Nationals at BJU

The large instrumental ensemble Joel plays baritone in just placed

2nd at the AACS National Competition!!!!

Congratulations Joel!!!

Joel and Amanda

Joel and Amanda in Manchester, New Hampshire

at a hockey game.

Something tells me they weren't that interested

in the hockey game.

We are the Champions!

Joel and the TCM Eagles ended the 2010-2011

as IACS State Champions!

(watch highlight video here)

I thought about writing a poem, maybe a haiku, about basketball

. . . something to reflect the emotions and ups and downs of the season. But instead I will just summarize in bullet form and end this post with an ode:

• Season started with a lot of pressure. This was THE team . . . the team they had been preening and nurturing since junior high.
• Joel was the 5th starter. . . the only junior among the 4 starting seniors.
• First big game . . . Joel sprains in ankle in the FIRST quarter. The rest of the season is filled with a lot of tape, ice and ibuprofen.
• The first week of December was spent in sunny Florida at the PCC basketball tournament. The boys played well and had some fun on the beach. Brian and I enjoyed the time on the beach too!
• Christmas break was spent at a not-nearly-as-fun tournament in Richmond where the team faced the stiffest competition of the season. They got their hat handed to them on occasion but out of the pressure emerged the stronger, more confident player in Joel. Coach said if he were giving out a tournament MVP award it would go to Joel!
• January came and so did Megan's wedding. Joel missed a pretty big game which conflicted with the wedding . . . but I don't think he minded that much. He liked his tux and loves his sister!
• Joel battled the coaches and proved to them and himself that he was a determined ball player. I am confident that the steps he took to establish himself as a player will benefit him on and off the court for years to come.
• January also brought with it the full-blown flu. Although he only missed one game due to it, he practiced for a week and played one game while running a 101 degree fever. I guess it is true that that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
• February brought changes to the team and the starting five which consisted of four seniors and Joel changed to three seniors, one sophomore and Joel.
• February also brought a lot of snow which meant a week off of school, missed practices and cancelled games.
• Later February brought make-up practices and make-up games. On one such make-up game Joel was leading scorer with 20 points and had an awesome highlight reel worthy put back!
• Late February, more changes to the starting line-up . . . now two seniors, two sophomores and Joel.
• March Madness finally came and with it the state finals. Shock and Awe was their intent . . . the team resolved to play their hardest . . . full-tilt until the end. And shock and awe they did! Joel, unfortunately, fouled out early in the second game but made up for that in the final game with several big blocks, powerful defense, and some needed buckets. Friends and family there cheering him on, TCM history was made!

Ode to Basketball

I know what plays are Spartan, Michigan State and L from all of my basketball watching.

My bottom is flat from all of the bleacher sitting, and

my belly is flabby from all of the McDonald's eating.

My throat is sore from all of the cheering, and

our bank account is empty from all of the spending.

Our tires are worn out from all of the driving, but

my Tuesdays and Fridays will now be empty.

I will now have no excuse not to go to Zumba.

I love Hoosier basketball especially when my boys play;

I would do it all again in a heartbeat . . .

I guess I will next season!

Pictures that made me smile . . .

Summertime and the livin' was easy.

You would think the toilet man would have given us

a break on the new septic system with all the help he had.

Miss Personality Plus

Dad with dark hair and a monkey on his back.

Levi preparing to live in Russia.

Gracie - flash forward a dozen years and this won't be funny!

Scooby and Joel before the growth serum.

Meet Megan's boys . . .

Joel

Levi

Joel (again)

and now Adam!

Thankful

Saturday, February 5, 2011

9:35 am: Levi leaves for work.

9:40 am: Brian prays over our breakfast:"Lord, thank you for this food. Protect Levi as he is on his way to work. Be with Megan and Adam today. Be with Elaine and Joel and me as we are at home."

9:40 am: Unbeknownst to us, Levi is spinning out of control less than 3 miles from home.

9:42 am: Levi walks away unharmed from this -

9:44 am: my phone rings

Me: Hello.

Levi: Mom, I need to talk to Dad.

Dad: Hello.

Levi: I am really sorry Dad, but I just flipped the Jeep.

So very grateful for God's very obvious hand of protection.

Another snow day?

When we were home schooling, sometimes the kids would give me grief about having to do school work when the local schools were having a snow day. That is when I came up with the following rhyme:

January - school.

June - the pool!

I think come June, Joel is going to wish he was still home schooled!

He's Back!!

Happy, healthy Joel is back! Thanks for your prayers!

Quick! Someone Call 911!

What I wouldn't give for a time machine!

I would go back to 1995 and stay there forever!!

How I See Him

Joel has been sick for one week now.

First influenza and now a wicked sinus infection.

Fevers are miserable.

He has felt absolutely rotten, but he has still gone to school

- sorry to everyone he has exposed -

and he has still played basketball.

He went to the doctor yesterday -

hopefully the antibiotic will help.

I am ready to have my happy Joel back.

Even if he is bigger now.

What's that smell? Wedding Story #1

As it turned out, the week of the wedding I worked more hours in the clinic than I normally work. Murphy's Law I guess. With all the busyness of last minute preparations and Joel on Christmas break, our vehicle situation was strained to say the least.

Wednesday found me at work vehicle-less, penny-less and lunch-less . . . which, unfortunately, is an all too common occurrence for me. But after hearing Megan had returned from the city and was in town, I quickly requested a double cheeseburger (one of many weaknesses I have) be smuggled into work for me.

When she brought it in, I was with a patient but I could hear her sweet Minnie Mouse voice in the nurse's station. I was glad the other nurses at work got to see her and talk with her before her big day because they think she is the cat's meow!

Later that afternoon when Megan picked me up from work, I noticed a very distinct smell in the Jeep. Assuming that it was left-over McDonald's causing the smell, I asked if she had eaten in the car. She replied that she had. Although this smell wasn't typical for McDonald's, I let the matter go.

When the two of us walked in the house, I noticed that Megan had a nice glow about her. Knowing that she had gone to the tanning bed a couple of times recently, I mentioned that she was really starting to look tan. She smiled politely and thanked me for the compliment.

When she took her coat off and hung it up, I again caught a whiff of the smell I had noticed in the Jeep. No, definitely not McDonalds. This was a pungent, earthy smell.

I walked over and grabbed her coat and put it to my nose . . . I then walked over to her and put her to my nose. "It is you!" I said. "What is wrong with you and why do you smell like compost!"

"I got a spray tan today. Doesn't it look good?" she replied. "Don't worry, Mom, I know you don't like chemicals. I went to a place that's all natural. The spray is made from a mixture of beet juice and walnuts!"

All I could think of was that in less than 48 hours my daughter who had just been sprayed with two of the most stain-producing items on the planet was going to squeeze herself into an ALL WHITE dress, have hundreds of pictures taken of her, and stand before over 200 of our closest friends and family . . .

and she smelled like the bottom of the potato bin!

Why should I worry?!?

I know the wedding is all about the bride and not about the mother-of-the-bride, but at this point in the game my nerves are about shot. We had weathered bridesmaid dresses not fitting, hairstyles not working . . .

"Are you just trying to add stress to our lives, Megan!" was my response. But considering she had already been sprayed, there was not much else to say.

We went about our evening getting ready for church. I noticed, however, that each time we passed in the house, she looked a little different.

She smelled the same, unfortunately, but looked different. She was darker . . . with each passing minute she was getting darker!

After trying to explain that the spray tan consists of a color coat followed by a clear coat that wears off over a few hours revealing the color coat that darkens over time . . . It became clear to me -

We have no idea what color Megan will be for the wedding!

My immediate suggestion was that she shower repeatedly - with her Dad's Lava soap. Megan reassured me that by picking a spray made of beets and walnuts rather than carrots and pumpkin she would have a more bronze look and would NOT end up looking orange.

I guess the trade-off was she could have smelled like pie instead of compost.

All in all, the spray tan worked well. It did not rub off on her dress. She did not end up looking orange, and the smell went away the next day.

Maybe I will get one.

Me and My Boys

Levi - Me - Joel

A candid shot of the boys and me at the reception.

The boys were a HUGE help getting ready for the wedding and reception. Having gone to school at TCM and having helped with numerous school programs, plays, events . . . they know the school/church like the back of their hand.

The boys did everything from setting up the scaffolding, hanging the ornaments from the gym ceiling, setting up the tables and chairs (after first finding all of the chairs), hanging lights, finding all of the plug-ins . . .

Their help was essential.

While Joel did the bigger more visible things, Levi was meticulously working behind the scenes with all of the unseen things - like taping all of the extension cords to the floor and being sure all of Megan's things got put in Adam's car. The jobs they chose to do were so typical of their personalities.

Both worked tirelessly and without complaint - all out of love for their sister.

I love my handsome boys, the love they have for Megan, and their servant's heart.

Wedding Day!!!

Megan and Adam

January 7, 2011

So many stories to tell . . .

so many blessings to count . . .

so many answered prayers to share . . .

I look forward to telling them all!

Still Mom

My emotions are raw right now . . . tears are never far away.

It is actually silly to be sad, however, because this is what we set out to accomplish.

Megan has grown from a small 6 lb. 12 oz. infant girl who was dependent on us for everything into a beautiful, mature, fine Christian lady who is ready and capable to care for herself and her husband.

But as a mom, it is hard to let go. It is hard to be done with a job you have worked so hard at doing.

I heard that Da Vinci loved the Mona Lisa so much that he tarried in finishing painting it for 15 years. And that after it was finally finished, he carried it with him wherever he went and never sold it.

The selfish side of me would like to do that with Megan - to keep her at home with me longer.

But truth is - I love her too much to do that.

I love - love. I love being a wife and a mother - and I am looking forward Megan experiencing this and to experiencing the newness of it again through her.

There are so many firsts ahead of her . . . so many exciting days ahead.

In reality I know that even though she is now grown, I will always be her mother - and she will always need me.

I still need my mother - so I know this is true.

I am looking forward to the phone calls asking me:

How long do you bake your meatloaf?

What medicine should I give Adam for his cold?

How do you get cat puke out of the carpet?

It is nice to always be needed.

Siblings

Joel: This is weird.

Megan: What is weird?

Joel: This is your last Saturday at home.

Megan: I know, it is weird.

Looking at Joel, she notices the expression on his face.

Megan: Are you sad?

Joel: Of course I am sad.

Megan: Why?

Joel: Because you are my sister and I love you.

Three Months!!!

The whole reason I started this blog was to help chronicle memories - you know, kind of like keeping a journal.

Unfortunately, living this life has proven too time consuming at times to take time to journal it! Whew!!!

I wish I would have blogged about:

Joel's amazing soccer game Tuesday night where he scored two goals in less than 5 minutes!
Levi's recent car purchase where he got the DEAL OF A LIFETIME!!!! and a project to boot!
My ohmygoodnesswhathaveigottenmyselfinto situation at work.
Megan's college adventures and the fact that typing those words doesn't require me taking Zantac first.
Brian's Auto Mechanic 101 course and why he hates automobiles and would prefer we buy a horse.
My near come to fists, knock-down, drag out with my doctor! Well, I guess I made it out to be more than it really was. Imagine that! lol

Anyway . . . the point is a lot has been going on! Not to mention the fact that we are now knee deep into . . .

PLANNING A WEDDING!!!!!!

Three months! Three months!! Three months!!! THREE MONTHS!!!

Sometimes I wake up in a cold sweat just thinking about it only to find Brian sitting in bed with a little short, stubby pencil crunching numbers!

Ha! Who am I kidding? Nothing keeps that man awake at night.

I have decided that these precious days need to be documented. I mean if anything is journal worthy it is the days leading up to your baby girl getting married, leaving home, and making her own little nest!

Posts will probably be short and to the point and will hopefully included pictures a long the way.

Labor Day Weekend

We had some great family time this weekend.

Here's a quick list recapping the weekend:

went through a mystery fun-house - twice
found out Joel drove in KY for the first time (we thought Levi was driving)
had a somersault competition on the hotel bed - I think I won!
toured Mammoth Cave
ate a lot of chicken
didn't eat rum cake - Aunt Dixie was still sick:(
said ya'll way too much
laughed at Levi hitting his head in Mammoth Cave - twice
made an impromptu decision to stay an extra night
cringed when Joel splattered a cherry limeade from Sonic ALL over the hotel room
worried as Megan and Levi made the 4 hour trip down by themselves
missed Scooby - Ok, maybe I was the only one who missed Scooby!
oohed and ahhed over a bunch of new babies
listened to Brett preach from the back of the wagon
watched Star Wars while piled together on the king-size hotel bed
relished our time with the kids
enjoyed seeing family

What more could you want?

Family Tradition

One of our family's favorite things to do is to lie out on the trampoline at night and look at the stars.

Yes, we do have cable, a Wii, and the internet - but still this is one of our favorite past-times.

You might say we live simply here in the woods.

Star gazing is something we have done for several years. Hope and Adam have even joined on us occasion. Kind of a rite of passage thing.

We have laid out under the stars in the dead of winter wrapped in blankets and huddled together - and like last night, we have laid out under the stars in the heat of the night fighting over who gets to lay next to Joel because the mosquitoes are drawn to his Axe body spray.

We have seen several shooting stars over the years and have had many wonderful conversations while waiting to see one. Ah, the family memories we have made.

Megan: I saw one.
Brian: That was a lightning bug.
Joel: These mosquitoes won't leave me alone.
Levi: That's because you smell like a dirty butt. Wait a minute, I think I smell like a dirty butt.
Me: You both smell like a dirty butt. Go lay next to Dad.

August is one of the best times of years to see shooting stars. The Perseids occur in August and, in fact, tonight and tomorrow night are peak nights!

This is the most famous of all meteor showers. It never fails to provide an impressive display and, due to its summertime appearance, it tends to provide the majority of meteors seen by non-astronomy enthusiasts.

This meteor shower gets the name "Perseids" because it appears to radiate from the constellation Perseus. An observer in the Northern Hemisphere can start seeing Perseid meteors as early as July 23, when one meteor every hour or so could be visible. During the next three weeks, there is a slow build-up. It is possible to spot five Perseids per hour at the beginning of August and perhaps 15 per hour by August 10. The Perseids rapidly increase to a peak of 50-80 meteors per hour by the night of August 12/13 and then rapidly decline to about 10 per hour by August 15. The last night meteors are likely to be seen from this meteor shower is August 22, when an observer might see a Perseid every hour or so.

For observers in the Southern Hemisphere, the Perseid radiant never climbs above the horizon, which will considerably reduce the number of Perseid meteors you are likely to see. Nevertheless, on the night of maximum, it is possible to see 10-15 meteors per hour coming up from the northern horizon.

There are other, weaker meteor showers going on around the same time as the Perseids, but the Perseids will generally appear to move much faster across the sky than meteors from the other showers. In fact, the Perseids are among the fastest moving meteors we see every year. Another way to know if the meteor you saw was a Perseid is to mentally trace the meteor backwards. If you end up at Perseus then you have probably seen a Perseid meteor!

Although we have watched the Perseids for several years now, we have never been able to see 10-15 meteors per hour - although that would definitely making staying up til the wee hours of the morning worth it!

Last night we saw five meteors - one large and four smaller.

Almost as exciting as seeing a meteor is seeing a satellite scoot across the sky. We even saw the space station one night. No kidding, we really did.

The plan tonight is to go to bed and set our alarms for 1 am when we will rendezvous on the trampoline in the back yard. We will then bleary-eyed stare at the sky, laugh at Dad snoring, swat mosquitoes, and enjoy being together.

Brothers

Levi is proving to be a very self-motivated and hard-working college student. He entered the program for his Associate of Applied Science in Law Enforcement this past spring.

Although frustrating at the time, I think it has worked out best that he didn't start last fall. By delaying the start of school to January, he was able to focus on working at FedEx for a few months before adding on college classes.

In my opinion (maybe it's because this is what I did - lol) working and commuting to school separates the wheat from the chaff so to speak. It's not easy doing both.

During his small two week break between summer and fall semesters, Levi wants to take advantage of his FedEx flight discounts and go on an adventure with Joel.

Those two crack me up.

They have worked out together at the YMCA most mornings all summer. Sweat must form bonds.

They were close before - but now they are pretty tight.

Levi welcoming Joel to the family.
3/24/94

Worth a thousand words

Adam recently gave Megan the okay to begin transforming his bachelor pad apartment into their new home.

Given the fact that this apartment has housed as many as four 20-something single men at a time, I was concerned that transforming it into a home - regardless of how much estrogen influence was involved - would not be possible.

Those fears were laid aside yesterday.


A barefooted, happy, and very proud Megan met us at the entrance and welcomed us inside.

There I discovered that the shared entry hallway and stairs were brightly lit, nicely carpeted, and very homey feeling. Not at all how I had imagined (discarded cigarette butts, blood from the last homicide . . . my mind tends to gravitate to the worst).

As we entered the apartment itself I breathed another sigh of relief as I breathed in air conditioned, Clorox-laced air. Megan and Adam had spent the afternoon exerting some serious elbow grease and had the place impressively clean for its debut appearance to Brian and me, Levi and Hope, and Grandma (Joel had been there one time in its previous state).

Megan and Adam both took pride in showing us their new Ikea table and chairs that Adam built with his own hands. And I envisioned Megan putting away laundry as she showed off their more than ample walk-in bedroom closet.

Paint colors have been picked.
Curtains are being planned.
Rooms are being rearranged.

A home is being made.

This picture is going to be very cathartic for me the next few months.

I will look at it when:

I am sad Megan has grown up.
I worried she is leaving the safety of our home to start her own.
I feel selfish and want to keep her little and with me.
I get frustrated with the wedding planning.
My heart hurts and misses her being three with short, curly hair.
I worry that she is not ready to be married.
I wonder if she will be happy.
I am overwhelmed and saddened by how fast life passes.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down,
and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep,
and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war,
and a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:3-8