WOO HOO John!!!

John took second in the Tennessee State HOSA Extemporaneous Speaking competition!! He will be going to Nationals this summer in Orlando Florida:) He called yesterday to tell us the good news. He said, "I like silver better than gold anyway." I laughed and said, "So says the guy with the silver medal." He laughed with me and went on to say now he has a gold and a silver....and another year (next year as a Senior) to compete. What a tremendous experience! John is so very blessed with great teachers and sponsors! He will be home sometime this afternoon so I can give him a big hug:)

Headed East

Today is the day. We are headed to East Tennessee as soon as the kids are at school. Sam has been told. He is very upset about not being able to take all his "stuff"...actually very upset about not staying home(because he thinks everything is going great) or not going back to Potters(because he should get another chance). Over the last few days we have had to keep Sam so close, and even then he continues to do things we specifically say not to do. The difference is that we are just right there watching and it doesn't get out of hand. The last few days have been all about Sam (which is what Sam likes), but hard on everyone else. No remorse for past behaviors and he truly has no desire to change his behavior. It's just sad.

We are approved by the RTC, now we just need our insurance to kick in and run the approval. It can't be petitioned until he is there so we have had to wait.

It is going to be a long day but we hope to feel good about the choices by the time we are traveling home tonight!

The time is...

Ball is everywhere! I am thankful with all my children practicing that I have a big sister and brothers who help out. Tonight Sarah came to the softball field to pick up Seth and took him to his practice. Tomorrow Sarah is holding down the fort for us while we are away. We love Spring and I sure do love Sarah being so helpful so we can all enjoy! :)

Tasha's first softball game!

The entire month of April is Middle School softball month. Tasha has a game every single MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY and FRIDAY for the whole month! Tonight was her first game. The girls did great!

Caleb:)

I have spent the last 24 hours sharing messages with Caleb. He is at a MANAS and has been able to use his iPod to text me and send messages through facebook. It sure did my heart good. He will be at his fob by the time I go to bed tonight. I imagine iPod messaging is over and I shall have to wait in snail mail. Last year while he was in basic I was very very good at it and I shall just have to step up and be diligent again.

Above is a picture of Caleb and John taken last summer. These guys are so unique....but they are also so very much alike! Caleb said the other day, "I think John and I had such a hard time getting along because we are so much alike! I love that guy now!" They are so different in so many ways, but are so much alike in the brains and hardheadedness:) Two very admirable traits if they grow up with respect and love in their hearts....these guys have it!

HOSA State Competition

This morning I woke John to get ready for his HOSA trip. Last year he was late. This year as we sat at the school and no one was there yet I decided they likely told John to be there an hour early so he would not be late! lol:) I enjoyed my time with John. John is a great great guy. He is competitive and smart, but he keeps his head....a very nice change from most teenagers!

John will be competing again this year in Extemporaneous Speaking. I am so excited to hear how he does! Last year he won and went to the National HOSA Competition. We'll keep our fingers crossed:)

Silliness...

Sarah and Paden are really funny. They make me laugh. Last night they came home for a while and we took some pictures....


Then, after these great pictures Sarah says, "wait a minute mom" and they do this...To much smiling!
Then they got tickled at each other and I catch my favorite pictures: