Archive for May, 2008

We traveled to Memphis on Friday to spend the long weekend with my extended family. On Saturday we went to the Memphis zoo. It was hot and humid, but the kids had fun looking at all the animals. We got some cute pictures. We were exhausted when we got back to my Granny's house, and so we took a nap before heading over to my Meemaw and Grandaddy's house. It's nice that my grandparents from both sides live so close together (their houses are just around the block from each other). We often walk back and forth. The rest of the weekend was spent resting, eating good food, and just hanging out.

We are still waiting to get the details concerning Jay's truck that was damaged in a wreck almost 2 weeks ago. It has been frustrating because the body shop and the insurance company forgot to contact us about it. So Jay has been calling trying to get the scoop, only to find out no one can give us the details. Hopefully we will find out more about it this week.

Well, there are things to do now that we are home, so I'd better get to them. It is nice to get a break from everyday stuff, but it sometimes seems you have to work harder when you get back to it in order to catch up. Oh, well, it's worth it!

Life never seems to slow down, you know? Thursday morning Jay was involved in a car accident. Someone pulled out right in front of him from between some cars stopped at a stoplight (he was driving in the turn lane up to the light.) No one was hurt, but the front end of his truck is pretty messed up, and we will find out if it is totaled sometime in the next few days. So, we have been looking at cars, and we are thankful that we have the means to afford one right now. It is amazing to me how God provides…sometimes (not always) in advance!

Friday night Jay and I planned a date-night, so we left the kids to spend the night with my family and headed towards the River Market in downtown Little Rock. We had fun walking around down there, eating in a nice restaurant and watching people with their night lives. I even saw two people I know! It was nice to not have to worry about getting home to get the kids in bed, and my mom even brought James to his soccer game the next morning, so we could sleep in an extra hour! Eliza slept with my sister Lydia that night and apparently woke up before Lydia did. Lydia said she was awakened by an interesting alarm…it was Eliza yelling, "Pee-pee! Pee-pee! Pee-pee!" I have to teach the girl to say, "I need to go to the bathroom," but I suppose it makes for an effective alarm!

James had his last soccer game Saturday morning, and my mom and all my sisters (and my brother Gerald) came out to watch. It was a beautiful day, but unfortunately it was just the right kind of weather for a bad sunburn…very sunny but not too hot, and I had worn a sleeveless shirt. My shoulders got cooked, and they are pretty painful. We were having so much fun together at the soccer game (and the weather was just too good), that we decided to grab some lunch and take it to the park in Bryant. We walked the trail after lunch and then let the kids (including the married 25-year old, the 18-year old, and the 16-year old) play on the playground. They had a great time, and we were all worn out.

Today we went to church and over to my parents' house for lunch, where we had barbecue pork sandwiches and french fries (my favorite!). James really wanted me to put ketchup on his barbecue sandwich, and when I tried to talk him out of it, he said, "Mom, you have to try something new every day!" At which point I gave up and just put the ketchup on his sandwich, telling him he would eat it. He ate most of it, saying, "Yum!" a little louder than necessary as he ate it. A little later Jay and I left the kids there while we went and looked at a few cars. After finding out that our Sunday evening community group meeting was canceled, we decided to join up with my family's community group, who were having their meeting at Maumelle Park. We had fun eating hamburgers, throwing Frisbees, and playing on the playground. The kids even got to feed some ducks by the river. We played hard this weekend, and it felt good. (Okay, except for the sunburn!) We will probably have to work extra hard this week to make up for our playful weekend, but it was worth it!

We had a great weekend together just being a family. Saturday James had an early soccer game, and since it was too early for lunch afterwards, we decided to make a big brunch. Jay cooked eggs, bacon, and sausage, and I drug out my waffle-maker and made some yummy whole-wheat apple-cinnamon-brown sugar waffles. James and I topped ours with some strawberry jam that we made Friday from a kit that Eliza had gotten for Christmas. The jam was actually pretty good, since it was made with fresh strawberries. It was a great brunch! Jay surprised me with flowers Saturday night after he came back from the store…it was so sweet!

After a great Mother's Day service at church, Jay gathered James and Eliza together and had them give me cards. They had written their names inside (well, Eliza's was just scribbles, but I loved it!) and had a message that each one had dictated to Jay. Eliza's said, "I want to give you a favorite." Jay explained that he thinks she was talking about doing me a favor. Then Jay gave me a very sweet card that nearly made me cry. It had a poem inside, and one of the lines really touched me: "You're… the kind of mother I wish every kid in the world could have." That was too much. Maybe we should poll James and Eliza on that one! :)

Sunday afternoon we took the kids out to Pinnacle Mountain with the intention of climbing the mountain. We thought we might have to change our plans, however, because the park was extremely full! There was not a parking spot to be had anywhere (and Eliza had fallen asleep in the car), so we drove over to the visitor's center for a little while, walking up the short trail there to an overlook of the Arkansas River. We decided to try the mountain again after that, and miraculously found a parking spot right beside the bathroom (which at this point was a necessity for James, so that worked out well.) The kids did a great job climbing, but my shoulders are a little stiff from lifting Eliza up over the biggest rocks, and she has knots and bruises all over her legs from her many tumbles. We kept the kids climbing by telling them to look for the ten numbered markers, which tell you how far you've come. They loved finding the numbers, and insisted on greeting each one with a hug, yelling, "We found you, trusty number seven!" (or whatever number we were at). On the way down, each number got a hug, a kiss (gross!) and a fond farewell. I love my weirdo kids! We got some great pictures. I am so blessed to have such a great family! Thank you, God!

Today is Mother's Day, and I am taking a moment to ramble and reflect on being a mother. I love being a mom! I love my kids and I love watching them grow, getting to be a part of it all. It is an awesome responsibility. Jay and I both have a huge part in what kind of people our kids will be as they grow up, and that is a very overwhelming thought. I know I fail at many things relating to motherhood, but I am encouraged by the little people my kids are becoming. The other day, I greeted Eliza by saying, "Hey, sweet girl!" She responded back, "Hey, sweet mama!" I hope that is true! (And that she remembers that when she's a teenager!) I also have other encouragers around me. Jay is always very supportive, as well as my mom. My mom is my best friend, and I am so blessed to be near her. I can tell her anything, and I usually do! She has been through a lot as a mother of seven, but she never tries to tell me what to do anymore. In fact, I have to beg for advice sometimes! Jay's grandmother Mimi has also been a great encourager. Whenever we go see her, the kids are usually wild and crazy from having to stay in one small room for around an hour, and I am constantly reminding them of how to behave. Mimi always praises me for my patience with them, saying that she's afraid she did not have much patience with her own three children. I try to be patient without being too permissive, and that is a hard balance to maintain. The sermon at church today was about things mothers need, like patience, rest, validation, and a life! I think I have most of what I need, thanks to Jay and my family, and God's grace. My mother often calls herself "God's most spoiled child." I think that makes me "God's most spoiled grandchild"! I have truly been blessed, and I am so thankful that God has chosen to bless our family with James and Eliza. Children really are a gift from the Lord!

Here are a few things that have happened in the last few days:

Wednesday: I got James registered for kindergarten. Kindergarten! I don't think I'm ready for this.

Thursday: I played 2 softball games. We got stomped both games, but, hey, we had fun. My mom and sister Alayne were not there because of Alayne's honor's night for school, and being the coach's oldest daughter, I got to do the things no one else wants to, like bat first, play short-stop (I am a much better out-fielder!), and pray before and after the game. I'm not really complaining, because I don't really mind it, but it was kinda funny. My other 2 sisters played (Adrienne and Lydia), even though Lydia was sick. I love family softball! I can barely walk today, though…I am so sore!

Friday: We went to a birthday party for a girl that used to go to James' preschool. It was at a bowling alley, and the kids had fun bowling. We only made it through half the game before we had to go, though. The ball goes so slow when 4- and 5-year olds throw it! They let Eliza play, too, and she was very excited.

Saturday: James and Jay just left to go ride 4-wheelers in the woods with a guy from work, Tim, and his wife, Amy. I'm not sure what I think about this. I'm not a worrier (thank goodness!), but there is still something in me that wants to be concerned. I'm glad they have the opportunity to go, and I'm sure they'll have fun.

We have been so blessed! I don't know why God chooses to bless us the way he does, but I thank him!