ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL???

Tonight my boys signed up for YFL Football. Their father is one of the coaches for the 3rd and 4th grade team and thier mother is the team mom for both teams. YEP.... we love football. It was great to see our "old" teammates and their families. YOU SEE... we really had a good thing going last year. The kids learned a lot, we won a great number of games, and everyone was there to have fun...NO DRAMA, NO SILLINESS...just pure, old-fashioned, good hearted fun. AND WE SCREAMED OUR HEADS OFF.

I love this "brotherhood" that is emerging. Our families are united and we have one another's backs. It is fun, it is tiring, and we are blessed. I pray this year the tradition will continue. If you are new to the fold...WELCOME...WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE HERE!

So...if you are not busy...and you find yourself cruising by the practice fields at Rockwell School... say a prayer and come over enjoy my world for the next two and one-half months. YOU WON'T REGRET IT!!

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MMMMMMMMUUUUUSSSSSTTTTAAAAAANNNNNNGGGSS!! May God's blessings be yours on and off the field. You make my life a happier place...for that I am truly grateful!

THE START OF SCHOOL

The start of a school year is stressful. Parents fit into one of two catagories: those that have been with their kids all summer and are READY for a break and those that have been with their kids all summer and are MISERABLE about their leaving. Students are hesitant about going back to school because they have to change and be what the new teacher or teachers need....again stressful. Teachers...those people who appear to be slightly-bi-polar when you see them during summer versus during the school year..are stressed...so much to do, so much TO DO, SOOOO MUUUUUCCCH TOOOOO DOOOO!! Yes...very stressful. And those on the outside of this insanity can't remember it or don't understand what the big deal is.

At this hour... we have completed day two of our school year. We are much like the young toddler who is searching for safe places to hold on to as we gain the nerve to take one more step away into the great unknown. Our biggest fear...falling (translated into failure). We must learn the rhythm and rhyme of one another and learn to dance an exquisite tango or cha-cha or waltz...depending upon the day and time.

So tonight I give Kudos to all involved in this intricate equation. May your tomorrows be continually better than your todays and may God bless you always.


NOW GO ON...CUTIE PIE...TAKE THAT FIRST STEP!! I will be here to catch you if you fall!!

Eat, Pray, Love

Today I saw the movie "eat, pray, love". I did not enjoy the book..but really, really liked the movie. Julia Roberts was wonderfully convincing. In one portion, Liz (the main character) visits Italy. While living among the people she gets to see a different way of life. The Italians condemn the American for being too stuck on things and not enjoying the moments we are given. They further say that we don't feel we are entitled to experience pleasure. I have to say this hits home. They giggled and made fun of the fact that we work ourselves into exhaustion only to find ourselves at home on Friday nights in pajamas..and like me..falling asleep before the rented movie even gets good.
SO....the question arises...WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? Perhaps I should take more breaths; experience more moments and genuinely appreciate the fact that I have been given talents that create passion within me. Maybe I will order dessert only and share with those I love most. The movie made me feel blessed...to be in a place at a time in my life...where peace is pretty easily achieved....NOW...let the passion start flowing.

BLESSINGS ON YOU DEAR ONES.... May your passions be many and your troubles be few!!

THE HILL!!!

Have you ever had a memory that was insanely vivid? Only to return to "the spot" later and learn that perhaps your memory had become shady? This has happened to me this summer. For years, I have told my children about a huge, scary, and fiercely dangerous hill that I dared to ride my bike down each summer. My boys would be spellbound with the stories of the numerous bike wrecks involving cases of peroxide and buckets of tweezer plucked boulders that had been removed from my knees. "Tell it again," Alex would often beg. So.. as we were in my hometown (just the boys and I), we found the hill. As I turned right at the stop sign, my heart skipped a beat...then quickly flatlined with boredom at the fact that THE HIll was not really so big. The boys giggled and I insisted that it was much, much steeper than it appeared. In my mind, I played mental gymnastics..why did I fear THE HILL and why the heck did I wreck so many times? In any event...THE HILL still holds fond memories...however..I think my scarred and discolored knees may make for better illustrations.

TODAY...may you face your hill and be assured by the fact that it was a big deal and YES...you survived it dear one!!

Mendy the Joy Spreader!!

Tonight I got to go to Zumba! If you have ever been, you know what I am talking about. If you have not...get your sweet hiney to a class...NOW!!
In any event....I get to go with my dear friend, Mendy! The class is awesome..but the time with her is joyful. You see.....Mendy makes others feel good about themselves. She is a great encourager, listener, and has a laugh that is contagious. Mendy makes you feel like you will be truly missed when you are away. I distinctly remember seeing her at Morgan School when my oldest was in Kindergarten. "HEY...I don't know who she is...but I hope Mack gets to have her" rang through my head as everyone who made her acquaintance smiled, laughed, and seemed to be physically uplifted by a moment of Mendy. Little did I know....how blessed I would be to not only have Mack have her for first grade but to later call her friend. I look forward to seeing Mendy and her family on our McWednesday dates and ALWAYS have a better day for the time I have shared with her. She is a joy spreader...and unlike the flu...it's a very, very good thing. My hope is to be more Mendy-like upon my return to school. Wherever she is... a party and celebration follows. Thanks be to God for this gift of friendship...don't know what I did to deserve it...but I am certainly grateful!!

NOW.....about that ZUMBA class...

Saturday's Solitude

This morning my house is silent. Mack is in Elkin working with Poppy. Andy and Alex have gone to Raleigh to meet a friend. I am here...alone... and getting what I say I always want...A MOMENT OF SILENCE. So then...why is this not much fun? Probably because I find the quiet disturbing. It makes me ponder how life could be. The what if my house was always this quiet questions slam around my brain and I begin to feel a bit panicky. YOU SEE... my noise is my life. The laughter and fussing of little boys, the overly loud television blaring the latest Phineas and Ferb, the loud dog barking at her shadow or a no-see-um, the washing machine and dryer begging us to go back to school so that they too may rest..... You get the picture. Your home is likely this way if you live with any other human. So...I am going to get busy. Attempt to enjoy my quiet time.... and remember to celebrate the noise when it thankfully returns!! HAVE A NOISY DAY WONDERFUL ONES!!

Today's JOYS!!

Today I HAD to get up early to go to school in order to schedule 90 or so kids for next year. I must be honest and admit I WAS NOT looking forward to the task. HOWEVER...there was the comfort that my friend and colleague Leslie would be there. I stopped by Sonic on the way and bought our favorite drinks...knowing we would need the sugar and "kick" to get through the horrific and tedious task. THANKFULLY.....Leslie and I found our groove and jammed out the schedules by noon. IT IS BECAUSE SHE IS WONDERFUL. Leslie is a caring and compassionate person and she brings joy into my life. She loves with all she is and hurts when others are hurting. Leslie wants the best for those she cares about and often sacrifices her needs to do for and help others. God allowed me to meet her and I am selfish but so glad that no forces have caused me not to have her company! YOU SEE...today there was joy... and I could say it was unexpected...but that would be untrue..I KNEW it would be fine...because one of my favorite joy-makers was there to share the task. For Leslie and this day...I am forever grateful. THANKS BE TO GOD FOR YOUR GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP!

My prayer for each of you dear ones is that YOU have your very own Leslie!!

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Today was Vacation Bible School. I can't help myself..... I love it! I have fond memories of being maybe four or five years old and singing about "This Little Light of Mine" and "Kum Ba Yah" , making playdough (that you could eat) and drinking Grape or Orange Crush that Mr. Bud Kilby would deliver each night. I know we were in the top floor, first door on the right of First Baptist Church North Wilkesboro. My mom and Vickie Caudill were teachers and we had a blast. We would leave each night with a cool mountain evening chill and joy, joy, joy, joy...down in our hearts!!


Later in life I have taught, directed, gamed, decorated, refreshmented.....whatever it takes to make VBS a success. I love meeting children and watching the spirit of God flow through them when you compliment them on their felt, glue, and glitter masterpieces. They are thirsty and open and are willing to let the cleansing waters of Jesus saturate their very being. I love VBS because...I want to return to that childlike innocence...where I hear the Master saying..."little girl..come to me".... and I go! It makes my heart light and fill with joy at the thought that I would actually fall asleep nightly exhausted because I have done HIS will and HIS work.

Tonight I am drained...but the labor has been for a higher cause and one that is WORTHY TO BE PRAISED. Thanks be to God for the blessings he allows us to be through him!! May you be all that HE created you to be!!