I did it!

It is October 1 and I made it through September without consuming any artificial sugar (that I am aware of).  Whew!  Gary and I both gave it up, and though it was very challenging at first--especially when I had such terrible headaches following my loss of caffeine!--it got a little easier as the month went on.  30 days of doing something different, of making a small change.  I don't feel much different than when I began, but it feels so good to say that I accomplished a goal.

Today is October 1 and a Monday.  It is a great time to set a goal. . . something that you are going to try for 31 days.  Just 31 days.  It is long enough to be a sacrifice of some sort, but short enough that the end is already in sight.

Will you floss every day?  Will you read the Bible every day?  Will you give up sweets for the month?  Will you purge your house of one thing every day?  Will you decide to say two positive things to your spouse every day?  Five minutes in prayer daily?  A note card to a friend every day?  Check facebook only twice a day?  Exercise for 10 minutes daily?  Go to be by 11:00?  Wipe down your counters every night before bed?  Engage in 5 minutes of kissing with your honey daily?

I've decided that I need to write down my eating every day.  I'm really good in the morning and then. . . . things peter out and I find myself snacking at night and not documenting it.  If I want to reach my weight loss goals (are you sick of reading this already?  I'm sick of writing about it!) then I need to be faithful about writing it all down.  When my points are gone, then I need to be done eating.

Are you reading this on October 2?  October 11?  November 5?  Think about it and set a beginning and ending date.  Feel free to let me know if you'd like.

Soccer

The boys had a soccer game this morning.  We've never participated in the Saturday morning soccer thing before this year.  Our philosophy with sports/activities for our kids has been to expose them to a variety of sports so that they have an idea of how it is played.  If they enjoy something and want to learn more, then great.  If they don't, then great.  I must admit that it really isn't soccer but rather bunch ball.  I smile often as I watch my boys play.  Simon is more willing to get in the thick of things and attacks the ball but lacks the power.  Garrison circles the ball while doing a sort of run/dance thing and only kicks it when it comes to him.  The weather so far hasn't been bad and I haven't had any awkward conversations with crazy parents.  Good stuff.

Today however, (don't ya just love the word however!) there was an event that occurred on the soccer field. Let me back up a bit.  The boys forgot to take their water bottles. (This of course isn't shocking if you are my facebook friend and haven't blocked me.  You are aware of my forgetful sons.)  I forgot to remind them to take water bottles.  I'm still getting used to this "activity thing".  How much is my responsibility?  How much is theirs?  Anyway, at the start of the second quarter I asked Garrison if he would like a drink box from the car.  YES!  Play began and I headed off to the car to get a drink for my son.  If you are wondering. . . hmm. . . she has two thirsty sons on the field. . . you are correct.  Simon however doesn't like juice boxes.  I brought one for him anyway just in case.  Sometimes thirst wins.

I returned to my seat and Garrison caught my eye and yelled "Hey mom, guess what?"  (Guess what drives me crazy--the boy says it all the time!)  The ball was at the other end of the field and the three fullbacks and goalie were behind.  "What" I replied.  "Mom, guess what?  The ball was down here and then guess what?  It was kicked as hard as possible and then guess what?  It hit me right here!" he yelled as he thrust his hips forward and pointed at his penis.  By now all the parents on the sideline were listening to the conversation.  Garrison had a very proud grin on his face.  I'm not exactly sure what was on mine.  I know I was smiling and shaking my head a little bit.  I did hear the laughter around me as I asked if he was o.k.  He assured me that he was without even uttering a "guess what".  Another mom assured me that I could someday be a grandmother.  When I brought him his drink box during the third quarter (he had to sit out) he let me know that after it happened. . ." you know mom. . . when the ball hit my weenie. . . the whole crowd went awwww".

He thought that was the coolest part.  He loved hearing the crowd.  I think he may be a little like me.

Volcano

I just like my kids.

On Sunday, I especially liked Simon.  I had forgotten this until this morning.  (I always know I like him. . . but sometimes it just washes over ya. . . know what I mean?)

See, on the way home from church the kids were retelling the stories they had heard in Children's Worship (Noel) and Carpenter's Workshop (Sunday School for Simon and Garrison).  In the midst of recounting Joseph's life, Garrison said that they had drawn a picture of their families.  He then continued with a giggle that Simon had drawn a huge volcano and that our family was running away from it so that we wouldn't get burned by hot lava.  I burst out into laughter.  What an appropriate way to be funny!  Simon can struggle with being funny at inappropriate times, so this was genuinely funny.  "Seriously?"  I asked him.  He had a huge grin on his face.  I love it that he put us in some great action.  We laughed and moved on with our day.

Then this morning, after I had long forgotten about the drawing, I ended up in the boys room in our church basement.  We began our Bible Study this morning and Penny decided to be constipated.  (At least that is the only thing that I can figure out!)  I missed our entire video because I was with her.  I saw pictures hanging up in the room and laughed again at my sweet boy.  I'm so glad that he didn't have the volcano destroying his mama!  We were indeed all running away so that we wouldn't get "burned up with hot lava".

Yesterday I behaved poorly and disciplined him in a shameful way at the bus stop.  I'm all for disciplining, but I didn't realize that others were watching (I thought I was being discreet: um no!)  As I walked back to our house with Penny I was stewing about his behavior and was then convicted that perhaps. . . I was the one who was in error.  I prayed as I got home that I would be forgiven and then I apologized later to Simon.  I was the volcano that erupted.  Yuck!

So. . . I like him.  I like the laughter he brings and I like what God is teaching me through him.

First Day of School (belated)

So. . . here are the first day of school pics.  Thankfully, my children haven't changed that much in the past four weeks.  :)  Enjoy!

Garrison

Simon

Oh how I love my first graders!

Kindergarten!!!

Mama duck and her ducklings

Hi Papa duck!

Garrison passes his baton to his new teacher: Loushe (sp?) Zhang

Meet Noel's teacher: Loushe (sp?) Zhang

Simon passes his baton to his new teacher. . . wait for it. . . Loushe (sp) Zhang!

A week later they were able to ride the bus.  Love these kids!

Rock-n-roll bus 49

This is not the first day of school, but it does melt my heart. . . so I included it.

Honored

Last night the phone rang at 1:00 a.m.

Those are not the kind of phone calls that we like to get. . . most of the time things are bad.  The only time I like getting middle of the night phone calls is when we are getting news of a new niece or nephew.  (Hopefully we'll be getting one of those around Thanksgiving: Yeah for Kevin and Gretchen!)  More likely though with a late night phone call is either bad news or a crank phone call.  Last night was bad news.

A friend needed me.  I was instantly awake and up out of bed.  Her husband had been taken to the hospital and could I please come over.  OF COURSE.

As I drove back home in the wee hours of the morning I was overcome with gratitude. I must say that I saw last night as an honor.  I am so thankful that she felt like she could call me.  I am so thankful that I was able to pray for her and her family in the middle of the night.  I'm so thankful that her husband is doing well this morning (Praise God!).  I'm thankful that I have friends.  I have friends that I can call in the middle of the night for help.  I know that I have MANY friends that I could call in the middle of the night for help.  I bless God that He has given that to our family.  So friends, if you need me. . . please call.  It will be an honor.

A brand new service

Sunday morning church service changed for us yesterday.  It won't last forever, just 16 more years.  Garrison and Simon graduated out of children's worship (which happens during the sermon part of the service) and into Carpenter's Workshop (which happens after the church service).  Suddenly, things are different in the pew.  Noel left during the offering and Gary and I found ourselves managing/wrangling/quieting/encouraging two fidgety boys.  :)

I must say they handled themselves better than I thought they would.  Our church did decide to throw another wrench into the mix.  Communion.

I forgot that we were having communion and my boys have never seen it because they have always been in the church basement while it is happening.  I had planned on sitting down with them and explaining things, but instead Gary and I found ourselves whispering to our offspring about what was about to happen.  I got a little teary eyed as I shared with Garrison (Gary was on Simon) about the bread and wine.  It is such an amazing thing to participate in.  The boys walked up with us to receive the elements, but they didn't take it yet.  Our church leaves that decision up to the parents as to when their children can begin to receive communion.

So Garrison and Simon joined us on our walk up front and then we returned to our seats with the elements.  We waited to take them until everyone had been served.  Garrison carefully examined them.  I spilled my juice on my pants (awesome!).  It took on new meaning for me as I remembered watching my parents partake of communion and now my sons were watching me.  It is another responsibility as parents--passing on to the next generation--the worship and adoration and fear and amazement and love of God.

Yup.  Sundays are certainly new for us again.  Now I need to wait for that first bodily function from one of them during the service.  Good times.

Garrison's start

We have had a great start to the school year.  Yes, things can be challenging when your teacher only speaks in Mandarin.  Yes, it can cause some interesting situations because three siblings are together in a class of ten.  Yes, Penny is a bit lost and a tad naughty in the mornings without her siblings around.  Yes, the kids have been tired.

BUT we are loving the program.  The kids are eager to go go school.  They do lots of activities with other classes.  They speak Mandarin at home.  It has been a great fit for our family.

Garrison however, has had some trouble adjusting to the "sides" of school.  He left his lunchbox at school on the first day.  The first day!!  He saw a treasure and set his lunch bag down to that he could examine it.  The next week he left it on the bus.  This week he didn't come home on the bus.  He had heard Gary and I talking about how our friend Lisa was going to pick him and Simon up for soccer practice on Tuesday night.  Somehow it resonated in his brain that he was to wait at school on Monday for his ride.  Thankfully the school secretary took him home.  The funniest part to me was that he was so excited that he got to ride in a corvette.  She drives a Jetta.  :). So we are waiting for the next Garrison moment.  I'm sure that Simon and Noel will have their share too as we get into the business of school.  Noel has already lost her bus pass.