Chase's Fan Club

Chase played in his Homecoming soccer game Saturday against Calvary.  His team won 3-0.  He scored one goal.

After the game, his fan club asked him for his autograph.  They also gave him their autographs.  I love the way he makes them feel important.

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place,

Keeping watch on the evil and the good."  Proverbs 15:3

Papa Ken and Greyson

Papa Ken and Greyson spent some time together hanging out together in the backyard.  It was a contest to see who could swing higher!

Papa Ken earned points on the dismount.

We finished off the evening sitting around the fire on our newly painted and stained deck.

"Without wood, a fire goes out;

without gossip, a conflict ceases."  Proverbs 26:20

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

Thunder and Lightning Football

Hudson started playing tackle football this year.  So far he has played in the Jamboree and has had two games.  The consensus is that he is kind of a beast on the field.  

He runs hard and he doesn't go down easy.  He's thrown some passes, but mostly plays running back on offense and linebacker on defense.  He scores touchdowns and stops touchdowns.

I haven't done a good job taking pictures of him playing, but I did  get this shot of him coming off the field at the end of his first game, and a picture of him following his game on Sunday.

Maybe this week I'll remember to get some action shots.

"Then you will walk safely in your way,
And your foot will not stumble."  Proverbs 3:23

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

Homecoming 2018 Prep

Homecoming 2018 is approaching quickly.  

Colton was selected to the Homecoming Court.  The King and Queen will be announced next Thursday at Homecoming Happenings.

Colton asked Ingrid, G-R's new foreign exchange student from Norway, to be his date for the homecoming dance.

Today Katie was asked to the homecoming dance by Drake. The really exciting part?  She gets to keep the soccer ball!

"A faithful man will abound with blessings,

but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished."

Proverbs 28:20

Game Day Breakfast

We hosted the G-R Rebel football team at our home this morning for breakfast.  They have a game tonight, but no school today, so the coaches like them to get up and not lie in bed all day.  

We made scrambled eggs with sausage and ham, cinnamon rolls, and chocolate milk, white milk, and orange juice.  

We were hoping to have them eat outside on the deck, but it was kind of windy and rainy-ish, so they stayed indoors. 

We're hoping for our first 8-man win tonight vs. Turkey Valley.

  Do not eat the bread of a miser,

Nor desire his delicacies;

Proverbs 23:6

       

FBBC Eagles Soccer

Chase is planning to play soccer again this season at FBBC.  His first scrimmage is this Saturday vs. DMACC.  We're looking forward to seeing him back out on the pitch.

"For whoever finds me finds life,
And obtains favor from the Lord;"

Proverbs 8:35

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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19 Games and Counting

What a way to end the soccer season!







1-2-3  The Rebels competed in the IHSAA State Soccer tournament on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines.  They were able to win two of the three games, securing a third place finish in Class 1A.  Bryce's team stayed in Des Moines, while we had the pleasure of making the trip three times.  It was a great opportunity for the boys, and an awesome way to represent our school district.



Colton, Katie, Naomi and Hudson each participated in the Cedar Valley Cup soccer tournament on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Cedar Falls.







4-5-6-7  Hudson played on a team with some friends from Grundy Center.  They won three of their four games, earning silver medals.  They are super fun to watch at his age.  They played hard and had a great time.  I suspect they will play together again some day.




8-9-10-11  Naomi's soccer team, the Hurricanes, played four really tough games this weekend.  They hustled and gave it their all, but were not able to secure a medal.  They played hard and had fun along the way.

12-13-14-15  Katie's soccer team was riddled with injuries throughout the weekend.  They earned bronze medals, and played some really close games.  Shannon takes these games and these girls very seriously, and mourns each loss.  He was proud of the girls and the way they played through their pain.  They're confident they'll bring home the gold next year.




16-17-18-19  Colton's team, the Runnin Rebels, placed third in the Cedar Valley Cup.  He had some hotly contested games, and some not so competitive ones.  They are a great group of guys, and he is looking forward to moving up to high school soccer next spring.



We appreciate all of the time and effort each of the kids' coaches puts in.  They sacrifice their time away from their families to practice and coach each week, and spend many hours on the road and on the soccer pitch.



Yesterday I packed away all of the soccer shoes and shin guards for a couple months.  We'll start up with league ball again in August.  I'm sure there will be many backyard games played in the meantime.



We love soccer, and cramming 19 games into a 3.5 day span really isn't such a bad way to pass the time. 


"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise" .Proverbs 11:30