Jack's Arm

Jackson called home during football practice this evening saying he had hurt his arm. Shannon drove to Gladbrook, picked him up, took him to the office in Reinbeck, and x-rayed him. There doesn't appear to be any fracture, but it is quite swollen and painful. We've been electrical stimming it and icing it down alternately tonight. He's hoping to be able to play in his game on Thursday. Participation in tomorrow's practice is yet to be determined. We're very thankful it wasn't broken. Jackson would have been crushed. I don't think we've had a broken bone for over three years!

Oh, and just for the record, Jack didn't cry. We've told the boys they're not allowed to cry on the football field unless a bone is sticking out of their arm or leg.


As you can see, Shannon still has his remote! We've owned it for almost 12 hours now and it hasn't gotten lost.

Jack's not so sure he's going to be well enough tomorrow to do school...

"They have struck me, but I was not hurt; They have beaten me, but I did not feel it." Proverbs 25:35

Problem Solved

One of Shannon's biggest irritants is coming home from a long day at the office, sitting down to watch a football game, and not being able to locate the remote control to the television. Nearly every day we have to go on a fervent search under couch cushions for the missing remote. We have finally solved this problem. We bought a new remote at Dollar General today. He's confident that this one won't get lost. I'm not so sure...


"...and those who seek me diligently will find me." Proverbs 8:17

Sectional Sofa

I finished recovering the sectional last week. Mary reminded me today that I need to post some pictures.

I still have TONS of fabric left, so I'll need to decide what to work on next...


"Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls." Proverbs 25:28

Biker Baby

Here's a cute picture of Hudson with the motorcycle helmet on. It will be awhile before he gets his first ride!

"My son, fear the Lord..." Proverbs 24:21

Football

Alex's Freshman team played Dike-New Hartford last Thursday. They lost 44-0. There's not much else to say.

Jackson's 7th Grade team played Grundy Center the same evening. They lost 40-0. There's not much else to say.

Tonight Jackson's team played Union (LaPorte City/Dysart). They played MUCH better than they did last week. Jackson had tons of tackles and ran the ball well. He was instrumental in the Rebel's score, as he threw a halfback pass to connect with his receiver and score a touchdown. He had lots of hard hits, and is feeling them now. He's ready to take a tylenol and go to bed (after Monday Night Football).

Alex's JV team played Grundy Center. He played defensive tackle, offensive line, and special teams. He had a good, solid game as well. His team won 30-0. Several of his friends from church played on the GC team.

Chase played BCLUW yesterday in Union. He played a tough game and had a lot of tackles. The team struggles offensively, and ended up with a loss of 13-6.

Chase played his first soccer game of the season on Saturday, and won 5-2. He scored one goal.

"The glory of young men is their strength..." Proverbs 20:29

100 Things I Love...

I've had several jobs throughout my life, but none so all-encompassing as mothering my children. I've resolved to compile a list of 100 things I love about mothering. I challenge you to do the same. Time me....we'll see how long this takes!

1. I love baby belly laughs.
2. I love snuggles from Naomi when she first wakes up in the morning.
3. I love baking with Chase.
4. I love when the light comes on in a child's eyes after he finally "gets it" in math.
5. I love bouquets of flowers from Colton in the spring.
6. I love hearing "I found my missing shoe!".
7. I love gathering the family together, popping popcorn, and watching a movie.
8. I love cheering for my boys in football.
9. I love baking and decorating birthday cakes.
10. I love clean laundry (after it's been put away).
11. I love watching Shannon wrestle with the littles.
12. I love naptime.
13. I love holding hands with little children, just because we can.
14. I love when potty training is finally done.
15. I love painting little girl fingernails and toes.
16. I love dirty knees after the kids have been outside playing all afternoon.
17. I love the joy the children get out of making tents in the living room and dining room.
18. I love Easter morning when everyone is in their Sunday best and we take a picture together.
19. I love kindergarten.
20. I love watching the children's faces when they catch a fish.
21. I love playing bingo with the whole family.
22. I love mowing the grass with Jackson.
23. I love watching the big boys help out with the little girls.
24. I love watching Colton look up to Alex.
25. I love watching my girls play mommy with their baby dolls.
26. I love when my boys score goals in soccer.
27. I love Christmas morning.
28. I love when the the children dress up in Halloween costumes in March.
29. I love eating chocolate chip cookie dough with the kids for an afternoon snack.
30. I love working together to clean the house so we can have company over.
31. I love listening to bedtime prayers.
32. I love listening to little girls giggling for no apparent reason.
33. I love when school is all done for the week.
34. I love watching Shannon play football outside with the kids.
35. I love that the children think their dad is the greatest.
36. I love singing songs in the car.
37. I love watching the children swing.
38. I love listening to made up stories.
39. I love hearing a naughty child say "I'm sorry".
40. I love when Bryce writes me notes during evening church that say, "I love you Mom".
41. I love when my children sing along with the hymns in church.
42. I love watching my children race to the tree in the front yard and back.
43. I love it when my children play board games together.
44. I love sniping an Ebay auction with my boys.
45. I love hearing my son's name announced over the loud speakers at football games over and over again.
46. I love it when Katie and Naomi carry the little kittens around.
47. I love washing lots of dirty dishes on a cold day.
48. I love children in footie pajamas.
49. I love reading stories to little ones, all snuggled up under a blanket.
50. I love pink cheeks on a cold winter day.
51. I love putting pretties in the girls' hair.
52. I love when my children ask me to pray for them.
53. I love talking to Alex late at night when he forgets that it's not cool to talk to his mom.
54. I love when my children put money in the offering plate at church without me asking or reminding them to.
55. I love when we're reading the bible together and the boys have unbelievable insights.
56. I love watching Monday Night Football with Jackson and Chase.
57. I love when Katie and Naomi pretend to nurse their baby dolls.
58. I love when Hudson falls asleep in my arms.
59. I love Alex.
60. I love having healthy children.
61. I love trying to figure out what Naomi is saying to me in her little girl gibberish.
62. I love it when we take the kids to the Dollar Tree and tell them they can pick out any one thing in the whole store.
63. I love sharing french fries at Burger King.
64. I love hearing how many sections the children completed at Awana.
65. I love going to family camp at IRBC with my family.
66. I love watching four little children in the bathtub playing together.
67. I love watching the kids have water balloon fights on a hot summer day.
68. I love little girls in sun dresses.
69. I love playing cards with the kids.
70. I love Jackson.
71. I love giving haircuts.
72. I love moving the furniture around with Alex.
73. I love watching my boys make a basket during a basketball game.
74. I love sitting in a pew with my whole family on Sundays.
75. I love Chase.
76. I love it when Shannon bakes Dragon Cookies with the children and tells them the dragon story.
78. I love hugs.
79. I love it when Hudson's eyes light up and he smiles when I enter a room.
80. I love hearing the kids tell corny knock knock jokes.
81. I love leading my children to Christ.
82. I love Mother's Day.
83. I love listening to the kids talk to one another.
84. I love hearing "What else can I do for you, Mama?"
85. I love holding hands when we pray before meals.
86. I love seeing Chase and Naomi taking a nap together on the sofa.
87. I love fingerprints on my windows.
88. I love Bryce.
89. I love memorizing bible verses with the kids.
90. I love arm wrestling with the kids, and still being able to beat them (most of the time).
91. I love Colton.
92. I love watching Dora the Explorer and Blue's Clues over, and over, and over again.
93. I love Katie.
94. I love seeing my children succeed.
95. I love teaching children how to read.
96. I love Naomi.
97. I love looking for the Big Dipper with the children.
98. I love Hudson.
99. I love seeing a child show empathy.
100. I love my children's father.

That took 41 minutes, including bedtime for Hudson and a good dose of Monday Night Football watching. Will you accept the challenge and write down 100 reasons you love mothering your children? Send me a copy of your list!

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

Shannon's New Hobby

A few weeks ago Shannon decided to take a motorcycle safety/instruction course. He did extremely well in his class, earning a perfect score on his written test and on his driving test. Naturally, the purchase of a motorcycle followed. He bought a 2002 Suzuki Katana last weekend, and has been driving it back and forth to work since. The kids have enjoyed rides around the yard with him. We went for a ride to Grundy Center last weekend. He couldn't convince Papa Joe to go for a ride, though. Papa Joe says he's been on enough motorcycles in his life, he doesn't need any more rides.


Carrie and the boys came over on Tuesday and got rides around the yard.

"The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe." Proverbs 29: 25

The Dome of Doom

On Sunday, September 9th Chase's tackle football team had the opportunity to play a game in the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls. Chase is number 32. He plays running back on offense, and strong safety on defense. You don't want to be in Chase's way when he's going for the ball. Having two big brothers has made him pretty tough.


They took on a team from Grundy Center. Chase had five tackles for a loss, two sacks, and twenty combined tackles. The offensive line on Chase's team struggled throughout the game. His team was able to score in the first quarter, and Chase lunged across the line to pick up the extra point, which proved to be the clincher in the game. Chase sacked the Grundy Center quarterback with seconds remaining in the first half to keep them from scoring. GC did come back and score in the third quarter, but failed to convert on the extra point attempt, bringing the final score to 7-6.



"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of our hand to do so." Proverbs 3:27

Rebel JV Defeat

Alex's JV football team faced the Dike-New Hartford Wolverines on Monday, and came away with a disappointing loss. Although they knocked on the door several times, they were unable to punch the ball into the endzone. The final score was Rebels 0, Wolverines 14. Alex played special teams and started as defensive tackle. He is number 77. He had several tackles in the game, and a few key blocks.



"It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones." Proverbs 3:8

Before and After

Labor Day weekend I received a post from freecycle with an offer of an overstuffed chair. I was itching for a project, and since we still had Papa Joe's truck, I decided to respond to the offer and pick up the chair. Alex, Jackson, Colton and I drove to Gilman to pick up this chair. As we pulled up and saw it in the front yard, my first thought was, "We had better take before and after pictures of this one!". The boys loaded it up for me, and we made our way home.


It spent the first two nights outside airing out. After removing the old covering, replacing some of the stuffing, and a bunch of febreeze, it was ready to be recovered. Shannon took me shopping for some fabric (he LOVES shopping for fabric :) ), and I was ready to roll. I'm pleased with the outcome. We had to rearrange all of the furniture in the family room and living room, moving the sectional from the FR to the LR (Shannon LOVES rearranging furniture!), and Grandma's flowered sofa from the LR to the FR, until finally we were situated and functional. This is now everyone's favorite chair, and about three of us can snuggle up in it at a time!

This past weekend I purchased 36 yards of upholstery fabric for $25. I'm anxious to begin recovering some sofas. I think the sectional will be first on my list. I'll post pictures as they're finished.

"She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle." Proverbs 31:19

Football Fever

Alex played his first Junior Varsity football game for the G-R Rebels this evening. The freshmen and sophomores traveled to North Tama to take on the Redhawks. The Rebels earned a resounding win with a final score of 42-0. Alex played on special teams and defensive tackle. He played a solid game of football. I'll post pictures as soon as the camera is back from the repair shop...

"By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life." Proverbs 22:4