What a great night!!

Our Smotherman Ellison night (as it has been for more years than I can remember) was a Smotherman only night this year. The Ellisons were at a ballgame(Auburn and Ole Miss) and then to the beach (hard to turn down that kind of fun). We managed to have a good time, but missed them.

The fun began with side yard football. Rough side yard football! They played until dark. There were some great players.......






And some great spectators (in mom's eyes the smart ones).....




We had great hotdogs grilled by Dad:)






We kept our traditional eating donuts from strings contest....Jacob won(52 seconds), but Stella and Allison tied for second(with one minute and 2 seconds), Joe had third place(with one minutes 8 seconds). Several were really great starts that dropped. One of the rules is no hands and you can't let any fall to the ground...it proved to knock several people out of competition tonight.









We also had our bobbing for apples competition, which is really bobbing for green apples,red apples, oranges, lemons, and limes. There were several who got all 27 "friuts" in less than a minute! Very impressive bobbing:)







We watched the Tennessee game on the big screen. A big win:) Chelsea, Bo, Sarah and Justin were at the game in Knoxville...they had a ball (duh!).


And the evening ended with a super wonderful bonfire by Dad:)




I love night with family, and it is always made even more special with friends. Doug and Stuart brough several friends for our night together.

A Beautiful Morning....Finally!!

What a day to play football!!! Seth's team had two games. He did great (they all did great!). We had lots of brothers and sisters watching today: Joe, John, Jacob (and his buddy Nick), Sam, Michael, Ryan, Daniel, Sarah, Tasha, Lita, Tori and of course mom and dad:) A huge cheering section!








In a very proud bragging moment I must point out that the next two frames are clear examples of this little (big guy) on the other teams cheating. In flag you are not allowed to grab a player around the waist and tackle them. I post them to say this...my very agressive, very sportsminded, very competitve son never complained. The refs did not make the calls and he jumped up to do his best all over again. I LOVE that attitude:)

Happy Happy Birthday Ryan!!!

Ryan turned 11 today! Ten years ago we brought home this little bitty guy, cute as all get out! I am so thankful for his life and so very thankful he is mine:) He began his day with pancakes (no pictures as making pancakes is a full time job until they are done...and then they are gone...so no pictures..lol). Tonight we will party:)

Perspective!

Claudia's post which Cindy brought to my attention this morning was something I needed to read. I needed that said to me again. I agree. I know the hard road is yucky. This morning I drive back to Memphis to pick up Sam for a TTV (weekend pass). It will be my 3rd trip to Memphis this week. I will have spent 20 ours driving this week to attend to the concerns of two children. There are just 168 hours in a week. If I spent ten hours a week with each of my children and in this case those 20 hours were not spent with any of my children(just me and the car traveling to see them for 1 hour).... But back to the "if I spent 10 hours with every child this week?" I would need at least two extra days in my week.

That thought is a bit depressing to me. I've really been tired; even sad, glum, "feel sorry for myself" this week. I suppose I could blame the rain for making me feel that way, but it would be like blaming the sun for shining...it's just rain and I just choose my behaviors.

I needed to read Claudia's

".....Christ Jesus, who took the difficult road that we might be adopted into God’s family. He didn’t seek the path of least resistance. No, he carried a cross (and stumbled) down a path to a hill called Golgotha. He took the path that led to nails piercing through skin, muscles, tendons, and bones. He took the difficult way so that we who trust him could become his brothers and sisters and sons and daughters of God. The Father adopted us at the great cost of his son’s life."

Yikes! Kinda puts it all into perspective doesn't it? Just what the Doctor (or perhaps I should say "Savior") ordered!

Daniel:)

Daniel's birthday fell on the day my Bible class brings dinner(they bring one night and month and it is always so wonderful!). We had taco pile on with all the trimmings and wonderful pies (so many we could not eat them all). Daniel wanted a Tennessee orange cake and his big sister Sarah fixed him right up:) He loved having Stuart home too(my kiddos miss their big brothers!)!

Must be in the water.....

New rides. These boys love new vehicles...Stuart is riding high (literally)! His new truck is super nice and he is super happy:) As I type he is giving Tasha and Tori a ride...he is such a great big brother!!

Being nice.

Do you ever wonder why people just can't be nice? I think that's a thinking error, people CAN be nice. So perhaps the question is ...Do you ever wonder why people choose to be so hateful?

In all my years of parenting, in all my years of living, I can honestly say that I do not like hateful. I like peace. I like harmony. Makes me sometimes rethink my life. Would I really have been happy in a monastery? I think peace and harmony might exist there, right? But, upon more serious investigation I realize I am right where I should be. God created in me a spirit that hungers for satisfaction. In HIM I can find peace and harmony (even at my house). If I had been in that monastery I would never have truly had peace until I had Him:)

I think it's one the gifts I want my children to have. I want them to be able to close their eyes, take a deep breath and feel the peace. I truly believe it's that easy. It's that simple. When we give our life to God, when we seek our satisfaction in Him, we have it. It's all nice!!

Graduated!!

Caleb graduated from his first AIT. YEAH:) He will begin another and hopefully be done around early December(well, before Christmas!). He is doing so well and I am so proud of him:) If all goes well, he will be home a whole month before going to Germany. It also looks like he will be able to be with us for about 4 days at Thanksgiving:) I sure am looking forward to my hug:)

Happy Birthday Morning Daniel:)

Daniel is 11 day:) He is very very excited about his birthday!! We started the day with his favorite chocolate gravy and biscuits. It also started with his call from Grannie and Pa:) Neat day for a neat guy!!