Our "Doll"

Oh our little girl...she is such a "helper" and such a sweet dolly!  A couple of weeks back, as I was figuring out what to make for supper, I was bent down looking in the cupboard.  She of course, imitated me right away.  As I began preparing breakfast for supper, she began unloading the cupboard and loading down the counter with what she was making for supper...she got it all up and said, Now eat it!  Too funny.  As you can see it is a wide assortment, from soup, to spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, ranch dressing, ravioli...mmmmm...can't you just taste it?

A different night, I was feeding her some pudding.  Grant called me to help him do something, and when I came back...this is what I found! A chocolatey girl...and of course, in a white t-shirt!

Below is a new sweet picture that my mom took of her.  Grandma and her had created a bed and lined up all of her dollies for naptime.  Then Kiara realized that there was no spot for her!  So, they created a new arrangement and took a "nap" together, which lasted at best, seconds long! :)  She is our baby doll and we love her so much...don't worry, she plays with tractors (or as she calls them "Tractor Power") as much as the dolls.

FOOTBALL!!!!!!

This year we decided to let the boys play football...I mean...the real thing. Tackling, hitting, blocking, running, throwing...did I mention tackling?  Yikes!  These are my "little" boys!  But they are soooooo into football that we let them sign up.  They have been pumped about it since sign ups...so we spend parts of our week and every Saturday playing/watching football!  Unfortunately they aren't on the same team.  Because of Brock's age, he had to be in the bigger kids division.  Here's Grant ready for his first game! Go #14!!!

At his 2nd game, he got to be one of the captains at the start of the game...He looks little next to those others, huh?  That's because HE IS!!!! 

Here's Brock before his first game.  Weather looks great, right?  Well...it let loose and poured the entire game.  Most of the fans sat in the car...but not this mom...I toughed it out, although I did have an umbrella. Go #8!!!

Here he his...it doesn't look like it's raining, but trust me, it is.

Grant again below playing in Warsaw.  Both boys are almost the smallest kids on their teams...on Brock's team the weight range is from 66 pounds to 239 pounds!!! Yikes!

Kiara doesn't like to be left out of things and HAS to do everything the boys do, so they were helping her out a little bit here.  Don't worry Grandma Elaine...she is just the cheerleader during the games saying "Go! Go! Go! Go!"

She can barely hold her head up with this helmet on!

It has really been fun so far watching the boys play.  Our schedules have been much crazier than normal because of it, but they are having a blast and that is what matters!

Treasures

A few weeks ago I RE-started a prayer group of staff at the school where I teach.  We had met for several years under the tutelage of a fellow teacher that always had wonderful lessons/ scripture to share for our devotional and then we prayed together for our needs, praises, and for our school body.  That teacher went to a different building and I felt God tugging at my sleeve and saying..."Your turn to lead".  For a few weeks, I replied back to Him..."no thanks, i can't do that".  Well, we know where that was headed, so yes, I gave in and started it back up again.  The numbers have been few in attendance, and I must admit that I was discouraged at first about that...then I realized that even if no one else shows up to the group...I have still prepared, prayed and given a lesson for myself if nothing else.  A couple of weeks ago, below is what we talked about before our prayer time.  God hasn't let me down in leading me to things that someone in the group needed to hear.  I'm out of my comfort zone in leading this group, but God will provide...I have no doubt in that.  So, every now and then I may share on here a bit of what we discuss (scripture-wise...don't worry teacher friends that I will share anything "pesonal"!) This lesson stemmed from a sermon that our pastor gave a few weeks ago.  It had my brain working and may not be the direction he was really taking it, but it is what God showed me...
Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do NOT destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
We talked about how our “treasures” are not just money to give to the church, but our time and our possessions as well. Where do we “invest” our time at each day…Am I trying to simply survive until the next day or am I using opportunities today? Am I teaching music or am I teaching students? Am I being a Godly example to my own kids, or just trying to “get it all done” in the evening so we can start again the next day? What does the world see as my treasure? My most important focus? Praying that the answer will continue to get closer to my treasure being whatever God wants my focus to be…people and relationships and eternal glory…not survival, doing my job and earning a check. Many times I've had to stop myself during the day and refocus on the treasure that God wants me to be focused on...hoping that continues.
May you be blessed today and may your treasures be in line with HIS for you.

Blueberry Baseball

No, we didn't play baseball using blueberries! :)  During our Blueberry Festival they have a c-league baseball tourney that all the teams compete it. It is very official even with brackets based on how you finished regualr season, etc.  We spent the ENTIRE labor day weekend at the ball field!   The tourney was double elimination and they lost their 2nd game, but went on to beat our two biggest rivals and earn a spot in the championship game!  Way to go DQ Phillies!  The kids were exhausted and played so hard.  So proud of them all.  We finished 3rd in the regular season and the boys got a trophy for that.

Unfortunately we lost in the championship game, but we were so proud of our kids. They had only 20 minutes between their last two games but played their hearts out and did a great job!  Here's the team for one last picture together.

And of course their huddle cheer of:  Who are we? DQ!  Who? DQ!  Who!  DQ!!!!

Grant with his 2nd place Blueberry Festival tourney trophy.

And of course we had to go to Dairy Queen ONE more time to finish off the season.  We went after every win during the regular season, so it was only fitting to go one last time!

Great job boys!  You had a great summer...Now it's off to football practice!

I Win! I Win!!!

No, I didn't win in the sense of the word you may think!  I was not in first place...in fact in my age group I finished 14th out of 30, but I still WON!  I feel like this race was MY win against my pain...after 7 years of struggling wtih this nasty neck pain, I WIN!  I proved that the pain is not in control of me and that God can and will give me strength to keep on keeping on!  Last fall, my pain was at an all-time high and I was feeling hopeless.  I've been through some very down times in the past year (besides the last 7 years)...but God brings me through each of those times with flying colors, with lessons learned, growth in Him happening and achievements that make me wonder how they happened.  If you have known me very long you know that I am NOT a runner...I have never enjoyed it and in fact have mostly disliked it strongly my whole life, but I'm actually starting to enjoy it and have great satisfaction in it.  It feels good!  i can't believe i just said that!  AND, I finished the race in my personal best time, which isn't fantastic, but is my best, so I was very excited.  My time by my watch (started and stopped by my croosing start and finish vs. the gun to start) was 29: 52!!So here I am...this is about 1/2 mile into the Blueberry 5K race.

This picture is about 2.5 miles in and believe it or not, I still felt great!

We had to be there early for me to run my race, so Daddy took the kids and got McDonald's and they had a picnic breakfast before the parade, along the street for the parade route!

They are smiling bigger than me for some reason! HA!

Kiara LOVED the parade this year and screamed and clapped and waved at the floats and especially the characters dressed up in the parade.  It was fun to watch in the eyes of a 2 year old!

So, I did it.  It's over. I feel accomplished...yes, I spent money to run what I run every day anyway...but there's something about proving I can do it to the world and to my pain that gave me great satisfaction!  I truly feel like I won!!!!!

The Beach!

I realize those of you who read this who TRULY go to beaches are laughing...but yes...we call it going to the beach here in Indiana if you go to a lake with a beach on it!  Not the same as the ocean and we all realized that very quickly after being at the ocean this summer already.  BUT, we still had a great time.  Kiara does not like having to be held or near us.  She wanted to take off and just go by herself.  She just has no fear at all.  Scares me to death!!!

The boys usually play in the sand a lot and build sand castles with moats etc...this year after being at the ocean, sand castles wren't quite as exciting to them and they wanted to be out deeper in the water.  They loved jumping off the side of the pier into the water.  Grandma got a couple of actions shots of that on her camera...but I don't have them yet.  I may have to re-post them when I get them. 

If it had been up to them, we would've stayed much longer...but after nearly 5 hours there...Kiara really needed a nap and we also enjoyed some air conditioning too!

I don't think she ate TOO much sand! :)  She did make some friends close to us that had potato chips...my girl and her chips and cookies.  Luckily the family was nice and didn't mind her invading them.

Beach days are over for now...at both lake and ocean.  I think next year will be even more fun when Kiara is a little more independent...or should I say when I am able to ALLOW her to be independent?  We know she can do it all on her own already!

Splash Pad Fun

The last week of summer...yes, that was nearly 3 weeks ago...but I"m just making time for it!  We decided we were going to get out and do some things.  Rain was forecast every day so it was spur of the moment fun.  I called my super friend and invited her and her kids to go to the Bourbon splash pad for a couple of hours.  The kids had a blast and especially enjoyed having the water dump on them from the big bucket.

The water was pretty cold and took their breath away... but it was too much fun for them to care, I think.

Kiara has no fear and would gasp as the water hit her (because of the coldness) and then grin from ear to ear!

I think the kids had a great time playing and getting cooled down in the 90 degree temperatures.  Next year I don't think we will wait until the end of the summer to go back to the splash pad!