Chancellor's Award

We drove up to Fayetteville yesterday for Ryan's senior awards ceremony for ROTC. It's the third one we've been to and every time we've walked up the sidewalk to Old Main I nostalgic feelings for our days in school there. In 3 weeks Ryan and Katelyn will be done with their time in Fayetteville. We haven't gotten to NWA near as many times as we thought we would when he chose to go to our alma mater. Of course, it's not like we'll forget the good ole U of A, the alumni association and any every other fund raising office at the school has our number!

Ryan received the Chancellor's Award for "the highest personal and ethical standards, balancing academic and athletic achievements and superb leadership traits." He's made a lot of great memories on the Hill. I'm so thankful he will be able to look back with no regrets.

Keeping it all Straight

April 

28, Thursday, Ryan's final ARMY ROTC awards ceremony, Old Main, U of A
30, Saturday, Walk for the Waiting in Little Rock, War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock

May 

1, Sunday, Connect Class/Worship
2, Monday, Hair Color Day! Sheridan begins RJHS volleyball tryouts
3, Tuesday, BSF
4, Wednesday, Bridesmaids alterations day, LIFE GROUP at our house
6-7, Friday-Saturday, Lauren's Bachelorette party, NWA

10, Tuesday, Last BSF
13, Friday, Ryan's Commissioning and Graduation, lunch with family
14, Saturday, Katelyn's Graduation, lunch with Gackles

20, Friday, Lauren's Shower with Rhea Lana gals
25, Wednesday, Erin goes to Falls Creek, Ryan and Katelyn head to Fort Benning, Last Day of School for Sheridan, Jordan and Cameron
26-28, Lauren & Mom to Mountain Home

29, Sunday, Sheridan's 13th birthday

Busy Day on the Hill

Love to run up the hill (figuratively speaking) and see all these cars at the house! The weather is supposed to be good all week. Workers are busy on the exterior today putting the trim work on the soffit and putting up the front porch siding. 

Today I had the most fun time when I went to UCA to get Erin's stuff to bring home for the summer...On the way home I took a detour by a great furniture store and picked out new pieces for our living areas in the new house. I. AM. NOT. A. SHOPPER. but I had a GREAT time!! 

House on the Hill

All electric is pulled and plumbing, tubs/showers are set. Roof is shingled and HVAC is in. The front and back porch have been stained a beautiful walnut. Sheetrock comes in next week. The next step is soffit, eaves and siding, and he'll be there on Monday. After he's done the stone work guys will come and start the rest of the exterior. And every time I'm at the house, a neighbor waves! 

Times are Changing

A few months ago I met a friend in Conway for lunch at Panera Bread. I had shoe shopped before I met her and I went to the restroom to wash my hands before I ate. When I opened the door to the restroom a man was washing his hands. Oh my gosh! I thought I went in the wrong room! I just stepped back and let the door close. I looked at the sign and realized he was in the wrong room!

This man was a thin guy with a beard and mustache. The bathroom was a two-stall with just one sink. It's pretty small. I think the guy accidentally went in the wrong room, but I wasn't going to tell him! I stepped back in the hallway until he exited and then went in.

I wasn't comfortable sharing the bathroom with a man, and I was just wanting to wash my hands. I certainly wasn't going to take care of any other business in there!

Because we don't have a Target in my hometown, I've always loved going to them in any city I'm in to find new and unusual things. I love their party gear, their home decor and their toys at Christmas. I almost always visit the restroom when I'm shopping. I am not going to be able to do that anymore. I can't risk not being able to go to the bathroom or worrying in the bathroom about a man being in there. It's a modesty thing, and it's a comfort thing. Women and girls take care of things in the bathroom that men don't. We do take our little ones in, but mamas and children have been doing that forever. When our little boys become big boys, we stop taking them in with us.

I won't be sending my middle school and teenage girls into the restroom at Target. I won't be taking my little boy into a restroom for fear of having to start conversations he's not ready to handle, and I won't be going there either.

Tears

I hate crying days. Crying should've ceased when talking became an option. For someone who talks so much, my little boy sometimes thinks crying is the only way. When he's in that zone he can't hear you and he can't reason with himself. It's a sad place, but not as scary or frustrating as it used to be.

We all carry things from our past with us. We may react to things based on our experiences, our perceptions and our upbringing. A child who lived almost four years in insecurity and with little training has more to carry.

The snuggles, the laughter, the ball playing, the excitement of the other days is great. Crying days are just hard and sad. There's no way out of the crying but to let it run it's full course. When his mind is clear he tries to reconcile the best way he knows. Let me say it clearly...he knows right and wrong. He knows "crying = consequences" and "obedience = blessings." He knows "whiners gets nothing" and "if you're crying, you're in your room."

He's a precious boy whose heart is up for grabs. I pray for the bondage of his past to be broken sooner rather than later. For his sake.

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Raising up Modern Day Men

Thankful for the men in our family who took our 13 year old nephew, Titus, on a guys day trip to encourage him to be a man of God. Even our youngest men gave their day to help:  Ben came from College Station and Ryan came from Fayetteville. The guys climbed Petit Jean and gave Titus some wisdom from their combined experiences. It's a great thing when men challenge men to become strong, kind and stable men of God. 

House on the Hill

Stone delivered, shingles delivered, electrician working inside, plumber coming next week. HVAC folks on the schedule!

Camp Stormy

Camp Stormy is an overnight camp for all 5th graders in Russellville. The teachers, ATU parks and recreation students and seniors from RHS, are counselors and instructors. The kids get to do crafts, archery, try fishing and canoeing. They stay in cabins and eat lunch in a camp cafeteria. It rained off and on the last two days but Jordan came home with a big smile and a couple yawns. I'm so thankful for the memories she is making, how she's bloomed here and how she is growing as a young lady. I'm thankful for her teachers who encourage her education, her humor and her curiosity.

Game Night

Tonight Richard and I sat down with Sheridan and Jordan and played Catch Phrase. This is a fast talking game where you try to get your partner to say a word by giving them clues. There are some obvious rules: you can't say it rhymes with something, you can't use hand motions, you can't spell it or say it in another language. It was Jordan's idea to play tonight and I'm glad we did!

Jordan provided several game-pausing funny moments tonight. Here are a few worthy for QUOTE OF THE DAY.

~  Jordan is giving clues...."It's a restaurant that starts with an O and has "garden" in it."


 ~  I'm giving clues to Jordan for the word "peanut."
Me: "I spread this on bread for your sandwiches with jelly."
Jordan: "..."
Me: "I love this food and you had it for lunch today spread on bread with jelly."
Jordan: "turkey?"
Me: "..."


 ~ Jordan giving clues again.... "It's a fish that's gold."



 ~ I'm giving clues to Jordan, the word is "insane."
Me: "crazy?"
Jordan: "..."
Me: "Ok, what's the opposite of "out?"
Jordan: "in!"
Me: "Ok, use that with another word for crazy."
Jordan: "incrazy!"
Me: "Yes, incrazy." Passing the game to the left.

House on the Hill

It's amazing! In a few weeks the house has shot up, has walls, windows, doors and is and ready for the next phase. The weather has been great, and now we're in the dry. We've picked rock and stone...and I'm really hoping they look good together when they come in from the quarry! We're choosing shingles, faucets and light fixtures next week. Pinterest has become my friend! The house and view is beautiful, the neighbors are precious and I can't wait to settle in!