Kids Annual Talent Night at the church

For the last three years all of our kids have participated in the annual Kids talent night at our church.  This year the boys decided they would all like to do something different so we tried to come up with things that each of them liked.  Jaron was going to do a monologue, but unfortunate for him his parents waited till the last minute to find him one.  So after playing around with Buddy (our dog) and showing the kids some of the tricks he can do, we thought a dog training show would be cute.  The initial plan was for Jaron to bring in Buddy and Lydia to perform different tricks and do some slap stick in between.  Well last night at rehearsal, Buddy was extremely uncooperative.  So we thought we would just have Lydia do it. 

We practice for about 40 minutes this afternoon on the stage in the sanctuary and Lydia did it every time, well then tonight as soon as she discovered there was a crowd she changed her mind.  Jaron was crushed.  He really wanted to do his act.  Evan came and whispered in my ear that he would do it so Jaron could go on stage.  It was a condensed version, but they got the job done.  I was proud of Evan for helping his brother out and for not caring to wear part of Lydia's pink costume. 

Evan did an arting (what he likes to call it) piece where he drew a picture while music was playing.  Evan practiced several times before his performance and I thought he did a great job.  He was under the pressure to complete his picture in about three minutes and he did it with ease and confidence.  I believe he is on his way to becoming a great little artist.

Ethan did a martial arts piece to "Eye of the Tiger".  He has been taking classes this fall and really loves it.  I thought it would be good for his self-confidence and I've been proven right.  He was great up there and everyone got a "kick" out of him.

They all concluded with a song, but I didn't want to over do it...hahaha.  I hope you enjoy the show as much as we did.

The artist hath much arting to do.

Dog Trainer

Ethan at church talent show

Friendship that goes the distance...

Eleven years ago Glen persuaded me to meet someone new at the church we attended at the time.  He said that he thought we would hit it off.  "I can see you guys being good friends."  I was hesitant just because it gets more difficult to make good friends as an adult.  But heeding his wisdom, I met her.  Little did I know that I would find a best girlfriend (soul sisters is what we like to call it) that day.  We hit it off immediately and haven't looked back since.  

You would think me moving 1100 miles away seven years ago would put a damper on our friendship, but it has blossomed deeply because we both go the distance.  We have been there for each other through some difficult and wonderful times.  We've held each other up through miscarriages and deaths of loved ones, and we've been there for each of our children coming into the world.  She has even come to visit just to throw me a "retirement party."  (If you want to know what I retired from, you'll have to ask.)  We've experienced the highs and lows that any friendship goes through, but have always grown together from whatever is going on in our lives.  

I believe what makes our friendship so special is that we continue to make the effort to stay connected, but it seems effortless.  We make each other a priority no matter what is going on in life.  She is a testament of Christ's unconditional love.  

She is headed this way in a couple of weeks to help me celebrate my birthday and our 11 years of friendship.

Ode to Melodie...

Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things. - Author Unknown

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out.  It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being.  We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirt. - Albert Schweiter

A good friend is cheaper than therapy. - Authur Unknown

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. - Elisabeth Foley

A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails. - Donna Roberts

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art...It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival. - C.S. Lewis

The best kind of friend is the one you could sit on a porch with, never say a word, and walk away feeling that was the best conversation you've had. - Author Unknown

It is the friends you can call up at 4 a.m. that matter. - Marlene Dietrich

A friend accepts us as we are yet helps us to be what we should. - Author Unknown

It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

In my friend, I find a second self. - Isabel Norton

Some people come into our lives and quickly go.  Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same. - Flavia Weedn

It is my true belief that a bestfriend invented the masterbath. - Tavia Weatherly 

Am I repeating myself?

Ok, so I'm hitting the other side of 30 in a matter of a couple of weeks (other side meaning 36) and 40 is looking closer than ever.  And I am wondering, do I repeat myself to much?  I am always telling my dad, "yeah, I heard this one already."  But staring someone completely in the face with my undivided attention I am starting to second guess myself...scary thought.  I begin my sentences with "I may have already told you this, but..." or end my conversation with "Did I already discuss this with you?"

I believe this has nothing to do with age, but with the fact that I have four children.  I know I repeat myself with them what seems like a thousand times.  Put that away when you are through with it.  Remember to put the seat down, flush the toilet and wash your hands.  Be quiet.  It's time for bed.  Stop talking and go to sleep.  Stop talking and go to sleep.  STOP TALKING AND GO TO SLEEP, Did I already discuss this with you?  I'm gonna stop blogging now and hopefully go repeat myself for the last time tonight.

It's that time of year...

Every season since we moved here I have had to rotate my family's wardrobe.  This week has been unseasonably cool and so I have been digging into the plastic containers to find long-sleeved shirts. This is a sure sign that tank tops, sun dresses, shorts and bathing suits are on their way to the bottom of some dark container where they won't be seen for at least nine months.  

Even though this December we will be living here for seven years, I still find the concept of rotating clothes extremely foreign.  Growing up in sunny Florida, everyone owned a couple pairs of jeans and a couple sweatshirts and we kept them in our bottom chest of drawers where they might be worn a couple times a year.  It has become at least a two week ritual to expel one season's clothes as they go through the wash and to slowly add the next.  Of course, after I have switched everything over we will have an "Indian Summer" couple of days or a cold front pass through.  This means that there will be a couple pair of shorts tempting my children in mid-October to be worn. 

The other sad thing about living up in an area of the country where there is truly four seasons is the fact that I can't wear flip-flops all year round.  My feet love to be free.  They prefer to breath in comparison to being smothered by thick socks and unpleasant feet restraints (shoes).  I hold out as long as I can, but when my toes start to get hypo-thermia, I cave into wearing real shoes.  I have a friend that also finds this a dilemma and together we pay homage to our fond flip-flops about the same time each year.

So there is a feeling in the air....the ritual is nearing.  I always look forward to putting the winter away and pulling out the spring, but it is sorta sad putting the summer away for the fall. So I pray...Indian Summer days, please stay!!! 

 

Labor Day Parade

The only parade I remember growing up as a kid was when I was in highschool and I marched with my piccolo over the Main Street Bridge for the opening of the Jacksonville Landing.  I guess being in a large metropolitan city there aren't many parades.  Glen on the other hand can recall several parades he dressed up as a clown in and marched to promote his father's hardware business.  I am almost positive it was all of his on initiative.  

Our small town (33,000 strong) has probably five parades a year.  We've gone to most of them (been in a few) and its become a family tradition.  The kids love it because a majority of the people in the parade throw candy and the kids get a kick out of picking it all up.  They almost always give out little American flags and the kids like to wave them around.  We almost always see someone we know and its fun to hoot and holler for them.  I know when our kids get older that like their dad, they will have lots of memories of our small town parades.