Easter 2012

This year we racked our brain to bring a challenging hunt

 deemed worthy of 2 adventurous older boys.

 Something that would take longer than the typical 5 minute.

  We came up with FLASHLIGHT Egg Hunt. (Thanks to Pinterest)

The hunt lasted aprox an hour

(wow! since when was the last time that happend!)

Using Light Reflective Blazer Tacks to mark the areas

an egg could found and

plastic eggs filled with valuable non-candy prizes,

we sent the boys out armed with flashlights.

and yielded 34 of 36 eggs.

 (2 to be found in the daylight after church)

 Flashlight Egg Hunt Prizes

 BuddyMan and Dude Finding the last egg from the night's before Flashlight Hunt

 Americana Chick helping the Easter Bunny

2012 Easter Basket Booty

Yes, that is Socks you see in the basket :)

If you only knew. (LOL another post)

Peeps, Choco Peep, Rainbow Twizzlers, 

Chocolate Cross

 with a hidden $25 Cash

Fair Week! Last minute scramble.

Wow!  This is our very 1st Fair Week.

Buddy Man has raised a good looking hog and we are doing all the last minute details.  Bilbo, the show hog, has steadily gained and has easily made weight.  (Momma worried needlessly.....well someone had too.)

Ok. So maybe we waited a little too long on some of those details.

Chalk it up to our first year.....our LEARNING year (6th Gr.)

Boy have we learned A LOT.

Buddy Man is responsible and capable of walking 2 miles everyday after school over to the High School to take care of Bilbo.  

This is HUGE for both him and momma.  

(Also enjoys finding his squished coins when passing the RR tracks)

Momma doesn't take enough pictures.

Finding buyers takes TIME. 

Oops, times up....well maybe they will get them and Buddy Mans will be fresh in their mind.

Finding who has the HS Clippers to clip "Bilbo" almost impossible. 

Old household clippers don't cut pig hair :/

Rounding up official dress for a sprouting 13yr that hates trying anything on

 is not fun.

OMGosh! His shoe size is now a 9. 

(more evidence he is growing up and becoming a man...

.noooo I want my cuddly baby back)

Buddy Man NEEDS to enter in ALL the side categories FFA has.

(woodworking, metal working, plants, etc.)

 Its most likely he'll receive a ribbon with a premium

 and it all adds up.

FFA isn't as organized as I expected.

(maybe I need to volunteer, wink wink)

Majority of it was positive however something has stood out and has

 quite alarmed Momma.

Handwriting.

 (more on that later)

Next year we will have our ducks in a row. 

 Now that we know so much.....we have a plan :)

 Which includes teaching Buddy Man about Time Management, deadlines and such.

Morning Ride to School

I love the rides to school in the mornings :)  Sometimes they are quiet.  Sometimes they are hurried and stressed (thankful that these are now infrequent) Sometimes they are pure GEMS <3
This morning's ride started with the call of "ShotGun" This competition to win first dibs on the best seat. Depending on weather the preferred spot may be the back seat which is the warmest.  I do not usually  uphold this "call" due to what is perceived as unfair,  I implemented a rotation basis.  I am always finding new situations to counter the perception.......any way back to why it was a GEM.

My son takes a moment from being engrossed in his ipod game, looks up and asks "Mom, do you think when I grow up I will be a good video game programmer? You know, one that comes up with the games?"  My reaction instinctively was to encourage him to be something other than video games.  However, I stopped.  I changed my perspective and replied with an matter of fact YES.   I asked him to tell me more. He continued with "Did I ever tell you about the video game idea that is christian based."
"No" I replied.
"Ask Joe the next time you see him" says my son and returns to playing his game while he nonchalantly informs me that  Joe (Youth leader) thought it was a good idea and the Speaker at the Winter Youth Retreat thought it was a good idea.
"WHAT!" :/ " Tell me Tell me Tell me"  (My son ..... the inventor :)
So I listened as he described how this game would be based on the Bible.  You'd be able to choose characters of the Bible or develop your own.  They would have quests, buy verses as clues,  fight in battles  etc.  Rated T
I responded "well the Bible IS pretty intense and wow it could even be Rated M. or soften it up for Rated E. WOW.....that idea has HUGE potential!"

I did caution him that it would need be with the right motivations and.... wow... God could even bless it.

He replied.  "I don't need to get rich, but people can read the bible and play a video game"

My son is cool :D

New Year's Reselution

As the end of this year approaches, I reflect on what I've accomplished.
Sound of air coming out of a tire comes to mind.
Such intentions, desires and a misplaced New Year's Res List.
HMMMM

As I stated in the previous post I have been scanning blogs.
I came across one that caught my attention. Subject matter: NYRL and how, at the end of the year feeling deflating because of the lack of hash marks on this most honored LIST. I have even gone to the extent of just not making any because I knew I would not keep them and at the end of the year feel deflated instead of energized for the next one.

Talk is cheep and I am living proof. I have talked and talked about accomplishing something and without the concentrated effort to basically change a life long habit failed to accomplish it.  In the past years my list of NYR have included: healing, organizing, losing weight, getting in shape, family,simplifying.  Normally all on one list. Kinda crazy...not simple, cluttered, and certainly not focused.

I plan on trying a different approach.

It takes intense physical and mental energy for one to seriously commit to accomplishing a goal. To think you can accomplish ALL of them...well that is only for comic books.

For a Marksman to hit the Target dead center takes extreme FOCUS, and commitment to accomplishing that goal.   Ever heard of Jack of all trades, Master of none.

Name your year. Focus on becoming a master.
Naming your year is only the the First Step.
How will you arrange or rearrange your schedule to accommodate the energy you must exert to accomplish your goal this year?  What will you give up?

Think about it. You have 2 months to decide. Make a list, narrow your focus and choose your target. Choose one and only ONE.  Be careful in choosing to broad of a target that the target is fuzzy.

Name YOUR year.

Mine is THE YEAR OF ...............

Yellow

Let me clarify- these are my thoughts...random...unedited and no doubt grammatically flawed. :)

Wow how time flies......even when your not having fun.  I will not bore you by trying to fill in the time gap.  I am going to follow Fly Lady's advice. Start where you are.  So here I am :)

I have been scanning some blogs just to see what other people are doing out there.  Ah, the inspiration :)

My plans for last weekend were cancelled.  A bit discouraging but I was determined not to let it get me too down.  I tried to take advantage of the time and enjoyed hiking. I love the outdoors.

Plus, Our Church's Woman's Ministry brought Carol Kent to speak to us. Oh goodness, I forgot my tissue.  If any of you know me....I cry at everything. It is not a bad thing. Embarrassing yes, but bad...no.  They have nick named me "Big Baller Todd" (hehe, name changed so it doesnt fit anymore) Simply cause I cry at happy things and sad things.  OK...Digressing.

Carol Kent was very good. Many things spoke directly to me however she inspired me to actually DO something I have been wanting for a long time.  To pass on a little SunShine to others.
She talked about getting encouraging cards, flowers etc all in her favorite color "Yellow" (THAT'S MY FAVORITE COLOR!) because her mother, giving her decorating advice,  told her that " every room should have a touch of yellow."  I elbowed my mom as a sign of "did you hear that?! that's what I think.  Now I can't remember exactly why Carol Kent talked about this but immediately ideas were spinning through my head.

So this is my belief about yellow.
It  puts a little hop in your skip
a little spring in your bounce
puts a smile on your heart and brings it out to your face
a little SunShine brings warmth, joy and peaceful feeling.

Yellow is a FEEL GOOD color.

I am drawn to yellow.

Maybe that is why I am drawn to bees and honey ;)
I LOVE yellow roses. (the darker ones not pale)
Sunflowers
In stores I pick up anything yellow first.
I wanted my kitchen to be yellow.
I like yellow rubber duckies
I love smiley faces
My favorite song was "You are my SunShine"

After having this AHA moment.  It is quite curious...... WHY DON"T I HAVE YELLOW EVERYWHERE?!

Reality, barely a spec of yellow can be found in my house. hmmm

Yes, down deep psychologically, I'm sure it means something (material for a different post) but THAT is going to change. I need to bring back YELLOW INTO MY LIFE AND LET IT SHINE!!

I have an inner desire to edify others and for others to have a bit of what Yellow means to me. Can't explain it. I just do.

I enjoy letting others know that they Shine and they have a positive effect. That they are made up of GOOD light within them. That they alone matter. God made you, loves you, forgives you, died for you, wants a relationship with you and wants to make your inner Sun, Shine through.

All these mental picture are in my head.

Sun is Light cuts through dark.
Natural Light
God-made Light. (unlike man-made ie light bulb)

How will this manifest itself?

Project-Mission-Initiative

Signature color
YELLOW

SHINE Awards

SHINE ON

Day Brightner

More to come:

Side note I have more favorites
Earthy Green

My Mom

My mother is a strong woman with broad shoulders to carry the weight of her life. She is a loving and unselfish woman. Protector, Provider, Caregiver, Companion, Servant, Encourager, Prayer warrior, Friend, Saved by Grace and though many do not realize it is keeper of our family.


Currently she is everyone of those listed above to one man. A man that is her husband and a father to all her children. At different times she is many to all that has connection with her, even to her own mother.

What credit my father receives has been partially due to my mothers work on the front line and behind the scene. Has done the dirty work while the glory goes elsewhere. The ole saying. "Behind every man is a wonderful woman" She asks for no credit for what she has provided everyone in her lifetime yet she deserves more than we all together can give her.


God is extending the life of my father for a purpose. God has a plan for you. "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, they are plans for good, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 (nlt) And she alone is his constant. It is our choice to live God's plan or not but He will use all things for His glory.


When my father was working and providing financially. She worked outside the home and took care of all the duties a family, children and home demand.


When my father could no longer work because of diabetes and its affects on ones health she continued to work and provide for her family, children and home.


None of this discounts the role my father continues to play in all our lives but this blog is for my Mom. Who had no sons to be Mamma's Boy :) and give her her due credit. :)


From infancy to now our family has had pillars. One of which carries many titles but I call her MOM

Back to School Chaos

Yay! School is back in session and we can get back to our somewhat normal routines. I say some what normal because, as I am sure with most of you, it is never NORMAL.

First day of school was a success. Everyone up, dressed, breakfast eaten, lunches made and out the door on time. :) The day went by pretty uneventful.....for me anyway.

The kids were glad to be back to school.

Jake on the other hand...not so much. He on the first day started to get sick. He never gets sick....I mean really sick....like toss your cookies sick. Very RARELY anyway. He was so tired and worn out that he didnt even remember to tell me about being selected for Safety Patrol.

My poor buddyman missed the next two days of school. He was so anxious to get back because he had made Safety Patrol. He was so proud of being a S.P

He could not keep anything in his stomach. Poor guy, then has to be shuffled to his dad's then back home. In the evening he was feeling better and he decided it would be ok for him to have Dr. Pepper and a brownie. Geesh! Um....It didnt stay in his belly too long. ....go figure (eye roll)...

Still feeling weak Wed. morning I kept him home so I could get something to stay in his stomach. He was so hungry and was glad when he could finally eat something more than crackers. He was careful to take it slow. He couldnt resis telling us that Dr. Pepper and brownie was the best thing to throw-up though. EEEEEWWWWW GROSSSSSSSS!!!!TMI exclaimed his sister. Ugh, what boys will say to make their sisters queasy and their moms cringe. :)

ParkerDude has done real well. Homework has not started for him yet. He will get into that routine when he comes back his next week.

Brianna got to see and visit her friends the first day. Then she was off to Miami Children's Hospital for surgery. She came through just fine :)"Praise the Lord and thank you for blessing sweet Brianna once again" She will be home bound schooled at the hospital and her mom's for a good month or so. :( We all already miss her and cant wait till we can visit.

Peyton....Oh the spirit she has. So peppy and unbridled. We tend not to get many words in until her excitement has wained alittle. :) She is fun to listen to, if you can keep attention for long periods of time. She gives you blow by blow(one of the many things I love about her)...not a summary. She has missed my ride a couple times. Soon she will have to pay a fare if it continues. She is well aware of this, as last year she provided me with coffee money :) (oh, coffee...I need coffee....)

So this week I will consider...getting back into the swing of things. Next week should flow better. I sure do hope so anyway.