TOP TEN 2017

As is our tradition...we all remembered 2016 and the fun things we have done, places we have been, and people we love doing life with!

Class Christmas Party

I had the best time going to Cameron's class Christmas party! The classroom Mom party planners at his school are serious and the food, games and crafts are TOP NOTCH! Cameron has a great teacher and she has done so much to help him stay on task this semester! She has read questions with him, helped him ask questions to process better, and also have helped him build his confidence. He has some sweet friends he plays basketball and football with and he loves going to school.

These things all came into play when God started prompting me to bring him home next semester. I've never thought it was an option, as parenting and training have been my main priority and I just haven't ever thought I could also tackle his academics. He's had some GREAT teachers who have loved him taken great care to teach him, but now it's my turn. It's been a month of praying, talking and questioning, but Richard and I have agreed to obey what I feel in my heart.

Cameron's heart is on the line. He is impressionable and drawn to anything that he thinks is fun, no matter it's value. He is incredibly drawn to cultural songs and media and things that might make him "cool." He is like many 8 year olds and school just isn't that important to him. He weighs every assignment with this question..."How long will this take?" My goal is to give him lots of repetition, make learning fun, give him opportunities to build his confidence, and help set his moral compass. I want him to trust me more, listen to me more, and know that I can be the loudest voice he hears...until, of course He hears the Lord.

We will also do Bible study and memory and I know it will have a positive effect on him that only the Holy Spirit could direct. I know days will be hard, weeks will be long, and days when Richard is gone may be more frustrating, but HIS STRENGTH IS PERFECT.

Quote of the Day

Cam: Mom, you know I want to be a spy, right?

Me: Yes.

Cam: You know Colton? Colton Babb in my class?

Me: Yes.

Cam: He wants to be one too. Where do we sign up for that?

GOTCHA DAY!

NOVEMBER 6th. The day it became official that Jordan and Cameron would be ours. It's only been TWO years! They've lived with us three. It's kind of amazing! Our lives would be VERY SMALL without the addition of them to our family. Blending families is not easy, but the blessings far outweigh the difficulties. We laugh more, we see more, we think more and we do more with them than we would if they weren't here.

Today is election day in the USA and an HISTORIC vote is taking place.

No doubt here who wins here: family.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

This morning after church...

CAM: "Today our teacher said, 'Ready, Freddy?' and one of the boys said, 'We're not Freddy, we're Chuckie!"...  Hey mom, is Chuckie real?"

ME: "No, I think he's a doll that a movie made talk and do crazy things to scare people." ...

CAM: "Well, that's why we better be nice to our dolls."

Back to School Week

3 packets of info to fill out, 1 picture collage, 10 new remind apps, and 3 full backpacks.
45 minutes in lines to get 3 kids after school today.
One parents night at the elementary school and a volleyball parent meeting with more paper work to fill out...concussion forms!?

This week:
Junior High:
$5 locker fee
$10 choir t shirt
$24 2 junior high booster club tshirts
$15 choir uniform fee
Middle School:
$30 band instrument rental fee
$45 generic instrument mouth piece
$11 beginner band book
$10 PE t shirt
$10 band t shirt
Elementary School:
$5 PTO membership

Wild Week

Whoa. I'm sitting in a room filled with my family watching a crazy movie but I have so much in my head I need to record it. It's been a WILD WEEK. There are times when so many things come up that it's hard to balance emotionally, physically and mentally while still talking nicely to Richard and my kids! Of course, if I was healthier I could probably do the days better...and if I kept up with all my meds and kept us all on task, I would probably do better too. But this week I crashed because I'm not healthy and had so much to do and keep up with, I did not do well. I feel better right now than I have all week, so I can record how God sustained me even when I do not have strength.

There is NOTHING like a bad day, bad week or a bad situation to show me how He has the whole world and even me in His hand.

Last Sunday I got to sing in our praise team. I got to lead two songs because someone on the team was sick. I was swept up into the Holy Spirit's anointing during the singing and even though I know He always wants me there when I'm leading, he also was preparing me for the week ahead.

Christ Is Enough:

Christ is my reward and all of my devotion

Now there's nothing in this world that could ever satisfy

Through every trial my soul will sing

 No turning back, I've been set free

Christ is enough for me, Christ is enough for me

Everything I need is in You, everything I need

Christ my all in all, the joy of my salvation

And this hope will never fail heaven is our home

Through every storm my soul will sing

Jesus is here to God be the glory

I have decided to follow Jesus

No turning back, no turning back

The cross before me, the world behind me

No turning back, no turning back

Monday: Sheridan had volleyball every day this week. Richard was home and we took everyone to the movies (we don't ever do that) to celebrate the last week of summer.

Tuesday: Volleyball, trips up the house to order blinds, Richard out of town. Sheridan's Open House at the Junior High at 6pm. (#1)

Wednesday: Cameron's teacher is listed at noon and Jordan and Cameron's friends come over to play all afternoon. Meanwhile, I have details about my upcoming event that are completely out of my hands.  Not only do I need to be chasing down things, but I'm distracted by packing and keeping kids sane on this last week at home. I make a decision to postpone our BIG marketing day until details are worked out, and need to send mass emails and social media posts to let people know.

Thursday: Richard is home and tying up all loose ends on our house so we can move in. We decide to move in next weekend, but move non-essentials this weekend. Lauren comes over to help and helps me get things orderly so I can feel OK about how we're going to do this. Cameron has open house at his elementary school. (#2) The driveways are laid at our house although we didn't think that would happen. However, we can't drive on it until Monday.

Friday: Erin, Richard, the girls and I start moving as much as we can in two SUVs and a trailer. We'll park as close as we can to the doors and walk it in! I'm not used to the humidity, the heavy lifting or this stress and I'm not handling it very well. I snap at the girls and then ask their forgiveness. (Through every storm my soul will sing, Jesus is here, to God be the glory) Jordan has open house at the middle school! (#3)

Saturday: Erin and a friend are here, Jordan is getting new braids, Richard and I pack cars and take more to the house. I've worn out my muscles in the last two days, so I unpack boxes and do what I can to direct traffic and wipe down floors after dirt comes in. (The house we're moving in to is the most beautiful place I've ever seen! Richard has built us a wonderful place to call home) The details of our move & my event are weighing on me and Richard and the kids continue to love me more than I deserve and gives me time to take a much needed nap so I can recoup. Momming is hard, but not harder than He can handle.

So now the movie is over, and the Olympics are still on and I'll try to decide how much I can watch tonight before I need to turn in. I can't wait to worship tomorrow at church. I need the TRUTH, the FELLOWSHIP, and the FOCUS on all that is really important in life.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace

Snocones, volleyball and firsts!

Summer days are LONG...but we've managed to stay pretty busy! We stopped by the local sno cone stand one day and the kids chose watermelon, strawberry and tiger's blood as their top picks! It was a good way to cool off on these 100 degree days.

Sheridan has been going to open gym with both basketball and volleyball all summer. There are some kids who play on competitive teams all summer but we didn't think we could make that work this year. She's enjoying herself and played in a team camp at Tech with her classmates last Saturday. We got to pop over for a game. She's very short compared to the girls on her team, but she can hit as well as anyone from the floor!

We had our FIRST MEAL in our new house this week. Richard called me to come check some things and the kids were already with him. I wasn't going to have cheap pizza as our first meal in our forever home...so I made the trip across town for some Chick fil a. It's only right that you get your favorite fast food for your first meal! The counter was dirty and the floor was dirty, and there was no seating, but NO ONE minded! TWO WEEKS until we can get in!

Let there be light!

Richard just sent me this pic from the Hill. We've got power...and he and Cam are putting in the can lights so we can see! It's been a slow few days as we had to re-work some power things to get signed off by Entergy and the city to get our power. The guys are still outside rocking and bricking...it's been SO HOT this week...we feel for them. Now that we have A/C the wood flooring has been delivered and it can acclimate to the temp of the house before being put down. We're headed up the hill now, the girls and I, with our first meal...we'll clean up and get ready for the final touches. I don't see us moving until August 20th...but if we get things rolling, maybe just maybe...we can start the process.

Quote of the Day (maybe week)

This morning at 8am, Cameron was pondering the deep things of life.

"Mom, why do they call them AirHeads if they don't have air or heads in them? "



That is all.

SO much to say...wedding post #1

Whoa! It's Sunday afternoon and I've just gotten up from yet another deep-sleep nap from the chair in the living room. The kids were watching a movie but they've gone on to other things now. I'm thankful they know not to wake a sleeping Mama of the Bride!

I've hosted many events in the last years, I know how to plan, be flexible and take care of people. However, I've NEVER hosted a wedding, nor had to make plans with the main goal of making two people SMILE ALL NIGHT! I'm so thankful I can call our wedding a SUCCESS on all fronts! We knew at the end of the night they would be legally wed, but all the other details made the night super fun!

This afternoon I asked the 3 littles to tell me their favorite things in the wedding. They wrote and wrote and then we shared. It's so funny to see how they ranked their favorites, there were SO MANY wonderful parts it's hard to choose!

CAMERON:

Dancing with our cousins

Cake: baseball cake

Whip n Nay Nay

The funness/funner

The dancing

The watermelon and pineapple

The ring pop

The preacher

The people

The fireworks

JORDAN:

Food

The smooch

Lauren’s Dress – she’d like to wear someday

The rehearsal (dinner)

The colors

The father/daughter dance

The signing of the book (guest book)

The cupcakes

The wedding shower

The Jenga blocks

The Bs - she also might want to use these someday if she marries someone with a B last name!

SHERIDAN:

Ian & Lauren getting married

Vows

Getting to greet everyone and hand out programs

Chocolate Chip Dip

Getting to see old Clarksville friends (Suede, Lindsey & Lexi)

How pretty it was at Bona Dea for pictures

The wrap (sandwich) in the bridal party room, it was very good

Getting to pray over Lauren and Ian during the wedding

Seeing Lauren’s Falls Creek friends

Erin and Dad’s speeches

The leftovers we got to bring home

The special painted wedding signs

Getting to walk down the aisle with Jordan and Cameron

From a MOM or MOB's perspective:

~ALL my kids being home...Ryan found out on Tuesday he could get a flight home from Ft Benning

~When her flowers and our cupcakes came in and were EXACTLY like she wanted

~The smile Lauren had when she put on her dress and veil

~Praying over Lauren with her bridal party and her new mother in law

~Seeing people come to the wedding from all over who love Lauren (including band director from high school, friends from Falls Creek staff, friends from FBC Clarksville, new friends from their LIFE groups, friends from my Life Group, high school friends, former neighbors, and family from as far away as California!)

~The moment when Richard gave Lauren to Ian and gave him a huge manly hug

~The maid of honor speech by Erin and the father toast by Richard

~The father/daughter dance (choreographed by a friend and NAILED on the dancefloor!)

~The family who smiled, hugged and loved Lauren just by being there

~The smile on Lauren's face as she left with Ian for her HAPPILY EVER AFTER

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."

Flying High in Frisco

Last day of Spring Break had to be a good one! We thought we were headed to Six Flags, and drove by the roller coasters and talked about it Every. Single. Day... but the wind was high and the park wasn't opening until late and Dad had a back up plan! He and the kids suited up and went flying instead!  The wind tunnel is high and the air is blowing about 65-70 mph. They loved it! Ryan and Katelyn met us there and we went to lunch and did a little shopping before getting on the road for home.