We have SNOW!

This morning I woke to cold but clear skies. Jacob walked downstairs to tell me that all the neighboring schools, as well as the Savannah Christian school, were all called off for snow. I smiled and though...nahh...we were might get rain, perhaps sleet, but no snow. At 7 am it began snowing, very pretty snow. Mercedez even stood while I took this picture:
On our way to school I got a call stating that school would let out at 11:30am. I decided Chelsea and I might be able to squeeze in a few chores before then, so I took everyone on to school. The snow continued to fall. After dropping off my kids I nearly slid into a ditch and promptly turned around to go back and get the kids. On the way back to school I received a call stating the buses had been turned around and school called off. Humm...good call! I picked up my children, called Jacob who was already at school to go home (he was on his way home) and called John, who was still at the house, to not leave. When I arrived home, almost an hour later? This is Sarah in the same spot!

We might have sleet and rain, but first, first we have snow. Lots and Lots of snow!

True Fellowship

Yesterday Chelsea was sitting near me when she said, "oh..." and handed her phone to me to read and email (a very big feat with my failing eyes). One of the ladies who(Chelsea me ther the last time she visited) worships in PTC with Bo (and soon to be with Chelsea) sent her a letter. In the letter she descibed in beautiful detail her newly married move the PTC (her husbands hometown)years ago. She described her loneliness as she was not working and it took time to make friends and fit in. She then told Chelsea she did not want her to ever feel that way and if she needed a friend to call. I cried. True Hospitality, true fellowship, Christ in action....it was such a beautiful example of what WE all should be to others.

I have been telling people how wonderful the congregation is in PTC. I have talked about how very very good the Eldership has been to Chelsea and Bo. I have talked about the kids at PTC, truly some of the neatest ones I have met. And last night, that note was simply a wonderful example of the new church family my daughter will have....I could not be more thankful!!

Visiting weekend.

This has been a busy weekend for Scott and I. Scott, Michael and Daniel spent Saturday in Kentucky visiting Sam. I asked Scott how it went and was not surprised when Scott said, "It was fine, It was all about Sam so he was happy." Today right after church Sarah, Paden and I left to go see Carlton for his visiting Sunday. We picked Stuart up half way and he went with us too. It was a nice visit, it is just so much easier to visit with big kids. I didn't make it back for church but did make it back to watch the second half of the super bowl with my kiddos when they got home from church. Chelsea had already gotten everything ready (even snacks). The majority of my bunch, led by a HUGE Saints fan Seth, were very happy with the outcome. This is the Super Bowl "Parking" area:

Party Time:)

Chelsea has had some super showers! She and Bo have so many great things to begin their life with! Friday night her co-workers (at Love and Learn) along with some of her dear friends from church gave her a wonderful shower. It was a recipe shower. All those attending filled out a recipe card (for her neat new recipe book) and brought the ingredients or what your serve it in or what you prepare it in. FUN FUN FUN:)
This is our dear friend Pat, she hosted the party (and planned it and prepared for it). Pat has been the director of Love and Learn since the beginning of time (when it was opened so many years ago). Chelsea began at Love and Learn the very first year as a 4 year old. So much time has pasted but the love and friendships are stronger than ever!!

I am so blessed.

I really am blessed. I know that, yet sometimes I just do not stop and acknowledge it verbally (and in written word). I have a son who is in the Army. I love Caleb and appreciate his dedication so very much! Caleb is on the other side of the world. He has been since early Jan. I think I had stated before that a dear friend, a Christian sister was just 30 minutes from Caleb(her husband also being in the Army). This morning as I sat down at the computer she sent message telling me she had talked to Caleb and that she was going to get him Saturday. Caleb was going to have dinner with her and her children and stay over for church the following morning. They attend an American speaking church and the first Sunday of every month they have a fellowship meal. Caleb will be part of that with her and her family, as well as a neat young man from California who is playing professional soccer there.

We pray for our children, we do it from the time they are very young. Those prayers (for the most part) through out childhood are consistently the same. I have found my prayer life boom as my children have become adults. Their lives, their experiences are all so unique. I have prayed for a church family for Caleb, for support and good Christian friendships. I truly did not always pray that as he grew, we have a wonderful Church family, we have a tremendous support group (an awesome youth group) and Christian friends we in abundance....but now? So far from home and all those things that we just naturally had are not so natural..they are extremely special! My prayer has changed for Caleb...and my prayers have been answered. I am ever so grateful for loving (unselfish) Christians.....and today there is none so wonderful as my friend Chris Gann...thank you!!

Snuggling

Our last "baby" has slept with Scott and I most of his life. When we brought Seth home from the hospital I worried about bonding. I really did. I knew at that point the dangers of attachment disorders and fully intended to sidestep all those. I breast feed Seth for several months, I carried him in a sling as much as possible, he had such bad allergies and eczema that he slept so well on my chest (and I let him). I was mom of many already and for the first time in my life I gave in to what was easiest and what worked...co-sleeping worked. We had parented about 35 children(counting foster children) before I allowed a co-sleeper. It was a huge compromise of my parenting values. Today? Well, today I know that I likely have no child who has a stronger love or bond with me. For years and years I could be anywhere, on a football field, at a loud basketball game, at the nursing home visiting my grandmother, or sitting in the church building, it mattered not where we were Seth could crawl up in my lap and sleep. He laid his head on my chest and was gone. He did not have a blanket or a favorite teddy...I was his comfort, I was his peace. That feeling, that joy worked both ways...for Seth and me.

Finally, 8 years later he is sleeping in his room most all of all nights. He has reached the age. It is very bitter sweet for me, on one hand I am ever so grateful for the extra room in our bed now, and on the other I see the end of childhood. Granted he will always be my little boy, my baby, but he is a boy, and growing up.

I smiled yesterday at him. He had patted my arm about 4 am and asked if he could get in bed. When I woke up I told him we needed to get up and going. He walked into his room (I thought to get dressed), but when I stepped into the hall he was up on his bed looking at Michael (who had pulled a mattress into the room to camp out with Seth) and while stretching he said, "Time to get up Michael". Michael was none the wiser to Seth, thinking Seth had slept there all night. It was at that moment I realized Seth trying (pretty successfully) to grow up. He did not want everyone to think he slept with mom and dad. I smiled and laughed telling Scott. I see the end of those snuggling moments. Now, looking back, I would not trade one moment of those snuggling years:)

Are you embarrassed?

I asked a child that question today. I usually don't, I feel embarrassment is a very personal thing, yet....when I received a call from a teacher telling me that one of my children was disrespectful and not doing the work? That the same child was kicked out of two tutoring classes for disrupting? That she is talking to me on the phone with that child standing in front of her listening? I did actually wonder...I did wonder if any semblance of reproach was there?

The teacher asked if I would like to talk to the child before she hung up? My reply..."No Thank you, I had rather be looking ______ in the eye when I speak to them." It's true. I had. I did. And truthfully when I asked "Are you embarrassed?" the answer was an eye rolling oppositional defiant "NO!" hummm...First mistake. There should be remorse. There should be reproach.

So I explained that 3 letters would be written, one to each teacher, and that I would be adding an attachment stating I needed a reply to be assured each teacher received theirs. (More eye rolling)

I then explained that they(well...the child in question) would be grounded (phone, computer, yada yada yada). And lastly, and hopefully most impacting....This child only has one more strike before they are kicked out of the after school tutoring program. IF that should happen?? They will sit every Tuesday and Thursday, while Lita is at tutoring, and do write offs until tutoring ends (BTW...that is a long time away...like May). IF those write offs (which would look suspiciously like homework) can not be completed on Tuesday and Thursday, we would be able to use our Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays too. I am so definitely a mean what you say person.

I am ALWAYS amazed at the audacity of some kids. Truly. I am amazed that they actually believe they have the power to trump what is "right". I long ago dealt with the frustrations of having these attitudes in my house. I long ago decided this is not my battle...it belongs to the child. But, never will I shirk my responsibility as a parent. There will always be consequences....such is life.