Why I am Not Too Worried About the Next Generation

Bryce won first place in a talent show at his school a few Fridays ago and I cried. I didn't cry because of his excellent performance, though he did rock the stage on that drum set.  I didn't cry when they announced his name as the winner of the high school division, though I was proud. My tears were because of something that the entire audience witnessed and became a part of - something beautiful and extraordinary.

The show had 23 performers in all. The middle school students performed first- playing the piano, strumming guitars, and singing.  About halfway through the middle school portion, a girl walked out alone onto the stage. We heard the first few piano chords of Adele’s “Hello,” but when it came time for her to sing, the girl’s voice was barely audible. She apologized and started over. Again, she struggled to find a beginning pitch. The audience cheered and urged her to start again, but after trying again, it was clear that she didn’t know what to do. The weight of all the eyes in the room were too heavy for her and she was frozen. The silent seconds ticked by slowly.  I knew this would not end well because I knew how this would have affected me at her age. How would she be able to ever face her peers again if she were to run off the stage? How would a teenage girl’s soul ever be able to recover from the defeat of this moment?

But then something beautiful happened. Bryce and the rest of the high school students who were sitting on the front row waiting to perform began to sing, “Hello, it’s me.  I was wondering if after all these years you'd like to meet...”

Then the row of students behind me began to join in the singing... “to go over everything...” 

The students in the audience kept singing and then yelled for her to lead them in the microphone. Another student who had already performed ran out on stage to stand beside her, put her hand on her shoulder, and encouraged her to sing. Her dad came up the steps and stood on the other side of her and placed his hand on her other shoulder. The entire audience sang the verse and chorus with her, and at the end the whole auditorium erupted into claps and whistles.  What had started as potential moment of humiliation and defeat for this girl, ended in a big smile and a moment of triumph. We had all witnessed an enchanted moment. It was a moment where everyone in the room stepped out of themselves for a minute and thought of the girl on stage and what she needed at that moment. Tears flowed, not out of sadness, but out of the magic of what we had all just witnessed. 

Sometimes I have worried about the next generation- are they too wrapped up in their phones and selfies?  Are they whiners and lazy because of the constant video games and television?  That night, they had all won my admiration and my heart. I am not so worried about this next generation now. I witnessed compassion, bravery, kindness, and love poured out for a fellow student. Isn't that what we all need in this life-people on each side of us, holding us up, telling us we can finish?  We all need to remind each other that we are capable and worthy and can rise above the ashes of our moments of defeat. I was more proud of my son for helping start that song than I was for him winning first place. Awards and certificates will collect dust & fade, but a heart full of love for others lasts forever.  

Stupid Mom Moments

Have you ever experienced a Stupid Mom Moment?  You know, one of those moments when you don’t think through a situation entirely and then when you realize your stupidity, it is too late. These are my recent stories:

Like many Stupid Mom stories, this begins with “I took the kids to Wal-Mart.”  I told them they could each get a pool noodle, which is about $1 each. We went and picked out noodles first. Beside the plain noodles were these noodles with faces and tails. The boys loved them and so I looked and the price said $2.88.  I thought, “That is a good deal.”  They picked out their favorites and we tried to stuff them in the buggy. They would not fit. So we let them hang out and tried to walk around the store, which turned out to be a huge problem because we could not fit down the aisles without hitting stuff/shoppers.  We had to go through every food aisle with these giant things. When people went by us, they were hit with noodles or the noodles snagged on their buggies.

Some people look annoyed, some people smiled, and some people gave me a “I am so sorry for you with those giant noodles hanging from your buggy and your kids doing circles in the aisle” look. I finally fixed them so their tails were in the buggy and their faces were beside me where I hold the handle. When we finally got to the check-out, we got behind “that person.” You know that person, the one with the coupons or special checks or no bar codes or something that takes FOREVER!!  After 10 minutes of waiting, we finally get our chance.  She scanned the giant noodles and I gave each of them to the boys to hold. The one plain noodle I got for Bryce wouldn’t scan after 5 attempts and then suddenly I BECAME “that person.”  The cashier asks how much it was. I said, “A dollar something. I know those other ones were $2.88 but I did not get a good look at the plain ones.”  The cashier looked at the ticket and said, “Those noodles were $12.88.” 

“WHAT? 12.88 each?” –me
“That will be $36.00!!!” –Preston chimes in, holding his noodle lovingly

I look and the little boys are riding their noodles and I see little hearts and rainbows floating above their heads. What do I do? We had gone through so much together already, those noodles and I.  But I cannot afford those noodles! A good mom cannot take the noodles without giving them a plain one to take its place. And I am holding up the line!!!! So I say “forget the plain noodle since we don’t know the price. I guess I will keep the other noodles.”

Oh, the pain of that purchase! Then when I got to the car, I realized these noodles will barely fit in the trunk of my van. What was I thinking?? Mega-noodles with faces and tails only being $2.88?!?!? And fitting in my van and we all living happily ever after!?!?!   Stupid Mom Moment!!

This other story is a of a time where I thought through the way something would be in my head and it didn't quite work out that way in real life. A few weeks ago, I went to the Georgia Military College Graduation.  I had to take Jude and Maddox because Clint was at a church manly-man thing with the bigger boys. I did not want to miss it because a good friend was graduating,  and so I took the chance in taking my little tornadoes.  I knew the graduation would be outside so I dressed the boys accordingly. I also knew they would get bored so I went by McDonald's and got them both Happy Meals and figured they would eat and then play with the toys.
Our friends invited us to a seat in the first row, which left the boys lots of room to sit in the grass in front of my chair and play. I thought I had done a good job planning until Maddox huffed and puffed and sneezed a great sneeze. His nose exploded with snot. It was thick and was hanging there, long and thick like clear silly putty. This was not something you could wipe with your hand or the underside of a shirt. I had nothing- not even napkins in the Happy Meal.  Fortunately there was a dad beside me with a baby and I said, “Quick. I need a wipe, PLEASE!”  He came to my rescue and that problem was resolved. And we lived happily ever after at graduation, right? Nope. My boys were not interested in the bluebird that was in their box. Instead, they decided to make a helmet out of their box. Jude stood up and started walking around & running into the other guests with the box over his face. What was I thinking bringing two little human tornadoes to a college graduation?!?!?  Next time, I will find a sitter or bring more napkins and crackers…. or sedatives.  
 

My Resume is Unimpressive

After 13 years of staying home and being a non-paycheck-working mom, I am trying to join the world of the get-a-paycheck-working mom. I have been digging up diplomas and trying to remember and list any accomplishments over the past decade or so. I did lots of important things and was in lots of clubs in high school and college. I directed musicals in my early teaching career.  But as I look back over the past 12 baby-bearing years, there are not too many things I can write on my resume that really seem “important” enough to look good on paper.  I struggle with not being able to put “mom” on my resume.  Why is there not a line for that?  I think I have done some pretty hard, note-worthy things being “just a mom.” 

In fact, there are some things I would LIKE to list on my resume that I feel are pretty darn big accomplishments, but I fear they won’t seem all that important to my prospective employers.

A few Stand-Out Accomplishments:

• Stayed at home with four boys over  a 12 1/2 year span and I am not completely insane
• I can change a diaper with my eyes closed in a matter of seconds
• Wrestled and helped put a calf in my minivan
• Picked up & buried a headless chicken carcass buzzing with big green flies
• Potty trained four boys (one of them was a truly a miracle)
• Carried possums and raccoons in the trunk of my minivan
• Taught my kids Reading, Math, Science, English, Bible, & Social Studies
• Went to war with a family of bats living in my garage and came away victorious
• Plan and organized schedules, food, clothes, & laundry  for a family of 6
• Can herd cows on foot, on a bicycle, or with my van
• Retrieved a Pull-up deeply embedded in a full toilet of poop without calling a plumber

By the world’s standards, my accomplishments are pretty unimportant. Sometimes even by my standards, I see myself the same way.  Am I making my mark on the world? Am I doing great things like they challenged me to do at my graduations?

 “Dream big dreams.”      “Your mountain is waiting, now be on your way.” 

The only mountain I have climbed lately is Mount Laundry, looming large and frightful on my love seat.  The only dream I have had recently is to be by myself in the bathroom without someone coming in to ask me a question or tattle.  The past decade has been full of breast feeding,  cheerios, laundry, dishes, diapers, potty training, endless lists,  supporting Clint’s career with the BHS band, and always some form of poop.

            Normal person- “Hi. So, what have you been up to?”

Me- “Oh, just scrubbed the entire bathroom today because after my kid pooped in the toilet, he thought it would be a good idea to “clean” his poop with the toilet bowl brush and spread it all over the toilet, the lid, and the walls.  So what about you?"

Normal person- Throws up in their mouth a little & runs away yelling, “Gotta get back to work!”

The truth is, when I look at myself and my accomplishments from the world’s standards, they will always fall short. I really don’t mind that I have not been forging my own path & winning awards in a "real" career.  I feel like I have done what God called me to do in this season of my life- raise some boys, love my husband, & teach some teenagers about God's love.  That has been my passion and the career I gladly chose.  Do I look down on others who have had a different career and have had plaques, promotions, and accomplishments? No. I am proud of them and their hard work and the credentials they have earned . I cannot compare my path to the paths of others because we have been called to wonderfully different things.

I saw this quote a few months ago and it is a reminder to me that in this part of my life, I have done, though not always well, what I felt God called me to do.

“The plain fact is that the world does not need more successful people, but it does desperately need more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of every kind. It needs people who live well in their places. It needs people of moral courage willing to join the fight to make the world habitable and humane. And these qualities have little to do with success as our culture has defined it.” – David Orr

I think I may make a few new lines on my resume for peacemaker, healer, restorer, storyteller, and lover.  I have truly learned a lot during the first "mom years" part my life.  It has been hard, beautiful, fun, difficult, joyous, challenging, wonderful, and adventure-filled. I am a little scared and a lot excited about what God has in store for me in this next leg of the journey. So although my paper resume is pretty unimpressive, on my real life resume, I think I am doing just fine.


Amy

God has not called me to be successful; He has called me to be faithful.

-Mother Teresa

Manny on a Fanny

Have you ever wondered how Santa knows who is naughty and who is nice? Manny on a Fanny is a very special tool that helps Santa know who to put on the Naughty and Nice list.

An excellent listener and even better observer, this scout mannequin head is the eyes and ears of Santa Claus. Taking in all the day-to-day activities around the house, no good deed goes unnoticed; Manny takes his job seriously.

 

Each night, after the family goes to bed, Manny calls Santa on his cell to make his daily report. Since mannequin heads like to play games, don't expect to find Manny in the same spot the next day! He may be hiding in the washing machine or taking a dip in the tub. You never know where that Manny may end up! 

 

On Christmas Eve, when Manny hears Santa's bells, he will give back his magically powered Santa hat until the next season, and become just a regular old mannequin head again.

 

Be on the look-out for new Manny updates & pictures. What could say, "Merry Christmas" more than a festive Manny on a Fanny?

 

Make Mine the Poo-Poo Platter- Now THAT'S a Bad Day!!

Warning: This post may include too much information. If you are sensitive to potty stories, stop reading now. Out of respect for all things good, I will not include any pictures with this post.

So this morning started like any other- the sun came up & Jude began yelling, "Can somebody get me outta my bed?!! It's always more of a demand than a question. He can actually get out of his toddler bed by himself, but he won't until someone opens his door. He then started yelling, "I need to tee-tee." I broke my own rule and let him use my toilet. (This is the one toilet in the house that is mine. I do not use the others in the house because there is always pee on the seat or the lid is up. No one is allowed to use my toilet but me and Clint).  I took off his Pull-up and sat in on the window sill. As I was flushing the toilet, my arm hit the Pull-up, it fell off the window sill right into the toilet during the last flushing suction. It disappeared out of sight.  I reached in my hand. It was gone.

Next, I did what I always do when I don't know what to do- I called Clint. He said it might have gone on down since it was smaller than a diaper and we would be able to tell in a few days (we have a septic tank). I was satisfied with that answer.

A little while later,  I "had to drop some kids off at the pool." I used my toilet. When I flushed it, it filled up to the rim. I knew then that the pull-up was down there stuck somewhere, clogging up the system. I called Clint. Of course, he laughed at me and scolded me saying, "Why did you poop in the toilet knowing that you had just flushed a Pull-up down it?"  I replied,  "I don't know. Maybe because I'm an idiot?"  I used the plunger as instructed- nothing. I said, "It stinks really bad."  Clint replied, "I am sure it does. I have not ever smelled any that didn't."  Comedian. Clint said we would have to call a plumber and he would have to probably unhook the toilet because the pull-up might be stuck where the toilet and pipe meet. So some man I have never met would have to come and see and dig through a toilet bowl full of my poop? And I would have to explain my idiotness to him? How utterly embarrassing!

I then got a plastic cup and began scooping the contents of the toilet into a little bucket. I told Clint I would pour it on his tomato bushes. He did not think that was funny. After carrying out 3 bucketfuls of filth and lots of gagging in between, I was at the bottom.  I was determined not to call a plumber. First, it would be costing our family a needless expense, all because of me. Second, I was determined that some stranger was not going to have to dig around in my poo. I kept this all in mind as I reached my arm up to my elbow into the innards of the toilet. It was then I felt it- the bulging Pull-up, stuck down there, taunting me.

I knew it was time for battle. I called Clint again. He wished me a strong stomach & said, "Be sure to get your phone far away from the toilet." Dang-it- he does know me so well!  I put the phone on the counter & began playing the song "Beautiful Things" as I mentally prepared myself.  I was ready. I took a breath, put on a bandanna, reached down and pulled. It did not move. One of the boys came in to the bathroom to tattle on another. I yelled, "Do not disturb me unless someone is bleeding profusely or the possibility of death is imminent!" I reached my hand in again. I gagged. Bryce came in, "Are you ok?"  Me- "No! I am not. I am digging around in my own poop! Now thank you very much for your concern. Go away!"

I reached in again. I got my pointer finger around the bottom of the pull-up and yanked. It moved a little. I breathed like they tell you to do when you are in labor. I pulled. It moved a little more. After a few minutes of pulling, gagging, & breathing, out came the full Pull-up. I rejoiced & gagged some more. I washed my arm with soap. Then washed it with vinegar for a full two minutes.  I used dish washing soap & scrubbed like I was going into surgery. I think my right arm is a shade lighter than my left because of all the skin I scrubbed of of it.

I called Clint. He was proud of my accomplishment & the money I saved our family.  I have fought the good fight today. I feel as if I can conquer anything- now onto Mount Laundry-More.

Amy

Legoland- A Picturementary

Since I have had a few people ask me about Legoland Atlanta, I thought I would just post the details  of our experience.  Our family went a week ago for Preston's birthday. These are my thoughts and observations.

We purchased our tickets online and the earliest time we could get for that day was  noon. After entering, they moved us into a holding area where there are some Lego bricks, scales, etc., and an employee told facts about Legos. Then the doors open and you stand in a line (it was short when we arrived) for a ride to get inside. They were not letting people with strollers get on the ride, they had to go around. The ride seats 4 and you have a laser gun to shoot Lego things as you move through. This was fun and the only drawback is that you can only ride it once. Preston was asking to ride it again but we couldn't since it only goes one way.

Things to do inside:

• Play area & slide (2-5 year olds)- This area had a big "sand box" full of big foam Lego blocks. The two little boys enjoyed this area and played there awhile.
• Mini-Land of Atlanta- This was a big room full of Atlanta famous places and attractions made entirely out of Legos. The boys all enjoyed this room. You could not touch anything, but there was lots to look at. Jude (almost 3 years old) even liked this room. We went in when we arrived and before we left. There was a lot to see.
• Ride- I cannot remember the name of it. It was a two-seater and went up and down depending on how fast you pedaled. You must be over 3 feet tall to ride and those 4 feet and under had to ride with a parent. The line took about 15 minutes. There were little Lego tables to play with towards the back of the line while the kids waited.
• Lego Master Builder Academy- new ones starts every 30 minutes. Kids get to go in (without adults) and build things around a 4-person Lego table. I don't know if they were given any instructions or not. When I asked Preston what the instructor said, he said, "Make whatever you want."  I took a picture of their creation, but of course, they had to leave it there.
• Build-a-Car Tracks- Kids could build a large or small Lego car and roll it on a big track. This was Jude's favorite thing.
• Girl Section- It was pink. Had some building tables. There was a Karaoke stage but no microphone to sing into. Kids could choose from a selection of annoying songs to sing along with. On stage. With no microphone. In my opinion, the girl section seemed like they just made it so they could say there was a girl section.
• Movie Theatre- I think there were 3 different movies. They rotated playing them every 20 minutes or so. The movie was 4D- you had 3D glasses and you got lightly sprayed with water, wind, and snow. The older boys liked it. There were a few parts that scared Jude but he scares easily anyway.
• Playground Area- Kids must have socks to play inside.  Adults are not allowed inside. Chick-Fil-A playground x 5. There is an employee who monitors the playground and when it reaches maximum capacity, she does not allow anymore children inside. A line forms. The employees clears the play area. Kids leaving can go to the back of the line and go back in. All the boys liked this area. Preston got tired of it more quickly than the others. Outside the playground area, there are a few stools scattered around for parents.
• Foam Pools- There are small foam pools full of Legos (about the size of the turtle sandboxes) scattered throughout the area. Kids can sit by them or in them and play.
• City Building Table- I wasn't sure what to call this area. It is a large table with a few building areas. The kids are supposed to build a Lego building that can withstand an earthquake. The kids build on a platform, then they can turn a knob and the whole platform will shake. Maddox (age 5) really liked this area.
• Cafe- Area that has tables and chairs and food. Nachos were $3. Sandwiches were $3. They had a meal deal for hotdogs (4 hotdogs, 4 sodas, 4 chips) for $15. There was a pizza meal deal (pizza, 4 sodas, 4 chips) for $15. I recommend eating before you go in. We did not buy food but we spent $15 on 3 Dasani waters. We ate at the Johnny Rockets which is right in front of the entrance then entered Legoland at 12 noon.
• Exit- You exit into the Lego store, of course!

Price

We purchased tickets online instead of at the door which saved us about $10 in all.

I am cheap, so to me, all kid's amusement activities are over-priced. We have 6 people in our family so the ticket prices add up. I would not go back every month but it would be worth it once a year since Preston loves Legos.

Baby Friendliness

To me, the area would be difficult to navigate with a big stroller. A small, umbrella stroller would be better. I did not see any nursing rooms.

Cleanliness

They get an A for cleanliness. The bathrooms were clean. They have a men's, women's, and one family bathroom. There were employees that walked around inside Legoland picking up trash as well as Legos. There were a few hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the area.

Security

It was a safe environment. Anyone can pay to come in, though, so keep in mind it could be a good place for a child predator. I would like it better if they would stamp your hands and then check them to make sure they match the parents when you are leaving.

Overall, Legoland was a good experience. The boys all had a great time. Here are a few pictures:

Amy

5 Years of Maddox

Maddox turned 5 years old yesterday. He came into the world in a rush at 12:51am- no doctor or nurse there to catch him. No pictures or videos snapping the moment. No family eagerly awaiting his arrival in the lobby. He came before any of us were ready for him.  His little body was blue and still. I held my breath. Time seemed to move so slowly...waiting to hear the welcome sound of his first cry. Nothing. I had never heard Clint yell at anyone before like he did the nurses. They frantically massaged his body and suctioned his mouth and nose.  Finally, he made a sneezing sound and then we heard the glorious sounds of his first cries!  The doctor arrived 7 minutes later.

Although he was in a rush to arrive, he has always been a  laid back and go-with-the flow kid.  Maddox is our child that was content in the arms of anyone.  He is goofy, tender, gentle, wild, and cuddly. He had a drool gland that seemed to work overtime and soak all of his clothes. He would crawl by holding his head down like a battering ram and then kick it into super-speed.  He still makes silly faces and loves to cook. It has been a joy seeing him grow, change, and still stay the same.

Proud to be Maddox's Mommy,
Amy

"It was on my fifth birthday that Papa put his hand on my shoulder and said, 'Remember, my son, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.'" -Sam Levenson

Love Never Fails

This week I have thought a great deal about how truly difficult it is to really love others. Loving people like I am supposed to is a very hard thing. In English we use the word "love" to encompass many things. We use it to talk about clothes, candy, cars, people, etc.  In the Greek language there are 4 words that mean love:

• philia - the love of close friends or brothers         
• storge - the love of family
• eros - carnal or sexual love
• agape - love which seeks the highest good of others; not just friends, family, or brethren, but even enemies       

Agape love is the one that is commanded of us.  It:

• Does not depend upon the one being loved as having earned such love
•  Is not an exclusive love (brothers only), but an all-embracing benevolence
•  Is not an uncontrolled reaction of the heart, but a concentrated exercise of will
•  Is a caring love, one which becomes involved in the needs of others

A simple definition of agape love would be "active good will".

Lately, I have had to remind myself quite often that God has commanded me to obey Him by loving others His way.  In that command, He has not promised me that others will show me gratitude for it, or listen to me, or take my advice or help. There are many things I will do for others that will feel like a waste of time. People will wad up my hard work and my love and throw it away. But one thing that has kept me going this week are those 3 little words in the beginning of 1 Corinthians 13:8. I have said "Love never fails" to myself many times these past few days.

Why does "love never fail?"  It never fails because even if others do not catch the love I put out there, God does. The love I show others will never be wasted because He sees, He appreciates, He catches it.

God has called us to be lovers and we frequently think that He meant us to be saviors.  So we “love” as long as we see “results.”  We give of ourselves as long as our investments pay off, but if the ones we love do not respond; we tend to despair and blame ourselves and even resent those we pretend to love.  Because we love someone, we want them to be free of addictions, of sin, of self- and that is as it should be.  But it might be that our love for them and our desire for their well-being will not make them well. And, if that is the case, their lack of response no more negates the reality of love than their quickness to respond would confirm it.

-Rich Mullins

I will not try to take His job. He is in the business of changing lives, not me. I will listen to His calling. I will not resent others when they do not listen to me or clap for me and say, "thank you."  I will show active goodwill.  I will go out of my way to help others when He calls me to do it. I will continue to love even when I don't see results because I know that LOVE NEVER FAILS!!

Lover not a Savior,
Amy

The $5 Promise

The other day Clint and I had a long discussion about finances. In June, we lost some income since we no longer have our part-time jobs due to FCC & Northridge merging.  We talked about how to bring in extra income, ways to cut back, and things we can do to manage our money better. Money can cause great worry and trepidation- unexpected hospital bills, insurance premiums going up, salary going down because of furloughs, the boys are eating more, they need clothes without holes, they need money for camp, the list goes on and on.  We decided to pray about it for a few weeks and see what doors God would open for us instead of jumping into any hasty decisions.
A few days later I opened my Bible to read some suggested scriptures that were in our church bulletin.  I turned to Deuteronomy 28:1-12, and on that exact page in my Bible were 5  $1 bills. This is what the scripture said:

“If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the world. ² You will experience all these blessings if you obey the LORD your God:

³ Your towns and your fields will be blessed.
⁴ Your children and your crops will be blessed.   The offspring of your herds and flocks will be blessed.
⁵ Your fruit baskets and breadboards will be blessed.
⁶ Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed.

⁷ “The LORD will conquer your enemies when they attack you. They will attack you from one direction, but they will scatter from you in seven! ⁸ “The LORD will guarantee a blessing on everything you do and will fill your storehouses with grain. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

⁹ “If you obey the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways, the LORD will establish you as his holy people as he swore he would do. ¹⁰ Then all the nations of the world will see that you are a people claimed by the LORD, and they will stand in awe of you.

¹¹ “The LORD will give you prosperity in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, blessing you with many children, numerous livestock, and abundant crops. ¹² The LORD will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them.

I am sure I put those $1 bills in my Bible for some reason long ago, although I could not remember when or why. But how cool was it that they were on the exact page that contained the promise I so needed to hear at that moment?!?! God was reminding me that He is faithful and He will provide us with the things we need if we keep being obedient and trusting in Him. 

"The LORD will send rain at the proper time"-oh, how difficult it is to trust in God's proper time. I am a planner. I am an organizer.  That day I was in need of being reminded that God is too. His planning and His organization set the universe in motion and He knows what He is doing. Now I will do my part and be obedient to Him as He does what He has promised.

"When the train goes through a tunnel and the world gets dark, do you jump out? 

Of course not.  You sit still and trust the engineer to get you through."
-Corrie ten Boom

Trusting the Engineer,
Amy

2001- The Great Parenting Experiment Began

11 years ago my world was rocked and my life was completely changed for the better. 11 years ago today, I became a Mom. I remember the excitement we felt finding out we were having a baby.  I kept a pregnancy journal and recorded my weight and measurements. I couldn't wait to wear maternity clothes. My good friend Heather was pregnant at the same time and it was so fun comparing bodies and planning for motherhood together.  Clint starting putting headphones on my belly as soon as we knew the baby could hear in the womb at about 16 weeks. The baby was listening to Mozart every night, and then praise music on stage at church every Sunday morning and Sunday night.                                     

Clint and I were living in a little one-bedroom apartment on the side of my parents' house. We put together the crib, got all the clothes ready, put up the mobile and waited. And waited. And waited.   My due date was December 28. I was huge. Every time anyone saw me they would ask, "You haven't had that baby yet?"  We even had to put a message on our answering machine saying, "Leave your name, number, and NO, we have not had the baby yet!"  Finally, on January 3 I was induced.   We brought two outfits to the hospital- one for a girl and one for a boy. Our family was in the waiting room and when Bryce was born at 10:07 am on January 4, our mothers skipped down the hall holding hands to announce to our family," It's a boy!"  The nurses then let everyone back in the delivery room and we all held hands and our minister, John DuBose, said a prayer. Love was overflowing from that room.

It was then that the great parenting experiment began for us- and oh what a journey it has been! He did not sleep in that beautifully prepared crib. In fact, he did not sleep through the night the first month he was home. After that, the only place he would go to sleep at night was in the bouncy seat beside our bed. It was a wonderful year of firsts- smile, bath, teeth, rolling over, shots, pulling up, ear infection, taking steps, bumps & bruises. All those are such cherished memories! How we both have grown and changed since then!

Bryce means "alert & ambitious." He has definitely lived up to his name. He is smart, caring, funny, argumentative, hard-headed, loving, and passionately musical. He keeps me on my toes and has me changing my parenting tactics all the time. On January 14, 2001 we formally dedicated him to the Lord in the presence of our church family. Thank you to all who helped teach him, love him, babysit him, dance and sing with him, march around, pick grass with him, & encourage him thus far.

Ephesians 3:14-21- When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.  Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

Much love,

Amy

There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. 

There are seven million. 

~Walt Streightiff 

Hello 2012

2011 was quite a year! Some highlights:

• Clint won Teacher of the Year for the school and the county
• Bryce got a perfect score on his piano guild competition- the only one of 70+ students who made a perfect score.
• Preston broke his arm jumping from one big hay bale to the other.
• Maddox started Pre-K.
• Jude turned 2 and began really talking and becoming his own little person- very determined, loving, and independent.!

This summer of  2011 closed one chapter of my life and opened another.  In May, our congregation voted to fit into a bigger part of God's plan and join together with Northridge Christian Church and use the FCC church building as an outreach to college students. I was against this plan at first for many reasons. But as time passed and I prayed and listened, God softened my heart and I slowly began to agree with the idea.     

June 26 was our last church service at First Christian Church. My Mom got a job playing the piano there when I was 8 years old. She would get there early, before anyone else, so she could practice the organ. I remember the click of her shoes and the sound of the music filling the room. I was baptized there, married there, and all of our children were dedicated to the Lord in that building. First Christian people taught me about Jesus, about love, & about the importance of a church family.

On July 3, we began going to our "new" church as the boys called it. For about 8 weeks, I would cry either on the way to church, during church, or on the way back from church. Even though I knew this was God's will, it was still very hard. Each week on the way to church we would play  "Stronger" and "Like a Lion."  These were my theme songs for the summer and fall.

"When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain't gonna last forever
And things can only get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger"
-"Stronger"

If I had to give 2011 a name, I would call it "The Year of God's Faithfulness."  Not because He was only faithful this past year, but because I learned about His faithfulness and learned to trust it this year more then any other thus far. I learned that living for Him is not about my comfort or sentimentality, but about how He can best use us and the resources we have to further His Kingdom. I am resolved to no  longer whine and complain about things that really do not matter when there are people dying every day for the cause of Christ.

I have chosen Colossians 3:12-14 to be my theme verse for this year. I am working on memorizing it and learning how to really dress in the wardrobe of God's love in 2012.

"So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it." -Colossians 3:12-14

I will try to update the blog more this year. I was about to delete it because it has been so long since I updated, but my heart is full of excitement for the new year and the adventures it will bring. I hope to do better about sharing this year. Thanks to all of you who have blessed my life.

Amy

"I am a Christian, not because someone explained the nuts and bolts of Christianity to me,

but because there were people willing to be nuts and bolts." -Rich Mullins

God's Pillow Fuzz

"It looks like God's got a big pillow and He's taking out the fuzz!" -Preston
February 12-13, 2010

Fall Update

Jude is 4 months old and such a little cutie.  I had to put this picture up so everyone could see those soft, fat, chubby cheeks of his.  He is laughing, cooing, and even tries to "sing" along with Maddox.  He is turning over from his back to his tummy and then gets very angry because his neck is not very strong so his face stays squished into the blanket.  We all watch him and laugh and then turn him over on his back again so that he can repeat the process. He has also discovered his feet and spends a good bit of time yelling at them because he can't get them to go in his mouth. He is a good baby and has such a sweet, content disposition. 

Maddox is known around our house as "Curious Maddox."  One, because he loves Curious George and two, because we believe Maddox IS Curious George but just in a human form.  He still keeps us laughing with his funny faces and his silly ways.  He is very loving and friendly and is determined to do whatever the big boys are doing. The other day we were outside and I made Preston run 2 laps around the house because he was being mean to Maddox.  Maddox looked at me, furrowed his eyebrows and said, "Mommy I mean."  He then took off running around the house with Preston.

Preston  is doing well in first grade. I love his big sparkling eyes, innocence, and unbridled enthusiasm.  He is starting to enjoy going places that have crowds as opposed to the previous 5 years of his life when he would scream anyplace that had more than 10 people together at one time. He now enjoys the football games & even went to his first DCI Band Competition at the Georgia Dome. The Air Show we went to in Warner Robins in May was an exception, though.  I just have to include the picture. (at right)

Some new Prestonisms:

• "Mommy, what keeps scratching you? What keeps making you itch?" -Preston (asked while I was making he & Bryce take turns scratching my back)
• "Daddy I have a big poopie from the good waffle at the waffle house!" (loudly in the bathroom at Lowes)
• "When is Jude's hair going to grow? Does it grow when he cries?"
• " My friend Luis from Mexico went to 'Help A Child Smile' at school but I don't know why cause he's ALWAYS smiling!"
• "Dear Lord, thank you for Pluto being a planet. Even though they said it wasn't a planet in 2006, I know that it still is." (Preston's nightly prayer for a few weeks)
• "I pulled Jude's fingers out of his mouth so he wouldn't get the H1N1 virus"
• "I know how you can get Maddox's eyedrops in his eyes without him crying.  You can put him in a deep sleep like God did to Adam when he tok his rib."
• "Maddox said he came from England but I told him that he came from Heaven up with God- his real Father."

Bryce is in third grade this year. He is in the chorus at school and is the student conductor for one song at their concert in December.  He began taking piano lessons in September and his piano teacher calls him "Speedy" because she says he picks up on things so quickly. In September he played the drums for a fund-raising concert for the Henry Medical Center Foundation in McDonough, Georgia. He is still such a little adult.  Here are a few of his latest comments:

• "Mommy if you are still on a diet then why are you eating mashed potatoes?" (who needs an acountability partner when you have him?)
• "There are always interesting facts on the gas pump."
• "Mommy, why do you need your black purse?  Are you trying to look hot or something?"
• "Mommy, why did you and Daddy kiss behind the car? Don't you know we're in public?"

A few new quotes that have inspired me lately:
"It's not about the water. It's abut trusting the One who calls us out on the water! "-Dan Garrett

"A ship in harbor is safe -- but that is not what ships are built for." - John A Shedd

My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, "You're tearing up the grass." "We're not raising grass," Dad would reply. "We're raising boys." ~Harmon Killebrew

Love to all!!

Amy

I'm Learning As I Go....

Things I've Learned as a Mother of Boys:
* 2 year olds are pretty strong and can break those plastic cabinet locks.
* If a 2 year old drinks Clorox Greenworks the only really harmful ingredient in it is ethanol which causes them to act enebriated. Give them lots of water & put a new lock on the cabinet.
* If an 8 year old gets bitten by a field mouse that is still alive b/c it's caught in the mousetrap by its' foot -wash the wound, give them an antibiotic because mice have bacteria in their mouths but they will not need a rabies shot because rabies is rare in small rodents. (But if you are bittten by a ground hog, woodchuck or beaver you could be in danger.)
* Your nice table & pretty things will get scratched, beat up and broken- just say "I loved you while you lasted!"
* When amoxicillin gets thrown-up onto your carpet, blot it and go ahead and call the professionals in- regular carpet stuff just isn't strong enough.
* Water will be splashed all the floor outside the tub so just go ahead and put a towel down over the mat. Don't fight it.
* Always have a plan.
* Always have a plan B, C, & D.
* Always have in your home: Mr. Clean Magic Marker, Shout, Carpet Spray, and Clorox Clean-up.
* Running laps around the house or down the driveway is excellent punishment and benefits all involved. Boys get exercise & their extra energy released & the Mom gets the pleasure of having them outside the house for a few minutes.
* Those balls with the suctions cups on all sides of them are more expensive than they seem- they will break out a window pane- don't let them come into your home.
* Dirt is your friend. Embrace it. Love it because it will always be on your kids & in your home.
* Keep an icepack in the freezer at all times.
* If you accidentally wash a disposable diaper in the washing machine with all the other clothes it explodes into tiny pieces and makes a huge mess.
* Never leave your purse where your 2 year old can reach it. He will get out your lipstick and draw all over his face. This could possibly happen at the same time that your 8 year old is crying because his finger is bleeding from a mouse bite.
* Don't even try to take a "relaxing" bath while they are still awake. They WILL find you.
Things I say as a Mother of Boys:
"Get your hands out of your pants"
"Put down your weapons and come eat!"
"Shhhhhhhh!"
"Don't touch the mousetrap in the garage!"
"I TOLD you not to touch that mousetrap!!"
"Get down from there or you are going to fall down the stairs"
"I TOLD you to get down from there!"

Hey Jude!

 Jude Clinton was born Wednesday, June 24 at 6:45 pm. He weighed 8 lbs 12 ounces and was 21 inches long. His due date was July 6 but I was very excited that he came early. It was the first time I have ever gone into labor on my own without having to be induced. It was very exciting being able to run around throwing things in the suitcase like I've always seen on TV shows!

We got to the hospital at 8:10 am and thought that he would make his appearance before lunch. We waited and waited. I got an epidural at 11:30 am and then we watched a NCIS marathon on TV while we waited some more. After about 10 hours of what Dr. Palmer called "piddly little contractions, " he finally made his appearance at 6:45 pm. My hand hurt from texting so much because I was supposed to be at church with my teens and had to keep sending updates to everyone about what was going on. We had a great experience at the hospital and was so thankful to have my Mama and Margaret keep the other boys while we were there. I think Mama and Maggie were more excited to see us come home from the hospital than anyone!!

Jude has been a great baby and is so soft and cuddly. I am enjoying those precious little newborn sounds, the sweet smell of his skin, the soft peach fuzz head, and being able to rock and hold him. I have found that I didn't mind so much rocking him in those dark hours of the night. I even cherished them this time. I guess I have learned that all to quickly he will be running around not wanting to be held and rocked. There is just something about holding a little baby that makes the whole world seem ok.

Summer 2009

I have been scolded because I have not updated my blog since March so I will try and do better.  Here is a little snippet of our summer.  I will give all the info about Jude next and then catch everyone up on the other boys later.  So you all will just have to take what you can get right now!!

                                         Little Cabin at the Beach:

We decided to go to Savannah in June since it wasn't too far away and we knew that we would not be going anywhere on vacation this summer. The hotels were expensive on the beach so we decided to rent a cabin for two night nights at a campground on Tybee Island. I booked it online and it sounded great- a cabin that sleeps 5-6, a pool, and a laid-back campground atmosphere. . When we pulled up to the "cabin" we all looked at each other with our mouths open wide and just started laughing. Our "cabin" was a tiny little shed that we could techincally hitch to the Expedition and pull it away with us. It was probably equivilant to a very tiny RV. The dining room was the picnic table you see out on the porch. In the picture below we are all sitting in the "living room" together. It was quite an adventure in this tiny cabin with the three boys, Maggie, Clint, and a very pregnant me!

March 2009 Update

We’re having boy #4!!!
"Sometime in the first trimester, a boy fetus begins producing male sex hormones that bathe his brain in testosterone, for the rest of his gestation. 'That exposure wires the brain differently,' says Arthur Arnold, professor of physiological science at UCLA. How? Scientists aren't exactly sure."
-Newsweek, January 30, 2005

Here are answers to the many questions we’ve been asked:

YES

• We are excited about and fine with another little ball of endless energy.
• Clint is still working on getting the bonus room finished.
• I was a little disappointed that I could not pass on my Barbie Dream House or my doll house made by my Uncle Jim (that had real shingles) and I loved playing with growing up. So it’s up to my siblings to have a little girl now!
• Four is a good number for us- we’re WAY outnumbered now!

NO

• We weren’t trying for a girl.
• We aren’t going to keep trying for a girl.
• We aren’t trying to have a football, soccer, volleyball, or baseball team
• We don’t have a name picked out yet. And when we do, we aren’t telling!

Bryce
Bryce auditioned to be in “Milledgeville’s Got Talent” back in January. He and his band (Jamie Tanner on electric guitar and Bradly Pfohl on bass) will be competing against 9 other people/groups on Friday, March 27 at 7pm in Russell Auditorium. It should be a really good show- there will be singers, dancers, rappers, a classical pianist- it’ll be fun and a great experience for Bryce.

He will be playing baseball this Spring and has already begun practicing everyday in our backyard after school. He finishes his homework, changes clothes, then tries to talk Preston into hitting and catching with him. Preston goes out for about 2 minutes then comes back in saying there are too many bees outside to practice ball. If I hear terrified screaming like there is someone stabbing his flesh, then I know that a bee is somewhere near Preston. I used to run outside with fear and horror when I heard this shrieking thinking a bone was broken or blood was gushing from some extremity but now I just know that Preston has spotted a bee.

Bryce reminds me a lot of myself when I was little. Mostly in the way that he treats Preston- he loves him but yells at him a good bit. The other day they went on an “adventure” (Bryce’s idea) to the creek beside our house all dressed in their Bible Man/Superman/Power Ranger/ Batman costumes. I heard Preston’s screams so I walked out onto the back porch to see Preston running in his too-tight Power Ranger costume with “boots” which was actually black mud all the way up to his knees. And boy did that mud stink- he just happened to get stuck in the mud where the cows like to drink so it was mud mixed with cow poop! Bryce said, “I jumped over the creek but Preston got stuck in the mud and then he just cried like a little baby and wouldn’t get out!” And did Bryce help him? Nope. Such compassion- sounded just like me years ago yelling at my brother because he couldn’t “tie his stupid shoes” or “climb a stupid fence.” I made him follow me and do things with me but got mad at him when he couldn’t do all the things I demanded. I have already apologized to him a few times so I will say again, “Sorry Ralphie!”

Preston
Preston continues to do well in school. His newest interest is Tee-Ball. He announced to us that he would like to play this year. Clint and I looked at each other knowing that it would be quite a challenge for all of us. See, Preston’s coordination is not one of his best features. Preston falls at our house at least 5 times a day for no apparent reason. He’ll be sitting at the bar and just fall off the stool onto the floor. Or he’ll just be walking through the house and boom, he’s on the floor. He also doesn’t have any kind of ambition or perseverance when it comes to exerting any kind of energy. One example is the new bike he got for Christmas. It has training wheels but you’d think it didn’t the way he falls off of it and the way he cries when he is trying to go up the slightest incline. We went to the River Walk to let them ride and I just wanted to throw that bike in the river at the end of our outing. I had to push Maddox in his stroller as well as push Preston on his bike for much of the way. The sounds that day consisted of “Mommy, (cry cry) Mommy!” and “PRESTON, pedal, use your muscles God gave you!!”

Clint and Preston went and bought all his equipment so that he could start practicing for Tee-Ball. On Saturday, Preston wanted to practice hitting off his new tee. We got out all his equipment except for his batting helmet. Preston said, “I need my helmet.” And I said, “No you don’t” but little did I know that he did need his helmet and so did the rest of us! At the end of our family practice session, Preston had not only hit himself in the head with his bat but poor little Maddox got whacked in the head with Preston’s bat as well! By the way, Preston doesn’t run after the balls- he skips, frolics, & hops as he is chasing it into the outfield.
So if you want a good laugh, you should definitely come out and see some of Preston’s games. You may want to wear a helmet!

The newest Prestonisms:

• “Daddy why do they keep cutting down all of God’s trees at the High School? We’re not going to be able to breathe!!!”
• “Dear Lord, thank you for the birds and the bees and the trees and please send the bees away to somewhere else so they won’t sting me."
• “Hey Mommy, remember one time when you ate a pig’s rib for lunch?”
• Hey, your baby smells like he has egg poopy.”
• I asked Preston to put up the puzzle that he had left unfinished on the table and he said, “But Mommy, I was waiting for God to finish it.”
• Bryce asked Preston why he wouldn't hug him when he saw him in the school lunchroom and Preston said, "Because I don't like your spiky hair!"
• "Dear Lord, please help Maddox's breath to not smell like poopy anymore."

Maddox
Maddox turned 2 on February 8. He was peeling icing off the cake and eating it as we were singing to him. Now any time he sees a candle burning he exclaims, “Birthday!” He is the parrot of the house, repeating anything anyone says. Nothing is missed by Maddox- whatever we do, he must do. I was at Bath & Body Works the other day trying out lotion and he demanded to try everything I was trying. If I rubbed lotion on my hands, then I had to put it on his hands as well. If the big boys are climbing a tree then you can bet he’s going to be trying his best to get up that tree any way he can. He insists on practicing baseball with his brothers and can actually hit off the tee pretty well.

Maddox has begun to use incomplete sentences like "Preston head." Which means "Preston hit me in the head with the bat." His most used words are typical 2 year old favorites- "no" and "stop." He still enjoys dancing and every Wednesday night dances in the aisles at church when the youth praise band plays. He has become quite picky about his music and is now very demanding in the car when it comes to songs. If he doesn't like what is on the radio he starts hollering, "Song, uh song." Which translates to "I want a new song, I don't like this one" or " This news is boring, I want music." It's been fun watching him continue to develop into his own little person.

And if you haven't seen him recently, his drooling problem is much better. He had his adenoids out in January. They were enlarged which made it difficult for him to breathe through his nose so he always breathed through his mouth instead. So his mouth, therefore, was always open with drool coming out at all times and soaking all his shirts. Then his shirts would sour because of the wetness. Yuck! The surgery went well, but his breath smelled like a dirty diaper for a week. (That's where Preston's quote came from.)

To conclude this post I do want to say one more time for those of you who insist that we "keep trying for a girl" and want us to keep populating the earth with more offspring- "NO chance!!" I would like to leave you with a conversation the other day that helped in the decision making process:
Bryce- "Mommy, what are those purple things on your belly?"
Me- "Those are called stretch marks. That is what you, Preston, and Maddox did to my body so you all need to tell me you are sorry for those."
Bryce- "We're sorry- but we didn't know we did it!"

We love our boys! They stretch us, keep us busy, make us laugh, cry, & want to strangle ourselves sometimes... life is never dull. We thank God for them and thank God for our wonderful friends and family that help us chase them around (especially WyWy & KK running after Maddox), encourage them, and help us keep pointing them towards being young men of God. The Joy is In The Journey!!