okay KT Christmas finally!!!!

We really did have a great Christmas...we just had computer problems since then. Here are some favorites! We told Mac that we got him a new bike in the garage, and this was what he saw when he cmae out...haha
Kennedy and her i-Pod (what? it was cheaper than a horse!!)

 

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.

Get Away Car

Right,
kids can be crazy and uncontrollable and messy and certainly dirty:
but sweet and loving and so completely forgiving
that why would any sane person want to drive fast and far?
Yes,
husbands can be unruly and decisive and tempermental and emotionally draining:
but supportive and loving and so completely filling
that why would any sane person want to drive fast and far?
Sure,
friends can be tiring and obsessive and complicated and problematic and conditionally present:
but silent and loving and so completely necessary
that why would any sane person want to drive fast and far?

"I need a get away car, I got to get out of here fast and far"

All things Hawaii

Ancient Hawaiians had no music.
They used chants to tell the stories of old time and pass on the history of the people. The dancers never smiled. They bent their knees low to absorb the mana (strength, spiritual energy) from the earth.

Hula is something that comes out of the deep place in your heart when you listen to the poetry (mele). You listen to the mele, and then you move in a way that gracefully interprets that truth.

Aloha= Alo means presence or literally "in the face"
ha means breath or spirit
Aloha: to breathe into the face or share spirit with one another.

Aloha friends!!!!

Macguire

Sometimes when I get a glimpse of him I see this boy. Not my baby son, but this boy who is swiftly growing into a little man. His feet are growing. I always notice this first. He still has small feet for his age, but they seem big to me. Next are his hands, then seem longer and stronger and I know he is growing. After that I see that his one little tooth is loose! And someday soon, it will fall out and then many more will follow. I can see it in his actions, the things he says and what he chooses to do. I can hear it in his voice "Mama, Santa is not real" and he states this so plainly and matter of fact that I cannot even contradict him. He has a little man haircut and he is actually becoming concerned about how he looks. But oh, he is so sweet. He tells me daily how beautiful I am (good son), and how much he loves me. He can still fit on my lap and comes to me consistently. His motto is "Girls go first" even though he is outnumbered in our home. He has a nice smell and I am sure one day someone else will love that about him. My forever son, Mac

My Butt

My butt is big
and round like the letter C
and ten thousand lunges
have made it rounder
but not smaller
and that's just fine.
It's a space heater
for my side of the bed
it's my ambassador
to those who walk behind me
it's a border collie
that herds skinny women
away from the best deals
at clothing sales.
My butt is big
and that's just fine
and those who might scorn it
are invited to kiss it.
Just do it.

Day 2

Day 2 of Kennedy being sick! Yesterday she woke up saying her tummy hurt...of course being the great mom I am, I told her to go to the bathroom and go to school. About 1 1/2 hours later she called from school crying "My head hurts so bad" so I went and picked her up. She felt bad, but no temperature or anything. So I drugged her and put her to bed. She complained off and on of aches and pains, but nothing major. Last night I went to practice and Corey calls me and says "Her temperature is 104" So I stop at the store, get some meds and come home. She is complaining of headache and stomach ache and crying etc... I sleep in her room (she wakes up 5 times) and finally at 4:00 am, she throws up. Anyway, today she has low temp (100) and has thrown up once. But she is also saying her legs ache and her back is sore etc...
So, day 2 of me being at home all day. Of course, I had plans...I rarely do not have plans. Everything has changed so that I can lay around with my 9 year old. She is precious. Who cares about coaching and teaching kickboxing and making 150 Christmas cards for paying clients (due by Thursday)...my "baby" is sick.

Some things I liked on my trip

When I was driving into Atlanta and it was dark, I looked into the sky and saw the lights of 5 airplanes backed up one after another. It was cool.
A friend shared an intensely personal story with me, and I cried. I listened to Molly and Doug's cd and cried. I wondered if I am passionate about anything anymore. Well, I am passionate about my family, that is a good thing, but what else is driving me? When I listen to some of the songs, I think that so much of marriage is passion. At least in the beginning. And then what happens? A settling? Other "distractions" that take away your thoughts for your passion?
Seeing my sister-in-law with a tattoo, talking to her about "real" stuff, her perfume that smells so great (Ralph Lauren Blue).
My own children behaving and actually acting decent the whole time we were gone!
A fun (unexpected) snowfall one day and the kids building a snowman. (Emy's first time to see snow)

High and Low

I had a friend who would play the high low game at the dinner table, so that they would get to talking about their days and they could relate to each other. So: my low today...4:45 AM my daughter waking me up because she was throwing up. My high today 8:35 PM watching a star literally fall from the sky. Breathtaking.
Molly: low- cold shower only available in the morning high- husband who lets you take the first one!

The Low Down

Candy is good!
I love tootsie rolls, but they have to be the long thin ones, isn't that strange. I think the fat ones are gross!
Corey and I could come to blows over Mini chewy sweet tarts! We both love them and we (as a parental pre-caution) have already confiscated them from the kids bags. Although I really do not like the orange ones. They taste like baby aspirin. But truly I have an aversion to all things orange, food wise that is. It is not my greatest flavor.
The kids were adorable and they had fun. Emy was amazed that all she had to do was ring a door bell and people would shove candy into her bag! She will probably try it every night, just to make sure...
I like all the name brand chocolates: Hershey, twix, baby ruth...but who eats almond joy??? I mean what child eats chocolate and coconut and a big fat almond in the center??? I threw these away.
I like star bursts and now and laters, but who really eats Dots anymore??? And you can totally tell the old folks who package their candy and they are all some sort of chewy thing wrapped in the orange paper...what is that????
Hilarious!

back seat drivers

It is bad enough when your husband has to tell you how to drive, but your 9 year old? Come on! She sits back there and says things like "you can get in the other lane" "you can go faster and still be in the speed limit" "You don't have to slow down that much the light is changing." She is interesting to say the least. An all the while my 2 year old is copying me "come on people, move it!"
Well, after freaking out that Kennedy actually got her first ever B on a report card, she is doing better. She and I have read more together and I have spent some great time with her, doing her homework and helping her out. She really wants to do well, and she tries so hard. She is getting so big in so many ways, and I fear for the days that she will not want me to kiss her or hug her!
Mac was naming the things he liked to do best and after soccer, and running and playing and swimming...he actually said cleaning! I am a little frightened by this, but I guess it will make him a good husband some day.

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

Ha Ha!!!
For Kennedy's class, they were collecting live spiders. They are doing a unit on Charlotte's Web and if they brought in a live spider they could get a 100% on any homework paper. So on Friday morning, Corey found a HUGE spider while he was trying to clean out a web that stretched from the ground and up half the tree. So I got so excited and asked him to catch it so I could take it to Kennedy at school. We took it and Kennedy was so excited that I brought it and I was happy to make her happy.
Well... When she returned home from school I said "Weren't you so excited about the spider?" and she said "Mama, it was poisonous!!!!!!! It was a brown recluse!!!!!" Am I the worst mom in the world??? I am certain to be banned from the school from now on...
Corey wanted to know if she still got a 100%.

13 year marriage

Love, I have come to understand, is more than three words mumbled before bedtime. Love is sustained by action, a pattern of devotion in the things we do for each other every day.

Issues

Just as I am certain I am the only person in the world with issues (or I guess I let them consume me) I am happy to hear that someone else is having the exact same issues. Do you ever wonder how to figure something out, or what to do and just when you cannot stand it anymore someone else says "oh I have that issue too" And even if they have not figured it out, and they have no answers for you, it somehow makes you feel better. Not that you want someone else to suffer, just that you want to feel normal. I will think, no one else knows what this is like, and I must be the only person experiencing this, and then, whammy, someone else is doing it also.
Parenting my friends...what joys!!!

loong time

well it has been a long time since I have posted...I am certain no one is even checking this anymore...
Molly, my sister, is beautiful! We just celebrated her marriage to Doug and it was so lovely. As all of her friends so openly spoke, Molly is truly great inside and out! The wedding was amazing, the ceremony was honest and the fun afterward was exciting. It was great to see a lot of old family friends and to meet new young friends of Doug and Mollys. It was also great meeting my new extended family: Larry April Mark and David. They are a neat, talented and inviting group of people, who I am glad to be related to.
The entire week was filled with family and friends and the sense of home. I love fall in Ohio!!! Especially out on the farm. What a great week. It feels like a let down to come home...except to see Corey!!! We missed him so much and the kids were ecstatic to see him.
So now, the "dailies" take over and life moves along, yet I am ever remembering the great fun from last week and the special people who are in my thoughts and prayers.

A good day at the Rose home!

Well...
Mac played in his first soccer game and scored 2 goals!!! He was so excited!
Kennedy won her game 4-1 she is a defender, and fyi, she didn't let a goal through, it happened on a penalty kick! She is a great defender and very tough and focused. Her foot was stepped on with a cleat, so she is abbying it now, and then she was out riding a bike and skid her (bare) feet on the pavement and now has 3 band-aids on her feet! Hopefully it will not interfere with her game tomorrow!
AND (drum roll please) Corey's team WON!!!!!! 2-0. He is thrilled, and it was against a team where he was trying to recruit 2 girls, so it was a good win.
So, we have a happy rose home tonight. Emy and I are, of course, amazing and we support out family in all their soccer endeavors!!!

kids ARE funny

Yesterday while shopping at Hobby Lobby, Emy was crying/having a fit the whole time we were there./ So I went from entertainer mom to "you better stop crying" mom to everything in between. It was crazy. Anyway, I just continued to shop, ignoring my child, and one time I said "emy, let's sing a song" and she said "NO" and I said why not? and she said "because I crying!" So I guess I should know better than to interrupt her crying.
Last weekend when we went to Memphis, I said to Mac, put on your sandals, we need to leave. So he gets in the car and we leave, and he had forgotten his shoes!!! Well, any boy only needs one pair of shoes, so I hadn't even packed him any other pair (even though I had packed Emy 3 pair). So I am thinking, great I get to buy Mac some new shoes this weekend. Well, as we were driving, I passed an outlet shopping mall, and I was looking to see if they had Bass shoes, which they didn't. And I said out loud, well, they didn't have the store I wanted to stop at, and Mac said "I have a great idea, (on where to get shoes) the shoe store!!!! " He really thought this was an amazing unique idea. So I sort of laughed a little and then, of course like any good mother would do, praised him up and down for having such a good thought!
Next weekend Kennedy has another tournament in Memphis, and then I will be driving with the kids alone to Ohio for my sisters wedding. I just found out that our travel tv is not working. Pray that I do not kill myself before getting to Ohio!

All about Mac

okay, for any of you who know Mac, you know he is so adorable and sweet and well mannered etc... He is truly a pleasure to be around.
Anyway, he cracks me up...
Last week I let him drive on my lap down the street and I told him we had to be careful or a policeman might catch us. And he said "will he put us in jail?" and I said "I am not sure, maybe" and he said "I do not want to go to jail and become a trash picker upper" See, while we are driving into Jackson, they always have prisoners out picking up trash and he has asked me who they are and I said that they were people who were in jail and the city makes them pick up trash. So that is the reason he doesn't want to go to jail.
Also yesterday he missed his bus to come home. Now I am not sure how that happens, since the teachers are supposed to stand there and put each kid on (especially a 5 year old) anyway, when all the busses left and Mac was there, the teacher asked him which bus he rides (like he has any idea, they are all yellow!!) and so then they take him into the office and call me. Well I couldn't leave to pick him up right away (because Kennedy rode the bus, and I had to wait until she got home) and when I got to the school, he was sitting in a chair in the office, totally asleep!!!! He was so cute, I couldn't stand it. I wish I had my camera in the car.
Oh well, that is my Mac, he is so sweet!

Things

I think this is so great! A true Southern Afternoon...
I took the kids and we went to the barn, and on our way out the lady who owns the property (about 70 years old) and her family were busily picking up sticks etc... So we decided to help them and while the kids picked up sticks the grandma and I were sitting on her old country porch sipping sweet tea (and she made homeade lemonade) and just chatted. She is precious! She said with her southern drawl"My it's hot, I think I should make us some lemonade" How cute is that???!!! Then she showed me all around her home, which has been in her family since the 1700's! That is amazing to me, that a family can be somewhere that long! Anyway, the home was originally very small, and had been added onto so many times, but was so cute and old and homey. She is sweet.
Today I am 38. Ouch, it sounds bad saying it, but it is better to get older than the alternative (death) so I guess I will keep getting older. When I am 40 I will go to Hawaii for a week and play. So anyone who wants to come is invited!
Mac is beginning to think that kindergarten is over, they have been out of school so long now. They will be out this week as well...So we are trying to keep busy at home. I am trying not to waste gas driving frivolous places. So....Entertainment is hard to come by.
We are going to make a big birthday cake today, so that will be fun. I love to bake with the kids, they think it is so exciting.

Blessings

I want to say how thankful I am for God in Heaven today!!! He has truly blessed us by sparing us form this enormous disaster as well as giving us electricity back within 24 hours. I feel so fortunate since there are so many in despair. Even in our neighborhood, there are people without power and I should say it is 100 degrees here today. (heat index) So, I am so very thankful. I just heard on the news how actual fights are breaking out in Downtown Jackson over bags of ice!! We had a few left over and Corey took them into town and gave them to a friend of his, and his neighbor was like "Where did you find ice???" I cannot believe the absolute devastation and the well, I cannot even write anymore. I am feeling so sad =yet so blessed.

Looooooong day!!

So Monday at 5:15, John Blake calls me and asks me to come to a cheerleading certification seminar in Atlanta....on Tuesday! So I flew out at 8:10 am conferenced all day and flew back by 9:30 pm. What a crazy day... My return flight was delayed because of severe storms (initially I was supposed to leave at 9:15 pm and arrive at 9:30, but I called an was bumped up because our meeting was finished early. Well, then because of the storm delay, I still arrived at 9:30. I bet they will refund John his $25.00 change flight fee!!! RIGHT) and when we finally boarded, my seat was 19c. This is the very last seat before the potty room. Well, I thought something had exploded in the potty room, it smelled so bad!!! I was holding my jacket over my nose and I could still barely breathe!! So I patiently waited until everyone had boarded and when I noticed the extra seats, I asked if I could move. She of course said yes, and I ran to the front of the plane! When I turned around 5 other people were following me, it was so smelly! What a disaster!! So we sit on the runway for 25 minutes and then we finally take off. The flight is freezing!!! I am shivering! Oh yes, I forgot to mention that when I arrived at the airport it was a monsoon and I was SOAKED!!! Even though some man let me walk under his umbrella, I was walking in water up to my calves! So I am wet and now cold and the flight attendant says "oh right, there are no blankets on this flight!" So that is my luck, and then I land and have to trek to my car and then stop at Walmart (what mom doesn't have to stop at Walmart daily???) and now I am home and ready for bed!

Smooth sailing...

All is well here...not too much news to report.
Corey is still having 3 a day practices meaning he leaves at 6am and gets home at 10pm. Lovely!! And this time it is not really the kids who are hard to handle but the dog!!! She is a crazy puppy and that is all you can say about her. There is nothing to do to fix that except time.
I am still struggling with our schedule...trying to make sure everyone can get everywhere. Today I have practice at 3:00, so the kids will get off the bus at the neighbors and will stay there until 6:00. Then at 5:30 Kennedy's friends mom will pick her up for soccer practice at 6:00 and then after I pick up Mac and Emy (and maybe try to have some dinner that is not from a fast food joint) we will pick Kennedy up at 7:30 and then rush home, shower and get them to bed by 8:00. Oh right, and that excludes the fact that Kennedy has a vocab test tomorrow that we will have to study for. She had a math test on Wednesday, spelling test on Thursday and vocab test on Friday!!! This is EVERY week!! So I am really trying to get it all together and still be sane. (is this possible?)
Today Emy has on her big girl panties. Can't wait to see how long that lasts. (sarcasm)
It is still 98 here with a heat index of 105. That stinks!!!
I am going to start teaching a kick boxing class at the gym. That should be fun, and tiring and fun.
"Do not question the Creator of the universe- stand firm in your faith, in your belief that God does want the very best for you as he loves you like no one else can."

Lots of thoughts

Our dogs name is Elliotte Keegan Rose and we call her Elle for short. She is 9 weeks old and weighs 14 pounds. She is precious, but CRAZY!!!! And there are times that she runs madly through the house, smacking into walls and furniture and still running after that.. Her favorite thing to do is...chew on anything that is left on the floor (and you can imagine with 3 kids) and play with the door stopper thing!!! She "fights" with it and growls and thinks it is so funny! So, she is great.
The kids are loving school and Mac is thrilled that he has learned to spell!!! Yes, it is true he can spell red and blue. There ya go, all you ever need to know.
Mississippi has the highest teen birth rate, the highest teen drop-out rate and is the 3rd worst state for inbred hillbillys!!! (okay so I made up that last one, but the first 2 are true!!!) They highlighted them on the news and I was thinking, why would they want to make these known to the poor people who live here? Do they want everyone to move? We seriously are 3rd in the nation in something, but I cannot remember what it was, but Alabama and Louisana were 1 and 2!!!! I guess just avoid these three states when your kids are teens if at all possible and move out if you can!!!!
Joseph was our topic in church today. Carrying a grudge, how painful that can be and how it can grow and become something unbearble to hold. Joseph (if you can remember) had every reason to hold a grudge, and in fact he proabably did for awile, but in the end he surrened it to God and he forgave his brothers!!! Amazing example. I really do not hold grudges, but there have been times I have withheld forgiveness. I guess if someone is holding a grudge against me, I feel like there is no reason to forgive them, after all they are the ones mad at me!!! Like my friend here has been mad at me because my daughter didn't invite her daughter to her birthday party. (I swear this is the truth, and yes, we are 30 something women) Anyway, at first I didn't know why she wasn't talking to me and I would call her everyday and leave her message and then one day (duh) I realized she wasn't calling me back. So I went back and reviewed what I thought I did to make her angry and that was it. So I called her again (daily, for 3 weeks) and she still never called me back. So one last time I called her and said "Okay, I am not going to keep calling you, you have obviously made a decision not to talk to me anymore, so I will not bother you again" And do you know that she didn't respond top that call either. The last time she talked to me was May 18. This is August 14. So, I am sad because she doesn't want to be friends, but I have stopped trying and I haven't forgiven her for being...stupid! For wasting a 2 year friendship over something so trivial, well it seemed that way to me. So now I am forgiving her and I will try to repair the damage, because this is right and this is what Jesus would do. He would not leave. You can simply turn around and Jesus would be there. I should be there for her. Forgive the craziness and forget the pain and love the person.
"You will not be asked to do the impossible, but you may be called upon to do more than you dreamed possible"

School has started

Well, the kids had their first day of school!!
Mac loves kindergarten, he really had so much fun! He was sad though, because when I asked him what he did he replied "I didn't learn anything today!" He is so cute. He did tell me all about the discipline policy though, so she must have really stressed this point!
Kennedy had a great first day in fourth grade. Boy she is getting old! Her teacher is pretty strict and she went on and on about responsibility etc... So much so that it even has me worried! Will Kennedy be able to get everything done etc... And already (yes after 1 day) I can tell that 4 grade will be the turning point. I realize how much she was coddled in 3 grade, and her (3 grade) teacher was much more, oh I can do that for you etc... And now its like if you don't put your name and number in the right corner on every paper it is 5 points off!!! So, she will learn a lot this year!!
Emy was sort of bored, but I will tell you it is easy having only 1 at home! We were able to go to Target and Kroger and the library and it was so simple! She misses the kids though and waits for the bus to bring them home!
Elliotte has worms!!!! Nasty! I am taking her to the vet today, she is gross. I will spare some people the details (kt) as they are in a delicate condition!

Waxing

I think this is so outrageous!!!
One of Kennedy's friends came over yesterday and her eyes had scabs on the lids, right under her eyebrows and I said "oh, what happened?" and she said "oh, that sometimes happens, I got waxed today!" Okay, she is 9 and starting 4th grade. She got her eyebrows AND her legs waxed!!! Now that is 1. some serious pain for a 9 year old and 2. a little young for that as well.
Now I am trying to decide, when should Kennedy shave her legs??? I am not sure, but I am sure she will not be waxed for a loooooooong time!

Summer = Over

Sure, do not worry that it still is and will continue to be 100 degrees...summer is over! The kids start school on Wednesday! They are both so excited and I am grateful for that. I guess it will not always be that easy. (really like anything with kids is easy????)
We went to a water park yesterday for our end of summer blast, the kids had so much fun!! Oh well, I guess we did also. It is great to make their day by doing something for them.
I loved our church servic yesterday here is the condensed version:
1967 - 20??
Obviously I was born in 1967, (right I know it is old) and I had nothing at all to do with that date. It was not chosen by me and I did nothing to make it that year.
20?? I do not know the date of my death, and I really have nothing to do with that day either!!! I can eat healthy and work out, but if it is my time to go, it is my time to go.
SO, the only thing I do have control over is the - (one measly dash) and in that dash I will have ? years to do what it is I am supposed to do on this earth. So our pastor said "what will you do with your dash?" I love it. So, overall do not be a Moses. Do not say no to God when he is calling. Do not give Him all your excuses. Just do it. God has chosen you, and He believes that you are the best person for that job! What a great feeling. Let's fill the dash with something great for the Kingdom!

just wondering

I am truly wondering if I should have 2 cages, one for Elle and one for Emy!!!! She is becoming a very mischeivious child! Yesterday when I was in the shower she decided to fill the bathroom sink to overflowing (yes onto the floor and everything) and on top of that add about 4 cups of dog food. How disgusting!!! She is a peice of work. Then today, she "used" about 20 wipes (just cleaning the furniture etc...) and since she had already been warned I took off her diaper and spanked her. Well, after she cried for an hour (not really, just seemed like that) she peed!!!! Now she did try to stop it, with her hand, but it ran all over the floor...and then as if on cue Elle squated and began peeing as well. I mean this is like tv stuff. Very scary. The main problem is they are both so stinkin cute it is hard to discipline. But oh we must.

Earthly Dearest...

When I have learned to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now. In so far as I learn to love my earthly dearest at the expense of God and instead of God, I shall be moving toward that state in which I shall not love my earthly dearest at all. When first things are put first, second things are not suppressed but increased. CS Lewis

One hour can make a difference

In a matter of one hour here is what happened...
Elliotte (the dog) threw up on Kennedy's sleeping bag, had diarrhea twice (once on my floor and once in Mac's closet), Emerson decided to get her own pink lemonade (therefore spilling 2 gallons on the floor), and then Emy was spraying the dog with the hose and I went to tell her to stop and Elle ran into the house (trying to escape Emy) and I could not catch her until she had fully soaked everything. Oh the joys...
So then I had to...do 2 loads of laundry (my rugs and Kennedy's sleeping bag) mop my kitchen floor, and mix Oxi-clean (2 different times) to sop up poop. How disgusting!!!! And of course it was the great hour of 6-7 when I am trying to prepare dinner etc...
Also, I went out to put steak on the grill. Emy heard the ice-cream man (I hate him for coming through our neighborhood everyday). I told her no. She was mad at me. The next time I checked the meat, she went out the front door to find the ice-cream man. I didn't know this. I searched the house for her, then went outside looking for her and she was no where!!!! I really start to panic and am wondering how I am going to tell Corey that I have lost his last child, and I run into my room to get my cell phone to call him and it is ringing...Apparently he drove up at the exact time Emy was chasing the ice-cream man and so he put her on his lap and they drove to the other side of the neighborhood to "check out a house"!!!!!!! He had called me on my cell, but since I was frantically searching for our baby, I never heard the phone ring. Scary. I really thought she was gone. What a bad mom I am! What a crazy night!

20 years

Well, even if I do not want to admit it, I graduated from high school 20 years ago! Scary, but true. I didn't get to go to our reunion, because of timing conflicts (and distance) but my good friend Jeff just sent me his update and it made me laugh! Mostly I wanted to know why the only thing people are still wondering about me is "Did she or did she not skinny dip with Todd". Well, I will let you decide that one for yourselves, but I am concerned that after 20 years this question is still being discussed. Get on with life people.
So my sister had a precious baby, her third in 3 years, scary for her! We had quite a time trying to figure out all the logistics...which one do you put into their car seat first etc... it is something to think about! I am glad it is not me. And my friend Kelly is pregnant (I guess that gives her the right to force me into blogging! j/k) and that is so exciting for her! And I just got a 6 week old ....puppy and that is all the excitement we need here right now. She is sweet and adorable and just a puppy. She is a lab, just like the great Keegan, and the kids are in heaven. Mac "it's like a dream come true" So that is great for them.
I cannot remember what Kelly's questions were so I will try...
10 years ago: 1995 Living in Winona Lake, Indiana and pregnant with Kennedy! Living across the street from our great friends and loving life!
5 years ago: 2000 Living in Ohio and having Macguire on 1/6/2000 then moving to SC 4 months later!!
1 year ago: 2004 Living in Mississippi, coaching cheerleading, being a mom
Yesterday: ran 5 miles, did 45 minutes of weight training, coached 3 cheerleading teams, and fell into bed at 9:52
Today: ran 4 miles, did 30 minutes of abs, layed out in the sun, went to Target (love it) and sent a present to my other friend Kelly's baby Alex
Tomorrow: running 8 miles, laying around doing nothing inside since it will be 100 degrees!

20 years

Well, even if I do not want to admit it, I graduated from high school 20 years ago! Scary, but true. I didn't get to go to our reunion, because of timing conflicts (and distance) but my good friend Jeff just sent me his update and it made me laugh! Mostly I wanted to know why the only thing people are still wondering about me is "Did she or did she not skinny dip with Todd". Well, I will let you decide that one for yourselves, but I am concerned that after 20 years this question is still being discussed. Get on with life people.
So my sister had a precious baby, her third in 3 years, scary for her! We had quite a time trying to figure out all the logistics...which one do you put into their car seat first etc... it is something to think about! I am glad it is not me. And my friend Kelly is pregnant (I guess that gives her the right to force me into blogging! j/k) and that is so exciting for her! And I just got a 6 week old ....puppy and that is all the excitement we need here right now. She is sweet and adorable and just a puppy. She is a lab, just like the great Keegan, and the kids are in heaven. Mac "it's like a dream come true" So that is great for them.
I cannot remember what Kelly's questions were so I will try...
10 years ago: 1995 Living in Winona Lake, Indiana and pregnant with Kennedy! Living across the street from our great friends and loving life!
5 years ago: 2000 Living in Ohio and having Macguire on 1/6/2000 then moving to SC 4 months later!!
1 year ago: 2004 Living in Mississippi, coaching cheerleading, being a mom
Yesterday: ran 5 miles, did 45 minutes of weight training, coached 3 cheerleading teams, and fell into bed at 9:52
Today: ran 4 miles, did 30 minutes of abs, layed out in the sun, went to Target (love it) and sent a present to my other friend Kelly's baby Alex
Tomorrow: running 8 miles, laying around doing nothing inside since it will be 100 degrees!
okay, I will check what else I am supposed to say and do it tomorrow. Something about 5 things...later

throw up

WOW! I am THE mom of the world! Kennedy informed me last night that she felt sick and thought she was going to throw up. So we go into the bathroom, and wait and nothing happens. Well, she is so like her dad, she actually asks for Pepto Bismol and then takes it! Gross! I usually just wallow around in my misery until I throw up, I despise the stuff. Well, anyway as she is going back to bed she says "If I feel like throwing up, I will come into your bathroom because you are so good and help me so much" So what a compliment!!!

Summer smells

Normally I do love the smell of summer...yesterday someone was buring some limbs that they trimmed and it reminded me of a campfire. However, on Wednesdays and Saturdays I hate the smells of summer...this is trash day!!!! And as I am running at 6:30am through my neighborhood, I am no longer enjoying the smells of summer but rather trying to hold in last nights dinner!

Sick children = no easter church services

I will say that even before my kids became sick, I sort of dreaded getting to church services. Not because I do not like it, but because it will be so crowded and so busy and I just do not like the confusion that follows me into the sanctuary. So we will praise God that His son rose from the dead, and we will do it in the non-confusion (well sometimes) of our home.
Mac has walking pneumonia.
Emerson has an ear infection.
Kennedy has something (to be determined by the doctor today, yes on Easter Sunday!) She has had a fever of at least 101, since Friday. Who knows what she has.
We will try to have an egg hunt of sorts, as it is raining, muddy and nasty outside!
And instead of celebrating lunch with firends we will keep our sicknesses to ourselves and eat at home!
BUT, we are all alive and we are in the comfort of our own home and we are family. Yea for that!

Be like Samuel

The Lord called once, the Lord called twice, the Lord called Samuel three times.
Samuel answered "Yes Lord, your servant is listening"

Do not be too busy to hear the Lord calling.

Amazing first child

Just want you all to know how great my first baby is...
She is 8 (although she would say 8 3/4, since her birthday is in May)

She looks just like her daddy, her warm colored skin and deep brown eyes still captivate me! (just because I carried her in my belly doesn't mean she has to look anything like me)

She has a streak of independence that I admire, yet when she crawls up into my lap and I stroke her hair, she is my baby.

She is a tough soccer player who has a tough coach (her dad) and she holds up well.

She LOVES to learn and read and study and is very concerned with global issues. At night she asks me if anything bad happened in the world today and then we pray about it (love that).

She is an outgoing, go getter. And just when I thought we had "ruined" her by moving a lot, she amazes me by finding friends and making her life work.

She loves her family and is strictly devoted to us.

She is well-rounded and well adjusted and contributes a lot to this family.

I was thinking about this because yesterday I had a parent teacher conference, and she got all A's (even a 100 in language arts) and her teacher could not stop talking about how great she is. So I had to add my 2 cents as well.

Corey's turn

As I have traveled every weekend for the last 5 weeks, my husband now thinks it is his turn to go away! He is leaving tonight to go to Memphis to scout and will be gone until Saturday. I guess I really "deserve" This, but I am sad that we will not have a family weekend! Instead it will be me getting Mac to his game at 10, Kennedy at 12:45 and again at 2:00. And dealing with Emy the whole time. Again, shall I complain, no this is exactly what my husband has done for the last 4 weekends! I say, good job to him for holding it all together for so many weekends!!!
Kennedy: she has been doing great in soccer, and her select team is coming along. They did get spanked this past weekend, but we are trying to look past that!! She is also doing great at cheerleading and her tumbling is so good, and she is also stunting now! I have her doing privates with Jeff (he is 26 and works at the gym) because I didn't want her to learn on little girls and probably fall! She is doing well, and I think the next thing I need to work on is humility! She was like "I am so good at this" And I was trying to say yes you are, but you don't need to say it. Also this week she tried out for the part of Queen Esther at our church play. She was nervous, and it was so cute. She did a good job, I am not sure if she will be picked though. There were 14 girls who tried out, and some of them are older than her. So we will see. But she said to me "I did my best and it was fun" So that is good.
Mac: Still coming along in soccer, he scores goals now all the time, at least that is what he tells me. Last week his team won 22-2. So that was fun for him, I guess! He is sweet and I am loving watching he and Emy becoming friends! She really likes him and he acts so sweet to her!
Emy: becoming a full on 2 year old! Telling me no and everything. I am not looking forward to what I know is coming, constantly staying on top of her, and trying to impose my rules and not give into her! But boy, she is so cute, this is hard! She just realized that she can say something to make Kennedy and Mac laugh, and then she goes around saying it the whole day. It is so cute!

Molly's Question

I like:
being my husbands wife, especially recently
being a mom of 3, even when I thought 2 would do
being a good cook
being an advisor of sorts
being a good student
being a runner
being organized
being a fantastic party planner
being an enjoyable writer
being a mediator
being a blue-eyed blonde
being a frequent flyer
being snuggled
being at Barnes and Noble with Kennedy
being involved with people
being creative
being an avid book reader
being funny
being optimistic in every situation
being 3 years shy of 40
being an encourager
being interesting to others
being somewhere new
being somewhere familiar
being anywhere with family
being in worship at our church
being in the car with the windows down on a long country road
being important
being there for my children
being in the company of old friends
being able to imagine
being a transformed Southerner
being in love with my husband
being able to hold a newborn
being independent
being someone's "mama"

I dislike:
crossing my legs all the time
things that appear off balance
road rage
people in a hurry
kids that are rude and un-mannered
any body odor
the notion that I have to work out everyday
most confrontation (although I am getting better as I age)
fake people
kids with runny noses
addiction to anything self-destroying
the smell in my house after cooking bacon
the tongue that is too sharp
that I sometimes feel discontent from within
that beyond being a wife and other I am nothing
slack workers at any retail/fast food place
fear
the way of the world and that my children will be raised in it
being hurried
someone else making decisions for me
the flab that jiggles when I run
balancing my checkbook or any money related topic
the notion that more is better (unless it is about love)
people who bash their husbands
wasted time
the potty room on small airplanes (Good Lord, only small children can fit!)
prejudice
wearing a thong to bed
people without any plans/goals (especially if they are really gifted)
improper grammar usage
drunk, loud, obnoxious people

ha ha ha not really funny

okay, so on Sunday Kennedy tried out for a select team (the first time she has tried out for something) and made it. So today we get an email from the soccer commissioner saying here are the girls who made the team and their coach is...you guessed it, Corey Rose. So yes, Corey is now the proud coach of a college team, a U-5 boys team, a U-10 girls team and a U-10 select team! What is up with these people! I am thinking that they really believe him to be the best coach around, just like I do!
Right, and today Kennedy's picture was in the paper! She was in a Spelling Bee (see previous blog) and they took her picture. How fun!

Purse Quote

When you're down and feeling worse, keep a cookie in your purse.
There you go, my answer to all the problems. This is in answer to Molly's thoughts, and by the way ...the littlest bird sings the prettiest song. ( I would have commented on your blog, but it kept rejecting my comment saying it detected spam, nice to know) I love you!

Spanish and growing up

Not really a combination of those two things, just 2 thoughts I need to express.
I really wish I could speak Spanish, no I mean really speak Spanish. And I have a lovely sister who is fluent, wonder why she doesn't teach me!!?? I also wonder why college (also high school) requires a foreign language, yet I still cannot communicate well. This is disturbing and now one of my new goals. I will speak Spanish, even if the only person I can talk to is Molly. Well, I guess I can also call her friends Nicole and Seth and I am sure they would love that.
And if it is Tuesday, then I had bible study...
One word people, only one word to describe your childhood. This was one of the exercises in our bible study class today. Secure. That was my word. I adore my family and I had a GREAT happy childhood that I would love to repeat for my children. I was loved (my parents verbally said they loved me), touched ( they hugged and hugged me), encouraged( they told me how great I was), supported ( active commitment to me), and the told me I could be anything I wanted to be. Thank you to Mike and Linda!!!

soccer coach x 3

Scary!!! When I was at registration for spring soccer and I was in a hurry (big surprise), I accidentally checked the box on Mac's form saying Head Coach! Well, Corey is already Kennedy's coach (and Belhavens) and the last thing he wanted to be was Mac's coach also! So I called the soccer commissioner and told him my error, and he was like too bad, you can do it! So there you go! I am now Mac's soccer coach, even though I will miss every practice (cheerleading on Tuesdays at 4:30) and the first 5 weeks of games (again, judging cheerleading comps all across the nation). So I, being the smart one I am, thought up the great idea of recruiting a couple of Corey's college girls to coach! So he called and they said yes! YEA!!!!!!!!! So I will technically be "coach" but they will do all practices and the first 5 weeks of games! I love them!

A few who are smarter

Earlier this week as I was lamenting my daily schedule to a friend he said "you can always say no to others and they will get over it. You can say no to your family and they may never get over it" (and additionally, they may need therapy later)!
Sometimes I think I am doing good for my family, by scheduling extras that earn extra money for them and then it turns out actually worse for them. Like being shuttled back and forth between Corey and I every day. And everyday they say "I don't want to go in and meet daddy" and I got to the point where I was like "too bad, you have such a bad life". But I was really thinking, it does stink for them, and if I scheduled things even a half hour later, Corey could just come home and they could be here the whole time. So as I was making out my schedule for the fall, I was planning this way and I have been thinking about summer and how crazy it is beginning to look like, and I just refuse to be driven by money and schedules!
Either that or we need to live near parents or family of some sort and then I would not feel bad!

Fear

Fear is a horrible , snagging, entraping sin that Satan himself has laid upon us...in other words, it is sin. There are so many times that fear controls me, fear of unknown, fear of children growing up, fear that I haven't prepared myself yet so how could I have prepared them??? Fear of the future, fear of the present, no fears incringing on tomorrow, but possibly regrets creep in.
The GREAT thing is that the answer to fear is faith!!! (2 "f" words, interesting) Faith that someone else is in control, faith that I am merely the body that performs the task, faith that I may not be able to prepare my kids, but I can direct them to Him, faith that I rarely see with God's vision, yet I am smart enough to know it, faith that fear can be banished if I let it ( so that actually I do have a bit of control, over my own thoughts).
Can you tell I just came home from bible study!!

Thoroughly Admonished

Okay, since I was fully admonished on my good friend Kelly's blog for not blogging very often, I will attempt to do better! (Some people have 2 jobs and 3 kids and a life to juggle) Just kidding!
I too believe in "comment lest you receive no comments" and I guess I now know why I have no comments! I certainly enjoy reading about everyone's life, I just don't usually take the time to comment...So believing that there are rules to blogging (just like everything else in life) I will strive to do better...(Kelly, check your comments)
Lost game boy: This sounds like a very petty thing, yet when you spend the $100.00 to set your 5 year old up with one, you would kind of like to have it longer than a week! Upsetting, yes; life altering, not really. Four days later (and a mighty clean house) has produced the above mentioned game boy. Now (like everything else in life) there are game boy rules...When you are done playing, put into case on shelf. There you go.
Lone choir teacher: I have again decided to volunteer for childrens choir at church and I thought I was signing up to be the assistant to the teacher. She apparently thought the same thing! I told her I would be late and then I arrived on time and she was 45 minutes late!!! (choir is 1 hour) Boy, talk about sweating it out in front of first graders. Anyway, I AM the teacher and even though my husband cringes at the sound of my singing, the kids loved it and me!Yea!!!
Shaping the Next Generation: Super great bible study I just joined last Tuesday...Talk about your major life responsibility! Parenting...Argh!!! As I grow steadily fearful of the ever decaying society we live in, I am wondering what will shape my children! I PRAY it is God's love shown through their parents, and this will be my third most important goal on this earth. Sounds like a low grade, but I feel I have to put both raising people for the kingdom and my husband above my children. Sounds harsh saying it this way, but I believe it to be correct.
Anxiety: how to live without it and how to turn it into faith. This should be a bible study and I should be in it! I taught my choir kids about trust last week and I made them fall into my arms and as they each stood in front of me with their backs to me I said "Do you trust me? Do you believe that I will catch you?" and they all eagerly replied "yes" and then only 2 actually fell into my arms without moving their legs. Interesting. How many times does God say "Do you trust me? Do you believe that I will catch you?" and I actually leap or fall without looking. Not nearly enough.
Sisters: If you don't have one, I am sorry for you. I have so enjoyed mine over the years and each one is special in a certain way, yet they are all the same in some ways as well. Sweet, first born Wendy; a people pleaser, will fight for what she believes and at the same time try not to hurt your feelings, supportive in all situations, seeking Him, desiring what is right in God's eyes not her own, emotionally connective. Kelly; fiercely independent yet needs people, commanding and direct, stern yet so heartful, ambitious to accomplish all things well, always prepared for what she wants to accomplish, loving to others when they need it, accepts advice and ponders all things well before deciding. Molly; young, yet wiser than her age, 100% committed to whatever she is seeking, abundantly giving and supportive, praying and seeking and searching and will not give up, relentless in quest for her God.
Well, these are the way I see them and these are the great things that they freely give to me! Love y'all!!!!

Barely a second

Wow!! Since the beginning of 05 I have barely had a second to get anything done! I had 2 sick kids (Kennedy sinus and Emerson pneumonia) two birthday parties (Mac on 6 and Emy on 10) and I have been on one trip (the 5-9) and Corey has been gone (the 12-17) so...Everything has gone crazy! In between all of that, I have worked and taught children's choir and the list just goes on and on...I have read email, but not answered it and of course my whole blog has been totally ignored!
So, for catch up...
Kennedy is awesome, she is so beautiful and fun and she is trying oh so hard to be kind and considerate! She is helpful and well-mannered and I do adore her. She was chosen to be in the spelling bee! She is the 2 best speller in her class and she competed on Friday in the bee. She spelled 5 words correctly, but then missed "slipper". She did a great job and I took her out for pizza as a treat! She has been going to the cheer gym with me everyday and working hard on her tumbling! She is getting so good, and is having so much fun! She starts soccer again in 2 weeks (as it will be spring in the south!).
Macguire has been healthy and having fun at school. He had his party and all his friends from school came...Especially a girl named Sadie who (according to her mom) "never stops talking about Mac" how cute! He had a ball, and he now has every single Spiderman action figure known to man!
Emerson is totally putting together sentences now and she is cracking us up! She is so fun, and she loves Mac and KK and they adore her!
Corey is in Baltimore at a Coaches convention and he gets back tonight, boy how we have missed him! He adds so much to our family, I cannot wait to have him home.
I am starting a bible study on Tuesday and I am very excited about it! It is about raising kids (I guess I need the help!) It will be fun and a friend of mine is also doing it with me. I have 3 trips in February to judge cheerleading, so that will be busy as well!