This Week

We started the week here.....

....mis-reading a food label brought out the epi-pen for William. I would like to say this mistake won't happen again, but sadly, I'm sure it will. I will say it was a great reminder to the kids that there's a reason why I harp and harp about keeping epi pens close by. (The reaction happened at church and none of the kids had an epi with them. Thankfully, we only live three minutes away!)

We ended this week with Benjamin's honor roll ceremony. 

All the kids earned all A's but the high school does not hold awards ceremonies. Ben not only got all A's, but also top ten for reading points. 

In between these events we got concrete poured for our backyard. A few weeks ago the front driveway extension was poured, but then we got rain, rain, and more rain. Nothing was done last week other than drying out. They are currently working on the brick wall and should finish by next weekend. Pictures to come! 

All for Safety Sake...Really???

I'm all for safety.  I tell my kids that most of the rules in our house revolve around safety.  We don't throw a ball (more like kick the soccer ball in this family) in the house, because I want to keep our possessions safe.  I want them to wear a helmet while biking or a seat-belt in the car all for safety reasons.

But I think there comes a time in our world that we have taken safety way too seriously.  Currently, in Washington State insurance companies want schools to pull down their swing sets. Really?  I think it's a bit ridiculous. Yes, there are times people - small kids even - get knocked over from someone on a swing.  But can't we watch our little ones better?  Can't we teach the older kids to watch out for the toddlers instead of taking a part of childhood away?

Then there's football.  This weekend after BIG wins, Ole Miss and Kentucky students and fans stormed the fields.  Both schools were fined. The reason? Safety.   But yet Baylor wasn't fined during their annual Baylor Line Run as the current freshman class run out of the tunnel. As you can see from the video it's total chaos! They were lucky than those students that fell down were not trampled to death!

Compared that "run" to the almost cooperative spirit at Ole Miss and Kentucky, where people (security guards!) were helping people down from the stands, which is more dangerous??

We just need to step away from fear and the law suits and let people have fun!

A Quick Update

I never mean for so much time to go by between postings...life is good....on the busy side as I'm getting more days to work than I thought I would. For the month of September I worked nine and half.  I know that' not a lot to some, but for me it is.  As of now I only have about four days for October, but I'm sure I'll get more

The kids are good....soccer has started and, also, has started to eat up our time....  I did miss William's first game last weekend as I was in Dallas with friends for a ladies' conference. I will get to see him play tonight! Sadly, it's the late game! Starts at 7:45...blaaa!!!  But I'm NOT working tomorrow, so I'll be able to sleep until almost six (when Drew's alarm goes off) and get ready slowly as Bible study doesn't start until ten.  I'm looking forward to seeing him play.  Last week he got three goals and two assist! Yea!!  I'm so hoping this is a good year for him.....he played so well as a freshman and sophomore...not so well as a junior.....so, this year is it! He's a senior and should get lots of play time.

The other two are doing well. Ben's soccer games start next weekend as he had a bye this week, but practice is going strong.  Melissa is still babysitting a lot, but this year she is getting more involved at school. She has joined the Interact Club and is, also, on the Student Council. And yes, still babysitting a lot.

Friday night Drew and I went out for dinner with friends and then a play.  We ended up eating at the restaurant the kids and I went to to watch the Ole Miss vs Texas football game last year when Drew was living in DC. Great food again! Then we saw the little theater's new production, The Adam's Family - While I not sure I agree with all the casting, they did a great job.  The actress that played Wednesday was spot on!!

Our other big news while I was in Dallas last weekend, Drew signed a contract with a contractor to expand our driveway and back patio. Finally.  This was like the sixth or seventh contractor we had talked to.  And the exciting part???  He started last Monday!  We should have some of the concrete poured this week. We're very excited about getting this finally taken care of!!

A Heavy Heart

I received word today that a daughter of a friend from Guam was killed - strangled by her boyfriend.   My heart is just broken for my friend.  She has been threw a lot since she left Guam. She had to deal with several deployments, then just when she thinks her husband is home to stay, he leaves her for another women.

My friend did not take it well....not at all.  There were several post of facebook that had me worried for her life.  And now she has to bury her daughter because the man who was to love and take care of her, killed her.

What a crazy, evil world at times.

Come, Lord Jesus, Come.

Warning!!

Melissa has several dreams & aspirations for her life. One is to be a contestant on the show 'Survivor'. So much so, she likes us to ask her questions to see how prepared she is. Today I asked her, "How do you know if a berry is poisonous?"

Her answer:  "Have a friend eat it."

So....you might want to be careful if Melissa offers you something to eat....

Joan of Arc

If you had asked me a few weeks ago, what I knew about Joan of Arc, I couldn't have said much.  I would hope that I would have said she was from France...but I'm not sure about that. I knew she was some how involved with the military...but I just didn't know her story.

But I do now.

Donald Spoto wrote a very entertaining book. He honored her story - her faith. It seems many thought out history disregarded her faith, but this author did not. While I'm not convinced he believes she truly heard the voice of God, he does honor her.

While I very sad at how she died at the hands of horrible men, I am glad to know her story.

Be Like a Duck

Many times when someone says a negative comment, it's easy to shake it off...like a duck does water.  Other times those comments are less like rolling water and more like a splinter under your skin. Trying to more like a duck this week...some times it's harder than other weeks....