Busy, Busy, Busy!

Well, there it is. It is huge and vast. Dallas is very spread out. This is only the downtown area. Steve's school is somewhere in that mess. Speaking of school, the kids started this week. They also started soccer. This week has certainly been a new adventure for our family.

Monday, I left one kid screaming at school and the other very unsure of her situation. Maddie pitched a huge fit when I left her at school. I have no idea why? She got the teacher that Megan had in first grade. She is sweet and kind. I think that Maddie has just developed some fears. Megan says school is boring and that breaks my heart. She is so bright. I think 3rd grade becomes more serious, because of the Tacks testing.

Wednesday, I went to pick up a substitute packet to sub at the kids school. I really can only do it on Fridays, so I am wondering why am I even trying? Well, since I need to start looking for a job in the spring, I thought that I better make an effort to try some substituting!

Soccer is a great sport, but it has just started and it is killing me. Three kids in one sport at the same time. Don't try it! Busy, Busy, Busy does not even describe it. We changed leagues to the YMCA. We felt like we needed more of a Rec league feel. Megan got on a team with some kids from school. I think that has helped with her adjustment to a new league. Meg has practices 2 times a week. Maddie has practices 2 times a week, but she won't practice. She loves soccer but, I think the new situation has her scared. She only knows one girl on the team and her daddy coached her team last year. We are going to just be patient with her.

We thought that Steve was going to get out of coaching this year, but the YMCA called and now he is coaching Mackenzie's team. It is a brand new team with 4 year olds. I told him that he has his work cut out. I was out side the other day and Mackenzie could barely kick the ball! She has practice 2 times a week too. Last night, I saw the game schedule. There is only one night where all the girls have a game at the same time. I don't even know how to figure that out!

On Friday, Steve had his throat done again. Yes, he has had this procedure 5 times now. He has had a constricted esophagus for the past couple of years. I finally got him to go to the doctor about 10 months ago, because he would choke so bad a meals that I could not take it any more. When the doctor went down the first time, he found precancer cells. He continues to watch them. Finally, this time the doctor said that we would not have to have the procedure again for a whole year! Yeah! I was really excited, because we had been going to get it done every 8 weeks.

All this stuff has happened in just one week. Next week, Steve starts school. I think Dallas is going to swallow us up. I hope we survive this year!

First Time In Eight Years!

If you know me, you know that I go ever where with my kids. Well, I had the privilege of going somewhere with out them. Until this past weekend, I had only left my kids once over night. Steve had a youth staff retreat that we both got to enjoy. I have been on every youth retreat and youthstaff retreat since we got married. The kids have always been with us, but thanks to Daniel and Michelle we got a taste of what one would be like without the kids.

The weekend was great! I met people, stayed up late, stayed on the 16th floor, watched cable TV, ate meals someone else had cooked and got to see my husband in action! The best part was getting to know my small group. At the first of the retreat, we were put into groups. On Saturday, we had a task to complete. We were given 40 dollars to go and serve the kingdom. It could be as simple as passing out water to people which some groups did. We had only 1hour and a half to perform this task.

We decided that we wanted to buy children's books and go and read to kids at a hospital. So, our group split up. One would buy the books and the other would find a hospital. Oh, did I mention that the best group project won Starbucks cards! We found out that you must have background checks to read at most hospitals. Standing in the middle of Target trying to figure out what to buy, I got a little hyper. I was worried about running out of time. So, we decided to buy one gift bag and some notecards and just go and write notes of encouragement to some sick children.

We drove up to Children's Medical Center. This is the same hospital that the Siamese twins were separated at. It is a wonderful hospital for kids but it is huge. Steve dropped us off, because parking was crazy. We met up with the other half of our group. As I walked in, I thought that we probably were not going to perform any kind of acts of service. Okay, I am totally a skeptic. We got in and a guy in our group who had been a missionary went around the corner. He came back and said I found a kid. A small cute kid in a wagon pulled by his mother and followed by his father came around the corner. This little boy had been bitten by a copperhead snake the night before and was airlifted in from a town about 2 hours away. The family was from Maryland just visiting relatives. We gave him a gift bag. His parents were amazed. We had a neat conversation with them. They were certainly open to hear what we had to say.

God amazes me all the time. As I walked into that hospital, I thought well I wasted this 40 dollars. He showed me that faith can go a long way and that He will work it out for His glory not mine! He also showed me that even though I may not have a plan-He will have one for me!

Old Camp Costumes!

We have been getting all kinds of Halloween costume magazines in the mail. I am not sure why but the magazine people have found me! The kids love to look at them and dream of what they may be on Halloween. I know some people don't like Halloween. I was totally against it too. I understand that the dark side of it can be very real. We came to a decision a couple of years ago to let the kids dress up only as good characters and not dark ones. It has been a good discussion starter with the kids about why they can't be certain characters.

You probably are wondering why are you writing about Halloween in August. Well, I was going through old pictures this morning, and I found this one. I started thinking about some of the best costumes that I have seen. I must say this one is hilarious. This is an old camp costume from years ago. Years ago, Steve and I did camp every summer. We would serve as camp counselors. Every year we would pick the campers up in our costumes and every year there was a theme. Steve decided to be the human canon ball that year, because the theme was circus. We had a blast doing camp!

Last year for Halloween, Steve went around with the kids to the neighbors dressed up. He said, some people laughed. After he got back, he said that the costume stunk so bad from being in the attic that he may have to retire it. I just could not resist letting everybody in on this wonderful picture. I just think that this is the best costume!