Last Week of Summer

I'm listening to the three little girls play "store", or "ordering" or "business" - I'm not really sure, actually. But they are happy. And I'm pretty sure that this time it's not "school".

Little Man is finishing up his lunch and about ready for a nap. He has that "glazed" look in his eyes.

One at volleyball practice, one at football camp and the Coach and two other boys at football camp, as well.

Sometimes I feel like I need a flow-chart to keep track of kids here at the troops.

There is always so much going on. Days like today I wonder if my head might just explode.

But it never does. And things always work out.

My chiropractor says the best thing for stress is vigorous exercise. I try that. Every morning. But then I just want to crawl back into bed. Must be doing something wrong.

Having the most amazing family and the kindest friends makes all of the difference. Thank you, Lord!

Today is my wonderful mother's birthday! Happy Birthday, Mom!

Tomorrow is the memorial service for my cousin's sweet baby girl. Pray for them. For their family. The weight of grief is beyond unbearable.

I'm somewhat in shock that Son #1 is at football camp as a PLAYER this year, not just hanging with his dad. Where does the time go?

Next week school will start and Little Man and I will be at home alone for part of the day. I'm so looking forward to the quiet (just being real)! But also to the great year I know the kids will have - all they will learn - the fun of watching them grow - play sports. And maybe a nap now and then?

To say that we (and I mean I) are overwhelmed here at the troops would be an understatement.

Not only overwhelmed by the craziness of life.

But overwhelmed by our loving family and friends who are so willing to jump in a help out when we need it.

And especially overwhelmed by our loving Lord who sees all. Knows all. Weeps with us. Comforts us. Gives us HIS peace.

Blessings on your Monday!

Thankful Thursday

Well.

It's Thursday.

And I'm thankful.

Will that do?

(smile)

1. School supplies are almost finished. Few more things to pick up, today.

2. Football and Volleyball off to a good start.

3. Carpool help. And lots of it. Thank you, Lord.

4. Lovely time with my sweet sitters on Tuesday night celebrating a new baby! (more on that, later)

(There just aren't words for how much I love these girls!)

5. Health.

6. School clothes and shoes that were needed are all bought. Drawers and closets are organized. Backpacks out and ready to go.

7. Air Conditioning.

8. Especially Air Conditioning.

9. Walking/jogging with my mom before it gets hot in the mornings. So much more fun that going alone!

10. My Lord and Savior - who sees. hears. loves. heals. provides.

I know there is more. . . but the list is long and the time is short.

Happy Thursday!

Friday Linky Love

Happy Friday!

It's a zoo here. I mean that. And we don't even have any animals.

The kids are using all of the couch cushions and pillows to cross the raging seas of the living room carpet.

The is after poc-suls (Little Man's version of a Popsicle) AND too much TV for 11:00 in the morning.

(sigh)

I'm dragging a bit, this morning! Not even trying for "mother of the year", today.

And once again, I've missed Thankful Thursday. Which is a shame because there is SO MUCH to be thankful for here at the troops!

But instead of beating myself up about it? How about some linky love?

Go read about our Mah-ve-lous MB concert night in Dallas.

Then read about a sweet reminder to fight for our marriages.

Then go read about teens (especially if you have a houseful of them - we are well on our way!)

And if you've posted something lovely this week. . . leave a comment and let me know! I don't have a lot of blog reading time around here, but maybe I can turn the TV on again, later, for the kids.

Just kidding!

Sort of.

Have a great weekend!

Sunday Morning

The dishwasher is humming, reminding me of the biscuits and gravy breakfast that everyone devoured, this morning.

The filleted "5-pounder", from this morning's fishing expedition, is in the fridge waiting to be tossed on the grill later today.

The sounds of the 7 year old and the toddler playing with wooden animals in the basement is drifting up the stairs. Here they come to check their bucket of frogs on the front porch.

Meeting the sound of the 11 year old (he's almost twelve!) and the 8 year old playing Monopoly upstairs.

The whirr of the four-wheeler engine comes and goes as the 13 year old and 8 year old ride on the trails all over the land.

And now and then I can hear the shotgun from across the valley as the Coach and our oldest (he's 14) practice skeet shooting.

Someone's missing. . . hmmmm. That would be the 5 year old. Wonder what she's up to?

Not every moment in our lives is perfect. Not even this one, as I haven't showered, yet, and 9 people will be clamouring for lunch any minute, now.

But now and then my brain seems to snap a Polaroid picture of a moment in time when my heart overflows with joy and gratitude.

So much to be grateful for. So much to enjoy.

Life is always changing, isn't it? The "big kids" get bigger every day. Playing games with each other (with fewer referees needed), picking up after themselves (sometimes) and pitching in to help. The "little kids" aren't so little anymore. We don't need diapers, pack-n-plays, and strollers just to go somewhere.

Having older kids, while stretching me beyond myself and throwing me at the mercy of the Lord every day, is turning out to be a lot of fun. The joking, the story telling, the conversations and laughter. These kids are turning into amazing people. I love being with them.

I am continually amazed by the Coach. . .who gets up early to take the kids fishing. Who stays out in the heat of the day to shoot Son #1's new shotgun. Who takes Little Man on endless rides on the Ranger. Over and over again. Who fixes the chain on the little four-wheelers. Who guts the biggest of the morning's catch and cooks it so the boys can eat their spoil. Who ooohs and aaaahs over every breakfast, lunch and dinner that I cook for our masses. Who is grateful that his clothes are washed and there when he needs them. Who tells me I'm beautiful and kisses me when he comes in and goes out. I am blessed. (No wonder he falls asleep every time he sits down!) He was a wonderful father to our babies. But the older kids seem to bring out the best in him.

We are relishing these last few days of Summer at the troops. Enjoying our family's farm for the weekend. Enjoying each other.

Fall is almost here. The football practices (my first born is in highschool, for heaven's sake) and the volleyball practices. School supplies to buy, backpacks to fill, shoes to try on. My first year with seven in school (Oh my heavens!). Football season, with the Coach gone more than he's home. Homework, projects, new teachers to adjust to. Not to mention the MUCH earlier mornings!

But that season is fun in it's own way. We'll just enjoy it as it comes.

Today? The quiet of the farm. In a few weeks? The chaos of the school year begins.

It's all good.

And I feel a Ranger ride calling my name.

Happy Sunday!

This and That. . .

So July? It's flown by. Busy. Fun. And almost over!

We hit the ground running when we got back from the beach. Obviously. . . haven't even had time to blog!

There was an evening out with the girls and my first time eating at Red Robin. Yummm!

(there ARE pictures out there, but I didn't take any of them)

A couple of nights with cousins coming over to eat and play around July 4th.

Fun times babysitting this friend's youngest. We loved having a baby around, again!

The Coach and the boys built huge shelves in the attic - we cleaned everything out up there and took a van load to Salvation Army. Woohoo!

(I should take a picture - you'd be so impressed! Ha!)

Moving Little Man into the "big boys" room and putting the crib up. Can't believe it. First time it has been empty in 14 1/2 years. (sniff)

Little Man is totally potty trained, now, too. I can't believe he actually got it! Naptime, nighttime and the whole nine yards!

Driving kids to basketball games, to babysit. . . mow. . . workout. . . teach Bible Clubs. Yes I AM the taxi driver.

Lunch out with sweet teachers from our school (this friend is a homeschooling mom at the moment, but I know that her kids will be back!).

Shopping for new wedding bands for the Coach (nothing decided as of yet - had no idea what an expensive vacation memory that would be!). Did you KNOW you could buy jewelry online?

Lots of time for the Coach and the boys working on the deck.

Redecorating Daughter's (#2) room (still lots to do).

Trip to Fort Worth for just the Coach and I! Can you believe it? Lovely times. Which included (among other things). . .

A day of Shopping with my BFF (the Coach had a conference to attend).

TWO nights out to dinner with the Coach (he liked Red Robin, too!).

A pedicure.

Some more shopping.

Jogging at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Campus.

Even a movie!

And I got Starbucks TWICE. Heaven, I tell you!

(Did I mention the hotel had cable? And muffins in the morning?)

All thanks to our sweet sitters - the kids had SO much fun without us.

Then celebrating the Coach's 40th. Wow! He looks great for being so OLD, don't you think? (You know I'm teasing. And I'm younger.)

Trip back to Dallas to see this guy.

So much fun!

Go bug Crazy Daisy until she does a post about how great it was! Ha!

Time at the farm with 1st and 2nd cousins from Missouri and California. Kids played in the pond and the mud so long that their toenails turned orange. Yuck.

Riding bikes. . . playing legos. . . trips to the pool.

Dinner and swimming with good friends from church.

Great evening with one of our sweet California cousins.

(There is a picture out there somewhere - I'll track it down.)

And HELLO THERE wonderful, beautiful, lovely new mac laptop. Woohoo! Feeling oh so spoiled about now. (smile)

This week?

. . . time up at school, sorting clothes, making lists and the beginning of the daunting task of school shopping for SEVEN.

A great month.

So all is well here at the Troops as Summer winds down. Going to take kids to the dentist, spend some quiet days at the farm, send the younger boys to football camp, start highschool football and junior high volleyball practice (means more taxi driving for me), send the Coach and all of the boys to varsity football camp . . . then school will be starting before we know it.

I'm sad in a way. . . but excited to see what the year will hold. Lot's to pray about, talk about, work through and learn. In other words - life as usual!

Now that I've caught up a bit here at Mrs. Troop, I'm going to try to get some SLEEP.

Happy Wednesday!

Vacation 2010 - Part 2

So after not enough glorious days on the beach. . .

The storm arrived.

I suppose we were blessed to not be hit BY hurricane Alex.

But the storms were fierce.

Making lemonade from our Hurricane lemons:

We were off to see Toy Story 3:

Visit the local Urgent Care:

(no stitches needed, thankfully)

Eat fresh seafood:
(glad to know NOW that Daughter #6 can't have shellfish)

Shop for T-shirts
(Little Man and Granddad waiting for the girls to make up their minds.)

Talk passers-by into taking our picture:

Check out the local Aquarium:

(shark cages)

Even the "big" kids enjoyed the fish:

And we didn't let the 40 mile per hour winds and pelting rain keep US out of the surf!

The waters begin to rise AROUND the house - so much for "beach front"
- the beach dissappeard!

Grandmother and I thought it was crazy to be out in the wind and rain!

Crazy crazy storm:

But there had to be a picture of the troops, in spite of it all:

We eventually headed home.

A day early.

(leaving the Coach's wedding ring behind in the ocean)

And let me just say. . .

Have you ever traveled with 12 people and a week's worth of beach gear in one van?

Well. . .

Then you've never lived! Ha!

I heard someone say once (Gary Smalley, mabye?) that when things go "wrong" on family vacations it makes the BEST memories. Two months later.

And you know what?

Hasn't even been that long and I'd have to say we had a GREAT time!

Vacation 2010 - Before the storm

Our traditional "on the road" picnic lunch. Somewhere South of Dallas.

Kids first time at the beach!

Beautiful Sunsets. Our favorite time to walk!

LOVED playing in the sand and water.

The Coach and I spent HOURS in the surf with the big kids. FUN!

Grandmother helping get the boat out far enough.

Little Man LOVED the beach! (we loved that he loved it, too. except for the afternoon he wandered 14 houses down before we caught up with him!)

They loved finding crabs in the seaweed.

The nice calm waves.

Our beach house for the week.

I'll post the second half of the week (can you say Hurricane Alex?) next. . .