series of events

Luke had my camera one afternoon and shot this series of events of Micah. 

  

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"Help! My kids are demon possessed!

I had never felt so defeated. So lost. So spent. As a mother of four ages 11, 10, 8 and 5, I have had plenty days of doubt and exhaustion. Days when I was sure my children were possessed by some out-of-this-world demon and I was destined to extract said demon if it was the last thing I did.

But this day was different.

This day was far worse than I had experienced before.

It was last Monday, to be exact. I woke full of energy and ready to begin our school day. The kids, did not. And so it began. The complaining. The whining. The rolling of the eyes. (A favorite of mine. Sends lasers up my spine through my arms to my hands and continuing to my brain.) We started school. All of us together at the kitchen table. The boys were giddy. Madison followed suit. I was repeating myself what felt like four or five times. I felt invisible. No school work was getting accomplished. Luke was dissecting a mechanical pencil. Micah could not sit still in his chair for more than thirty seconds. Brady was taunting the three oldest and I caught myself fantasising about the school bus coming to take these heathens away.

My patience had been tried and I was at the end of my rope. I felt as if I couldn't go on without breaking down in tears or breaking someones face. So, I chose to distance myself from the situation. I took Brady, my five year old, and we went in his room and played. The oldest three were left to their schoolwork at the table. They knew what work had to be completed by looking at their assignment sheets. If they needed help, they would have to look to each other.

I am not sure if that was the best thing to do, but I felt like, at the time, I had no other choice. After some time, we had to gather our things and leave for music and ballet lessons.

The kids and I and my husband had a talk about what happened and some very important changes that need to take place in our family. It was time to reevaluate. Take away privileges for a period of time. It is always a good thing to do every so often or whenever the need arises.

Family meetings are a great way to come together and share ideas, emotions, concerns, stories, etc. I always feel better after one of ours.

I hope this post speaks to some of you reading. It is natural to feel defeated at times. To have doubts. To look at your children and think, "Is this how I have raised you to behave!". This is when you fall to your knees and raise your head towards Jesus in heaven and offer your children to Him in prayer. For years I have prayed for specific requests. Like this: "Lord, please help Luke with this anger. Please give Maddie confidence and Micah kindness in his heart." I still pray this way but I also want God to show me what my children need and what my husband needs. I want to know how to pray for each of them. So I ask Him to show me. Show me Lord, so that I may do your will! I ask Him to open my heart and guide me. My way might not be His way. I want to walk along His path for me and my family. For His path is the only way to heaven. I have found that when I really look and listen, He shows me. Always.

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football pictures

The cheerleaders for Micah's team make a sign every game for the players  to run through.

It's the cutest thing!

The boys love busting through it and getting all pumped up for their game!

Captains. Micah is #7.

Micah in the zone

Luke pleasing his mom and flashing a huge smile during halftime

Micah and Luke are in different leagues, in case you are wondering.

If you are also wondering how we manage to get to three different sporting events every Saturday, it takes an excel spreadsheet, impeccable driving skills and time management, numerous parents and one set of very supportive grandparents!

No child left behind yet.

Fingers crossed!



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up to and in to

I thought you all might enjoy a post on what our four beauties are up to and in to these days.

 As you can see, Luke does not care for getting his picture taken. Luke turned 11 in May. He is incredibly witty and when it comes to schoolwork he is extremely independent. He is critical of his siblings. He goes out of his way to show love to his Grandparents. His relationship with Micah, our 7 year old son, is growing closer. He wears the same clothes days in a row. He bought himself an ipod with his own money. He likes his hair long. He battles with his anger. He is becoming somewhat moody. He is playing football. He is mildly obsessed with sweets, like his Mama. Luke is taking guitar lessons and is a  joy to be around! 

 Madison, sweet Madison. Except when she is not sweet. Then you better take cover and let her run it out. She is emotional and has a knack for figuring out all things technology based. She still loves wearing high heels and lipstick, when we allow her to. She is a talented and graceful classical ballerina. Her memory is superb, unless it involved bringing home her planner from school. She is a social butterfly and your typical mother hen. She tattles a lot. She hates cleaning her room with a passion. Madison is a pack rat. She is very confident around boys. She runs super fast. She is happy wearing t-shirts and shorts. She does not deal with being tired well at all. She has been caught lieing some lately. She loves loves loves to sing. Every night when I tuck her in bed she asks questions. Madison craves to feel accepted and loved. And I for one love her very much!

In the photograph below, the bigger boy is Bubba. That is what his Daddy calls him at least. I can not bring myself to call him that. So he is Micah to me. This kid is so cool. He is quiet around others and rarely got in trouble at school. He is a leader. He has such an amazing natural athletic ability. He is playing football. He never boasts. He loves all fruit. He has lost both front teeth. He argues with his mom and dad. He has great facial expressions when telling a story. He is outside every chance he gets. He puts up with his little brother constantly following his every move extremely well. He is a man's man. He has a special relationship with my Dad. Micah claims he is bored all the time. He loves to snuggle at nighttime. He is a fisherman at heart. He has taught me to think outside the box and how to show love deliberately.

And of course, the little whipper snapper is Brady. There are so many words to describe this child, both good and not so good. To put things in perspective let me start off by saying he is four years old. He is always on the go. He is a hitter and a kicker. He doesn't listen very well. He loves boiled peanuts. His hair is long and I love it. He is obsessed with his big brother, Micah. He wants to know where we are going and who will be there. He misses his siblings while they are not home. He dresses himself every morning. He is obsessed with hats at the present time. And shorts with pockets. He describes things as beautiful a lot. He gives awesome hugs. He loves playing with kids his own age and doesn't understand when they don't want to play with him. He thinks he is 10 years old and will tell you he is five years old, neither being correct. He flashes a side mouthed smile that cracks me up and melts my heart.    

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what happens when your 7 year old gets ahold of your camera

Do I see a future in photography?

Maybe...just maybe.

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wave whisperer

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all he wanted to lose was his front tooth....

...and after much twisting, pulling and waiting on his part...

...he finally lost it!



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the skinny

I thought you all might enjoy a post on what our four beauties are up to and in to these days. And of course with photos from our Spring Break trip to Gulf Shores.

 As you can see, Luke does not care for getting his picture taken. Luke turns 11 this month. He is incredibly witty and when it comes to schoolwork he is extremely independent. He is critical of his siblings. He goes out of his way to show love to his Grandparents. He played football, basketball and baseball this year but his favorite is football. His relationship with Micah, our 7 year old son, is growing closer. He wears the same clothes days in a row. He wants and iPod for his birthday. He is full of random facts. He likes his hair long. He battles with his anger. He is becoming quite moody. He placed 2nd overall in the half-mile run at Field Day. He is mildly obsessed with sweets, like his Mama. Luke is a joy to be around and plays the recorder very well! 



 Madison, sweet Madison. Except when she is not sweet. Then you better take cover and let her run it out. She is emotional and has a knack for figuring out all things technology based. She still loves wearing high heels and lipstick, when we allow her to. She is a talented and graceful classical ballerina. Her memory is superb, unless it involves bringing home her planner from school. She is a social butterfly and your typical mother hen. She tattles a lot. She hates cleaning her room with a passion. Madison is a pack rat. She is very confident around boys. She runs super fast. She is happy wearing t-shirts and shorts. She does not deal with being tired well at all. She has been caught lying some lately. She loves loves loves to sing. Every night when I tuck her in bed she asks questions. Madison craves to feel accepted and loved. And I for one love her very much!

 This is Bubba. That is what his Daddy calls him at least. I can not bring myself to call him that. So he is Micah to me. This kid is so cool. He is quiet around others and hardly ever gets in trouble at school. He recently got three stitches in his foot. He is a leader. He has such an amazing natural athletic ability. He never boasts. He loves all fruit. He has yet to lose any of his top teeth. He argues with his mom and dad. He has great facial expressions when telling a story. He is outside every chance he gets. He puts up with his little brother constantly following his every move extremely well. He is a man's man. He has a special relationship with my Dad. Micah claims he is bored all the time. He loves to snuggle at nighttime. He is a fisherman at heart. He has taught me to think outside the box and how to show love deliberately.

  

This little whipper snapper is Brady. There are so many words to describe this child, both good and not so good. To put things in perspective let me start off my saying he is four years old. He is always on the go. He is a hitter and a kicker. He doesn't listen very well. He loves boiled peanuts. His hair is long and I love it. He is obsessed with his big brother, Micah. He wants to know where we are going and who will be there. He misses his siblings while they are at school. He dresses himself every morning. He is obsessed with hats at the present time. And shorts with pockets. He describes things as beautiful a lot. He gives awesome hugs. He loves playing with kids his own age and doesn't understand when they don't want to play with him. He thinks he is 10 years old and will tell you he is five years old, neither being correct. He flashes a side mouthed smile that cracks me up and melts my heart.    

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in stitches

I have been blogging in my head lately. Which doesn't help when I have a public blog that people read. It's just the process of getting the blog posts that are swimming around in my head on this here blog that seem to be not working out. Maybe I will get my act together soon. Maybe.

Stitches. Three stitches. That is what Micah got in his foot Saturday afternoon. If you have a weak stomach do NOT look at these pictures.

This blue eyed boy has been such a trooper. He asked the doctor a LOT of questions and continues to ask questions at home. He missed his last regular season baseball game and will more than likely not play in the tournament. Which is a real bummer because he is REALLY good and would have made All-Stars. We'll see.

To protect the guilty brother that did this to Micah, on accident of course!, he shall remain nameless. A long, very old, VERY sharp walking stick was propelled into Micah's foot. Sorrys have been said and forgiveness has been had.

Now if you will excuse me, we are off to secure a vacation spot for this summer! 

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the boys who play baseball...

 ...and those who love them.

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