WE ARE......CHARGERS!

Last night was our first "real" home basketball game. We LOVE Charger basketball. We are good friends with the coaches and their families, Ryan keeps stats, Allysa is a cheerleader, I sit with coaches wives during the games....we know the players and their families.....its a lifestyle in a small rural community. Hoosiers was, after all, filmed just a few short miles down the road and could easily represent many small high schools throughout Indiana.

This year has seemed different for a while now, with Allyson having graduated, it seems as though I don't necessarily recognize as many kids as I used to. Allysa is now a freshman and we're starting all over again in that realm, however it almost still seems new.

Charger Basketball is no different, we graduated 4 senior starters last year, GOOD players......REALLY GOOD players. These guys had played together for a long time and honestly, watching them play was like watching a well oiled machine. That Charger basketball team....they just knew where each other would be on the court, they read each other so well they just got it done week after week. They were so much fun to watch. The question on every ones mind is what would we look like now? How were our remaining players going to step up, what were our new players going to bring to the game? Would everyone fall into sync and create a new year of Charger basketball?

We opened last night with a tough game for our JV guys, eventually losing to our county rival in what was a close game at one point. I couldn't help but notice however, as the JV got closer to an end....our stands kept filling up, our student section kept growing and growing.....our pep block was huge, this has been missing from Charger basketball for a few years, I couldn't wait to see what the kids had come up with. They were awesome, there are flyer's all over the school telling the kids what the theme is for each weeks game. Last night was "ultimate fan" night. Let me just say there were (as usual) some boys in some really tight old basketball uniforms with crazy looks going on, but they truly were the "ultimate fans" during the game. They were loud, but respectful. They actually cheered with the cheerleaders. If I didn't know better, I'd say they might actually be trying for a spirit award this year! I can't wait to see what the rest of the year brings for them, its awesome for the team and the crowd loves it.

With Allysa cheering this year, I find myself torn between watching the game on the court and watching her on the side of the court. Allysa loves to cheer, she's a flyer. This has never bothered me.....ever, even having been dropped in middle school, I've never worried about her flying. She has great bases, they work together a lot, I know these girls know what they are doing. During football, I never once worried about her in the air....and yet suddenly, here we are on the hardwoods, and for the first time ever, I find myself holding my breath when she goes "up"......I can't take my eyes off of her til she's on the ground. I know its because of the hardwoods. I know those floors aren't giving if she falls, she's bouncing, not them. Our doctor told us earlier this year as he was doing her sports physical, there are more injuries in cheerleading than all other sports, combined! Suddenly I hear his statement every time she flies. I know shes fine, I know the girls are all good.....just a new aspect of Charger Basketball for me to adjust to.

We won! After all the wonder, the speculation, the "whats it gonna be like" with all our kids gone and newbies in place. We won! We beat our county rival, South. They're not quite the well oiled machine yet, but they were definitely working as a team and will continue to improve no doubt. As a family, we're excited to see our good friend Cody playing this year. He's a great kid who has always played football and baseball. He's HUGE! We know he's gonna be a good contributor inside and if we can just get him to take those shots, he'll enjoy the same success he does on both the football and baseball fields! Great game Cody, we love watching you play!

Tonight we head to Fountain Central to play. I feel like I breathed a sigh of relief last night after finally seeing it all come together at our home court. I can't wait to watch the rest of the season unfold for the Chargers.

What have you been questioning lately? Whats changing in your life that you aren't quite sure what the outcome will be? As you watch it unfold and take it all in, don't forget to enjoy the changes, you might just be surprised at the new enjoyment it will bring.

Charger Up!
Polly :)

I'm back.....maybe.

For months now, many have asked about my blog and my intentions to get back to it.
I have mixed emotions about blogging again.

First let me say, I love to blog. Writing is a great release for me and something I really enjoy. I'm a write first, re-read an delete kind of person. Sometimes just writing out what I would love to say but would never consider sending makes things better for me. I get a clearer perspective, I even sometimes realize a different stand than I may have first taken on an issue. I love to write.

Therein lies part of the issue for me internally with restarting my blog. Those of you who read my blog regularly know, I blog about my family and our lives. The real stuff. Typically easy going, funny and sometimes great stuff. I don't however usually blog about the hard stuff....the rough stuff in life, first because I tend to be a private person with the tough stuff, never wanting to bother others, but secondly because I write my blog myself and those in it don't tend to get a say in the publication, so writing about the tough stuff involving others isn't necessarily fair I feel.

Unfortunately, that's where our lives have been for the past 6 months.....full of tough stuff. Nothing good to blog about and nothing I want to share with others. I've considered changing my perspective on how I blog and even revamping the blog....but I can't its not how I write, its not who I am.

Our lives have changed considerably in the past 6 months, almost devastatingly so. Its fair to say almost every aspect of our lives have been affected....including my blog. I can't say I'm coming back for good.....but I can say we're trying to create a new "normal" around here....and I will try to somehow include the blog in that.

I know I've been holding back on my blog......what do you find yourself holding back on today, is it one of the things you find therapeutic and brings you joy? Reevaluation might help put it all into perspective.

Till I blog again,
Polly

They say it's your Birthday..............

Today was Allysa's 14th birthday.....amazing, 14! Where has the time gone...literally? It has been harder on me this year realizing that Allysa is going to be a freshman next year and Alizabeth a 6th grader than it has Allyson is going to be a freshman in college. Doesn't make sense, but it's true.

We had a lot of fun today. I took Allysa and Joey to Climb Time, and indoor rock climbing facility in Indianapolis. They have both done rock walls before and hiked in state and national parks, but this was their first true indoor climbing lesson and session. It was really fun to watch them listen to the instructor as he explained how they would not only climb themselves, but rely on each other as they climbed, and likewise how they would literally be holding their partners life as they climbed. As they were going through this, it occurred to me that this was a good life lesson in trust, faith and relying on others. If you are someone who has an issue with trust....or even an issue relying on others for support and help, I highly suggest climbing as a hobby, while you can certainly free climb on your own, you have to have a partner or a "belayer" that not only monitors you while you climb but brings you down safely from you climb when you've reached your summit. I got so much more than I bargained for out of this little adventure today.....not only did they have a great time, but they got an amazing lesson in faith and trust that they probably didn't even realize they were "learning" anything! lol

As I got more than I bargained for in this fun adventure today, I was glad I "saw" the lesson I hadn't planned on. What are you getting more than you bargain for in life right now....do you even realize it?

God gives us so much more than we bargain for everyday.....eternal life and the price of admission.....a personal relationship with him.

Get more than you bargain for today.....in areas you'd never imagine.

P

It's Birthday Season

Yep....Birthday season. You see, we have three daughters, and their birthdays are, in order of birth, and every 2 1/2 weeks starting May 22, running through July 2....and you follow mine 5 days later on July 7...and well, its definitely a "season" for us!

Allyson turned 18 this year and her birthday happened to be May 22, the day before graduation. Ally decided she wanted to celebrate her birthday in conjunction with her Graduation Open House thinking she would never again have two such large life events in one weekend! I think it went well although she was bummed that turning 18 was obviously overshadowed by graduation! Never fear though....true is the group of friends who all grab you at slightly after midnight....ID's in hand and take you to the gas station to do your first official duty as an 18 year old adult....they buy lottery tickets! I have to tell you, the girls were incredibly incensed when the nice girl behind the counter meerly asked....."are you 18"....and didnt ask for ID!!! And the icing on the "cupcakes"....daddy produced that infamous blue bag....yep....TIFFANY & Co....she was thrilled and shocked all at the same time, she didnt know 'ol dad had it in him!

Allysa turns 14 tomorrow. I can't begin to tell you how excited I am to stop saying......"yes.....she's only 13" You should know.....Allysa is a pageant girl and working hard to get into the modeling field so she constantly looks MUCH older than 13 and while 14's not much better.....its another year under her belt!!! She of course see's 14 as one year closer to her license, a job and freedom! She'll be a freshman in the fall and at only just now 14, she's one of the youngest in her class....most of her classmates are taking drivers ed this summer and some even start getting their licenses this year. One of these days she'll realize....what....another birthday? I dont' want to age anymore!!! Allysa's our easy kid to shop for.....she loves clothes, shoes, jewelry, you name it, she's gonna love it!

Lizzie turns 12 on July 2. She's our baby....however she's our mini-mom. I'm constantly having to say to Lizzie....."how bout you be the 11 yr old today and I'll be the mommy". Lizzies our brain....incredibly organized, her mind never shuts down....she's always thinking of other peoples schedules and who needs to be where when.....although humerous it can be slightly annoying some days....I have to remind her to be a child and enjoy it while she can most days, when all she wants to do is keep up with her big sisters. Lizzie will start Middle School in the fall and I just can't believe she's only 7 years from graduation. This year Lizzie wants a cell phone for her birthday....yep....a cell phone! Now...most of her friends already have them, but we've held off as long as possible for this one....she's asked for the past year probably and we laugh that she'd have probably gotten one for Christmas had she not asked for the Ipod instead!!! A cell phone....wow! I can't remember what I got for my birthday at 12....but I'm certain it wasn't nearly as cool as a cell phone!

We love birthdays in our family......they are a BIG deal and a family tradition I hope my girls carry on into their own families someday. I've always done big parties for my girls since they were little.....and the older they get....the harder it gets to be as creative or exciting as it was when all they wanted was a barbie cake and a skating party! I have something fun and definitely out of the ordinary for Allysa tomorrow, and Lizzie is already busy planning her big day....looking like a day at the bowling alley with a few of her closest friends will be in our future!

What traditions does your family keep up with.....what have you started and carried on from past generations that you hope your kids will carry on to their own families some day? It's never to late to start a tradition.

Birthday celebrations are something I hope are part of my legacy to my children.....what's yours?

The convenience factor

I know its been forever since I blogged....and honestly today's blog is out of guilt as so many of my friends have commented on missing my blog, but I knew I needed to get back at it as writing is one of my favorite (and easiest) ways of self expression!

So honestly, here's what happened with the blog......my convenience to blog was taken away! Yep, that's right, taken away. And quite frankly, we are a society of convenience....think about it. We can pretty much get anything we want through a drive-up or ordering it online to be delivered! If I had my way, I'd order my groceries to be delivered as well and never have to fight the crowd! Most days, if I'm out and about and want something to drink.....I'm looking for the closest drive-thru. I even have a drive-up dry cleaner! My prescriptions come through a window, my banking comes down a little tube....if I even have to go to the bank because of course all of our banking is direct deposit or online! And my blogging.....well, my blogging was done from the comfort of my own couch, on my laptop, snug and content in my own little home. So what changed? I had to give back my laptop! YEP....give it back! Long story short, it was a company laptop and they finally decided to reimburse me rather than allow me to keep this luxury as I had been downsized! Now....along with giving back this luxury came the promise of a new one....however, here I am still 2 1/2 months later....laptopless....typing away at the inconvenience of the PC (yes.....we are PCs, not macs!)at the desk in the office! Three whole rooms away from the convenience and comfort of my couch!!! The craziness of it all....it seems almost barbaric quite frankly......I feel so antiquated....embarrassed really, having to type on a keyboard connected to a CPU while looking at a monitor and not using the sleekness and compact convenience provided for in my laptop.......appalling really!

It's amazing how not having my laptop has affected my life....and probably for the better my husband would say! It seems so inconvenient to sit down at the desk most days that I have almost kicked my Facebook addiction!!! I KNOW.....crazy huh? I don't' waste my day away looking for treasured "wins" on eBay and I've gotten so terrible at checking my email people are actually calling me on the TELEPHONE to make sure I know whats going on in the outside world!!! STOP THE MADNESS!!!

So there you have it........it has been "inconvenient" for me to blog! It seems so crazy as I type this to admit this really is THE reason I haven't blogged for so long. I LOVE to blog.....writing is a release for me, very enjoyable and I can literally get lost in my writing....but I gave all that pleasure up just because society tells me I should not have to get off of my couch, out of my car or have human contact for anything these days! Sad....very very sad. So today is my new leaf! I am blogging again.....from the inconvenience of the office chair three rooms away from my fabulous suede couch and TV hanging from the wall.....(because it was inconveniently in the way on the sofa table it's prior self sat on!)

What enjoyment have you denied yourself lately because society says you shouldn't have to do anything that's not "convenient" for you? Get off the couch and bust out.....today's the day!

I'm off to grocery shop......in a real store!

P

Where has the time gone?

So, honestly, I realized its been a while since I last blogged, but I didnt realize it had been a month!!! Wow.....where did the time go. Life has seemed like that a lot lately. Where did the time go? This past weeked our Varsity Boys Basketball team played in the regionals, first game, 10am, an hour and a half away! We won our first game and before I knew it the second game was over, we lost, our Senior was crying her eyes out for her last season of High School to be over and on the drive home I remember sadly thinking......I can't believe the day is over already, it seemed like I had just gotten up.

Spring Break is just around the corner for us. Every year we take an extended vacation leaving two days early and taking a 9 day trip..............because the 7 days they give us isnt enough for us! We always want more, don't we? As I think about this, I know it will be here and gone before I know it.

When we get home, it will just be 42 days then 'til graduation! Yep, Graduation! Allyson has finally decided on Butler, Pre-Med..........at least for the week. It is for sure Butler, this much we know and I gotta say, having her just an hour away is more than appealing to me!

They say time flies when you're having fun, well we must be having a ball because it really does just seem like yesterday that she was born, and now she's off to college. Don't blink because when you look next, they're grown and off on their own.

Life really does fly by without me noticing some days. What are you to busy to notice right now? Does work, home or just "life" in general have you missing the important things? Take time, smell those roses, leave early for that soccer game and for goodness sake, your house will still be there to clean when your kids are grown!

Have a great day......and remember what it entailed at the end of the day! :)

Miss Valentine

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New Colors

Yeah! Ok, so really, I'm not always gonna do the whole holiday color thing, but this was the first thing I saw when went to do a new background! Cute, huh!

It makes me think of spring, all bright and cheery.

P

Misplaced anger

Why do we hurt those who love us the most? This morning one of my girls "yelled" back at me when I called to her for something. I know that yell....it was quiet as could be around here, nothing going on and yet as all was seemingly peaceful, instead of simply replying...."what"?, she yelled. Now, I've seen it before and heard it more than I care to remember, I know she's got something else going on thats got her upset, and I'm the one whos getting the brundt of it. When I said...."Whoa.....whats going on, you don't respond to me like that, she gave the quick "nothing" which of course means "nothing you need to know about, just leave me alone!" I made sure she knew that talking to me like that was not at all acceptable and that I did indeed know something else was going on, even if she didnt care to share it with me at that point.......and if indeed she truly was just "tired" she needed to get over it and be nice!

This situation made me think about all the times I am guilty of taking things out of those I love the most. When I have a bad day, my family are the ones who get a grumpy mom and wife for the evening, even though they had nothing to do with my bad day. I can tell when Ryans having a bad time with customers or work in general and am quick to point out that we are not his sourse of discontent and should therefore not be the ones receiving the grouchiness! We are all guilty of taking our frustrations out on the wrong people and I work really hard to be cognizant of it so as not to hurt others, but it still happens.

Whats got you frustrated and downright mad right now......are you taking that out on your spouse or kids? Remember those who love us the most aren't the ones we should attack the most, they're the ones we should drop all that for and relax with, they love us!

I'm working on it.....

Formal Scrapbook

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Stomping Mad!

I am so mad right now I can feel my heart racing!!!

About 2 weeks ago a man from our electric Co-op knocked on the door to inform me that he was marking one tree to be cut down and two bushes to be trimmed back and that crews would be out sometime within the month to do the work. Quite frankly I was on the phone at the time and thought ok....one tree and a couple bushes cut back, fine.

Later in the day I got to thinking about it and went a looked at what was marked, well the tree was a large shade tree, and the bushes were just shrubbery, but this was really bugging me, they just get to tell me what their cutting and we have no say in the matter?!? Hows that work? Soooo....I have a friend who works at the Coop, I emailed her and asked who I could talk to. She of course did her duty and explained to me how cutting back our trees allowed them to provide better service to our neighbors on down the road.....blah blah blah..(no offense Nat!) but she really didn't know what could be done otherwise.

Now....I should tell you, we live on two acres, with ALOT of very mature trees, 12 in our front yard alone that I can see. They provide TONS of shade in the summer time and also are home to lots of little creatures. OK.....so of those twelve, why am I freaking out about one? Well....you take out one shade tree and up goes my air-conditioning in the summer. Not to mention....they don't replant when they cut anything down....not that I expect them to replant in the same area only to grow in the way of their power lines, however we have two acres......lots of area to replant for the environment.

So a little while ago I hear chainsaws humming outside. I go out to find their not cutting out one tree....they've already cut two down and have'nt even gotten to the original one that was marked for cutting!!!! Are you kidding me? And as for "trimming" two bushes....whatever.....they've "trimmed" half of another tree away, and are cutting things that have not been marked. Now....as I read on the websight.....they contract the tree trimming out. Well all they do is mark a "dot" "dash" or "x" on things that need work. Well my question is......how do they know what to trim? They are "trimming" things that are not only no where near the power lines, but things that aren't in danger of taking out the power lines should they fall!!!! I am so mad I could spit....(lady like I know!)And to make it all worse, the workers don't speak english....or are smart enought to pretend not to because I'm sure they're scared of the crazy lady mad in her yard!!! So I can't even question why things are getting cut that I don't feel should be! As I type I am watching a man looking up our HUGE pine tree....you know, one of those OLD OLD pines that isn't exactly tall enough to be the Rockefeller tree.....but at least 2nd runner up, it's marked to be "cut back" I have a feeling they are going to totally ruin this tree and its one of our major shades in the front area!!! Who knew you could get so worked up over trees!!! The more I type the madder I'm getting!!!

I know logically while I am concerned about the trees and our shade and environment....I'm more ticked that they can just "tell" me they are doing this. They didn't pay for this property, its not theirs to do with as they please.....and quite frankly they put their utility poles on my land rent free while charging me for my power! Don't worry, I know I sound ridiculously irrational right now, but I really do know the logic in all of this. And god love the man I'm watching work WAY HIGH up in my trees, because God forgive me but I'm thinking evil thoughts about him falling! Terrible I know.....and he's meerly the messanger, but he's all I got right now!!!

Not really sure how I'm gonna get over this one, but just know if you're headed towards Darlington on 47N, as you get to Overcoat Rd, your gonna have an even clearer view strait into our living room at night.....I should warn you ahead of time.....we are "COMFORTABLE" in our own home.....don't complain to me if the new view "hurts" your eyes!!! lol

What a weekend!

I know its been to long since I bloggd, but with Allyson recuperating from surgery and the other girls busy with any number of activities, there really hasn't been time. Ally is still home today and hoping for to try a half day tomorrow. We'd really hope for her to go back last Friday since she really wanted to go to the bball game, but no such luck. We did get permission from the principle for us to take her to the game and for her to sit with us and not the team, but she quickly realized it was all to much for her....she spent the weekend recuping from that one trip!

Saturday night Ryan took me to my favorite place for dinner for Valentines Day. We went to Sullivans and had an AWESOME dinner. Now yes, I realize Valentines is THIS weekend, not last, however Ryan leaves Wednesday for his annual Presidents Day golf weekend with 15 of his closest buddies....SOOOO, I'm always a golf widow for Valentines Day. Most of you know though, I LOVE to golf, so I'd totally leave him for a trip like this! lol, its a win win! It was definitely worth it, Ryan surprised me with Diamond earrings that night!!!! I'm not kidding, TOTALLY surprised me, I had no idea. What a sweet guy, he spoils me totally, and i LOVE it! God has truly blessed me.

Sunday Ryan gave his testimony at church and that was very moving for me to hear. Obviously I knew the story he was sharing....we lived it, but I really could never has imagined he would share it, Pastor Terry has an amazing ability to get people to do things you'd never think they'd do!!! lol ON a funny note, he did make some pretty funny faces and while he certainly go crowd laughter, Allysa said "oh geez" and turned the other way!!!

Allysa had lessons yesterday afternoon with her pageant coach and we talked about some upcoming opportunities for her......could be exciting news, stay tuned!

Flock last night I got to hold little baby Henry all night and LOVED every minute of it! We have two fairly new babies in our flock with another due in April....it really is a little slice of heaven on earth! I love it!

So....thats our craziness in a nutshell. I love weekends that are fun and exciting. Hope yours was good too!

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Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Long Weekend

For the past several years I have wanted another baby. My girls think I am crazy, and Ryan just keeps reminding me we are on an 7 year plan....(7 years and they're all gone....to college at least!) None of that matters to me, we are very young parents and have plenty of time left in our lives to raise more children! Well, this weekend probably brought me one step closer to realizing I probably really don't want any more sweet babies! lol

Ally's surgery went well on Friday but poor thing has had a hard recovery weekend. In all fairness, Dr. Sajeri warned us it would be a tough weekend and as a surgeon who has performed hundres of these surgeries he was right on the mark! Friday was really tough, Ally couldn't get comfortable for anything.....the anesthesia was really taking its toll on her and the pain meds can't really help that kind of pain. Grammy came over for a couple of hours to try and get her mind off the pain and then Allys best friend showed up with movies for another couple hours of comedy relief, I thank God for them both, they really helped! Probably the hardest thing on us all was that Ally's bedroom is upstairs and everything else is on the main floor of the house, I don't know if I've ever climbed those stairs so many times in one day! I got such a work out that I woke up crying in pain with muscle cramps in my calves during the middle of the night.....I've been taking muscle relaxers since! With the exception of 3am feedings, it almost was like having a new born in the house.....she needed something every 15 minutes.....or she didn't want anyone around at all! She was in extreme pain.....or sleeping like a log (thank god!) It was very humbling as a mother to have that "you can't control this" moment. I felt helpless a couple of times and wanted to cry for her. Saturday brought slight relief but still pain and frustration. Sunday marked day three....and true to form, the worst day, last night she was very teary and again a phone call from grammy got her to motivate, take a shower, wash her hair and try to feel a little closer to normal! Thank God for Grammy! Grammy was involved in an accident a couple of years ago and suffered a fractured skull and brain injury, so when she tells Ally she's gonna have to push herself and just do things she doesnt feel like she can...Grammy knows! She's been there. Ally ackknowledges that and complied!

Its frustrating when our kids are in pain and we can't do anything about it. I'm a problem solver too....so for me to not be able to fix this for her is very frustratin to me. I've just had to give it to god and know that he has a plan. I'm even more convinced of this as I consider that having just been downsized in December it is no coincidence that is was January before Ally became so sick....God knew I was going to need to be home all of January as the Dr's figured out what was wrong with her and in February for her recovery.....God is good. As tough as it's been to have to watch her hurt, it is all that much more comforting to know that God gave me what I needed to be home taking care of her during this time.

As Ally and I begin the week, hoping to get her out of her room and downstairs for a little tv time today, what trial does it seem gods put in your life that is perhaps just setting you up to take care of other things in life? While we don't always have that direct line to know what God is thinking, if we just put our faith in him, he makes himself evident in all areas of our lives.

Have a great day!

Surgery was Successful

We're home, actually have been since shortly after 11am this morning. Everything went really well and Dr. said their were significant signs of chronic inflamation with lesions, so it was definitely our best course of action. God is good.

Ally has been resting since we got home been up a couple of times for potty breaks and feeling some significant pain, I think her biggest pain came in big crocodile tears a few moments ago when she sobbed to me that she didn't want to miss the Charger game tonight! She loves her boys and hates being gone, I also think she is so ready to get back to normal life that she's just "over it" at this point. The Dr told us it will be 6-8 weeks before she can eat any dairy products, milk yogurt or cheese....which as a vegetarian is half of her diet! She has had a few bites of dry toast today and also 3-4 mini nilla wafers....sad.....but more than she's had in a LONG time!

Praying for comfort and patience for us all during the weekend...its her first time being a patient and she's not liking it one bit.

P

Surgery Today

It's 5:35ish....and we're almost ready to leave for the surgery center. Our oldest daughter, Allyson, is having her gall-bladder out this morning. It's been a rough 3 1/2 weeks of non-stop vomitting and frustration. We are grateful the Dr's were able to discover what was wrong with her so quickly, but we will be even more glad when this is all over and she is on the road to recovery!

Pray for Ally this morning, she's nervous and needs Gods calming reassurance that everything is in his hands.

Will update later as they say we will be home by lunchtime!

P

Heart Ache....

Last night I could not figure out what Lizzie was doing, but it sounded like a heard of cattle running through the house! As I was getting up to see what was wrong (it honestly sounded like someone has fallen down the entire stair set rolling from top to bottom!) Lizzie came rushing into the kitchen in a furry, grabbing a baggie and the rice and talking in such a blur it took me a minute to realize the was in tears sobbing that she had accidentally washed her ipod. I quickly scolded her and reminded her that this is the reason I am constantly reminding her to put her things where they belong. Lizzie has seen the cell phone trick of putting them in rice if they've been in water to try and dry them out....as she's getting this all together Ryan finds out she has already tried to turn her ipod on and begins yelling at her that she should know better, you can't try to turn it on....etc. She's now sobbing at loud crocodile tear level and really pretty devastated at this point. She rushes off to her room in a sad huff.

Lizzie is a very bright child.....to smart for her own good most days. Unfortunately since she's so smart, we tend to forget she really is only 11. My heart was quickly being convicted for yelling at her, yes, she does do her own laundry (all my girls do!) still....she is only 11, accidents do happen! I said to Ryan, frustrated that he had yelled at her also, should she REALLY know not to turn her IPOD on.....she is only 11!!! We are both guilty of thinking she is older than she really is because as the "baby" she constantly is trying to keep up with her older sisters....she is an awesome cook (yep...at only 11!) she does her own laundry, she's an excellent student, an awesome soccer player and she has a heart of gold. And yet her heart is broken that she may have ruined her own prized IPOD.

Lizzie just got her IPOD for Christmas. She LOVES it. She takes it everywhere with her and loves to add new songs to it. She just forgets to put it up, take it out of her sweatshirt pocket, last week she left it at school in the gym! It's not even that she's not appreciative of her things, she is....as a matter of fact, she's probably the most thankful child we have....not that the other two aren't thankful, Lizzie just really shows her appreciation to to others.

Now I'm torn....the Ipod is still sitting in rice, Lizzie was so heartbroken last night she sobbed for what seemed like hours. Her sisters each went and talked with her and were themselves sad when they saw how sad she truly was! She even asked me to come sing lullabies to her as she tried to get to sleep!.....and I DID!!!

The mom in me wants to just rush right out to walmart, buy her a new one and load all her music while she's at school! I know that's not the answer. I know this is a hard lesson that has to be learned in life. I know that this is one of those "this is why I tell you to put your things up" lessons in life. Man those stink. As moms we want to protect our children from moments like these in life.....and I tried. Unfortunately this is what happens when you don't listen to what your parents are trying to tell you.

What is someone trying to save you from right now and you feel as though your immune to the lesson? Our heavenly father tries daily to remind us to make him the ultimate teacher in our lives and yet much like Lizzie thinks I'm just mom nagging....so do we forget to listen to our heavenly father. Lizzie has learned a very hard lesson. I'm still praying the Ipod will work when she tries to turn it on tonight.

Life is Good

Ryan and I are looking at new Washers. Fun huh? We are the unfortunate owners of the Sears Kenmore Elite Calypso washer and dryer. There have been so many problems with this set that there was a class action suit against Sears that for some reason (I really can't remember) we decided not to get signed on for at the time....we're certainly wishing we had now...we've had the washer worked on so many times its not worth the price having it fixed again and had we joined this action, we'd have had it replaced with a new set for free.....what were we thinking??? At any rate, as we shopped online last night, I told Ryan I wanted an LG....now honestly, I really don't know anything about this brand and it looks just like the other sets....but their logo...LG, really stands for Life is Good. I want everything in my house to have the LG logo on it....so that no matter what we look at we are constantly reminded, LIFE IS GOOD!

I've had sick kiddos for three weeks now and by the end of last week it was really starting to get old! Colds, the flu, vomiting, sore throats, non working gall bladder, pulled muscle and crutches from cheer injury....I was sick of it! I finally sent my sore throats to school and told my crutches girlie that Friday was her last night on them...she was either walking or sitting on Saturday, but I was sick of looking at those crutches! And then......as I watched an episode of John and Kate +8....they were at St. Judes, I was quickly reminded how truly LIFE IS GOOD. My girls have been "sick"...but they haven't been fighting for their lives. They haven't had IV's with chemicals running through their veins to keep the cancer at bay....they don't have big machines with tubes breathing for them, while on crutches, they will certainly walk again and not have to relearn how to. LIFE IS GOOD.

Most people know I stress about schedules....I'm not really a spur of the moment kind of person. I'm sure that comes from years of traveling for work and having a family. While I can certainly leave in a pretty quick fashion, I still have to "plan" for things, like "who has what and when this week", what is Ryans work schedule....you know, logistics, who can get who where and when, will someone be able to pick everyone up type of things. We'll as I'm planning our day Saturday and trying to figure out a schedule for one of our daughters who isn't going to be with us....a friend is experiencing a tragedy in her family. WOW....in the midst of all she has going on, she's also worrying about my daughter and making sure she's not left alone when she could have had plans....I was sad that at this tough tough moment for her, she felt like she needed to worry about our daughter as well. Knowing what she was suddenly faced with, my schedule was nothing...I hit my knees praying for her and thanked god for the reminder "LIFE IS GOOD". Nothing I was worrying about at that moment could begin to compare.

As we sat in our flock group last night (small group at church) and I listened to the prayer requests, including our own for Allyson as we have a consult for her gall bladder surgery, I was still quietly and humbly reminded..."LIFE IS GOOD". Allyson will certainly recover, but I listened to things like our friends facing Alzheimer's progression with their mother, family strife of another, extreme sickness of a friend who has a brand new baby at home, long term recovery of a mom who is still in a drug induced coma, I humbly thanked god that our "LIFE IS GOOD"

Several weeks ago during church, Pastor Terry related a story of two friends, one of whom replied to any and all situations, "this is good". It was a great story. Our family has since adopted this saying and honestly have just realized that most things are truly out of our control and while we may not know why at the time, instead of stressing, we might as well adopt the attitude..."this is good". It really does help to keep my stress level down and even more importantly, it reminds me to just give it all to God and give all the glory to him.

It's Monday, do you already have a laundry list going for the week? Is the stress already mounting as you are faced with another week? It might be a little easier to face if you can simply remember, LIFE IS GOOD....and when it gets to be to much, just give it all to god.

Life is good.

Girlie blog!

Ok....so the blog page went kind of girlie today! I try to keep it neutral for Ryans sake...he is surrounded by girls, we joke he lives in a sorority house! (we even have a girl dog!) However, I stumbled across a blog background page and couldn't help myself. My family knows I decorate for EVERY holiday! There are hearts everywhere in this house right now....and I love it! Soooo....we'll try the girlie thing til V-day is over, the colors are kinda bright so we'll see how long I last, but it is fun! Simple pleasures in life! :P

Hope your day is simple and full of pleasure.