New job!

Jacob began his new job last weekend. He was hired over a month ago and was very excited to begin. He is working a lot right now with soccer still going, but it should hopefully level out soon. He has to wear uniforms to work (as above). The grocery provides them with 8 sets and he takes them back on Monday and they clean and press them and have them all really for the boys to pick up (very cool!).

Pink:)

The middle school has remembered Breast Cancer Awareness this month with naming some days to "dress-up". Tuesday was PINK day, the girls all wore pink and Michael using the logic "If a pink hair bow counts then my pink tissue will too" carried a pink package of tissue:)

All in afternoon

Doug and Stella were home today for a few hours washing clothes. Doug played some football:

He also pulled Seth's 4th tooth. I think Doug has pulled all Seth's teeth:)



Chelsea helped with Mercedez math homework (I love big sisters!)

We had three ballgames all 3 at 6 pm (of course!). Scott and Seth went to watch the boys football game. I went to Tori's soccer game. Rosie and Mercedez (thank goodness for big sisters again!) went to Bella, Lita and Tasha's game. The soccer games are played on side by side fields so that's a plus. Chelsea, Jacob and John were all referees:


Victoria's team had team pictures:)


We also squeezed in homework, dinner (BBQ chicken sandwiches), chores and two boys even copied the entire second chapter of Matthew 2 (consequences for a couple of poor choices).

Choosing Life...

I saw this Article this morning. The title was, "Abortion Kills More Black Americans Than the Seven Leading Causes of Death Combined, Says CDC Data". To me that kind of data is staggering, it should be staggering! It reminded me of a video I saw on the value of life. The very short life of Thomas. It is so very sad (my Sarah and Scott think I am silly to watch such sadness). But, the purpose was not to show the sad side of life, it was to rejoice in parents who, in spite of impending loss, love their child and cherish each moment with him. They are as much a gift to those watching as Thomas was a gift to them! The name of the video? Choosing Thomas.

Football weekends

Chelsea's boyfriend Bo came for her birthday Friday. He was here for two short but activity filled days. We did watch the Tennessee Alabama game on the big screen....lots of fun. We even watched the Mississippi Florida game (because Courtney was here). The boys had a great football game Saturday morning. Ryan had the winning tackle (yeah Ryan). I sure do like watching Football! The picture below is of my guys who all play on the kickoff together.

These were taken in the yard....football football everywhere:) Football and spray 'n wash are best friends at my house!

Upside Down Logic

I love respect. Always have. Always will. Seeing it in action is one of my favorite things. Although last week as I talked to Caleb I decided I was a bit of a hypocrite. Is there such a thing as a "small" hyporite?

Caleb was telling me he would likely be attached to a Platoon coming back to Germany from Iraq in Feb. Meaning he would be in Germany his entire time with little chance of being deployed. Sounded good to me. Right up until he said, "But I might volunteer to go if they need my MOS." What?! I kindly (cause mommas know best right?) explained that there was no reason to do that, if they needed him they would tell him. He replied again, "Mom, I'm not going to hide until my time is out!" I explained hiding was fine with mom. And then in my (okay Amanda get a grip) moment he told me, "Mom, I signed up to fight and I will do that if they need me. It's the right thing to do." Good grief, how do I argue with that kind of respect? So I simply said (to me and him), "well, let's just take it one day at a time." He agreed and I did not have a stroke:)

As I have studied this week for my Bible class (on hypocrisy) I realized I maybe behaved hypocritically when questioning Caleb. I am extremely proud of his example. I am so very proud of his attitude. I am proud of the man he is and all that he values so strongly. I agree with him. I agree with his values. I worked so very hard to help his father instill those values and now? Now I am trying to undermine those very values with my doubt.

The same is true of us as Christians. We know the right things to do, we know what is good and fair and kind. We understand the sacrifice, yet at the first sign of distress we head for the hills. Hide.

As I prayed this week for my son I also prayed for myself, prayed that my strength and my walk would always reflect my faith. Hope that upside down "run for the hills" logic of the world remains right side up for me!

Pushing limits

I really couldn't decide what to name this blog...pushing limits or teenagers....both seems fairly interchangeable so I just stuck with pushing limits:)

Last Friday night at the Football game Scott had a few of my big(older) middle kids with him. We've always been big sticklers about where our children are at games. I really don't care if I lived in this town a 100 years, I still would not know everyone is at any given game and contrary to what people think....no one is really watching your child (certainly not like you should be watching them). I do understand (Scott and I both understand) the time has to come for some freedom. So at the game Scott had my older middle school kids (aka teenagers, not tweens) and he allowed them to go talk to friends during half time. Half way through the third quarter a couple had not returned. Scott went and found them, taking them back with him to sit. In a move I am struggling to understand, they were disrespectful to him about returning to their seats and they had the gall (because I think it would take great ego) to actually be mad at Dad!

The youth group had their last Fifth quarter that same night following the game. Scott brought those girls home and left them before taking our others to the Fifth Quarter. I walked down to bedrooms to talk to the still mad girls. After a couple of minutes I quit (why carry on with two girls who obviously had some serious thinking errors?) but left them saying, "Tomorrow, not tonight, you both need to apologize to Dad for your behavior. Think about it and make it right." Sounds pretty easy...right?

A WEEK has passed with no comments from girls, no apologies. So much time has passed and, to me, the offense so deliberate that I do not mind blogging about it....EVERYONE here knows.

These girls have not gone anywhere all week. Last night the youth group had a hay ride and bonfire. I allowed all my youth group kiddos to go. Before it ended one of my non-apologizing girls called to ask if she could spend the night with a friend. She called her dad. He turned to me and I told him to tell her not tonight, we had not planned on it, but some other time. It was a saving face (in my opinion) response. Can you believe the child argued with her dad over it? Well, I guess at this point you can. So he said those dreaded words, "Talk to your mom". I replied, "______,did you apologize to your dad?" "No" was her reply. I then said, "... and until you do you may not go to anyones house."

What is wrong with doing things the easy way? What happened to following the rules? Respecting your parents?

I (seriously I do) tell my tweens and teens that the next few years will go as smooth and nicely as they wish. But, mom is not going anywhere (for a long long time) and the option to stay home with mom is always available! Respect Respect Respect.... why is that one word so tough for teens to grasp??

Sadly, these little girls have yet to truly understand and respect the love of their father. Dad has always been notorious for doing things mom does not. Not bad things, but dad will take you to Wal-Mart to spend your last penny, or drive you to someones house to play, or even by gum for kids that has not been earned. But with those little things he does must come respect. Has to. My big girls totally "get it". Always have. My little girls are gonna be hanging with mom a whole lot unless they figure out the road to happiness is paved with respect!