Macklin's 8th Birthday

Macklin's birthday comes at a busy time of year for us.  We are smack dab in the middle of Football, Volleyball and Soccer seasons.  We have somewhere to go every night of the week, and weekends are just as bad.  That makes it difficult for us to plan a party for him anywhere close to the actual date.

 This year he had to wait until September 29th to find a free evening to have some friends over to celebrate.  He was able to invite friends from his class in school as well as his soccer teammates.  

We ate sloppy joes, played some games, and they spent plenty of time running and screaming through my house.  I'm still finding nerf bullets.  

What a fun age...still little kids, but growing up so fast.

We love you Macklin!

"My son, do not forget my law,
But let your heart keep my commands;" 

Proverbs 3:1

Macklin's 8th Birthday

On September 11th Macklin celebrated his 8th birthday.  Grandma and Grandpa and Alex, Moriah and Greyson came over, and the big brothers were there, too.  

He helped decorate his cake.  It was one of our more unique cakes. I don't think we've ever had one with eyeballs on it in the past.  

Greyson enjoyed singing and blowing out the candles with Macklin.

Macklin is a super smart guy who is growing up way too fast. He still loves to snuggle, and is kind to other people.  He thinks of ways to do nice things for me, and always has something funny to say.  He does a great job at school, too.  He's been a dominating force on his soccer and flag football teams this season, also.

Macklin got out of school early on his birthday to go to Ankeny and watch Chase play soccer, then we went to Olive Garden for dinner, and finished out the evening with some shopping at Target.

We're planning a birthday  party with his friends next weekend.  

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

6 

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall [b]direct your paths."  Proverbs 3:5-6

2018 HOMECOMING

Homecoming Week was the same as most years.  The high school and elementary school each assigned dress up days for the students to participate in.  Colton and Katie dressed up for a few.  Katie wore this one day.  I think it was Decade Day, and she was dressing as a toddler.

Thursday evening was Homecoming Happenings.  Colton was selected to the Homecoming Court.  Although he was not selected as King, we are still proud of him and the effort he made to get Dakota on the Court.

I'm pretty sure he had the biggest fan club in attendance.

Shannon got to be a troll in the parent skit.

The football game on Friday against Melcher-Dallas was a complete blowout.  Colton scored three touchdowns and had two fumble recoveries in the first quarter.

Saturday night was the Homecoming Dance.  Colton and Ingrid went together. 

Katie and Drake were a couple, and traveled in a group of several teens.  They went to Peppers for dinner before the dance, and afterwards, came back to our house to have a bonfire. Brooke's sil did their hair and makeup before the dance.

"For they will be a graceful ornament on your head,
And chains about your neck."  Proverbs 1:8

Changes

It occurred to me last night that with the start of the new school year and Colton, my favorite middle child, being a senior, our parenting gig is halfway over.  

The kids have been enjoying reading back through the old blog posts from years ago, and I don't want to have that end.  Facebook kind of took over as my go-to daily recorder of things going on in our lives, but it makes me sad that I've missed several years here on the blog.  I'm hoping to get back into posting things here so we have a record of events to look back upon in years to come.  

To start us off, I'll post our First Day of School picture.  Colton is a Senior, Katie a Freshman, Naomi is in 8th grade, Hudson is in 5th grade, and Macklin is in 2nd grade.  

Colton also played his first football game of the season last week.  Our district dropped down to 8-man football this year due to low enrollment.  We were scheduled to play Don Bosco, the defending 2-time State Champions.  It wasn't a pretty game, but with a few tweaks and position changes, and a whole lot more experience, I'm confident that if we meet up with the Dons again at the end of the season, we will look like a totally different team.  Colton's fan club consisted of Alex, Katie, Naomi, and Hudson.  Shannon and I were also there.  Shannon has been taking stats for the team for a couple years, and I make sure the refs make the right calls throughout the game.

Until next time...

Wisdom calls aloud outside;
She raises her voice in the open squares. Proverbs 1:20

Important Message

Macklin wanted me to share this photo and the important message that goes along with it:

"TEA MAKES YOU PEE"

"Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those who are of bitter heart."  Proverbs 31:6

Leaving

This evening Shannon, Chase, Bryce, Colton and I left Iowa for a mission trip to Canada.

We began planning this trip months ago. I have been going back and forth deciding whether or not I was going along. The original group was around 20 people interested, but as the date arrived, our number decreased to just 10.

We planned ahead and got passport cards for the kids. We made arrangements for the little kids while we would be gone. Everything seemed to fall into place.

And then I got cold feet. Could I really leave the country for nine days and leave my littles behind?

Yesterday I was ready to stay home. There seemed to be just too much to get done, and not enough hours in the day to complete each of the tasks.

It just didn't seem like it would be worth the hassle.

But we are on the road.

Katie, Naomi, Hudson and Macklin are at Grandma and Grandpa's house this weekend, and will be with Alex and Moriah the rest of the week. Although there were tears last night, our hugs goodbye this afternoon were handled pretty well.




Nine days.

These are the things moms long for. Peace and quiet. No cooking or cleaning or laundry. Beautiful scenery. Time to recharge and refocus.

And yet I miss them.

We won't have phone or internet service at the camp we will be working at. That worries me.

Nine days.

I won't hear Katie chatting incessantly. I won't get to brush Naomi's hair. I won't get to see the evidence of Hudson's imagination, whether it be a new game he has invented, or a picture he has drawn. And Macklin. EVERY morning he climbs in bed with me and snuggles. We sing 'our song' to each other.

Nine days with no Mommy-Macklin day.

Chase's car broke down and he is thinking of transferring colleges. Bryce was at camp. Our car needed to get to the body shop for repairs. Jackson rented a house and is moving out this weekend. So many things are going on.

And I am leaving the country.

I am confident that big changes will happen this week. I pray that I will be a blessing to others. I pray that I will come back a better mom than the cranky, harried one that left. I pray that I will come back a better wife, because Shannon deserves better than what he has been getting.

Nine days.

Please pray that lives will be changed. Pray for my babies, both those that are with me and those at home. Pray for those caring for my babies. They have a lot of fun things planned, and the kids will likely wish we would go away more often.

See you in nine days.

"For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man." Proverbs 3:2-4




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Little Boy Day

Today we decided to hang out with just the little boys. Everyone else has the opportunity to either go to church camp, a mission trip, or both this summer.

We initially planned to go to Adventureland, but then settled on going to the zoo instead.


I love Blank Park Zoo because it is close to home, and you can see the entire zoo in about three hours.


We stopped at Hickory Park in Ames on our way home. We ate here all the time when the big boys were little.


These guys thought it was pretty awesome, too.


We enjoyed our time with Hudson and Macklin. Our bellies are full, and our hearts are, too.

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

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Five Left Shoes

We have five left shoes that fit Macklin. Today we have no shoes that fit his right foot. We just want to go out to the pasture and run. We don't care if they match. We just want shoes on him.




Perhaps this is God's way of telling us we have no business going out to the pasture to run.

"The name of the LORD is a strong tower. The righteous run into it and are safe". Proverbs 18:10

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Papa Joe Turns 90 Years Old

On Wednesday Papa Joe turned 90 years old. We celebrated by having dinner with the family. Shannon's brother John flew in from Virginia, but the rest of his family were not able to come along.

Today we had cake and ice cream at Papa Joe's house. Several of Papa Joe's nephews and their wives visited, as well as my parents. I did not get a photo of the entire group, but did get one with the great-grandkids.










Papa Joe passed his driver's exam,so he is legal to drive for the next two years. We're trying to convince him to stay within city limits.










Jackson was in charge of cousin patrol. What could possibly go wrong?

Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness. ". Proverbs 8:18


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Little Boys

If you are a little boy, and you are four years old, and it is a quiet, rainy afternoon, and your mom is lying on the sofa watching TV and ignoring you, and everyone else in the family is busy doing something else, then you can absolutely sneak downstairs to the craft room and put as many dinosaur stickers on your belly as you possibly can.










And if you are super sweet and love your mama best, you will share some of those stickers with her.

"A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

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Thankful Thursday...Part 2

While I was typing up the first Thankful Thursday of the day, Macklin was busy doing...this.

Who wouldn't be thankful for that?!?

I love him like crazy!

"My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me."  Proverbs 27:11

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful...

~for my husband.  He's bringing home lunch.
~for my children.  They are quite helpful at cleaning up the messes they create.
~for my mop.  It's getting a workout today.
~for my Dyson.  It too has been busy.
~for Macklin.  Without him, who would I pull off the kitchen counters, wipe up after, and duct tape diapers to? Oh, and he's napping right now.
~for Bryce, Naomi and Hudson.  I can hear them cheerfully chatting in the other room.
~for my friends and family.
~for a good first day of school.
~for FOOTBALL!  The first game of the season is tomorrow.  We're anticipating great things from our boys.
~for cooler weather.  I love having my windows open!

Gotta go.  Macklin is awake.

"Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife."  Proverbs 17:1

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful ~

~for my family.
~for my church family.
~that soccer starts a week from tonight.
~that my front yard looks better.
~that Macklin was okay after drinking Resolve carpet cleaner earlier this week.
~for my bible study friend.
~for my book club friends.
~for cell phones.
~for lemons.

"But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day." Proverbs 4:18

 This is where Chase likes to keep Macklin

September 2011 Recap

September started out with football games, and ended with football games.  Sounds like August, huh?

We celebrated Labor Day Weekend by having our usual group of friends over.  The Methenys came Saturday, and brought along some mini bikes and go-carts.  The dads, big boys, and little kids all had a great time riding them through the yard and along the track in the pasture. 

Sunday evening, Jeffry rolled out of the go-cart and broke his arm and got a big gash in his forehead.  We splinted him up and took him to the ER.  A few hours later, everyone was back and plans were made to continue the party the next day.  Nothing else bad could happen, right?

Monday morning everyone was up bright and early and began riding again.  Minor adjustments had been made, tires switched out, and we were ready to go. 

A little after ten I decided I would venture out and take some pictures. 

The boys challenged me to beat their lap time, so I got behind the wheel, belted myself in, and off I went.  After a practice lap, I took off for my timed lap.  I was SO going to beat them!  Then, coming out of the first turn, I rolled the go-cart.  I'm not really sure how or why.  It's kind of crazy how it happens so fast, yet still seems like slow motion.  I have a distinct memory of my arm raised above my head, and bent backwards across the roll bar midway down my upper arm.  I remember thinking, "Wow, that's not supposed to bend there!".  As the go-cart came to a stop, I knew immediately my arm was broken.  The guys came running, and assessed the damage.  They got some more 1 X 4's out of the garage, some duct tape, and a towel, and splinted my arm.  I wasn't in any pain, but had a weird, kind of surreal feeling that things were messed up.  My shoulder and elbow were dislocated, too, so one chunk of my humerus was just kind of floating around.  Creepy.  We drove to the ER in Waterloo, and I was fine after some drugs : )  Our company continued on with the grilling and fun back at our house, without us.

 This is my before picture.

And these are the after pictures.

I am now bionic.  I have a titanium rod and two screws holding everything together.  After a night's stay in the hospital, I was sent home.  Shannon and the kids took good care of me.  Our church family sent meals for several days, my book club girls brought food, and other sweet people in the community fed us.  The big boys were thinking it was a pretty good deal!

I spent the first few weeks sleeping on the reclining end of the sofa.  I was never casted, just wrapped because I had some pretty deep abrasions that needed to be dressed.  I went to physical therapy a couple times, then decided to rehab on my own.  After about 4 weeks I was able to give up the sling. 

I'm now as good as new, with the exception of some icky looking scars.  No more sleeveless tops in my future!  My ROM is a little bit limited when pulling my arm behind my back.  As long as I'm never arrested and put in handcuffs, I should be able to function okay. 

Football and soccer continued throughout the month.  I did more supervising at Spaghetti Fridays than working for a few weeks, but the other ladies picked up the slack.

Alex continued to play soccer and go to classes. 


On September 11th, Macklin turned ONE year old!  We celebrated with cake and ice cream, and had family over to help celebrate.

This is the first birthday cake Shannon has ever made and decorated.

Macklin just getting started.

 I think he kind of likes it!

Although it doesn't really look like it, Macklin REALLY enjoys it when Jackson does this.  Who says you need to go to the gym to lift weights?

God continues to teach us in new and unique ways to trust in Him in everything and every circumstance.  He's got our backs.

"A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps."  Proverbs 16:9