I Did It!

Yesterday Audrey came running into the kitchen very excited! She was yelling, "I did it! I did it!" I turned around and saw her standing there with her church socks and shoes on....on the wrong feet but on! She really had done it all by herself and was SO EXCITED!

Football In the Middle of the NIGHT

Football started this week for Clayton and that means he has to be at his school, 20 minute away from our house, at 6:30 AM! Fortunately he doesn't need to get a shower before he goes...that's after practice. He still is getting up by 5:45 in the morning, which is early when you're almost 13!

His school has 6 7th grade teams and 6 8th grade teams.....right now they are trying out. He just loves playing and is excited to be out on the field. It's nice that he's grown so much. He's one of the bigger boys and that makes a mamma relax a little.

There are a few of my friends whose boys are playing for the first time and that's what I'm worried about!!!! I've told Clayton to please avoid hitting anyone who hasn't played before and whose Mom I know! He thinks I'm CRAZY! I don't think it's that crazy, is it?

Check out those long socks......coach required!

Are you ready for some football?????

Mouthgear with a breakfast apple

How Smart Is Your Right Foot

My Mom sent me this little challenge this morning.....it's the strangest thing!

Give it a try!

1. While sitting in a chair, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.

2. Now, while doing this, draw the number "6" in the air with your righthand.

Your foot will change direction.

And there's NOTHING you can do about it!!!!

My Apologies

My apologies to anyone who clicked on "next post" at the top of our blog. This used to be a really neat feature in Blogspot and you could literally spend hours reading blogs. Now, every 3rd or 4th blog is "adult content" and that's a little shocking when it just pops up on your screen.

I've been trying to figure out how to get it off the page for a long time and I finally did this morning (yeah me!).

So if you came to our blog today, just to get to surf on to something wilder......go somewhere else! :) Have a great day!

We Made It

Well, we made it through the first day of school.

At about 2:30 I started to hear thunder in the distance, which is NOT a good thing on the first day of school when the buses aren't even close to on time anyway. When it rains all of those kids, who usually ride their bikes or walk to school, now have to take the bus home!

The skies opened up at about 3:00, right when the elementary school kids should have been leaving! One of my neighbors was already at the school on her bike so she rode on home.....I saw them coming down the street soaking wet in the pouring rain!

Adam's school ends at 3:45 and if he rides his bike he's usually home at 4:00. At about 4:10, my friend across the street, Betty, and I realized that the elementary bus had still not dropped off the neighborhood kids. That meant that Adam and his friends were still up at the school waiting for their bus! We were able to pull all the boys from our street out of class and Sweet Betty picked them up for us. Then she went back up to the school so the kids could get their bikes. (On a side note....my across-the-street neighbor, Betty, has saved my tushie on more than one occasion. She was the first person we met when we moved in.....her house was the first place I ever allowed Adam to sleep over at.....you get the picture! I tell people all the time what a great neighborhood I live in.....it's the truth! It's unbelievable.)

Clayton's bus arrived about 30 minutes late, giving us about 30 minutes before we had to leave for Adam's football practice! (Yes, he had football practice after it rained for 2 straight hours! It actually was cool and the field they practice on drains really well so it wasn't even very muddy!)I learned all I could in those 30 minutes about the first day. Clayton and Adam both were happy and excited to share all about their days.

We made it to football practice with 5 minutes to spare. Steve came by the field after work, took the girls home, fed them and got them to bed. Adam and I got home at 8:30! And then I started the paperwork!!!!! I signed my last form at 10:20 PM and went to bed!

Now this morning it's 7:30 and Clayton has been gone for almost 1 1/2 hours. Football practice started today at 6:30......he was tired but excited to start! Steve was able to dropped him off on his way to work, which is a HUGE help to me!

So.....we made it through the first day of school for the boys. The girls start next week, which will mean I have children in 3 different schools.

And today we go back to ballet. Audrey just told me, "big girls don't cry at ballet". We'll see?!?!

Audrey's Preschool Teacher

Audrey's preschool teacher, Miss Delyn, came to visit today! Audrey was a little nervous but very excited to give her teacher the flowers we had for her. As soon as I opened the door, Audrey went charging out to the porch with the bouquet.

Miss Delyn brought pictures of the other children in Audrey's class to show us and brought Audrey's her school t-shirt. She also brought one of the stuffed animals from her classroom....a gray seal, the mascot of Audrey's class.

Delyn has a daughter who goes to school with Clayton, so we were able to commiserate with the size of the school they are now at. She is very sweet and I know Audrey will have a GREAT YEAR!

Audrey and her teacher, Miss Delyn!

Back to School

The boys went back to school today. They both seemed excited.....and the girls (and I) were sad to see them go!

Adam's in the 6th Grade

Clayton's in the 7th Grade - JUNIOR HIGH!

The neighborhood boys riding to school....all 6th graders!

Robby, Bradley, Jake, Adam and Nathan (Clayton is in the back)

I love the following prayer. I've had it in my "don't throw away pile" for at least two years. And then today three friends sent it to me. If you haven't seen it and you have kiddos going off to school, I know you'll love it!

A Mom's Prayer On the First Day of School

Here we are again, Lord.

Their backpacks are loaded and their faces are scrubbed and their lunch accounts are full. And I know you'll walk with them, Lord. You always do. But a mom still has to ask.

Will You walk with them?

Will You whisper to them what they need to hear, when I'm not there to whisper it? Will You please, oh please, cover their school with the protection only You can give, and will You keep harm far away?

Will You make their minds strong and ready to learn? Will You help them understand that hard work honors the One who created them? Will You guide their teachers, giving them patience and wisdom and creativity and more patience?

Will You bless them for their efforts?

Will You love all those children there, the ones whose lunch accounts aren't full, the ones who feel alone? Will You teach my children to be kind and unselfish and to love those who are different from them?

Will You point them back toward home just as soon as you can?

Lord, I give them to You today and everyday, trusting them to Your care.
Amen.

Emma's Preschool Teacher

Emma and Audrey's preschool has their teachers make home visits to each child's house before school starts. Emma's teacher, Ms. Sanchez, visited our home this week, which was very exciting! We made her a bouquet of flowers and Emma was waiting by the door to give them to her the minute she walked in.

Mrs. Sanchez brought Emma a marker that will be hers and her alone in the classroom. Each child gets their own color to write their name on their papers. Not every 3-year-old can write their name but an E in sea foam Green is definitely Emma Lowell's paper. We found out that Emma will be in the Manatee Room.....and as long as they don't call the Moms manatees, I'm fine with that!

We are looking forward to a great year!

Emma & Mrs. Sanchez

Ballet Begins

Ready, Set, Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Ballet started for the girls this week and boy were they excited. Key word.....WERE! The first thing they both wanted to do when they got up was get their ballet shoes on. Emma knew what to expect and was ready to get to the studio. Audrey just kept saying, "Big Girl Ballet".


We arrived at the studio and still everyone was happy, except one little girl who was in Audrey's class. She was not happy to have ballet shoes on, she was not happy to have a little pink tutu or and she was NOT happy about having to go into the studio without her Mommy! Miss Marsha opened the door and Audrey RAN in, sat down and waved goodbye to Emma and me. It was exactly what I expected her to do. She'd been watching Emma do it for a year and she was a big girl. Emma's door opened, she gave me a hug and ran right in! No problems this morning.....

.....until I heard SCREAMING coming from Audrey's class. The door opened and Marsha asked all of the Mommys to come in. Every girl, but one, was now crying! They all wanted their Mommys like the original unhappy ballerina, who got to bring her Mommy in the class. Audrey cried, screamed, hung on my leg, begged me to pick her up (you get the picture) for the rest of the class. I tried the "big girls don't cry in ballet", "stop crying this minute" and the ever-popular, "if you stop crying right now, we'll get ice cream on the way home!" Nothing worked! She was not happy! At the end of class she did tiptoe to Miss Marsha for a sticker and her little bottom lip was out the entire time. Everyone once in a while she'd whimper, "Mommy". It was pathetic!

The kicker to the whole thing.....As soon as Emma asked her how ballet was, Audrey answered, "good. Audy tiptoe, music, skip". She didn't want to admit to anyone that she was crying.....until she talked to Bubba. She said, "Bubba! Audy need mommy! Crying!" Only Bubba understands!

We are going to try again next week and then preschool the next! Help Me!

A Big Haircut

Clayton has been growing his hair out since April. It really wasn't that long......it looked good. (I still like him with short hair...you can see his eyes more easily!) When we went to his school to pick up his schedule last week, EVERYONE commented on his hair, especially the girls. Imagine high pitched, sweet girl voices saying, "I love your hair, Clayton!" "Wow, Clayton! Your hair looks great!" "Clayton, your hair is awesome!" You get the picture!

OK....then three days later at Football Equipment Issue Day, it all came crashing down. We were waiting in line to get Clayton's helmet and heard rumors that the coaches were telling kids that they needed haircuts. How long was too long???? That was the question! Then we heard "next" and walked over to the coach. He found a helmet that fit and it looked like Clayton would be OK....but then....."you need a haircut, son, before you see me again! And Mom decides how short it needs to be". All I heard out of Clayton's mouth was, "Yes Sir!"

He was so bummed....but there is NO arguing with the football coach.

Before

After

I'm Invisible

I got this today in my email from a friend I wish I could see more often. We literally live just a few blocks from each other but the only time we see each other is in the hallway at church, at school or a halftime of a football game. Her son was the first boy to reach out to Clayton when we moved here, and I'll never forget it. She has three boys and stays just as busy as I do...hopefully this year is our year to meet for lunch!

Anyway, this email was just what I needed this morning. I'm home with Emma throwing up, Scarlet sick and all the rest of the stuff still goes on. Dinner, school, sports practices, birthday parties.....and I feel invisible! Maybe I can remember this through it all!


I'm invisible.......

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?"

Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Pick me up right around 5:30, please."

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes t hat studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude -- but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again.

She's going ... she's going ... she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well.

It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this."

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."

In the days ahead I would read -- no, devour -- the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals-- we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it."

And the workman replied, "Because God sees."

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over.

You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand-bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Emma's Dinner Prayer Last Night

Dear God,
Thank you for this beautiful day.
Thank you for the beautiful sun.
Thank you for this dinner.
Thank you for taking care of us.
Thank you for taking care of Scarlet's booboo!
Thank you for taking care of Scarlet when we can't!
I love you!
AMEN!

The faith and simplicity of a child-----

AMEN!

Camp Good News

Adam went to Camp Good News this summer, which is run by our church for kids going into 3rd through 6th grade. Both boys went last year and loved it, so Adam was really looking forward to the week. This summer they changed the actually campground that they camp was held at....to Carolina Creek Christian Camp. Adam said it was great.


Kids going into 6th grade were able to go out on the lake and ride the banana! It was especially fun for Adam because he was in the same group as many of his good friends from school and our neighborhood.


Notice that cool jersey on Adam (go Ponies!)

Going out on the banana... One of the best things about the Children's Ministry at our church is that the kids are really challenged to grow their faith and are in an enviornment where it's cool to love God!

Ben, Adam and Garrett getting down!
Group Picture, Camp Good News 2007
Fun in the boat with Nathan, Adam and Garrett

Edge Camp

Clayton went to Church Camp this year with the youth group at our church. I had a pretty big panic attack before he went. He was the youngest age that was allowed to go....the oldest where kids going into 12th grade! (Steve kept saying that the really wild seniors would NOT be spending a week of their summer at Church camp! Ok, maybe he's right with that!)

He had a "life-changing" experience and I'm so glad we let him go. Their speaker was Matt Carter (http://www.austinstone.org/who/mattcarter.htm), who is the Senior paster at Austin Stone Church, where Chris Tomlin is the worship leader. He really spoke directly to the kids and all of them came away with a new perspective on Christ and His influence over their lives.

The "house worship band" for the week was Rush of Fools (http://www.rushoffools.com/index.php?force=1). At the time of camp, their single, Undo, was at the top of the Christian charts. Not a bad way house band for the week.

Clayton came home tired, but energized in his faith and excited about God. We are so proud of him and the Man he's growing up to be!

Who Am I?

After a pretty yucky 24 hours, I've been told about this video twice. Clayton told me about it today in the car when Casting Crown's song "Who Am I" came on the radio. Then this afternoon a neighbor sent me the YouTube link. OK....God, I'm listening!

I hope you enjoy this link...it's one the coolest videos I've ever seen! So simple, yet so powerful!!

Click on the box below...(I'm trying to figure out why it won't load the picture on Blogger).....

Our Scarlet is Sick

Scarlet, our 8-year-old Golden Retriever, has cancer! One of the biggest fears in my life is learing that someone I deeply love has cancer. I never expected to be dealing with cancer in my dog! We first noticed this growth coming out of her chest on Saturday and it was big. By Monday, it had grown and I was scared. I'm such a baby that I asked Steve to stay home and take her to the vet.

First our vet thought that he would be able to go in and remove it so we gave him the go ahead. However after taking x-rays and having a radiologist look at them, they discovered that the tumor was "compromising her rib cage and was completely involved with the rib cage." He said that they are almost positive that it's a fast growing tumor since it's taking over the bone.
He said that because of the involvement with the ribs, it was almost impossible at this time to get it all with surgery. Plus, if they did do surgery, our Doctor said that the pain during the recovery would be cruel.

He did a biopsy this morning and we are waiting to see if the tumor would respond to chemo....if so, we may go that route. Or he may tell us that we really don't have any options. If that's the case, he said that this tumor will be effecting her quality of life soon and he'd probably recommend putting her to sleep before she started to suffer.

I found out in February that I was extremely allergic to Scarlet but I never once considered getting rid of her. I was just careful to vaccum more often and I gave up brushing and grooming her. I never thought I'd be so upset when she died....I knew it would happen. But now I find myself upset.

And looking at the big picture, I'm not dealing with cancer in my child, my husband or my parents. So many of my dear friends have had to suffer through this! I thought I could imagine what they had gone through....I cannot! In many ways, it just makes my fear of having to endure that all that worse.

So if you are so inclined, please pray for us. Pray for Scarlet, that she would have no pain and feel the love of our family. Pray for the six of us, that we would have the strength to make the right decision and love her through it all. And pray for Dr. Bulavus, that he would have the wisdom to recommend the right action to us.

Remember the Titans!

Ok.....we are still total Dallas Cowboys fans! But, we just got the call that Adam will be playing on the Titans football team this year! Let the fun begin!!!!

A Week In Florida

We were so fortunate to be able to spend a week in Navarre Beach Florida this summer. Shelby's parents used to have a home there so we knew how beautiful it was...but it was better than we thought it would be. We rented the penthouse condo in the Summerwinds Condos, which meant we had a HUGE deck where we could grill outside. We ate outside every chance we got.

Burying your sister or your brother in the sand is great fun. Audrey didn't understand the concept of "not putting sand on anyone's face". Adam was a good sport after this mishap.....


The boys each brought a skim board. After we figured out which side to the put the wax on (ok, maybe it was Mom's fault) they were really good. Dad even tried out his skills on the skim board. He didn't break anything so he must have done pretty well.

The kids out of our balcony

Dad, buried in the sand

Father's Day Breakfast - 2007

We had a great photopher, Diane Coleman, come out one night and take family pictures. They really turned out great....I can't wait to send out our Christmas cards this year. Now I just have to choose the best picture!

Emma's First Ballet Recital

Emma concluded her first full year with her recital held at the Cynthia Mitchell Pavillion here in The Woodlands. Recitals were held on Sunday and Monday night, some older freinds of ours performed both nights....Emma only danced on Sunday night. It's a really big deal...tickets were sold on TicketMaster and parking sold out quickly! The Pavillion is the big concert venue here. It's an outdoor pavillion, with most seats covered. http://pavilion.woodlandscenter.org/ Recent and upcoming concerts there include Allen Jackson, John Mayer, Mercy Me, Kenny Chesney, Drake Bell, Gwen Stefani, Rush (for Steve), and Dave Matthews! Are you impressed that we can now add Emma Lowell to that list?

This year's theme was "The Wonderful World of Disney. http://www.bonisdance.com/ Emma danced to "Let's Go Fly A Kite." Someday, when I figure out who to post videos, you'll be able to see the dance. Let's just say, the girls in Emma's class didn't get all the way through the dance. When the music ended and Emma figured out that they wouldn't get to "roll up and out" at the end of the song, she smacked her hand on her head, V-8 style. She had the funniest pout on her face.

The tradition with the "baby class" is that the Daddys get to go up on stage and get the girls after their dance. Emma and I had gone shopping the day of the recital and picked Steve out a really cool Tommy Bahama shirt for his big moment on stage. He took Emma a bouquet of roses and carried her off the stage. She was beaming! The first thing she said to me when she came off stage was, "those girls messed it all up!" Emma, Emma, Emma!

Waiting to go backstage...

Sitting like a ballerina!

Look At Silly Me!

Hee! Hee!

She couldn't wear her costume in the car...a smashed tutu is NO GOOD!

Ballerina Makeup!

Emma and Hanna, her friend who lives next door!

OK...it's over! Let's go to Johnny Rockets for milkshakes!