OK, So I'm a Bad Mom

It's been awhile since I felt bad about leaving my son at practice or the like. Today I did. The 92 degrees is what did it.

I hope he doesn't pass out.

While I sit in the a/c- 5 short miles away.

It'll make a man out of him - questionable smile across my face.

-Michelle
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If Only I had a Helmet and Set of Pads

It's getting hotter in Florida, if you can imagine that! Monday was the first day Early Bird wore full pads to practice, I think it was like 93 with a heat index of 103 and he didn't hesitate one second to dress up and head out. He, along with every other kid out there has been waiting for this week for a long time. Full pads in football means they can hit one another!

Not a moms favorite week, but for the kids- they love it!

As I continue in my own struggle of life, new business, new job, more kids, no money... I watch these boys each evening and they inspire me.

I watch them run and hit and run and hit, sweat pours from them like a faucet, their shirts stick to them like glue and yet, they persevere, they push on, they smile. They get up and run again, hit again, yell "Yes Sir!" again. I cringe still when I hear the cracks of the pads and helmets; I'm inspired.

Games are still 3 weeks off and yet they continue on, each night- hot sun, high humidity and temperatures enough to cause me to slip away from practice early finding relief in my a/c. They push on.

They have a goal. A prize.

A jamboree awaits them. Saturdays won't come soon enough. They work hard.

Today I was ready to give up.

It happened to be a fleeting moment, or two, of exasperation; but it existed.

In my feeble attempt to live less of a life of me and more of a life of Christ, I remembered what Paul said in Hebrews 12:1 "let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

This is my race.
Marked out for me. Not you. Not my friends, nor my family, but me, M.E.

A jamboree awaits me, it's called heaven. I want to run with perseverance.

Perseverance, from persevere: to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement

Discouragement, hmmmm... To persevere I must push on through this discouragement, in spite of it.

My race, my path. Again takes me to God's Word Psalm 18:32 says "It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect."

My way, perfect?

Due to my past experiences with God I can do nothing but believe Him. He's batting 1,000. Me I tend to strike out a lot. I'll go with God on this one.

He gives me peace.
He gives me strength to persevere.
He changes my attitude, my spirit.

My race is so much more worth it when I have an eternal perspective, when I focus on the jamboree that awaits me.

And oh yes have I said it yet this week??

"HIT SOMEONE!!!"


-Michelle
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Win A Free TV

Head over to 5 Minutes For Mom, they are giving away a 37" Flat Screen TV from Best Buy! While you're there take a look around it's a pretty cool sight. Deadline to win is Aug 17 so hurry up!

-Michelle
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Lord O' The Rings Fest 2

We finished!
Our annual Lord of the Rings Fest is officially over!

This year we had to spread it out over a Mon-Tues and Thursday due to a lack of attendance on Wed, nonetheless, WE. ARE. FINISHED!!!

Every year for the past, well 2 years, we've held a Lord of the Rings Fest, where we watch all 3 Lord of the Rings movies, extended versions, back to back to back.

This year at 9am every morning my house looked like this, notice my comfy chair and quilt.

As we all sat around and ate 14 bags of popcorn, 1 large bag of M-n-M's, 1 large bag of jelly beans, 2 boxes of Cheeze-Its, countless sandwiches and gallons of water while watching Frodo and Sam complete their quest to destroy evil and save Middle-Earth.

Now that I've watched enough TV to last me a whole year I can't help but think more deeply into these great books.

So.... being the homeschooling mother I am we are reading and studying these books for our literature study this year at TreeHouse SchoolHouse.

As I pack up the movies, rearrange my living room back to normal and vacuum up popcorn kernels the reality of summer ending sets in. On one hand I'm thrilled! I will get my house back and go back to feeding 3 kids instead of 6-8. On the other hand it means back to school, back to papers and teaching, no more lazy beach Tuesdays, pool swimming and the carefree attitude that accompanies summer days.

So for these last 2 weeks we'll have to cram as much fun into them as possible and that will include a trip here and here, our annual trip here and maybe even here.

It's time I remove my eyes even from this laptop screen as they are truly bugging out of my head at this point in time.

Peace out!

-Michelle
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