HI YAH!

I'm not sure what started Cameron's obsession with martial arts. He got approximately 15 flyers in his folder home from school the first two weeks for boy scouts, flag football, soccer, basketball, and martial arts. For some reason he taped up the crumpled martial arts flyer to his wall. It was crumpled because I threw it away, but apparently he wanted it badly. He fished it out of the trash can, borrowed tape from Jordan, hung it up in his room, and started asking for karate lessons in early August. He can point out every martial arts studio in town (and does whenever we're out). He can even read the painted windows as we pass by, "One free week for beginners!" We already knew he is persistent, and now he applies that to wanting to take classes!

I don't know what the pull is for him...except maybe the outfit? The picture he drew at school shows weapons, but I'm pretty sure he knows we aren't going to let him have ANY weapons EVER...except the foam sword downstairs. Anyway, every library book he has brought home from school has had a karate theme, and he's been begging to watch a karate movie, which he hasn't gotten permission. He even says he wants to be a karate teacher when he grows up.

I'm thankful that Richard was wise to offer classes as an incentive for good behavior while he was out of town last month. This goal not only helped Cameron's decision making, but helped me by stopping the incessant questions about when he could start and why I wouldn't take him! I'm happy to say he begin classes LAST WEEK!

I'm thankful for this outlet for him, for self control, for his athleticism making up for his lack of coordination, and for his smile when he puts on that white uniform.
I'm thankful for the reference from a friend of a good studio to go to, and for the new moms I meet when I take Cameron.
I'm thankful for the fun it has brought to all of us as we have watched this little boy become even more crazy over this sport.
And I'm still laughing at the video Richard took of him grappling (wrestling) for the first time yesterday, and that later in the evening I found Richard teaching Sheridan some moves downstairs and Jordan flipping Cameron around the basement while still wearing his uniform!
#KarateMom

Verse of the Week

SHOW STOPPERS!

Lauren's intramural football team won their 2nd championship last Tuesday night! They get to play the championship game in the football stadium so it was a fun setting for a great game. I'm pretty sure they've outscored their opponents by around 200 points this season, but that's conservative, as I don't keep stats for them, and I'm not sure anyone does. This game might have been 21-7. (a close one!) Lauren loves to play with these girls and loves to run the ball! Next stop, regionals in Tennessee! 

Pics from a friend: 

Jo Jo's Birthday Bash

There are not enough words to express how thankful I am for Jordan's new friends. She, apparently, is the funny girl in class and every mom I talked to about coming to her party said their daughter "loves Jordan" and definitely wanted to come. Keep in mind, we invited 7 girls and I only knew 3 of the mothers before the party! That's a big deal for a girl who makes friends easily but has moved twice in the last 2 years.

Her friends were so cute as I picked them up from school, even though I told Jordan very little about the party I planned, I knew she had "leaked" out secrets because the girls were excited about our "cooking" and the scavenger hunt.

PARTY PLAN: Jordan loves food....so they "cooked." I put the girls in pairs and gave them a recipe. All the ingredients were out so they could easily follow the directions and make something for us all to share. Menu: smoothies, cookie cups, fruit kabobs, meat and cheese snacks.

2. Jordan loves adventure...so we had a scavenger hunt. There were about 9 clues and the girls were basically running all over the house, outside, up and down stairs and through the garage for clues. They ended up with a huge bag of goodies and everyone got to take things home from the treasure!

The party was a huge success, Lauren dropped by and helped out with the Pepsi/Coke taste test and helped me clean up the cooking mess.

Ryan and Katelyn called and Erin facetimed Jordan during the evening. We are thankful for Jordan Hope Rogers!

Quote of the Day

I loved the name Richard gave our anniversary yesterday...our Michael Jordan anniversary. Not gold, not silver, but Nike. You only get one of those.

10-10-15

Today we celebrate our 23rd anniversary. We have no plans, no cards and no gifts. What we do have was taught on at our LIFE GROUP on Wednesday night and I'm more thankful to have that 365 days of the year than flowers today. We have AGAPE LOVE.

The Greek word agape is often translated "love" in the New Testament. How is "agape love" different from other types of love? The essence of agape love is self-sacrifice. Unlike our English word “love,” agape is not used in the Bible to refer to romantic or sexual love. Nor does it refer to close friendship or brotherly love, for which the Greek word philia is used. Nor does agape mean “charity,” a term which the King James translators carried over from the Latin. Agape love is unique and is distinguished by its nature and character.

There are hundreds of times I have asked Richard why he still loves me. There are so many times when he is patient, kind and giving to me when I can hardly stand myself! I have bad moody days, short temper days and just plain grouchy days. Richard always answers the same, "I choose to. I will love you forever." And that, for anyone who is reading, is how marriages stay not only together but are GREAT even 23 years in.  

I'm so guilty of thinking I don't "deserve" love, especially when I'm feeling bad about myself, and really, that's not giving Richard any credit. When I say that, it's putting our love in the same category as loving pizza, loving ice cream, or loving basketball. It comes and it goes. And that's NOT how agape love works.

Making this choice is not easy because our flesh and selfishness tell us we don't "feel" like it. But that doesn't have anything to do with agape love. Jesus demonstrated this best, "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

I'm so thankful today for a man who chooses to love me. I get in a funk so often when I don't "feel" like treating him kind, or sharing, or giving my best. He never does. He looks at me in love even when I'm looking rough. He treats me tenderly even when I'm shooting arrows out of my eyes. He serves me when I'm pouting and he gives even when I'm selfish.

I'm so very thankful for the CHOICE that God gives us to LOVE and that my man loves me this way.
Happy Anniversary Sweetheart.

Inscribed on the inside of his ring, and true today:

 1 Peter 1:22b

"...love one another deeply, from the heart."

Pumpkins on the Porch

Sheridan had volleyball every day after school last week and when we were not watching her final games we were keeping busy! We bought pumpkins from the local church fundraiser and enjoyed the crisp air on the back deck painting the pumpkins. We even read our books and did homework outside on the deck. WE LOVE FALL! 

Verse of the Week

First Place

While I was at Woman conference last weekend Richard, Cameron and Joran cheered on this group of ladies through 7 games and an undefeated day in Cabot. Thankful, thankful, thankful. Not for the trophy, but for the smile.

What a Weekend!

It's been a crazy weekend for our family. Richard left on Friday, Gramps came in and kept kids so Lauren and I could go to NLC Woman conference in LR. Richard came back Friday night and took the kids to Cabot ALL DAY Saturday for a volleyball tournament with Sheridan. Sheridan's team went undefeated and won the championship. How many times can I say how thankful I am for the friends she has surrounded herself with? NOT ENOUGH. Richard, Jordan and Cameron spent the WHOLE DAY in a gym in Cabot cheering on all the Russellville teams. I'm so thankful for our family, as Erin and Lauren and I were being FILLED at the conference in LR. Ryan and Katelyn were on a charter bus most of the weekend going back and forth to Knoxville for the HOGS game. Well, miracles happen as the HOGS brought home an SEC win! 

This morning I got to be on the worship team for the first time at NLC. It's been awhile but every weekend I experience the excellence of our worship time I am engaged by the Holy Spirit for the teaching time and I have wanted to be a part of that. So thankful for the opportunity, even though we reported in at 6am...and didn't leave the church until 12:45. God bless the pastor who teaches 3 times! 

Looking forward to Monday morning so we can get back in the routine and not be headed out of town somewhere. Well, not until Monday afternoon! 

Show Stoppers!

Lauren is playing her second season on the salty SHOW STOPPERS. Intramural flag football is played at all times of the night...Richard got to go to a game last week that was something like 54-0...not even sure they kept the score.