THAT mother

This morning I was THAT mother. You know, the mother that people see and shake their heads scandalised, albeit mildly, because of how THAT mother has treated her children.

Ben is in a program at school tomorrow. He will be a squirrel. My job last night was to finish his costume by turning a baseball cap into squirrel ears. I cut and sewed brown ears onto the cap after Ben went to bed. He saw it this morning and asked "what about the middle of the ear that is supposed to be pink?" I had forgotten the teacher's instructions. The middle of the ear should have been a lighter color, and yes, my sweet son wanted it pink. I quickly search my limited stash for pink material, with none to be found. SO, being the ingenious mother that I am, I cut up one of my old sweaters and hurriedly begin to hand stitch the ears once again. (Note to self: buy glue.)

Minutes into my attempt to be THAT mother (you know, the perfect one that we all compare ourselves to) I hear, "will you make my lunch?" Uh-oh!! No wonderful left-overs to throw into a thermos, no bread for a sandwich...heck, there wasn't even a jar of peanut butter. So, I con my boys into eating at the school cafeteria - and finish sewing.

As soon as I've completed the squirrel ears, another son innocently asks "what's for breakfast?". Man! I look in the fridge and see nothing appropriate for breakfast (obviously, I need to go shopping ) and tell my boys to jump into the van. We drive to a store and I send the boys in to grab breakfast. At this point I'm still in p.j.s and attempt to stay in hiding from the public. They quickly come out and tell me the line is too long - so they'll do without breakfast rather than be late for school. Sigh. Yes, I really am THAT mother! Nathan informs me that in first period he would be allowed to eat in class if he had something. (How times have changed!)
I drop the older boys off and tell Ben he can be late for school and get breakfast. We stop at McDonald's (gasp!) and buy food. I drop Ben off and then call Nathan and drop breakfast off to him. Aaron, unfortunately, did without but reassured me all was well and that he would be fine. (see, I told you, I AM THAT MOTHER!)

As I'm driving home, berating myself for my lack of planning and poor mothering abilities, my phone beeps. I get home and see my text from Nathan:

"Thank You"

Isn't it amazing how two simple words can change your focus? This morning, on this one really bad day of planning, I am THAT MOTHER. But really? I have a son who was very grateful and excited about squirrel ears. How many boys do you know that are content with that? LOL! I have a son who was very forgiving and willingly went without breakfast just because he wanted to be at school on time (and I plan on getting a REALLY good after school snack for that kid!) I have yet another son who not only thanked me as I dropped off his late breakfast but also signed "I love you" to me as I drove away. THEN, took the time to text me as well.

I may be THAT MOTHER, but I tell you one thing, I've got some GREAT kids! Life is good.

My husband

Mark decided to surprise me for our 25th wedding anniversary and for my birthday with a new wedding band and ring. I was completely astonished!
We will have been married 25 years in June and have experienced a lot in that time: from moving to 3 different homes, being blessed with 5 children, losing both of our fathers, joyfully celebrating numerous birthdays and anniversaries, watching our kids grow to teenagers, three job lay-offs, and are now dealing with my mother-in-law's Alzheimer's and have sent 2 kids off to college and soon to be blessed with the college graduation of our daughter. Even after spending all of these years learning about and loving my husband, he still has the ability to surprise me and take my breath away. I love you, Mark!! (and I love the ring!)

Pampa High Choir

I found this picture on facebook.

Look on the third row up - second from the right.... Becky! Are the dresses really pink, or just a faded photo? I'm lovin' those stylin' elbow length gloves. Wow I bet they were hot to wear.

Fig Trees

On Monday, when we read the story of Jesus cursing the fig tree (Mark 11:12-25) Ben's response was, "that's weird!". His reaction was much like mine has been in the past. I've heard the explanation of the symbolism before: the fig tree is a representation of Israel and Jesus is condemning the nation for not bearing fruit. I get it, but still, the story has always seemed odd to me - cursing a fig tree when it wasn't even the season for it to bear fruit. Ben was right, it IS weird.
So, we did a little research, and if I understand correctly, the fig tree actually CAN have fruit out of season. The trees will grow green figs that are so bitter that only the hungriest travelers would eat them. Those figs fall to the ground to rot and then the tree produces the good fruit. If a tree doesn't have those first green, bitter figs that is a sign that it will not produce good fruit in season.

Perhaps Jesus was preparing his followers to understand the next event recorded in Mark 11 when he clears the temple area by driving out the money changers. Maybe he was giving them a visual lesson on the lack of fruit in the lives of those he would soon be driving out of the temple?

I have to admit that I did a poor job on trying to explain the story to Benjamin. Finally tonight I came up with what I SHOULD have told him. Maybe Jesus cursed the fig tree out of season to show us that He wants to see the signs that we will be bearing fruit for Him and that He wants us to bear fruit in ALL seasons, not just when it's easy and convenient!
I can't deny feeling relieved that Jesus didn't curse a tree for something it couldn't do! :-)

Can you believe...

...Scott is 18?!!? His birthday was the 13th, I'm just slow at posting this month. While I was in labor the nurses kept telling me that if I'd wait a couple of hours he'd be a Valentine baby. (easy for them to say!!)However, I knew that boys wouldn't want heart themed birthdays every year, so I spared him the pain of pink hearts and me the pain of waiting. Of course I didn't know he was a boy yet....but it all worked out-right?
He hates having his picture made, so I spared him that pain as well and used one from China. I still want to know what that shocked look was all about! His big plans for his birthday this year included a tattoo, but that hasn't happened yet and I'm waiting with bated breath to see what transpires.
Scott you are a son any parent would be proud of. You have a servant's heart, willing to help in almost any situation, you're giving and caring. You've carried the names of your grandfathers with an integrity that would make them proud! I love you and am praying for God's richest blessings in your life as you step into new experiences this year. I am excited to see what God has in store for you! I love you. Happy Birthday!

You know it's true love when....

...He chooses YOUR favorite meal for HIS birthday! So, tonight Mark had meatloaf, black eyed peas (his choice) and salad. Then - HIS FAVORITE- coconut pie for his birthday "cake".

Happy Birthday Mark!! I love you!

Mom's Coconut Pie:

Pie Crust

1/3 heaping cup shortening

1 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp. salt

cold water

Cut shortening into flour and salt and add cold water to correct consistency. Roll out and bake.

Pie Filling

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 egg yolks

4 Tbsp. corn starch

3 cups milk

1 tsp. vanilla

Cook until thickened and pour into cooked crust.

Meringue

Beat 3 egg whites

with 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar and

1/4 cup sugar

Bake until golden brown.

Friendly Friday!

Over the last few weeks I've seen several blogs with these cute (and some not so cute) daily and weekly blogs - such as "Flashback Fridays" (really cute) or "Days of Decluttering"(the not so cute one - ha!) and even a blogger who is cooking with a crock pot every day for a year. As I've perused these blogs, I've thought to myself, "I want to do something like that - something fun!" I considered the decluttering piece just to have a way to be held accountable and get my house in order. (I may still do this later!) I contemplated a weight-loss blog but that was a little too real for me right now and cooking, well, I'll have to get my oven and/or crock pot repaired first. I know I'm not a great writer, but I've enjoyed blogging and wanted to expand my horizons.

So...(drum roll, please!) I finally came up with an idea! It hit me right after our Veteran's Day project. We enjoyed that project so much that we decided to make it a weekly affair in home school. EUREKA! Why not blog about that? Aaron named it "FRIENDLY FRIDAY". We plan to do something for someone else each Friday. It may be as simple as sending someone a card or something much more involved when we get inspired. Who knows, maybe we'll start a new blogging trend. A really great thing about this is that I can use it in several different ways in school: Bible study, creative writing and English grammar (making Aaron a guest blogger at times), art (Benjamin and Aaron making cards or other crafts), math (measuring ingredients when we cook, doubling recipes, etc.), and history (Veteran's Day study, Thanksgiving study, etc.- to prepare before the "project"...). The biggest plus is that it will hopefully teach us to reach out to others, be more grateful for what we have, be more aware of other's needs, and have a better work ethic. So, there you have it - Friendly Fridays! Stay tuned!

Mark's Favorites

Becky and Amy both "tagged" me to list some of my husband's favorite things, so, here I go!

First and foremost is : GOD

(and I won't attempt to get HIS picture.)

OUR KIDS - all 5! (and I hope I'm included SOMEWHERE in here!)

His favorite SCRIPTURE passage is Jeremiah 29:11-14

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

MUSIC - Contemporary Christian and Classical are his favorite types of music. He plays trumpet and french horn.

Radio Station: America Family Radio

One of his favorite T.V. channels: The History Channel

MOVIE:

FAVORITE FOOD:

CANDY BAR:

His favorite DRINK is Vanilla cream Dr. Pepper:

(Pour a 16 oz. bottle D.P. over ice and add 3 Tbsp. Half & Half and 2 Tbsp. vanilla syrup)

COLLEGE AND MEMORIES:


SPORT: Baseball
SPORTS TEAM:

VACATION SPOT: The mountains!

FAVORITE PLACE HE'S BEEN: Ireland



BOOKS:
"Red Storm Rising" by Tom Clancy and "The Walking Drum" by Louis L'Amour


and finally, his favorite HOBBIES are reading, shooting, camping, fishing, computer and sleeping!

I Love you, Mark!

Whew! I finished! Now, I tag Sue.

Our Veteran's Day

One thing I've discovered about homeschooling is that it pushes me to do things that I should have been doing all along....like teaching about patriotism and gratefulness...

The traveling Vietnam Memorial wall was in town for the week of Veteran's day, and the boys (Nathan, Aaron and Ben) helped clean the grounds with their Tae Kwan Do class.
They liked the wall so much that we made several trips to see it.

The last day I finally thought to borrow Scott's camera and get a few pictures.

On the day before Veteran's day we made flag and star shaped cookies. (Thanks for the idea, Amy!)

We even tinted them red and blue!

Here is the finished product.

Aaron drew cards that said "Thank you for our freedom" and we delivered cookies to a couple of our favorite veterans.

The one pictured above sat down with Aaron for about an hour and told stories of being in Okinawa Japan.

Unfortunately, by then Ben was sick and Nathan was in school, so they didn't get to help deliver cookies. But the vet pictured above was teary-eyed when we came. He showed up at our house yesterday morning to bring the boys flag pins to "help you remember all veterans" and to thank the boys. He said, "You touched my heart that I was remembered on Veteran's Day by fine young men." How sweet. We should have done this years ago!

Look, Mom!

Benjamin came running in the house one day before his birthday yelling, "Mom! Come watch me!" A neighbor boy had let Ben ride his bike so that he could try riding without training wheels. Ben jumped on and just started riding... So, he used all the money he got in gifts for his birthday, and bought a Spiderman bicycle...

and a helmet.

This is almost as good as when he decided to potty train himself!
(Don't tell him I said that!)

Pine boxes

While reading Lindsey's blog on Kid Talk, I was reminded of a conversation in our car this week. Let me first explain that we live near a cemetery and have had several interesting conversations because of that. My kids really aren't as morbid as it sounds!
Aaron: "Someone is about to have a funeral - they're digging a grave."
Ben: "Mom, what is it called that they put them in?"
Me: "A cockpit?" (ha! he was playing with a lego plane @ the time and he had been talking about it first.)
Ben: "no, what do they put the bodies in?"
Me: "OH! Do you mean a coffin?"
Ben: "Yeah! What is a coffin?"
Me: (stating the obvious)"It's a box that they put the bodies in"
Ben: "WHY?!!?"
Aaron: (putting his two-cents worth in) "to keep the body protected from detoriating quickly and to keep the worms and bugs away from it"
Ben: "Why"?!!?

Good question Ben! WHY?!!?

Later.....
Ben: "I feel sorry for the bodies in the ground - not for the people, I know if they believed in Jesus they're in heaven and in a better place, but still, I feel sorry for those bodies!"

Mooving on up!

I have to admit something here. I'm a bad mother. I hate throwing birthday parties! All the mess and stress, and after it's over where do you put all those gifts?? Well, this year when Benjamin's birthday came around, a private school in town was having a fall festival PLUS cousins were in town - instant party and no work for me! Yep, I'm a bad mom. Ben has never had a "real" party. But he did get to "milk a cow" - which ended up being his favorite activity....

Jump in some inflatables....

race through inflatables....

ride a train...(Even Nathan & Aaron agreed to ride, what good sports!)...

stopped to pose for a picture (I didn't risk making them pose for long)...



decorate his own cake...(look closely, it's a football field)

(Notice the water guns...the boys had water gun fights, just no pictures for that)



blow out candles...
(Sarah even came in for it, but somehow didn't end up in the pictures.)







and open a few gifts.


Happy Birthday, Benjamin! I love you more than you can ever say!

Maybe next year he'll have a "real" party and get to invite all those girls
he wanted to invite this year.

My Princess!

Sarah took a "practice" Math test this last week at the suggestion of a professor. (I'm sure I'll get the details wrong, Sarah, so just comment and correct me!) Basically, she can "challenge" a test and if she passes it, will be certified to teach that subject in addition to her Early Childhood Education certification. When "Miss Pris" took the 3 hour (!) test, the professors said she had made the highest score that they had seen someone make on their first attempt. Now, they want her to finish her Trig. class and try the "real" test. The Dept. head told her about seminars available to teach math that he wants her to look into doing as well.
As proud as we are of Sarah's accomplishments, it made me think. We'd be just as proud of Sarah even if she were a high-school drop-out. It isn't just what she DOES that makes us proud of her, but who she IS: our princess!

Recently Sarah and I sat down to have a long drawn out discussion when she'd asked my opinion on some things going on in her life. It reminded me of how I need to be more encouraging and less critical. So, I want to simply list some things that I admire in my daughter's life!

The first thing I've actually already mentioned: she is obedient. She comes to her father and I for advice - she has willingly placed herself under our authority and actually listens to our advice. WOW! I wish I had been able to be that open to my parents and share things about my life with them! Actually, at times I wish I were that open to my Heavenly Father! Willing to ask, listen and obey!

Secondly, she speaks truth! She seems to have a sense of urgency when dealing with others and wants to reach them with God's truth! There is one story I always think of when I'm remembering things from Sarah's past (in grade school). My mom and a friend visited a family in our neighborhood to share the gospel with them. When they asked the family if they wanted to "ask Jesus into their heart", the daughter (Sarah's age) said, "Oh! I've already done that. Sarah told me at school." Sarah had never mentioned it to us, she'd just seen something in her friend's life that needed changing and went about telling her what she needed. Sarah definitely sees things in "black and white".

Next, Sarah has always been a conservative young lady. We've never had to worry about her dressing or acting immodestly. Also, Sarah is honest. She is very goal oriented and works hard to achieve her goals. She is willingly. She helps us - usually by babysitting her brothers so Mark & I can have a break. She takes her brothers to the movies, museum, out to eat, etc. all without being asked to! She remembers birthdays and special occasions even though she's now off at college and could just as easily forget. She willingly listens to Benjamin talk on the phone incessantly about what has happened since she was last home.

She has handled herself well while waiting patiently for her boyfriend to come home from Iraq. I can't even begin to imagine what that is like for her, but I do know it hasn't been easy.
I could go on and on, but suffice it to say, I'm proud of my daughter!
No, she's not perfect, but I love her just as she is.
I love you, Sarah!!

Now, having said that, put this in perspective of us and our Heavenly Father. Do I have to accomplish "big" things to please God? Do I have to be perfect to have His love and acceptance? No, of course not! He is my Father! He will love me know matter what I do, how I act, or even who I am!

I know this is basic stuff here, but sometimes I think we need to be reminded! Satan has told me that I am worthless, stupid, not able to do anything. I have felt that if I did enough, was good enough, THEN God would be proud of me, accept me and want to spend time with me. But you know what? I want to spend time with Sarah and my other kids EVEN WHEN THEY DON'T WANT TO ! - even when they've been embarrassed that I'm their mother. ha! God is the same way. Even when I'm embarrassed to come to Him, (Lord, I messed up again....) He DESIRES to spend time with me! I am His princess and He loves me unconditionally. He wants to spend time with me no matter what I have done or haven't done. He cares about the details of my life. James 4:8 says "Come near to God and He will come near to you." He's just waiting for me to draw near to Him, to turn my back on all the "stuff" and just spend time with Him, being refreshed, taught, encouraged, challenged, disciplined, LOVED! My heart hears His invitation. "COME" "DRAW NIGH". Imagine that.

"I see two of you!"

This summer we noticed that Benjamin's eye was beginning to cross. One day after Sarah and I had discussed it, I began to question him on what he could and couldn't see. He told me, "Mom I see two of you! But, that's okay because I know which one is the real you." Oh my. Time to see an eye doctor! Here are a couple of "before" and "after" pictures:

Benjamin at VBS this summer

He wanted to take a "silly picure" first:

And here he is with his Power Ranger glasses. (Side note: he doesn't get to watch the show, he just liked the glasses. Ha! )

Wake-up call

(photo of Scott in China)

I woke up this morning hearing Mark on the phone:

"Are you okay?"

Between "Are" and "okay" I made it from my bed to the living room. We had let Scott go with a friend to Lake McClellan last night to camp out, so I KNEW who was on the other end of that conversation! Then:

"Where are you?" and
"I'll call emergency services and I'll be right there".

My heart dropped to my knees. The boys were on their way home for church this morning and hit a deer. Thankfully, all 3 are fine, just sore from air bags.
They were in a Mustang and Scott was in the front passenger seat where the deer went over them. He said that if the deer had jumped, it would have gone through the windshield. Scott said, "I should be dead."

So, today, I'm praising Yahweh-Raah ~ The LORD My Shepherd~ for protecting Scott!! I am thankful to God for allowing the deer to hit the hood and the roll bar frame rather than the windshield and my son. THANK YOU, FATHER!!! Thank you for his life and those of his friends, thank you that the injuries were minor (scratches heal.). Thank you that they didn't end up rolled over in the nearby culvert. Thank You, God, for all my children and their health. Thank you for the "wake-up call"!
So many things to be thankful for today!

Teenagers!!

Aaron turned 13 on Wed. or Thurs. (depending on who you ask)! Happy Birthday Aaron! He was born at 12:01 a.m. on Labor Day. My mom swears that the nurses "fudged" on the time because they wanted him to be a Labor Day baby. Me? I was a little distracted and wasn't too concerned about what time it was. We now officially have three teenage boys in our home and I'm starting to feel old.

You know they are getting older when just about all they get for their birthday is cash - and they're happy about it! Scott took him out to eat for his birthday, Sarah remembered to call from Wayland, and Nathan is taking out trash for him one week - sure is great when your kids surprise you by being nice to each other!