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!