Parenthood

You gotta check out this video of a dad singing a song about being a parent. Really cute!

The potential of a child

I am amazed at how amazing God is every time I see a newborn baby. If you have read Mike's blog you will know that our awesome friends Travis and Boni have a new baby boy! John Jeremiah was born Sunday morning(the 26th). He is 5 days old and Drew and I went to take a peek at him a few hours ago. Wow - he is so beautiful and so helpless at the same time. I stay so busy with everyday life that I occasionally get a wake up call to just what a responsibility being a parent is. I'm not talking about the responsibility of feeding them their veggies, washing their clothes and making sure they brush their teeth. I mean the BIG responsibility of leading them in the right direction. The responsibility of showing them Jesus in a world full of selfishness and materialism. Showing them Jesus in a world full of sickness and pain. Showing them Jesus in a world full of sin! That is an awesome responsibility. It makes being sure they ate their spinach seem like child's play. What is even as awe inspiring as looking into the eyes of a newborn is realizing how much potential God has put into those little bodies. There might be a pastor in Boni's arms. There might be a missionary playing with blocks in her floor. The little "tweener" watching Hannah Montana on my couch might be a women's Bible study leader. The little boy in my house getting dressed for soccer practice could be a worship leader. My little 3 year old that had an "accident" this morning trying to make it to the potty might one day be a youth pastor that leads thousands of teens to Jesus. Parents always have hopes and dreams for their children as they watch them grow. But God has bigger plans. His plans reach as far as eternity. So, welcome to the world Baby John! I can't wait to see what God has in store for all the children in our lives.

Camping with friends

I just got back today from spending a couple of nights at some cabins close by with 3 friends and all our kids. It was a great 3 days of fun before we all have to get back into the routine of school. The kids had a blast!! They played in the pool, fished in the lake, rode the water slide and just had fun being kids. They stayed up to late, ate more junk food than usual and got grouchy but no harm done - a little too much sugar and not enough sleep can't hurt every now and then. When you put all our kids together there are 11 incredible little squirts from age 3 to 8 (and one more on the way in about 2 months!) We moms had a great time to sitting out amoung the misquitos every night talking about everything from childbirth to church and everything in between. It was really good for me to be with these other moms and see how similar our struggles are. We all are in the same stage of life and can really relate to each other. We shared our fears of raising children in a fallen world and the joy that comes from knowing no matter how fallen this world is God is still in control. I am reading Vickie Courtney's book Your Girl and am learing that my children are God's and He has given me the privilage to raise them. It would be an impossible and terrifying job without Jesus at the center of everything. It would also be much harder without woman like Andi, Dee Dee and Stephanie in my life. We all come from different churches and backgrounds but we share the same Jesus and that is a bond that cannot be broken. Thanks girls for an awesome time and those late night chats about 12 little lives that might just change eternity one day!

Camping in a heat wave - who's idea was this?

Have you ever slept in a sauna - with 3 kids and a husband.  Well, I have now.  We went camping at Fairy Stone State Park Thursday and Friday - it was in the 90's both days without much cooling down at night.  Mike had a thermometer on his sleeping bag (I know - you can tell he's an Eagle Scout!) and it was 85 in the tent at 10pm.  We still laughed and giggled while trying to go to sleep and roasted s'mores over the hot campfire and had a great time.  The kids loved playing in the lake.  They have an area of the beach roped off for kids that has giant floating lilly pads, logs, snakes, turtles and frogs for them to play on.  Their are also paddle boats and canoe rentals.  If you want a nice place for a family camping trip I recommend it.  It is in the middle if no where - but that's what you want when you camp.  You'll have to read the legend of the Fairy Stone to find out where the park gets its name.  We went to the hunt site and spent a while looking for Fairy stones and found a few but none that were quiet as dramatic as the ones on the website or we saw in the display at the park.  It was still fun to look and the woods where the hunt site is was beautiful - it looked like a place for fairies.  After a hot 40 minutes on a paddle boat we decided to skip the hike and head back toward home and stop at the candy factory.   You can't go wrong with chocolate!

THIS IS SOOOO FUNNY

If you have kids and take them grocery shopping with you - you HAVE to read this - it is SOO funny.  It is an ebay listing from a woman with 6 kids- she is trying to get rid of a pack of Pokemon cards that her kids, unknowing to her, put in the buggy while shopping.  I found this link while reading Holly Furtick's blog - it's a great laugh until you think about the next time you have to take your kids to the grocery store with you!

Diet Coke and Mentos

Check out this video
I know this trick has been around for awhile but this was our first time trying it. I am holding the camera and had to quickly stick it under my shirt to keep from getting "coked" - thanks Josh.

Recovering

We are recovering from our High School Musical 2 Party. Last night we had about 25 6-10 year olds over for pizza and the debut of the Disney movie. My kids are HUGE fans of the first movie and have been really excited about the new one. I can't really give a good review of the movie because I didn't get a chance to really watch the movie but from what I saw it had good music and dancing like the first High School Musical. I can give you a review of the party. Lots of squeels and giggles and dancing so I guess that's 2 thumbs up!! It was crazy but a blessing to have a house full of kids and enjoy this stage in our life.

My first blogging drought

I have not had time to post in several days. I have been busy getting school supplies, trying to get things caught up around the house and taking a couple of pool trips. Gotta cram in that last little bit of summer. I hate to see summer go. It is by far my favorite season. I love the smell of sunscreen, making sno-cones, and going to the beach. So I guess there will be plenty of time for blog posting when the wind is blowing snow against the windows...for now I'll keep enjoying my summer. Anyone want a coconut sno-cone?

Bye Diego Bye

I haven't gotten around to getting rid of the Diego toys yet - gotta break the news to Drew today
Here is a funny post by Holly Furtick that lists the website you need to go to see if your toys are recalled.

soccer tryouts

I am planning to take Emma and Luke to soccer evaluations this morning. They played upward soccer last year and loved it. It's a good program sponsored by Skyview Baptist Church. Kids ages 5 through 6th grade can play. Here are sign up times if you are interested

Today (Saturday August 11th) from 9am-2pm
Thurday August 16th from 4:30 to 8pm

Evaluations are at the field at the Southwestern Virginia Training Center
Cost is $48 and includes a really nice jersey
email me if you need more info

Can't catch up

Do you ever feel like you just can't get caught up! I have laundry to be done, a 2 car garage that can only fit one car, a car that needs cleaning out, books and school supplies that need organizing and the list goes on. On the other side I have 3 kids who are healthy, a husband that I got to go on a date with this week, 3 kids that got to play in the water hose with friends, go to the pool and enjoy their summer. I guess if you put that all into perspective a little disorganiztion and piled up laundry really aren't a big deal. As moms we put too much pressure on ourselves to have the perfect house, perfect kids, etc. and even though I know that is a trap - I still fall into frome time to time. Sometimes it just seems like there are not enough hours in the day. I am planning for this week to be a week to get caught up and ready to start school - hopefully starting today. But if I don't get my to do list accomplished I hope I can look back at the end of the week and reflect on what is really important

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Mike
Happy Birthday to you

sweaty eyeballs

If you live in the south east you know it has been a warm few days. We had been outside a few days ago and Drew said "Mine eyeballs is sweaty" That's pretty hot when your eyeballs sweat.
I LOVE hot weather. I love summer and I hate winter so today has been exactly what I like. We did get a little sticky and drained doing the kids camp at the Fiddler's Convention today and I have to admit the air conditioning at home felt pretty good. One thing I do love about living in the mountains is that when it is really hot during the day it almost always cools down at night. It's still a little muggy out but comfortable. Our VBS for the fiddle kids is going really well. Shout out to Hannah and Brittany for doing such an awesome job with the music! We only have a handful of kids but it is great to see churches pull together and minister to the families and kids that are visiting our town.

Fiddle Time in Galax

It's fiddle time again. Every year Galax explodes into a town 5 times it's size when the Galax Fiddler's Convention rolls around. It is a Blue Grass and Old Time Music Festival sponosored by the Galax Moose Lodge. This is the 72nd year. It's a time for people who are serious about blue grass music to get together and stay up until the wee hours of the morning playing and competing. It's a time for people who enjoy the music and incredible talent of these musicians to walk around and hear some good music. It's also a time to hang out with friends and catch up with some old ones. The last is my favorite. It's fun to see people that I haven't seen in a few years and catch up as well as hang out with our friends. We took the kids down last night for the kids competition to let them get a taste of the Fiddler's Convention and we had a good time. My friend Stephanie and her 4 girls went with us and we had fun chasing our 7 (her 4 and my 3)kids (all age 8 and under) around and watching them eat melting icecream in the humid night air. Her oldest girls stayed over for the night and camped out in the living room. Being a kids is so much fun. They snuggled up in sleeping bags and giggled until their little eyes couldn't stay open any longer. Those were the good ol days. Here is the official website of the Galax Fiddler's Convention.

A date

Last night I had a date with my husband! I will admit I have read almost every book out there about marriage and know that keeping a regular date night is important but . . . we don't do it. Not every week or even every month like we are "supposed" to anyway, but we do try to be aware of when we need some time to just be together no cell phones, no kids, no distractions. We had had a long complicated week and it was nice to get a break. My mom and dad kept the kids (thanks papa and nini) and we went to see The Bourne Ultimatum. It was a great movie. We both loved the first two and this one was just as good and action packed with car chase scenes that make you dizzy. I am not a chick flick girl. I really like action movies with lots of twists and turns and complicated plots. I can't tell you the last time I saw a "girly" movie - I just don't get into them. I guess I don't need fantasy romance when I have the real thing!! So we may not keep up the regular date night every week but we do take time for each other every day and keep our marriage a top priority. Sometimes that gets hard when everything is fighting for your time.

Last swim meet

Emma and Luke swam in their last swim meet this year today for the Conference meet in Elkin, NC. It was really hot today and we were outside in the sun from 8:30 until about 1pm today. It would have felt good to jump in the pool with them. Drew got really hot and cranky so he and I left for an hour or so and road around to cool off. They had a great time swimming this year and have shown lots of improvement. Here are a few pics.

A day with Emma

Emma and I had a great day on Friday. For mother's day she got me a certificate for her and me to go to Spaladida for a mom and daughter day. We had a great time just talking on the drive down and we ate lunch at Cold Stone Creamery. Nothing like ice cream to start off our day!! We went over the the mall to do a little shopping - OK actually we did a lot of shopping. It was tax free weekend so we had to take advantage of that!! We got some really good deals and lots of fall clothes for her and the boys. I hardly ever buy anything unless it is on a big sale and there were plenty of sales. We probably did the biggest bargin shopping at Old Navy - we had the stuff it in the bag and save 20% deal - so we stuffed the bag full! After our shopping we went to the spa. It was alot of fun. We got manicures, pedicures, hair and makeup. I skipped the makeup but had my hair put in a twist. Emma got sparkle blue nails, purple toenails with little jewels, a cute little updo with pink glitter and eyeshadow, sparkle lips and little cloud stickers beside her eyes. She was adorable and smiled the whole time (except when they used the file on her nails - she hates that) I recommend it for any mom/daughter outing or it is a great place for birthday parties for "tweens". I can't believe I have a "tween" already. Emma will be 9 in about a month and I am still in shock sometimes when I look at her and think "where is my baby". She is a wonderful little girl and I am very blessed to be her mom. I tell my kids all the time that I am so glad that God let me be their mom. I don't deserve them. Here are a few pics of our evening. It will be one I will never forget and I hope she doesn't either. I would like to freeze her but I am learning there is something special about every age and when you finally figure out your parenting for one phase they move on to another and you have to start all over again! It's an adventure. I love being a mom.

People actually read my blog

Mike set me up with a site meter and now I can see if anyone is actually reading my blog! And they have! So - hope you enjoy. I have really loved blogging and I love reading other peoples blogs. Let me know if you have a blog too and I will check it out.

I have a headache

I just noticed that this is a funny title to follow my last post! I really do - I don't know if it is the heat - it's been hot today or the cold we are all getting over or the really loud Star Wars movie playing in my living room. Luke's friend Jordan is here and they love Star Wars. Mike enjoys the chance to crank up the surround sound for the boys. I guess it's pretty cool if you are a 7 year old boy - but it gives this old mama a headache! Here is the recipe for the cookies I have in the oven now.

Choc-oat chip cookies

1 3/4 cup of all purpose flour
1tsp baking soda
1 1/4 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 tbsp milk
2 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups oats (quick or regualr)
2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts (pecans are great)

Preheat oven to 375
Combine flour and baking soda in a small bowl
Beat brown sugar, butter and white sugar until creamy
Beat in eggs, milk and vanilla
Gradually add flour
Stir in oats, choc chips and nuts
Drop by rounded spoonful on ungreased cookie sheet
Bake 'em until they are like you like 'em - I like mine gooey -but the oatmeal is good baked a little longer until it gets crunchy - at least that's what I say when I forget and bake them too long because I am blogging!
Enjoy

Having sex with the pastor

Hey - I bet that got your attention - (whoa - I hope my mom isn't reading this -I really hope Mike's mom isn't reading this.) When I was thinking of a blog name I jokingly told Mike this is what I was going to name it! Watch this video by Mark Driscoll, pastor at Mars Hill in Seattle, directed to pastor's wives - every pastor's wife or friend of a pastor's wife or just anyone who cares about their pastor's wife should watch it. Mark Driscoll is a very gifted speaker and I really enjoy listening to him. The main point of the whole video (it's about 9 minutes long) is that there are people that have expectations for the pastor's wife to sing, play piano, lead the children's ministry, take meals to sick people, lead the women's ministry, etc but God's main calling on her is to take care of her husband (the pastor) and their family. Lots of people in the church can lead the children's ministry or sing but only one person can be the pastor's wife.