2008

Can you believe it is already 2008? It seems like just yesterday we were all hearing about Y2K. My how time flies as you get older. We had a wonderful Christmas. Jeff's sister was here for most of the Christmas break. We got to spend a good amount of time with both sides of the family. My nieces are growing up way too fast. I really wish I could spend more time with them. The kids love being with their cousins. Speaking of cousins, those of mine who are reading this please leave comments. I promise to sit down and get back with you soon. I'll try to post some holiday pictures in the next couple of days. later...

Merry Christmas

This is our official Christmas 2007 picture. If you didn't get a copy, and you want one, let me know and I'll get one to you. Merry Christmas to all.

It Is Beginning to Feel Alot Like Christmas

It looks as if we may get our first freeze of the year tonight. It will be a light one. I remember being young in Tennessee and having to bundle up to go outside in the snow. My son complained, this morning, because I made him wear two shirts! We plan to enjoy the cooler weather while it is here. It should be back in the 80's by the end of the week. It just doesn't feel right to sit around the Christmas tree wearing shorts. Our poor A/C needs to rest.

No Tickets

Hannah Montana is a no go. Very disappointed. The concert was sold out within 6 minutes. It was absolutely crazy.

Best of Both Worlds

The incredibly cute, outgoing, talented and dedicated Christian, Tim Tebow has become the first sophomore ever to win the Heisman trophy. It was wonderful to watch. A proud moment for the Gator Nation. On to other news. Do you know who Hannah Montana/ Miley Cyrus is? If you have children between the ages of 6 and 15, chances are you know very well who she is. Her concerts are by all accounts the hottest ticket of the year. Tickets have been selling out all over the country within minutes of going on sale. Due to her overwhelming popularity, a few new stops have been added. One of them being in Jacksonville. Tickets will no longer be sold on-line, but instead you will need to stand in line for a wrist band. At that point, you will be put into a lottery for the opportunity to buy up to 4 tickets. My sister called tonight to ask if I would be interested in trying to get tickets for my 2 kids and her 10 year old. Initially, I said no. Too expensive, to close to Christmas, I don't want to stand out there like a fool, etc... Then it happened, she called back to say that if we could get the tickets, my mom would be willing to pay for them as a Christmas gift for the kids. Now that changes things. I will be so disappointed if we stand in line all day Saturday and are not able to get the tickets. I haven't told the kids about it, but Cameron heard about the Jax concert on the news and then overheard my half of the conversation with my sister. She went to bed with a big grin on her face. The things we do for our kids...

Busy Season?? Slow down

I have had a cold since last Monday. It started off as a sore throat and now is hanging around just to be annoying. The weekend was rough because I just want to be let alone but, the kids just wanted to be with me. It occurred to me just how selfish I have been being with my time. I have two bright and beautiful kids who are growing up way to fast. So I have made an effort to stay focused on them this week. No television for me, no telephone for me, no computer for me, no time hiding in my closet (just kidding). I'm always with Cam at school so this week I have spent equal time with Matt at school. What a difference it has made. I don't want parenting to only be what I do, it needs to be what I am. We have been so busy going and going that it is nice to be able to slow down and enjoy the little things. I am so excited about Christmas. Normally we get kinda bogged down with activities. I think there is something on the calender every night the week leading up to Christmas. Guess what? I'm not doing it all! Especially the stuff on nights that Jeff will be at work. I can't imagine that God is pleased when we use Christmas as an excuse to stand around and talk and eat while the kids are stuck off in a corner somewhere. If they're not shoved off somewhere they are running around mostly unsupervised. How is that being a family? Not this year. We are having a FAMILY Christmas. Some of the decisions are going to be difficult to make. I will probably hurt someones feelings. That is not my intention, I just have to do what I know is right for my kids.

So Proud

Tonight was a wonderful night. Matt and I have truly bonded this football season. He has an incredible understanding of the game, for a five year old. How many kindergartners do you know that get excited when their team is running the option, or tries desperately to warn the quarterback that he is about to get blitzed? We are both horse from yelling at the tv during the first half. Matt told me during halftime, "Mommy, I LOVE being a Gator." I am so proud!!! I'm glad that our family has things that we can bond over. While the years may pass and the memories may fade, the kids will remember that daddy and mommy stopped what we were doing, turned away from the cares of the world, and we enjoyed being together.

Tebow da Man

Today was my first day of subbing. I had a really good time. I had forgotten how slimy four year olds could be. Used lots and lots of hand sanitizer. I am currently fighting off a cold. My throat is killing me and my voice keeps coming and going. It wouldn't be Thanksgiving if someone in our family wasn't sick. (Last year it was all of us.) We are planning on spending Wednesday with my family and Thursday with Jeff's family. We should get to spend Friday doing "not much of anything." And then on Saturday is the UF vs FSU game. The game is really the part I'm looking forward to. TIM TEBOW FOR HEISMAN!!!! If your are not a true football fan you just aren't going to understand. Jeff and I actually planned our wedding around Gator football. We were both listening to the game in separate rooms of the church. Florida was behind to Vandy. If they had lost, I honestly don't know if we would have went ahead with the ceremony. We probably would have sent everyone home, had the pastor sign the marriage license and have gone back to our new home to mourn. Like I said, if you aren't a true football fan, you just aren't going to understand.

Laundry Day

I don't believe I've done laundry in a week. It has really piled up, so I'm spending today washing, drying and folding. I may or may not get around to putting it away. It is still kinda cool outside. The kids are willing to play out a bit more now. I've been very busy with the kids schooling. I will begin substituting at Matt's school on Monday. I am really looking forward to it. I love his school and the staff is awesome. Plus, it will give me an insiders view to what Matt is really up to during the day. Not much else is going on. I've been busy just going and not accomplishing much. Isn't that what the holiday season is about???

Anniversary

Tomorrow is my 11th wedding anniversary. We have nothing special planned. I'm taking the kids over to the co-op (home school group) in the morning. I'm dropping them off so that Jeff and I can spend the morning together. Jeff is off all weekend, so at least we will have some time together. Lately we have been having trouble finding any time to just be. We are both so busy that when we do stop to rest, we fall to sleep. Eleven years.... sometimes it feels like no time at all, at other times it feels like it has been a very long eternity. I am happy to say that after everything, he is still my best friend and I love him very much. I love the way he will look at me and I know that he loves me and that I am safe to be vulnerable with him. I love the way he loves our kids. They will never doubt their daddy's love for them for he tells them several times a day. Our relationship has grown and matured so much that when I look back at our wedding pictures, I almost don't recognize the people staring back. (Maybe it is because Jeff has lost so much hair and that it use to be dark brown????)

Feelin' Better

I am almost feeling human again. It is good to be back. I called the doctors office this morning and spoke with the nurse. She said that the lab results were in but, the doctor would have to call me back with them. So now I'm waiting for him to call. I'm really not stressing over it. What will be, will be. Fretting over it isn't going to help change it. Baseball and swim wrap up next week. I am looking forward to being able to slow down a little. Cameron has been invited to continue training over the winter. Only 15 were selected and it is by invitation only. It is kinda a big deal but, I'm not sure if I'm willing to commit to it. There is just so much going to be happening between now and Christmas. With all the school and church stuff our calender is filling up fast. I guess ultimately it will be Cam's decision. I'm just the chauffeur. The kids get report cards this week. Matt is so stressed out. They actually get letter grades in kindergarten. He is such a perfectionist that he's going to have ulcers by the time he is seven. I need to come up with some type of a reward night for them. I know that Chucky Cheese gives free tokens for A's. The problem with that is Cameron hates Chucky Cheese. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

Take it easy!??! GRRRR!!

Well, here I am. I'm suppose to be taking it easy. Someone oughta tell my kids that. I ventured into town with them yesterday. I almost had a breakdown in the middle of Blockbuster. I am defiantly not 100% yet. I am still waiting on pathology results. I should have got them on Friday. When I called the doctor I was told that the samples had needed to be sent to a second lab and that they would call me on Monday. All this and I am suppose to be taking it easy????

Under the Knife

I'm home. The surgery went very well, and now I'm waiting ... I'm waiting for the meds to wear off and for me to start really hurting. Kinda dreading that part. The surgeon said that every thing looks good. He couldn't even find a mass, just some inflamed tissue. He took a small sample for testing and removed the milk duct. Once I have completely healed I will no longer be bleeding. I have been tired and sickly for quite some time now due to the loss of blood that was occuring. I can't wait to have energy again. God has answered many prayers. I will be much more vigiliant for potential problems for now on. I'm tired and the oxycotin is really kicking in now. I need to go to bed before I start saying things that will only serve to embarass me. Thanks to everyone for the prayers.

4 wheelin' fun

Matt and Uncle James

Cameron and Aunt Holly

My brother and his family spent the day with us. They brought their 4 wheelers and we all rode on them until the lack of light forced us indoors. We had a blast. The kids are asking for 4 wheelers for Christmas. It is a pretty safe bet that that isn't going to happen.

I Have Nothing to Say

Life has been very boring as of late. Yet so much has been going on that if I start I may just babble on forever. I feel like I have been sucker punched and my flesh cries out to God, "WHY?" Somewhere in the far reaches of my mind I know better. I know that I have no right to question or be angry. I know that He has a plan. It is times like that that I realize how weak my faith truly is. A dear brother in Christ has, this week, been diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer. I know that this news must have been devastating to his family. It has been devastating to his church family too. He has become such an important mentor to both my husband and myself. His love for Christ and others is so evident in his smile. This news came as I myself have been dealing with some medical issues. I went yesterday for a mammogram. Last week I had an issue that caused me to call my doctor. My doctor found a small lump in my left breast. I am currently awaiting a referral to a surgeon... according to the doctor I saw yesterday, because of the symptoms that caused me to seek help in the first place, she is fairly confident that she knows what it is. There is a 90% chance that it is benign, but the milk duct will have to be removed anyway. The bright side to all of this is that due to my ignorance of family medical history on my fathers side, I have been in contact with several cousins that I have not seen or heard from in over 20 years. We are all planning to get together sometime this fall. I has been so much fun catching up. It has been like we've been together all this time, just picked up where we had left off. Well, I've got to go get the kids ready for school. I may ramble more later.... if I feel like it.

Summer Storms???

....in the fall. We lost our T.V. last week and our phones are doing strange things, all due to some pretty strange thunderstorms we have been having. I got into a small argument with another parent last week. When I took Cameron to swim, the storms were just beginning to roll in. The coaches were trying to decide if they were going to have practice or not. As we were all standing around waiting for a decision, thunder began to make itself known. The rule in swimming is that if you ca hear the thunder, get out of the water!!! Florida is not known as the lightning capital for nothing. Anyway, this mom was mad at everybody because no one else was willing to let their kids swim. I kinda hope that that family doesn't come back. The kids are as big of pains as the parents. Very rude with no discipline.

A Great Start

It has been a great start to the new school year. Possibly our best ever. Matt loves school. I wasn't too worried about him. He tends to be the teachers pet wherever he goes. I was worried about Cameron. When I first received her Scope and Sequence for the year, I thought we were in trouble. I spent more time on planning at the beginning of this year and things get tweaked everyday. So far the hard work has paid off. Things are clicking for her. I am already ready for Christmas break. I am working just as hard as she is to keep up with everything. I've got a small pile of things that need to be graded, so I will go and get that done. If I get behind then that gives Cameron an excuse to get behind.

Cruisin'

I leave for Nassau on Thursday. I'm going on a three day cruise with a couple of friends. We are very excited. No husbands and no kids (like there is a difference). Just kidding, I love my husband and kids dearly. Sometimes it is nice to get away with just the girls. If you've never been on a cruise, you are missing out. We always have such a great time. Our motto: What happens on the ship, stays on the ship.

Praise the Lord

It's Been a Few Days

I know it has been a few days since I've posted. We have been very busy. Kinda hit the road running once school started. The big news is that both Cameron and Matt are going to be baptized on Sunday. We (Jeff and I) are very excited, as are they(Cam and Matt). It will be a wonderful day. Baseball and swim practice are both in full swing and homework seems to be taking up large portions of every evening. I have no other real news to share. We are just busy with life right now. We are enjoying the ride.