Memorial Day Weekend, And the Best Money Ever Spent

So, after dance recitals, competitions, camp-outs, Mother's Day, and the busy-ness of May, comes Memorial Day weekend. Finally, a chance to breathe! Well, maybe not. Saturday morning began on a somber note for me as I went to Pastor Fred's funeral. It was beautiful and truly a celebration of his life and legacy. While I was so happy at the thought of his joy when he entered heaven, I was also sad because I will miss his kind, gentle spirit, his thoughtful ways, his wonderful teaching and music, and his joy of life. Okay, so back on track.... after the funeral, I took the kids to Marcie's bff's birthday party. The main attraction was horseback riding, which the kids loved. Even Joanna was willing to ride, and was much less afraid than the last time she had the chance to ride (and I made her ride around the small area that first time so that she would realize that she would be safe and it would be fun). Actually, Joanna might have ridden twice that Saturday.

The thing the kids looked forward to the most after the birthday party was swimming. I joined the pool in Hopewell right down the street from my parents. I used to work there as a teen-ager and of course, played there during my childhood and adolescence. The price was so much better than at the swim club near my house, so that's why I joined that one. Anyway, I had told the kids that since the weather forecast was for rain on Sunday, we would just plan to go to the pool on Monday. Well, they noticed that there wasn't a cloud in the sky and they really wanted to swim, so I took them on Sunday. As soon as we got there, it thundered and the pool was cleared. Since it really looked like it would blow over, we stayed. Sure enough, the sun came back out and the kids were able to play. You would never have known that they hadn't been swimming since last fall. They were so happy to be able to play in the pool, and I think they got about 2 hours worth before it began thundering again. Even though we couldn't see any lightening and it wasn't raining, it did seem that there would be a storm, so we left. I think a little while later, they closed the pool, though, there serious storms didn't come until much later.

Monday was beautiful, sunny and hot, but breezy. And, there was a cook-out at the pool -- $2 per person or $5 per family! So, we took advantage of that. The pool provided hot dogs, chips, drinks and folks were asked to bring a dish. I ate much better than the kids because I enjoyed the pasta salads and other dishes but the kids did eat pretty well (they like macaroni and cheese). After that, they played in the pool for hours and I was thinking as I watched them, "that might be the best money I've ever spent." Marcie's and Kyle's swimming skills (virtually self-taught) came right back. Joanna was doing really well swimming underwater some, too. Charlie was a bit braver this year than last year and the more time the kids spent in the water, the more proficient (at a basic level), they looked. Marcie was able to jump off the diving board and swim to the side unassisted. Kyle got brave enough to jump off once and I helped him to the side, but then he was too nervous, so he didn't try again. Swimming lessons begin July 5 and I am looking forward to the kids becoming even more skilled in the water. They do have a healthy respect for the water but it is really nice to see them enjoying the water with a bit less fear than they used to have. We are looking forward to a great summer in the water! :)

Dance Recitals, Camp Outs and City Kids

May whizzed by with all of the weekend activities. First was the dance recital mid-May. Marcie was in 3 dances, only 1 of which was in the first act. My nieces were also in 3 dances and their 3rd dance was the finale! So, we were there late each night. It was okay, really, because I enjoyed it and I think my other 3 kids enjoyed it, as well. Marcie was terrific -- she really enjoyed being with her friends and flitting around as though she had been doing that for many more than the 4 years she's been involved in dance. (Wow, can't believe it's been 4 years!). My nieces also danced well. They are so beautiful and among the sweetest little girls in the whole world! The very next weekend, she had another dance competition and the boys had a Royal Rangers camp-out. Charlie went on Friday night to camp until Sunday. Kyle was too young but they had a Ranger Kids field day on Saturday, so we went to that. It was so hot and at first, I didn't think we would make it for the day. I had planned to just drop him off but the medical person who would have checked his blood sugars and given him insulin via his insulin pump was not there. He had gone to the hospital with someone else the night before (an adult leader) and hadn't yet returned, though, I was assured he was on his way back. Kyle wanted me to stay and Charlie did, too, so much to Marcie's chagrin, we stayed. We all ended up having a great time and even Marcie put her DS away several times to play a few games. The funniest part of the whole day, though, was during lunch. They had hot dogs (grilled) with buns and condiments, chips, drinks and desert cakes and cookies (prepackaged kind). This was the kind of meal my kids love but there was just one problem -- no tables. Who would you expect would be the most finicky about sitting on the ground? Marcie -- right? Well, no, she got her plate, plopped down and started eating (rare for her because of the medicine she takes -- she usually has no appetite for lunch). She ate a whole hot dog! I think she was just really happy with a canned soda. Anyway, Charlie also sat right down. Joanna needed some encouragement but she finally sat on the ground. Kyle, however, would have no part of it. Surprisingly enough, he did not want to put either his hindparts or his food on the ground. So, a friend who was there with his son put out a large, green trash bag for his son and Kyle to sit on. I chuckled about that for hours. Who would've thought that my youngest son, all boy, would be too finicky to sit on the ground?

The next day was Marcie's dance competition. The kids were really tired and Kyle clearly didn't want to be there. In the morning, Marcie did the first 2 of her dances and I was able to see them. Her ballet took 2nd and her tap dance took 1st place for points scored in her division! I left her there and went to pick Charlie up from camp. Then, we went back. They were thrilled to be able to eat at the corner Subway, but not so thrilled to be spending the remainder of the afternoon watching the competition. Marcie's other dance wasn't until around 6 in the evening. Even Joanna got a little restless but Kyle was just beside himself and could barely hold it together by later in the day. Charlie fell asleep leaning up against me ... imagine the scent of a boy who's been on a camp-out for 2 nights with no bathing facilities. Hmmm... we survived, and Marcie's Rhythm of the Night dance took 3rd place! She was so grouchy after that so I was glad to be home and get my exhausted children bathed and in bed. They were asleep not long after their little heads hit the pillow. Sweet!

Pastor Fred

Many of you know that my church family lost a beloved pastor, Fred Spivey. He died last Sunday, fittingly on Pentecost Sunday, and he was buried today on his birthday. He was a devoted son, husband, father, uncle, friend and pastor (and I'm sure there are other roles I'm leaving out). Pastor Fred also served his country. He loved the Lord with all of his heart, soul, mind and strength, and it showed. Fred was active in missions, but truly, he served wherever he found himself and ministered tirelessly to us all. He truly showed us how to live, and then how to die. The last Sunday School series he taught was on heaven, and when I found out that he had died, I just had to smile at the thought of Fred dancing with joy as he ran into the arms of Jesus. I'm sure Jesus did the same thing as He welcomed Fred with open arms. Fred was just an all-around wonderful man, truly a saint in every sense of the word. His favorite scripture was, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21. I know Fred and his wife and son must've talked many times about his death and all of the emotions they would feel.....I believe he would've done his ever-loving best to help them prepare. He would get excited when he talked about heaven, but he would also acknowledge the sorrow people feel when they lose a loved one. He knew his family would grieve for him, and I believe that's one of the reasons he was able to hang on for so long. But, I'm also certain, that when he knew the hour was nearing, he was at perfect peace. I know his family now feels the peace of God as they mourn the loss of Fred but also rejoice in his home-going. The great news is that we will see him again, and when that time comes, it will seem as though no time has passed. What blessed hope we have ... the blessed assurance that Jesus meant what he said in John 14:1-4. So, goodbye, Pastor Fred. Enjoy your eternal reward!

Modern Day Woes

I had been promising the kids a Wii with my tax refund figuring that it would help us all be a bit more active in the winter and me in the summer, too. They also wanted one really badly. Well, I don't have my tax refund yet but did get my dependent child care reimbursement from my flexible spending account. So, today we went and bought a Wii. I read the box and discovered that only 1 remote comes with it.....with 4 kids I knew that wouldn't be enough. So, I had to buy 3 more. Of course, we also needed to get at least 1 game. I about had a heart attack when I saw the prices of all of those things. Nintendo DS games are bad enough but the Wii stuff just adds insult to injury...especially with all of the "extras" that have to be bought with various games. So, after nearly hyperventilating, we came home with all of the stuff. The next adventure was trying to set this thing up. And, when I say adventure, I mean adventure. Connecting the console was okay....it was the synchronizing the remotes and then trying to get the game we bought to recognize the remotes. I finally had to call a few people for Wii help but no one was there. So, I told Marcie to turn the console off and then back on. That worked -- the console recognized all of the remotes but we still couldn't get more than one remote to work. So, we switched to the sports game disk. After more trouble, the kids finally got it working (or actually Marcie got it working!) and they have played tennis and golf. Needless to say, listening to their interactions from the other room while I was cooking supper and then later working on bath water has been hilarious. Sounds like this, "Kyle, stop it; No, Joanna; Joanna, what are you doing?, Stop moving it; Will you stop?!!; You almost hitted me in the face!", etc. So, now they are playing baseball. I tried my hand at it and thought I was hitting the ball out of the ballpark only to discover that the outfielders can really catch. Oh, well.

Now it is past bedtime and the kids want to keep playing. Celebrity Apprentice has already started and I can't watch it because of the Wii. Guess I better get used to it.

In the meantime, CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE INVENT A GAMING SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T COST AN ARM AND A LEG FOR THE COMPONENTS AND MAKE IT IDIOT-PROOF?!!

Goalie Extraordinaire!

Charlie's and Kyle's soccer games this morning didn't conflict, thank goodness! Charlie played at 9, or shall I say, he showed up, looked really great, had a water bottle, and enjoyed hanging out on the field -- running as little as possible and watching the general direction of the ball. He did get his foot on it once but for the most part, he acted as though running around really wasn't necessary. He was truly relaxed! His team did play really well against some older and taller players. They only lost by 1 point.

Kyle, on the other hand, was really into it. He is so focused on soccer and his intensity is a little scary for one so young. He is all business when it comes to the game. He reminds me of my oldest nephew with his focus and intensity. He played 2 1/2 quarters and was goalie the entire first quarter. He prevented 4 scores by the other team! He was with it the entire time he was goalie. The other team did score on them but not while Kyle was goalie! He ran up and down the field and got his foot on the ball a lot. His team won the game but it's not really about keeping score. :)

A couple of weeks ago while I was bathing Kyle, he looked at me and said, "Mom, thank you for signing me up for soccer." I guess that's one thing I got right!

Running -- a follow-up

Marcie came in 10th in her class. The 1st graders ran a 1/2 mile. She was very proud of herself but said she wanted to run faster. I won't complain if she practices as long as it's not in the house! The 3rd graders ran a mile. Charlie's time was 10:48, after which he had an asthma attack and had to go to the nurse for his inhaler. I am sending a note so that next time he gets his inhaler BEFORE he runs! I don't know how he placed in his group but I know that had I been running with him, he would have won! :)

I still don't have Joanna's results. She remembers running but that's about it. I'll post it when I find out!

Mom & Dad Guess What?

Kyle came home today with a paper that began with, "Mom & Dad guess what?" It went on to say, "I ran a 1/4 mile in PE and it took me 1:58 minutes." The teacher wrote on it, "1st in class."

Kyle had told me that they were running in PE and he said he won one race. Then he said, "there's another boy what has really fast feet....he won one race, too."

I think Kyle is definitely going to be my all-around athlete!

Thinking of Haiti

I'm not sure how Marcie heard this because we weren't home in time for the news, but somehow she heard that Michelle Obama made a surprise trip to Haiti. As she was getting in the bathtub, she asked, "Haiti?! Are the people still hurt there?" I replied that they were and while there were some doctors and hospitals that could help, there weren't enough and people still needed help. She said, "Well, you have to go then. Somebody's got to get them all fixed." Trying to recover from my shock, I said, "Well, I would like to go but I have to be here with you..." She interrupted and said, "you could find someone to take care of us so you can go.." and then we were interrupted by another one of my kids who had some sort of urgent need (now I can't remember what). But, I was so impressed that she was willing to stay with someone else so that I could leave for awhile....or, maybe, she wants me out of the way so that she can have unlimited DS and computer time, stay up late, sleep late in the morning, etc. It is also neat to realize that she has listened when I talk about Haiti and how I used to go there, and that she thinks I can do something about the situation there. If I could only "fix" it!

I look forward to the day when we can all go on missions trips together....maybe to Haiti, even. I hope I can afford it.... I really need to save those pennies! For now, though, I am just excited that my 7 year old is developing an understanding of helping others.

Adoption Gone Wrong

I guess by now everyone has heard of the mother who sent her 7 year old adopted son back to Russia. Reporters have tried to cover the story from every angle, and just this morning, I heard that the mother hasn't been charged with anything yet. Apparently, her attorney will speak tomorrow. The grandmother has been talking, as well. There still are some missing details, but no matter what, the fact that a 7 year old child was sent on a flight (or multiple) nearly halfway around the world unattended is scary to me.

Were the reasons justified? If so, or even if not, the bottom line is that a child was sent away alone. Doesn't even a criminally insane child (is there such a category for a 7 year old?) deserve to be escorted on transcontinental flights? Was it really even safe? I am wondering why the parent hasn't been charged with child endangerment at the very least.

That said, I can't imagine the disappointment and desperation that she and her mother might have felt. I know a lot of adoptive parents, and also biological parents, are disappointed in their children. Sometimes the personalities don't jive, there's no chemistry, there may even be dislike (I remember a few years ago, Dr. Phil did a show on parents who did not like their children....these were biological children). I remember learning in nursing school that new mothers need to adjust to the reality of the baby -- a baby different than the one she imagined before the baby is born. The honeymoon wears off quickly with pain and unbearable fatigue setting in as the baby is squalling for yet more attention. I understand that (not the physical aftermath of child birth but the stress of caring for a newborn without live in help). I am certainly not a perfect parent, and do understand a little about difficulty in bonding, but I can't even fathom leaving a child in the custody of airline officials for the lengthy flights. I know there has got to be more to the story, and I certainly don't want to be judgemental. This whole situation and countless others simply bring attention to the fact that pre-adoption preparation and post-adoption services are critical.

Sadly, Russian officials are considering suspending adoptions again. Several Russian children have died in their adoptive parents' custody (at the hands of the parent) and now this child being returned seems to be the straw that broke the camel's back. I can understand their outrage. Yet, in every culture, every society, there are parents that kill their children. Humans kill each other -- it has happened since Cain and Abel -- the direct result of sin in this world. Parents also abandon their children, and that happens all over the world, as well. Unfortunately, adoptive parents are held to a higher standard and when they fail, it affects adoption for everyone. The thousands of success stories are outweighed by the very small percentage of tragedies. So sad, but also so very human.

The real victims are the children -- those abused and killed certainly, but also, the countless others left in orphanages that will never get a family of their own. Many never would anyway, but even those that could be helped, who have parents pushing paperwork or waiting for court dates or at any point in the process, may not get their families. Ever. Not only that, but more countries could also close adoptions to single parents, as some have already done. My philosophy, as you might've already guessed, is one parent is better than no parent at all. The pitfalls of single parenting don't even come close to the pitfalls of being raised in an institution, which is even far worse than being caught in the middle of divorcing parents and being pulled in both directions.

Bottom line, humans are human. Apart from the grace of God, we struggle and fail dismally. We fail each other, we fail our children, we fail God. I hope and pray that the U.S. and Russian officials reach some type of agreement and that adoption agencies all over the world step up pre-adoption education. I know it's not a guarantee because most people enter adoption with rose-colored glasses thinking the worst case scenario will never happen to them. I understand that, too. But, at least, maybe we can work a little harder preparing parents to parent hurt children. And, then keep praying for those children and their parents.

The Pain! The Pain!

Yesterday morning, after squatting next to Kyle's bed to check his blood sugar, I stood up and pain shot through the small of my back, over both hips and down both legs to my feet. I couldn't even stand up straight. After hobbling around and getting the kids ready for school, I could actually move a little easier, though, my back was still really hurting. I dropped the kids off at the sitters and headed into work. After 30 minutes in the car, I could barely get out. My back and hip muscles just didn't want to cooperate. Walking seemed to really help and although I was in pain all day, I could work. Each time I would sit down for a few minutes, I had a hard time standing up straight. I would hobble around bent over and then finally my muscles would cooperate a little and I could straighten up. It's a good thing I already had my physical therapy appointment scheduled. My therapist could see me walking from my car in the parking lot, so she knew it was bad. After the electrical stimulation, heat, and lots of pounding and working the joints and muscles by my therapist, I could move a little better but my back still hurt. Thank God for heat and ibuprofen!

It is the wierdest thing -- I've been getting physical therapy since early December because I had frozen hip joints. This past weekend, in spite of the busy-ness, I had virtually no pain. It was the best weekend I've had (pain-wise) since last fall. And then, this all happened on Tuesday. I wish there were a cure for aging other than death! In therapy yesterday when it was time to get off of the heating pad, I couldn't remember how to sit up -- it was too painful to sit up the way I normally do and every time I moved, the pain would shoot through my back. At one point I commented that it was really funny that I couldn't move when I actually had to think about it. The therapist made a soothing remark (something like it's not really funny) and I just laughed. I said, "when you get to this point all you can do is laugh." I mean, really, what else can I do?

More Terrific Kid News

Yesterday, both Kyle and Marcie came home with "Terrific Kid" stickers on their shirts. Kyle got the award for working hard to learn to write (and spell!) his last name (we all know that's an accomplishment!). Marcie got hers for being a willing helper. This is a program sponsored by the local Kiwanis club. I guess teachers nominate kids and the principal makes a certificate for each one that is signed by the teacher, principal and a Kiwanis club member. The kids get the certificate and a terrific kid pencil. The principal presents the certificates to the kids in their classes. Marcie and Kyle were thrilled.

Kyle scored a goal in soccer this past Saturday. The first game he has ever played and he scored a goal! Unfortunately, I wasn't there to see it because I was at the children's toy and clothing sale at church. The kids had a sitter at home and I dropped Kyle and Charlie off at Charlie's soccer game (earlier than Kyle's). My brother transported Kyle to his game and Charlie home, then went back and picked up Kyle (the person who was supposed to get him couldn't and I had to call my brother again. Thank goodness he was home!). I dropped Marcie off at her dance practice and another parent brought her home. I am thankful to all of these folks for helping. It was a bit anxiety-producing for me, though, because of all of the loose details.

Speaking of dance, Marcie is performing 3 dances in a competition this weekend. I have to have her at the Richmond Convention Center by 7am with hair and make-up done. I'm wondering how I will even have her out of the bed by then because she is definitely not a morning person. Her first dance is at 10:46 and the last one at 5:27. It will be a long day -- and even longer because I will have all 4 kids with me. Charlie and Kyle will have to miss their soccer games because I can't 1) afford another sitter for a whole day, 2) there are very few people who could take care of diabetes so Kyle can't be left for a whole day, and 3) send Marcie with someone else because that person will have to dress her and get her to each dance. It's just too many details! Boy, I sure do need a nanny!

Another Cute One

Last night, I had clearly waited too long to get the kids in bed and Kyle and Joanna after their baths essentially tried to undo the work I had done straightening up under Charlie's bed. I was hot and fussed at them. I told them that they had to fix it and observed that they were just standing there looking at it, not cleaning up. Charlie said, "Mom, I know Kyle and Joanna are on your last nerd." Yep, Charlie, that's about it!

(Just in case you are wondering, there is no typo in this post.)

It's a beautiful thing....

...when they learn to entertain themselves without needing my input every few minutes. We had very little to do this weekend, which is good, because I'm just about out of $ until payday. On Saturday, soccer had been cancelled due to the rain. Marcie had dance until 11:30 and then we came home for lunch and stayed in the rest of the day. I was anticipating a rainy day but the sun came out and stayed out for the rest of the day. It did look beautiful outside. The kids didn't even ask about going outside -- I guess they knew it was too wet. They entertained themselves with the TV, computer, DSs and DVDs all day. The only request they made was for me to make Charlie's favorite chocolate cake (egg free) and brownies (have eggs in them). So, I made the required foods while doing about 10 loads of laundry and running the dishwasher. I was tired last night but glad the laundry bags were totally empty (except for one toddler bed sheet and some hand washables) for a few hours. After bathtime, the kids' dirty clothes from the day went into the previously empty bags, but at least they weren't full to overflowing again! I actually also folded the clothes and put most of them away. I wanted to get more done, but ran out of steam after supper and baths.

Today, after church and then lunch, I read for a little while (still trying to get through Sarah Palin's book which I am really enjoying -- she really articulates well her philosphies about government and the will of the people; and you get a real sense of a mother's heart when she talks about her children). Then, I had to search for Charlie's DS which has been lost again for a few weeks. After not finding it in the living room, I went back to his room to look under his bed. I had looked there previously but didn't really move the toys, etc. He also went under his bed to look but didn't find it. So, today, I took the sheets off of his bed and propped the mattress against the wall. That view was horrifying to see -- candy wrappers. old, chewed gum, sucker sticks, broken candy cane, pretzels, amidst tiny toys, game pieces, flash cards, crayons, toy cars, you name it, it was there just about. So, I tackled it while the kids were watching TV and alternately playing with the McDonald's play set (unfortunately, it is just about always about food in this house). You might ask why I didn't make Charlie do it. There are 3 reasons: 1) he would never have completed the task because he would have been too overwhelmed and he would have started coughing from the dust; 2) he would never have wanted to throw away the little junk toys ("happy meal") and other scraps of paper he has doodled on; and 3) I didn't want to listen to the whining plus I knew I could do it faster. Well, I've been back and forth between that and the computer because I needed the distraction. Anyway, it is nice and neat under there now and I just have to put the sheets back on. The kitchen trash can is half full of "stuff" that I'm sure would have been meaningful had he seen it again. Okay, I know what you are thinking, he takes after me. I am hopeful that now the kids are old enough to need less of me for entertainment I can do more around the house when they are here. My dilemma has always been that I spend very little time in the house without them and I don't think it's right for me to totally ignore them on the weekends and spend all of my time cleaning. That's almost what happened this weekend. Next weekend, we will have soccer and dance and I will try to spend more time with them then. At least for this weekend, I have accomplished a few things!

Now, I need to fix supper and plan when I'm going to take the Christmas tree down.

Drama kids

My kids definitely have a flair for the dramatic...except, when they are performing. Actually, they do pretty well performing on a stage but their performances soar to Oscar-winning levels at home. Last night, I was in the usual nightly battle, well, persuasion to get Marie to brush her teeth. Usually, I just remind her what someone with bad teeth looks like and she will go and brush. Or, sometimes, I give in and brush her teeth for her. (Not often). Last night, she was moaning and groaning about it saying she didn't feel like it. I said, "do it anyway" and then, she said, "but I might fall over!" I never anticipated that one, and laughed so hard it got her started. I said, "this, I gotta see," and went with her to the bathroom. She kicked me out, though, and when she was done, at least her toothbrush was wet.

Last weekend, at dinner, or maybe lunch, we got on the subject of baby names. We were talking about Joanna's Chinese name, and then Marcie asked if she had a different name. I reminded her of her birth name. Kyle asked about his and I explained what his birth name (first name) was. He replied, "was I a boy or a girl?" Do you know how hard sometimes it is to keep a straight face?!!!

This morning, Charlie got himself dressed and came out of his room to go to church, with a St. Patrick's Day hat on his head. This is a tall hat with a big shamrock on it and a black strap to go under the chin. He looked adorable, and yes, he was serious about wearing it to church. When we were in the car on the way, he said, "Mom, tell them my name is Leprechaun." When I explained that I would say that but his name tag would still say Charlie, he replied, "Okay, but don't call me Charlie." Of course, everyone greeted him by his name and I did tell a couple of people that he wanted to be known as Leprechaun. It didn't last long....as we were outside the door of his 3rd grade Sunday School class, the hat came right off of his head. They must've enjoyed it in Kid's Church, though, because he was wearing it when he came out. I don't think he could fool anyone into thinking he's Irish, but I have Irish in my ancestry, so maybe he can be by association!

Back to Normal

From last Saturday on, we have been "back to normal." The kids had their Saturday activities as scheduled (Marcie -- dance; Charlie -- basketball) and we were able to get back to church on Sunday. And.....there has been a full week of school!!!! Tonight is Family Fun Night at their elementary school beginning at 5:30PM. It will be a full evening of activities with performances by various groups in the cafetorium, vendors in the hallways, table activities, activities in the gym, and food. I didn't buy the tickets for the "dinner," which were $5 per person. I bought the arm bands for the activities and 1 free snow cone, popcorn or cotton candy. Kyle's class won the PTA membership contest so he got a game armband for free and I got a $5 refund. Guess I'll apply that to the cost of the class picture for him.

Wednesday night on the way home from church (Royal Rangers for the boys and Impact (formerly Missionettes) for the girls), the kids were talking about various things. Marcie's friend, Carly, said she heard a story about a man (then she said Jesus) who walked on water but she didn't think it was true. So, I explained the whole story but she just couldn't wrap her head around it. She insisted that it must've been a ghost because "how can people walk on water?" It was really cute!

Oh, And By The Way,

I woke the kids up on time to get ready for school and there was only a little bit of snow on the driveway. The road looked wet....couldn't tell if it were icy or not. So, the kids were all ready and I was about to pack lunches when the school delay was announced. They have simply been wild most of the morning. They've been good through all of the snow closings but the good has run out! After I threatened to make them write sentences, they finally settled down. Marcie finished her valentines for school. Now, they are watching cartoons. I think later I'll send them out to shovel the driveway. That should help them expend a little energy! I will be staying home with them today. Pray for me. :)

Crazy Winter

Good grief! Another snow event! I'm putting my request in now for how I think the weather should function. Really, if it's going to be enough to cause havoc, could it please do so before 3AM so that decisions regarding school closings could be made before people leave for school? Or, work? Fortunately, for me, Chesterfield announced a 2 hour delay for elementary and middle schools before we had to leave, and then they announced the decision to close before I even went out to clean off the car. Some of the school systems that were open and had kids already in school announced they were closing and then wanted the parents to come pick up the kids....while it was still snowing and the roads icy and covered with snow...no chemicals yet on most of them. I don't understand that -- the forecast is for clearing conditions and snow exiting the area by 10AM. I would think that they would keep the kids in the schools until the afternoon when the roads could have been treated and anyone driving would be better able to get to the schools. But, nobody asked me. Then, of course, the forecast originally was for 1 to 2 inches at the most and "shouldn't cause problems" because of the rain last night and temps weren't expected to get low enough for long enough to cause major issues in the metro area. Wrong! So, maybe the school officials thought they couldn't trust the forecast for today (that it would be getting better). Guess that's why the schools closed and the parents had to get the kids. So, I'll say it again, Good Grief!!!!

Family Game Night

The good thing about being snow bound and not having been on the go all day on Saturday is that we were not too tired to enjoy an evening of games. Of course, I made the mistake of letting them pick Hullabaloo -- they got so rowdy! But, everyone won several times and about 9:15, I realized that we were going to have to stop playing or they would never go to sleep. So, we started a rousing game of UNO. They were absolutely so funny until Kyle got whiny because he was the victim of a couple of draw 2 and draw 4 cards. I told them we would quit about 9:45, so that put a limit to the game. Magically, Charlie was out of cards at 9:47.

After we had started playing UNO, Charlie would apologize each time he played a card that either skipped me, reversed play away from me or draw cards. He was cheerful about it, saying, "sorry, Mom, but I had to play that card" or "I had to do it." I told him that he didn't have to apologize each time, that that's the way you play the game. After awhile, I would exaggerate being upset when I had to draw more cards ("Oh, noooooooooooooooo") which would get them giggling, even Kyle.

During the evening, I think Kyle learned sportsmanship, well, maybe a little. Marcie learned not to be so bossy, at least when I'm around. Joanna learned not to show her cards to everyone and Charlie just had fun!

Today, they (for the most part) have been playing well together. Kyle has been in time out a few times for aggravating the other kids, but I guess that's the job of the baby of the family. I think all in all, God has blessed me and protected my sanity during this time of being snow bound with kids. We have food, heat, electricity, and the kids are behaving reasonably well. Thank you, Lord!

Did We Move To Alaska?

Okay, that may be exaggerating a bit! It has been snowing since this morning -- heavy at times. Actually, when the wind gusts, it looks a bit like a blizzard outside. Yesterday, we had snow in the morning, changing to sleet and then rain in the afternoon. Overnight, it rained pretty hard. Now, it is snowing again. We have at least 3 inches on the ground now on top of what was not washed away last night. It's supposed to be 14 degrees overnight tonight and may not get above 32 degrees tomorrow. So, we are staying put.

I don't mind, really. We don't normally get snows like this and I love watching it snow. I also like to go outside in the evening and listen to how quiet it is when it snows. Kyle only asked once today if we were going outside (we haven't yet). I guess they got their fill of sledding last weekend.

They also seemed to enjoy going back to school on Thursday. Schools were closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday...and, then, again on Friday before even the first flake fell. I thought they might go half day on Friday but I guess the officials didn't want to risk the busses having trouble after it had started snowing. I know people were frustrated with the closings earlier this week, but, honestly, I know why they did it. The far reaches of the counties are so rural that I know the roads probably still had some ice on them, even Thursday. Heck, my road, which had been plowed 4 times in 2 days last weekend, still had large, frozen patches of snow and ice on Wednesday. I've already seen VDOT on my street twice in the last 2 days. Now, the sand is covered again. I would rather my children be safe at home than stuck on a school bus in a ditch! That said, it is a little frustrating to have to pay more for day care when there is no school.

The kids have enjoyed internet sites -- Webkinz, iCarly, nick.com, etc. At least, Marcie really has. She's such a good reader that she's been able to figure out what she's supposed to do to enjoy those sites. The other kids have been entertained by ds games and SpongeBob on TV. I've done countless loads of laundry, and even read a magazine article or 2. Later today, I'm going to try to figure out how to get pictures from my cell phone on the computer and try to post a picture or 2.

Enjoy the natural break from life that nature is giving us. It will all be over soon enough and we'll be complaining about the heat and humidity! Hot chocolate just isn't quite as tasty in the summer, is it?

Helping Haiti

I have been practically glued to the TV watching the news from Haiti. The misery of the people is just heart-wrenching, and of course, I want to be there to help in some way. At this point, the most I can do is to email and post on social networks ways others can help.

I am so proud of the U.S. effort. The Air Force was able to get the airport functional after it had to close down. The earthquake was Tuesday evening; the airport was functional by Wednesday afternoon. Our military knows how to restore order out of chaos and disaster and it shows. I heard that the Brazilian commander of the UN Peacekeeping force was not in Haiti at the time of the earthquake and the U.S. military facilitated his quick return so that he could focus on the UN efforts. Of course, the UN building suffered extensive damage, so I'm sure that is affecting how quickly the UN was able to be helpful in rescue and relief. An aircraft carrier is in Haitian waters and I understand that a hospital ship is coming. This morning, I saw the many planes lined up at the airport carrying relief supplies. It is inspirational -- the number of nations responding quickly with supplies -- Belgium and Ireland are among the countries that have responded in addition to the ones I mentioned in my post yesterday. There are many more. As of this morning, there were also quite a few US military cargo planes (15 I think they said) that were coming in. Now, of course, the problem is in figuring out a way to get those supplies to the people because the roads are blocked with debris and abandoned cars. Now, the roads in Haiti aren't that wide and they aren't as nicely paved as our roads here. Some roads are very good, or were in the past when I was there last. The airport road, for example, was more like a parkway in this country. But, I know the military will get that figured out quickly.

Other than food, water, and shelter for the survivors, the most urgent need will be caring for the injured. I don't know where they will do that -- most of the buildings in Port-Au-Prince have extensive damage. Perhaps they will take the injured by helicopter to other parts of the country? Who knows...I can't imagine the daunting task of the coordinators of the relief efforts in Haiti trying to determine what to do and do that quickly!

If you would like to make monetary contributions, there are many ways to do so. A quick and easy way is to text the word Haiti to 90999. You will be given the opportunity to agree to donate $10 to the International Red Cross. World Vision has a sizable presence in Haiti. Go to http://www.worldvision.org/ to donate. Or http://www.samaritanspurse.org/ or http://www.csiminsitries.org/ . If you would like to donate locally, mail or take a check to West End Assembly of God. Make the check out to WEAG and write "Haiti" on the memo line. West End has already sent money and will be sending more. Cindy Johnson from WEAG is working with missionary Judy Heady to get a team of orthopedic surgeons and relief supplies to Haiti. WEAG's address is 401 Parham Rd., Richmond, VA 23229.

Most importantly, please pray fervently and unceasingly for Haiti and for the rescue effort. They will need our help and prayers for a very long time.

I know last night as I got in bed, I was so grateful that I had a bed, shelter and food. My house is not in the best shape but it is livable. I can't imagine what it would be like to be forced to sleep under the stars with no sleeping bag or blanket....and to not know when I would get a drink of water or some food. Or, to know what it's like to be trapped in rubble with all of the dust and debris and wonder if someone will even find me. Or, even worse, to not be able to find or care for my children. Pray, people, pray!!!

Disaster in Haiti

I learned late last night of the earthquake in Haiti. I've been following it today, watching live news feeds from the Miami Herald website. I also checked the CSI Ministries website to get updates. My missionary friends and the local pastor and his family that I know well are all safe. Their homes are livable. The CSI guest house is still standing but has widespread damage. The Caribbean Market, which we called the "Haitian U-krop's" is gone. That market was well-stocked, had caffeine free diet coke which was a plus for me, and air conditioning. When we needed a break, we would walk over there in the evening and enjoy the cool air. There are many ravines in Haiti, deep valleys filled with homes and people from top to bottom (homes built on the sides of the mountains), and the one very close to the guest house is nearly destroyed. The missionaries have reported that only about 20% of the homes are still standing. I've walked that ravine, going round in circles from the top down. I don't know that I ever got to the bottom, but I remember the sights, sounds, and smells of humanity living on top of each other. I met quite a few of those precious people, too.

The children's hospital, the main hospital, and another smaller hospital in Port-Au-Prince are all gone. Many of the clinics, schools and churches that local groups here built have sustained serious damage. I have worked in many of them. I understand that the rescue groups from the U.S. and around the world will be setting up make-shift hospitals. China and Taiwan have already mobilized teams, and Israel, France and Great Britain are doing the same. The U.S. military may be sending a hospital ship -- I'm a bit fuzzy on those details. Local missionaries and missions groups are scrambling to get relief supplies together, as well as teams of folks who can help.

Please pray for the people of Haiti and for the people who will be providing disaster relief. The Port-Au-Prince area still hasn't totally recovered from the damage caused by hurricanes and flooding in the past few years. This on top of that will seem insurmountable to them. Right now, the focus is on rescuing people, as it should be. After that will be the clean-up. There is so much crumbled concrete that I can't imagine where it will be put when the people do try to clean up. It's such a horrific situation.