Rock On! *with appropriate hand motions*

Where has the time gone? I swear I just wrote on here not that long ago...but it has been almost 2 weeks!!! I am fighting some kind of bug...extreme nausea along with a massive migraine headache...and it just keeps going and going like that wretched little rabbit and the drum...

Sunday night we (Tim, Hunter, me and my friend Julie) went to the United Tour concert with Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman. What an amazing night!!! I had gotten Tim tickets back in August for our anniversary, as those two guys are his faves...and we saw them in October. The whole time that we were there Tim kept saying, "I wish we had brought Hunter"...but it really wouldn't have worked out to celebrate our anniversary with our youngest son along for the weekend ;-).

BUT...God is good and brought them right to our back yard. We knew that we had to take Hunter since he wants to be the next Smitty (watch your back man). So...we splurged and bought the best seats that we could get so he could see everything up close and personal. We had 4th row seats...it was awesome!!! The anointing that these two men have on their lives is incredible. As I was looking around us I saw a wide variety of folks. Young and old, grey haired and pigtailed (not on the same person), wheelchair bound and standing with hands held high. They definitely appeal to the masses. I pray that the Lord will use my little drummer boy to glorify His kingdom even half as much as those two up in front of us.

Tonight my baby will be playing drums in his very first "gig". He and a couple of guys at church that have formed a band for Fine Arts will be playing at a lock-in at McCutcheon HS. They will be part of a "battle of the bands". He is so stinking excited he can hardly stand it!!! For him as a 13 y/o it's the equivalent of going to Disney...all his dreams are coming true! They are playing some pretty hardcore music (not my style, but I smile and bob my head as a supportive momager(like the new title?)). But the exciting part is that they are playing stuff that they wrote that is Christian hardcore...in a public school!! How's that for awesome!!!! Their banging music will appeal to the kids, who will listen...but their lyrics are wholesome and have a message. Isn't God great? :) I don't care if they win or not...I just want them to have an impact...and have a blast doing it!!! Now I know how my friend Carmen felt when she traveled to all of her son's shows...she better remember that I went with her a lot and accompany me on my road trips too!!! :-)

I got through the whole day on April 1st without anyone trying to play a joke on me. Fortunately (or not--depends on your view) my son chose to use his theatrical skills at school. He comes home telling me this story...

The previous day (Tuesday) his dad hit him with the truck when he walked in front of it (just a little love tap--I saw it happen--no need to call Child Protection Services). He then went and placed that information as his status on Facebook "Dad hit me with his truck--I have bruises" (he did spell bruises wrong though, I just can't make myself do it). Therefore when he went to school the next day, everybody and their brother asked if he was OK...etc. etc...you know how it goes. One of his friends (obviously a child that likes to cause trouble with other kids that like to cause trouble--I should call his mother) told HT (Hunter's name--it's easier to type) that he had a wrist brace in his locker from a time when he had gotten hurt. Of course, HT being the good Christian kid that he is instantly decided that would be his fashion accessory du jour. He walks into science class with this brace on, and his teacher (who also has a Facebook) sees it and is sympathetic and tells him not to worry about writing, just to sit there and listen (sucker). HT totally ate this up and did nothing constructive during class other than to plan his next method of attack on this totally traumatizing day. When class was over, HT walked up to the teacher, removed the brace...gave her a high-five (bad wrist) and said "April Fools" and walked out. I asked what her reaction was (poor woman) and he said she threw a pen at him (like a girl) and probably used some Christian cuss words (what are those? I may need them with a kid like this)!!! My thoughts s now turn to how to spend all that money I will be saving by not paying for private school for the next 3-4 years...as he will get kicked out...Wanna' get away????

I need to go home after work and take a nap...if I am to attend this lock-in tonight and hear him play at midnight...us older folks better rest up!!! :-)

Have a wonderfully stupendous weekend!!!

Happy Father's Day...

So many prayers answered this weekend.

-Boilers won...now on to UConn

-Acacia and friends made it home safely...oh the tales that I have heard

-I roller skated and didn't break anything...yeah, that's right. All in one piece...I didn't even fall!!! Now that is worth a Glory Hallelujah!!!!!


I know that it sounds so trivial to pray for this small things (some less important than others), but in actuality, aren't we to take everything to Him in prayer? I find myself forgetting that so often. I will cruise through my days and not spend time with Him. I will then crash to a halt and fix that, then onto cruise control again. Why can't I seem to be consistant with this? That is what I am trying to work on right now. My days are busy, but should not be too busy for this...and I fail at it so often. Please forgive me Lord for falling short. You have given so much to me, how can I not repay You by spending just a little time with You?


My husband puts me to shame with this area in our lives, but I am so proud of his commitment to this. Every night, and I mean every...he goes into each of our children's rooms and prays for them once they are asleep. He prays for their walk with the Lord, regular daily stuff...and from the day they were born, he has prayed for their future spouses. Even when they spend the night somewhere else, he will go kneel and pray at an empty bed. Now that Jordan is married, he goes into Jordan's old room and prays for Jordan and Cassie and their marriage and future family. How awesome is this??? Then he will go do devotions and pray for the long list of those that have been placed upon his heart. Some names have been on that list for years, some just added this weekend. For example, just a few days ago he met a boy (about 10 or so) that he said just looked lost. Not lost in the physical sense, but lost within his own life. He had that awkward, unhappy look that often occurs in the tween years. Tim knows very little about this young man (he is the nephew of someone that Tim just met), but Tim felt his pain...you know what I mean? When talking to the new acquaintance, he found out that this young boy doesn't get out much, and that he lost his father a couple of years ago. How incredibly sad. Now that young man doesn't even know that he has been put on a prayer warriors list...one that has him being watched over by a Father that is not by his side physically, but by his side in spirit every step of the way. I hope that little guy one day realizes who is a father to the fatherless, because I know of at least one person that is praying for this to happen. I am so lucky to have such an awesome Man of God for a husband!!!

Again, I am guilty of just going through life and forgetting where my heart should be...and how to bend my knees...but the Lord is placing these thoughts in my heart to remind me.

Father thank you for starting my week in with the reminder that You are in control. Thank you for reminding me where I need to be daily, which is at Your feet. Thank you for having such patience with me, and offering me Your grace much more than I deserve. Thank you for blessing my life with a godly husband, and the best earthly father to my children. I pray that I will not suffer from teen angst and know that You will offer me comfort and joy...no matter how I may feel. Thank you for just being you...and simply loving me....

Happy Monday!!!

Ibuprofen...my very best friend

Real quick ...

-Good job Boilers... repeat tomorrow? But could you please make the point margin a little larger, just so that I don't stress? As always...we need to have the larger number (us>them).

-Bob is no longer my friend. I am hurting in a number of places. Thank goodness I work for an agency that supplies walkers and other aids to the elderly. I'm thinking of picking out a cute little walker and putting a basket on the front, just like we used to put on our bikes when we were young. White (plastic) wicker with big bright flowers? Yeah, I see it coming!!!

-Hoping the spring comes back this weekend (it is officially here...it arrived when it was 24 degrees this morning). I dug out the open-toed shoes one day this week, and it hasn't gotten above 45 since then. I even got a pretty rosy pink pedicure!!!

-Don't forget to pray for Acacia and pals to have safe travel over the weekend. Matter of fact, I know a number of people traveling...call up the angels to keep them all safe!!!

Have a wonderful, blessed weekend. I know I will!!!!!!!!!
C~

Black and Gold (with a little blue)

Took home Bob, Jillian and Stacy or Kim or whatever her name is (big busted blonde that sucks her tummy in to create the protruding rib-cage affect) last night. They sat on my island--and did not fix dinner for me (knew they wouldn't darn them)! But I woke them up nice and early (4:30) this morning, well at least I woke up Bob. He was not happy with me. He may of had a smile on his face, and acted all nice...but he was sadistic in making sure that I twisted, lunged, jumped, squatted and whatever else he could think of to make me pant, grunt, sweat and resemble something like a water buffalo. We will see if I can get up from the toilet tomorrow, or lift my arms up enough to wash my hair. Can't imagine if I had woken up Jillian...I hear she is brutal. Mark my words now, if she gets crappy with me...I will take her out.

Keeping fingers, toes, eyes and legs crossed in hopes that the Boilers play as well in the NCAA tournament as they did in the Big Ten Tourney...in which they normally stink!! I have enjoyed watching them this year...my favorite is JaJuan Johnson (affectionately called JJ by ME). He has grown so much as a player this year and become such a presence beneath the basket with a soft little hook shot...I just love it!!! I am a little sad that I won't be able to watch the game today...but I will keep checking online to see the score. Don't let me down boys. BOILER UP!!!

Speaking of Boilers~ Acacia, who is the little Boiler at our house...is still in Florida, and will be driving home this weekend with thousands of others who were smart enough to migrate to warmer climates. Please pray for safe travel for them. If you are shocked that we let her go on a trip with 11 other girls and guys...join the club. I was equally as flabbergasted. Most of you know that Tim and I are labeled as strict parents, and don't let this little lapse fool you...we will proudly remain so. But she did go with a really good group of kids...we probably wouldn't have let her go with any other group...so this was a good starting point. We have heard various points of perspective from others such as; "She is 18 and in college"=response of "So freaking what?!"
"You got to let her grow up/go sometime"=my response="Really? I mean really?"

Actually, I am really glad that we let her go. Neither Tim or I ever did anything like this when we were in college...and that is one of the reasons that we gave her our blessing. I know that this week she has created some memories/friendships that she will never forget. They rented an incredible house right near the beach that sounds so much nicer than where she lives now...not to mention that the sand and water are right nearby...how could we keep that from our little princess? :-) They have gotten some sun, played games, shopped, watched the space shuttle take off, sunned some more, played football (in the dark) on the beach...and those are just the things that I know of in our all too brief conversations that we have had each evening. Not texting or calling her 15 times a day (which is our normal routine) has been hard on me. But I am trying to let her grow/go. As I have stated before, she really is one of my best friends...and all too soon, she will be moving on/up/out to bigger and better things as she establishes her own future. If she is accepted to the Fashion Institute in NYC for her junior year at PU, then she will be gone for a whole school year, not just a week. This is good practice for me...I do much better taking baby steps. Forgive me, I have digressed yet again into that dreaded retrospective Mom mode...

Really, just remember to pray for her and the whole gang as they travel. That is a really long trip, and even though they may all be considered adults...they are still somebodies kids...with no mommy or daddy there with them (visions of Acacia rolling her eyes at me) *giggle*

On this note, I will crawl down the hall to the bathroom...Bob is starting to take effect

BOILER UP!!!!!!!

Loserville...

Today I have absolutely nothing new or special/specific to say...so maybe I will just ramble. Do my best Rachel Ray and throw a little of this and a little of that in here to make up some kind of wonderful concoction (so totally spelled that wrong).

It is supposed to rain today, and my head tells me that is true. I have a splitting headache...that started last night. Because of the aforementioned headache...I went home and did nothing last night. Yeah, that's right all you moms of little ones that must chase your kiddies around...I did nothing!!! (I have paid my dues...I was once in your shoes) I did watch a re-run of the Biggest Loser. Man, I would love to go on that show. Sure, they work their butts off (pun intended), but that is all that they have to do. While they are focusing on getting into the best shape of their lives, they don't have to work a full-time job, run kids to school or practices, clean the house, do laundry...and I do believe that someone even cooks for them!!! See--why wouldn't I want to join? I too could start to look like a resemblence of my former self if I could only focus on losing weight. Dang...

Well, since I really have nothing special to say...and I now feel sorry for myself again (self-pity is a horrible foe)...I think I will go buy a new work-out video...I see that there are videos out there by Jillian Michaels and Bob whatever his name is...maybe if I go get one and take them home, they will cook for me too!!! *fingers crossed * ;-)

Icing on the Cake--green of course...

Today is St. Patrick's Day...not a huge deal for me except for 2 things; 1) I forgot to wear green 2) it's my son Jordan's 21st birthday.


Let's begin with #1. Ok, so I remembered about the whole green thing halfway to school today. Hunter did too, but fortunately for him, he has a green stripe on his tennis shoes. Me--well, the lucky little four leaf clover was not within my reach--no green to be found upon me! Arrive at work and someone enters my office, wielding her fingers like lobster claws, just itching to pinch an inch. I did threaten to break an arm (or two)...and she left. My neighbor down the hall received a load of lucky-day crap..um, stuff from her secret pal, and I must fess up, I did have the opportunity to wear a large, green lei all day long courtesy of her...but I declined due to a small strand of self-respect, and the fact that it made my neck itch. So alas, I will trod through my day anticipating that someone, somewhere will try to pinch me--and I will either bruise, drop them like Hulk Hogan...or use my best leprechan magic and disappear!!!


Now for #2 *sigh*...yeah, my very first baby is now 21. Oh.my.gosh. How in the heck did this happen???? Please don't think that I need a birds and the bees lesson, or Dr Spock to walk me through his childhood...but I swear that it really wasn't that long ago that he was racing through the house, or shooting hoops in the driveway. Humor me as I have to walk down memory lane...

It began when he was born (2 freaking weeks late!) and Tim said that he looked like Yoda--from Star Wars. Yes, he did resemble a little wrinkled old man...but he was my baby, and I instantly fell in love. He had a head full of hair (6 haircuts by a year old) that stood straight up no matter what we did to it!!! He was adorable--no, really--he was!!! Ok, I won't bore anyone with all the details of his childhood...but needless to say...it went by in about a weeks time!!!


Just this last summer he got married to his beautiful wife Cassie. I see them laughing and joking together and it warms my heart to see them happy. I have so many wishes and dreams for them...but I realize that I must let go so that they can achieve their own wishes and dreams. I wait (but not too eagerly) for the day when they decide to have children, and I pray that they will raise their children in a Godly household.

So I guess that this official nod of adulthood marks another day where I must cut those apron strings--I began last summer...and I will finish the snip today. I must admit that I do so with more than a little sadness...for the cute little boy in the big glasses and bird-like legs, "the gnat" on the basketball court, but who had tremendous patience with a baby brother. I will sniff as I recall the first bike ride without training wheels, and the resulting trip to the ER. But I will swell with pride over the man that has worked up to 3 jobs at a time, taken college classes here and there (degree by 25?), bought a house, landed a great job with a healthy company--and snagged a wonderful wife. Many people have told Tim and I that we are lucky that we have such great kids...and we reply that they are great in spite of having us as parents who had to "learn the ropes" at the same time that they did. But, you know what? We do have great kids...and Acacia and Hunter have a great big brother!!!

Happy Birthday my little leprechan...I hope that your life takes you over the rainbow to the pot of gold!! Love you much... :-)

Spring has spring, grass has riz...let's see how bad this season iz...(sorry, poor attempt at hip-hop)

I decided that I probably should write on here again sometime...it has been a while, and I did go through all that trouble to set the darn thing up. I will admit that it took me forever to find the exact spot on my blog to write another blog--ok, I must be aging much faster than I thought!!

Spring has sprung...yea--and boo!!! Yea because the earth is beautiful again, grass is greening, flowers are blooming, birds are singing...all that Hallmark jazz. Boo because that means shorts and swimsuits. You ladies know what I mean don't you...we won't even discuss buying a new swimsuit--I do believe that one day we will discover that Hitler had a hand in inventing this tortureous creation--argh!!! There is nothing fun, rewarding and even the slightest bit exhilarating about having to sqeeze into the uni-boob-creating/fully-shaved-leg-necessitating/thigh-cutting/cellulite-showing monstrosity that anyone over 35 really shouldn't enjoy!!! The only person that I know that actually looks good in a swimsuit is my daughter, and she is young and still perky ;-) (who also may be up for adoption by the end of the season--grrrr)

I am not sure I even put on shorts last summer--capri pants are my friend. According to the fashion rags, I am too short to wear capris--bull-hockey!! Nobody is too short--look at them, they are not even long!!! Who cares if they cut you off at the ankles--those are my ankles--which is right directly above my foot--as in one of the smallest parts on my body--isn't that what one would want to be seen???!!! Seriously folks, who writes this stuff?! There is nothing, and I do mean nothing, that will make me look tall and slender like Gisele or Heidi--the pants are the least of my worries! The one problem with wearing capris though is the that my legs are about as white as an Aspen mountaintop. That, my friend, is not a sight to behold. Ew!!!

Guess that means that I better join the long line of teenagers who are avidly preparing for prom by lying in those hot, sweating, plastic beds. I used to relax (and actually fall asleep) when I went tanning. Now, not so much. I am usually twisting my body in some pretzel fashion to check and see if the little digital numbers are actually getting smaller. Maybe if they made the beds so that somehow you are lying on a pile of sand with a salty ocean breeze blowing over crashing waves, I might enjoy it--know what I mean? Sigh--another post for another day...

I guess I will go home tonight and go for a walk...and enjoy the grass, sprouting flowers and singing birds...in my kinda-short pants.