I Don’t Want To !

Today I am tired of “being the bigger person”.  I am tired of “looking the other way”.  I am sick of treating you with “kid gloves” because you are too immature to know how to behave.  Today I want to say that you should “put your big girl panties on and grow up”.  I just don’t want to take the high road sometimes.  I just think I would feel better if I was able to say “get over yourself and deal with it”.

Then, I stop and think about how many times God probably wants to tell me to put my big girl panties on and grow up.  As a matter of fact, now is probably one of those times. 

While I do not think it is healthy to enable people, and I do think that some things need to be confronted and I believe it is OK to be angry, I also think that it is wrong to sin in anger.  So, I’ll just use this blog space to “vent” and try to think of the right way to say the hard things.  (Van Chesney did a lesson on that once and I would love to have the notes from it.)

So on this Wednesday, I borrow words of wisdom from who else, but Jimmy Buffet :

“Breathe in, breathe out, move on … “

32nd Anniversary

Yesterday during church we looked back at 32 years and then we looked forward.  I really enjoyed it.  It was neat to see all of the people who were at South on the first Sunday and it was neat to see how the church has grown and the different ministries that people have been involved in. 

My favorite part was hearing Mr Ray talk about the youth ministry.  The “young people” are so important to him and you can hear it in his voice.  I remember a special time following Scotty’s dad’s funeral when Miss Sam came to our house and talked about the youth ministry and it’s importance in the beginning of South. 

The service yesterday led to a lot of discussion in our house.  We talked about fond memories, youth ministry, tradition, out-of-the box thinking ….

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I have written and deleted many times while trying to compose this post.  I cannot seem to adequetly express my love for this congregation of people.  Thanks for the memories, thank you for helping (sometimes pushing) me to grow, thank you for loving me.  Thank you for 32 (25 in my case) great years! 

Sugar & Spice and Everything Nice

That’s what little girls are made of.  Jump on over to Blaine’s blog and let him introduce you to his precious new baby girl.  

That Song

You know that song that keeps running through your brain?  The one that you surprise yourself by singing all day long?  Chelsea is having one of those songs today.  What cracks me up about it is that it is the song “Lowrider” by war.  Sing it with me now, “All my friends … “

Music has a powerful effect on me.  I can hear a song and be immediately reminded of good times and bad.  I can hear “Little Pink Houses” and it transforms my mood and reminds me of happy times.  It’s not the words to the song, it’s the memory of the summer I first heard the song.  It’s not Eddie and the Cruisers that make me happy; it’s the reminder that I have an awesome friend and I know she is reminded of me when she hears the same thing.  I can start thinking about the John Denver and the Muppets Christmas album and cry like a baby.  Lauri and I always listen to that one by ourselves at the beginning of the Christmas season just to get the tears out of the way and get over it.  “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” reminds me of Guy Grady.  “Uptown Girl” reminds me of someone who reads this blog.  “I’ve Got A Name” reminds me of Dad.  “Even Winds Whisper His Name” reminds me of Bob Carpenter.  There are countless hymns that remind me of my Mom.  Lauri and I always share a smile if we sing them on Sunday mornings.  A lot of songs remind me of Scotty, but the ones that may surprise people are “Smoke On the Water” , “Red, Red Wine”, “Carry On My Wayward Son” and “Word Up”.

What song brings back memories for you? 

“… take a little trip, take a little trip …”

I’m Asking You

Back in Feb., Dusty asked us a question about spanking children.  Then, he asked about schoolyard justice .  Now, it’s my turn to ask something.

Chelsea has been invited to her first dance party!  That’s right, you all remember them.  It’s a middle school “thing”.  It’s only here for a couple of years and then it’s gone.  Kids in high school move on to school dances and are way to cool to have a dance party for their birthdays.

What do you think?  Are dance parties for middle school kids a good idea?  Should we allow her to go?  (we already know what we’re doing, I just want to know what you think)

A Major Minor Emergency

I have been out of the blogging routine for the past week.  Scotty hurt himself on Tuesday evening and I have spent the week in a blur.  First things first; he’s going to be OK.  He pinned himself against a building with his commercial mower.  He almost lost his little finger on his left hand.  The good news is after 5 days of 3 different antibiotics, 2 different pain medicines, 2 or 3 cleanings a day and countless prayers, his hand is finally looking “normal”.  Late last night (or early this morning) the swelling finally went down.  The stitches have looked good (if stitches can look good) for the past couple of days.  I suspect he will be out of work for a couple of more days, but I am so thankful that his injury was not much worse.

Birthday, Youth Rally, Soccer Game

Chelsea turned 12 this past Saturday.  WOW!  We celebrated with a birthday dinner at DeAngelos.  Her guest list included Lauriand family, of course.  What’s a party without Aunt Lauri?  Her party with friends has to be delayed until later this month.  She had a youth rally and soccer games out of town this weekend.

It was great for me to watch Chelsea enjoy the youth rally hosted by our congregation this weekend.  True to form, I did sneak up into the balcony to look down over the group of kids and check on her.  She looked happy and involved.  Praise and worship time was led by Watershed and she has not stopped singing.

On Sunday we traveled (imagine that) to Mandeville for two games.  She did not get any playing time in the first game.  She did play in the second game.  Our team lost the second game with a score of 5-1.  Guess who scored the 1 ?  That’s right!  Chelsea has now scored a goal in each of the past three games she has played in.

In closing, I would like to take an idea Sandy had and list 12 things about Chelsea:

1. She has a sincere heart.
2. She loves unconditionally.
3. She is innocent in her thoughts.
4. She is a good friend.
5. She is funny, funny, funny.
6. She always cheers for the underdog.
7. She sees the good in people first.
8. She is smart.
9. She is athletic.
10. She is kind.
11. She loves to accessorize (which cracks me up!)
12. She’s crazy about soccer (how could I not mention that one?)

I am blessed with an awesome little girl!

Game on Wednesday?

As I was leaving work yesterday, I got a call fro another soccer Mom asking me what the girls were supposed to be wearing to the game.  What game?  I didn’t know they had a game.  Well, it wasn’t a game for points in standings, it was a scrimmage.  The girls did have to wear their game uniform though because all of Baton Rouge’s soccer teams wear the same color practice shirt on certain days.  Anyway, Chelsea was on time and in the correct uniform AND she scored a goal!  Against the BOYS’ team !  What a confidence boost for her.  What fun for me – to keep saying it over and over !  Goal scored against the boys team !