I love pumpkins, I love cold mornings and cool evening breezes, I love playing outside without sweating and opening the windows during the days.
I can't wait for the trees on the Lane to start changing...
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Fall
I love pumpkins, I love cold mornings and cool evening breezes, I love playing outside without sweating and opening the windows during the days.
I can't wait for the trees on the Lane to start changing...
Sunday, October 12, 2014
SWEET Saturday!
My sweet son, so like his father...a planner of surprises and a romantic at heart. (warning...many pictures in this post!)
He planned 3 surprises for Saturday, October 11...and ran into these hurdles:
His ROTC group was told a few days before that they would go on an overnight trip and be out of town 10/10 until 10/11 at noon.
Katelyn got primary RA duty for Saturday, which means she was required to be at the desk and have the phone until 6pm.
The game time for the HUGE Arkansas vs. Alabama wasn't announced until one week before the game.
There was a 90% chance of rain the ENTIRE DAY.
BUT...all hurdles were cleared as the day became a reality.
Saturday morning: Katelyn is notified she doesn't have duty, someone has taken it for her. She and Ryan make lunch plans...in Bentonville.
They head to Crystal Bridges museum...Ryan tells Kate they have a little time to kill before lunch, so Kate wants to browse all the art while Ryan is almost pulling her out the back door during a 15 minute delay in the rain.
They run into a friend from Mountain Home, who was "working on a project" and asked if they would pose for some pictures in front of a sculpture.
As they finished her instructions, she asked if they wanted to do any poses. Ryan had Kate face her, then he got down on a knee and asked her to marry him!
They drove to lunch...with huge smiles on their faces, and were shown to the back room of ShoGun where ALL of us were waiting! Katelyn had NO IDEA that her family was there. It was surprise #2 and it was perfect!
During the rainy game, we were freezing, the HOGS were playing well, but there was a party to plan! Ryan had invited all their college friends, and family to come celebrate. It was LATE for us, but a wonderful time to celebrate with a fun family, sweet friends and a precious couple.
I'm full of thankfulness, and hoping for the same kind of wonderful relationship that God has given Richard and I.
He planned 3 surprises for Saturday, October 11...and ran into these hurdles:
His ROTC group was told a few days before that they would go on an overnight trip and be out of town 10/10 until 10/11 at noon.
Katelyn got primary RA duty for Saturday, which means she was required to be at the desk and have the phone until 6pm.
The game time for the HUGE Arkansas vs. Alabama wasn't announced until one week before the game.
There was a 90% chance of rain the ENTIRE DAY.
BUT...all hurdles were cleared as the day became a reality.
Saturday morning: Katelyn is notified she doesn't have duty, someone has taken it for her. She and Ryan make lunch plans...in Bentonville.
They head to Crystal Bridges museum...Ryan tells Kate they have a little time to kill before lunch, so Kate wants to browse all the art while Ryan is almost pulling her out the back door during a 15 minute delay in the rain.
They run into a friend from Mountain Home, who was "working on a project" and asked if they would pose for some pictures in front of a sculpture.
As they finished her instructions, she asked if they wanted to do any poses. Ryan had Kate face her, then he got down on a knee and asked her to marry him!
They drove to lunch...with huge smiles on their faces, and were shown to the back room of ShoGun where ALL of us were waiting! Katelyn had NO IDEA that her family was there. It was surprise #2 and it was perfect!
During the rainy game, we were freezing, the HOGS were playing well, but there was a party to plan! Ryan had invited all their college friends, and family to come celebrate. It was LATE for us, but a wonderful time to celebrate with a fun family, sweet friends and a precious couple.
I'm full of thankfulness, and hoping for the same kind of wonderful relationship that God has given Richard and I.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Senior Spirit
Fun week at Clarksville schools...Cameron and Jordan dressed up for most days...favorite team, western, hat and shade days...I don't have pictures of those. Sheridan had pink day, backwards day, and red and white day. Erin...at the high school...let's just say, she was bummed to miss Tacky Tourist day on Tuesday while she was at District Tennis.
Monday: Hippie Day (yes, she beaded her own shirt)
Tuesday: District Tennis at ATU. Won One, Lost One and out.
Wednesday: Western Day
Thursday: Dynamic Duo Day....LOVE THIS. If you haven't seen High School Musical, you won't understand.
Friday: Seniors in Red...
Monday: Hippie Day (yes, she beaded her own shirt)
Tuesday: District Tennis at ATU. Won One, Lost One and out.
Wednesday: Western Day
Thursday: Dynamic Duo Day....LOVE THIS. If you haven't seen High School Musical, you won't understand.
Friday: Seniors in Red...
Friday, October 10, 2014
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Tears
My biological children did their fair share of crying. However,
we encouraged them to save it for the big stuff. We have a few sayings like "Whiners get nothing" and we used them a lot. They learned it early, and whether or not they had to be chastised for it more than once is possible but not probable.
Not so much for Cam. The precious boy who sings songs about Jesus, has an uncanny sense of direction, is behaving in school, and has some crazy basketball skills for his age ...just doesn't get that "Crying doesn't change anything." And the boy has some endurance!
He's never cried over ANYTHING that was of any substance. And yet, he's cried more in the 9 months we've had him than my other 4 children combined in their lifetime...and I have 3 girls!!
When he first came to us and he did this crying, I was so heartbroken over it. I let my imagination run to all kinds of things he must've endured at bedtime, or at his foster homes. But as he continued to choose to cry over the MOST menial things (when we changed the tv channel, because we insisted he cut up his pizza, not being able to play on the wii) we realized he was completely trying to manipulate us...and crying is the only way he knows how. Putting together information that Jordan has told us about their past, even as far back as 5 years ago...he's been crying for his needs and wants for many years. That's his WHOLE LIFE. It's so hard to not be emotionally moved by his crocodile tears, but they now only make me think, "Here we go again."
If you've never had to hear the cry of a child that you can't stop...well, it's horrible. And especially frustrating with a 6 year old. There is NO reasoning with an angry or stubborn child. No wonder there are so many angry adults who make devastating decisions when they are mad.
REDEEMING MOMENTS:
After his fits...it is the sweetest time of reconciliation. He can tell me EXACTLY why he was in his room, the crazy reason it all started, and how he could've gotten out of the situation he has put himself in. We hug and pray, I tell him I love him, and I always tell him..."It's like you start digging a hole, and then you get deeper and deeper and I can't get you out until you're ready to get out!...and you never had to start digging! Let's don't do that again."
I pray for his precious life, thank God for the extreme changes he has made in the 9 months he has been here, and for the redeeming work God has planned for his life.
we encouraged them to save it for the big stuff. We have a few sayings like "Whiners get nothing" and we used them a lot. They learned it early, and whether or not they had to be chastised for it more than once is possible but not probable.
Not so much for Cam. The precious boy who sings songs about Jesus, has an uncanny sense of direction, is behaving in school, and has some crazy basketball skills for his age ...just doesn't get that "Crying doesn't change anything." And the boy has some endurance!
He's never cried over ANYTHING that was of any substance. And yet, he's cried more in the 9 months we've had him than my other 4 children combined in their lifetime...and I have 3 girls!!
When he first came to us and he did this crying, I was so heartbroken over it. I let my imagination run to all kinds of things he must've endured at bedtime, or at his foster homes. But as he continued to choose to cry over the MOST menial things (when we changed the tv channel, because we insisted he cut up his pizza, not being able to play on the wii) we realized he was completely trying to manipulate us...and crying is the only way he knows how. Putting together information that Jordan has told us about their past, even as far back as 5 years ago...he's been crying for his needs and wants for many years. That's his WHOLE LIFE. It's so hard to not be emotionally moved by his crocodile tears, but they now only make me think, "Here we go again."
If you've never had to hear the cry of a child that you can't stop...well, it's horrible. And especially frustrating with a 6 year old. There is NO reasoning with an angry or stubborn child. No wonder there are so many angry adults who make devastating decisions when they are mad.
REDEEMING MOMENTS:
After his fits...it is the sweetest time of reconciliation. He can tell me EXACTLY why he was in his room, the crazy reason it all started, and how he could've gotten out of the situation he has put himself in. We hug and pray, I tell him I love him, and I always tell him..."It's like you start digging a hole, and then you get deeper and deeper and I can't get you out until you're ready to get out!...and you never had to start digging! Let's don't do that again."
I pray for his precious life, thank God for the extreme changes he has made in the 9 months he has been here, and for the redeeming work God has planned for his life.
"Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life." Proverbs 4:13
Friday, October 3, 2014
Election Time
Sheridan's jumping in to school and running for President of her middle school. She's got stiff competition with two of her other friends running for the same office, but she's determined to put up a good showing with a super speech and this fun poster. Elections are next week, and no matter what, I'm proud of her!
Working on It
Cam and I work on spelling words on Thursday nights. We read one or two books from school every night of the school week. Jordan has learned the parts and functions of the circulatory system and digestive system. We've quizzed on spelling words and prepositions.
They don't like unpacking their backpacks, but are getting the hang of doing their work well, so they don't have to miss something later. They are developing good habits and I'm super thankful for two teachers who are taking care of them while they are at school.
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