Caleb!

"Caleb Holt Smotherman thinks its kinda crazy that he's in a war that started when he was in 5th grade"

This was Caleb's facebook status this morning. I think it's pretty crazy too. I doubt Caleb nor I am alone in those thoughts. He also emailed me this picture today. Gosh I miss him! I have sat and cried (just missing him tears) and now have posted his picture to facebook (as he asked), feeling much better. Pictures always say "a thousand words" and it just took me a while to read them all:)

In this on going war against evil (is there any other way to look at it?) I realized that it did not begin when Caleb was in 5th grade. It began in a garden a very long time ago. I read yesterday about school girls in Afghanistan being sick, they believe poisoned by those who believe girls should not be educated. I truly have no respect, not the kind I should, for the life we are so blessed to live in our country. We are blessed because we have had soldiers fighting for our freedoms, even the smallest of things we take for granted, for hundreds of years. I think in my "freedom" I need to always remember the gratitude too, the thankfulness to those who live and die to give us freedom. That 7 letter word is the biggest word I know!

Rainy days= Headaches?

I love rain, I could read a rainy day away. But, a rainy day with children is somewhat different from a rainy day alone. ROFL...That is just an itty bitty slight exaggeration!!

Today while fixing lunch I was caught between two rooms of Rockband. They boys game room was playing Eye of the Tiger and Hungry like a Wolf, while the girls were blasting Miley Cyrus "Hoedown" and "The climb". Talk about noise?! I have always said I imagine i will go deaf at an early age due to my loud working conditions:)

As the kids stopped (shew) for lunch John said, "Hey mom I can bring my Xbox down here, I have 180 uploaded songs on it." So as lunch ended, John had kids on the big screen playing, some where in the game room and some were in the extra room....and as soon as Scott came home I went to help set up at the church for a baby shower:) lol! My car has never spoke "peace" quiet like it did today.

I arrived home, took a few pictures and waited for everyone to run out of batteries! Thankfully they have, well one room is still rocking, but the rest have moved on to green, quieter, grass:)

Playing Army

Seth had a friend spend the night. I have two 8 year old boys (and my two 11 year olds and 12 year old) trapped in the house due to severe weather. I have spent the last hour listening to their "playing" escalate to yelling and running in the boys hall. When they invaded my area I stopped Seth who was running through the house with the above pictured weapon. I asked, "Seth, what are the rules about playing with guns?" He did the whole 'moooomm' thing. I also asked about the rules for yelling and running?

He said, "mom, we're just playing." I asked if he was talking back? He sighed and said, "yes". He then followed with, "but mom, we're just playing Army."

How do I argue with that? Seth wears Caleb's dog tags 24/7 (seriously) and he lives to be a hero too. So what's the response? Mine was a compromise of my personal feelings, my values. I said, "NO running and NO yelling Seth." He looked at me questioningly, "We can play Army?". I smiled and said "Yes, as soon as I take a picture of your gun." Boys will find a way ya know? It matters not that I don't buy guns or allow them for play....boys will still play like boys!

I am not totally anti-gun. Years ago it became very obvious that guns really didn't need to be a mode of "play" in our house. For my boys who take hunters safety and go hunting....fine, actually great, but it is NOT a game.

Right now, I am back at a "normal... kinda.. whatever normal is" group of boys in my household. I can't fight a rolling tide, but I sure can manage the shore:) So now my boys are playing Army (semi-quietly).

Boxes

I sent Caleb a box this week. A box of old time Game Boys, cables, and games (especially specified red, blue and yellow version of Pokemon). I packaged it all, taped it up tight and went to the Post Office to mail it. Only to happily find out there is a flat rate box that gets a military rate....YEAH! I did not re-box my package, but I did get customs forms, label and boxes so I could send Caleb items in the future. He is currently working on his art. He actually said he is designing Tattoo's. I am ever so grateful HE has an aversion to needles! lol! My next box will be pencils and paper, art supplies:)

I have to add that people are so very very giving! A mother of one of Caleb's classmates brought a gameboy, link cable, and about a dozen games by for us to send to Caleb! I am so grateful! But Caleb will be even more grateful, enjoying the blessings of this gift! We added it to the other things he asked for and away that little box went....now if it will just get there so KK can enjoy it!

Picture Mover

I take a ton of pictures during ball season. On average between 500-700 a game (well, early sunny games). I LOVE taking pictures. In years past I come in from the game, slide my card in the computer, and select "upload all" and they are put on the Walgreen's photo sight. It takes a while for them to completely upload, but my work was not so time consuming. I would then send an invitation to the team parents and they could have copies of whatever they wanted.

This year I nearly died...Walgreen's changed it uploading tools! I whined (yes I really did) and moaned and griped for two nights as I had to individually click and upload pictures (what a mess!!). I was at the "never doing it again" stage when I decided to email Walgreen's. I composed a very nice (with little noticeable whining) email and asked for the old upload back. Almost immediately, which in business means in the same afternoon, I received an email back. For people like me they have a neat thing called "Picture Mover". The very second I put my card in the computer Picture Mover uploads the picture to my computer and then to Walgreen's. It takes a VERY SMALL amount of time and I was nearly jumping with joy!! Then those nice people gave me 20 free prints:)

I only had to ask. Kinda reminded me of God. We think we can do everything all by ourselves. We think that we can use our brains and rationalize and work through all the problems that come our way. Sorry. That's a thinking error! All you have to really do is ask for help. Isn't it funny how God's word comes to us in the middle of learning experiences (and not always in our personal brilliance)? I think funny is the wrong word...perhaps I should say "Isn't it just perfect how God comes to us in the middle of our leaning experiences" and He does because in our struggles we are sometimes more accepting.

I hesitate to ask for more of those "ahah" moments because in doing so I am welcoming more trouble my way for God to help me with. :) Well, come to think of it, God knows I have enough trouble without any extra help! I am thankful for moments that remind me of God's love for me (and Picture Mover).

A little keyring..

A little keyring is missing. The key ring had a key on it (as most do). It was laying on my kitchen cabinet. Now it is not. Well, actually were there and 10 minutes later they were not. How can that be? These keys are pretty special, but they can't walk. They do start a car, Sarah's car. They also happen to be the only set she has...HUGE bummer.

I can relay all of that above with little inflection. But if you had volume on my words? My children would tell you there was MUCH inflection. I really think it went into the sermon category.

I can tell you who was not near the keys....Michael, Ryan, Daniel, Seth, Tasha, Tori or Rosie. Rosie was in her room (way on the other end of the house), Tasha was at the ball field, Tori was sleeping on the couch next to me. The boys were all outside playing baseball. Who was unaccounted for? Mercedez, Lita and Bella. Who is Sarah driving to Country Place in her car this weekend, thus giving them a very vested interest in finding the keys? Mercedez and Lita. Who is mad about not getting to go? Who was mad during those 10 minutes at Sarah (actually mom and Sarah because I made her go with me to Tori's game and not with Sarah)? The un-named person. Who is constantly hateful(that is really an awful word)to Sarah? bingo...same un-named person.

So this morning as everyone searched for the keys, everyone was mad. I talked about our behavior. I talked about one of the positive consequences of being truthful and respectful is that you are not often (if ever) thought to be the one who did an injustice. And if you are falsely accused due to your attitude and behavior? Well, that too is a consequence...a negative one that comes from bad behavior.

The keys remain unfound. Scott will be giving Sarah his van to drive to Country Place and thus setting a chain reaction of disruption in the household vehicle situation.

I am so very frustrated. I really really really really really really really really really (lol...ya got it?) aggravated. SOMEONE took them. SOMEONE is lying. SOMEONE is in BIG trouble. This morning I gave a one minute safe zone(meaning you bring me the keys in those 60 seconds and I will forgo any punishment). Did that person step forward? Nada chance. I love hardheaded kids...I do. But lying, stealing, cheating, disrespect is NOT hardheaded...it's just wrong.

I used to feel such anxiety over these moments, but what teachable moments they are! All nine of the children who did not do this learned a very valuable lesson...the key searching will continue and the lessons learned will be interesting to see. Seth cried this morning in frustration (he hates being late to school), he said "somebody better do the right thing!!" I explained that I felt exactly as he did (only times 10). I loved his thoughts though...I agree....somebody better do the right thing!

Picking up the Slack:)

I had three games yesterday (well, two games and a scrimmage) at all 6pm. Not unusual, it happens time and time again with this schedule. Sarah said it was the sign of the beast...that I had too many 6-6-6's. lol:) I agree, but I really don't think the beast had anything to do with it. I suppose blame could only go to me, myself and I for having so many ball-lovin kids:) I worked on my schedule yesterday, cringing at the overlaps, and nearly cried last night (haha...not really, but almost!) to hear that my remaining three girls (those waiting on drafts) are on not ONE team, but TWO! I really hate to see my schedule after I add those into the mix. The hardest part is my lack of "big kids". For the first year in, well perhaps forever, I will not have enough big people to help out. I am NOT considering adding more (lol...especially in the 16-20 range!), but I sure do wish I had them home. My big kiddos are growing up, they have their own lives, their own plans, their own stuff....And that is EXACTLY as it should be:) I can still miss them.

Last night my dad and step-mom, Clara Ruth, watched Tasha's game. They try to come to one game a season. I was very glad last night was the night. Scott was out of town and Sarah was on a field, I was on one and my two big guys Jacob and John were working. It was super nice to have them watching. I know it meant a lot to Tasha too:)

I talked with Scott last night (he surprised me by coming home a day early) about the times and overlaps. He said, "Amanda, they want to play ball. They're going to play ball, that's what's most important, if we can be there....great! If not, they still get to play ball." I know, I know, it's true. I hate missing any games, but with this crazy bunch that's just gonna happen!