Shrek

Yes. That's Anjalene.

She's the short one.

She was also a tree.

The Spring production was just as incredible as the Fall one.  Shrek The Musical was so entertaining to watch.  Coming on the heels of their New York trip, it was exciting to be a part of it.  I liked helping backstage with costumes.  I never realized how much went into these huge productions.  I am so thankful Lene had this experience, as it was announced this would be the last year 8th graders would have an opportunity to experience Drama in this form.  We fought it by going to District Board Meetings, but the 8th grade Drama program no longer exists, which is very unfortunate for all who could have been impacted by this powerful program.

Run the Race

This weekend concluded our track season.  It was the SCMAV finals.  Basically, Jonathan placed first in our school district for the relay, 100, and 200.  At the valley meet, he placed second in all of his events.

Yesterday's meet was to determine if he was going to state.  It was a hot day.  It was a long day, and he didn't fare as well as he had hoped.  In the first heat he came in third, which was okay for him. He was used to being near the top.  Two hours later in the finals. . .the race finished so close they had to review the tapes and Jonathan did not like the outcome.  In his mind he had finished third, but they called it a sixth place finish. The boys came in with a tenth of a second between them.  It was that close!  The injustice of it was written all over his face.  He was not happy and he was not allowed off the field as he still had another race to run--a longer one.

I watched from the side, then I tried to get close to talk to him through a gate, but it was useless.  He was mad and he couldn't see me.  I wanted this for him, because he wanted it.  But truth be told, he didn't want it that bad.  He wasn't training for it at home or doing any extra running besides what took place on the playground during school hours.  And that's okay.  But it was hard looking at his disappointed face.  I prayed him through it from afar and hoped his poor attitude would disappear.  That he would appreciate the fact that he had come this far.  That was an accomplishment in and of itself!

God was good, and Jonathan came out to use the restroom and put down his ribbon.  He was still mad.  I could tell.  But I had a moment with him alone and said, "Did you do your best?"  With downcast eyes he muttered, "yes." "Then that's all that matters.  Try having fun out there, son."    He trotted off with a little more of a bounce in his step, and not so sullen.

The minutes sitting in the hot sun wore on, and his uncle, aunt, and cousins showed up.  There was no way to tell him he had an audience as he was on the field.  The gun blasted and he ran.  And he came in last place.  He honestly didn't look like the same kid out there.  His effort was slim to none, and he was enveloped between boys so much taller than him you had to wonder, are they really only ten?  I was nervous walking over to him after.  I couldn't bear to see him downcast and sullen as his family looked on and had come such a far distance to watch him. I didn't want him not to appreciate their presence. I didn't want him making excuses or angry. My stomach was in knots as I wondered what one uncle would say as his bluntness and sarcasm can be a little much on my little softies heart.  But I need not have worried.  My son pranced off the field, relief written all over his face. He exhaled as I embraced him saying, "Geeze, I'm sure glad that's over!"  Before bursting into a grin.  He started talking fast, "I don't think dad's technique worked. I decided to just try it and I think it slowed me down instead of speeding me up."  I laughed.

And then we found our family.  And everyone voiced what I had been thinking before. . .do these kids have to show birth certificates?  They are giants!  There was laughter and then some good natured races between them across school grounds.  All in good fun!

There was more laughter.  It's as if the losses were already forgotten.  He got further than he did the year before and that was enough.  It's funny because we always thought Jonathan would be part of a team, but God has other plans and we're filled with hope that there's a future in running.  With some training and time, he will continue to race and have fun with it (we hope).  The losses will still come, but hopefully he will learn how to deal with the disappointment and always try his best.  We are very proud of his accomplishment this year on the track field.  Win or lose, how he walked off the track that second time, made my mama heart soar.

April 12, 2012

Working with two different spring breaks made last week fun-filled after hours for me, which included a camping trip!  We kept it close to home which totally worked out well for us since we were blessed by so many visitors!  We celebrated our ten year anniversary up there, surrounded by friends and family--only this time we were around a campfire!  Believe it or not, but I was having so much fun, that I didn't take many pictures of all the people who came up and all the things that we did.  My personal favorite a bike ride around the lake--NOT!!!  It was quite the ride for my beginner legs, but we did tit anyways!  The kids are growing up--they went skunk hunting, and duck feeding, and tossed around the football--and took their older brother and his little sister on a ride around the lake that lasted for hours. . .Nessa was in and out of the RV with no problem--no brace to wear in the nights as she used to have to do last summer. . .kids riding their bikes around several sites, not just ours.  How they are growing up right before my eyes and I miss it sometimes--I have to slow down and really see them, like I am able to do when we are out and away. . .grateful we made the time for this.

The biggest blessing, was having my parents stop by with my papa.  he's eighty-seven and doesn't get around as well as he used to, but the kids just loved having him there!  I enjoyed listening to him tell Ernie stories of his truck driving days and watching him have to trust Ernie when it came to getting him out of the RV.  He was there for hours on Good Friday and I think it is a memory that will always stick with me.  My Papa camping.  Makes me smile.

The full moon was gorgeous and Little took better pictures than I could even attempt, so I think I will remember that as well.  It used to be we would camp in tents when he was six-year-old.  Now at eighteen, he is staring graduation right in the eyes and making decisions that will determine his life's path--school, work, both?  Hanging out together without the daily life demands, out in God's beautiful creation was a wonderful way to spend a couple days!

April 4, 2012

It sure has been awhile. . .it seems.
I actually haven't completely recovered.  My throat is still sore so I am thinking it's allergy related. Sigh.
It is also Spring Break for some little ones in this house.
I'm not jealous.  Not at all. (Can you detect the sarcasm?)
We have had an absolute lovely little week thus far.

Monday there was plenty of time for the Easy Bake oven. 
I told the kids I wanted to see how well they could follow directions on their own.  So I watched.

The Pretzel dough didn't work so well. . .they threw it out.

The next time around, they were a little more thorough in their direction reading and the mission was accomplished!

I would love to show you the finished result, but the first tray ended up on the floor.
One little one forgot that it needed to cool--I wasn't just being mean and making them wait!
Trays two through four ended up in bellies before I remembered to take a picture!
I wasn't about to open another pack of baking projects--it would have been easier to make real
recipes. . .but they sure had fun while it lasted!

These two men both showed up unexpectedly. One returned home from work way earlier than we expected and the other stopped by for a visit that was worth the wait!  He's eighteen and a Senior in high school.  Need I say more?  It was so cute to watch the baby covering her face and acting shy around him--just the cutest!  But I must respect wishes, so sadly there is no photo to capture that memory.

Yesterday was filled with hours of play at the park and an evening jog with Lene, who is training for her track meet coming up.  Ernie did lawns to get ready for our Easter brunch with my parents and brothers.  Today, I had the pleasure of taking Lene to work with me.  She was so excited and such a great helper, I'm hoping she may want to go tomorrow--especially since Ernie has graciously offered to take the other two to get their blood drawn--we've had the orders since February. . .
it's just so hard to get there first thing in the morning with my work schedule--and really too much to ask of grandma!! After work, we stopped by the brand new two-story Target that Lene has been dying to get to.  She is so funny--the things she wants to do on her Spring Break--I just love it!

Tomorrow, we will be right up the street for a little camping trip that involves the RV, a lake view and some R & R (after hours, since I will still be working).  Hard boiled eggs are cooling, waiting to be dyed, and more fun is to be had so I need to go!  Hope your week has been as fun filled as ours!

March 29, 2012

It seems, yet again,  there is change on the horizon.  The time has changed, the season has changed, my attitude about controlling all those things that I can not has changed.  Everything looks different since I decided to put it in God's hands.  The flowers seem a little brighter, the birds chirp a little louder, and my heart beats rhythmically calm and peace.  It's a beautiful feeling really.

We have been home more often than not with so much time since we left our little dance competition world.  Fun is had in the back yard, the front yard, with neighborhood kids, all alone, in the tree, in a fort off the bed, doors slamming, feet running, snacks plentiful, joy contagious. . .

My side of a conversation with friends feels a little. . .one sided with no plans whatsoever, or places we have to be to report.  There are no classes or sports or extra-curricular anything that we have to answer to besides CCD and choir...and according to my kids this is enough. We have been from this place to that place, over-scheduled, over-tired, and we aren't going to do it any more.

I'm going to let this new Spring remind me that the most important memories we make will be together as a family.  I will remind myself that it's not important to do what everyone else is doing, to go where everyone else is going, to become so frazzled in the process of keeping up that there is no joy in the ordinary moments. Speaking of ordinary moments. . .I started reading a book by Katrina Kenison that was inspiring. . .but I felt like I was missing out so I began from her first book Mitten Strings from God and it has been so refreshingly rich and warm and is serving as that reminder that less is truly more.
sim·plic·i·ty

1.

the state, quality, or an instance of being simple.

2.

freedom from complexity, intricacy, or division into parts: an organism of great simplicity.

3.

absence of luxury, pretentiousness, ornament, etc.; plainness: a life of simplicity.

4.

freedom from deceit or guile; sincerity; artlessness; naturalness: a simplicity of manner.

 

We have simplified life this year. We have weeded out those things that are not meaningful to focus on what is.  Anjalene loves theater--she can sign up for the next production end of May.  Bubba loves flag football--but the fall is enough for him.  He chose not to play this spring.  There is a track meet in the future.  We can train together, they don't need an afterschool program to train them.  With my decision to stay home more often, one might think of all the ways I could fill my days--with classes and cleaning and groups and so forth.  But the real reason I want to stay home?  Getting them dressed in the morning, lolly-gagging on our way to school.  Having time for Nessa to pick a dandelion for me like she has seen her brother do countless times. 

The simple acts are what I look most forward to.  Showing my love through service and affirmations because I'm not too irritated or annoyed with the busy-ness of our day to day life is what I feel most ecstatic about.  Spring has sprung. . .and like a flower blooming into its perfection, so do I continue with the transformation of my heart.