good thinking...

It makes you feel that as a parent the most important thing you can do is love your kids, hold them and tell them you love them because, until we get to heaven, all we can do is
hold our palms over the wounds.
It is no coincidence that Jesus talks endlessly about love.
Free love.
Unconditional love.

Donald Miller

Halloween

The Rose Kids/Halloween


 

Emerson started school

Yes, I know it is a late start to the year, however I recently began teaching at an elementary school (health and PE) and therefore Monday was her first day of K-3! She LOVES it and is very excited about going! 

quote

"Humans, as a species, are constantly, and in every way, comparing themselves to one another, which, given the brief nature of their exsistence, seems an oddity and, for that matter, a waste. Nevertheless, this is the driving influence behind every human's social development, their emotional health and sense of joy, and, sadly, their greatest tragedies. It is as though something that helped them function and live well has gone missing, and they are pining for that missing thing in all sorts of odd methods, none of which are working. The greater tragedy is that very few people understand that they have the disease. This seems strange as well because it is obvious. To be sure, it is killing them, and yet sustaining their social and economic systems. They are an entirely beautiful people with a terrible problem."
donald miller

big yucky spider

Well, this is our spider who has made our porch her home! She looks scary, but is actually not posionous. She spins her web every morning and then it is gone at night. She has just lain a 1,000 egg sack thingy in the web, and now she is supposed to die. Only she has died yet. But when she does, I will kill the egg sack. I am not a violent person, just one who doesn't need 1,000 spiders in her home/yard/life. 

Kennedy's soccer weekend

#12 Just like her daddy
A few of her teammates
On the Gulf Coast where they have re-built the Beau Rivage casino, in only a year. It was beautiful! 

Emerson

okay, not only does she cook, but apparently she thinks she is a beautician as well. These are her new bangs, and she is proud of them! 

Belhaven Women's Soccer

Blazers #1!!! Oh yeah, 4-0!! 

 

Catch up

Okay, well...we are on the fast track!
So much has happened since I last blogged.
Mac's teacher died in her sleep last week. It is a horrific event in itself, and she was also 7 months pregnant. So we have been dealing with this with Mac, and he has a new teacher now and we have been making those adjustments. Mac has been sweet and he only understands death because of our dog Keegan. So he is always saying "Mrs. Watson is playing with Keegan in Heaven, she is so lucky!" And, indeed, she is lucky to be walking the streets of gold! Mac is playing soccer, his first game ins next weekend, of course I will be in Louisana with Kennedy and her team, so Corey will see him play first!
Kennedy has been very busy with school work (we got progress reports and she has all A's and 1 B) horse back riding and soccer soccer soccer.... She is growing up so much this year already!
Oh and Emy, well she is filled with the devil right now... in the last week she has emptied and entire bottle of shampoo into the bathtub, also squirted out a whole bottle of shaving cream, opened 4 of my contacts and threw them on the floor, cut herself some new bangs with the scissors, broke a glass bottle of margarita mix on the kitchen floor (talk about sticky) and yesterday said she hated me. Nice. She must have some great parents!
My parents came last weekend!!! So fun!!! We actually worked on the house a bit, it looks so great! We painted my front door (yes Kelly I will post a picture) what a difference that makes! I guess I didn't realize how bad it looked being white.
I haven't seen any of Corey's games yet, he is 2-0!! Yea! He is the only undeafeated team at BC right now, so that is fun to say! He has a game tomorrow, of course Kennedy has 2 games in Hattisburg, so I am not sure if we will make it back or not. I will go to his game on Wednesday, so that will be my first one.
Anyway, I will go and take a picture of my door and come back to post it!

Ha Kelly!

First day of school pictures...better late than never! 

Emy's view

This is what Emy thought of the whole Bible presentation... 

Mac and his Bible

okay, this is so adorable!! When the kids are "graduating" to the elementary side of sunday school, they get their first Bible with a big presentation, the pastor gets his picture taken with each person etc...
Anyway, Mac is so cute! He said he was so excited about getting a "real" Bible and he wanted to read from it as soon as we got home. So I asked him if he wanted to read a particular story or what, and he said "no, just start at the beginning and read to the end...tonight!" So of course I do not want to tell him that we can't read that much of the Bible, so I say okay, well we better get started. We made it to Genesis chapter 2 verse 3 when he said he was done, for tonight. He is so cute! When we prayed in bed tonight, he thanked God for making a Bible and for all the wild animals he made also. And thanks for making it in just 7 days! He is precious. 

Sunday mornings

Every Sunday I go to church and leave feeling so glad I went. I know this sounds silly, I mean who doesn't feel good after leaving church. But I mean, I am moved, touched, annointed, purified, blessed. The music time makes me throw my arms into the air and brings tears into my eyes every time. I am forced into wearing waterproof mascara to church. I will let you know when I know what God is doing. Right now I think He is letting me enjoy His time, His people. Thank you.

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He knows each tear that falls
And hears me when I call.

What our summer looked like

 

Almost time for school....

Well, we did the school shopping thing and I agree with Kelly, they get nothing personal! And a first grader that needs to bring 50 pencils to school? I mean what are they going to do with 50 pencils! And for that matter why does a 5th grader need crayons? I mean are they going to color? That seems strange to me. And they need a bottle of glue and 4 glue sticks...for 5th grade? Must be a Mississippi thing
And we did the "Mom I need a new outfit for the first day of school" thing. Funny. While Emy Kennedy and I were all in the same dressing room trying things on, Kennedy looks at me and says "Mom, were you as small as me when you were my age?" And I am just not sure how to take that! And I tell her that when I graduated from high school I only weighed 98 pounds, and I can see the disbelief in her eyes. WOW the pressure...
Our lives are about to go into "busy crazy mode" and I feel terrified about it! I hate the rush rush rush of the fall and the lonesome wife of a coach.
Between Kennedy's practices/games/tournaments
Corey's college and select practices/games/tournaments
Mac's practices/games
My work hours
It gets very crazy.
My parents are visiting at the end of this montha dn it is all I am focusing on...relief, help, companionship YEA!!!

Well we made it back to Mississippi. And although it was great seeing Corey (he said we could not be gone again that long) it is difficult to be back here. Especially after being among so many friends and loved ones.

the trip

well we have made it to Indiana! The kids were amazing and no one really cried or "lost it". Oh right, except for me I guess... jk
We are having fun in Indiana! We got to visit grandma and grandpa and Brady (who Emy keeps calling Katy). and yesterday we spent the afternoon on the lake tubing and trying to ski. Kennedy tried to get up several times and didn't make it and even Anna and Mac tried a couple of times. They had a blast, but no one really skied. But they all tubed, Emy thought it was so fun!!! We have more fun coming so until then....

DQ

Okay, this has been making me laugh for awhile... We just had a Dairy Queen open up here in Jackson Mississippi and you would think we got The 8th wonder of the world! EVERYONE keeps going on adn on about it "have you been yet" "it is sooo good" "they really grill their hamburgers" "I have gone everyday for 2 weeks" "blizzards are amazing"
Come on people, it is Dairy Queen!!!
I mean I really do like DQ, I just think it is so funny. I drive by and it is always packed! There are men in suits sitting outside under the little umbrellas eating at DQ.
I serioulsly laugh about this.
This is where I live.

Kennedy had so much fun at her lesson yesterday. Mr. Bobby was so patient and good with her. She is going to Horse Camp, next Wed, Thur and Fri. She is so very excited. I also bought her new bedding and "re-did" her room. It isn't all the way done, but she has been wanting me to do something for a long time and I kept putting it off. I kept telling her, when we move...when you get your Queen size bed...etc... But then I realized that I have no idea when we are moving and I should do it anyway. So I did.
Corey and I are really having a hard time looking at how big Kennedy is getting. She has really changed in the last 6 months! I need to pray for her everyday. She is really starting to grow up! I am happy about this and a little sad and a little scared. Oh the emotions of parenting! She is such a gift, last night she gave Emy a hug and a kiss and said I love you Emy, before she went to bed. And she actually said "Good night Mac" (although no hug or kiss for him).

What I think is family...

Every time we pass Chick-fil-a Emerson says "mama, can we go to "Chicken leg?" It makes me laugh out loud every time!
Yesterday Mac told me when he grows up he wants to have a mini van! But he wants a red one.
Kennedy had THE biggest smile, after I found a new place for her to ride horses! Her first lesson is Wednesday!
Yesterday my husband called after his soccer game and I said how did it go? And he said "My ass hurts". And I was thinking, what does that mean? Why would his ass hurt, he rarely sits down when he coaches...and then I realized what he meant. It was 8 to nothing!!! They got spanked, bad...

Mac has a crush on Alice!

 

Emerson Rose

 

Her form needs some help, but his is great!
 

Kennedy Rose

My friend Kelly Just showed me how to do this! (thanks Kel)
I was trying to crop and edit these and thought I would post them. She is too cute!
 

today is a day of lasts

The last day Kennedy will ever be in fourth grade and the last day Mac will ever be in kindergarten. The last day I can sit idle when Emy is napping. The last day I have to try to wake Mac up at 6:05am. The last day I can take 1 child to the gym, and then to Target and then to the mall to pick up one thing. The last day that I have to be the "bedtime nazi" ("it it 8:00 pm, you must go to bed" "but it is still light out" "i know, go to sleep, it is dark under your eyelids"). The last day of grabbing lunch out after the gym (hey one kids meal is cheap, but 2 kids meals and 1 grown-up meal (for Kennedy who eats big now) is too much money!)
Maybe tomorrow I will blog about a day of firsts!

live your best life

i don't know exactly what a prayer is.
i do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what i have been doing all day.
tell me, what else should i have done?
doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

Annoyed

I have been feeling annoyed all day...I am not sure why or at who:
1. Went to yoga, was very relaxed and breathing and all that good stuff, then I picked up Emy to go to the pool and swim, we are in for about 10 minutes and a child throws up in the pool. So they close the pool. I am annoyed at this child. (I know what you are thinking, I am a bad person, I already know this)
2. Put on a bikini...need I say more?
3. Kennedy is walking around the house whistling. I know, good for her, she can whistle. Bad for me that I think it is annoying. I let her whistle for about 15 minutes (very generous, I think) and then I have to ask her to stop, or go into her room (door closed). (again, I know what you are thinking...)
4. Corey "goes to work" today and really he gets to go and play golf. I would love to "go to work" and then really go to a spa all day. Oh, yes, it is really only annoying because this is like the 5th time in 2 weeks that it has happened. (just stop your thinking, I already know!!!)
Thats all I can say.

Love

If what we call love doesn't take us beyond ourselves, it is not really love. If we have the idea that love is characterized as cautious, wise, sensible, shrewd, and never taken to extremes, we have missed the true meaning. This may describe affection, and it may bring us a warm feeling, but it is not a true and accurate description of love.

I like this... Thanks to a good friend

Life is a story. This is true for every soul.
It is a love story, I assure you. But it is set in the midst of a life and death battle. That is why it seems so hard.
The story of your life is the story of the journey of your heart through a dangerous and beautiful world. It is the story of the long and sustained assault on your heart by the Enemy who knows who you could be and fears you.
But it is also the story of the long and mysterious pursuit of your heart by the God who knows you truly and loves you deeply.

it is hard to breathe

I am not sure what is going on with me. I cannot breathe. I cannot get past the ache in my throat to even swallow correctly I cannot lay next to my husband, with my hand over his chest, feeling that strong heartbeat, without crying. I didn't even know you could cry while you were sleeping. Yet I wake up and my pillow is wet. and i pray and pray and pray for a woman i do not even know. Amy.

What I really think

I really think that Emy will go to school and begin counting "5 6 7 8" (she goes to way more cheerleading practices than is needed for a 3 year old)
I really think that Mac is the sweetest boy I know. Seriously now, not all boys are sweet. He still amazes me.
I really think that Kennedy is growing up too fast!!!! Even her bathing suit for this year came with little pads in the bra!!! What is up with that? Like 9 year olds need some padding????
I really think I operate better when my life is busy. For the last 4 days, things have been slow and I have been sssooooo LAZY!!!
I really think my husband is the greatest. He had a chance to spend a $250.00 gift card to Bass Pro Shops on himself (hello) and instead he bought each child something and our family a new grill and himself a watch (that he thought was $50.00, but then only rang up 25) I LOVE HIM!!!
I really think that I am glad my children are all strong willed...even if I don't think so later.

Emy received her first spanking today... she climbed on the counter and got into a bowl (that was on top of the fridge!!!) and got a candy bar out. Then, she brings it to me and I say No. And she takes it into Kennedy's room and eats it anyway. Little devil.
Mac got off the bus in tears...his clip was moved to yellow (the warning mode) This is his explanation "well, it was an accident, I mean I accidently did it and it wasn't on purpose...I pinched 2 people" Who is my sweet child?
Kennedy said "do I always have to tell you who I like and who likes me?" And I say yes, that is the 13th commandment.

the amazing race

I know I have a lot to catch up on, but I am only going to start at Monday... so much has already happened since then, that you can just duplicate it times the amount of weeks I have not posted and that is my life...
I flew in from LA on the red eye (via Atlanta for some reason) and arrived in Jackson at 10:00 am. I did not lseep on my flight because I had 2 crying babies sitting behind me. I struggled to think semi-non evil thoughts and may have dozed...but certainly sleep would be way to generous of a word to use. I had practice at 3:00, and private at 5:00, Kennedy had practice at 6:00 and I had team practice 6-8. Nice night.
Tuesday I taught kickboxing and weight training from 9-10:45 and then went to the store for groceries and then home for 2 hours before I left for practice at 3:30-5:00 and a private at 5:00 and 6:00. Oh right and Mac had practice at 4:00 and Kennedy had practice at 6:00. Corey took all 3 kids to their functions. AND to top it off it is Valentines day and I have bought my husband a bag of chewy sweet tarts (which are his favorite) but they seem a little minimal after he presented me with roses and candles at 8:00am!!!! So I think, okay I am going to get the kids Chick fil a for dinner and I ordered nice steak dinners for us and I bought a bottle of wine. The plan: feed the kids, put them in bed and have romantic candle lit dinner with cute husband. What actually happened: I picked up dinner and then after placing it in my van, shut the sliding door on my middle finger!!!! I mean it is stuck and I actually have to open the door to get it out. I look and see blood. Okay, well nothing to do except get in the car and drive home! So I get home (side note: in the car I am alternating crying and screaming with yelling at myself to stop being a baby...rather funny) and our neighbor who is a nurse says: you need to go to the ER. So we drop the kids (and their dinner) off at a friends house and drive to the ER. We then spend the next 5 hours in the ER (yes, we left at 12:30) and they find out it is not broken, but I need sticthes and a possible tendon severed. Great. So he makes an appt with a hand surgeon and then tells me NO EATING until my appt the next morning. Okay, I go home, go to bed (while my husband eats his dinner)
Wednesday: Get to doctors office at 8:00am as directed only to find out doctor is not coming in until 10:00. So I sit there (starving...I would make a horrible anorexic) until he sees me at 10:15. Good news my tendon is crushed! (yes apparently that is good news) so no surgery this day, but we will see how it goes until next Thursday. Okay, then I go to practice at 3:30-5:00 go home, take Kennedy to church (Corey takes Mac and Emy to soccer) and I go to team practice 6:30-8:15. At 7:30 when Kennedy is through at church Corey is going to pick her up. So at 8:10 I get a phone call from the church "UM, your daughter is still here..." So I call Corey (who is at home) and he says "oh, I forgot!" So I left practice and went to pick her up.
Thursday: Teach kickboxing and weight training with a finger that doesn't work. and then come home to madly clean (someone is coming to look at the house at 3:15 and I haven't even unpacked my suitcase from my trip to LA). Get Mac to practice at 4:00... oops forgot his shoes, drive home and get those. Then go look at prospect house at 5:00 and then we are off. Kennedy has practice at 6:00, Corey has practice at 6:00 and I have cheer practice at 6:00. So I am madly driving Kennedy to practice, when I look up and see a little white car about 6 cars ahead of me. I think "that looks like Corey's car" and I am talking to him on the phone, so I say where are you and he confirms that he is indeed on the same road and I say Your practice was supposed to be at BC and he says it changed to Shiloh and that is where Kennedy's is....whoa. So I say (loudly) then why am I taking Kennedy to Shiloh???????? Anyway, I am going to my practice (late) and then Corey is going to a dinner at BC and Kennedy is riding home wioth a friends.
Okay, so if that doesn't make you tired....you have no children!!!!

Hercules

I will beat the odds
I can go the distance
I will face the world
Fearless, proud and strong
I will please my God
I can go the distance
Till I find my hero's welcome
Right where I belong.