My NEW lens arrived!!

I feel somewhat like I have a brand new lease on life...lol...a picture taking lease!
My new lens arrived yesterday and my very first new picture was of this sweet sister of mine! Sandy slid in between my meetings yesterday and brought Chance and Cooper. We all lunched at the boys favorite place, McDonald's:)



Last night I took this of my kiddos...apples to apples...the game was sweetly gifted to us from Chelsea, Bo and the PTC kids. What fun!

This picture was of Mercedez as she left for the Football Banquet:) What a sweet girl!

The way it looks from here....

Yesterday Scott and I took Sam to his first day of school, alternative school that is. We sat through the meeting, listened to the rules, signed that we had a copy of the rules, asked questions and left Sam.

A super sad statistic from the Director of that program? They will have 160 kids through their school this year and FOUR will have a mom and dad. Not married mom and dad even, just an involved in their life mom and dad....the other 156? Well, I have no idea but can guess a lot of scenarios and not many of them ideal.

As we left our intake there were two more boys waiting to get in....the boys were talking to one another as we walked out the door and one of them approached the truck his "mother"(cause I have no idea who she really was) and was telling her about the dress code. Students have to wear Khaki pants and a collared shirt, a belt and all shirts tucked. As I opened my door beside the driver/mom/person her reply was, "I don't got no *darn(I substituted) money to be buying dress pants and church shirts!!"


Scott and I sat down in our van and looked over at the truck....this truck pictured above....well, minus the boat and beach...a 2011 Chevy Avalanche. That truck cost as much as every single vehicle Scott and I own...all put together! It says so here!

I smiled to myself, I imagine, the way it looks from here, that mom person could afford a small investment in her child's clothes. The would be a far cry from his saggy jeans, t-shirt and sock cap, but they would be a HUGE step toward respect. It was obvious, the way it looked from my seat, that he had not learned that respect at home.

I find it terribly frustrating that people CHOOSE things and those things are not eternal. Don't get me wrong...a truck does not make you a poor individual! But the attitude that is so prevalent with selfish individuals, the I shouldn't have to pay for that because I don't want to? I just don't get it! I know it all has to do with responsibility....but how can an adult behave as though they have no responsibilities? Hum...I think this is a question that bounces from state to state and border to border...we have a serious problem in our country today with ownership and responsibility.

I do not preach that from a soapbox. I have that problem with some of my children. Last night Sam spent hours raging over this exact point. Name calling, bad words, wall banging (of which he kicked the outlet in his room blowing the entire breaker for that wall and MY whole room...it is not flipping back on and will have to wait on Scott to return home and fix.). Sam's beef? That I was holding events from 5 years ago against him. He was really angry that I did not trust him. Hum. I quickly explained that his consequences today were due to his behavior TODAY. I asked if he came to sit by me when I asked...no. Did he follow me when I asked...no. Did he go to his room when I asked...no. Did he stay in his room as I asked...no. His reply? He was mad! To which I explained that it was very obvious I could not trust him to make good choices when he was mad. He made threats to which I replied (with Scott's advice through the cell phone at my ear)I would call the police if he did that. I would have to. He did threathen to call the police on me. Why? Because I was in his room. The way it looks from here it's going to be a LONG road! He eventually settled down and did stay in his room.

I talk about ownership and responsibility because it is FUNDAMENTAL that our children and adults understand that these two words are truly LIFE SKILLS!

EU Pictures by Denise:)

My dear friend Denise is, in my mind, THE picture Guru! She takes so many picture and does an incredible job!! Last night she sent me her pictures from Friday and Saturday of kids, and adults at EU. I looked through quickly, finding these of my crew:) Above is the Savannah Youth Group (of likely the kids they could find at the time). Below are my loved ones and one of their friends!

Our new GOAL!

Caleb sent the kids a new basketball goal for Christmas. Our old goal, purchased by Doug, was run over by the mailman and the base broken (although my kids were still using it). The new goal is wonderful (and stands up without 16 concrete blocks!).

Sarah put it together Thursday after work...she worked from 3:40 until 11pm! Jacob helped some, Scott helped big time when he got home from work and a few of the kids were here and there helping. A HUGE job!

I laughed as I read this post from Sarah to Caleb:

Dear Caleb,
The kids are very thankful and super excited about the basketball goal. However, please never send anything that you can't be here to help put together. I have been outside since 3:40 and its very cold and I'm not as strong as you think. Thankfully dad was able to help when he got home. I love you lots. See you soon. And I'...m sure I will be thankful when I get beat Paden at a game of horse, because I always win. I think it just runs in the family.
Love, Sarah

Followed by Scott's addition:

Basketball goal is great!! Great gift to kids that will enjoy alot and I will practice so can beat you in a game of horse or maybe a game of supercalifrigiliousiscpalidosious - now how you say that in German :) :)

And Caleb's reply:

in german it is "mydadzanotgunawinnomatterhowlongthewordis"

I love it! I love computers, I love that Caleb is on the other side of the world and we can have conversations through email, the phone, and even facebook. I love that humor can be part of those conversations.

As Sarah was putting the goal together I told her that I was sure Caleb would LOVE to be here helping put in together. I did laugh and say, "If he didn't get mad at it and leave". Sarah quickly pointed out the obvious to us, "The old Caleb would have, the Caleb since he went into the Army would help me until we got it done!" The old Caleb would not have spent that much money on this brothers and sisters either.....from every encounter in life we can find good and I am ever grateful that Caleb's faith and love for God has strengthened in his time away and that he has a giving spirit. Not because of the "stuff" (lol..the kids might argue with that) but because of the example!! I love good examples!!

The goal was played on ALL weekend. I went to bed each night with people outside playing it and I woke up to people playing. It was loved and enjoyed by my family and all our friends. THANK YOU CALEB!!

PS. When I get my camera lens in I will take lots of pictures:) On a funny note....the Milan Youth Minister came in and said that Seth beat him playing ball. I laughed and said really? He replied "twice". He then said, "I couldn't guard him". I smiled and assured him he could. He said, "I thought if he could make it from where he was shooting he deserved to win...and he did" LOL:) That happens when you have 12 big brothers and a new goal and a HUGE love for ball!!

Poor attitudes

This morning I woke up (late, thank you Scott for letting me sleep in!) and when I was checking email and such I saw a reply to my facebook status (well, the one on Saturday. My status said:

I have spent the day fellowshipping with some of the most incredible people!! The most wonderful part was working side by side today with Chelsea and Sarah;). I wish everyday was a today!!!

The comment that surprised me(truly did)?

sounds like smothering in a bunch of people with over-inflated opinions of themselves

At first I really thought this man must have not understood the status, so I went back and read it. Then I deleted his comment and deleted him as a friend. Simple. I learned a very long time ago that if people do not understand why I do what I do? I really can't explain it to them. When adults say things like that? THEY have things going on that I cannot change.

I am thankful that with GOD all things ARE possible. This man is "supposed to be" a Christian. I would imagine his beef is more with my church family and beliefs. I find that a terrible shame. I TRULY do not bad-mouth people of Christian faith. I am happy when they are about God's work...I am pleased to see ANYONE doing something good!

Sunday morning I worshipped with 1800 people, the majority of them teenagers..... I cant think of a better antidote for a bad attitude than that! It's a shame that guy with the bad attitude wasn't there!

Getting ready for XI CHI

Tomorrow XI CHI DELTA officers will be here for their officers retreat. I remember my conversation with Doug a month ago when he asked if they could be here following EU. At the time I truthfully had to reply, "If you were Chelsea I would say yes, but she would help big time and have all the work done for XI CHI" He asked about the work that would be needed. And then clarifying said, "So you mean I would have to take all the sheets off the beds, wash them, dry them, AND put them back on the beds? Hum, I'll just tell everyone to bring sleeping bags!" lol:) Instead he talked sweet Allison (Bo's cousin and XI CHI officer) into helping him. Bless her heart, she is wonderful!

After working TONS they are sitting here:


Well, actually sitting here enjoying a movie:)

EU arrives....and leaves...

This weekend the long awaited and long planned Evangelism University arrived and has now, for 2011, departed. For our family it brings Chelsea and Bo home (along with about 7 of their youth group kids). It also brought the Milan Church of Christ youth group and a couple of extra fun friends. I love this time of visiting, of fellowship. I love having my children all home. I love working in the kitchen with Chelsea and Sarah...what joy!! I cannot express my appreciation to God for the gift of these two girls. What incredible examples for my little girls, for all who know them. I am always always blessed to have them close and be able to bask in the fun:) On Saturday I cooked for the evening meal, feeding my crew (plus a few extras), the Milan group, the Peachtree group and the Madison group...about 90 wonderful souls entered our home and visited with us. I LOVE IT!


Along with my Chelsea came my Bo (I can call him mine as he married Chelsea and her family). He is an incredible big brother!! I took these of Mercedez and Carlton with Bo:




These are of the Peachtree City kiddos and one with some of my kiddos too.



I have neglected my blogging as Caleb reminded me today. My camera is broken (well, the lens) and I am terrible about liking picture stories! But, I broke out my phone to take some pictures to share with KK. He laughed today on the phone and shared that he never ever thought he would be addicted to reading my blog. In his defense, he is far from home and I suppose very very bored!