things are good?

When it seems too easy to whisper, "Thank you, Jesus!"

I'm struggling.

We've been so abundantly blessed, lately. Things getting done around the house. . . exciting vehicle provisions. . . health (when HAVE we had a Fall without sick kids?). . . precious times alone with the Coach. . . wonderful family time with our troops. . . basketball season for three. . . kids old enough to babysit (we have FOUR in-house sitters, now!). . .and a kid old enough to chauffeur me on my Christmas errands.

I'm feeling spoiled.

And guilty.

Sometimes too guilty at how easy life seems to be. . . not regarding our schedule (which is insane). . . but our comfort. Even though recognize it as His blessing, His grace.

But I also realize that so many around me are hurting, sick, in pain. . . families coming apart and kids rebelling and children NOT getting well.

How DO I acknowledge all of that pain. . . and still give thanks for the gifts He's given us?

I'm not sure.

But the Holy Spirit keeps bringing to mind the words of Paul,

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Even when things abound and we are full. . . to be content. Knowing that if we are abased, hungry, and needy. . . we can be content then, too. Because Jesus is enough.

So, yes. Praising Him for His goodness to us.

But really it's all His goodness. It's all His Grace. The "good" times and the "bad" ones. Praising Him in all things. ALL things.

Maybe it's time for some pictures?

Happy Saturday!

Home is good.

2011-12-05T09:36:00.000-06:00

We pulled in from our weekend away, last night, bundled up the kids in their warmest clothes, and headed out to one of our favorite Christmas traditions - the Journey to Bethlehem. Live camels and all.

Nothing like going from one extreme to the other.

From a lovely, clean, quiet, cozy hotel room with the Coach, to. . .

Well. . .

It IS cozy here.

(sigh)

As we wrapped up the trip to Dallas and pulled into the driveway, I found myself taking a deep breath, psyching myself up for whatever was waiting beyond the garage door, and the Coach said,

"Either embrace the chaos, or it will make you crazy."

He's right, you know (he usually is).

Because in spite of the no-less-than-three serious meltdowns, the laundry everywhere, the morning busyness, the noise, the dishes, the MESS (not when we got home, thanks to the ever-so-amazing cousin/sitters, but once we started to DO things). . .

Home is good.

Busy.

Loud.

Messy.

But good.

I think I'll stay.

For now.

Drinking coffee in my own kitchen, after sleeping in my own bed (ahhhhhh), remembering the fabulous time with the Coach. We are rather fond of each other, it turns out, when we can hear each other talk.

How blessed we are. How much we love these crazy troops. How much fun THEY had this weekend with their cousins.

Choosing to embrace it.

(although it may be too late for the "crazy" part)

Happy Monday!

Hope Deferred

2011-12-01T09:42:00.001-06:00

I'm still reeling with joy for my first-born son and the "gift of all gifts" we were able to give him last night. My mind took a snap shot of the light in his eyes and I won't forget it (how I wish I'd taken a picture!).

Because even though for months we'd been telling him NOT to expect a car for his birthday, NOT to think too much about the possibility, NOT to waste time looking for something we/he could afford. . .

The Lord provided something above and beyond all we could ask or think.

He has a way of doing that.

And even though we had planned on getting him a car sometime before next Summer (so he could drive to and from work), we had no intention of doing it any sooner.

And even though he knew any car we were able to find (and afford!) wouldn't be "his", but rather the "kids" car (like the one cell phone they share), we had no plan to have said car ON his birthday.

But God is a God of miracles. And surprises.

I can still see my boy's face.

The awe. Wonder. Joy. Delight. SURPRISE.

In God's provision of something he hadn't expected. Hadn't thought would happen for a long time (let's admit it, six months IS a long time when you are 16).

I went to bed last night, filled with the JOY it gave my heart to make HIS heart so happy.

Isn't that how God is with us?

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

I'm not stupid enough to think this verse is talking about cars. Or trucks, as the case may be.

But it DOES show us our Heavenly Father's JOY in giving us what we ask for. What we need. In this passage, specifically, the gift of the Holy Spirit.

I had been trying for months to defer Son #1's hope. Because Proverbs says, "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick:" I didn't want him to be disappointed when his birthday gift wasn't a set of keys. I wanted to protect him from that heart sickness.

Life is full of too much of that, as it is. . . at least in my mother-heart's perspective.

Because sometimes that hope deferred is God's perfect will. I don't understand it, but I trust it. Or I try to.

I don't understand why our plans for running my 4th half-marathon were ended by a leg injury. Don't understand it, don't like it.

I had hopes. I had trained. I was excited, looking forward to it, SO wanting to feel that rush that comes at the finish line (OK, I'm romanticizing - there is serious pain, too!).

And then hopes that I could recover and still compete in the race at a slower pace.

Hopes that the first doctor's appointment would reveal a solution.

Hopes that the second doctor's appointment and x-rays would show what was wrong (and maybe that I could still run?)

But all of that has past and I still have no answers. Heart. Sick.

Then seeing my man-child last night, when we gave him that AWESOME gift, his eyes, his hesitancy to actually BELIEVE that the truck sitting there would be HIS to drive. . .

It reminded me that my Heavenly Father only gives good gifts.

Sometimes they LOOK good to me.

Sometimes they don't.

My dad's cancer sure didn't seem like a good gift (and I still don't understand fully that it was), but I will never forget hearing him SAY the words. "God gives good gifts. My cancer is a good gift." Sure, I've seen blessings from the experience. And years down the road (6, I think?) I can look back on it without the sick feeling in my gut. God healed him. And has used him mightily to encourage others.

I could give you many examples of "good gifts" that sure don't seem good to me. My dad still lives with MS each and every day. We still lost a baby 6 years ago (that was a rough year!). Bad things still happen. And will continue to.

I guess it comes back to TRUSTing the giver.

"But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life."

So far I have learned some things, I suppose. I love to run. Even when it hurts. I love training with my Coach, even when he runs two feet ahead of me for 10 miles (grin). I love setting a goal and accomplishing it. I love ANY excuse to get away with my favorite-person-in-the-world/husband-of-(almost)-17-years for the weekend. And I may be just a TAD bit stubborn. Maybe.

But when I CAN run, again? I am telling you I will be GRATEFUL that I can. Remind me of that next time I whine, OK?

For now, I'm going to smile just thinking about how happy my boy is. And I'm going to let myself be silly-excited about the weekend away. And I'm going to clean and launder and cook and get this house presentable so our sweet cousin-babysitters don't faint dead away when they walk in the door. They will need all of their strength just to survive a weekend with the troops! HA!

A good gift.

No, not the one I was hoping for.

But a good gift.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, that I can trust the gifts you give. Most of all, the gift of salvation, eternal life, and hope in this life. Your Holy Spirit, Your promise of the resurrection, the gifts of your Spirit, Your character. . for giving us YOU . . . Baby Jesus, God-Man, sent to save the souls of mankind.

The best gift of all.

Happy Thursday!

1/2 days, Birthdays, Holidays. . .

2011-11-30T08:23:00.000-06:00

The meat for Son #1's birthday lasagna is simmering on the stove. Little Man is watching Curious George on PBS. And I'm eating my oatmeal so I can take Ibuprofen and get this day going. The kids get out at noon on Wednesday and there is NEVER enough time!

We had a blessed Thanksgiving. Wonderful time with the Coach's extended family. The kids ate, skated, ate some more, played basketball, and came home worn out! We finished out the weekend with putting up outside lights, decorating the tree, filling the house with pretty Christmas things, counter top shopping, the Coach's dad's birthday dinner, and Daughter's (#5) 10th birthday on Sunday night. Oh. And family pictures in there somewhere, too.

Little Man and I are headed out in a bit to get a few groceries and pick up the smaller of Son #1's birthday gifts - not sure if I can pull it off or not (buying for a 16 year old cowboy when you are strictly a city girl is a challenge!) - and it's COLD outside. Grandmother, Granddad, the Coach, and I (Little Man, too!) enjoyed lunch with my first-born, yesterday, but no birthday dinner last night since it was also Daughter's (#2) first two basketball games of the season.

I feel a bit like I'm at the top of the first hill on the roller coaster, looking down on basketball season (stretching through March), with a Jr. High and Varsity player in our troops. . . one more birthday, tonight. . . a weekend away with the Coach (woohoo!). . . class mission projects. . . Christmas programs. . . new counter tops coming to the kitchen. . . Choir Christmas dinner (sheet cake baking required). . .Christmas cards. . . and the general baking and gift-buying for the troops and our loved ones.

(deep breath)

My kids keep saying, "I just LOVE Christmastime!" with that wonderful clear light in their eyes.

And each time I hear it. . . I wonder. . . "DO I love it?" Do I? Without the birth of Jesus where WOULD we be? But the work wears on me and my to-do list is my waking thought each morning and I find myself longing to JUST love it and not feel the pressure we moms feel each year to "get it all done".

I'm so enjoying Ann Voskamp's "1,000 gifts". So good. Finishing up the last chapter. But somewhere in there (the downside of reading on the Coach's nook is my inability to slow down and take the time to highlight so I can find things later), she said that stress, worry, "overwhelmed" is all one thing. . . lack of trusting God.

Really?

Because "Overwhelmed" is my middle name. And if you've read much of anything I've written here, you know that.

I tend to look at all that needs to be done, lump it all in one big PILE, and carry it around on my back. The massage therapist (my birthday gift from my parents last Summer was a massage - heavenly!) said it's called a "bridge of tension". Ouch.

The Lord has been working on me in this. . . teaching me to bring it all before him. . . lay it before the throne of grace. . . give it to Him.

But I'm rather fond of picking it all back up, one thing at a time, and throwing it back up there across my shoulders.

(sigh)

When I read that about just BEING stressed/overwhelmed showing a lack of trust. . . it got my attention.

So when that choking, drowning, i-can't-do-it-all feeling starts climbing up my throat? I've been asking myself, "Am I trusting God with this?" or "What am I not trusting Him about?" or "Why am I afraid to trust Him with this?"

He is so faithful and so worthy of my confidence. He is fully ABLE to help, rescue, guide, strengthen. (His faithfulness is the past is evidence of this to me!)

Why do I try to do it on my own?

Because we all have things (and I'm not just talking about the things on our "lists", either) that we are carrying on that "bridge of tension" across our shoulders. Disappointment, loss, difficult relationships, financial strain, decisions that need to be made, kids that need to be trained, physical pain (I'm raising my hand right with you, here!).

And did I mention that my house is a WRECK?

But from now on. . . I'm not going to be "Mrs. Overwhelmed Troop", anymore. That's right. Because slowly, one stress at a time, one moment at a time, I'm changing my name.

To "Mrs. Trusts-God Troop".

"So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." Hebrews 6:17-20

". . . fled for refuge. . . "
Here I come, Lord! With all of my burdens, too!
". . . strong encouragement to HOLD FAST to the hope set before us. . . "
Holding TIGHT to Jesus. Knowing He's really the one doing the holding.
". . . a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul. . ."
NOTHING can move me away from you, Lord. YOU are my anchor.

Got it? Got it!

(Pretty sure another cup of coffee wouldn't hurt, though.)

Happy Wednesday!

Trust God. Be thankful.

2011-11-21T08:36:00.000-06:00

The words jumped off the page at me. Finishing up "So Long Insecurity" last week, by Beth Moore, I found myself pausing long and reading over and over how to deal with the fears behind insecurity. Just two words. Trust. God.

Do I dare? Is it possible to take my worst fears (failure? rebellious children? the future of our nation?) and lay them at His feet and TRUST?

The Coach and I have been talking a lot about this. And about being thankful. They go together, don't they? If we can lay aside our fear and take up trust. . . can we also set aside our disappointment and take up thankfulness?

This weekend I started reading Ann Voskamp's book titled, "1,000 Gifts". I like it. And I don't. It's wordy (I can relate). She uses more adjectives than my little girls with all of their drama. But she's real.

The good things? I find it easy to thank God for those. I love to write Thankful Thursday posts about all of His blessings. I never struggle to think of a list. . . it's just THERE in my head. . . always learning to notice and enjoy the "daily" things of motherhood and family and LIFE.

But the "bad" things? Can I really thank Him for those? Can I really trade in the fear for trust? Is it possible?

I didn't really want a chance to practice.

Saturday morning, the garage was open between an early hunting trip departure and our early morning run. About 30 minutes, we think. It was still dark. The light in the garage ON. A great deal of our extremely useful possessions illuminated for all to see. The house full of sleeping children (minus one) and the Coach and I tiptoeing around getting ready to head out in the wind to get our miles in.

The first thing we noticed was the missing leaf blower. Now, I won't hammer the point to death, but WE'VE GOT LEAVES. In the baddest of bad ways. It's not that we can't rake them, sweep them, mow them. . . but there are so MANY of them. That blower was the Coach's favorite tool/lawn equipment/toy.

Gone.

Then gradually, over the weekend (at first thinking that only one thing was missing), we realized that a jacket is missing. A NorthFace that was a gift and has been handed down from boy to boy.

Gone.

A backpack full of school-work, notebooks, books, pens, notes, etc.

Gone.

Converse that we gave one of the boys as a birthday gift.

Gone.

I have that heavy feeling in the pit of my stomach. It's all "replaceable", I suppose. Nothing of eternal value, of course. But a huge inconvenience. A violation of our privacy and security.

The fear? Will whoever took these things come back for more? There's plenty of forgetfulness to go around with eight kids and two absentminded, easily distracted parents. Is there something else gone that we haven't realized, yet? Where there things in that back pack that our boy will not be able to replace? And he'll have to do without at school today, bless his heart.

And all morning that nagging thought, rolling around in my mind like an annoying song that won't go away.

Do I have to?

Lord, do I HAVE to?

Do I have to THANK You for this?

Really?

Can't I just offer you thanks for giving us safety while we were burglarized? Can't I just be grateful that the children slept unharmed while a stranger without a conscience took things from our garage only a few feet away? Can't I just praise you for what was LEFT?

Or do I have to offer you thanks for the bad, too?

The loss?

The sick feeling in the pit of my stomach?

The Son who went off to school still trying to figure out what was missing?

The other Son who left here feeling so very badly that he left the garage open?

The Coach who still doesn't have a leaf blower?

Yes, I can be grateful we had another coat to meet the need. Grateful that we can save up and replace the leaf blower fairly soon. Thank the Lord for His protection, His provision, His grace.

But can I pray for whoever did this? Do I really WANT them to experience the grace of God, which they (and all of us) so desperately need?

Can I (gulp) FORGIVE them?

I can. And I will.

I will trust God.

I will thank Him.

And I will pray for those around me who are having to thank Him for much harder things today. Things that hurt much deeper and won't be resolved as simply. Things that can't be fixed or replaced. I will pray for those who are hurting, sick, dealing with chronic illness. Who are facing bad news and an uncertain future. Loved ones who are struggling through difficult relationships, unforgiveness, and bitterness.

I'll pray. And I'll seek to remember that my heart and the hearts of my children are way more important than stuff.

Either God is in charge or He isn't. Either He's big enough to handle the things we face, or He's not. Either He's sovereign and I can trust Him, or He's not and I can't.

The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. Job 1:21

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Eph 5:20

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thes. 5:18

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful until Him, and bless His name. Psalm 100:4

And there you have it.

So Blessed.

2011-11-18T15:47:00.000-06:00

I'm sitting on the couch with my leg elevated and iced (the things we do to ourselves in the name of fitness!), per the Coach's orders, staring at the HUGE pile of clean laundry on the love seat across from me. Such a FUN busy week.

Something about Fall weather energizes and motivates me. I love it. Cool weather, leaves blowing (OK, the wind is out of control, but you can't have it all), cloudy or sunny, either way works. I put on my warm, cozy Crusader hoodie and enjoy every bit.

This week I've been out and about more than cozy at home. I'm not sure how it happened, but I've had lovely "friend time" and time with family this week.

Lunch with a sweet friend and her two boys on Tuesday after BSF (a GREAT lesson this week!). Her babies are darling and remind me what I loved about having little ones.

Coffee with another friend on Wednesday - she has six kids, so we can talk forever about all that we have in common. Love that. Teens, middle schoolers, driving, school. . .

Late lunch (after 1/2 day dismissal and Jr. High basketball practice) with Grandmother and Granddad on Wednesday with 7 of the kids (Daughter #2 was a basketball practice) - catching up and hearing about their most recent travels. We sure miss them when they are gone!

I don't remember Thursday. Oh! Except for the great sale at Coldwater Creek with Mom. We love that place. And the orthodontist.

Then today? Lunch with one of my oldest (not in age, in years of friendship!) and dearest friends. So good to catch up. Which came after Weight Watchers (my Friday routine) and another LOSS on the scale. Yes, it's weight that's already been lost previously and re-found. But it feels good to lose it, again.

And even though it can't get much better, I found time to visit on the phone with Crazy Daisy AND BFF Working Mom, too, this week.

Wait a minute! The best part of all? Wait for it. . .

I have the Coach back! (smile) I'm not glad football is over, of course, but the Coach has been HOME in the evening this week - early even - and tonight? Football game and burgers with Grandmother and Granddad. Inside. On TV. Where it's warm. And not windy.

Seriously. A good week.

Next week will be hectic with Thanksgiving and the troops out of school from Wednesday on. Fun. But busy. Lots of cooking, dishes, and I'm hopeful that it will also include lights in the new pantry (can't wait to show you THAT - it's beautiful!), the house decorated for Christmas, and lots of time with both sides of our big family.

Sometimes life is very "daily", but very good, too. The blessings of health, home, God's perfect provision. . . taking time to stop and think about all that is GOOD and how blessed we are. It's a lot of work (and a lot of food. . . and laundry. . . and noise. . . ) but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

If I don't get up and fold this laundry before the kids get home from school. . . it may never happen.

Happy Friday!

Laugh or Go Crazy. . . on Wednesday

2011-11-09T15:55:00.000-06:00

I feel like I'm writing more than usual, lately. It's not been because I've had extra time - we've been swamped. It's not because I have more material than usual, there is always lots going on at the troops. I think maybe it's because we've been SO busy and the Coach has been gone SO much, that I have too many extra words left at the end of the day.

Tell me I'm not the only one?

Combine that with the fact that my two best friends are a) homeschooling four kids in far away Texas and way too busy to talk on the phone. . . and b) working full-time, now, at our school - which leaves no time at all for her favorite (ha!) SAHM. (sigh)

They would both tell you that I'm partly to blame, as well. I can't remember the last time I actually answered the phone. Let's hear it for texting!

We're all busy, aren't we? (If you're not, come on over and I'll put you to work!)

Daughter (#7), who is 7, is sitting here beside me typing a "story" on the other computer. Daughter (#6) walked through and got REALLY upset that the character in the story had her name. Daughter (#7) started to defend herself. . . "It's a GOOD story. . . she does GOOD things. . . it's not TRUE!"

How can I not laugh?

This morning, Little Man and I took "Working Mom BFF" to coffee for her birthday. He loved it. He tried to stay IN the conversation the whole time - often with completely random information. "Sister has blond hair," he said at one point. As if WMBFF doesn't know this. Little Man calls her "Miss Shauna". Just now he walked up and said, "Mom! S H doesn't make 'Mishauna', so I'm just going to call her 'Banana'." Can you tell he's learning letter sounds?

Talk about random. . . it's hard to write much of anything coherent when I have to stop every two seconds to help Daughter (#7) spell, "Beautiful" and "Sissy". Must be quite a story. Glad it's not "true".

We have a BIG football game this week. Son (#1) is still out with a concussion - head aches keep hanging around - talk about a bummer. First week of play offs AND against our biggest rival. I am determined to dress the kids more warmly. Apparently I was brain-dead last week and we all about froze. At one point, Little Man said, "I am. . turning. . . into. . . an. . . ICE CUBE!"

"Big Green" is in the shop, today. Nothing serious, gratefully, just maintenance. The kids LOVE the loaner Suburban we get. I keep telling them I like it, too, but it won't hold us all. It's fun to have it for a day, though. We can pretend to be a "normal" family with only five kids. Ha!

Little Man is playing with his play dough that we made on Monday. He's so happy. I'm not a big fan of play dough, I have to be honest. He is finally old enough to play with it AND clean it up, so I guess it's OK. My theory has always been to throw away whatever is left out until there isn't any left, but he's gotten really great at cleaning it up. Ha!

Well. . . it's 1/2 day Wednesday, the kids are home, it's almost time for piano lessons, dinner needs to be started, Daughter (#2) is at basketball practice, Son (#1) is at football practice (watching) with the Coach, Son (#3) just walked in from a babysitting job, and my quiet moment is long gone.

Trusting the Lord for it all. . .

Happy Wednesday!

Just Stuff. . .

2011-11-08T14:56:00.000-06:00

It's cold and dark this afternoon. Little Man is snoozing away beside me on the couch. I planned on napping, too, but my brain won't quiet down. Relationships sure complicate life, don't they? (smile)

Reading "So Long Insecurity" by Beth Moore this week. It's a really encouraging book, I highly recommend it. Even if you don't consider yourself, "insecure", we all are in some area, with some people, in some situations, don't you think? Oddly enough, it's revealed some fears that I didn't realize I had. Those fears have led to some insecurities that I DID know I had. Grateful for the Lord's healing and comfort in those areas.

I finally felt the third earthquake (in just a few days) last night. Weird. I have been in one before while visiting my aunt and her family in California. Somehow they seem oddly out of place here in Oklahoma. During a torrential thunderstorm and tornado warning, nonetheless. Hmmmm.

BSF was so good this morning. Lots to ponder. The gospel, simplified, keeps running through my mind. Salvation through Christ alone, by faith alone, plus NOTHING. Wow. Picked Little Man up from his classroom and he bounced out, "I'm hungry! Can we meet Granddad at Chick-fil-A?" I love that boy. His Granddad and Grandmother, too.

We had a family meeting on Sunday. Every so often, I completely lose it with the kids, the house, life in general. It happened, once again, this weekend. When I start saying, "There is only ONE of me and EIGHT of you!!" I know it's time. We stayed at the table after Sunday lunch. Discussed some of the problems. . . messy rooms, skipping chores, waiting too long to do home-work, not cleaning up one's own messes, food, games, etc. Now that the kids are older, I try to let them tell ME what's going on and what we should do about it. Turns out they are harder on themselves than I would ever be. But that's a good thing. We made some lists (you know how I love lists!), agreed on some consequences, and moved on.

So far so good. It's when it's time to enforce the consequences that I struggle.

The house was so neat and tidy after the kids left for school, yesterday morning, that Little Man and I headed out for a few errands and went to the Library (he's always asking to go!). We came home and made play dough (the first time I've ever done that - ha!) and even picked up a cousin to come play for a bit. It was a good day. Turns out when I don't have to pick up after eight kids I can be a (sort of) fun mom.

Well, the dryer just went off, and my nap timer (I have to set a timer or Little Man and I would sleep right through time to pick the kids up!) is about to go off, too. Better get a move on.

Lots to be grateful for. So very much to be prayerful about. Trusting the One who gave His life for us to guide and protect. He made it possible for us to spend eternity with Him, I think I can trust Him with the rest of life, too.

Happy Tuesday!

Thankful Thursday

2011-11-03T07:49:00.001-05:00

Typical Thursday morning at the troops, today.
One couldn't find her shoes (one was in the van, one behind the bicycles in the garage? Hmmmm?).
One with a wet coat they left in the car last night.
Cookies to deliver to school for the Fall Festival (16 dozen to be exact.).
Water bottles for another booth prize.
Candy for Daughter (#7) to take, except she's still in bed.
Letter Jacket form and payment to turn in (HOW are we already doing this? Wasn't he just a baby, yesterday?).
Lunches (no microwaves today). Minus one.
Cookies for the Coach's class birthdays this month (I was already making so many anyway. . . ).

It goes on and on.

Mornings like this, the minute they are all actually OUT the door. . . OK, I wait until the van actually pulls out of the neighborhood. . . I let out a BIG SIGH.

Never mind that the house looks like a tornado went through. I'm pretty sure it did. There's time for that, today, with little sister home (not feeling well, last night). We won't be going anywhere.

1. Coffee in the coffee pot.

2. Happy Little Man (He loves having other kids home on school days - ha!)

3. Perky Little Sister (She hopped out of bed feeling just fine! Yay!).

4. Nephew doing SOOOOOOO much better, last night. We are grateful for all of the prayers for him. After a second surgery on Tuesday, he seems to have turned the corner. Thank you, Lord! He may even get to go home soon!

5. Baking finished last night. The Coach even helped with all of the dishes. He's a good man.

6. Fall Festival at school, tonight - my kids LOVE it. Even though it's freezing cold outside! Praying for all of the sweet home-room moms, teachers, and parents who will be working SO hard today to get it all ready.

7. A day OFF of school, tomorrow. Woo hoo!

8. A new pantry project in the works for the weekend. How sad is it that I am unbelievably excited about having more room for canned goods and groceries? HA!

9. Warm, cozy (even if messy) house.

10. The sound of Little Man and Little Sister playing with hexabits in the playroom.

11. Day off of running - and an appointment next week with a doctor to look at my knee. Boo for running injuries.

12. Not having to cook dinner, tonight! Yay for Fall Festival, once again!

13. Netflix. Little Sister loves "Father Knows Best" - how fun is that?

14. Google Calendar. The Coach and I would spend all of our time together coordinating schedules if we couldn't just sync our calendars online. Eliminates a lot of confusion!

15. Call from the radiologist confirming that Son's (#3) x-ray on his arm, Tuesday, only shows a sprain. Whew!

16. Another check, yesterday, regarding Son's (#1) concussion from two weeks ago - the head-aches continue, but they aren't worse. He's missing his third game, tomorrow, but he's had a great attitude. I'm proud of him!

I'm going to purpose to enjoy this day. The cold. The extra little one home (so grateful she seems so much better this morning!). The chaos. The long list.

So many blessings.

"You are loved with an Everlasting Love. . . . and underneath are the Everlasting Arms."
(Jeremiah 31:3, Deuteronomy 33:27)

Happy Thursday!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2011-11-02T16:07:00.002-05:00

Finishing up 14 dozen cookies for our Fall Festival at school, tomorrow.

The house smells good. But I've seen enough cookie dough to last me at least a year! Ugh!

If you can't make it tomorrow night, bake up some of your own. I'm happy to share our recipe. It wasn't mine to begin with, anyway.

These are the cookies that the Coach gives to his students on their birthdays. Way back when he had a full schedule of math classes (he only teaches one class, now), he had over 115 students - that's a lot of cookies! I loved baking them for the kids. Still do.

These are the cookies that my kids ask for the most. That my mom craves (and has been known to steal out of my freezer - ha!). They are our favorites. Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

(recipe from my grandmother)

Cream together:
4 sticks of butter
(use real butter, OK?)
1 1/2 Cups sugar
1 1/2 Cups light brown sugar

Beat in:
4 eggs
4 teaspoons vanilla

Mix separately:
6 Cups all purpose unbleached white flour
4 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons salt

Stir dry ingredients into wet.

Cut 4 (8 oz.) large Hershey Milk Chocolate bars into small chunks.

Fold into dough.

With medium cookie scoop, place on ungreased baking sheets
and flatten slightly with the palm of your hand.

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.

This makes about 5 1/2 doz. fairly large cookies.

Often I freeze the uncooked dough balls on wax paper and then place in a ziploc bag for later. Then you can just take a few out, let them thaw on the baking sheet, flatten and bake. Yum!

Happy Wednesday!

Fresh Start.

2011-10-31T12:50:00.000-05:00

I really like Mondays.

I don't like how tired I am. Or how cranky the kids are.
I don't like how messy the house is after a very busy weekend.
Or that it takes until noon to get it straightened up and somewhat clean and orderly, again.
I don't like cleaning out the fridge (we have a strict "one week" rule around here - ha!).
Or having 5 loads of laundry to do just to get back to square one.
I don't like that it's almost 1:00 and I haven't had a shower.
Or that Little Man is still in his jammies.

But you know what I do like?

A fresh start.

That's what Mondays are.

The last week is over. We survived the weekend (how DO they end up being so busy?). Everyone did what they did and has what they have and they are off to school.

Maybe it's the quiet. Little Man is always happy to be on his own, once again.

Maybe it's the weekly calendar print out that has yet to be scribbled all over as things change and have to be moved around.

Maybe it's the groceries in the fridge and the meal plan all set (actually, I've only made it through Wednesday, but I'll get there.).

Maybe it's the fact that I get to put the trash OUT for Tuesday morning! Yay! Because by Monday morning, those three city bins are busting full.

Maybe it's the beautiful Fall weather, with the sun shining, and the leaves starting to fall on the still green grass.

Whatever it is. . . it feels like starting all over. And I like it.

Have a blessed Monday, today!

And as a PS - I would appreciate your prayers for my 17 year old nephew who is still in the hospital following emergency eye surgery on Friday night. He's doing well - we are so grateful! Praying now for complete healing, that the infection that caused him to get sick will continue to be effectively treated by the antibiotics, and for my brother and sister-in-law as they juggle caring for him and their five other kids at home. Thank you!

Friday. Comes after Thursday. Thankfully.

2011-10-28T09:39:00.001-05:00

One of the main reasons I love to do Thankful Thursday posts (even if they have been somewhat sporadic - like the rest of my blogging, lately) is because Thursday is a tough day at the troops.

Are my kids the only ones who have complete meltdowns on Thursday?

The homework seems to be more overwhelming.
The projects are looming.
The Friday test material needs studying.
And we are all tired.

Yesterday was no exception.

I told the Coach I was going to take a nap (this was at 6:00 AM). He said, "I'm jealous." I said, "Well, the one who gets a nap, also has to pick up the kids, get them home without killing each other in the back seat, help them with all of their homework and reading, clean up their "snacks", and keep them off the computer and Netflix until dinnertime."

He said, "You can have your nap, then."

And he seemed to have a spring in his step as he walked out the door. Hmmmm.

Thursday mornings contain the "I can't find my favorite pants!" meltdowns. The "I forgot to put my jersey in the wash!" meltdowns, the "Isn't there anything GOOD for lunch?" meltdowns, etc. etc. etc. And almost always a call from "Big Green" that someone forgot something vital to their success as a student or athlete.

Then on the way home at 3:15? Don't even get me started. I've always said, if I get pulled over for speeding on the way home (not that I DO speed, just hypothetically, of course), I would just let the Highway Patrol sit in MY car for a minute. Then beg him to take me with him and leave the kids there.

Did you KNOW that staring at someone is a crime? Or (gasp) daring to look out THEIR window instead of your own? Heaven forbid someone finish their lunch (that they hated at 6:30 AM but refuse to share at 3:15 PM) and not use the most perfect "in the back of the mini-van" manners. And Little Man? Who was content and happy all day running errands, eating his PB&J, and taking a nap with Mom? Turns into a TERROR.

Let's just say it's not the most pleasant 20 minutes of my day.

I'm not complaining. I realize the huge blessing it is to have them IN school and not HOME for school. I'm grateful for the homework, the projects, the reading. . . I really am. It's all good.

But even "good" times 7 can be overwhelming.

Then, before we know it (OK. I confess. I put the younger 4 to bed at 7:15 last night. Now you know.), it's Friday morning and suddenly it's all sunshine and smiles.

T-shirt day (and I learned my lesson, mind you, the favorite pants were CLEAN!), field trips, and the anticipation of a football game, tonight. Which means (for the kids) staying up late and wasting their OWN money on ring pops and skittles. For me? It will certainly require an extra dose of caffeine.

The kids will catch up on some sleeping in the morning, though. While the Coach and I drag ourselves out of bed while it's still dark (AGAIN) to run 10 miles. And when I get back exhausted and ready for a shower, they'll all be up, bouncing off the walls, hungry for breakfast, and the Coach will leave to go watch film with the team. (Remind me, again, why I shouldn't be jealous of him?)

Gotta love it.

For today? It's Friday. Short run (3 miles at 5 AM in 39 degree weather - yay!), Weight Watchers meeting, errands with the Little Man, and an evening in the bleachers to look forward to. Even when Son #1 isn't playing, I can still cheer on the rest of the team (and the assistant coach, too). Just hope I remember my stadium seat this time!

Happy Friday!

Thankful Thursday

2011-10-27T09:50:00.000-05:00

Ahhhhh. Thankful Thursday. It's good to be here.

1. Rain. Can you believe it? RAIN!

2. Cool weather. Feels so very cozy. Like movie, popcorn, and hot chocolate cozy. If I didn't have anything else to do.

3. Tuesday night WIN for our Jr. High football team (Son #3's) to finish the season. This will mean less football laundry and hopefully a less over-whelmed Coach at our house.

4. Gloriously WORKING washing machine! Woo hoo! I'm so grateful. There just aren't words.

5. Fall Break. I'm sad it went so quickly (it was a busy four days!), but just the break from getting up so early and lunches and school clothes and homework. . . lovely. Now we just have to hang in there until Thanksgiving, right?

6. Oh. My. Heavens. I'll have to go take a picture . . .
Last week my dad took Son #3 and Son #4 with him to run some errands. He very graciously let them PICK something to bring home to me. Have you every seen anything so beautiful?

And it still has several blooms yet to open. I've never had an orchid, before. Such sweet thoughtful boys and such a generous Granddad, don't you think?

7. Basketball starting (last week) for Daughter #2 and (this week) for Son #3. Still a few weeks of football to go for Son #1.

8. Son #1 seems to be recovering well from his concussion last week. It's not fun having to sit out practice and not be able to play in the Friday night games. Bless his heart. But, for some odd reason, the Coach and I are more concerned about his long-term mental and physical health than we are football. Go figure.

9. We are half-way through week 5, training for our next half-marathon. Feeling much better this week than I was last week. Running 10 this Saturday. Trying not to think about it. I DO love the time with the Coach. And I've almost started liking getting up early to run with him. Feels great to have it DONE before my day would normally be starting.

10. Watching my kids with each other. I would tend to say (being the pessimist that I am) that my kids fight with one another more than anything. But over Fall Break, watching them on our trip, hiking, at the restaurant. . . then at home over the weekend, switching beds (three girls in one room, four boys in another and none of them can decide which bed they really want) back and forth (so glad the washer works - ha!), watching the little girls play school in the sun room, watching the boys work with the Coach in the yard, spending time with Granddad and Grandmother. . . it's fun. It's loud. It's crazy. But it's fun.

And now. . . it's time to be productive. In some way. Maybe I can get enough done this morning to justify a nap with Little Man this afternoon. Ha!

Happy Thursday!

What are you thankful for, today?

Fall Break Day Trip

2011-10-23T17:03:00.000-05:00

We had a few hours on Friday to do something fun together.

The Coach suggested a trip down to the Wichita mountains.

There is a great visitors center there with a lot of animals to look at (of the dead and stuffed variety).

TONS of roaming native Bison and Longhorn cattle (of the large and live variety).

We took a short hike, with lots of rocky climbing, but even Little Man kept up just fine.

We also watched the Prairie Dogs for a bit.

Somehow when I stepped back and saw this, my heart skipped a beat.

My troops.

How I love them.

And they aren't so "little" anymore, are they?

There were so many times that I went hiking while pregnant or carrying a baby in a baby carrier, the Coach with a toddler in a hiking backpack. Stopping and sitting by the trails to nurse a fussy baby or change a diaper.

I'm glad we did those things then, but WOW it's so much easier, now.

Kids that can all hike by themselves (the Coach and I have a hard time keeping up with them!),

only Little Man needing a hand now and then.

No diaper bag.

No bottles.

No sippy cups.

No stroller, back packs, baby seats.

Granted lunch cost a little more. (grin)

But we had a great time.

Had really great burgers at this fun place.

Unfortunately the pictures of lunch are imprisoned on my phone.

I'll have to get one of the kids working on that.

All in all, a great afternoon with the troops.

Happy Fall Break!

Now back to the craziness.

(not to suggest that the van trip coming home was LESS than crazy. . . )

Careful where you step. . .

2011-10-19T09:47:00.000-05:00

The washer repairman is here this morning.
Sometimes I feel like I should post a warning on our front door.
But I'm not sure if I should warn those who enter about the mess inside, or the mental state of the woman of the house.
7 days without being able to do laundry at my own house has made me feel somewhat loopy.

I'm tremendously grateful for a Mom and Nana who have allowed me to come over daily, hauling my overflowing baskets of stinky laundry (try combining football practice, volleyball practice, and running clothes smells) and do two or three loads in their washers. Whew.

But the towels? And sheets? And bathmats?

Nasty.

I'm ready to get things in order.

However, after trying to start my washer for 7 days straight with NO luck, the repairman walked in, pushed the button and. . .

It started.

(sigh)

OH the irony.

I think it just needed a vacation.

The washer, I mean.

After working in our tiny laundry room around piles of laundry, the repairman might need one, too.

Brave, brave man. Didn't know what he was walking into.

Although the "Laundry Crisis of 2011" has certainly been at the forefront of our lives this week, other things have been going on, too.

We celebrated our littlest girl's SEVENTH birthday last week. I can't believe it. No, she's not THE baby around here, but she is my baby girl. Sniff. She is a sweet and spunky little thing. And almost taller than Daughter #5. Loving 1st grade, reading like a champ, and plays school anytime she's not AT school. Of course, wants to be a teacher. What's not to love?

Peanut (Daughter #5) was home three days last week with a head-ache. Nothing worse ever came of it, for which I'm grateful. She's been so diligent getting caught up with her school work. She has yucky allergies just like her momma and big brother (Son #3).

Speaking of head-aches, Son #1 got a minor concussion (we think) in practice, yesterday. I was tempted to go in and wake him up several times in the night. But they say that's not necessary, anymore. I did tell him to come get me if he felt weird or threw up. He looked at me funny. I'm not sure I've ever said the words, "Come wake me up" to him. Or anyone else.

I had received a summons for Jury Duty next week. Ha. I know you're laughing. The Coach made some phone calls on my behalf and had it postponed until Summer. Said he'd be Mr. Mom and let me serve. Yay. Won't that be fun? At least I'm off the hook for next week.

The Coach and Son #3 are winding down with Jr. High football - only one more game, I think - and had a Christian College Fair last night. We can check that off the list.

Sister (that's Daughter #2) starts basketball tomorrow. During Fall Break.

So much for family time.

But that's OK - we wouldn't have had any family time anyway. Football game the first day of Fall Break and film the 2nd.

Tis the life of a Coach's family.

And we love it. Really. One time I heard Mrs. Billy Graham answer a question about whether or not it was hard to be married to a man who was gone so much, traveling, preaching, and leading crusades. She said she'd rather have HER husband some of the time, than any one else's husband all of the time.

Yep. Me, too.

Well, the washer finally acted up for the repairman. Whew. Would have been horrible if it had quit right after he left. Seems to be fixed and we're back in business. In two or three days I'll be all caught up.

What is Fall Break for, right?

In the meantime, we'll enjoy the Patriotic Program at school this afternoon. And tomorrow? All but sister can sleep in while I take her to get the rest of her bottom brackets on her teeth. She'll love having to get up early on a day off school for THAT, don't you think?

The cooler weather, the pumpkins and pansies, the mums in bloom in my flower beds, the spicy scented candles, crockpots full of soup and beans, it's all good.

It reminds me that seasons are not only part of each year, they are part of life, as well.

We're going to call this season at the troops, "Busy and Blessed".

Better get started on that laundry!

Happy Wednesday!

Monday Morning

2011-10-10T08:44:00.000-05:00

I can hear "The Cat in the Hat" from the Living Room, where Little Man and Daughter (#5) are watching. She's home today with a head-ache. I let her stay because her eyes don't look right. We moms can just tell.
We'll have a quieter day, for sure. I'm not complaining.

The Coach and I got our run in without getting rained on. I'm grateful. It's hard enough to run when it's not raining. I've already had some quiet coffee time to read this, from my friend Amber and this post from sweet friend, Jo.

Just thinking about how FAST the troops are growing up. How part of me misses those little days. . . and part of me (for sure!) doesn't. How FUN they are and how much I'm enjoying that they are young adults. How sad I get when I clean out the clothes that are too small. How much I'm looking forward to another driver in the house. How quickly we will have several extra drivers.

Happy.

Sad.

Oh so grateful.

I know my kids aren't perfect. But they are GREAT kids. Smart. Funny. Loving.

Yes, every day I pray for them to be kinder, gentler, to love each other more. I pray for them to love God the MOST. And to resist the temptation to do something stupid.

But I hope and pray. . . when it's all said and done. . . and they are grown and gone (the Coach is all about the "gone" part!). . . that they will return frequently, love being here, still watch football with us on the weekends, tease each other, and eat all of the food I can make.

I finally finished the little girls' clothes, yesterday. We have our playroom back. It always makes me pause a bit when I realize how much they've grown (well. . . except for Daughter #5. She's still my little peanut.).

How those things I pulled out last Fall seem suddenly SMALL. How the pile of shoes that don't fit seems to grow. And the jeans get shorter. And the Strasburg dresses that I love and wish they would wear, now get a "Mom, do we HAVE to wear those?" Because they are almost 10, 8 1/2, and (gasp!) SEVEN this week and not 5, 4 and 3. Times are a changing.

So very much to be grateful for. Even on a cool, rainy day, with a sickie at home.

If your kiddos are all still little? And the days seem long? And you are exhausted and wondering if they will ever be able to tie their own shoes or go to the bathroom by themselves or SLEEP through the night? I wish I could somehow tell you how fast it goes and how much you should enjoy every moment with them. Don't worry about having everything neat and perfect all of the time. Sit and read books with them and take a nap while they do. Watch "Curious George" with them instead of letting the TV be a distraction so you can "get something done".

Yes, my mother told me all of that when mine were little. But I thought I had plenty of time.

You don't. Trust me.

Because having five little ones six and under, has now turned into three teens (15, 14, 13), an 11 year old, and a 9 year old. Plus a few more. They didn't stay little. And yes, they can all tie their own shoes and go to the bathroom by themselves. They are all sleeping in their own beds all night AND are a huge help to this very tired, not-twenty-something-anymore momma.

Well, I'm getting hot chocolate and raisin toast orders from my peanut and Little Man. Better get to it. Thanks to the reminders this morning, I'll be joining them, for sure! I wonder what movie a 9 year old girl and a 4 year old boy will agree on? Ha!
Happy Monday!

I can relate. . .

2011-10-07T13:23:00.000-05:00

Little Man slept through the kids all tromping out the door to school, yesterday morning.

I don't know how he sleeps through the door slamming, coming and going, "Mom! So-and-so is SMACKING their frosted mini-wheats, again!", smoothies going in the blender, more door opening and closing, lunch making, shoe hunting, and hair fixing.

(sigh)

In a few minutes, though, he came padding out in his bare feet, hair sticking up, sleepy eyes wide open, jammie pants hiked up on his little bird legs.

"Did I miss something, Mom?"

I feel the same way.

Right about the time I get my act together, the act is over.

Watching Daughter's (#2) last volleyball game on Monday, I think she can relate. They had just started to "click" on the court - know what I mean. She was playing GREAT.

Just in time for basketball to start.

My lack of time to write has been due to a several things this week:

#1. Pinterest. Seriously addictive. Although at first it gave me a complex. I am not (it turns out), interested in a.) fashion, b.) home decor, c.) projects for my kids, or d.) cooking.

What's left, you ask? Pictures of far away places to travel and WORDS. I love words. And Fall.

#2. Half-marathon training round 4. The Coach and I agreed we could tackle a December race if we trained in the mornings (the only time he's home). I'm not sure if 5:00 AM is morning. . . I've always considered it "night-time". If so, then we are running at night, but we are running. It's completely solved any trouble I used to have going to sleep. Good grief. I can go to sleep ANYWHERE, anytime. But those sleepless late nights helped me keep up with my blogging, after all.

#3. Turns out I have a legitimate reason to be tired. Went in for some blood work last week and found out that my iron levels are so low that they basically don't exist. Went to my favorite place to buy supplements and fill prescriptions with my results in hand. The pharmacist said, "Wow. I'm surprised you are up and walking around."

Ha. That's funny. Because actually I AM REALLY TIRED!

Hopefully the new doses of some different vitamins will do the trick. In 2-3 months.

(yawn)

School is hopping along. Field trips, projects (I need to take some pictures). Homework, of course. Lots of reading, singing, laughing, studying, memorizing, and sleeping going on at the troops. Oh. And eating. I still haven't figured out how to make them stop.

Along with the 1/2 marathon training (which so far is less than I was already running each week - but not for long!), I'm back in BSF with Little Man and back counting my points for WW every day (I hadn't "quit", but I sure had slacked off).

Always plenty to do.

Which reminds me. . . we started switching the three little girls' clothes out from Summer to Winter last week (which, of course, led to some really HOT days this week - never fails). I still haven't finished.

That's right. For an entire week those buckets of clothes have been lined up in the playroom. Ugh. Don't even talk to me about the boys clothes that need cleaning out.

I am encouraged, though. These early morning runs with the Coach have given us time we didn't have together. Not that I'm much in the mood for talking, but he is, and I like to listen.

And knowing that something IS really making me more tired than usual is, oddly, comforting. Because I was pretty sure I was losing my mind.

Lessons from this week?

Sometimes "dates" come way before the sun rises and require running shoes and dodging skunks.

A trip to the doctor now and then is a good idea for everyone.

And as the Coach says? "It'll all get done."

And it will.

After my nap.

A penny saved is. . . not NEARLY enough!

2011-09-27T00:13:00.000-05:00

It's quite possible that I am still annoyed by the price hike on my favorite 32.oz chemical/artificial sweetener/caramel coloring/carbonated water treat. Finding two quarters in my car, on the kitchen counter, in the couch cushions - totally a possibility on any given day. Finding four quarters or a dollar bill? Much less likely.

Reminded me of the fact that the $3 car wash (when we moved to our fair suburb 6 years ago) is now $6. SIX DOLLARS. Well worth it, mind you, when you have eight kids and two cars that you swap back and forth every day to cart muddy football players, snacking elementary students, volleyball players, and go on the occasional date night in. Of course the best thing of all is when one finds QUARTERS while vacuuming out the van at the SIX DOLLAR car wash. Ha!

Enough of the caps, already, I know.

Back in the day (before suburbs and eight kids), we washed the cars in our driveway with the hose. I may, in fact, have a serious addiction to clean cars. Even back then, most often pregnant, little munchkins running all over the place - I would get out and wash the cars on Saturday. If he'd already finished mowing the lawn (that was before we had boys old enough to do the mowing - like when they turned seven), the Coach would help. I always did the vacuuming, though. OK. I do have a problem.

When I turned sixteen and was given my own car (notice how I resisted the temptation for all caps), I washed it, faithfully. Even without eight kids to get it filthy dirty every week. It wouldn't have held eight kids, anyway. It would have barely held the Coach and I. But we sold it before he came on the scene. The only "car wash" besides my own driveway was the one that you pulled into and fed quarters into a machine and washed it yourself. Probably more quarters than it USED to take to buy 32oz of caffeinated refreshment.

(sigh)

Enough about dirty cars.

Everything is getting SO expensive. Milk. Bread. And have you bought ground beef, lately? Good heavens. One good reason to go vegan, for sure. Except that I'm pretty sure my football players (and most likely the Coach) would cry "MUTINY!"

Even Netflix is moving quickly out of the "affordable entertainment for a large family who is too conservative to watch regular TV" category. There is a category like that, right? When we first signed up, years ago, it was $9.99 per month. Two DVD's at a time. Then came streaming on the Wii. For FREE. How awesome was that? And now? It's $7.99 for one DVD at a time AND $7.99 for streaming. Ugh. Probably should cancel that DVD part, anyway. I've had the same DVD sitting on the counter for a month, now. Who has time for a WHOLE movie these days?

And while we are talking about internet? The whole phone/cell phone/DSL thing is some kind of con. The bill goes up nearly every month. All so we can have three cell phones, one land line, three computers, a Wii and two Nooks online at all times. Never mind that I have to turn all of them off to get some peace and quite around here. Can I get a credit for that?

I had a phone line when I was a teen. My own phone line. In my room (what WERE my parents thinking?). It had a cord, though, so I certainly couldn't go very far with it. And the cell phone? No such thing! I had a CAR phone. Mounted in the floor of my Civic. It was awesome. And way cheaper.

Sometimes I just sit and reminisce about the "juno.com" days. Remember? Free e-mail. Your already in use phone line, a dial-up connection, sending and downloading e-mails in one fell swoop (and only when you chose to do it). Sure, it took forever, but think how much LESS time we spent dealing with it all back then. Free e-mail, I miss you.

Now, my e-mail checks itself without my permission, reminding me of those 117 messages I haven't responded to. Then there is Facebook. OK. Well. They've pretty much ruined Facebook, but I can't seem to give it up completely.

And Pinterest? Good Heavens. Fun. Addictive. And a lovely and delightful waste of time that I don't have.

I'm already wasting enough time. And without my 49 cent bi-weekly afternoon caffeine fix? I can't stay awake long enough to enjoy the time I'm already wasting.

Just a good reminder, at the end of the day, that our wise parents were right. Nothing is free. At least not for long.

Well, except for the saving grace of our Lord Jesus. No matter who you are, how much money you have (or don't have), where you live, what you drive, wear, eat or waste time on. . . God's grace is there. Free. His gift of salvation. At His expense. No fine print. No loopholes. No exceptions.

I'll always be able to be thankful for that, even when I can't find four quarters in my dirty car.

Thankful Thursday

2011-09-22T12:39:00.000-05:00

1. Yesterday was the 17th anniversary of when our courtship began. Maybe this is why I love Fall so much - it reminds me every year of falling in love with the Coach.

2. Full pantry, fridge, cabinets, and freezer. I LOVE that my kids can be in our amazing school. I do NOT love unloading and putting all of the groceries away by myself. Ha!

3. RAIN. Lovely thunderstorm last night and this morning. Cool, rainy weather is my favorite! And we needed the rain so badly.

4. A pedicure with my mom, yesterday. The uninterrupted visit is more of a blessing than the pretty toes. Which is a good thing, because as soon as I walked in the door, someone dropped their homework notebook ON my pretty toes. (sigh)

5. Volleyball season is winding down. It's been fast, furious, and FUN. A break before basketball season will be nice!

6. Sale at Coldwater Creek today. Not sure if I'll make it over there, but I'm going to try!

7. Finding packages of lean ground beef with reduced prices at Sam's this morning. Now I just have to make some things with it. Will be SO nice to have in the freezer, though!

8. The nap that Little Man and I are going to take, here in the next few minutes. It's cool, cloudy, and when I turn the phone off? Quiet! He and I are both SO tired! And we need to rest up because tomorrow? Football!

Happy Thursday!

Flawed Genes

2011-09-21T23:48:00.000-05:00

It's bound to happen.

They are, after all, my offspring. And the sin gets passed down right along with the brown eyes and big feet (mine, not the Coach's).

My kids are going to fail. Make poor choices, do something they shouldn't. I pray every day that in these life lessons, God will protect them. But they are human, imperfect, learning (just like me!).

When they do? How do I respond?

Do I remind them who they ARE and who is WATCHING and how embarrassing it is that MY kid would do THAT?

(I'll admit this is my first reaction, if I'm not careful.)

Do I tell them that having a good name is hugely important and that they inherited a VERY good name that they haven't even earned?

(Which is certainly the truth.)

Do I threaten them with monstrous consequences (real or imagined) and tell them I am disappointed at so many levels?

(When I am, of course.)

Or do I say:

(along with their Heavenly Father)

"Nothing you can ever do will make me love you more.
And nothing you can ever do will make me love you less."

Not for being perfect. Not for making straight A's. Not for excelling in sports. Not for having great friends. Not because they do things that please me. Not because they DO anything.

But because they are MINE.

Period.

The sin? It breaks my heart. But the love? That's a choice. Not based on performance, but on the never-ending, never-failing love of my Savior.

Tonight? I'm choosing to love (right along side consequences of a natural and applied nature).

This is hard stuff. Parenting isn't for sissies (although I sometimes am one). It isn't the first time one of my kids has blown it. It won't be the last (there are eight of them, after all).

~Thank you, Lord, that we can't see all that the future holds and that Your grace is sufficient and Your mercies are new every morning!

Help me to LOVE, even when they fail. To reach out, even when it's hard. To forgive. . . in Your strength.

Because as much I could ever love these precious children.

YOU love them more.~

The Good, the Bad, and Other Stuff. . .

2011-09-20T09:42:00.000-05:00

Seriously. Tired. WAY too tired for a Tuesday. I'm pretty sure losing wears us all out. Maybe character-building is over-rated. (Don't tell anyone I said that.)

(sigh)

Where was I?

Oh! The good news! Dad's surgery went well, yesterday. He had a cancerous place removed from his nose. Things went smoothly. When the kids saw it, the boys all said "Cool!" and the girls all said, "Eeeewwww!" Success! Thanks so much for all of the prayers.

The bad news? OnCue raised it's prices on the 32 oz. fountain drinks from 49 cents to 79 cents. This is depressing and has pretty much ruined my week. (I jest. My life will go on. But I'm not happy about it.)

And the random?

Judging from the response to my painfully revealing post last Thursday, it seems that finding out someone else's faults makes us all feel better.

Glad I could help.

Thanks for the sweet comments, Facebook discussions, and for stopping me while out and about to tell me that you were encouraged. You've blessed me! I may have a multitude of weaknesses and faults, but I have the BEST friends.

In the meantime, while I admitted my love for magazines, reading in general is one of my greatest pleasures. Magazines, books, articles, I even love the newspaper (even if we canceled our subscription long ago).

I'm currently reading Bonhoeffer. Incredible. The current issue of World magazine. October's Traditional Home. So pretty. This morning I read this article on homeschooling. Which reminded me of this book, which I highly recommend. Reading things like that (the parenting, not the decorating) always challenges me. What is my priority with my kids? And why do I sometimes feel like feeding and clothing them is more than I can handle? Much less training them up in righteousness - with grace - preparing them for the world - trusting the Lord to reach their hearts - loving them unconditionally - giving them opportunities to fail - instilling in them a Christian world view.

Whew.

Sure am glad that my kids have such a wonderful dad. Ha!

In the meantime, Little Man wants to watch Garfield on Netflix with me (wonder what world view THAT is teaching?). I think a second cup of coffee is calling. Along with some much-needed laundry folding.

What are YOU reading/watching/folding today?

Happy Tuesday!

Coming Clean. . .

2011-09-15T10:40:00.000-05:00

They say confession is good for the soul (I don't know who "they" are, but I listen more than I should).

And I would never, in any sort of way, want any of you to think I'm something I'm not. So for those of you who "don't know how I do it" or call me "Supermom" (please stop, by the way!) or think juggling the Troops makes me "amazing"?

Here's the truth:

1. I can be seriously grumpy, impatient, and intolerant of my goofy kids.

2. Sometimes I want to leave and/or quit. (Usually when all of the goofy kids are home.)

3. I like to stay up late. Even when I'm tired (drives ~~the Coach~~ Mr. Self-Discipline crazy, by the way).

4. I love rainy days. And Eeyore.

5. I hate getting up in the morning (especially since we got that 3 inch memory foam mattress topper. Grrrrr.). (See #3)

6. I'm am even more grumpy, impatient, and intolerant when I'm on a diet.

7. I'm always on a diet. Did I say diet? I mean "life-style change". Whatever.

8. I haven't lost any weight since February.

9. I have a horrible memory. Embarrassingly horrible. If I call you the wrong name, just remember it's not because I don't love you. I call my kids the wrong names all day long. And I love them, even when I'm grumpy, impatient, and intolerant of their goofiness.

10. Calling the girls "Sister" and the boys "Brother" helps with my memory issues. And it makes me feel like I live in the deep south. Except the deep south was cooler, apparently, this Summer than it was here. Go figure.

11. Heat makes me cranky. And sweaty. And cranky. This Summer the average temperature was higher in our state than it's ever been in history. That's a lot of cranky sweaty. I may not cool off until December (because I never, ever, sneak the thermostat down a degree or two. Never.).

12. I'm addicted to Diet Dr. Pepper. But I quit drinking it rather frequently for weeks at a time because my firstborn won't stop telling me how bad it is for me (maybe he's one of the "they"s who say things?). Except that when I'm not drinking it, I'm even more difficult to live with. If that's possible.

13. I think television (or Netflix, Hulu, DVD's etc.) is God's gift to mothers. Forget playing outside (remember those record setting temps?). . . go "watch something". Unless your laundry isn't put away or you have homework, in which case if I catch you watching something you will meet "Cranky" in a whole new way.

14. I eat when I'm stressed. Getting out of bed is stressful. Getting seven kids ready for school is stressful (How DO you lose ONE knee pad? How?). Making eight lunches is stressful (especially with help). Calls from the big green van to tell me what was forgotten and needs to be brought to school is stressful. Trying to get all of the laundry done, grocery shopping done, meals cooked, and house cleaned before I have to go BACK to school is stressful. (See #7) Don't even get me started on what it's like after school.

15. I have failed to teach any of my eight children to change the toilet paper roll.

16. Finding an empty toilet paper roll when I go to the bathroom is stressful. (See #14) (And #7)

17. All of the socks in our house go through the wash inside out. And get folded inside out. And somehow are STILL inside out when they get put back in the laundry basket. Go figure.

18. I love magazines. And I read them from back to front. And I may or may not hide in the bathroom to read them. With the door locked. At least I'm HERE! (See #2)

19. I'm a list maker. Bet you couldn't tell. Some of my kids like lists, some of my kids hate them. I can't ever remember which is which. So I make them for everyone.

20. I like quiet. And clean houses. And personal space. (Yes, I CAN hear you laughing.)

There are days, or weeks, when I seriously feel for my easy-going Coach and my fun, happy (in spite of me) children (who love to make big messes). Because I can be really hard to live with. My expectations are too unrealistic. I get frustrated when I should laugh. I'm ALWAYS too tired for one more story, one more song, one more piano duet, one more math problem, one more "Look Mom! Look!".

Maybe I should go to bed earlier. (See #5)

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

Even when I fail miserably, to be the comforter and encourager that I should be to my family, I'm so grateful that the Lord (and the kids) offers forgiveness and that I can return again and again to HIS strength and grace. The love of Christ is wide. . . long. . . high. . . deep.

Pretty sure that's enough love even for Grumpy Cranky .

Happy Thursday!

Things I love. . .

2011-09-13T22:04:00.001-05:00

~Catching the Coach sitting at his desk, at night, working, with a big smile on his face. Asking what? And having him say, "Just grateful. Grateful for responsible kids." While looking into the living room where our 13 year old is doing homework.

~Having my firstborn stop me in the kitchen and say, with a muffled mouthful, "Mom! These muffins are GOOD!"

~Listening to my big kids talk and laugh about the big varsity volleyball game they were at tonight. Even if they should be in bed, already.

~That my 11 year old son goes to bed without being told. The other kids say that when he sleeps he's "recharging". Whew! I think they are right!

~Listening to my 1st grader read her books from school to me at night. Sounding out BIG words on her own.

~Little Man spelling his name for me. Especially when he remembers the "T".

~Hugs from my kids. From Son #1 who is way bigger than I am, to little man who is all arms and legs. Love them.

~The Coach's nicknames for all of the kids. He's the only one that calls them "that" and they love it.

~This song on my i-pod (actually it's Daughter's - #5 - i-pod, but she lets me borrow it) while I run. Praising Jesus while I run helps me forget how much it hurts.

~The fact that the Coach saw all of the clean laundry in piles in the living room and suggested that maybe we combine "family devotions" with "laundry folding" tomorrow night. Love him. Even when he's being sarcastic.

~My Tervis insulated cup. I have this one. Gift from my kids this Summer. Makes drinking water SO much prettier. And colder.

~Watching my oldest daughter play volleyball. And her smile.

~My third-born getting to play in his FIRST football game this week. For his dad (who is the Jr. High Coach). Made me tear up. After all of those years taking my babies to their daddy's games - and now my "babies" are PLAYING for their dad. Sniff.

~Our new "lockers" in the garage that our very kind and very talented fire-fighter friend built for us. Eight of them. I'll take some pictures for you!

~That my parents are coming home tomorrow after TWO WEEKS away. We have SO missed them!

~Coffee-mate Belgian Chocolate Toffee Creamer. Ahhhhhh.

~Pinterest. Still waiting to start my own board, but WOW that site is fun. Need to stay away from those baby pictures, though. Be still my heart!

Seems this has turned into a Thankful Thursday. Except on Tuesday night. But I think I feel better, already! There will be more to "love" on Thursday, I'm sure.

And now I'm off to bed. Another crazy busy day awaits, tomorrow. Oh, another thing I love?

~That when I tell the Coach I can't do this anymore (this being football, volleyball, seven kids in school. . . life), he reminds me that I don't have to. "The Lord is your strength." (big sigh)

May you find YOUR strength in HIM this week~

A Coach's Wife and a Momma, too

2011-09-10T19:04:00.000-05:00

It's football season here at the Troop's.

(just encase you've been living under a rock)

Cool Friday night games - finally! What a hot, miserable Summer, it's been.

Stinky practice clothes, rank football pads, and muddy cleats in my garage and laundry room. Yuck.

VERY hungry teen-age boys.

VERY busy husband-coaches.

Football film running on the computer continually.

Plays scratched on clipboards all over the desk.

Lots more time with the TV on, depending on who is playing and who wants to watch.

Snacks and coloring books replenished and repacked on a regular basis in our "game bag".

The stadium seat staying IN the car (why take it out?).

Sitting in the bleachers as a "single mom" (while the "little" kids play their own game of football behind the stands) and laughing with my sweet school friends and sisters-in-law. There may or not be some screaming, yelling, and jumping up and down involved, as well.

Borrowing money from my kids to get admission (for 8) into away games.

Early dinners, late bedtimes, and some loooooong drives in between.

And every now and then?

A VERY disappointed Coach and middle linebacker in residence.

Because our boys? They got pounded last night.

To their credit, this team was WAY out of our league.

To their demise, they didn't play their best.

It happens.

The football pads can be sprayed with Lysol and set out on the deck to air out. The stinky clothes can be washed. The cleats can be scrubbed. The hungry bellies can be fed. The sore muscles and voices made hoarse by yelling can be rested and recovered. Naps can make up for some of the lost sleep.

But sometimes the disappointment takes longer to get over.

Sure it's just a game. It won't last (in fact, we'll do it all over again next week) and it won't matter for eternity. No amount of "coulda, woulda, shoulda" will change the final score.

It's rough to get spanked by a bigger, badder team. No fun at all.

But underneath it all? The character it builds WILL last. My boys will (I pray) grow up to be more patient, more disciplined, more determined. And yes, more humble (losing will do that to you). Like their amazing Coach/Dad.

So even though it's a bummer, I'm going to be grateful that God has given the men in my life ample character building opportunities this week.

Win or lose. . . they are #1 to me.

Hopefully, next week we can build a little less character and come away with a WIN. Ha!

Happy Saturday!

Wisdom, Discernment, and various other needs. . .

2011-09-01T07:53:00.001-05:00

Some nights I go to bed with absolutely no idea of how tomorrow will work.

And unless something miraculously changes overnight, this usually leads to getting up in the morning having no idea how the day will work.
(occasionally the answer comes to me in the night, but that is rare and I don't count on it.)

In spite of my efforts, sometimes the kids are even off to school with the Coach, STILL having no idea what we will do or how things will work.
It's life.
With eight kids.

I look at the calendar.
I look at the list.

I see some contradictions.

I look at them both, again.

And then, for the 10th, or 100th time, I offer it all up to the Lord.

God is the blessed controller of all things. I trust Him. "For I know the plans I have for you," becomes more than just a verse relating to the big issues of life.

Because it's about the small issues, too.

In the end, everything will work out. Maybe not the way I would choose, or with the outcome I would like, but time will pass and decisions will be made (I get SO tired of making them!) and the day will come to a close and my heart will be thankful (sometimes by choice) for those "plans".

As moms, we need a great deal of wisdom - seeing things from God's perspective. Looking at our day, our calendar, our list, with eternal eyes. We can't do THAT on our own.

In all of those decisions that need to be made and carried out - discernment becomes my prayer. I don't always know the best thing to do in any given choice. OK. I rarely know. But I can come before the throne of my omniscient Savior and have access to HIS discernment. Even in the small things.

Because MOST of life is dealing with the small things.

Schedules, rides, games, homework, paperwork, bills, laundry, meals, errands.

Today, I have the refreshed perspective of fires burning to the East of our fair city. Fires that are close to the homes of many friends and my brother and his family. A reminder that the small things are just that. Small. Not much will last for eternity. Certainly not houses.

So with my heart full of petitions for the protection of those I love, I approach MY duties for the day.

Grateful for a God who loves, cares for, protects, gives direction, and offers His grace.

The small things still have to be done. The schedule still worked out. But hopefully I will tackle it all with a grateful heart and a desire to remember what really matters, today.

Happy Thursday!

No wonder I'm so tired. . .

2011-08-30T12:52:00.000-05:00

The kids love dinner table conversation. Especially the big kids. Even the younger ones hang around so they don't miss any good stories or jokes.

Of course there are the manners to work on (no you CAN NOT eat while standing), the talking over one another (how many conversations can you listen to at once, Mom?) and the "what I want to say is way more important than what anyone else wants to say so I'll just say it louder" issues. Never mind the gross bodily noises, reaching across the table for the water pitcher, and using clothing items as napkins.

But overall, good times.

One the kids VERY favorite things is when the Coach tells stories from his growing up years. They think he had the most FUN, EXCITING childhood EVER.

Monday night someone said, "Why don't we have MOM tell a story about growing up?" To which someone else piped in (before I had a chance to actually say anything), "No, Dad's stories are more exciting."

Ahem.

Thanks, guys.

Anyway, once of their favorite stories is about the Coach swinging a wooden musket around his head, warning his older brother not to come near him "because I won't stop swinging it no matter what". Then he proceeded to knock his brother's teeth out.

The kids love that one.

In fact they told it FOR him, Monday night.

He's their hero.

After they all had a good laugh, Son #3 said, "Well, that's kind of like what YOU do (turning to Son #4), when you slam the boys' room door over and over and tell us if we come in, we'll get smashed."

Without missing a beat, Son #4 replied with his winning smile, "Just making childhood memories."

(sigh)

I think I need a nap.

Another Year

2011-08-25T08:37:00.000-05:00

First Day of School 2011

We had a great FIRST day of school! I couldn't believe how little help everyone needed, how helpful they were with their lunches, how prepared they were with their stuff and their clothes.

They are growing up.

When I look at this picture, I am overwhelmed with how much they've grown. I think about last year. When my little Kindergartner struggled to wake up every day. And my 2nd grader took some time to settle in after a Spring of homeschool in 1st grade.

And now Son #1 is playing Varsity football, Daughter #2 is playing on the Freshman volleyball team, and Son #3 has Jr. High football practice after school.

My 1st grader hopped out of bed ready to go, my 3rd grader didn't hesitate a bit when we visited her classroom and hugged her precious teacher. My 4th grader is confident, friendly, and organized. My 5th grader had his PE bag ready to go this morning, is setting up his notebooks in class (Yay!), and packed his own lunch while helping with the girls.

So on the one hand, Summer was MUCH harder this year with jobs, workouts, Summer sports, and kids who were too big to just "hang out" at home all of the time.

But on the other hand, School seems to be much easier, with everyone growing up and taking care of their own stuff, getting things in order on their own, leaving their beds made and rooms neat.

I know the "new" will wear off in a few weeks. But they are going to keep growing up.

And Little Man and me?

We had a great day, too. Reacquainted myself with my treadmill - which wasn't as bad as I anticipated. Cleaned out the fridge, did some grocery shopping, made a few meals for the freezer, baked bread and cinnamon rolls, and took a NAP.

Ahhhhhh. Productivity and rest. I'm missed them.

Life is good. And I'm so grateful.

1. GREAT first day of school.

2. Happy kids.

3. Precious, wonderful, capable teachers at our school.

4. A break from the supply, clothes, and shoe shopping. Whew!

5. God's perfect provision through the preparations and beginning of a new school year.

6. A new microwave (last week after ours died)!

7. Coffee. Early mornings are not my friend. Caffeine helps.

8. Some extra time with my parents before school started - celebrating my mom's birthday and having one last weekday lunch with the big kids.

9. Air conditioning - I don't remember it ever being THIS hot at the start of school. Ugh.

10. The realization (more and more each year) that I can't do it all, have it all ready, get it all done. . . and it's OK. The kids are just fine. And God is still faithful.

Happy Thursday

And after finding last years "First Day of School" picture - and seeing how much the kids have grown this year?

No more blinking!!

First Day of School 2010

Growing Up

2011-08-21T23:04:00.000-05:00

Little Man has become pre-occupied with "getting bigger".
Every morning, "Am I bigger, Mom?" "Am I bigger, yet?"
He almost doesn't need the step-stool anymore to reach the sink to wash his hands. (sniff)
"When will I be a big boy like my brothers?"

Yesterday, he told me he was "All grown up!", so he could wash his balloon all by himself.
Hmmmmm.
Wash a balloon?
I was too scared to ask, so I sent one of the girls to check on him.

It's not a bad thing this "growing up". I will admit I've been fearful at times that he wouldn't ever grow up. He IS the baby. Not that I don't work on it. Helping him be independent and do things on his own, even though there are many willing to do it for him. But unlike our others, there isn't someone younger clamoring for attention.

He helped unload the produce co-op awhile back. Taking each vegetable and setting it carefully on the counter like I had shown him. Then he held up a big yellow onion and said, "What about this little guy?"

I don't want him to grow up too fast. He is my "cuddle bug". But at four and a half, he isn't a baby and I don't want to treat him like one.

I'm not sure what he'll do when school starts. If he'll miss the kids desperately, or be grateful that there isn't anyone around to bug and pick on him all day.

Probably both.

We've been here and there, running errands for school supplies, shoes, etc. the last week or so.
He's found this little stuffed monkey with HUGE eyes (not unlike his) that he wants very badly at several DIFFERENT stores (a big thanks to the people marketing these things).

He's asked me over and over to get this little monkey.

And I keep saying no.

I know I spoil him sometimes. But seriously, we don't need another stuffed animal in this house. Ugh.

Finally, at one point when I tired of hearing him ask me about it, I said, "Little Man, we can't just BUY toys. When the big kids want something very badly, they do jobs and earn the money to buy it themselves."

Thinking (naively, I suppose) that this would quiet him for good.

Except that NOW he wants me to give him a job.

Tonight, while getting ready for bed, he mentioned THE monkey again and I told him that I would think about some jobs he could do for me this week. He looked at me warily (he had almost fallen asleep sitting next to Nana at my mom's birthday celebration) and said, "But Mom, I'm SO tired."

While tucking him in, we went over (once again) that maybe he could do some work to earn the money this week so he could buy the monkey.

He thought a moment.

Then said, "Mom! Like clean the whole house?"

I knew he was a good kid. He's going to be just fine.

(This is the turtle that he found out at the farm two weeks ago. At one point Little Man disappeared for a bit and came back without the turtle. Then he explained to us that he had to put it in a "time out" because it kept crawling back into the water and trying to swim away from him.)

A Happy Kind of Sad

2011-08-07T20:06:00.000-05:00

We just spent a FUN three days at the farm. . . came home this evening. Kids are eating pizza, watching "Megamind", and some are already falling asleep. I'm listening to the washer hum (a few loads of stinky pond water soaked suits and towels will do the trick) and thinking about the next few weeks.

Football starts tomorrow.

We got the much-anticipated "class list" on Friday - the younger four school kids are SO excited to know who their teachers are and who their class-mates will be.

Volleyball started two weeks ago for my soon-to-be Freshman daughter.

A few sleeps (as Little Man says) and we'll be into the thick of "Back to School" crazies.

So for the troops? This weekend marked the "end" of Summer. For the most part. There will be a few more afternoons at the pool (I hope!), minus the older kids. Another movie night or two.

I AM excited about Fall. There's the weather - SO ready for that! But also the football games. Watching my first-born play more for the Varsity team (at least that's what he's hoping for!). Watching my girl play volleyball on the Freshman team. And it will be FUN to see #3 start playing on the Jr. High football team for his dad.

But you and I both know this can only mean one thing. . .

The younger troops and I are going to be spending a LOT of time in the bleachers.

Maybe I'm grieving the end of an unusually busy Summer. One without an "actual" vacation (although our weekends at the farm were GREAT!). It never really slowed down.

Maybe I'm thinking how quiet it will be with just Little Man at home, again. And what WILL he do to stay busy as an active 4 1/2 year old? It's not like he fits in the jogging stroller anymore. (sigh)

Maybe I'm already dreading the assignment tablets, school notes, money that will have to be sent, not to mention HOMEWORK, and all of the projects that will need to be done, forheavenssake.

Maybe most of all, I'm already missing the Coach. Practice may not start until tomorrow, but football is already on his mind. In a big way.

The seasons? They are a-changing. They always will. Back to school August HEAT will turn into cool Friday night football games. Which will turn into ice-storms and Christmas and basketball games four nights a week. Time is passing more quickly every year. We have more and more to keep up with. The kids are growing and changing and DRIVING and learning and laughing and. . .

I love it.

Tonight? I'm going to make my to-do list and BE THANKFUL.

That my seven school kids can attend our wonderful school, spend their days with precious teachers, be coached by their amazing daddy and our sweet nieces, learn God's Word, and, of course, our American Christian History.

That the Coach is blessed enough to DO what he LOVES. Teach, work with highschool kids, coach football, watch his boys on the field and his girl on the court.

That God has provided abundantly for our every need. And our children's education. Given us a beautiful home to enjoy and fill with noise and fun and laughter.

That we could escape to the farm for the weekend. . . where the kids can swim in the pond, catch fish, drive the Ranger all over the dirt roads, catch frogs that gather on the windows at night, play games, work puzzles, and fall into bed exhausted every night.

That the Coach and I DID have a lovely quiet weekend alone this Summer. Thanks to my wonderful parents and our sweet friends. I'm going to hang onto those memories for a long time.

That seasons DO change. That having 7 kids 9 and under didn't last forever (Whew!). That they are growing up, chauffeuring me all over town, and bringing the Coach and I SUCH JOY.

I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Happy Sunday!

It's so stinkin' HOT!

2011-07-23T15:32:00.001-05:00

If you live here in our great state of Oklahoma, you know that there really isn't much else to say around here.

It's hot.

Miserably hot.

OK.

Enough of that.

Two things I wanted to clear up about my ~~rant~~ post regarding not trying to be anyone that you aren't.

First of all, I do NOT mean to say that you shouldn't seek and follow the wise counsel of others. God's Word is very clear about some things. And a bit foggy about others. When you study the Bible, read books, and ASK those around you who are older, wiser, and have more experience, you will be much more ready to face challenges and trials. And decisions. The Coach and I need a LOT of counsel a LOT of the time. Life is full of decisions and choices. This doesn't mean that the counsel you seek will be what you choose to do. But you should ask. And listen.

"Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety."

Second, I do NOT mean that we should just do what comes easily. Good grief, if I did that, I'd sit on the couch and eat cereal and watch talk shows (I dream about doing it, but never actually have.).

Instead, I get up early, go for a painful (when WILL it get easier?) run in the miserable heat, drink gallons of water while trying to stop sweating, shower, drink a protein shake (not cereal!), and go on my way to pick up kids, and take kids, and pick up kids. . .

"But I discipline my body and keep it under control, less after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."

What comes "naturally" to me is often NOT what I should be doing. However, God has given me certain strengths and weaknesses. I try to work on those weaknesses (there are so many), but also appreciate that He has given me a strengths, too.

I'm a more compassionate mother than I am a dictator. Sometimes that's a strength, sometimes a weakness, but it's how God made me. That doesn't mean I shouldn't continue to work on being consistent and firm with my kids. But it's also taken me a long time to realize that I'm not going to be the kind of parent who doesn't let the kids eat when they are hungry or watch TV now and then. And they'll live. God's grace covers my (sometimes) push-over parenting just like He covers the harshness of others.

It's all His grace, People.

And now, back to the weather.

Wednesday morning, I ran early so the Coach and I could run together. We've started running together two days a week (the two days he doesn't have to leave the house at 6:00), for the first time since training for this. This morning we both had to be out the door earlier than usual (for a Wednesday), so we went running at 5:45.

I'm a "half-empty" kind of girl, so I'll try to be positive (not natural for me!). When my body is only half-awake, it only hurts half as much. That's a good thing.

However, falling asleep while stretching isn't.

And at 5:45 AM, there wasn't much talking from my direction. Which made it easier for me to breathe. The Coach probably enjoyed the quiet. The lack of the blazing sun beating down on us, was almost worth being bleary-eyed. Almost.

He can still run circles around me, even though he hasn't run much since the Austin Half-marathon. I HAVE been out there four days a week, huffing and puffing up and down the hills, and he's STILL in better shape, doing nothing. Let's be honest. . . he was BORN in better shape than I'll ever be. I'm not going to try to be something I'm not, right? So it's all good.

The heat will break, eventually. It always does. And I hear that an unusually hot Summer means an unusually harsh Winter is on our way. This makes my kids happy because they LOVE those snow/ice days. Can't wait.

Happy Saturday!

A Quiet Moment!

2011-07-07T13:32:00.000-05:00

A slightly cloudy afternoon here at the troops, in spite of the 100+ temperatures.

I'm not exactly sure why it's quiet, just now.

It's delightful.

"My Fair Lady" is playing in the living room. Some kids are eating lunch, others have already eaten and have gone back to playing.

American Girl dolls/school/vacation something or other.

And for once this week?

No one is screaming at anyone else.

I know my kids shouldn't yell. But they do. And I know they shouldn't say certain things. But they do.

We are all learning to live together and get a long and give up our rights.

It's part of life.

(And I'm sorry to say I yell every now and then, too.)

In between all of the driving to and fro. . . running errands. . . appointments, practices, and just LIFE (meaning meals and laundry, of course). . . it hasn't felt much like "Summer" at all around here.

Oh. Someone is yelling. . . the quiet didn't last long, did it?

If I could hire someone to work here, at the troops, it would be someone who could follow the children around and tell them to "turn that off, please", "flush, please", "go back and close that, please", "hang it up when you are done, please", etc. etc.

I know I'm the mom. And it's my job. But I'm tired of it.

And while we are dreaming. . . I'd hire a chauffeur, too. Think of all I could get done if I could just be HOME.

We DID clean out the girls' overflowing closet and drawers. It's very nice to have it done. And it only took 4 hours, weeping and gnashing of teeth, and LOTS of, "come back here, we aren't finished, yet!"

We also traded out the Legos for the Playmobil. We only have one set of a million pieces out at any given time, the other stays stored in the attic. The Legos have been out for months. So it was time. Or so I thought.

The fighting over the pieces of "food" may convince me otherwise. Maybe they have a set with JUST food that I could order. It seems to be the most desired of all items.

The school year is remarkably busy here. Somehow I wait all year for Summer in the hopes that there WILL be some quiet. Some weeks that aren't so booked. Some days when we can just BE and not RUSH.

The truth is, all year we put things off and schedule them for Summer, "when it won't be so busy". Leaving ourselves overbooked, rushing around, getting up early instead of sleeping in, trying to fit it all in before school starts, again, in a few short weeks.

Maybe because of that, when a quiet moment DOES come (like the hour or two I have this afternoon), I am trying to relish it. Enjoy it. Maybe even fall asleep.

Who knows when it will happen, again!

Happy Summer, Sweet Friends!

The longer I live. . . the less I know. . .

2011-06-29T00:07:00.000-05:00

Happy End of June!

After one very busy, very quick, VERY short month, I have to say. . .

I can't wait for school to start, again, so I can get a NAP! Ha! (with sincere apologies to my precious homeschooling friends who have their kids home all year!)

And Little Man? The poor dude is worn slick (as the Coach says). Fell asleep at the dinner table last night. At 6:00. He's missing his naps, too!

Summer isn't defined anymore by sleeping in, lazy days, relaxing by the pool (although we have fit it in once or twice) OR getting big projects done. I miss those days! And I have two rooms that seriously need painting!

We're too busy surviving life with our older kids going in various directions.

One of the nicest things about getting older (and I have aged since my last post (sigh), happy 38th to me) is realizing that MY family is MY family.

It won't look like yours. No matter how hard I try (because I think you are all wonderful!).

My marriage? Unique. Our relationship may have similarities to others, but it won't be the same.

We aren't the same.

My eight kids? NOT the same. Incredibly (and sometimes frustratingly) unique.

Assembly line parenting would be soooooo much easier, don't you think?

I used to do things just because other people that I admired did them. Hmmmm. I didn't have the security to do something different because I felt it was best for US.

That's not all bad. . . I did some things right because of it. But I also did things that didn't "fit" me or my marriage or my family. I tried to be "like" other moms or families without thinking about whether or not it was something that the Coach and I really felt was important for US. Without realizing that my strengths and weaknesses are different than anyone else's.

Because we aren't anyone else and what works for you may or may not work for me.

It's funny. . . when I started this blog way back when, I fully intended to try to be an encouragement by sharing with you what works for the troops. How we stay organized, plan meals, deal with laundry, coordinate schedules, fit four kids in a room. . . you know. . . that kind of thing.

But it hasn't really worked out that way. I don't do anything that amazing or special. Most of what I do you wouldn't want to hear about anyway. It wouldn't work in your house like it works in mine.

That's OK.

I'm not talking, of course, about the absolutes of life. . . the rights and wrongs. . .

It's odd to me, though, how we make things that ARE NOT absolutes into rights and wrongs.

I could tell you how we do things around here. I will, if you ask. Usually. But you know what? It probably won't help you. You have a different spouse, a different home, different children, a different financial situation. And besides that. . . you don't want to be like us! Trust me!

I'm all for teaching and training my kids. But you know what? The battles I chose with my toddlers will be different than the battles you chose (both of us had better win, though!). The things that I make a priority will be different than the things you do.

Maybe part of growing as a parent is accepting that I will parent differently, my kids personalities will be different, our family will be different.

It may be a big deal to you that your kids don't eat between meals (as an example). I let my kids have an afternoon snack. Is this wrong? I do laundry every day. Does that mean doing laundry one day a week is wrong? Will my clothes organizational system for eight kids work for your three? Probably not. Do you buy powder or liquid laundry detergent (or make your own!)? Aaargh!

See what I mean? We can get to the place where we think WE know best what will work for others and forget that God made us all very different!

So it's not that I'm against blogs that share laundry tips and how to save money (I read them!) and how to homeschool more effectively. Take what's helpful and use it! Let what isn't helpful go. Sometimes we have to try it out to know the difference!

Trust the Lord to lead you and your family towards loving and serving Him as He created you to do.

As He created YOU to do.

Don't worry about being like anyone else. Except our Lord Jesus.

I've given up on sharing about how things work, here at the troops. Instead, I'm all for letting you know that we fail on a regular basis. Way more often than we do anything right. And our Heavenly Father still pours our His sufficient grace.

It's not about being the perfect parent, wife, home manager, cook, housekeeper, child-trainer. It's about being totally imperfect at all of that. . . and having a Savior who loves me still.

Happy Wednesday!

Made for Eachother

2011-06-10T01:44:00.002-05:00

This evening, while I should have been urging the little ones to an earlier bedtime (so hard in the Summer!), I perused some of my blog bookmarks that have long been neglected.

I clicked on "Amy's Humble Musings" - a blog I haven't read in ages, but always enjoy (besides that it makes me feel like a city girl that lacks any life skills what-so-ever), and a few posts down, this caught my attention. Her post led me to this post (isn't that how reading blogs is?) and I found it sobering.

You know by now, I hope, that I seek to be real and honest in my writing (if you can call my ramblings on about life with eight children and how overwhelmed I am, actual writing). I won't, of course, write here about conflict with my Coach. This isn't the place for it. Besides, he IS amazing. You know this. I am so very grateful for him and how patiently he puts up with me.

That doesn't, in any way, mean that we don't HAVE conflict. We are human. We are sinful. We are selfish (me, in particular, with the selfish part). We don't always respond as we should or laugh when we ought and all too often we choose to be defensive when we should be willing to admit wrong, or lash out when we should forgive.

This is marriage. This is real life.

Life is about relationships. With God and with others. Marriage is the closest one of all on this earth. Relationships are tough. Sometimes? Impossible. Always? Humbling. If we are honest. Because we are dealing with other people.

When the Coach and I were first married, I marveled about our similarities. There were many - maybe more than most newlyweds. Our upbringing and our values were almost identical (in the realm of worldview and belief systems). We thought alike about the world, about God, about the Bible, about children. It seemed almost too easy to fall into life together because we rarely, if ever, disagreed about anything at any time.

However, God has a way of bringing us, sometimes all in a rush, sometimes very slowly (depending upon our willingness to bend to His correction), to the end of ourselves.
Suddenly, one day, my perfectly wonderful, perfectly amazing, perfectly perfect life. . . wasn't. Don't get me wrong.  The Coach? He was still a wonderful husband, a faithful provider, a dependable soul that I could easily love and help and enjoy.

But me? Not so much. I really wanted to be in control (big surprise, huh?). I was horribly selfish, stubborn, and determined to be right (Because I was, of course.). In my heart of hearts, I'd never realized how ugly I was inside. How manipulative. How spoiled in having my own way. How desperately I needed the continuing work of my Savior in my heart. And still do.

That day (many years ago), my world seemed to come crashing down around me. I was trying so hard. Working my best at being a sweet, submissive wife. A calm, consistent mother. I was failing miserably. That perfect marriage? It seemed hopeless, suddenly, out of reach. I hadn't really told him how hard it was to adjust to marriage, motherhood, and motherhood, and motherhood, and . . . you get the idea. I hadn't been humble enough to share my struggles with him. Or sensitive enough to realize that it wasn't easy for him, either. We hadn't learned to offer each other grace.

Because you see. . . for all we had in common (and still do), we were NOT the same. He is the 6th born of 10 children, the middle in a pack of boys. I am the 3rd born, baby, and only girl. Big difference. Although growing up with brothers did make it easier for me to adjust to living with a man (and eventually four boys, too), I had a doting father who indulged me, probably far too often. He had a firm mother who taught him frugality and responsibility.

It isn't easy, after all, to join your life with someone else's. Anyone else's. Whether your backgrounds, upbringings, financial situations, beliefs, or families are similiar or not.

Only by God's grace.

I hope and pray that I have grown and changed. I know I don't "feel" like I'm a good wife or mother very often anymore. I also know the Coach knows ME, now. The real, impatient, not always gracious ME. He knows it and he loves me still. No. Not still. More.

He's still a man - strong, consistent, faithful. I'm still a woman - emotional, unpredictable, easily overwhelmed. We won't ever be "the same". But we are learning that those differences are God's perfect gift to us. Without marriage to my Coach, without motherhood, without 8 children, financial pressures, health issues (the trials of life). . I wouldn't have ever realized what I was really like inside. I see, now, what a blessing the pressure has been. It's revealed things in me that need to change. It has, as I've learned to depend on the Lord and seek Him in the pressure, begun to change me. Some days the process seems painfully slow.  We are far from perfect.

But we are perfect for eachother.

And I love him.

We are learning that our differences are what make us stronger. We are beginning to bear the fruit of learning to live in harmony and we are learning to love the contrasts in our personalities. We know that we need each other. For balance. For growth.  Even for character development (which is usually painful). I love that I don't WANT to change him, anymore. That he's given up on changing me (it was hopeless, anyway).

Marriage is not for the faint of heart. Joining yourself to another soul for life is not easy. It's not simple. And it's a lot of work. It's not the ultimate "happy ending". In spite of what we see in the movies, it is NOT all about feelings and romance. It requires a lot of dying to self, laying down your life, giving up of rights, and commitment.

But it's OH so worth it.

If you are struggling in your marriage (and we all are at some level at some time), "get off the island". Find someone who is wise and who you can trust.  Be humble enough to ask for and get help. Marriages are failing all around you, don't let yours be one of them.

Most problems don't have simple, easy answers (and I hate it when someone says that they do). Most struggles take TIME to work through. The Coach and I have a long way to go in our marriage, too. But I can promise you that your marriage and mine are worth fighting for. Marriage was God's idea, after all. He's in the business of redeeming it. When you and your spouse can begin to persevere through trials, learn to be humble, forgive each other over and over, appreciate your differences, and above all, depend on the Lord for the grace it takes to live along side each other. . . your marriage (and the joy you have in it) will grow by leaps and bounds.

Perfect? No. Wonderful? Absolutely!

To God be the Glory.

Where's the off switch when you need it?

2011-06-08T01:01:00.000-05:00

Wishing, tonight, that I could turn my brain "off" and go to sleep.

How DOES the Coach do that? (must have something to do with boxes vs. spaghetti. . . hmmmm)

Instead, the to-do lists, the calendar, the people I want to check on, the people I'm praying for, the things the Coach and I need to discuss (yes, we keep a list), the knee pain following Saturday's longer run, the pile of wedding invitations, the not-so-picked-up house, the bills, the various current issues with each kid, the flower beds that need to be weeded, the run I didn't take this morning, tomorrow's busy schedule. . .all rolling around up there refusing to quiet down.

And the son who is hiking around some canyon in Mexico with his cousin (and a big group from our school)?

That's up there, too.

In the form of prayers, mostly. And excitement for him and this adventure in sharing the love of Jesus.

And then there is the unspeakable joy of having my Coach and my girl home. Ahhhhhh.

And somewhere up there the pan of homemade cinnamon rolls is calling my name.

But I'm not listening.

Not yet, anyway.

Maybe there is a little bit of grieving over the fact that the "lazy days" of Summer seem to be a thing of the past, here at the troops. Looking at the calendar (this week took two pages to print it all), it's going to be anything but lazy. Now it's all about sports camps and workouts and VBS and inner-city day camps, piano lessons, weddings, Summer league ball. . .

We're going to have to put some "lazy" on the calendar just to make it happen.

But I'm not sad that the troops are growing up. Well. A little, maybe. But they are turning into great young adults. Interesting to talk to. Fun to be with. Making me grateful (most days) to be their mama. And they aren't ALL grown up. Yet.

Now back to bed I go.

Happy Tuesday!

Oh wait.

Wednesday.

Happy Wednesday!

(now where IS that switch?)

(YAWN)

2011-06-01T22:48:00.000-05:00

I haven't slept in awhile.
In spite of all of the tips and tricks and sleeps aids. . .
Big fat historical novels and late night reruns. . .
I've only slept one night in the last 5.

It's not pretty.

My kids could use your prayers, as my tolerance and patience levels are at an all time low. And the Coach isn't here to run interference. I'm all they've got.

I'm so glad the Coach and Daughter #2 have this opportunity. The reports from Honduras are good. They are building (or have built) a house. Done VBS with the children. Practiced English with the adults. Given manicures and pedicures to teens in the girls' home. Even dipped their feet in the clear, blue water on the white sugar sand.

I think the Coach was at a loss when their flights were all on time and went as scheduled. Unlike last year's trip to Brazil, it DIDN'T take them 5 days to get there.

He's sent a few text messages. All in caps. From some one else's phone. Each one has assured me that my girl is doing well and I'd be proud.

I knew she would, of course. And I am, of course.

This morning, bright and early (although not as early as the Honduras crew on Saturday), I said good-bye to Son #1 who is headed to Mexico. The trips overlap by 5 days. 5 days without the Coach OR my oldest two kids.

There's been a whole lot of letting go around here.

NOT trying to take control of preparations, shopping, packing with my young adult children. Letting them make decisions and keep track of things. Realizing they are going to forget something. They are going to make mistakes. They are going to struggle and have a bad attitude at some point. I can't prepare them for everything and I can't do it for them.

Letting go.

But even though I am tired of being a single mom.

Even though I can't sleep.

Even though we haven't really been able to enjoy the first week of Summer, yet, with all that's had to be done.

Even though I've made more trips than I thought possible to Academy and Wal-mart between the three of them.

I wouldn't trade it.

Because these trips (the mission ones, not the Wal-mart ones) are an answer to our prayers.

Our kids (at least the two oldest) have a heart for the gospel. They are learning that the only things that will last for eternity are God's Word and the souls of men. They are realizing that the world is bigger than they are - that it's not all about them. That most people in the world don't live the way we do (even if they are forced to live without cell phones and Facebook - ha!). That they are blessed.

So I'm done whining for tonight (at least on here).

If sleep doesn't come, once again, I'll be grateful for the time to lift the Coach and my kiddos and their teams up in prayer. I'll thank the Lord again and again for His blessing in these opportunities. I'll be grateful that I'm not on my own with 6 babies, but instead, I have an almost 13 year old down to a 4+ year old. All of which can dress themselves, feed themselves, go to sleep on their own, and be a tremendous help to me.

And I would be so very grateful for your prayers, as well. For the Coach and the team (including my sweet girl) in Honduras. For Son #1 and the team on their way to Mexico for 12 days.

And would you ask the Lord to send me some sleep?

My kids would be grateful for a more rested momma. And I would be grateful to have the "fog" in my brain clear out. Without the assistance of large quantities of Diet Dr. Pepper and Advil.

Happy Wednesday!

Countdown to Summer

2011-05-18T08:21:00.000-05:00

I'm happy to report that things are hopping here at the troops! In spite of multiple "trials", we are moving along towards the end of the school year.

The Coach and Son #3 made it safely back from their trip NE. Had a fabulous time! I'm enjoying the fact that we are all together for a bit before the next adventures begin. It is NICE to be together.

After the car accident (the Odyssey is now in the shop and we are driving a loaner), we've also dealt with a stolen credit car number, an eye emergency (she's fine!), a dental emergency (taken care of with lots of time at the dentist, yesterday), an 8th grade girls party at our farm over the weekend, countless chiropractor appointments, and lets not forget - free breakfast at Chick-fil-A all week! Except we've only made it there, once. And did I mention that knee pain is keeping me from my daily runs? Ugh.

One of the kids said, "Mom, what is the DEAL with our family, lately?"

And I know what he means.

That expression, "When it rains, it pours"?

I'm feeling it.

But in spite of it all, God is faithful. He's provided. Comforted. Cared for us. I've seen character growing by leaps and bounds in my kiddos. Particularly the ones who have been going through these trials, of course. And even in the Coach. Who is already such a strong, Godly, man of character that it amazes me.

No there hasn't been a lot of time for relaxing. Sitting down, even. Certainly not for blogging.

But only 7 more days of early mornings. . . packing 8 lunches. . . signing notebooks. . . washing and filling water bottles. . . washing school pants at night. . . listening to reading, math facts, study sheets, verses. . .

Now that I think about it? I'm going to miss it. I can't believe another school year is coming to an end.

I'm going to miss our fabulous, sweet, capable, amazing teachers. How I love them! I'm going to miss the content of what my kids are learning every day. I'm going to miss the "community" of our school and how much I love that my kids are all there, together, with their daddy, uncle, papa, cousins. . .

Well, I guess the cousin part won't change - it will just move to our back yard!

Yay for Summer!

So in the meantime, I'll enjoy the end of the year festivities, assemblies, parties, class events. I'll take lots of pictures that will never make it off my computer (or camera, honestly), I'll fix hair and help choose clothes and keep packing those lunches and buying those snacks. I'll help the Coach and Son #1 and Daughter #2 gather the things they need for their mission trips. I'll keep filling out forms. . . SO many forms! I'll keep driving back and forth, back and forth (and putting gas in the van!). I'll keep letting the answering machine take care of the phone calls. I'll keep piling the mail up on the counter and throwing the clean laundry in the living room chair.

Because Summer is coming!

Happy Wednesday!

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. . .

2011-05-04T23:42:00.000-05:00

and tired.

(sigh)

I haven't slept too badly without the Coach home. Except for that one night when 1/2 of the kids ended up in bed WITH me. Let me just say. . . we do NOT go for the whole "family bed" thing. Ugh. If that works for you, great. I'm entertained by the stories that Kelle tells about her sweet girls sleeping with them. It's not for us. Or me.

But as the nights have passed, I've started having trouble GOING to sleep. Once I'm asleep, I'm fine. But getting there hasn't been easy. . . in spite of my experiments with Benadryl, Melatonin, and Unisom. All of which work beautifully. Some of the time.

I think I'm just ready for him to be home.

Duh.

Not to be one of those bloggers who gives TMI. . . but the Coach? He hums in his sleep. And sings, sometimes. And puts out his arm to drape over my waist. Or the general area where I used to have a waist.

Yes, sometimes he hogs the covers (and then has the audacity to accuse me of being a blanket hog!). Or takes over my pillow when I go to the bathroom in the middle of the night (a side effect of the 9 pregnancies, I'm afraid).

But it WAY beats sleeping alone.

However, these late nights (trying to get REALLY sleepy before I crawl in bed) have been interesting in their own way. The Coach is an "early to bed, early to rise" kind of guy. Actually, that would be an understatement of the worst kind. The man has been known to go to bed BEFORE 9:00. Which to a reformed night owl like myself? Incomprehensible.

I've learned over the years to get up early, even though I still hate it. The Coach has learned, over the years, not to TALK to me in the morning. And it's all worked out wonderfully.

I, however, have NOT learned that trying to talk to the Coach after 9:30 will inevitably end with the sounds of his snoring. How in the world does someone so ~~thin~~, I mean FIT and BUFF, snore? It's a mystery.

But without the early to bed mandates, I've been wasting a LOT of time. Enjoying the quiet. Catching up on Frasier episodes that I haven't watched since Little Man was a newborn (remember those 10:00 feedings that keep you up until 12?). Perusing blogs that I ran out of time to read years ago. Like Bakerella and a long way from the Theta house. Reading up about some sweet friends like Blackberry Rambles and Then there were Six. Making wish lists for online shopping. This swimsuit (what do you think?) and this running dress. Did you see that ? A RUNNING DRESS! I'm in heaven. These shoes for all of the time I spend on my feet NOT running - because they are cute. For running I need a new pair of these.

As you can see? I have no trouble wasting late night time.

I even started reading this book. Again. First time since high-school, I think. No one writes like Eugenia. No one. Every fiction author I've read since I read everything she wrote, I've compared to her. The deep South. The beautifully descriptive way she writes. Her characters. LOVE. Her books transport YOU to St. Simons Island. Who doesn't want that?

It's not that I haven't accomplished "real" things while the Coach has been gone. Hmmmm. Let me think.

Well.

The house is neat and tidy. Sort of clean. OH! I. . . um. . . I've gotten the kids to school on time every morning. Does that count?

Good thing he'll be home in a couple of days. It's about time I get my act together and get something DONE around here.

And I miss his humming.

The God of all Comfort

2011-05-02T22:38:00.000-05:00

Today started out well. Good night's sleep. Not too sore from yesterday's 1/2 marathon. Kids off to school with few delays. House in decent order. Time for a shower. And a visit with a sweet friend and her girls.
I even took a short nap with Little Man.

Then the kids got in the car at school and started bickering.
Little Man demonstrated that his nap was WAY too short.
At home everyone was starving and cranky.
No one liked anyone else.
I wished for the Coach to come home and rescue me.

Trying to make things better, I headed out to pick up pizza for dinner.
Went by for a short visit with my parents.
Pulled out onto the road outside their neighborhood.
Stopped at the red light.

and SMACK.

We were hit from behind.
Hard.
Scaring us to death.
Slamming us into the car in front of us.
Messing up the back of our Odyssey pretty badly.
Destroying the other car completely.

My dad came quickly.
Telling me what to do next when I couldn't think straight.
Calling the police for us.
Reminding me to exchange information with the driver.

We cleared the cars off the road.
Waited for the police.
Who then said they really didn't need to come and we could both go on.

The pizza was purchased.
The dinner eaten in chaos.

And our sweet sitter came to say good-bye before she moves away.

When she left, I thought "I can't do this."

The Coach is gone.
The car is wrecked.
The house is mess.
The kids are up too late.
I'm exhausted.
My BSF lesson isn't done.
And I already miss my "Chelle".

I'm SO DONE with this day, Lord.

But once the children were tucked in safe and sound, I turned to His Word.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort."

And then. . .

"We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us."
(2 Cor. 1:3-7, 8b-10)

So. . .
The house is still a mess.
The dishes are still in the sink.
The laundry isn't folded.
My BSF lesson isn't finished.
I'm still tired.
The Coach is still gone.
The car is still wrecked.
And our sweet babysitter won't be right down the street, anymore.

But if you need some comfort, tonight? I'm your girl.

He has given me life everlasting. . . and He will give me the strength for this life, as well.

God is the blessed controller of all things.

And I trust Him.

Thankful Thursday

2011-04-28T17:31:00.000-05:00

This post is dedicated to the passengers on two "luxury motor coaches" driving somewhere in Virginia, due to arrive in Williamsburg sometime tonight. Especially Melissa. (grin)

1. A absolutely beautiful day! Makes it hard to believe there has been such severe weather and tragic loss of life in parts of our nation. Our prayers are with those who are suffering. Stories like this one will make you cry. And then hold tightly to your loved ones.

2. Safety for the Coach and Son #3 on their travels through the severe weather. Sounds like the trip is going well so far. And they are almost to Williamsburg - one of my favorite places EVER (and I've been a lot of places in the world). My mother faithfully instilled in me a love for all things early American. If you've seen her house, you understand what I mean!

3. Healthy kids. And no encore of Sunday's nasty stomach virus. Thank you, Lord!

4. The basic comforts of life. Realizing that some are without these things today makes me more aware of what blessings they are. Home. Food. Soft beds (as Little Man would tell you). New carpet. Clean clothes. Vehicles that are dependable (especially since I've been making the trek to school twice each day). Hot showers. Plumbing. Running water. The list is endless, really.

5. That my parents are home from their travels to East TX this week. (big sigh of relief) I'm sure the audience was blessed to have them at the homeschool conference. I know my dad's session was fabulous! But I will admit the comfort of knowing they are back safe and sound and only 3 miles away!

6. Sonic Diet D.P. (don't tell the Coach, Melissa!) I know it's a luxury. But some days you just NEED it.

7. Lunch with sweet friends and their precious little ones and YUMMY grilled cheese sandwiches. . . it was delightful! Thanks to the amazing Amanda!

8. A GREAT night's sleep. What an answer to prayer. Truly Benadryl is a gift from God. And the kids? All slept like teenagers. HA! (We've been discussing that the expression "slept like a baby" is not really accurate, but we KNOW how teenagers sleep around here!)

9. Dinner in the oven and smelling yummy. It's not HEALTHY, but it's yummy. And the kids love it and can handle the calories. (See how they are out jumping on the trampoline while I sit here at the desk?)

10. 1/2 marathon training OVER. Whew. Two miles to WALK tomorrow, and then it's downhill to Sunday morning. I'm excited! Not about the weather forecast, but about seeing how it goes.

11. A friend to run with. When we found out that the Coach would be out of town. . . and then that my Mom wouldn't be able to run with me. . . I was BUMMED. Think 13.1 miles of pain - without someone to laugh with. But God, in His providence (that's for you American Christian History Tour friends), provided. Yay!

12. Help from our sweet sitter on Sunday morning getting the kids downtown, finding me, providing my own personal cheering section for the finish. Can't wait!

And now, sweet people, it's time to be off. I am so grateful for your prayers for us. God is so good. He'd still be good even if things were ROUGH here, but I'm praising Him for the blessings, right now.

Enjoy your Thursday!

Reminding myself. . .

2011-04-26T08:05:00.000-05:00

Things are hopping here at the troops.

I know that's nothing new.

But normally. . . no matter how busy it gets. . . or how many different directions we are going. . .

The Coach and I?

We are a team.

A great team, in my humble opinion.

I'm glad we depend on each other. I'm glad I need him so desperately to keep me focused and help me take deep breaths when I start to panic. I'm glad he needs me to find things for him. Ha!

We balance each other in so many ways.

And without him? I'm seriously UNbalanced.

Tomorrow, he and Son #3 leave for Washington DC. Our school's wonderful 6th grade government tour. The Coach was blessed to be able to go with Son #1, 3 years ago. I was blessed to be able to go with Daughter #2, two years ago.

And now it's his turn, again.

I know things are different than they were three years ago. Or even last year when he went to Brazil for a long stretch. Kids are older. Schedule is busier. He's not taking my "oldest" this time. They will be here to pitch in.

But I'll miss him so much.

God provided for him to go, and I'm so grateful.

It will be wonderful for the two of them to do this together and share these memories. Wonderful, precious, life-long memories.

And as another bonus, at least the Coach and I have texting on our phones now. (smile)

The Lord keeps bringing back to mind my favorite verses from our BSF Isaiah study this year:

"Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength." Is. 40:28,29
I DO faint. I DO grow weary. Discouraged, disheartened, overwhelmed, frustrated. . .

But the Lord? His might is endless. His strength is available to me. ME!

Yes, I am looking at 9 days without my Coach.
Yes, we have an extremely busy schedule these two weeks.
Yes, Daughter #5 is still recovering from the stomach flu and I realize the whole houseful of troops could get sick.
Yes, I am running a 1/2 marathon on Sunday morning.
Yes, I have trouble sleeping without the Coach.
Yes, I will have to do all of the driving to and from school, practice, doctor's appointments, parties, etc.

I look ahead and see that I do NOT have the strength or ability to handle this on my own.

(although it's great practice for when the Coach and Daughter #2 will be in Honduras and Son #1 will be in Mexico for mission trips in June!)

BUT He gives power to the faint.

HE gives strength those who are weak.

(that's me!)

Thank you, Lord for your provision.
For the blessing of your timing.
For the opportunity of this trip.

And the strength to do what needs to be done these next 9 days.

I am trusting the Lord. I am depending on HIM to enable me, give me discernment, wisdom, and the physical "might" to get it all done.

If the Lord brings us to mind, would you pray for our family during these next two weeks? I would be so grateful!

Happy Tuesday!

Well, that explains a lot!

2011-04-22T16:55:00.001-05:00

We've been having some discussions here at the troops about some of the differences in the way that men and women think.

It all started when Daughter #2 wanted the Coach to help her figure out her ride to her volleyball tournament last Saturday. Except the Coach was watching how to videos on texturing walls on the laptop. So I had to explain to her that it wasn't that he didn't care, his mind was focused on something else. But she couldn't understand why watching a video meant he couldn't ALSO think about her ride predicament.

Since she's a female and all.

Then at lunch yesterday, with my mom, she and I were talking (as we always do), moving from one topic to another with lightening speed. One of the boys said, "What does THAT have to do with THAT and how did you start talking about THAT when you hadn't even finished saying what you started to say about THAT???"

Now if YOU are a female (I'll assume most of you are, since you are reading my blog, which my brother has informed me is, "Nice, but too girly for me."), you know exactly what we were doing.

But my sons?

It was perplexing to them.

So Grandmother (Who is always teaching the kids something. Always. Just ask them.) began to explain that boys brains are like boxes that open and close. Everything has it's own box. Only one box is open at a time. No box touches any other box. And they even have a NOTHING box (I'm so jealous of that.). They can open and close those boxes at will. When they are thinking about "work", they aren't thinking about "home". But they can drive home and close the "work" box and open the "home" box.

Girls, on the other hand, have brains like spaghetti (which my boys found HYSTERICAL) and each thing is like a string that touches every other string. It's all there. All the time. Connected to everything else. The only time something is "out" of our thinking, is when it's solved or finished or taken care of. Otherwise, it's there. Always there.

(This may or may not be why I am SO tired all of the time!)

She also told them that when you ask a guy what he's thinking about and he says, "Nothing." He means it. I added that when you ask a girl what she's thinking about and she says, "Nothing," she's probably mad at you.

(smile)

My kids found this all very interesting and there was lots of, "That's true!" and "I'm like that." heard around the table.

Then at dinner that night, we started discussing it, again. Daughter explaining that it all started because she couldn't get dad's attention when he was watching something on the computer.

Son #1 said, "Yeah. It's true. Like at lunch, when we were talking about this? I was thinking, 'Food'. Then a car would go by, outside, and I'd think, 'Cool car!'. Then when the car was gone I'd think, 'Food!'"

At this point, I was laughing so hard I thought I'd be sick.
Another good illustration of this difference is using the idea of a computer desktop. Men open ONE window at a time. Before they open another window, they close the one on the desktop. And yes, there is a "nothing" window here, too.

Women, on the other hand have EVERY POP UP BOX open. All at the same time and all together. We only close one if it's not longer relevant because we've fixed it, finished it, or delegated it to someone else. We can't open and close them at will. They ARE open.

The reason I'm telling you this is because it's important to teach your kids about men and women, relationships, how to understand one another, and how to get along. I have parents who were fabulous at teaching us as we went through life. They used the examples around us to teach us about God, marriage, church, family, and relationships.

THIS is how our kids learn.

The laughter is just a bonus.

And don't you think it's amazing that God made us different, unique, and perfectly fit for life as male and female? If the Coach tried to juggle this household, he'd go nuts. Too much all at the same time. However, I don't have the FOCUS that he needs to do his job. He can zero in and get things done, solve problems, etc. I just flit from here to there.

So we ARE different, but instead of being frustrated by those differences? We see God's purpose in them.

The topic has continued here at the troops. Last night the Coach was talking to me about a situation, while I was writing and answering e-mails. No problem, right? But then he started expecting me to answer his questions, with more than "Yes, uh huh, no, I think so." Like REAL answers to REAL questions WHILE I was reading and typing and thinking about my email.

Finally, I said, "OK. Here's the thing. I can LISTEN to you and think about what you are saying WHILE I'm reading and writing. But if you want me to enter this discussion with more than just a quick response, you'll have to wait until I finish this!"

We were both laughing by the time I said this because here we had just been talking about how women can think about everything at the same time. He said, "You mean you CAN'T think about it all at once?"

Being able to laugh at YOURSELF is the best bonus of all.

*Son #4 just came in and said, "Mom? You know how we were looking at all of the cool cars go by at Chick-fil-A on Wednesday? I could do that all day long!"

Happy Friday!

(Thanks, Carrie, for sending this - THIS is SO funny!)

Thankful Thursday

2011-04-21T11:49:00.001-05:00

Some things we've been enjoying, lately, here at the troops:

Front porch

(I found the ferns for $5 at Lowe's last week - yeah!)

Perfect spot for swinging, talking, watching kids ride bikes, eating Popsicles, etc.

Pretty perennials coming up in the flower beds.

Every year I try to add a few more.

These were added last year.

Fractiles.

Little Man LOVES them.

You can read more about them here.

These belong to Grandmother, but we've enjoyed borrowing them this week.

Easter Lily from my Dad.

Isn't it amazing?

And beautiful?

I think we counted 12 blooms OPEN this morning.

With many more to come.

The view from my computer desk.

Ahhhhhh.

Nothing like Spring.

Especially when you have three strong boys to mow, edge, and clean up the yard.

And last but not least,

our wonderful Easter Program at school.

The Resurrection story told using only scripture, quoted by grades Pre-K through 6th.

From Isaiah's prophecy to New Testament fulfillment.

We had someone is almost every Elementary class!

Son #3 is in the 6th grade, so in his 7 years at our school, he's learned over 100 verses about the prophecy and fulfillment of Jesus' coming.

So blessed.

Son #4 - 4th grade, Son #3 - 6th grade,

Daughter #6 - 2nd grade, Daughter #7 - Kindergarten, Daughter #5 - 3rd grade.

Happy Thursday!!

Not Thursday, but Thankful

2011-04-20T08:14:00.000-05:00

Truthfully, I'm procrastinating.

Which just happens to be the word that was on Word Girl yesterday afternoon while I was curling the girls' hair for the Easter program. But that's neither here nor there.

I should be on to other things, already, this morning.

Instead, I was perusing the latest edition of World magazine, while Little Man was eating his cinnamon cereal, and I found myself looking for one of my favorite features. The "Voices" section - the regular columnists, Andree Seu being one of the first I always read.

Her column titled "The Magic Word" (you can read an excerpt here and while you're at it, you should subscribe, too, if you don't already) is about saying "Thank You".

"Upon reflection I replied that what helps me is the practice of thanks. If you are thanking God throughout the day, you are walking in the pathway of grace. . . the presence of God directly relates to your worship, and the aroma of thanks ascending releases His resources into your life."

She then tells the story of Betsie and Corrie Ten Boom and giving thanks for the fleas that prevented the guards from intervening in their barracks, allowing them to study the Bible and share Christ unhindered. (I highly recommend "The Hiding Place", too, if you haven't read it.)

We had fleas in our house, once (long story). And no dog. I'm not sure I gave thanks. I don't remember giving thanks, anyway. Except maybe for the exterminator who finally helped us get rid of them.

But I believe this principle with all my heart. Giving thanks changes ME. My perspective. My focus. My attitude.

In our BSF study last week of Isaiah 60, we dove into the second half of verse 18. "Thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates praise." The first part? Speaks of our security. Which comes not from our circumstances (which may or not be what we would choose), but from our Savior and our promise of eternal life.

But the gates of praise? This reminds us that praise takes us into the presence of the living God.

Not just in church when all of the children are clean (sort of), combed or curled, dressed nicely, and behaving in a somewhat decent way. . . the music is lovely, the words to the hymn glorious. . . my handsome coach is beside me (or at least near me, sometimes you have to divide and conquer), and for that moment I am overwhelmed with the goodness of God in allowing me to be so very blessed in spite of the fact that I am completely undeserving.

Those are good moments of praise.

But the better ones? The ones I think truly delight our Lord?

Are when things are going completely wrong. . . and we STILL say, "Thank you."

I am grateful I don't have to say thank you for fleas, today. That I know of.

But I will have an opportunity today. Every day. To say "Thank you, Lord." for what He brings to me, allows in my day, trusts to my care. I can say "Thank you, Lord, that I am healthy, strong, and can run the 6 miles on my training schedule, today." Instead of focusing on how tired I am, how much I want to crawl back into bed, and how much I have to do.

"The frequent God-ward utterance of "thank you" is the maintenance mode of larger spiritual warfare." (Andree Seu)

Being thankful helps me do what I should, even when I don't feel like it. Helps me smile about circumstances that make me want to cry (although it's OK if there is crying, too!). Helps me love, when I feel unloving. It opens the pathway into my heart for God's grace to pour through.

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful until Him, and bless His name." Psalm 100:4

Remembering April 19th.

2011-04-19T14:22:00.000-05:00

It's been somewhat of a theme with me this year. . . purposing to remember God's faithfulness in the past so I can trust Him for today. And the future.

This is at the forefront of my mind TODAY, more than most, because 16 years ago something terrible and horrible happened here that, as a city and a nation, we have purposed never to forget.

I was sick that morning. The "good" kind of sick (if there is such a thing), because we were expecting our firstborn. We had been married a few months. Living in our little rent house. It was Spring, we were enjoying life together (except for the non-stop vomiting on my part) and our hopes for the future were SO bright. Newlyweds. 21 years old. Expecting my first baby.

The BOOM shook our little house. In that split second I would have sworn something had happened to OUR house. The noise was so close and loud that I could feel it. I had the morning news on and within minutes I watched footage from a news helicopter as it approached downtown and a cloud of smoke.

As the camera got closer and closer to the scene, a horror unfolded before my eyes. I grabbed the phone and called my mom, "TURN ON THE TV. NOW." Then hung up to watch the first images of a building severed in two. Roof top hanging over a jagged edge. A "doll house" view of the middle of the Murrah building. A cavernous space where walls, floors, and street had been only moments before.

It was the kind of destruction that should have been a movie set. But it was real. Only in the hours to come would we realize HOW real. 168 lost. Fathers, mothers, grandparents, sisters, brothers, friends. None of them knew that day would be the end of their life here on earth. Some of them were children.

In my little serene newlywed life, nothing changed in the practical sense. My family was safe. Only "friends of friends" touched personally by the devastating loss.

But then again, nothing was ever the same.

I had been in that building two months earlier to change my social security card to my married name. Most of us who live here had been in that building many times, for many reasons, and could have easily been there that day.

Our city responded in an amazing way. People running TO help instead of AWAY from the smoke and rubble. Improvised memorials, gifts, prayers. We saw the best of human kindness acted out in front of us.

16 years later, I have a tall, handsome, firstborn SON. Getting ready for his driver's permit next month. Finishing up his Freshman year of highschool. Looking forward to his third mission trip this Summer to Mexico.

16 years later, I am training to run this for the second time. The "half", anyway. I'm proud of my brother, who decided 11 years ago that our city should remember EVERY year - by founding a marathon to raise money for the Memorial and to remember those who lost their lives that day. My brothers have run it all 10 years. My parents have run it many times, as well. This race has been the largest contributor to the cost of operating the Memorial which is a private organization, not a government funded sight.

So today? I remember. I remember where I was. What my life was like at that moment. And some things that were forever changed.

Today I pray for our nation. Our city. Our government leaders.
Today, especially. . . I pray for those who are still grieving the loss of their loved ones.

And, of course, if you want to join us in "Running to Remember"? We'd love to have you! (smile)

Not feeling it.

2011-04-18T13:17:00.004-05:00

I do have days when I feel like I can't be stopped.
When my run feels "easier".
The to-do list gets smaller by the minute (even if it never goes away, altogether).
The house is in order.
The laundry folded.
Dinner made and ready for the oven when we get back from school.

I do HAVE these days.

Today is just not one OF them.

Instead, Little Man took a "nap" at 7:45. A.M. And I fell asleep with him.

I only glanced at the treadmill instead of getting on it.
And we ran all of our errands, instead.
Dinner is planned, but banana bread is what I made.
Smells divine.
The honest truth is that I haven't LOOKED at the "list", today. Not once. Which I will regret when it's time to go to school and I haven't done something I should have.

And just now? When I tucked Little Man into his soft (as he always tells me) bed with the blinds closed and the fan on and the noisemaker humming away? I almost joined him.

I still might.

Busy, exhausting, fun-filled weekends leave me a little "off" on Monday morning.

But there is still so much to enjoy - even if it's not very productive:

The surprise Starbucks from my daddy when we passed him on our way to see Grandmother.
The visit with Grandmother while helping Little Man make magnet designs.
The Crystal Light sale+coupon that we scored at Homeland.
The wandering around Wal-mart while Little Man ate puffy Cheetos and wiped artificial orange coloring all over everything.
The Curious George Coloring book.
The quiet.
The sunshine.

I know the treadmill can't be avoided all day. Four miles must be done. I know dinner will be needed at about 6:00. That gives me 4 more hours to procrastinate. The laundry is washed, and if worse comes to worse (or really for the better), the kids can fold it, tonight. And I suppose at some point, taking a shower would be a good plan.

But for now I'm enjoying not "having my act together". It's kind of nice. Every now and then.

Seems like someone should check the banana bread and make sure it's OK, don't you think?

Happy Monday!

Thankful Thursday

2011-04-14T07:36:00.002-05:00

Happy Thursday Morning!

Just going to jump right in - lots to be thankful for, today!

1. Healthy kids. Son #4's stomach troubles have stayed confined. This is a HUGE blessing, as you well know!!

2. Clean House. Ahhhhhh. Thought I'd take advantage and snap some pictures of the new carpet for you. But. . . there is still a big laundry pile. Ha!

3. Postponed birthday was celebrated last night, with both sets of grandparents and a few cousins added in. Fun!

4. This guy. Who turned 11 on Sunday while he was sick. ELEVEN, can you believe it? He alternately frustrates and delights me. And I love him.

(and LOOK, you can see the new carpet RIGHT THERE. Ha!)

5. Fabulously beautiful weather this week. These are the few days each year that Oklahomans LIVE for. We don't get many like this. . . but they are perfect.

6. Hair cut. Trim, really. After 10 weeks I fully enjoyed it! Growing hair out is a challenge, but so far so good.

7. God's perfect provision for the Coach and Son #3 to go to Washington D.C. later this month. Will be a great time for them to share, together. The Coach went with Son #1, 3 years ago. I went with Daughter #2, 2 years ago. The tradition continues. Although I'm pretty sure we can't keep it up for 5 more. Ha!

8. A morning at home. After a trip to school to pick up Daughter #7 on Monday morning (turns out she was just fine, after all) and movies, BSF and lunch on Tuesday, errands and lunch, hair cut and more errands on Wednesday. . . a quiet morning at home is NICE.

9. Morning off from the treadmill. Normally this IS my rest day, but I am actually going running with a friend this afternoon. However, it didn't require me to get up early, sit Little Man in front of PBS for 45 min, OR wait for my shower and breakfast. So it feels very much like a rest.

10. That the tree pollen is almost finished falling on my car, deck, driveway, porch and sunroom windows. Ugh. Can't wait to get it all cleaned up. Nothing like a green film on everything.

11. Everyone stayed in their own beds last night and didn't feel the need to wake me up to tell me anything. Lately, Little Man has been getting in bed with Daughter #6 - I think because he wakes up coughing and she is his current favorite. But then she comes to wake ME up because she can't sleep with him in there. Or Son #3 comes to let me know he's going to use his inhaler. Why do I need to know this? Not sure. Or Daughter #2 wants me to know she can't go to sleep (normal for her). I guess it makes her sleepy to walk down to my room and TELL me this. (sigh) An uninterrupted night is lovely. Ha!

12. Enough left-overs from the birthday dinner last night that I don't have to cook tonight! Yea!

13. $5 Boston ferns for the front porch. FIVE dollars. I couldn't believe it. Feels more like Summer, already.

14. Laughter. I love that my kids make me LAUGH. Often. And loudly.

"Mom, can I have some gasoline for my lips?" from Little Man. He meant Vaseline, of course.

Son #4, while tiring of hearing the big kids talk about how they NEED a cell phone, "I don't even want a phone, I'm just going to use a flare gun."

The corny jokes around the dinner table, the teasing, the silliness. How dull life would be without my eight little personalities keeping me hopping.

NOW, I think it's time to make a pot of coffee and get this house in order for the day. Maybe I'll even get to that mountain of laundry in my otherwise clean living room so I can take some pictures!

And I just realized that we have asthma meds to pick up at Walgreen's. So it's won't be a morning JUST at home. But I'm grateful that we can get what we need to keep our allergy kids breathing and healthy.

What are YOU thankful for, today?

My ways vs. His ways

2011-04-10T21:45:00.002-05:00

It's finally quiet here, tonight. Finally.

Do you ever feel completely unprepared for the week ahead? When it's Sunday night?

I'm so there.

Blessings need to be counted, though. The safety the Lord gave last week through numerous school activities, practices, appointments. . . the work of life, these days.

I hate to admit it. . . but sometimes I miss those days when they were all little and we were dying just to get OUT of the house! Ha!

The grass is always greener, I suppose.

But our crazy busy, LOUD lives are full and rich and blessed. Full of fun, laughter, meals around the table, and someone always there to play with, and clean up after. Rich with family that loves us and friends who do a great job of pretending that they like our company, too. Blessed with God's perfect provision, unconditional love, and the peace that passes all understanding in the midst of our chaos.

Thank you, Jesus.

It seems that most days, lately, turn out differently than we originally plan them. I don't suppose that's much of a surprise when you are dealing with 10 individuals, a teacher-daddy, seven students, and a mom who can't remember where to turn (just ask the kids. . . no. . . don't!). Oh. And a four year old.

Today we were looking forward to church together, a 10K for my mom and me, and celebrating our 4th born's 11th birthday, tonight.

However, last night the birthday boy got sick. . . which changed the plans a bit. Bless his heart. If you have to be sick? Your birthday is a bummer day to do it.

I miss being at church. But I do enjoy the quiet time focusing on only ONE child. And I desperately needed to color my hair. Just being honest. When IS a mom supposed to do these things?

Mom and I still made it to our 10K. BOY was it hot. So hot, that our pace wasn't what we'd hoped for. But even though rather warm, it was a lovely Spring day. The course was pretty, and the mileage manageable (isn't anything less than 13.1?). The company was lovely, too.

Then home for a quieter evening than we'd planned. Movies, left-overs, and school preparations. . . instead of lasagna, cake, and presents with our family.

I won't deny that the quieter day, tomorrow, is really a welcome gift. Errands will wait, grocery shopping will have to be done, later. I don't mind being given a day AT HOME. With my boys (two of them, anyway). I'm pretty sure no one else will want to be here with us.

Maybe I'll even get to taking those pictures of the new carpet (that we are LOVING!). Or finish up that post on expectations that has been rolling around in my head for the last week.

But I may just fix the birthday boy some more chicken noodle soup and ginger ale and fold laundry while we watch Cosby episodes.

I wouldn't mind that a bit.

Half Way There. . .

2011-04-01T09:06:00.003-05:00

Good morning!

Day two of the Carpet Adventures has begun here at the troops.

We had a late night, but a good "camping out" sleep

- mattresses on the floor -

and the sunshine is promising another beautiful day!

On the agenda for today,

Little Girl's yellow room:

(we decided it is the WORST carpet in the house!)

Daughter #2's room:

These pictures don't really show the color on the walls,

her room is light blue.

And our Master Bedroom:

As with any home improvement project,

we had some unanticipated work to do, yesterday.

Grinding down the concrete around the air vents

(which have been filled in since our kitchen sewer incident years ago),

touching up paint on the walls

(much easier without the furniture in the room!),

and touching up the stain on all of the baseboards

(which has evolved into touching up ALL of the woodwork).

The results have been fabulous, though!

We are LOVING the new carpet in the living rooms and boys' room.

It's prettier than I could have imagined.

I would show you pictures, since we "moved back in" to those

three rooms last night.

However, they were almost immediately filled with furniture

from the rest of the house! HA!

So here's a sample:

Old carpet on the right,

New on the left.

Lovely 70's entryway tile in between.

And did I mention the extra surprise of two sick kids?

Good thing we were planning on staying home, anyway.

Happy Friday!

Out with the old. . .

2011-03-31T09:04:00.004-05:00

In keeping with my own desire to chronicle our adventures here at the troops, I thought I'd show you what is going on here today.

Right now.

Breaking news, if you will.

The furniture? It's moved out. (to the garage, sunroom, and dining room)

Here's the living room this morning:

And the boys' room:

(thought it would be good time to touch up the paint, too.)

Another view of the living room:

(you can see the furniture stacked up in the sunroom.)

Here's where we put the furniture that was in the boys' and little girls' rooms:

Fun, huh?

Here's the playroom. The carpet in here is probably the worst.

Hmmmm. Wonder why?

Playroom from the entry way. See the lovely furniture in the dining room?

And don't you think the walls are awesome?

The Coach and the kids took the wall paper off over Spring Break.

It's growing on me, maybe we'll just leave it!

And the MOST fun of all, was "camping out" last night.

(We get our turn, tonight)

Here is Little Man trying to settle down for a sleep.

It took awhile.

And the girls:

Basically, we are just having WAY too much fun.

Ha!

Now if the installers would just show up and get busy!

They are planning on doing half today and half tomorrow.

And the Coach seems to think by tomorrow night we will have everything back to normal.

Whatever "normal" is.

One of the best parts of having eight kids?

Everything is an adventure.

(now, where is the Advil?)

Don't Forget!

2011-03-24T12:05:00.003-05:00

The Lord has really been impressing both the Coach and I (don't you love how He does that through different studies of different passages?) about the importance of remembering His faithfulness to us.

The Coach, through his daily Bible reading in Deuteronomy. The Lord keeps telling those stubborn Israelites (who bear a tremendous resemblance to my own stubbornness) to REMEMBER all that He had done. Abraham and Isaac, Egypt, the Red Sea.

Me, through my BSF study of Isaiah. Where God continues to use His past actions to demonstrate His power to a people who are in bondage to a powerful nation, with no visible hope of freedom.

I'm feeling it, today, because it is at the same time Little Man's FOURTH birthday and I'm also online exploring driver's ed options for Son #1 who is almost 15 1/2.

Our youngest and our oldest. (with a lot of crazy in between!)

This blog is my place for recording the faithfulness of the Lord to our troops. The Coach and I have recorded the beginning our family "story" here.

So we don't forget.

He's been faithful to our oldest. And I'm resting in the promises of His faithfulness as we approach driving, a mission trip to Mexico this Summer, and soon his Sophomore year of high school. (Thanking the Lord for His faithfulness in past trips to Africa and Brazil!)

Little Man's entrance into the world was a bit more dramatic. I'm determined to write it all down here, some day. Maybe soon. But if you know the circumstances of his birth, it makes it a bit easier to understand why we dote on him so. Even after four years!

But beyond all of that (and the fact that I have to leave for four dentist appointments in a minute), I'm realizing we need to ALWAYS be remembering. Talking to our kids about what God has done in the past.

When it's so much easier to talk about what we wish He were doing right now.

We serve a faithful God. His faithfulness in the past shows us that He will be faithful in the future.

And THAT, my friend, makes it possible to trust Him, even in the dark.

Isaiah 40:10 "Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God."

Fun times

2011-03-22T14:05:00.009-05:00

Lovely Spring Break here at the troops last week. Complete with lots of sleeping in, big breakfasts, time at the farm. . .

Turns out the troops love some skeet shooting!

While trying to stay warm on the Ranger!

Mr. Cool (Son #4):

The Coach setting his sights on the clay pigeon:

(his "funny" stance was better, but it was for the kids' entertainment, not yours!)

Son #1:

He and I had fun with Son #4 shooting the .22, too.

Even the little peanut of a girl (Daughter #5) got in on the fun:

Daughter (#2):

Son #3:

We celebrated a Birthday, too!

Daughter #6 is EIGHT!

(with her new purple bike)

Chocolate Chip Cake and Cappuccino Chunky Chocolate Ice Cream.

Yum!

Beautiful (if cold) views of the pond:

Pretty sunsets:

Ranger rides with precious Sweet Sitters:

More birthday FUN!

Turning 8, 21, and 4 (respectively).

And Happy.

Home once again, there were projects to be done!

Lots of yard work - mowing, raking, weed killing, flower bed cleaning, bush trimming, window washing, etc.

In the house there were projects, too.

Two rooms of wall paper to peel.

And good long sleeps back in our own beds:

And now. . .

we're back to early bedtimes,

leaving for school in the dark mornings,

carpool, homework and. . .

lots of afternoons playing outside in the warmer weather.

HAPPY SPRING!

Doing a better job. . . at my job

2011-03-09T07:45:00.005-06:00

Sometimes I feel like I'm just "surviving" as a mom, instead of being proactive.

OK. MOST of the time I feel like I'm just surviving.

But my heart wants to mother my children in a way that honors the Lord AND meets their individual needs. And by "meeting individual needs" I do NOT mean "give them whatever they want". Let's be honest - giving them whatever they want is EASY. Giving them what they need is HARD. Impossible, without God's grace being showered upon me as their mother. Having eight of them makes it a challenge to parent each of them according to their own "bent" instead of parenting with the "assembly line" mentality. Assembly lines are more efficient! And less exhausting.

The Coach is preparing to teach some lessons on parenting to our fabulous Sunday School class in the weeks, ahead. When he first told me he was thinking about it . . . I protested! Loudly! Please tell me I'm not the only one who has experienced the "become a living example of all of the negative demonstrations of each lesson" phenomenon when you (or your spouse) are teaching on a topic?

And the truth? It's hard enough to parent correctly without putting oneself out there as actually knowing something. Anything.

For better or worse, the Coach is the kind of guy who is challenged by doing the hard thing, not dismayed (like his much more wimpy wife). He determined that it would be good for him to do the reading, studying, researching, praying, preparing. . . for lessons on parenting. Since we are. . . you know. . .

parents.

Or something.

Anyway, in spite of the fact that I know many humbling, difficult, opportunities lie ahead for us in the implementation of what the Lord begins to teach us about parenting. . . it's been good to go back to some of the books that have helped us. Some of the resources we use on a regular basis when we need wisdom in this journey.

One of these (for me) is the book on the five love languages. It's not new. I'm sure you've read it or heard about it. A friend reminded me about it the other day and I've been so blessed by returning to it.

Knowing how to love my kids is a huge deal. It makes a big difference in their security, their confidence, and most of all, their understanding of their Heavenly Father's love.

I haven't figured out what the love languages are for all eight of them (there is a "Five Love Languages for Kids" version that is great, too). But I have an idea for most of them. Just being aware of how to love on them is making a huge difference.

That child that continues to slam into me while I'm fixing dinner? Physical touch.

That child that stands and chats incessantly about everything that happened at school, today? Words of Affirmation.

The one that leaves their room perfect every morning when they leave for school? Acts of Service. (That's mine, by the way, so those clean rooms REALLY make me happy!)

I'm been so encouraged by getting back to this information that I've known for a long time. Encouraged most of all, by how the Lord loves us. THAT humbles me. So undeserved.

By God's grace, the Coach and I are going to put ourselves out there for this parenting study (not that I'm going to have anything to do with it . . . but we do have the same children. . . and therefore the same struggles). Not because we are some kind of wonderful example. But because we NEED to be learning how to parent OUR children. The best way to learn something is to teach it (or so they say). We are happy to share the resources we have - God's Word being the first and most valuable. We have so much to learn - and we are happy to be learning together.

Just encase you ARE ever tempted to see the Coach and I as some kind of example in parenting? We are SO far from seeing the results of our parenting - good OR bad. And you have an open invitation to come SEE our amazing eight. That should clear up any misconceptions you might have about how well parented they are. Seriously.

Like, for instance, the fact that Little Man is sitting beside me playing on www.pbskids.org and eating a store bought sugar cookie for breakfast.

See what I mean?

Who, me? Why whatever do you mean?

2011-03-07T13:42:00.005-06:00

You know that feeling when the Lord brings you face to face with your sin?
Shows you the wickedness in your heart?
Reveals the rebellion in your spirit towards Him or others?

Sometimes it comes straight from His Word. That's one reason it's so important to be IN it every day.
Sometimes it comes from seeing the reflection of my sin in the behavior (or words!) of my children.

And sometimes it comes through the rebuke of someone who loves me more than they love just "going with the flow" and "keeping the peace".

I'm a "keep the peace" kind of girl. My family and friends know this. Not so good at the confrontation thing or bringing up those hard topics. REALLY don't want to offend anyone.

Don't much like offering rebukes to others.

Especially don't like receiving them, myself.

But it happens, whether I like it or not. Here's how I've been working through this, lately. . .

1. I don't ever WANT to be comfortable with my sin. Whatever it takes, I want my heart to follow hard after God. I want to be sanctified in this life and rewarded eternally. Even when it hurts. And it's going to hurt.

2. Focusing on the sin of my "rebuker" does NOT make them wrong about MY sin. We ALL have sin - weaknesses - "blind spots" (as Mr. G used to say). I have no grounds to "write off" the rebuke just because it comes from another sinful human being. (Although I do need to carefully examine my heart before confronting someone else.)

3. I MUST take it to the Lord. If I know I'm wrong, I can ask forgiveness immediately. I may not know what I'm going to DO about it, but I can admit that I'm wrong and began right there to make it right. If I'm not sure about it - if I don't immediately feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit - then I can listen and wait until I've asked the Lord what to do. Either way, I don't need to defend myself or react in anger. (Defending myself and reacting in anger are my specialties, by the way.)

4. When I know that I have been wrong - then I need the Lord to show me what my response should be. Have I asked forgiveness? Have I asked enough questions to know specifically what I have done? Have I communicated my desire to change? Is there any thing I need to do to begin that change?

5. Then there is only one thing left. Getting on my face before my Almighty God and asking Him to do a work in my heart.

Because you see? I can recognize my sin when confronted. I can confess it. I can ask forgiveness. I can be in the Word, allowing it to change me and teach me the character of Christ.

But only God can change my heart.

Or my kids' hearts.

Or my Coach's heart.

Or my friend's heart.

Or my family member's heart.

That's HIS job.

And that's exactly what I'm asking Him to do in me, today.

May the Lord give you His grace this week to respond to His correction in a way that honor's Him.

Thankful Thursday

2011-03-03T11:38:00.003-06:00

Because it's Thursday AND it's about time I write something that ISN'T whiny on this blog. Ha!

1. Beautiful weather. Sunshine. It feels like I've been cold for forever. Brrrrrr. And my kids are SO tired of my green fleece pull-over.

2. Trip to the library with Little Man this morning. Sweet times.

3. Quick visit to my parents. And one of my dad's fabulous cafe' lattes. Yum!

4. A clean house.

5. Healthy kids.

6. Much quieter week than last week. I am finally catching my breath for the first time in a LONG time.

7. First "real" run, yesterday, since Austin. Felt like I was 100 years old. But I did it.

8. Tomorrow is Friday. Can I get an AMEN?

9. The possibility of a nap, today. (trying to keep my expectations low, though)

10. Time with Son (#3) yesterday spending his B&N gift cards. Love that boy!

11. BSF lessons in Isaiah. "The more we know about God's character, the easier it is to trust Him." Wow.

12. The "mellowness" that comes with having been a parent for awhile, now.

13. A family that I love and enjoy being with.

14. Rumikub

15. A big backyard (and basketball court) that has been filled with kids every afternoon this week. And the reminder of what a blessing this house is.

16. Two vehicles that meet our needs, run well, and are even "nice" (even if my kids were complaining, yesterday, about how dirty the van is, inside)

17. Books. More specifically, "What Did You Expect?" and "So Long Insecurity". Now I need to find something "lighter" to read!

18. My three boys who protect me and treat me with tenderness. They are growing into wonderful young men!

19. More conversation time with my Coach this week. Makes all of the difference in MY attitude!

20. Oatmeal with Craisins.

21. That we have finished: "I Am Special" poster (Kindergarten), Homecoming (8th grade and Kindergarten), Presidential Tea (3rd grade), Science Fair (8th grade), Timeline (2nd grade), State report (4th grade), Speech Meet (6th and 2nd grades), Basketball (9th and 8th grades), enrollment for next year, AND the Austin 1/2 marathon.

Which reminds me, tomorrow is Math Olympics and Dr. Seuss' birthday celebration. Never a dull moment, right?

If I don't get off the computer and feed Little Man some lunch, he's going to fall asleep! My eyes are heavy, too. (yawn)

What are YOU thankful for, today?

Happy Thursday!

Because I'm all about making you feel better. . .

2011-03-01T13:35:00.002-06:00

First of all. . . CAN YOU BELIEVE how sweet my friend, Lori, is? Seriously!

Let me just say, in the course of a lifetime (I'm only 38 years into it, but I do have some experience), the Lord will bless you with only a few friends like THIS.

Love her.

(and while you're at it, her birthday was yesterday, so go wish her a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Right now!! Go on! I'll wait for you!)

Now.

It's Tuesday, again. Which means I'm tired. SO tired.

And let me just say. . . looking forward to a nap with Little Man? Is only setting oneself up for disappointment. Because TODAY he decided he will have NONE OF THAT thank-you-very-much. In spite of the fact that I KNOW he's tired. Because he keeps saying, "I'm NOT TIRED!"

Sigh.

We mothers are smart like that.

Here's the thing. I can admit it, now, because it's been a week or so. . .

that 1/2 marathon wore me out.

Well. That and the 9 weeks of training, 12 hours of driving, 8 children I'm mothering, home I'm keeping, insane schedule I'm juggling, etc. You get the idea.

Wore. Me. Out.

And my response to my over-tiredness last week? Not pretty.

I can admit it.

There is nothing like the blessing of a husband who will not only NOT leave you, but won't let you wallow in self-pity and destructive behavior (think 4 chocolate Zinger snack cakes in a sitting). But who instead, faithfully loves you, prays for you, listens to you, and lets you get out of the house even when it means he has to handle bath night at the troops.

(Thanks for meeting me for dinner, Zookeeper's Helper!)

I'm blessed.

It seems like I would have LEARNED this lesson, already, with all of the opportunities I've had. . . but. . .

"It's hard to be spiritual when you are tired."

I'm past those days of a house full of little ones and being continually exhausted each and every day to the point of forgetting what "rested" feels like. Normally around here, we get decent sleep and the break-neck speed of life is somewhat, sort of, manageable.

Until one takes on something like a 1/2 marathon training schedule.

However, I'm grateful for all I learned in the process. The discipline. The toughness. The mental battles I fought AND won out there on the Arrowhead Hills. I did more than I thought I ever could. It was good for me in so many ways. In fact, I'm kind of missing it.

But I left some casualties in my wake.

My poor kids.

My POOR Coach.

So to give you some encouragement this week? No. I can't do it all. I can't even do most of it. At least not without some kicking screaming fits (of my own, not the toddler's - although he's doing a great job of it, today).

I'm not proud of that. But I'm big enough to admit it. And get on with it. (and be tremendously grateful for the Lord's forgiveness, the Coach's forgiveness, the kids' forgiveness. . . )

Because what REALLY matters, is that I serve the Lord God, Creator of the Universe. HE never slumbers OR sleeps.

Someday, I'll learn to live in the knowledge of HIS unending, never-failing, faithful, constant, sovereign STRENGTH.

"Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength."

(Isaiah 40:28-29)

I may not have it all together. Or have the strength for all that's going on here at the troops, with my kids, in my marriage, in life.

But I know Who does.

Now. . . doesn't that make you feel better?

(or do I have to share my chocolate Zingers with you, too?)

Happy Tuesday!

2:13

2011-02-23T14:11:00.014-06:00

This is Lori from Crazy Daisy.

I've hijacked Mrs. Troop's blog.

So you better read fast and leave a comment because I'm pretty sure she has forgotten that I have her password and she may just delete this once she gets home.

It's become obvious to me that she is only going to mention her recent 1/2 marathon in passing so I felt compelled to hack into her blog and let you know that she has been training very hard for it and she ran it in 2 hours and 13 minutes! Her goal was 2 hours and 10 minutes but there were apparently a ton of huge hills that they were not anticipating and I'm just sure she would have ran faster than her goal had there been no hils.

But 2 hours and 13 minutes totally rocks!

We are so proud of you!!!

Mr. Troop e-mailed my husband this post-1/2 marathon picture so I'm SO posting it.

You're my hero.

____________________________

Okay, so I just have to post one more pic because they were holding hands across the finish line.

I think I'm gonna cry.

How sweet is that!?!

(I promise I'm logging off your account now. I'm sure by now you are really wishing you had MY password.)

Posted by Lori from CrazyDaisy

Tired Tuesday

2011-02-22T12:36:00.005-06:00

What day is it?

I think I forgot my name.

Or where I left one of the kids.

You know. . . the one with the big brown eyes.

Never mind.

Anyway, OH MY DEAR HEAVENS. . . how can it be that I haven't written one. single. thing. in three weeks?

I'm ashamed.

And embarrassed.

To be completely honest. . . I've been a bit overwhelmed. Wish I had done a better job of documenting the chaos. I've had some good material, for sure. There just hasn't been time.

To give you the quick run down:

The "Virus Epidemic of 2011" (in which all eight children and this mom got very sick) was followed shortly by the "Dual Snow Storm of 2011" (which gave us the majority of two weeks out of school). That was followed by the end of basketball season for two (Son #1 and Daughter #2), the Presidential Tea for Daughter (#5), various other school projects, reports, posters, etc. Followed by our "Getaway Weekend 2011" which wasn't very restful. To be completely honest.

Can anyone say "Spend a weekend without your children so you can drive 12 hours in 36 AND run a 1/2 marathon?"

Not.
Restful.

The kids sure had fun, though, without us! Ha! So grateful for my parents and our sweet sitter and her family who took them all in.

I guess there is some redemptive quality in the whole thing. We DID enjoy the time by ourselves (blessed QUIET) and meals out (YUM) and I am glad I didn't die.

It was a distinct possibility.

13.1 miles is a LONG way to run. (On a side note, if you regularly run FULL marathons, I don't want to hear about it, OK?)

Just don't tell the Coach that it about killed me. He barely broke a sweat. Let me just say he has some amazing qualities that are VERY difficult to live with. Bleck.

Anyway. . .

It is fortunate that the kids documented the snowstorm on my cell phone. That's a relief. Otherwise we might have forgotten. I do have pictures somewhere of the Presidential Tea. Preciousness. But only one picture of our 1/2 marathon adventures because we were . . . well. . . by ourselves. It's on the Coach's phone. But he has it with him.

So can we just start from scratch? Without feeling the need to go back and hash through the last month? Because I am seriously TIRED.

Let's just go on from here.

Maybe I can even pretend I didn't eat that amazingly delicious Red Robin Cheeseburger on Sunday afternoon.

Because I'm pretty sure if you weigh the calories burned running a half marathon and the Red Robin burger. . . the burger wins.

And that's about it. . .

Unless you want to hear about my blisters or sore hamstrings.

No?

Then we're all caught up, now.

Happy Tuesday!

Thankful Thursday

2011-02-03T12:49:00.003-06:00

It IS Thursday, right?

I've lost track.

Because after TWO WEEKS of having multiple kids home (sometimes seven) sick, the days have all run together.

And right about the time that the kids were feeling better and could have started heading back to school?

A huge snowstorm hit.

Oh the irony.

Now, don't get me wrong - I LOVE snow days. Christmas Breaks, Spring Breaks, Fall Breaks, days OFF in general are lovely. For the snow days, the Coach is usually home. . . I cook, watch the kids play outside in the snow. . . watch movies and make HUGE batches of hot cocoa.

However. . .

After nursing all eight kids through what appears to have been the longest version of the flu known to man (Daughter #5 missed TWO FULL WEEKS of school). . .

I'm over it.

Before the storm even hit, we'd sucked every bit of FUN out of being all at home together for days on end.

Every. Bit. Of. Fun.

So now. . . on snowday #3, the Coach and I resorted to turning the children into slave labor. The house is clean, the laundry done, folded, and put away, the kitchen clean. . . they even vacuumed under the furniture and organized the toys.

And it's 1:00.

In the afternoon.

They've played outside some. But not for long when the temps are hovering near 0. Ugh. They've watched enough Netflix to kill every brain cell that they have left (and I won't pretend that that is very many). We've even exhausted all of the movies at Blockbuster that we don't either own, have on instant play Netflix, or aren't allowed in our house.

I refuse to cook or bake ONE. MORE. THING. Tomorrow's weigh in will be sad, indeed. Very sad.

But I will still choose to be thankful. There's still lots on my list, today.

1. Healthy kids. The virus seems to be vanquished. And let's just say the kids are back to normal (good and bad)!

2. Healthy Coach. He hasn't come down with it, yet. Thank you, Lord. And pass the IgG.

3. I'm hanging in there. Thought I was going down HARD, yesterday, but three doses of Sambucol later, I'm certain I'll survive.

4. Treadmill. I haven't used it, yesterday or today, but I will. When I feel better. And considering the 18 inches of snow outside, it's a good option to have.

5. Clean House. The Coach is an amazing motivator. Somehow when he says, "Get Busy!" they do. My "could you help me for a bit?" doesn't get much of a response. Ha!

6. My Mom's 4-wheel drive vehicle. Which has enabled the Coach to make his meetings in spite of the weather. And a trip to Walgreens is definitely in our future, today. Even if it's not big enough for everyone to go.

7. A refrigerator and freezer full of food. We could be stuck inside another week or two and have plenty to eat! (not that I'm suggesting that I WANT to be stuck inside another week or two)

8. Diet Dr. Pepper. I had been trying to stay away from it, but these last three weeks it's kept me moving when I didn't think I could.

9. The memories. Sometimes it's hard to get along when you are locked in the house with eight kids. Ok. It's impossible! But I know that the kids will remember this. They'll remember the snow, the flu, the lying on the floor watching movies. And they'll laugh. I hope. Even at the all-out mega-fights that have been raging.

10. Rescheduled hair appointment, chiropractor, dentist appointments, etc. It will be busy making up for the last few weeks, but we'll get it done.

11. Facebook, e-mail, blogs, and texting. It's completely possible to stay in touch with everyone without leaving your house. That's good and bad.

12. The most patient, loving, forgiving, kind, thoughtful, husband in the world. It's true. The kids have been crabby, I've been crabby, and as the kids have gotten better they've needed his loving but firm hand to scrape them off the ceiling and find something creative to do. I was out of creativity. He's stepped in and kept us all working hard and doing right. A big task.

SO. . . for now I'm going to assume that we will have school, tomorrow. In spite of the fact that the roads really aren't any different than they have been. Ha! A girl can HOPE, can't she??

The big boys are playing outside in the snow with cousins. . .

The girls are playing Rumikub with the Coach. . .

And I'm thinking this would be a great time to clean the kitchen fridge and freezer. Because they are GROSS!

Happy Thursday to you all, wherever you are. . . in the snowstorms of the Oklahoma plains or Chicago lakes. . . or in Florida where the temps are in the 60's. Just don't text me to tell me how beautiful your weather is, OK?

What are YOU thankful for, today?

Just a Glimpse

2011-01-31T08:22:00.005-06:00

Still have sick kids this morning. Five, to be more accurate. But things do seem to be improving. Somewhat. Besides that one was up all night with the vomit monster (you didn't want to know that, did you? Sorry!).

One more returned to school, today. And one is spending her first school day at home. So they are trading places. However, now that ALL eight kids have gotten sick - it can only get better. Right? (please say yes)

In the meantime, a couple of pictures of our Friday night homecoming. Daughter (#7) was the Kindergaren representative . . .

and Daughter (#2) was the 8th grade nominee.

We had a fun time finding dresses, shoes, jewelry. A sweet friend did Daughter's (#2) hair and makeup while I curled Daughter's (#7). I was so grateful for the help after a week of sick kids. No wait. Two weeks of sick kids. It's all running together!

That's all for now. By the time I run the home cafe, administer medications and provide company, comfort and entertainment. . . my day is full!

Happy Monday!

If you want to see other homecoming pictures from years past, you can find them here:

Son (#1) and Daughter (#6) in 2009

Daughter (#5) in 2008

I wasn't blogging back when Daughter (#2), Son (#3) and Son (#4) were in Kindergarten. Maybe I'll get around to posting all of those someday.

Tomorrow is Coming!

2011-01-28T14:02:00.004-06:00

Sitting here with my Diet D.P. and some Sunchips (the cheesy kind, as my kids would say) - one of my favorite treats - even if I usually have to use some weekly pointsplus to enjoy them.

The two big boys (Son #3 made it back to school, yesterday - hooray!) are watching Pirates of the Caribbean in the playroom. The little girls (and Little Man) are watching Little House in the Prairie in the Living Room.

And it's quiet.

Sort of.

The windows are open. The delightful breeze is blowing through our previously stuffy house. Candles are lit. The dishwasher and dryer are humming. And there's plenty of coughing, too.

As much as I desire to live in the present moment of life. . . to enjoy where I AM. . . to be grateful for TODAY (because it is such a gift - I know that). . .

I have to admit I'll be relieved when tomorrow comes.

I'm sad that we haven't enjoyed this FUN week of school with all of the homecoming activities, dress up days, etc. Two of the kids are missing field trips, today. I hate that for them.

However, the fact that Daughter (#2) is WELL is such as answer to prayer. All of our prayers. . . and yours. . . and so many others. She's excited to be in homecoming, tonight. I'm excited for her. My heart is full of gratefulness for my sweet friend who is helping with her hair and makeup, too, this afternoon. It will be so much fun!

Daughter (#7) is still puny, but well enough to go walk in and out, I think. Praying she won't feel miserable and can enjoy being a "princess" for a few moments. Bless her heart.

So tomorrow? When the school week, homecoming events, and my 12 mile run are all over with (Lord willing and the run doesn't do me in!)?

I'll breathe a sigh of relief.

Because even though I'm trying to enjoy right NOW. I can't wait for some things to be over.

And when the kids are all finally better (let's pray that it's SOON!). . .

I'll breathe another sigh of relief.

I know there's always something to work on. . something looming. . . something on the horizon. My to do list will never go away. The piles won't either. The projects will keep coming (but OH how I love that my big kids are responsible and do most things on their own!). The house will need cleaned, again. And again. The laundry will need to be done over and over. And I'm choosing to be grateful that this particular virus hasn't affected the kids' appetites - even if I'm tired of being the resident short-order cook (fruit smoothie, anyone?).

God gives the grace and strength for each day.

But I know it will ALL be easier to handle once we get the troops feeling well, again.

Happy Friday!

Thanks eversomuch for your prayers.
(And can I just say how much I love the music on Pirates of the Caribbean?)

Tired Tuesday

2011-01-25T10:46:00.003-06:00

Happy Tuesday.

I'm not really THAT tired, I'll be honest. Not in the sense of "lacking sleep", anyway.

That's one of the many blessings of the kids getting older. More consistent sleep.

I AM tired of sick kids. Not tired of the KIDS, mind you (well. . . ), but the fevers, the fatigue, the head-aches, the coughing. Bless their hearts.

And I WILL be tired of all the make-up homework that will start flooding my house as soon as they all make it back to school (they WILL make it back to school, right?).

But mostly? I'm thankful. . .

For Netflix movies and 99 cent Blockbuster kids movies.

For free Chick-fil-A chicken biscuits this morning (I let Son #3 have mine, though). And the drive-through with a van full of pajama clad, blanket wrapped kids.

For a dishwasher that's been running non-stop.

For clean laundry (and the washer and dryer that make it possible).

For Clorox cleaning wipes, Lysol, Glade plug-ins and candles.

For a sweet daddy who brings Starbucks on my 8th day of having kids home sick.

For a husband who walks in the door at night and rolls up his sleeves and HELPS.

For a vacuum.

For five pallets on the playroom floor for five sick kids.

For Tylenol Jr. meltaways (or the generic version thereof).

For Gatorade.

For Sam's size versions of hot chocolate mix and Chai tea mix.

For an amazing, generous, kind doctor who answers my e-mails and phone calls.

For IgG (which seems to have kept the Coach and I healthy - so far). Trying not to regret the fact that I hadn't been giving it to all of the kids, too.

For precious teachers who call, e-mail and Facebook to check on my kids.

For Amish Friendship Bread. Makes the whole house smell yummy.

For homemade chicken noodle soup in the crockpot.

For a Grandmother who is willing to take a HEALTHY Little Man (who is driving his sick siblings crazy) to Bible Study so we can have a break from his endless energy.

For a dresses and shoes for Friday's homecoming for Daughter (#2) and Daughter (#7). Would appreciate prayers for our family that we will all be well so we can go!

For only one more long run left in our training for the Austin Marathon. Tapering here we come!

For the fact that I can still walk after all the running we've been doing. Ha! 24 miles last week!

For great teenagers. I've missed being at their games, lately.

For the Coach's Nook. And that he leaves it at home during the day.

For sunshine.

For Windex.

For laughter.

Yes. . . I know it's not Thursday. But I'm thankful.

(Deep Breath)

2011-01-17T07:46:00.004-06:00

It's quiet here, this morning, at the troops. Little Man slept right through the kids chaos this morning getting ready for and leaving for school. THAT doesn't happen often.

I'm blessed to have this quiet in my day. I know this. I'm not trying to homeschool while running a household and attempting to maintain some remnant of sanity. I only did that when I had six children seven and under! HA!

Wait. . . it might be too late to hold onto that sanity part.

One of my favorite hymns is "It is Well With my Soul". The Coach and I were married at Christmas and our wedding was full of Christmas music - "Joyful Joyful we Adore Thee", was the processional. But the one song that we wanted that wasn't Christmas music was "It is Well With my Soul."

"Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, it is WELL. . . it is WELL, with my soul."

Sometimes I'm lacking that peace on the outside. I may appear to have my act together or know where I'm headed, but truthfully, I'm drowning in the to-do list, the school calendar, the sports schedules, and the simple everyday LIFE of this busy, warm, laughter-filled house.

Being a mom is a dream come true for me. I love my job and I thank the Lord that I am able to do it.

Well. . . I am sort of able to do it. Some days I'm not sure that I've done the right things and left the right things undone. It's a constant struggle.

But even with all of the outward chaos, I have peace in my SOUL. I may not know what the future holds. How it's all going to work out. How we are going to pay for it, forheavenssake. I may not know how that costume will work out, or if I can find shoes for that homecoming dress. I may not know what I am fixing for dinner for 10, tonight, or if I'll be able to get those errands done today or next week. I may not know if that dentist appointment is going to take 10 minutes or 100. Or whether or not I'll be able to make it to all of the basketball games, or if I will chose to stay home with the younger children so we can have a normal bedtime in the evenings.

I DO NOT know how to make it all work. I used to think that if I just kept things organized, we could handle the busy schedule and the long list. That was when my kids were little. Now I'm fairly sure there isn't enough organization in the world.

But I know WHO holds it all.

So instead of wigging out and losing my mind and hyperventilating. . .

I'm going to trust Him. I'm going to tell Him. And I'm going to listen. I'm going to spend time in His Word, asking Him to show me what really matters, today.

And then I'm going to keep folding the laundry and washing the dishes and making the phone calls and paying the bills and . . .

Be grateful for this full, blessed life.

Oh! Look who is coming out of the bedroom with his blanket trailing behind!

Happy Monday!

Tiring Tuesday

2011-01-11T17:19:00.002-06:00

I love writing Thankful Thursday posts. Reminds me all that I have to be grateful for. Good attitude adjustment in the exhaustion of the week.

And "Thankful Thursday" has such a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

If I had to come up with a post just for Tuesdays. . . well. . . that's a bit harder.

But I'd go with "Tiring Tuesdays".

LOVE my BSF class. But it wears me out. Not sure why. Maybe I'm not used to having to sit still and pay attention for all of a weekday morning? Hmmmm.

Often, Little Man and I have lunch with Granddad and Grandmother afterwards. FUN!

But by the time I get home with a tummy full of Chick-fil-A, a heart full of fellowship, and a spirit full of Biblical truth. . .

I need a nap.

To top it all off, I'm always behind on housework, e-mail, phone messages, laundry, cooking, etc., after being gone all morning. And Little Man falls asleep in .2 seconds (if he doesn't on the way home). (yawn)

But that's all done and gone. Everyone is home. It's freezing cold. Dinner is cooking away. The laundry is done, if not folded, and I did cross a few things off the to-do list before time to get the kids at school.

And the frog?

It's been found.

In the tank.

Apparently it's not JUST an aquatic frog -

it's also a disappearing act. Right in our very own house.

(I lost it, again, this morning.)

Thank you all so very much for your concern. For me. Ha! I appreciate all of your loving (and humorous) comments, yesterday. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one without the "I love pets", gene. Whew!

And the "stepping on a frog in the middle of the night" story?

Thanks for that!

Happy Tuesday!

I try. Really, I do.

2011-01-10T07:54:00.003-06:00

What is it with kids and pets? Why do kids think they NEED a pet? That life isn't complete without one?

I wasn't that way.

Of course I cleaned my room without being asked, too.

My kids are desperate.

You'll remember we tried the dog thing. I was a good sport about the whole thing for the most part. Never mind that the little kids and I were home all day with the beautiful monster of a dog.

The Coach finally realized it wasn't working. The kids were even relieved.

Another chapter in the troops was closed.

About 2 years ago we started the fish tank in the boys' room.

It hasn't been too bad.

Lots of dead fish, but fortunately the boys are pretty much OK with that. They are tough (the boys, I mean) and just start asking when we can go to Petco for a replacement. On the positive side, we've gotten to care for lot of different kinds of fish. Ha!

I haven't had to deal with any of the dead fish. In spite of the pet store guy warning us that dead fish poison the tank with ammonia? I just leave them there until the boys get home.

Sad, I know.

There was the phase when Little Man tried putting everything that wasn't nailed down INTO the fish tank (stupid little hinged door on top of the tank!).

A bad of Cheetos was probably the worst.

OH. I forgot. The worst was the ENTIRE can of fish food. Bleck. Took MONTHS to get the water clear. And I'm pretty sure there were casualties from the incident.

But it's been a good experience. Son (#3) is the official "owner" of the fish and he's been very responsible.

I really am a good sport. I hardly flinched when the Coach took the girls to get a small tank for water frogs this weekend (in spite of the fact that I had successfully put them off for months, now).

Didn't say a word when they got the tank all set up so it could run for 24 hours before they brought frogs home to occupy it.

And when they DID get two tiny, slimy, disgusting frogs, yesterday, I even went in and smiled at their excitement.

I try.

But this morning? When Little Man came running out saying, "I DID NOT put anything in the frog's water, Momma!"?

I lost it.

It's all fine and good when there are 7 older kids here to keep an eye on him. But when they all leave for school and it's just him and me here in the house all day?

I can't spend the entire time just making sure he's not messing with the frogs!

Granted, it wasn't a bag of Cheetos or the whole jar of frog food (who knew there WAS such a thing?). No. I made the girls HIDE the food. I won't make THAT mistake, twice.

It was just jewels from one of their headbands that had been sitting on the counter so I could fix it with hot glue.

No harm.

Then I noticed something.

Something alarming.

ONE frog.

Not TWO.

ONE.

This is bad. Really bad.

Little Man doesn't seem to know where it is, either. And I think he would tell me if it had jumped out (the Coach says they don't jump, but what does he know? He's at work!) while he was opening the lid.

(sigh)

No one in the whole universe seems to share my total lack of need to have any pets in my house. Is there something wrong with me?

We had dog when I was growing up. And outside dog.

We had gerbils. They were like large mice, in my mind. Eeeewww.

I don't remember fish or birds, but we may have even had those. The only cat was before I came along (I'm deathly allergic).

I must be missing that "I love pets" gene.

Unfortunately I'm also missing a frog.

I'm sure it will turn up. Pre or post dried-up, who knows? I'd rather find it on purpose than on accident, though.

This is the life of a mom. Taking care of fish and frogs and dogs that are out of control. I don't do it because I love animals. I don't. Unless it's from a long ways away and there is glass or a fence in between us.

But I do love my kids.

Now, where IS that frog?

Thankful Thursday

2011-01-06T10:27:00.003-06:00

It's Thursday!

It's a new year, we're half way through the school year, Christmas has been celebrated, enjoyed, and packed away for another year, and I thought it was about time to get back to my Thursday lists! Yeah!

1. Clean House (except I'm noticing all of the dried leaves that have been tracked in).

2. Laundry done. Now just to put it all away!

3. Ironing done. I have not followed in my mother's footsteps in the ironing department. She irons EVERYTHING. I only iron about once or twice a year. Maybe.

4. New towels in our master bathroom (thanks, Mom!). I feel like I'm in a fancy SPA every time I take a shower, now. Well. . . except for the banging on the door.

5. All of the Christmas "treats" have been eaten. Whew! Glad I survived. I did gain last week at my WW meeting. Just being honest. But overall I'm still more than 30 pounds down since last Spring. It's about the long-term for me, at this point. I'm back on track!

6. Week three of 1/2 marathon training going well. The first two weeks were while the Coach was home for Christmas break - how fun is that? Next week will be tough, with my longest run EVER (10 miles). And it gets worse. Ha!

7. Beautiful weather, yesterday and today. It's not going to last, but I would LOVE a snow day next week!

8. Lots of Thank You notes to write. I am so grateful for all of the precious family and friends that I can say "thank you" to.

9. New Nike visor to wear while I run (thanks to my kids!). I only dream of looking cute in a hat, but the visor is super comfortable and keeps the sun out of my eyes and off my skin.

10. Precious, talented, committed, Christian, creative, amazing teachers for my kids. The Coach and I counted 38 teachers and faculty (from Kindergarten to 9th grade) that teach our kids every day they are in school. Wow! And I am blessed to count many of them as my good friends.

11. Time in Branson with the Coach's family before Christmas and time with both families on Christmas Day. And any time we feel the need to turn a regular evening into a "party", my parents are usually willing to come!

12. A day at home. It's been awhile. Very needed around here.

13. Great kids. We have our moments. I know I'm far from the perfect mom. Some days I'm not even a "good" mom. God's grace is so abundant. We have amazing kids who are growing into amazing adults. Love them so very much. And I even like them most of the time!

14. No meltdowns this morning. Yeah! School started on Monday and it's been a rough transition from sleeping in and jammies all day. . . but today it all clicked. Thank you, Lord! (7:00 bedtimes have sure helped!)

15. Tomorrow is Friday!

I'm going to have to really focus these next few weeks on all that I have to be thankful for so that I don't get overwhelmed. The school year really stays busy from January through March. Science Fair, Homecoming (for TWO of our girls!), Presidential Tea, Speech Meet, basketball season, all while running more miles each week than I'm used to, and trying to wrap up my weight loss and get to my goal weight.

How grateful I am, today, that God is sovereign. I can trust Him no matter what circumstances enter my life, today (and YES - chocolate milk has already been spilled on "the" chair. Sigh.).

And now, I have a little man climbing all over me AND my computer. . . time is up!

Happy Thursday! What are YOU thankful for, today?

Not sticky. Yet.

2011-01-04T12:47:00.005-06:00

We got our chair back, yesterday. Isn't it pretty? The kids knew it would be red. . .

I'm full of surprises, apparently.

This is a great chair. It was a hand-me-down like a lot of our furniture. I would have left it the orangey/blue/gold plaid, if I could have. I loved that it held so many memories. But along with a wonderful, soft, "lived-in" look, it also was ripping at the top, losing feathers from the seat cushion, and it smelled funny.

Which, again, is like a lot of our furniture.

The Coach said, "Why don't you see about having 'the' chair recovered?" I knew what he meant. The kids LOVE this chair. Fight over this chair. Play fort in this chair and use the feathers that poke through to make crafts.

He didn't have to ask me twice!

Isn't it pretty? (did I say that, already?)

I keep walking back and forth through the living room and every time I glance to it's corner, it makes me happy. Life certainly isn't about how amazing my house is (thank goodness!). But when something new and fun and pretty lands in my living room - I enjoy it! I enjoy the blessings we've been given. I know it's only because of the generosity of others, in some way or another. The Coach's job, and the income which provides for us, is a blessing. The hand-me-downs, the gifts, and so many other kind things we receive are all blessings. It's not anything I've done.

Maybe the reason I'm enjoying it (and I always enjoy something "new", don't you?) is because it IS new.

It hasn't been spilled on, spit up on (hopefully we've past that phase here - but you never know with boys), squished to death by piles of wrestling kids, slobbered on, or encrusted with raisins, granola bars, or goldfish crumbs. Never mind the "no eating in the living rooms" rule. It somehow happens, anyway.

There's just something about "new".

And it's reminded me, today, that I am "new", as well. I may still be living in this "old" body - yet to be redeemed - with it's smooshed raisin, spilled rootbeer, stuck on old candy cane issues, but my spirit? It's already BEEN redeemed and is sparkling new.

I find myself telling guests who sit at our dinner table, "Watch out for sticky." Is it just me? Or is everything in our entire house have something sticky on it? I just took the "small" van to the car wash and vacuumed it out. Where DO those little sticky drops come from? We don't allow our kids to trash out our cars OR our house. I think it just oozes from the kids, themselves. Kids=sticky. There's no avoiding it.

I can wash, clean, vacuum, and use every cleaning wipe in the house, but I guarantee there is sticky somewhere. Yesterday I had on a soft, velour sweatsuit. Little Man thought I had it on just so he could come snuggle up to my arm. And wipe his nose on it.

The chair is beautiful. New. Smells nice.

Not sticky. Or stained. Yet.

The rest of my house? Not so much.

I'm so grateful today for a clean heart. One that is "new" because of the blood of Jesus and His forgiveness and cleansing.

And the promise of a NEW, redeemed, body someday, too. Won't it be wonderful?

Will be nice to get rid of the sticky (and the stretch marks!)!

New Years? Already?

2010-12-31T15:13:00.004-06:00

My lack of blogging certainly hasn't been for lack of material.

Lack of time? Yes!

Lack of material? Certainly not!

We've had a lovely Christmas Break. We've spent many a Christmas with someone home sick. . . I'm so grateful that this year we were all well and able to enjoy the time (at least until I came down with this nasty cold).

But you know what?

It's a LOT of work enjoying a holiday. For a mom, anyway.

I love having my kids all home. I love how they holler and laugh while playing games. I love that get out the airsoft guns and have wars in the backyard. I love that they devour all of the baking I can crank out of the kitchen. I love watching them shoot baskets on our backyard court. I love smelling the smoke from the firepit while my little pyromaniacs build big fires. I love snuggling on the couch with kids on my lap, on my right and left, on my feet, and sometimes on my head, while we watch old movies. I love sleeping in on days when we don't have to get up to run (the Coach is one tough trainer!). I love having the Coach home more during the day.

It's delightful.

However. . . it's virtually impossible to keep things neat and orderly. And clean. Ugh!

Cooking. Dishes. Laundry. Doctors appointments. Basketball practices. Errands. I'm grateful I have so much help with it all. As the kids get bigger I'm becoming more of a "manager". I keep things going and make sure it's all getting done - but they do SO much of the work that it takes to keep this home running smoothly.

I may not remember the details of these busy, fun, exhausting years (especially when there isn't time to blog about it!). I may not remember what movies we watched over this Christmas (even if I stayed home for a nap while the Coach took the kids to see "Voyage of the Dawn Treader"). Or what games were our favorite this year (Rumikub!). What puzzles we put together. Or what special things I made for dinner at night. I may not remember what I got for Christmas from the Coach (yea for new clothes that fit!) or what gifts made my troops smile the biggest (RC helicopters, Hexbugs, American Girl bakery sets).

But I will remember being here all together. Being home and enjoying each other. Laughing. Until there are tears in my eyes (the Coach's new running tights had us all rolling on the floor!). I will remember the kids and their JOY at the fun of Christmas. The lights, the nighttime stories, the songs. Sharing the amazing GIFT of our Savior with my little ones. And big ones. Their delight at sharing their love for Him and how they've been changed by His forgiveness.

I've tried to spend some time with each one of the kids: Lego store with Son (#4), boot shopping (where DID his "cowboy" style come from?) with Son (#1). Sonic drinks and errands with Son (#3) and homecoming dress shopping with Daughter (#2). Good thing I have a few more days/kids to go!

The Coach and I finally made it out for our official anniversary celebration last night (two weeks late - not bad!). We watched table after table at a fabulous steakhouse in our town (that was SOME giftcard!) fill and empty over and over while we lingered over our delicious food and complimentary red velvet cake with "Happy Anniversary" written in chocolate. Then we went onto Starbucks and enjoyed coffee together while talking more about all that's going on with the troops.

You know what? I've never ONCE regretted marrying my Coach. Along with all of the challenges, it has been one of the greatest joys of my life to learn to love each other and enjoy the blessing of marriage. It's good to take time to remember that now and then. In the craziness of life. . . I'm always glad he's here sharing it with me.

So maybe I haven't had time to post all that's gone on here in the last few weeks. I'm sure I'll forget a lot. But one thing I know. . .

We are so blessed.

We thank the Lord for His goodness to us this year. There have been some painful things. There have been some wonderful things. And a whole lot of just daily life things. God is still on His throne. He still loves us. And that's enough.

Now it's probably about time to start fixing our New Year's Eve Buffet - my kids LOVE it when I put all of the food out and let them "graze" all evening and eat in the living room! Or maybe I'll go check on the fire in the firepit out back - it looks BIG. Or maybe I'll just sit here and finish my blueberry tea and nurse my cold for a few minutes longer while the Coach sits next to me reading his new book.

Either way. . .

May the Lord bless you and keep you in 2011.

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas to All!

2010-12-25T19:03:00.002-06:00

Our family Christmas celebrations are winding down here at the troops. BIG times, yesterday, doing stockings and gifts and traditions with our own troops. Candlelight service at church last night. Breakfast with the Coach's BIG family, this morning. Afternoon and Christmas dinner with my family, today.

So blessed.

Wanted to take just a minute to wish all of our precious family and friends a very Merry Christmas. We are so grateful for each one of you!

. . . and to all a good night!

(special thanks to Prints Charming for the great family pictures!)

It's all part of the gift.

2010-12-12T21:27:00.004-06:00

This weekend has been somewhat of a whirlwind.

Friday night we had a LOVELY time with our Sunday School class - enjoying appetizers, desserts, and coffee with visiting all around.

Woke up Saturday in a fog (at least the house was still clean!). . . knowing that the Christmas to do list was hanging over my head and that time is running out.

But a story that the speaker in church told last week kept running through my head. About a boy (in Africa, I think?) who ran for miles to get a pretty seashell off the beach to give as a gift to his teacher. When he presented her with the gift, she exclaimed, "But you ran so far!" To which he replied, "That was part of the gift."

I don't have to tell you that Christmas shopping for eight kids, my amazing Coach, parents and misc. nieces, nephews, grandparents, and friends can be a bit overwhelming.

Is it just me, or do I use the word "overwhelming" a lot?

I thought so.

Not to mention trying to find practical, useful, non-junk, economical, fun things for everyone on my list. And if at all possible, things that will be used up and not added to the STUFF in this house - or anyone else's.

But as I've worked and re-worked my list. . . scanned websites and stores. . . gone from one place to another trying to find just the right thing. . . or just the right price. . . returned things after finding a better deal somewhere else. . . and then working and re-working the list some more. . .

The thought won't leave me. . .

"It's part of the gift."

The Christmas cards? From outfit shopping to ironing to hair curling to organizing to photographers and Sam's Club Photo to address hunting and envelope printing and standing in line at the PO for stamps?

Part of the gift.

From the name drawing between kids to the whispering from one to another to the Coach's countless trips with countless kids to the sneaking gifts in the garage door to stashing in the closet to locking the bedroom door while so and so wraps so and so's present?

Part of the gift.

From the waking up in the middle of the night with the name of THAT catalog where I saw THAT darling t-shirt to the debating about what American Girl outfit to the order confirmation e-mails and the dwindling check account?

Part of the gift.

From the baking and cooking and destroying the kitchen 12 times a day (it can't possibly be just three times, can it?) to the eating more than we should to the sitting more than we should to the watching more Christmas movies than we should to the working puzzle after puzzle and playing Wii games for hours on end?

Part of the gift.

All of this is to remind us of one thing. . .

God-Man, Jesus, coming to earth as a baby - to ultimately give His life for the salvation of all mankind.

His sacrifice is not just PART of the gift.

It's THE greatest gift of all.

Happy Sunday!

(and no. . . this would NOT be the time to tell me that you are done with your Christmas shopping and have been for weeks, thankyouverymuch!)

Perfect Peace

2010-12-06T22:42:00.003-06:00

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength."

I'm up too late, tonight.
I have a stuffy nose.
And I'm eating mini Three Musketeers.
(don't worry, I'm counting the points, forheavenssake)

Just finished my BSF lesson for this week.

The fact that I started it and finished it, BOTH, tonight, is somewhat embarrassing. And accounts somewhat for the late hour. That and the fact that I had to make a 9:30 trip to Wal-mart.

I'm really struggling to get these lessons done, this year. Life is busier and more chaotic than it's ever been. And Isaiah takes some concentration. And quiet. And often more brain cells than I seem to have.

This week's lesson made me think about why I haven't had that perfect peace, lately. Why I hesitate to rely on the Lord?

Do I really trust Him?

Not just for eternity. . . or the long-term. . . or the big picture. . .

But for RIGHT NOW?

THIS MOMENT?

When things aren't exactly what I would like for them to be?

When the Christmas shopping isn't done and the list is long and I'm not sure how to buy practical, fun, useful, economical gifts for everyone?

When my children are choosing to do stupid (embarrassing) things that I know they will look back on and regret? Never mind that I made the very same mistakes at their age.

When dear friends are dealing with HARD health issues?

When valued relationships are strained, distanced, challenging?

When I'm tired? Have too much to do? The schedule isn't figured out (what day is it, again)? The meals aren't planned ahead of time? The grocery shopping has turned into daily Wal-mart runs?

When the kids aren't listening and obeying? When I don't WANT to take the time to talk things through? Do the hard thing? Persevere even though I'm ready to quit?

Perfect Peace.

A Steadfast Mind.

I don't know about you. . . but I desperately NEED a steadfast mind. Maybe I'd quit forgetting why I walked into the kitchen in the first place (when I should be in bed).

There's only one place to find this peace.

And to give you a clue, it's NOT in my ability to get it all together, finish everything perfectly, parent without error, or love others in my own strength.

(but for some reason I usually try all of that FIRST)

The peace is found in trusting a loving, sovereign God who deals with us on His terms in HIS time for HIS purposes.

He's given us life. He's given us everlasting life with Him (if we will receive it).

I'm pretty sure I can trust Him with everything else, too.
(not EVEN the little things, but ESPECIALLY the little things)

Praying that you will find that perfect peace and that steadfast mind as you seek to TRUST the Lord this week.

"O Lord, thou are my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise they name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth."

"For thou has been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall."

"He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces. . . lo this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."

Thankful Thursday

2010-12-02T14:37:00.004-06:00

Sometimes it makes me cry to love eight little people (one of whom is bigger than I am, now) so much.

I sit in church with all of them, looking back and forth down the row (at least on Sundays when we get there early enough to find a whole row and can actually sit together) and my heart overflows with the goodness of God and His incredible blessing to us in these kids.

And sometimes?

I cry because they drive me nuts.

(sigh)

But it's Thursday today and I'm thankful for my kids.

One reason why: Little Man. With his dirty t-shirt and blowing raspberries at the camera. He still says to me (in the morning and after naptime, usually), "Mom, I NEED you."

And you know what, Little Buddy? I need you, too. Your snuggles, your kisses, and most of all the challenges you bring, that cause me to spend more time on my knees that I ever thought I'd need.

I need you (and your seven siblings) because you show me my need for Jesus. I can't parent without Him. Without His forgiveness. His grace. His character in my life. (and especially the forgiveness part)

Without these eight reminders? I might forget that, sometimes.

Happy Thursday!

The stuff of life.

2010-11-30T15:30:00.003-06:00

We celebrated TWO birthdays this past week.

Son (#1) turned 15, yesterday. Yikes. I'm looking online to find a shirt that says, "Girls - STAY AWAY - or my mom will GET YOU!" What do you think? The glaring and avoidance (mine) doesn't seem to be giving girls the message that I'm going for. The other option is locking him in his room until he's 22. But I worry about what it would smell like in there. The Glade plug-in can only do so much.

Daughter (#5) turned 9 on Saturday. NINE! As in, "my fifth born child and the tiniest member of our family" (besides Little Man, but at three he's almost caught up with her). Dear heavens. Where does the time go?

We celebrated with a Chili dinner. And Apple Pie. And Angel Food Cake with strawberries. Nothing like two birthdays in one! At least they agreed on the main course.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanksgiving Break was fun. Lots of family time with the troops - lots with the Coach's extended family. Lots of food. And a loss at WW on Friday. Woo hoo! SO excited about the new PointsPlus plan starting this week. Come on Friday!

Know what I did on Thanksgiving morning? Ran EIGHT miles. Didn't know that was a possibility one year ago. Felt great. Especially since I was inside and not out in the wind!

And on Saturday? After the Coach took Son (#1) on his first unsuccessful deer hunt at the farm? He took me shopping.

SHOPPING.

(for clothes, not groceries)

How much fun is that? Great sale. Great jeans. Two new sweaters. What an incredibly amazing guy. (this is a labor of love, I might add. . . shopping would not be on his list of "my favorite things")

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So back to the school routine, yesterday. Three days off last week just reminded me how much I'm looking forward to Christmas Break! Then again, it also reminded me that when the kids are home, I spend all of my time in the kitchen. Lots of food. Lots of dishes. Lots of mess. Love it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last night, I kept hearing a loud "BANG" in what seemed to be the sunroom, right next to our bedroom. I wasn't too worried, until I woke up and the Coach wasn't there. When he came back, he said he was trying to find out what was making that loud noise. Seriously. If something wakes HIM up, I'm scared. He can sleep through an entire pre-dawn, four-kid stomach virus. It's happened.

Then this morning, I'm in the kitchen trying to focus my eyes and get 8 lunches (with a little too much help) made while putting hair in pony tails and finding missing shoes. It's tough enough after good night's sleep!

Out come the boys, talking about "that noise last night". Turns out they heard it, too. Thought maybe it was at the back door. OK. Time for a lesson in "Home Invasion 101" . IF you hear what you THINK might be someone trying to get IN our house in the MIDDLE of the night (daytime it's probably just Little Man locked outside when someone came in without him) then PLEASE wake your parents.

Good Grief.

So the Coach, now even more determined to figure it out than he was in the middle of the night (I'm oddly MORE motivated when it's keeping me from sleep - and it's dark), starts investigating.

Turns out the gate to the back yard was unlocked and blowing back and forth in the wind making a surprisingly BIG banging sound.

Mystery solved.

And then the Coach tells me didn't think it was something dangerous. Just one of our sleep-walkers slamming doors.

Which I'm pretty sure is even MORE frightening. We have an alarm that goes off if someone comes in our house at night. Eventually the police will get here whether the Coach wakes up or not. However those sleep walkers will SCARE the heebie jeebies out of you if you run into them in the hall at 4:00 am. Yikes! I know this from experience.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That about gets us caught up, here at the troops. And now Little Man is awake (sort of) and curled up on my lap. He's not so "little" anymore, so it's making typing next to impossible.

Happy Tuesday!

One of the best. . .

2010-11-23T21:53:00.003-06:00

Today was a good day.

You know the kind. They don't happen too frequently, but every now and then you find yourself thinking, "Life is good." Not that life isn't always good - because God is on His throne - but sometimes I forget.

(contented sigh)

BSF in the morning. The text we studied this week wasn't the most positive (try Isaiah 15-23), but the lessons were life-changing.

Lunch with my Dad. And Little Man. At Chick-fil-A. Including free Peppermint Milkshake samples. How fun is that?

Few errands on the way home.

Quiet afternoon with a sleeping boy and phone calls with good friends while cooking dinner for tonight and cornbread for Thursday's dressing.

The Coach brought the kids home. Woo hoo!

Then a casserole in the oven and Daughter (#2) making whole wheat muffins for dinner. Coach and Son (#3) out finishing up the Christmas lights (which will NOT be turned on until the day after Thanksgiving thankyouverymuch) and I was off for my daily run.

Gorgeous afternoon and four miles pounding the pavement. Felt SO great to be outside (after weekly runs inside the last two weeks). The leaves are falling, there was a cool breeze, the sun was setting. Ahhhh.

Came home to dinner on the table and kids chattering about Thanksgiving Break, time with the Coach's family on Thursday, and sleeping in. Ha!

Finished the day with "Despicable Me" at the dollar movie. "It's SO FLUFFY!"

And to top it all of, I did NOT get up and yell at the people behind us who brought microwave popcorn from home and crunched the bags while filling their kids Wal-mart shopping bags with popcorn and shaking cups with lids and ice (I think - it was dark) for minutes at a time and jumbo size bags of candy with the loudest wrappers EVER (how big WAS this lady's purse, anyway?) all while the kids yelled and the moms hushed them VERY LOUDLY. I did not. lose. it.

(deep breath)

And now? I had better get to bed. Lots of cooking and laughing to be done with the troops, tomorrow. And a cold front, so I hear.

Happy Tuesday!

Thankful Thursday

2010-11-18T09:09:00.009-06:00

Good morning!

I'm a little bleary eyed this morning, but the coffee is brewing and I'm pressing on toward thankfulness. Here we go:

1. Wonderful, uplifting, encouraging visit with a sweet s-i-l last night. And a husband who took care of things so I could go (and her husband who did the same at their house - you'd think they were related, or something).

2. God's faithful provision. It has never failed.

3. Beautiful Fall weather. I even love the blustery days.

4. New treadmill. Woo hoo! Although, oddly enough, I've discovered that running outside is addictive. But I'm grateful to have another option on COOOOOLD days!

5. Wal-mart candles (vanilla is our favorite). Because as much as I love a real, boutique candle, NO WAY can I put one in the bathroom with a three year old in the house. But for $2.50? He can decide to build tissue fires and ruin one now and then and I don't get too upset.

6. Little Man who is sitting beside me coloring. How dull life would be without him. And how clean! Ha!

7. Coffee. Because a Mom isn't allowed to slow down when she's tired.

8. For 9 weeks (I think?) on Weight Watchers. I've completely stalled at 19 pounds down. Phooey. But I'm not going to quit. NOT going to quit!

9. For sweet friends who are going through HARD things. Death of a parent, death of a sibling, devastating health issues. Watching them keeps me on my knees - and leads me to glorify the Lord, when I see how He is drawing them to Himself.

10. First week of Jr. High Girls basketball season. And a three-point shot by Daughter (#2) to open the first game!

11. Good visit with my aunt and uncle from Pennsylvania. So fun to have them here!

12. Sunshine this morning (although to be completely honest, I love the dreary days even more!).

13. Beautiful Fall colors. I can't remember the last time the trees were SO pretty, here. Every time I look outside it makes my heart happy. God's creativity amazes me!

14. Having the Coach back from the consuming football season. How I love that man! At dinner time when he walks in the door? I can see that he's really WITH us - not already thinking about the film that needs to be watched or the plays he needs to work on. Without football season (which we really DO enjoy), I wouldn't appreciate the rest of the year so very much.

15. Did I mention coffee? If I drink much more my heart will be racing all afternoon. Ha! (and it's only fair to tell you that when I have caffeine I have a hard time shutting up. Or ending a post.)

16. That my fever and head cold on Sunday were short lived. I'm grateful to the Lord and for IgG. That stuff is amazing!

17. That the Coach is recovering from his annual "end of football season sinus infection". IgG can only make up for some much exhaustion! Ha!

18. That the three little girls clothes, closet, and drawers are all cleaned out and switched to the Winter Season. It is my least favorite chore, but WOW it feels good to be done! The 10 bags of clothes in the garage that are ready to pass on to someone else feel awfully good, too! (Thank you, Lord, for so many darling hand-me-downs!)

19. My Hoover Steam Vac. Cleaned traffic areas and spots removed in both living rooms. Ahhhhh. I feel so much less trashy when the carpets are clean.

20. BSF Isaiah study. I'm struggling to stick with it and get my lessons done. My brain feels like mush. The questions often look like they are in a foreign language. But God's Word NEVER returns void and He is using this study to cause me to praise Him. Thank you, Jesus!

May the peace of God that passes all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:7, Mrs. Troop paraphrase)

Happy Thursday!

More coffee, anyone?