~last nights band concert~

the kids walking to their band concert....look it's snowing.

brady on drums.

brooke on drums

this year's concert i watch both kids at once

as brooke will be in high school next year :(

and this will be their last year at the same school together... for couple years.

brady headed out with the drums.

the men thinking strategy

color guard

my husband even had a part in the band

a special part.

bringing in our flag.

the men watching the band concert.

~THURSDAY~

today is THURSDAY, which means nothing the next day is FRIDAY.

most the weekends are spent traveling these days with this guy below.

and it is so much fun watching him play

he says football is awesome

but is really diggin' this basketball thing lately.

~helping hands~

"ALWAYS AFTER A DEFEAT AND A RESPITE, THE SHADOW TAKES ANOTHER SHAPE AND GROWS AGAIN."

GANDALF

today as i sit and think of the world and the meaning of FAMILY, i think of a father, mother, and some children added to the mix.

i think of love, laughter, trips, bedtime stories, late night movies, strength, happiness, forgiveness. (the list could go on and on)

i think how some make choices to have a family and others ruin what they have as a family.

i think of families who hurt when the unthinkable happen

i try and place myself in their shoes for a minute, but not wanting to stay long.

i think of life and how unfair it is to these families and stop and think

it could be any one's family. it could happen to mine. or yours.

and is happening to many.

i'm excited and touched to learn that when things happen their are good people. good families. that want to help other families and people who are lost but will ultimately take another shape and grow again.

please if you can and would like to donate to a newly- young- widow do so HERE

follow her story HERE

we all need a helping hand.

back to school~

after spending all week on the couch sick with influenza, i'm happy to say she was able to go back to school yesterday.

fever, chills, aches and pains gone away.

introducing your boys basketball manager~

 i'm beginning to wonder if this may be too big of a task for her....

hey at least she gets to see her "out of town" friends when they travel.

major fist pump!

~i like lemon flavored things~

i came across this recipe HERE  for lemon monkey bread.  Doesn't that sound yummy?? I'm a fan of lemon flavored things. if interested i posted a recipe myself here on lemon poppy seed bread which reminds me that i haven't bake in awhile. which is good for the waistline but not for the children who say they're starving because we have nothing good in the house to eat.  i just can't seem to keep the "good stuff" in the cupboards enough for them lately.

~first

so after last weekends games here, i'm happy to report this weekend in an even bigger tournament

the boys brought home 1st place metals. they are much happier here.

8 teams and the final game came down to overtime and we ended up winning by 4 points.

on another not so happy note brooke came down with influenza and we are hoping she won't share with the rest of us...got to love flu season.

Voice of a Savior - Mandisa

i love, love, love this song....so true!

the third kid...yeah i'm talking about the one in the middle~

sometimes the loudness of my house annoys me...the screams and yells that rock the house when dad is ready to wrestle.....but times like these are what the kids like love.  when dad gets home and draws all his attention on them. they feel good. about life. about home. about being worry free if only for a minute. so for a little while i choose to let them scream. let them yell. and let them wrestle.

p.s. from time to time....i jump in as well.

~time~

Ephesians 5:15-16


Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Happened to run across this verse today and it hit me how much I complain about not having enough time! I stress myself all the time thinking how am I going to get to the laundry and get supper done while working full time before the kids choir concert tonight... it just seems i'm trying to find time for all the unimportant things. i mean yes supper is important and having clean clothes to wear to the choir concerts would be nice...but is there really any reason to freak out about it like i do sometimes  all the time? 

i love reading other peoples blogs every now and then...i mean some of these people i've never met but found a interest in their lives and in them. i may get strength from one blog and get advice out of another.
within the week i've read one where a couple is embracing their first new bundle of joy and are loving it and another blog where they've been dealt a bad hand and had to say goodbye to a loved one.... way to soon. and even though i may not know them they both have touch me this week in different ways without even knowing it.  they have made me question how i'm spending my time. you see time wasted is never a good thing. our babies grow too fast. time moves too fast. i want to try and make the most of my time. on important things. things that matter. things that will make your life meaningful. will give you strength. bring you happiness and make life worth living. i want to commit to do the best that i can with my time.


Proverbs 16:3


Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

~2nd place means..... you're the first losers~

 to me 2nd place means you have done a great job.

 to a kid who's twelve and worked hard on the court, 2nd place means you are the first losers.

so i was told by these unhappy ball players.

you can just see the disappointment on my sons face in this photo...they were so close to 1st.

so close. 5 points close.

coach chuck (a.k.a brady's dad) having visit with the boys.

brady checking his metal out.



ok, maybe 2nd isn't so bad after all.....

~uhh... laundry~

i wake up to being confronted about why i'm slacking on the job....well my home job. as in "housework".

but i too hate it when the laundry room holds our clothes at ransom..

as i head into the bathroom this morning, to jump in the shower to get ready for work, brooke meets me and says:

"MOM, do you know where my shirt is that says love is the answer....cuz i put it in the laundry room and i haven't got it back yet???

~baby, it's cold outside~

tuesday and wednesday were both late (10 am) starts for school as most the world knows....some areas are getting bad weather and cold, cold, cold.  i'm just hating it outside right now. even though the kids don't have to make their way out in the coldness until 10, i myself have to be to work by 7 am.  both days my car fighting with me to start and run right.  good thing we all got snuggies for Christmas. i'm thinking about a space heater as well.