Why help?

Okay, I'm attempting another "blog category"...the Tuesday Ten. It is supposed to be a list of ten...something, anything...so here goes.

September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month. Many of us may not have even noticed.

I probably never noticed before I met a special little girl named Kaitlyn who became Kenzie's best buddy, that had a little brother, Jay, who was fighting cancer. After walking with that family through the battle and final victory for Jay when he went to be with Jesus, I guarantee you that I'll never forget this important month again.

Now another friend of mine is in the battle fighting for her child's life against the beast called cancer. Her name is Abby. I hope you will do your part...do something to support the cause...to find a cure. For local folks, Jay's Hope is sponsoring "hats for hope" this Friday, where at area schools, your child can wear a hat to school if they bring $1 to go towards the Jay's Hope Foundation that helps families who have children with cancer.

Now, for the list: Why should you get involved with the battle against childhood cancer?
1. Because it's your child.
2. Because it's not your child; your child is healthy.
3. Because cancer is the #1 disease killer of children.
4. Because of Abby...www.caringbridge.org/visit/abbywilson
5. Since 2004, Childhood Cancer in Middle Georgia has increased 347%
6. Because of Jay...www.jayshope.org, www.caringbridge.org/ga/jay.
7. On average, 3 local children a month are diagnosed with cancer.
8. Because it could be your child.
9. Because of Summer www.caringbridge.org/visit/summercurry.
10. Because you can.

See how you can help http://www.jayshope.org/.
Do what you can, with what you have, right where you are.

Throwing Rocks

My children constantly teach me. Saturday was our first Saturday in quite a while that we had nothing we had to do...no football games, no setup for PC, etc. We started the morning slow with lots of cuddle time and wrestling, then we cleaned house and hung pictures in the apartment. As the day progressed, the kids played their "DS", watched a movie on DVD, rode their scooters worked puzzles, played around the house, etc.

Late in the afternoon, we went driving around looking at houses, and we ended up in Juliette. We decided it would be fun to stop at the Whistle Stop Cafe (from the movie, Fried Green Tomatoes), and eat some fried green tomatoes; we were all thirsty and wanting some tea. So, we stopped and ate, then afterwards we walked out back and watched the train go by on the tracks (it goes really fast right there and you can get really close to the tracks). In the parking lot, there was a pile of rocks, so we stayed there for probably 30 minutes throwing rocks and making up different targets.

That night, when I was putting each of them in bed, I always ask, "what was the best thing about your day today?" Each one of them (separately) said, "throwing rocks".
I wonder how often we miss the best things because we're so busy filling their schedules with good and important things.

Thankful Thursday

I have an old college buddy who is a faithful blogger and she has all of these cute categories that she blogs, so I'm going to give a few of them a try from time to time. My first one is Thankful Thursday.
I'm thankful for...
1. My husband who really knows me and loves me anyway.
2. Kenzie, my baby girl, my only ally in this house full of boys!
3. Colton's hugs and earnest heart.
4. Asher's morning hugs and the way his face lights up when I walk in the door.
5. Diet Coke in a half liter bottle.
6. The gift of laughter.
7. Blue Bell Dutch Chocolate ice cream.
8. Healthy children
9. My favorite old blue jeans and an old football jersey on Saturdays in the fall.
10. Crisp fall mornings.

Random? Yes. Just what came to mind...what are you thankful for?

Kenzie's Niche

Kenzie is my quiet one, the only girl...sometimes with two rambunctious boys, she can get overlooked. Since beginning Piedmont, she has found her niche and she is loving every minute of it. I'm so proud of her. She is so excited about being on the Game Day worship team, and she even seems to get a glimpse of what it's all about. She is thrilled when the kids are really participating and getting into it. Here are some pics of her in her element. She really loved it last week when one of the "iTeam" (aka thing 1 and thing 2 from Dr. Seuss) was out and she got to be "iT1" for the day. They demonstrate initiative by seeing what needs to be done and doing it. (We could all learn a little from that.)

Put me in coach

Call us crazy, I know, but Colton is playing on two football teams this fall. Because we wanted to support Covenant's new athletic program, we signed him up for flag football at school, but then his coaches from this summer asked him to play tackle at another school in town, so we basically have football five days a week. Yikes! I don't even really understand the game. I like it when the Aggies play, and I'll watch my children play anything. That's the extent of my knowledge. Period. The one thing I don't like is that I can't see his sweet face with that big ole helmet on!

However, Colton is loving tackle football. He is so aggressive and physical by nature, that he has found his sport. So, I sit on the sidelines and try to figure out what is happening. I get excited when he's the one on the top of the pile!



The other day at his flag football game, I was listening to some of the dads talking. They were mouthing flag football saying that it's not really football because you really can't teach them the game that way, and that it's "glorified recess", etc. (The boys, however, seemed to be enjoying it)



My mind was drifting, and I thought, this is kinda how we are as Christians. Too often, we want to "pretend" and half-way play the game. We don't really want to fully suit up, get dirty and take the hits to be fully committed. We would rather sorta play the game, pick and choose what we like, as long as we don't really put ourselves on the line...and it got me to thinking, am I pretending to play the game or am I really suited up and ready to tackle? My prayer is put me in Coach!