Starting Over

For the four readers that I have (thanks Mom & Annette!) :) I plan to begin posting again. I've spent the last 9 months trying to adjust to being a working mom. Trying to find my groove, get organized, learn how to accomplish everything in 24 hours (I just don't think it's possible) and still maintain my sanity hasn't been an easy task. I've spent many a day frustrated, tired, and in tears but I know that God has a plan for my life and for my family. I know this season is but a short chapter in the book He is writing for us.

The long and short of the last 9 months is that I work an hour away from the house so we have enrolled the kids in a Catholic school that is 4 miles from my office. We have just begun football season and The Coach is keeping 14-15 hour days!! He is very tired but loves his new head coach and loves his new school. It is such a huge change from being in the urban district he came from! We went to a scrimmage this morning and the stands were full! Last year, the kids and I would have been one of - maybe - a dozen people in attendance, so this is a big difference even for us! Everyone is just so exicted about cheering on this new team.

I look forward to sharing the craziness of our life with my family, irl friends & my stranger-friends through this silly little blog and would love to hear from you!

(by the way, I have made time to read a few blogs every day - it helps keep me sane :) - I know I haven't commented much (if at all) but it's been a blessing to me nonetheless. Thanks for your consistency! You never know who's reading and is feeling encouraged by your words.)

I Am Blessed

Once I posted the messy house pictures I got a little worried about letting everyone see them. A little 'photographer's remorse' set in. However, "Anonymous" wrote...

Our house is very clean now - and silent. Cleaner than its ever been. Our children are grown and we are stationed a continent from them.

I looked at your pictures with envy...

It put everything into perspective for me. It forced me to look at the pictures with a different set of eyes. Instead of the critical, self-examining vision that comes as such second nature to me, I had to see the mess through corrective lenses.

I have two healthy children who are active, smart, mess-makin' little people. They bring such joy and surprise to our lives. Veggie Boy is so smart, but we liken him to the little cloud of dust on the Peanuts cartoon. He is a bull in a china shop, Messy Marvin, etc. He dirties more clothes than any other person in our house and his heart is bigger than any other 9 yr old boy I know. He is very sensitive to the needs of others - bringing an extra jacket to school for the boy who doesn't have one, offering to be a partner to his classmate with whom no one would pair-up. These behaviors are normal to him. He is a natural born leader. All of this from the 3lb 15oz tiny baby we took home from the hospital 6 weeks before his due date. By all accounts he could be a special needs kiddo, instead God saw fit to bless us with his complete physical and intellectual health.

Saucy is such a princess and adores all things pink & sparkly. She meticulously selects her clothes and has such a distinct personality. She will "tell it like it is" to anyone who asks. (which is a clear reminder that to watch what we say around her :)) She is full of energy and seems to be a natural athlete. She is a good friend but is still definitely 5 when it comes to problem solving. She is our cuddle-bug and will brighten anyone's day with her beautiful smile.

The Coach loves football and is blessed enough to wake up each day and live his passion. Lots of people struggle just to find their passion and the reality of living may evade them forever, but not my man. He works 12 hour days in off-season and we don't even try to count the hours during football season. He misses a lot of life here at the house but we join him when we can. Fall Friday nights are the best. We're all decked out in orange and I have snacks and pom-poms shoved into my purse as we sit on the 50-yard line - about 6-8 rows up - and cheer our team on.

We are busy people. We are involved in our community, our church and the local schools. I may not always get to the laundry and the dishes may fill my sink, but Dear Stranger-Friends, I am blessed.

God Showed Up B-I-G!

A principal who made no effort to establish communication and made quick judgements about the athletic program was trying to push my coach out the door. I wanted to defend my man. Instead, I listened to him talk while anxiety gripped my spirit. I had to take a serious time-out and re-focus. I prayed. I had to be positive so that my coach could see something good each day he dreaded going to school. I prayed some more. A conference with the principal resulted in my coach being completely honest, yet respectful, regarding his thoughts and feelings. (oh yea, I prayed some more) Friday the principal called, "I appreciated your honesty...tear up that growth plan...let's start fresh...I'm sorry". It was probably the roughest 6 weeks we've had, but together we got through it.

%&^$@^& W H A T ???? &^%$ @$

This is a man who went for my coach's jugular at every turn and now he just wants to start fresh? All I can say is that God saw fit to rain down a miracle on My Coach's life!!!

THANK YOU JESUS!

When You're Over the Target...

...you're catching flack.

Ever heard that saying? Our pastor has used it more than once in the last few months and it seems to resonate in our lives lately. The Coach has experienced some struggles in his school over the last month or so and the stress of it weighs on him heavily. As his helpmeet I really desire to help him. I hate seeing him wade through the waters of discontent and discouragement. Although I know God's plans for our lives may include a little refining fire it is still hard.

Beth Moore posted about this topic today and I love love love the way she broke it down. "We don't understand that the pressures we face getting to our places of full-throttle effectiveness in Christ are crucial for developing the muscle to sustain ministry there. He's developing the character the calling requires...Satan will never oppose us more than when he thinks we're onto our callings. Bet on that."

I need to release the anxiety, trust in God's plans and provisions for our family and press on because, when you're over the target...

No Child Left Behind??

This football version of "No Child Left Behind" is hilarious.

Teaching with the belief that all children can learn is a necessity, but extending it to a required level of excellence for all results in mediocrity for most.

1. All teams must make the state playoffs and all MUST win the championship. If a team does not win the championship, they will be on probation until they are the champions, and coaches will be held accountable. If after two years they have not won the championship their footballs and equipment will be taken away UNTIL they do win the championship.

2. All kids will be expected to have the same football skills at the same time even if they do not have the same conditions or opportunities to practice on their own. NO exceptions will be made for lack of interest in football, a desire to perform athletically, or genetic abilities or disabilities of themselves or their parents. ALL KIDS WILL PLAY FOOTBALL AT A PROFICIENT LEVEL!

3. Talented players will be asked to workout on their own, without instruction.. This is because the coaches will be using all their instructional time with the athletes who aren't interested in football, have limited athletic ability or whose parents don't like football.

4. Games will be played year round, but statistics will only be kept in the 4th, 8th, and 11th game. This will create a New Age of Sports where every school is expected to have the same level of talent and all teams will reach the same minimum goals.


Kinda puts it in perspective, huh?

You Know You're A Coach's Wife When...

...you & The Coach are in bed; snuggled up to each other. You smell his skin and feel safe and warm. The kids are sleeping soundly upstairs. Life is good.

The Coach: Anyway, like I was saying...
Me: (inside my head) Huh?
The Coach: I really need to pick up a couple of linemen. If I could just get 4 new kids I think I could make it work. We just need to focus on one game at a time. My goal right now is to win Game 1....blah, blah, blah....blah, blah.
Me: (again, inside my head) Huh? Dude. We weren't talking. I was hoping we wouldn't talk - especially not about football.
The Coach: ...blah, blah...I've really tried to set up a schedule that's conducive to winning. We have to get our momentum. I really think that if we'd have won that first game against the Jaguars the entire season would have been different...blah, blah, blah.
Me: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Refreshed, Rejuventated, Revived

We are still in OKC, but, this morning, The Coach told me he felt refreshed! He even said he's ready to get back to football. Wow. Amazing what a few days away from everything will do for ya. We even turned off the cell phones!

As we gathered around my mother-in-law's dining table on Thursday, I was reminded that no matter what you do or how far you stray, a family is always there. We had 4 generations in the same room. From Big Mama (Grandma) to our 2 month old cousin - a sweet little girl who snuggled on my chest and slept (oh, it was pure yellow!); all walks of life were represented. I don't always agree with the way everyone lives their life as I'm sure they have thoughts about me ;-)...BUT, we're family and that's what will always bring us together. Love - a tie that binds!

We will head home this evening AFTER the OU vs. OSU game, of course! We will get back to our lives - schooling, dancing, cooking, cleaning, football & winter sports. I will start Christmas projects and continue traditions as the next few weeks pass by. Life is but a season and if we fail to refresh our spirit, breathe in the goodness and bask in the joy that is our family it will pass us by all too quickly. God has richly blessed us and, for that, I'm eternally grateful.

Blessings & Peace Stranger-Friends!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tomorrow morning we are heading to OKC to visit my in-laws for the holidays, but before we go I'd like to leave a little bloggy link-love!

You've seriously GOT to check out fellow Coach's Wife, Megan, over at Sorta Crunchy. Her post is so great. I know it will give you a little laugh!

Happy Thanksgiving Stranger-Friends!

Update: Family and Football. Or is it Football and Family?

Saucy Girl is sick. Again. Second time in less than 2 months. Gosh, how I love the little germy kids at her school!

Today is Day 2 of her quarantine and she's not happy about it. At 5:30am she asked if she could go to school! She's convinced that "G", her little friend, is just missing her somethin' terrible. Saucy Girl is the social butterfly of the family so it's no doubt that she's worried about her lack of socializing during this week. Forget the academics. She's concerned about her popularity status.

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Please step away from the stadium. Football season is officially over. It was a looonnng one, stranger-friends. We finished the season 0-10. Yeah. Not so great. We know. (But a HUGE congratulations to my good friend Carolyn on an undefeated season! Go Scots! We'll be watching!)

Now it's time for the reflective season. The one where The Coach can, mid-conversation, start talking about the mistakes, the personnel decisions, the changes that need to be made, etc. He is feeling mentally drained and is craving a vacation. So, next week we are packing it up and heading to OK to visit his parents. Nothing like spending some time with your mama to make you feel better. However, a 4 hour car ride with the little people isn't my idea of fun. OK. Comment all you want. I love my little people like I love my next breath; however, being crammed into a vehicle for 4 hours? Ummm, I'd rather not. And my littles don't sleep on road trips, they just talk. And talk. And talk. (you get the idea?)

So, what are you planning for the Thanksgiving holidays? Anyone taking any road trips? How do you maintain your sanity on the long car rides?

Blessings, Stranger-Friends!

How 'bout them Cowboys?!

5-0!