Friday night nerves

It's Friday night again.

I don't remember when Friday nights started making me so nervous. I used to love them. The idea of being able to stay up late, no rushed bedtime rituals, knowing I'd be able to sleep in the next morning, and then make pancakes and bacon for breakfast............

But I have a teenage daughter, remember.

And she LOVES Friday nights.

A couple months ago, she somehow talked me into letting her be the Basketball Manager. When she first asked, I was like Yeah right! I know exactly why you want to "manage" the BOYS basketball team!

and yes I used air quotes as I said it to her.

I have her all figured out.

But then she said, "Not the boys team, the girls team!"

And I was like oh, ok, maybe that's harmless. She really does just want to MANAGE the team.

Well it has been harmless. Pretty much. Except she did leave out the fact that the boys' and girls' teams do all ride together on the buses to the away games and the boys play right after the girls on the Friday night games.
 So my visions of her being crammed together with a bunch of sweaty boys has still happened, somewhat.

So back to Friday nights. There is always a game, and being a manager she is required to be there. She is in charge of the filming, which she has loved and taken very seriously, so I am so proud of her being so responsible.

I like the word so.

Last Friday was a home game and she had the usual plans to be there and manage her girls. She had asked to stay for the boys game after, and somehow we compromised and I said I would pick her up at halftime.

I came into town.......

remember we live a half hour out of town, so planning is key for me.

I came into town early so me and the girls could visit with our friends and the new baby. They happen to live like 3 blocks from the high school. Right as I was getting ready to leave to go get her from the game, the phone rang. Yes it was her.
"Ohhh PLEASE can I stay for the rest of the game. It's tied and I want to watch them win..............."
I am a whimp so I said yes. Plus I was holding the baby!

Finally it was time to get her. My friend came with me for the short drive because........well she has 7 CHILDREN!    nuff said.

As we pull up to the school, I see my daughter coming out of the doors. She is not alone. There is a tall, hat wearing boy walking with her.

I'm not prejudice of hats, it just seems important here.

They walk up to car and my sweet precious daughter asks my friend to roll down the window.

"Oh hi Mrs.....     he knows my friend
we have a question to ask you."

My daughter asks if she can stay for the dance. I have no idea why she thought bringing a boy to ask with her was a good idea.

Here's the funny part. My friend who is so funny, tells them just a sec....and rolls up the window so we can discuss this!
My daughter looks horrified and we are in the car laughing so hard.

We (I think all major decisions should be made with your friend) decide she can stay for half the dance and my friend will pick her up for me and she can stay the night there. But first we (ok she) gave a huge speech to this tall, hat wearing boy that if he was not nice and respectful and if she was one second late he was going to turn into a pumpkin.

So that was last Friday.

As of this minute we have the same plans that we had last Friday at this time.
So, instead of dreaming about sleeping in tomorrow and bacon, I'm getting ready for the Friday night nerves.........

I have a teenage daughter, remember.

So, How are you planning to spend your Friday night?
Big plans, small plans?
Did I make you want bacon?

Stolen Quotes

Here are a few little things that people have said out in blog land these past few weeks. For one reason or another they really stuck with me.

So I thought I'd share.




“Enjoy the little things, for one day, you may look back and realize
that they were the big things.”
- Robert Brault

Quote stolen from Centsational Girl


"There is so much freedom in doing what you love, even if I'm scared to death, and then trusting Him with the outcome."

Quote stolen from The Preacher's Wife


"I will forever be amazed at the power of words."

Quote stolen from Lysa TerKeurst


"I didn't say don't be scared, I said don't be afraid."

Quote stolen from Dirty Shame


 "I could see that each step I took on one path, gave me direction and wisdom for this new path."

Quote stolen from my sister Teresa


"Quiet whispers of encouragement can be a life-line to someone else."

Quote stolen from Kellie



I tried to make sure and leave a comment on these people's blogs asking permission to steal from them.

Any one of these speak to you like it did me?

Half over

My daughter is a Sophomore in high school.

Her Sophomore year is half over already.

How did that happen?

I am trying not to look too far ahead..............

Her taking her driving test this March
Her wanting to drive herself everywhere, without me
Her being a Junior
Her being a Senior
Her going off, far far away to college
Her not going to College and just living off us forever

I don't really want to think about all that.
I just want to enjoy each and every single moment I have with her.

Like when she was a new born baby and I just wanted her to sleep on my chest all day and all night.
Everyone kept telling me to put her down and let her sleep in her bed.
But I knew it would go so fast and I wanted to take advantage of
each and every single moment I had with her. 


My middle daughter is 9.

Her time before she turns into an adult is half over.

How did that happen?

I am trying not to look too far ahead...................

I just want to enjoy each and every single moment I have with her.


My youngest daughter is 6.

She 's half way to driving me crazy.

Yet. I still want to enjoy each and every single moment I have with her.

Walking

I have been walking with Jesus.
Lately He has been leading me down a path that I thought I already knew.

Turns out, Jesus has a different idea of victory than I do.

Sure my idea is pretty good, from the world's eyes.

But He wants so much more than pretty good. His plans for my life include so much more than just a happy, comfortable, feels good walk in the park.

His path is actually going somewhere.
Not just round and round the park.


There are some things I need to let go of. I thought I had been all this time, but clearly Jesus says I haven't. Not really. My heart or mind has still always kept some of my hands right on it.

Jesus says let go. Completely.

It's hard. Really hard.

I am a thinker. I like to figure everything out in my mind and then act.

But I'm just me and try as I might I can not figure everything or everyone out.

I feel like things are going to get worse before they get better. I have made a mess of my life that only Jesus and I can see.
But His eyes are enough.

He has been telling me for a long time to let go.

I have finally heard Him.

Now the actual letting go part? That's hard.

But so is knowing He wants something from me and not doing it.
That's just painful.

Friday night blues

We have the blues here. The big sis is not coming home tonight blues.

We get them often lately.

We are having popcorn, homemade, it's the best!
We have, Cloudy with a chance of meatballs to watch!
We have a Dad who is sound asleep on the couch, snoring!
We have a cranky 6 year old, who keeps STOMPING her foot, when I say no!

And I wonder why she chooses to go to the basketball game and stay the night with her friend..................

*UPDATE
Remember my weepy post about kids and balloons all because my #1 had a job interview?
Well, she got the job.
It won't start until this summer, because it's a swim coaching job, but she is so excited.
I'm excited because the coaches get to join the swimteam for FREE!

Happy Friday night! :)

Regrets

My daughter is regretting going to High School.

For one reason and one reason only.



BIOLOGY!


I don't even remember having biology in High School. We had like life and earth science or something........
But then I also took a type writing class. Yes, with a type writer! Not a computer. A type writer.


In the last month she has had to dissect:

A worm
A clam
A squid

I can't even go on. This is just disgusting.

Shouldn't she be learning how to:

Save money
Pay a mortgage
Feed a family with healthy food
File taxes
Compare insurances
Manage time between work and family
Compromise with husband
Serve God


ohhh wait this is what I'm still learning.

Should I be worried?

We have a few different DVD series we have bought over the years.

Some really good ones like;

The Muppets
Full House
Home Improvement
Wonder Woman (This was for me, I totally wanted to be her when I was little)

But my 9 year old and my 6 year old, have a favorite.......

Dukes of Hazard
(This was bought for my husband, who totally wants wanted to be one of the Duke boys)

So last night I told the girls they could pick one show out to watch, and here they came with the Dukes of Hazard box.

me: Why this?

9 year old: It's my favorite

me: Why?

9 year old: acting a little embarrased, They're really funny and they have a cool car!
6 year old: Yeah Mom they're so cute and they drive really fast!

Again, should I be worried?
:)

10 Things I Hope To Accomplish In 2010

Thanks again Life at 7000 feet!
 (Wow, is she really at 7000 feet? That is amazing!)

I think these are my favorite posts to do. I just LOVE a challenge that has to do with words. I just pick a topic and challenge myself to come up with 10 things.

10 things I am hoping to accomplish this year. If they don't get accomplished, I'm hoping to look back and see that I at least put some effort into them.        Do I sound like I'm doubting myself already?

#1 Publish my childrens' books

OK maybe not publish, but at least get the ones off the shelf that I have already written, write the ones that are still banging around in my head, look up "publishers" on the internet, and just go from there.


#2 Read the whole Bible

#3 Pray daily for my husband and our marriage

#4 lose weight

ugh

#5 Get a job

#6 Pay off  debt

#7 Find a church and go to it regularly

I love church, it has just been hard to find the right one since we moved. I looked when we first moved here, but just gave up after a few weird experiences. It's been 6 years. That's too long to go without having somewhere to worship and get "preached at" on a regular basis.

#8 Get my wisdom teeth pulled

Yes I still have my 2 bottom ones. I have had several different appointments to do this and have cancelled them all. I get freaked out  thinking about them ripping 2 huge teeth out of my mouth!

#9 Write

I have sooooooo much in my head. Ideas, Stories, Bible studies......I just don't always know what it all means, so I push it aside. But it doesn't go away. I need to get it all down and then at least it'll be out of my head!

#10 Be a better Mom

I know this is an every year desire, but it is just going way to fast! I want to be able to spend less time worrying about the messes, and the schedules, and the things. I want to spend more time really looking into their eyes, and doing the things that they're going to remember the most.


If you had one goal this year to be accomplished what would it be?

UP UP and AWAY....

Sometimes raising kids is like having a balloon.

It starts with this little tiny shrivled thing.

you hold it and look at it and wonder where to begin.

Then comes the hard part.

Getting going can be hard, but once you figure out how to do it, you keep going.

And going. And going.

It changes and grows and you see a shape taking place.

You give it more and more, even though you feel out of breath and can't seem give anymore.

Then you see it. How beautiful. You think that wasn't so hard, and it was so worth it.

As you try to tie the knot/ give the last bit of advice, it's feeling the wind. Wanting to let that wind carry it on. Carry it somewhere without you. On it's own.

So you let it go.

As it slowly goes with the wind, you get to watch it for awhile, and it is the most beautiful thing you've seen.

Then in an instant it's gone.

But the memory of it will last a lifetime.


All this from one little job interview my daughter went on last night. I dropped her off at the curb and then inside the building I could see her! She shook hands with not just 1 person, but 4 people! I saw her sit down and smile and begin to be interviewed like she was some adult or something. It was amazing. But it made me cry. Just yesterday she was wearing diapers saying she was going to marry me because I was the best person she ever knew. Now? She's a balloon feeling that wind...........

A Boy!

A baby boy was born yesterday.

I'm sure alot of babies were born yesterday. I'm sure alot were not.

I spent some time yesterday in the hospital's chapel. It was beautiful and I had it all to myself.

I prayed for this new baby and this new mommy.
I prayed for some women whom I have never laid eyes on, yet I knew who were praying. I asked for blessings to be sent right back to you.
I prayed for some of the women I got to know this year through blogs, that aren't holding their sweet baby in their arms.
I cried so many tears. Happy tears. Sad tears. The why can't I do more tears.

A baby boy was born yesterday.

He is healthy and safe today.

                                  tomorrow...............................

Off to have a baby!

Not me.

My best friend has 7 children.
6 of them are daughters.

Her oldest is 17, who is at the hospital right this minute getting ready to have a baby.

My best friend is going to be a Grandma.
She was not ready for that.

Her 2nd oldest daughter is my daughter's best friend.
We have been a part of this family for the past 6 years.

Between me and my friend we have 9 daughters!
To say we have spent many nights, days, phone calls.... trying to figure them out, would be a total understatement! You just can't figure that many girls out at once.

Last year this beautiful, smart, sweet, easy going girl went looking for love.
The love that I know was knitted together in her when she was in her own mother's womb. The love and desire to be a wife and a mother.

She just forgot one important thing.

To fall in love with Jesus first.

So her ideas of love got fuzzy. Her desire to have what God put in her overroad her desire to wait out the plan God had.

It happens every. single. day.

I believe we are all born with these desires, gifts, ideas...inside of us. Each of ours so different and yet some the same. But waiting for God to work them out in our lives can be hard.

If you have an extra moment today, I know a scared, yet excited 17 year old girl who could use your prayers. I'm sure there's alot of them out there.
And while your at it say a prayer for yourself. For that desire that only God could have put in you, that you'll wait it out for His plan.

ok, I'm off to the hospital!

Boy toys can be fun!

I am a girly girl.

I love the fact that I have 3 daughters.

I can not imagine my life if I had 3 boys.

When I walk through the boys' section of clothes or toys, I get completely bored.
seriously bored, within seconds.

I am so sorry if that sounds so rude to all you Mother's of boys.

I just love girly stuff.

My whole house would be pink if I didn't have a husband.
seriously pink.

We were at Mcdonalds the other day.
Yes, my kids eat there.

I ordered 2 happy meals. They usually ask if I need a girl or a boy toy to go with that.
They didn't ask this time.

As the girls ate on the way home.
Yes, my kids eat in the car.


One of them asked what the toy was. I casually looked over at the bag and said,
" Oh I don't know some ugly gray and black thing!"

"ewwe." one of them replied.
"Yeah, ewe." I agreed.

When we got home daughter #3 took the toys out of the bag and went and found her sister to open it up and see what it was.

Next thing I knew I heard laughing and running and jumping coming from their room.
As I went up to investigate, I was attacked!

Turns out the ugly gray and black thing was a nerf gun of some sort.

Turns out it was the best toy Mcdonalds has ever given!

It has been 6 days and this thing has been played with non stop.

Either boy toys can be fun or my daughters are having a little too much fun trying to kill eachother!