The Year-Round Tree

For those of you who have read my earlier blogs, I have kept our Christmas tree up in our dining room for the last 4 or 5 years or so. There are several reasons for this: laziness, no storage, year-round decorations. It really was cute when I actually changed the decor to match the season but that ended two years ago. Just recently, last week, I actually took the 4th of July ornaments off and began vacuuming the branches to prepare for Christmas decorating. My sister came for Thanksgiving and to watch my boys play for the NM State AA Football Championship Title and I was graced with those too-few-and-far-between visits with my two beautiful nieces. So being a cool aunt I thought we would decorate the Christmas tree together. Well, time flew by and the tree stands in the dining room - empty except for the topper, which is a gold crown. And I am reminded that all the ornaments in the boxes, the lights that have been chewed through by puppies long ago given away, the half of the tree is a different color green due to the dust that still layers the branches, are insignificant and add no value at all if Christ is not the Head of our home (12 months of the year). And if the tree does not get decorated (again)- I am thankful for a life that is full of friends and family and responsibilities that keep me busy for Him.

'My Boys'

This is copied from a forum that we have for our kids and all their programs in Dexter, NM. My husband posted this and men, in general, rarely expose their feelings and if they do, it is usually in very few words. But the response to this posting has been so touching, affecting so many that I wanted to share. I think these moments always help us wives to remember some of those things about our husbands that made us fall in love with them.

To set the background for this story...my two oldest boys have been playing football since Jr. High and have helped put the Varsity program back on the map in our community with great coaching from their uncle and great team mates committed to giving it their all as well. The last three years in particular have been an amazing climb to the top in their division in the state of NM. Last year we were undefeated coming into the semi-finals and lost a heartbreaker to a great team from Texico, NM with a final score of 15-14 after being ahead 14-0 until the last quarter of the game!

So this year, they set their focus early - since January! They worked in the weight room, worked out all summer, made all the practices, gave up the chance to work for money in order to put football first, gave up drinking cokes and eating junk food and so many other things that teenagers love to do because the prize was worth the sacrifice. We worked our way through the season, one game at a time, undefeated again. This time all the way to the State AA Title Championship Game and we were going to be able to play it at home! Wow! I just knew this was their year...


I don't do much bloging but i do a lot of watching and reading what others have to say. So after a long and nerve racking season I have a few things to say. Wish me luck and here it goes...In the 1990's three baby boys came into my life, not all at the same time mind you. As a proud dad I walked out of the hospital with my lovely bride on one arm and my little boy in the other. The whole time saying "that's my boy". As we moved down the path of life, events that are special only to a dad have taken place over and over again. I call those "that's my boy" moments.
The first day they could recite John 3:16,
the first day of school,
the first fish caught,
the first hit, and walk, and home run, and hit by a pitch without tears,
the first time to play the whole song without the music(Nathan aka Dexter Demon10)
the first girlfriend (even if mom did not approve of them all),
still "that's my boy".
What about the first big hit, or the perfect crack block, touchdown or interception.
How about fouling out in less than 1 qtr of his first varsity basketball game ( Zach #58 )
or standing on the awards stand at the state track meet and looking at all those 3A long jumpers that tried to be #1 and could not leap long enough.(Daniel #15)
Life is a funny thing when you slow down and watch. You see, even in a house full of good young men, things don't always go the way I, as a dad, want them to.
I have worked hard to leave footprints for my boys to follow. When they come home from a hard day at school, it is OK to just go hang out in there room, they are still " my boys".
When something brings tears to there eyes and they can no longer control there emotions,say... a girlfriend, fear, excitement, or even a football game that did not end the way they hoped, still "my boys".
I have taught my boys some things in life that seem to be forgotten among there generation. You see "my boys" still open doors for the girl,not there mom so much...they consider her one of the guys...love you babe. They will get out of there truck to help a lady, sometimes a complete stranger, pump her gas on a cold rainy day. And as member of the local vol. fire dept, they will stop doing whatever they are doing and go to help total strangers when they are called. Those are " my boys".
Yesterday as my oldest son sat alone on a bench and watched a group of young men receive the award that he was so close to getting ,many emotions came to my heart and my mind. You see the rest of the team had left the area and my number 58 sat alone. Do I go hold him, do I leave him alone, should I call his brother over, how am I ahead of his mother in this walk down the sidelines? As I reached him I did what many have forgotten how to do, I held my 6'5, 240lb senior and cried with him.
You see at that point I did not care who was watching, or about the cheering by the other team. I did not care about cameras, or other kids coming over. I only cared about one thing, "my boy".
I look forward to many more "my boy " moments in my life. With basketball,track, golf, girlfriends, rescue calls and little old ladies still pumping there own gas. I know I will have many more times to say thats "My Boy"
Zachary, Daniel, and Nathan you have all made me so proud and always remember....Your "My Boy"


The final score on the board? 28-26. And our last 6 points came with only 1:35 left in the game. 14 seconds left and a 2-point conversion would send the game into overtime...the pass...the silence...it's in the air and it's...incomplete! Some would say Texico became the champions on the Dexter field that day, November 29, 2008; but I would say champions are those that stay standing on the field in respect as the other team receives the accolades, those that hold their helmets high while singing the fight song to their home crowd after the game just like every other game, those that gather together on the field after the game-joining hands and bowing heads in prayer thankful for the freedom to play and for the protection God provided, those that don't make excuses or pass the blame but leave the game on the field. They are the champions each and every day, on and off the field! Zach and Dan, you are true Champions!

"Cheers, Cheers for Ol' Dexter High...We never falter, we never die."

D...edicated
E...xcellent
M...entors
O...vercomers
N...ever look back
S...trength

Dexter Demons, Go Fight Win!

A Hunch and A Hope

Well, no 'procedure' today. I chickened out. Or I'd rather think it was the Holy Spirit. I just didn't have any peace about it all day. So I saved my insides from death-by-boiling, for today, anyway. I will probably reschedule at some point but in God's timing. "The wisdom that comes from God is peaceful." James 3:17

On a much brighter note! On Sunday we were so blessed by God through our congregation. As I have mentioned before, I have 5 refrigerators-4 in my house, 3 of which do not work and 1 sitting outside on our deck.

 

I have seriously thought about posting a 'Sanford & Son' sign over the entrance to our property. But when we would look at buying one there just wasn't a way we could financially afford a new one and I didn't want one more used refrigerator that would 'maybe' work for a while. So I left it in God's hands knowing He wants to bless us with the best. I have so often done for myself what God Himself longs to do and it is never as fulfilling or as meaningful (and more often than not, much more costly in more ways than one). So Sunday our congregation presented us with a BRAND NEW refrigerator for Pastor Appreciation. An Amana Stainless Steel, Side by Side, with Filtered Water and Ice Maker, Shelves (one of our used ones actually had no shelves!), enough room to hold more than two days of food for 3 growing boys, and no rattling noise when it comes on or shuts off! We are blessed! "God can do all things." Mark 10:27




 

Easier Said Than Done

Easier said than done...such is the advice from doctors to women. Women who are moms, employees, wives, business women, and/or (fill in the blanks) are told they should slow down, stop doing so much, delegate, or just stop? doing it all. Someone please tell me how you do that without adding to the stress you are trying to get rid of? Seriously, as a mom how do you just stop doing what you do and be okay with that especially when you live in house full of teenage boys and a husband who thinks he is, because everyone knows they really don't care if there are dishes in the sink that still have milk in them from the cereal they ate yesterday, or if there are wadded up socks in the couch cushions. Heck they don't even care if the socks they wear match (except for the husband maybe)! much less make it into the hamper that is less than a foot from where they removed them. I did ask them one time, "Doesn't this mess bother you? Wouldn't it embarrass you if someone came over and saw the house like this?" And the answer...? "Mmm.......no, not really." There you have it. But it bothers us doesn't it?

I have to have a 'procedure' done next week due to the fact that I am in perimenopause - another wonderful condition saved for women alone to experience and at my appointment last week my doctor started asking me how I was doing. On a side note: why do they call it a procedure? That would indicate moving forward from the root word 'proceed' and anything to do with menopause doesn't feel like moving forward to me! Especially when you're only in your early 40s! So there it was - the loaded question and I knew better than to answer it. The word out of my mouth should have been "fine" or "great" or even "pretty good" would have saved me. But I was having a weak moment, a lapse in judgment. Forgive me for being a little (ok maybe a lot) scattered lately - forgetting appointments and such, for doing too many things for this and that and whomever. But it is what it is and this is what it is:

I have a high school senior-Zach-who needs to be filling out college applications (or deciding if he is going to college, LOL!), I have two (Zach and Dan) who are awesome all-around athletes and are currently playing varsity football. The team just won the District Championship and they are now preparing to play in the State playoffs which will be played on Thanksgiving -of course -weekend (oh, both of them have been named All-District players for both Offense and Defense!). Daniel - who is a Junior was just inducted into the National Honor Society, Nathan-who is a Freshman is a percussionist in the high school band and has been since he was in 8th grade has just finished performing for two marching competitions which were out of town, all three of them have grade point averages from 3.4 to 3.6, Zach and Dan are both taking college classes offered through the high school, Nathan has started basketball season which Zach and Dan will play as soon as football is over. Ron (my husband) and I pastor a church but Ron also has to have a real job (those actually pay real money, LOL!) so guess who is the church secretary, treasurer, janitor, Children's Church Director, Worship Leader, and all around 'Joe the Plumber'? Any guesses? We just sponsored a FREE community Fall Festival with over 1000 people and gave away tons of candy, prizes, and bicycles. Now it's time to plan the kids Christmas program. That is what I should be doing right now...ordering something for that, LOL! Then there is my part in trying to make ends meet (I am a volunteer when it comes to a paycheck) so I have a home based business as a consultant for The Pampered Chef (anyone need to do some Christmas shopping?). Two of my kids are sick right now and had to have appointments this week that I had to reschedule because I forgot them last week. Then they also went to the orthodontist after that. Then I had an appointment after that to make sure I was healthy enough for the 'procedure'. Oh, and I forgot that I am supposed to be trying to go exercise 3 times a week and to lose weight and eat healthier - after all studies have shown these things aid in stress relief and alleviating the symptoms of depression! But I have lost 57 lbs! (maybe less after these last 2 weeks, LOL!)

I have a husband who does most of the cooking which is great but he doesn't clean up after himself or when he does do the dishes his definition of 'doing the dishes' doesn't include the rest of the kitchen such as wiping the counters or the sink, sweeping (oh, yes we also have two dogs who shed enough hair to make wigs for the follicularly challenged at least every 3 days), the trash, or cleaning off the table??? And as I said before no one cares if there is dust on the furniture or water spots on the mirror, toothpaste in the sink, whiskers on the counter, empty water bottles on the tables, or that there are 4 NON-WORKING refrigerators between my front room and deck (and we still don't have one that works right, LOL!).

So...she (my doctor....a WOMAN) tells me to stop cooking, stop cleaning, stop doing the laundry, stop helping my son with college applications, stop doing all the things at the church (apparently she thinks there are people waiting in line to volunteer) or to just put the church on hold?, and tell everyone it's all about me right now. After I left her office I felt more and more stressed by her advice. You see, it took me a long time to realize that it's not about me. It's about my Lord and Savior and He has entrusted me with this awesome family - these amazing kids and I think that all the wonderful things they are doing and have accomplished is in part because of what I have done for them. I know that on some level they have to be more responsible but they know how to cook and do basic laundry. They will be leaving my care soon enough and what I once thought of as a burden I now realize is a blessing and an honor. They are respectful not only of others but of me so I know they will respect their future wives. They are responsible-they stay involved in as many activities as they can and yet maintain good grades without any hounding from us. They are well-liked by their peers and their teachers and authorities; my time has become an investment that has begun to pay dividends. I don't think I can STOP just because they have reached a 'magic' age or because it's time for them to become men or because someone else thinks they will become a leech, forever sucking the life out of me if I don't push them out of the nest. How can they take what I have freely given them? Isn't that what Christ gave us....life? And everything we need to live that life with obedience and godliness? As His child how could I do less for mine?

So what do I stop doing? Do I make a list, close my eyes and play 'eenie, meenie, minie, mo'? I can't see a thing that I could choose. Or maybe I can't see a thing that I would choose to. I really do love my life, I adore my boys, and I am a better person when I am doing the things that God has called me to do which is all the above...maybe just a little more organized?

Scripture tells me that if I am weary or burdened I will find rest in Him. I don't see anywhere that it tells me just to rest! I, like Paul, neglect the most important even for the good despite my best intentions and then wonder why I become resentful, frazzled and freaked! My focus has become about my inabilities and my weaknesses which are all about me, instead of becoming about my joy and my strength who is magnified in my weakness - my God!

Blessed are the Focused!

Grown Man Walking

Football has always been Zachary's thing. From the time he was old enough to color, he could draw every helmet in the NFL, complete with correct colors and mascot. He knew who played what position and what team they played for. When he was old enough to play in the little league program I cringed as I signed him up wondering if I would regret turning my little boy over to grown men who would teach him how to 'hit somebody'! After all, I had spent all these years teaching him not to hit others and how important it was to share and now someone, with whom I was vaguely acquainted with, would undo all of that. "Knock him down Zach! Get the ball back Zach!"

I can remember smiling as I watched him run onto that little field, pads bigger than him and white pants that would never again see any shade lighter than 'dingy' (that actually should be a color). I had to laugh as I watched every little boy run in no particular direction but they were sure going to find someone to tackle - even if it was someone on their own team!

Tonight Zach played his last regular season game on the Demon home field. The Senior ritual is to walk the length of the field after the game, side by side with your senior team mates, for the last time. Upon reaching the other end each coach shakes their hand (which usually ends up being a hug of sorts) and then the remainder of their team rushes them into one big pile of blue and white high-fives, 'boo-yahs', and grunts. It was as if that little boy who would run to me with a smile in his eyes and a "Mom, did you see me, did you?" on the tip of his tongue, magically transformed into a handsome, gentle, loving, respectful, funny, and yes, always hungry, young man as he walked toward me. With every step he took, the tears (mine and his) began to fall. Mine, as I realized that little boy will soon be ready to sign up again - for the 'big league' this time; and I have to find some way to turn him over. Only this time, I rest in the knowledge that I turn him over not to men but to a God who loves and cares for him even more than I can. And his... I'd like to think because he'll miss the mom that stands at the end of the field after every game to let him know that 'I sure did Zach, and you were awesome!'

Webster Should Worry!

"I dunno!" I looked in the Webster's New World Dictionary and it's not in there but it should be. Lately when I ask my 17 year old son a question that seems to be the standard answer! Well, if he doesn't then who does? But then it reminded me of a text conversation I had with my sister about learning all the latest messaging lingo...if you're going to be a cool mom you absolutely cannot ask them what something means. And from a parenting perspective, you really should know what everything means. So here's a little glimpse into the slang world of today's teen. Some are just funny and others may be offensive but definitely informative. Warning: Probable embarrassment to occur.

all up in the kool-aid - in someone's business. "That's between me and Brian- don't be all up in the kool-aid!"
baked - the effect of smoking a lot of marijuana. To be stoned. "John's eyes are all bloodshot, I think he got baked at recess."
bammer - The cheaper, brown leaf marijuana.
bang - Any party, but especially a party where promiscuous girls may be present.
beat - ugly or unattractive "Girl I don't know why you talkin' to him, that fool beat from the front to the side and even in the back."
Bird - 1. A term for a young girl. 2. 36 ounces of cocaine
biscuit - Another reference for a gun.
biscuits - Dirty, worn-out shoes. "Look at that boy's biscuits."
blazin - 1. v. lighting up Marijuana. 2. Very attractive. More than "hot." "Did you see her? man she was BLAZIN!"
block baller - Big time dealer.
bobble head - A female who likes to give oral sex on a regular basis.
Bobby Brown - Marijuana/weed that is not very potent or preferably good; usually brown in color, hence the term Bobby Brown.
boo - Your boyfriend/girlfriend. "Dat's my boo your messin' wit!"
bootydoo - When one's stomach sticks out further than their butt.
brown frown - bad weed/marijuana.
Bust Down (B.D.) - A male or female (Primarily associated with Females) who will have sex with any individual regardless of attraction or that individual's background.
"Hey Jay, you better hook up with her, that’s an easy Bust Down (BD)."
chillaxin - Hanging out (chillin) and relaxing! "I was just chillaxin with TJ and Brian."
crackalackin' - happening; been going on. "Hey dude, what's crackalackin'?"
cup cakin' - To flirt with or to display 'puppy love'. "Now since Gerrid is in the 5th grade he always cup cakin' with Trina."
Dillio - What's the deal or What's up? "Yo son, what the dillio?"
dragon, the - Bad breath. "Yo, you got any gum? I got the dragon, man."
dunkadelic - Is the fusion of sports and music inspired by the cultural aesthetics of urban style, fashion, and attitude. "He has a dunkadelic style to his game."
Emo - Someone acting in a suicidal or depressed way. comes from "emotional".
wale tail - As in the term for the look of the thong underwear peeking above the back of a girl's pants. "Mark did you see that wale tail?"
tweaker - Someone who is addicted to methamphetamine (crank, speed).
Tina - Slang for Crystal Meth. ""I'm looking for Tina.""
tiggo bitties - Large breasts. "That girl has tiggo bitties."
T Jones - Someone's mother or grandmother
scam - The act of using someone for a sexual favor without liking them. A title given to the person used in this process.
seed or seeds - kids, a person's offspring or posterity. "She look good, but she got them seeds."
slanging - (pronounced "slangin'") the act of selling any illegal substance.
square - Cigarettes.
swoop me up - requesting someone to pick you up in their car. "Swoop me up for school in the morning."
syrup - 'sippin on some syzzurp' A mixture of codeine induced cough medicine (usually perscription)along with rum or vodka and sprite. Syrup sippin' induces a hallucinatory state in which everything appears slower. "Sippin' on syrup is dangerous. November 2000 DJ Screw was found dead due to a heart attack resulting from a cough syrup overdose."
squirrel - a hot female. "Check out that squirrel over there."
swoll - Short for swollen; usually used in reference to a person that has lots of muscles or is buff.
Sniffing Cheese - It's a drug containing a mixture of black tar heroin and Tylenol PM tablets crushed together. It's taken by sniffing it throught the nose. Note: This is a very dangerous and addicting drug.
smexy - Someone who is super sexy. "Wow! That guy is smexy!"
Smash - Having sex.
slizzard - A term for being intoxicated. "Amy got slizzard last night."
sizurb - Any kind of alcoholic drink. "Hey, give me one of those sizurbs."
shwagg - bad weed or marijuana.
shizzle - Something very good.
selling woof tickets - Trying to get someone to believe a falsity. Spreading lies.


It's apparent that there are way too many for me to list on one post, so I hope to enlighten you from time to time! You can file it away in "Things My Mother Never Told Me". And if nothing else I even learned some new ones! On a serious note...while they are growing up and out of your world take time to involve yourself in theirs. It keeps you young (or makes you feel old, I haven't decided yet)!

'Formal'ly Dismissed

I was once under the impression I had it easier because boys were less maintenance when it came to fashion and such...apparently I was not prepared for Daniel. Daniel is my middle son who claims in all confidence that he is quite good looking and on occasion even 'hot'! Not the word a mom wants to hear in reference to her almost 17 year old son. Handsome-yes. Good looking-yes. Cute-ok. Hot-NOT! (Especially when his 14 year old brother comes home and tells me that all the freshman girls in school think he's sooooo hooooottt!) But there is something to be said for God-confidence - he tells me it's not arrogance for him to know that he is made in God's image and every good and perfect thing comes from Him! He does have a point I can't argue with, LOL! We're working on the humility...

OK, so this fine looking young man was voted Jr. Class Homecoming Court attendant (whatever the title is) so he has to dress up to escort the Jr. Princess. Never to be average at anything, Dan decides he wants to wear a bow tie! Not only that but wait for it....she is wearing a deep plum colored cocktail style dress and he wants a bow tie - here it comes.... in LIME GREEN!!!!

His choice is to wear a shirt that matches her dress (which I've only seen on the website - "actual colors may vary" ) black dress pants, a lime bow tie and lime green suspenders! Yeah, I'm sure the local Sears can hook me right up-with the event this Friday! Being the good Mom I am I go to a local Tuxedo rental shop yesterday and there it is - a lime green bow tie available to rent for $5! But along with it is a vest so I'm thinking I can talk him into wearing black pants, black shirt, vest and tie and at least dial it down a notch on the rainbow but up a notch from 'Mork & Mindy'.

So with tape measure in hand and hope in my heart I drive the 25 miles to school (one way) to tell him so that we can order it today! "Oh, it's only Homecoming. I don't want to do all that business" he says. My balloon has burst so I'm afraid to ask what he wants now. "Well, do you want the tie?" I ask tentatively. "Well yeah!" So I ask him what color shirt he is going to wear and tell him the whole idea of black and that it will look much classier, etc. To which he replies....
"Mom, no offense but I don't think that will look good and I don't want to look like a retard!"

Oh....my bad!

You Know You're Getting Old When...

I had to laugh when my 14 year old son called me tonight to ask me what he could wear to a retro birthday party. I asked him what he meant by retro and he said, "You know, Mom, like old, like the 80s"!

Who would have dreamed that what we wore in high school would be 'awesome' now. Because honestly when I look at pictures of those 'retro' days I have to ask, "What were we thinking?" And I remember when 'retro' meant the 60s!

The Customer is Always...?

I don't even believe what just happened to me. After several months of leaving my son's band uniform at the cleaners I was down to the wire - he needs it tomorrow night. Back up to last week, I went to pick up the uniform and was told there was not a uniform for 'Fuller'. They only had one band uniform there and yes, it was a Dexter uniform but it had a different name - 'Anthony Campos'. So obviously there was a mix-up and Anthony had picked up Nathan's. But nothing is obvious in my life or simple either. I was told I could not pick up the uniform because I was not the one who dropped it off but to check with the band director to see if Anthony had turned one in. Forget that my son's uniform was missing and that this was the only Dexter uniform they had. Oh, that's right, I forgot, MOMS know NOTHING!

Sure enough, when I checked with Ms. Schmidt Anthony had indeed turned in a uniform already and can you believe the #'s in his uniform did not match the one he checked out? So today, naturally the day before he has to have it, I go to pick it up-at 5:30-right before closing-already on the mental edge. Little did I know...

ME: I need to pick up a band uniform for Anthony Campos, please.
CLERK: (get the uniform-again the only one there) That will be $9.65
ME: Counting out the correct change - all the cash I have left mind you.
CLERK: Taking the cash, removing the tag, pausing..."Does this uniform belong to you?"
(I must not look like the mother of Anthony Campos...but since when do the cleaners ask if what you're picking up belongs to you?)
ME: Blah, blah, blah...I go on to explain the whole story
CLERK: Well, I can't release this uniform to you. Anthony is going to have to come pick it up himself.
ME: Why should Anthony's parents have to pick up or pay for another uniform?
CLERK: Because they dropped this one off.
ME: Maybe they did, but they were given the wrong one when they picked one up, and now I don't have one for my son and he needs it tomorrow.
CLERK: We are very careful and don't make mistakes like that.
ME: Ok, whatever. The band director told me she could speak to someone if there were any questions. I can call her.
CLERK: As long as she can authorize the release of the uniform. But I will have to have my manager approve it also when he comes in tomorrow morning and then you can pick it up anytime after 7.
ME: So I will have to make another trip back here to pick it up? (We live in the country outside of town.)
CLERK: I cannot release this to you.
ME: So I'm stuck having to clean up the mess for someone else's mistake?
CLERK: WE didn't make the mistake and I can't...
ME: I know, I know; you can't release it to me! (I go to my van and look up the phone # for the band director, meanwhile she is calling her manager. I explain what is happening to Ms. Schmidt who is laughing-me, not so much at this point. I go back in and tell her I have the band director on the phone and ask her to speak with her.
CLERK: (This is the biter!) I'm not going to talk to her. How do I know who you have on the other end of that phone?!
ME: You have got to be kidding me, right? You just told me the band director could speak to someone and authorize you to release the uniform. And now I'm a liar! I don't want the uniform because it's mine - it belongs to the school anyway!
CLERK: Well, she can call the manager at 7am! (She thrusts the store phone at me.) Here, my manager want to talk to you!

Fortunately for the manager, he had a very different tone and was very kind. He tried to explain her behavior as 'protecting herself' and that there are people who pick up other people's laundry without permission - please, somebody wants somebody else's band uniform? I know they make a great fashion statement but really! Good news is he told me to take the uniform and leave a phone number where he could reach me if he needed to. Now tell me please, WHY could we not have done that from the beginning?

Somebody please, call the Fashion Police!

No Way! No How!

I don't know what it is about husbands, or maybe it's just men in general, that when you have to be somewhere they are never mindful about being there on time but when it's somewhere they have to be, want to be, or think they should be then the blinders are on and nothing or no one will keep them from their appointed destination at their appointed time. And I mean nothing!

When the boys play football out of town my husband insists on leaving early enough to arrive for a good seat and in time to watch them warm up. Not come out on the field prior to the game, but the actual team warm up that happens at least one hour prior to kick-off! We don't miss a stretch, pass, snap, chant, grunt, or punt. Which is fine as long as we can take care of other business before arriving. By other business I am referring to the female's need to relieve herself after a long drive in someplace other than a public facility that requires the balance and hover maneuver. Can you say, "EEWWWWW!!"

We arrived in Cloudcroft for the 7PM game at 5:55. Headed toward the field we passed a convenience store and I said we probably should stop somewhere before we get to the field because I need to use the restroom. His response, "Oh, there will be restrooms there, that was the next project they were supposed to complete." Something about that statement did not evoke one bit of reassurance that I would be able to quickly and hygienically take care of business. "There will be restrooms there?" Because there weren't any before?

We of course, quickly gathered our things, purchased our tickets and walked toward the stands to make sure to secure our seats. I am looking around carefully while calculating how long I can physically hold out if I have to when I see them. There they are - restrooms! Complete in the Cloudcroft Bear colors of Green and White, the nightmare all women fear - the bathrooms that with any sudden shift in weight distribution could leave you in a horizontal position or worse yet, exposed in front of any and all passers-by. "I'll go with you and stand in front of the door," he tries to sound both apologetic and hopeful. I'm sure the glare answered any and all questions for the rest of the evening as it seemed to reflect off each and every helmet on the field before it radiated directly back to him. So, we continued walking to our seats -

IN THE EMPTY STANDS! (but it was a great warm-up!)

Oh The Teenage Brain!

We were recently contacted by a recruiter from an organization that promotes strong athletes with high character and academics to colleges for scholarship opportunities - The National Scouting Report. We were, of course, honored first because your child has to be invited and second, because it was a coach from a rival team that nominated them for membership. Anyway this organization promotes your child's strengths and accomplishments much like an agent would - sending out a resume, pictures, honors, awards, video of games played, setting up a personal website for coaches and universities to visit and make inquiries, etc. They even fill out college questionnaires and applications for you! Well as you can imagine all this comes with a price so at the end of the pitch he shows us two contracts - the 'Gold' and the 'Elite'. "The Gold package price is $1995 (saying the number as in 19.95) and the Elite package is $2495 (again as in 24.95)". He naturally excuses himself at this point in the presentation, I assume so that the parents may breathe again, he in an attempt to relieve himself - OF GUILT!! It is in this brief moment of complete silence, as I am staring at the contract in hand but not actually looking at it, that my oldest son, Zach, turns to me and says, "Wow, $25 bucks, we can do that!" Gotta love it!

Ohhh, but if you buy one the second one is half price!

Yes, I Am One of Those Parents!

Well, if you've noticed my ticker at the bottom of my blog it now reads 0 days until Dexter vs. Texico - the season opener football game for the Dexter Demons. I always find it weird to tell people my boys play for the 'Demons' when we are Pastors! LOL! Or try yelling 'Go Demons, Go! It always makes me giggle. Years ago I can remember sitting in the stands at Little League Football games and looking at parents screaming in the stands thinking "they really need to chill out and get a life." And it occurred to me as today was approaching that I have become one of them! One of THOSE parents! The one you can hear yelling their child's name in the stands from the field. The one wildly waving blue plastic pom-poms or foam fingers in the air. The one wearing the blue shirt with her kid's names and jersey numbers on the sleeves. One of the many women poking her husband in the arm asking for the hundredth time "What happened? What was that call? Why did they do that? What does that mean?" And of course I am one of those parents who KNOW exactly what the coach should do because after all, MY CHILD could do that better! I have never felt such emotion and excitement and nervousness and pride all at the same time and it's awesome! But it will bring tears to my eyes, this first game of the 2008-2009 season. It always does. And as much as I have complained over the years about football, I have fallen in love with the sport...the sport of watching my boys!

It Is Just Wrong - That's What It Is!

I'm not sure I was seeing correctly, but I believe that while I was in the grocery store for yet another trip this week (my two older boys started two-a-days in football becoming walking, talking worm holes in the space time continuum of my kitchen), I actually saw the candy aisle prepared for Halloween! Bags and bags of 'fun size' treats lined up in perfect rows and columns. Believe me there is nothing 'fun' about the size they induce the week after this evil holiday, appropriately described if only for the treats we eagerly rescue our children from-for their own good, of course. But I digress and I'll save the value-sized dieting issues for another posting, or two, or three.....

What never ceases to amaze me is the arrival of seasonal merchandise so much earlier than one can even conceivably think about preparing for the actual intended event itself. I mean really, can you possibly get your teenagers to shop for long-sleeved shirts and jeans during the second week of August when the temperature outside is only a mere 104 degrees? But of course, in New Mexico we call that a 'dry heat', LOL! And while in Hobby Lobby in JULY!!! perusing the clearance VBS supplies, I could not believe I actually passed aisles and aisles of Christmas decorations! (And yes, I really do still have my Christmas tree up!)

But this next one only added to my Mom angst as I prepare to watch my oldest son, Zach, leave the fine nest I have so lovingly, if not in retrospect a little too comfortably, feathered for him. He came home on the first day of school and handed me a large envelope. Thinking this was the obligatory packet of carpel tunnel-inducing informational forms, which have to be reproduced in triplicate in my case, I started to toss them to the side. That is, until I saw the printed side of the envelope upon which was printed in bright blue gigantic font these words: Graduation 2009 "It Is...What It Is!" (this is apparently their 2009 motto?) For Seniors Only: Important Graduation Information For Seniors and Parents.

OMG! No Way! It couldn't be, could it? Already? You have got to be kidding me! It cost how much? (They were kind enough to print package prices on the outside of the express order envelope - how much more express can they get? I'm pretty sure he's not going to qualify for early graduation. At this point in the first week of school, getting him out of bed 30 minutes before he has to leave is cause for celebration!) Those were only some of the phrases I voiced out loud....I think? Announcements and inserts and labels to buy! Caps and gowns, and tassels, OH MY!

So apparently we must make the first of many decisions that will be new beginnings for my not so little bird. Will it be Deluxe Grad Pack #1, Supreme Grad Pack #2, or Basic Grad Pack #3? I must go now, I have an announcement list to make... and yours may just come with a Christmas card!

P.S. And just in case I wasn't quite prepared for the reality of this one event alone, I was also lucky enough to get the packet to order my middle son, Daniel's, class ring on this same momentous day!

Before You Know It!

I can remember when those well meaning older women God lovingly placed in my life would tell me to "enjoy those boys now because before you know it they will be grown and gone." I would, of course, smile all the while wondering exactly how many days constituted that period of time referred to as 'before you know it'? Certainly more than I could visualize with any hope of light at the end of the tunnel unless that tunnel was actually a mythical, magical transporter that could transform three diaper-clad toddler boys into well-aiming, potty-trained (maybe even vegetable eating?) young men 'before I knew it'!

But alas, I too must admit our elders were right...'before I knew it' is here! It is heard in the voice of my youngest as he asks for a haircut the night before his first day of school - his first day of high school! It is palpable in the anguish a sixteen year old boy feels when his first love decides she needs a break and breaks his heart instead (whatever happened to mommy being his girlfriend?). And I see it written on the face of my firstborn son as he gets up at 5:00 AM this morning for his last year of football two-a-days. Excitement shines brightly from his eyes, still as big and wondrous as when he took his first step. And yet, 'before I knew it' has cast ever so slight a shadow of sadness over his countenance as he walks out the door, keys in one hand and cleats in the other.

His last year of high school? How could that be possible? How will it be possible to remember all the firsts and watch all the lasts?......And someone please tell me, am I totally insane to long for those days of diapers again?