Need I Say More???

2 soccer games, a funeral and a birthday party

Sounds like the title of a movie I remember from back in the day! I have more things going on right now than I can keep track of - I have lists of my lists!!

K's mom passed away last Wednesday. The funeral was such a wonderful reflection of the precious lady she was. She's left an amazing legacy in her sweet daughter and grandchildren. These are the times when I do get reflective and become a "thinker"!! Not having a very strong tie with my own family, I pray often that I'm creating that with my children. I want our ties to bind us together. I've always said I want to be the kind of parent that my kids want to spend time with when they're grown.

I wish I knew how to get my playlist on my blog so you could listen to Toby Mac with me. That guy rocks my spiritual world with his lyrics. If you ever have the chance - and can get past the rock/rap music - listen to what he says. Talk about relevant in today's world.

In "Lose My Soul" he says:

Lord Forgive us when we get consumed by the things of this world,
That fight for our love, and our passion,
As our eyes are open wide and on you,
Grant us the privilege of your world view,
And may your kingdom be, what wakes us up, and lays us down.

Wow. Let it be in me.

If you get the chance, give this song a listen! Also, "Hype Man" with his son - just because it is sooooo fun!! (And "Feelin' So Fly" because it's fun to dance to!)

One more thing to share before I have to jet. We're leaving Thursday night for KC because a certain oldest son of ours has auditioned for a certain show with the initials A.I. and made it to the next round!!! I think he finds out after this if he's "GOING TO HOLLYWOOD!!"

Aye yi yi.

B

Trust

My friend, Katrina, and I have been having lots of conversations about trust the last few weeks. Trusting the Lord, trusting doctors, trusting night shift nurses, etc. Her mom is in ICU and probably won't be with us for much longer.

At 1 a.m. this morning, we were trusting a surgeon to basically make a decision that would lead K and her family to be able to make further decisions. But when it was all over, we both knew she wasn't trusting the surgeon, she was trusting her heavenly Father and He showed himself, making himself known in that moment.

Trust is a funny thing to me. I am a very trusting person. I have never had difficulty trusting God for some reason. In the worst times of my life I have been able to trust the hand of God even when I could not see it in my circumstance. I have come to believe it's because of the verse above from Jeremiah. How could I not trust the best of my God who delights in kindness and righteousness? That is such a comfort to me.

I got another call from a friend whose dad has just been diagnosed with lung cancer and I have another sweet friend whose dad is probably near the end of his battle with that disease. These ladies are in a terrible position and are having to trust the Lord with the most precious part of their lives - a family member. So, for all of you, I am praying. For strength. For peace. For an unfailing trust in the one who knows and loves you the most.

B

Just another magic Monday....

woooooooaa. Wish it were Sunday. woooooooooaa. That's my fun day. wooooooooaa. My "I-don't-have-to-run" day.

What a great song from the 80's! Was it the Bangles? I'm terrible at that game. Ya know the one.........name the artist. Or name the song. If it's the Bangles, will someone send me a prize?? :)

So, this is the top rack of my dishwasher. I spent the morning cleaning out my refrigerator. It seriously is the worst job for me. I would rather eat lima beans (gag me!). And it shows. There are 12 containers on that rack that had leftovers in them and 3 more bigger bowls on the bottom. Because, you know what??

I don't like leftovers. Just as much as I don't like cleaning out the fridge. But, I also don't like to be wasteful. So, I keep little bits of this, and the rest of that - thinking that SOMEBODY will eat it. After fourteen and a half years with this family - when will I figure out that nobody's going to eat it!!??!! Especially, not me.

But, good news. Only three of those bowls had something extra growing in it. And, it wasn't very much - because in those cases, that whole bowl goes straight to the trash without so much as a peep from me.

In other news...........I spent the whole weekend (and I mean w.h.o.l.e., whole) at the soccer fields for a tournament. Josh's team won his age division. Woo hoo! This is his 5th season with this team and their first tournament win so it is very exciting! Roman's team played well but didn't advance. And, my bottom lip got so sunburned that it was doubled in size this morning!! It looked like I got a collagen injection!

And, yes, my first thought - after "OUCH!!!!!" - was to blog about it. But, by the time I got around to taking a picture, it had already started going down. Darn.

Hope you're having a Magic Monday!

B

I love lipgloss!

I don't wear lipstick but I live in lipgloss. Always have. Ever since, way back in Jr. High, I found Bonnie Bell Lip Smackers. Ya know the ones with the roller ball that left a shine on your lips so thick you had to chisel it off at night??? Remember how good it tasted?? Ahhhhhhh........

Well, now my absolute fave is It Shines by Arbonne. It's just the right thickness, just the right color and tastes/smells yummo!

My best make-up trick (mostly because I am without much makeup most days) is lipgloss and sunglasses and just don't take the glasses off! No one can tell if you have makeup on or not!! (Got that from my friend, April. Genius, I say!)

But now that I drive a convertible - and it is definitely convertible weather every day right now - I'm having lipgloss vs. hair issues. With the top down, my hair whips around and sticks to my lips. Seriously.........that is the weirdest feeling to me!

That leaves me in a little pickle. I'm not giving up lipgloss. (Or hair!!) I'm thinking of going with the Thelma and Louise scarf tied over my head. Don't think I will look QUITE as elegant as those ladies but whatever it takes to keep my gloss hair-free!

I almost forgot to brag on Joshy Squashy. He had a football game last night. There was about 2.5 minutes left in the game. We finally scored a TD on a fumble. Josh kicks off. Great kick. Everybody misses their tackle of the guy who received the kick. Who took him down??? The kicker, Josh Wright, that's who!!! That's right - he saved the game. Uh huh. That's my boy!! I would post the video but some lady is screaming like a banshee. Oh, wait - that was me.

And with that, I'm out. Thank you. Goodnight. (George Costanza anyone??)

B

why are my spaces between paragraphs disappearing?????????

Coit's Rootbeer

There are times when I can't think of a single thing to blog about. And then there are times I could post 8 times a day with all the "schtuff" running through this brain.

Just look at this photo. My mouth is watering and every part of me is wanting to run out the door to go get some more rootbeer.

It all started when Roman and I were going to Penn Square a few weeks ago. I was turning onto Penn and there, to my right, was Coit's Rootbeer Stand. Richard, the big boys and I used to get our live Christmas trees there years ago but I have never eaten there. Before I knew it, I had turned the car and pulled into a spot. It's like Sonic where you stay in your car and they deliver your food to you. (Sad, random fact: Did you know there are people in this fabulous country that have never heard of Sonic???? g.a.s.p.) Unlike Sonic, they still hook your tray onto your window and then you flip a switch when you want them to pick it (and all your trash) up.

Roman and I shared a beautiful frosty mug and we were hooked. I mean like addicts. I mean she and I have talked, drooled, dreamed about this rootbeer for weeks. It's not like it's right around the corner from us so we can't just go get some whenever we want - thank goodness!!! But for her birthday, that was her one request - a mug of Coit's rootbeer. So we picked up Josh from football and headed north. Now........he's hooked, too.

So here's the kicker. I'm not a rootbeer drinker normally. In fact, it ALWAYS gives me a headache when I drink it. But, there's something about this rootbeer.

And Roman's words to me as we were walking out the door??? "You know you want to blog about this so you should bring your camera." LOL. She was right! And I did get a few looks while I was trying to get a good shot of the mugs!

Peace out, peeps!

B

P.S. I promise I am spacing between my paragraphs. Don't know why it doesn't stay when I post.

Birthday Tradition

It's happened. I tried to stop it. I've used all my mom super powers without success. I've begged. I've pleaded. I've offered bribes of Webkinz. Nothing worked. My baby is 10 years old today.

Yeppers - that's double digits.

Ten years ago today I was in the hospital with a pit drip going into my IV after a 6 am induction. I remember the nurse telling me "I'm just sure this labor isn't going to be as long" referring to my all nighter with Josh. I'm sure my response was something like "Whatever - just turn up the epidural med and get me some more ice chips!" JK. I was a good patient.

Seriously, it was not a difficult labor or delivery. She was born at 1:14 in the afternoon and she was perfect in every way and as far as I'm concerned, she still is.

Before I "mush" up about her anymore, I have to share the two things I remember the most about that day. (besides the obvious that I got to take a little girl home to a house full of boys!) First, as soon as she was out of the oven, I was instantly starving. Somebody gave me a box of Ritz Bitz PB crackers and I chowed down. I remember the nurse saying "I don't know if that's such a good idea....." at about the same time that those crackers made their re-appearance in the kidney-bean pan!!! And, I remember my friends Katrina and Tammy being there and being dressed almost identically even though they had never even met!! Chambray/denim shirts (remember how popular they were back then???) and khaki pants!! Some things just stay with you!

About this picture.........we have a tradition at our house. Birthdays are a big deal to me. We celebrate every birthday in some big way. Since most birthdays don't fall on the day of the party and it's usually on a school day, we have a donut cake for breakfast - and always with a candle to blow out and the fam singing at the top of their lungs!

Ya know what I like best about this picture?? Roman's bed head! That's what she gets for growing up - pictures out on the world wide web of her "just woke up" hair! bwahahahaha I'll save this one for the slide show at church for Senior Sunday. That's if I can't find the super power to keep her from growing up even more!

Happy Birthday, Rom!

Love, Mom

And the show continues

OK. These girls crack me up. Roman is playing Sharpay (shocker) and Kylee is playing Ryan - notice the hat and Josh's shirt she's wearing. They're doing the song "Fabulous" from HSM2. No, Roman's mouth is not bruised - it's totally blue from some candy thing Tonya bought her.

Enjoy! Especially the part where Kylee lifts Roman. I thought I was going to PIMP!!!

Can't get enough High School Musical

This is for Hannah O. We just got home from seeing Disney On Ice High School Musical. Check out the little bit o' video I took with my camera. (Of course, Sharpay and Ryan always steal the show according to Roman.)

This is a little bit of birthday tradition for Roman. For her 4th birthday, we took Hannah, Katie, Savannah and Roman to see Toy Story on ice. Last year, it was Hannah and Roman for Disney Princesses on ice. Today it was Kylee and Roman. Her friend Katie J. was there but sitting down from us and we ran into several new friends from school. This was the funnest show - prolly because we know every word of every song. And I mean that. Every word. Every song.

What's even funnier is that, since we got home, Kylee and Roman have been choreographing their own version of HSM on ice. I have that on video but don't have time for it to load right now. They are making me PIMP from laughing so hard. Tune in tomorrow.

Right now, it's time for the mom taxi to start her route!

Note to Hannah: Wish you were here. Hugs and kisses!

C U L8TR

This sums it up

Here's hoping that the weekend doesn't attack you at all! Enjoy. (note to Laura: The linens are changed, the fridge is stocked so get on up here!!! We don't like Ike!!)

BevySue

I Am A Soccer Mom...

...not a football Mom. Or am I????

I sure have had a lot of football in my life the past few days. The above videos are of Josh kicking at his first football game last night. The first one is during warm up but the second is a kick off during the game. We won. Yay!! There were several touch downs so Josh got plenty of chances to kick off but they usually ran the ball in for 2 points instead of him getting to kick for the extra point.

But he did get one chance for an extra point and he had a bad snap and hold - of course it wasn't HIS fault!! It was all so exciting........him in his uniform where he's unrecognizable, his name being called over the loudspeaker every time he kicked, playing on the highschool field, the butterflies in my stomach like I was the one on the field!! And, one of his best buddies since kindergarten was all over the place on both offense and defense - so we had someone to cheer for in every play! How fun is all this??

NFL here we come!!

Proud Mama and complete know-nothing about football,

Beverly

One more picture

One of these days........................I'll take time to figure out the picture placement on this crazy blog o' mine!!

This picture gives you an idea of where our seats were - even with the goal post, behind the Houston section and we had to lean to the right to see the jumbotron. Ahhhhhh, but we didn't care one bit!

I could not figure out why their band was dressed like Thing 1 and Thing 2 in goofy overalls that were wedged in a few of their hineys! (look close at the big guy in the middle. yikes.) At halftime, they put on their jackets and then the whole uniform made sense! Whew. They were a rockin' band and put on quite a halftime show. It's a good thing we were winning or I might have tried to throw ice into the tubas!!!

Orange Power

First of all, what a post last night! Do you ever have something just rolling around in your mind that you can't get quiet enough to sleep? That was it for me so thanks for listening/reading!

So Richard, Josh and I went to the OSU-Houston game Saturday night. We had dinner with Patrick and one of his friends but they ditched us to sit in the student section. I don't blame them - that's where I would sit if they would let me in!

It doesn't get much better than college football especially if you can be at the game. And just look at all that orange. This is our band during the pre-game show making the state of Oklahoma.

My poor A.D.D. brain is on overload at events like this. I want to take in EVERYTHING and not miss any of it. I loved this guy's shirt. As one of the

few OSU fans that can be found in our part of the state (1.5 miles north of Norman city limits) I take a lot of teasing. Any joke about OSU ends up in my e-mail inbox. Every OU victory over OSU is discussed with me in detail. Get where I'm going? I don't mind - I'm tough. Back to the shirt - the main statement it makes is "But we've never lost a PARTY!" We've got to be the champion of something, right???

Well.........I've just deleted the 3rd picture for the 2nd time so it's going to be a post by itself. Stay tuned.

I don't really bleed orange, but I *heart* OSU,

Beverly

Would Jesus Wear a Rolex?

I am not a thinker. Or a ponderer. I don't reflect or do any soul-searching. I'm pretty sure I cannot meditate. I blame all of this on my adult-onset A.D.D. (self-diagnosed, of course, but I'm sure some Ritalin would be very helpful!)

The pastor at the church we attended today referenced this song by Ray Stevens. You can google the lyrics but it basically asks would Jesus be like the television preachers of today - asking for money while wearing $10,000 on his arm, a star on his dressing room door, etc. It's a funny song - I grew up listening to Ray Stevens with my Dad. (Oh, yes, they call her the streak...Ethel, get your clothes on!!!) That one's a classic.

My view of my own Christianity has changed so much over the last year. I really just want to be about Jesus. About my relationship with Him. Not about religion. Not about traditions. Not about committees or programs. I want to be different like Jesus was different. (Personally - I don't think he would wear a Rolex.) This made me think about how I can be different from the world and offer something that would make others want what I have. Whoa - that was wordy.

How will others know that I love Jesus? The Bible says, paraphrased, "they will know by the love you have for one another." Oh. This changes everything for me. When I became a Christian in 7th grade, I somehow started a list of ways to know if someone is a Christian. It goes something like this:

You will know them..................because they don't drink alcoholic beverages...............because they don't smoke...............because they don't cuss.................because they go to church every Sunday morning, Sunday evening and choir practice on Wednesday night..............because they are members of FCA...............because they wear shirts that say "I'm with Jesus"..............and on and on.

Sadly, I have carried a much-longer list than this in my heart all these years. All this really gave me was ammunition to judge others' spirituality. And, in the famous words of Bro. Randy, it's STINKIN' THINKIN'!!

I'm done with that. I want to live the life Jesus calls me to. And when I do that, others will see. I'll be able to have a voice in their life because I have just loved them. With all their warts and boogers. Beyond anything that I am capable of by myself. Unconventional love that can only come from selling out to Jesus. Because He certainly loves me with all my warts and boogs. For that, I am SO thankful.

Maybe I can sleep now!

Cereal Saturday

Laura - I knooowwww, right? (spoken in my best Josh voice) I have nothing, nada, zippo to blog about! I am busy from the crack of dawn til the last episode of Frasier goes off at night but busy with nothing exciting. My kids aren't saying anything funny. The dog and cat aren't doing anything interesting. I've only had a few things cross my mind worth talking about but don't make a whole blog post. So here goes my last few days in review...

Why "cereal Saturday?" Two reasons. This summer, while Patrick was living on this side of the state, I fixed a big breakfast every Saturday morning so all 6 of us could spend a little time together. Otherwise, we were all going different directions. Now, he's back in Stillwater. And, it's the last free Saturday we will have for a few months. I guess I just didn't want to cook. I *heart* cereal. Sugary, sweet Frosted Flakes - not good-for-you Raisin Bran. Knowing it has zero nutritional value, we don't eat it very often. Today we did. And it was grrrrrrrrrrreat! LOL.

A few things from this week:

**Sarah Palin - WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!! A girl after my own heart.

**Science lesson about flies and mosquitos. Changed my life. Flies have no chance around me anymore. That's all I will say. (but you should google them and their vomiting ways.)

**Moore War last night. Perfect night for football. Moore lost. Again.

**OSU Football tonight and dinner with Patrick. So looking forward to it. Stillwater is just a fun place to be on game day. And college football rocks.

**Got to see Josh kick a field goal at practice Thursday night. Yay!! It was PURDY!

**SanctusReal song: "Whatever you're doing inside me - it feels like chaos but somehow there's peace. It's hard to surrender to what I can't see but I'm giving in to something heavenly." That's totally me.

**Random meeting with the wife of a pastor from Wildwood. Our daughters have become good friends in class. Talk about a God-thing!!

Peace out peeps!

Bev-O

Tournament blues.

What a weekend! Our boys won their first 2 games easily and then lost 1-0 so they didn't advance to the finals. **sad face**

Aren't these great photos?? They were taken by one of the dads, Chris W. I think they are fabulous. I've been needing action photos of Josh for a project I want to do in his room.


His room is painted Celtic green and one of the walls is even hoop-striped. What does that mean, you ask? In my previous post, the jersey Josh is wearing is called his "hoops jersey" because of the horizontal stripes. One of his walls is painted that way - alternating green and white horizontal stripes!! Aye yi yi.



It was what he wanted! But it sure is a lot of greeen in that room.

No time to really chat today. Roman and I are doing school and we still have a big subject left. It's called "Grocery Store" and it falls under the life lessons category. Listen for her cry of agony when I tell her we're going. I'm sure it will be heard around the world - she does not like the grocery store! But, then again, neither do I!!


Go Joshie, Go!!!