Livin’ On A Prayer

 If you know me, you know I love music.  You also know I listen to a few things I wouldn’t let Chelsea listen to (Meatloaf, for example).  I know people have different musical tastes and as long as I don’t have to listen to Helmut Lotti, I’m OK if you do.   I’m not OK if you are not considerate about it.  I have an iPod and I don’t force you to listen to Bon Jovi, Meatloaf, Dr. Hook, Billy Joel, John Cougar or the B-52s (yes, all on my iPod).  Which brings me to the reason for this post.  

We attended a soccer game a couple of weeks ago and heard the raunchiest music ever.  The home team had an entire hour of trashy, foul language warm up music.  One of their team members climbed up to the press-box and palyed it for all of the world to hear.  It was so loud we couldn’t talk and the words were so filthy I can’t repeat them. 

After talking to some other soccer parents, I found out that this school was one of two private, Christian schools in town blasting this junk during warm up.  Now I know there are other songs out there.  Why can’t they use the theme from Rocky?  Or Eye of the Tiger?  I asked Chelsea if she had any ideas for warm up songs and after considering her team’s record, she said …

Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On A Prayer”.     That’s my girl !!! 

The Gambler

Chelsea’s exams were last week and she worried about 2 of them for weeks before.  Once those two were over (on Wednesday) the rest of her week was cake.  On Thursday she had band and PE.  Uneventful.  On Friday she had Reading/Writing and Bible.  Let the games begin!  Apparently, she was feeling quite relaxed at the end of exams and needed a little break.  She asked me if she could take a deck of cards to school (because as you know, everyone else was doing it).  I did not give this innocent question a thought for the rest of the day.

At dinner, Chelsea told me the Bible teacher took her cards away.   I asked if the exam was over and Chelsea said yes.  I had a second thought and asked if everyone was finished with their exam.  Yes.  Why the fuss?  The teacher said the girls had to turn the cards in because they were gambling.  What game were you playing? (I had to ask).  The reply almost knocked me over!  Slap-jack! gasp!  (I refrained from asking how much money she won.)

Busted for gambling (!?) in Bible class; I wonder where that falls in the level of offenses  guide …

Lost and Found

This year it looked as though high school soccer was going to be as frustrating as last year.  The first game was scheduled for tonight and yesterday after practice the coach told Chelsea that her physical was not on file.  I called the school first thing this morning and asked the secretary to look for it.  We had it done last Spring at school so everything would be in line this year.  It was not found before the end of the school day.  Her coach asked her to show up at the game to be with the team.  My child is really compliant when it comes to things like this and takes it better than I do.  We went to the game and she sat the bench for the first 25 minutes or so.  Sometime during that 25 minutes another player mentioned to her that there was a paper with Chelsea’s name on it in the coach’s desk.  The coach gave Chelsea his keys and we went on a hunt in his office.  Sure enough, physical found.  Chelsea was so excited!  She ran back to the field, physical in hand and gave it to the coach.  She immediately put on her shin guards and cleats and got a few minutes of playing time before the end of the first half of the varsity game.  She also got a fair amount of time in the second half.  The varsity team lost 3-2.  The JV game followed and she did not have as much playing time in that game.  She did make the most of the time she had though.  The JV team won, 1-0, and the goal was off of Chelsea’s assist!!!

You Might Be A Redneck

… if you are in Jr High where Chelsea goes to school.  “Redneck day” kicks off jr high homecoming week today.  So, I guess you might be a redneck if you start homecoming “week” on a Thursday ?!  Redneck day will be followed by cartoon character day, twin day and spirit day.   Obviously, homecoming “week” continues next Monday and Tuesday.  No homecoming week would be complete without a dance – except one at a Christian school.  So, this weekend there will be a Homecoming Luau.  Did I mention that exams start Monday?  And the “homecoming game”  is Tuesday night? 

Other homecoming issues would be three girls who want to be Chelsea’s twin on twin day.  She can’t have three twins.  I suggested they break into pairs – trying to be the peacemaker Mom – ha!  That started a riot!  The other three did not want to dress up like each other.  That left Chelsea with the job of choosing which one would be her twin.  She settled it the best she could.  One will dress up with her on twin day, one will be Thing 1 on cartoon day and she will be Thing 2.  The third girl is still left out but says she doesn’t care because she doesn’t want to dress like anyone except Chelsea.  Maybe Chelsea and girl 3 can wear matching blue shirts on spirit day.

Ah, homecoming week with 12 year old girls …  It makes me glad to wear uniforms on a regular basis (sorry Christi).

What is it really about ?

I’m still here.  I’m still reading other people’s blogs everyday, I just have not taken the time to write my own.  Jr High is finally feeling like a routine.  Soccer is finally feeling like a routine.  I have dishes in my sink and that seems to be routine these days too! 

I had an interesting weekend.  I saw this guy and found out he is a proud soccer Dad now.  I’m so happy for him.  He also mentioned that I did not blog a lot anymore.  Thought I would pester him with a few links today.  Now, on to what I want to say …

This has been rattling around in my brain for a couple of days.  Chelsea, Scotty and I “prepared” communion on Saturday night.  Chelsea loves to do this!  I could take it or leave it, but since I said I would do it I fulfilled my commitment to do it.  How is serving by preparing communion any different than serving it?  Are the people passing the trays serving me?  Am I serving them by filling the trays?  Are the people standing in the front (or the back) leading me in something?  Or are they just facilitating the passing of the tray the same way Chelsea does when I hand it to her to hand it to the next person? 

 I am quite sure I would never  make an issue of this because I respect people that it does make a difference to, but in all honesty, it just doesn’t make a difference to me.  After all, it’s not about who passes the tray; it’s about the reason why we participate in communion in the first place.

Been A Little Busy

It has been a long time between blogs for me.  The junior high schedule has been an adjustment for all of us.  Things are going smoother now, but it has taken an entire month.

In August, Chelsea started school and soccer practice.  Both of these “events” were positive but they did come with a new set of challenges.  We received the first progress report and have played in the first tournament.   Chelsea likes her soccer coach this year, so that has been a huge plus !  Chelsea’s favorite subject right now is Life Science.  The guy who teaches it has his degree in sports medicine specializing in the sciences.  Chelsea finds his teaching style fun and easy to understand.  Algebra is at the other end of that spectrum.  She is struggling through and we have called in some help.  The good thing is, when it is explained by someone other than her teacher, she understands it.  The bad thing is the teacher, not the tutor, is the one teaching the class. 

Chelsea taught her first Bible Class this week.  She practiced at home and I am guessing she did a good job.  She had a tough passage to teach.  There was not a lot to work with and she could not really expand because all of the girls in the class were working in the same area.  She worked on it and went to school prepared.  I was very proud of her.

That’s it for the update.  I hope to get back to more frequent posts soon.

Understanding Women’s Roles

First of all, let me apologize to those of you who are reading this blog entry because you are looking for some serious answer on women’s roles in the church.  You are not going to find that here.  Read your Bible.  Now, I will get on with it …

Chelsea came home with a Bible test that needed a parent signature.  She made a “B”.  A “B” in Bible?  How could that be?  (ha B, be .. nevermind)  

TEST QUESTION:  Why did God create Eve?

CHELSEA’S ANSWER: Because man cannot be alone.

TEACHER’S COMMENT:  It was not good for man to be alone.  (no point deduction for this one)

Lisa is now laughing out loud, Scotty is not.

TEST QUESTION:  What act caused the fall of Mankind?

CHELSEA’S ANSWER: Adam ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

TEACHER’S COMMENT:  and Eve – 1/2

CHELSEA’S COMMENT:  but Mom, it says MAN kind, it doesn’t say WOMAN AND MAN

SCOTTY’S COMMENT :  See what you are teaching her.

 LISA:  no comment 

Orientation

Last night we attended the “event” Chelsea has been waiting for since May.  Drumroll please … Junior High Orientation.  Some of us never want the summer to end and Chelsea cound not contain herself as she made list upon list about what she was going to do in junior high.  So, last night was the big night.  I made my own  list of the things I learned at orientation last night:

Level I Offenses include : chewing gum, eating outside of designated areas  and sleeping in class.  Level II Offenses include: holding hands during school hours, misbehaving in chapel, possission of a cigarette lighter and vulgar language.  Level III Offenses really shocked me!  Level III Offenses include :  fighting, occult practice and listening to, possessing or distributing rock music on or off campus.  They also include : being in an unathorized place off campus such as a bar or rock concert!  So, it seems to me that my love of rock music is more “offensive” than misbehaving in chapel.  Hmmm.  Also, my rock music is as “offensive” as occult practices.  Please people!  Some of the things in the Level IV catagory are: use of explosives, arson and gang participation.  Whew!  At least I’m not as bad as the gang members who set things on fire. 

I know we chose for her to go to a private school and all joking aside, I am very happy with CLA.  But I know there will be times when I laugh at the rules … and this is one of those times.

Soccer Camp Notes

Chelsea has been in soccer camp all week.  She has a new coach this year and a few new teammates.  She is having a great time (her words) and I am so happy for her.  Last year was so tough and I’m proud of her for hanging in there even though she hated the entire experience.  All she wanted to do was play and she showed up and put in the time, but saw very little time on the field.  This year has already been night and day different!  She is practicing from 9-3 in the Louisiana heat and comes home happy everyday.  She is remembering why she loves the game.  She loves it so much that she is using tape and/or band-aids to cover the 19 blisters on her feet and ankles!  Yes, 19.  And she has not complained once.

Last night she was asked to play with a high school “super 7″ team that did not have enough players.  She and 3 of her teammates went out and ran circles around some high school girls.  It was fun to watch.  It was also fun to listen to parents on the sidelines talk about the 4 of them like they were superstars.  Because I think they are.  When the game was over I told the parent next to me that the 4 of them were going in to the 7th grade.  Great, proud moment for me.  The girls worked well together and I can’t wait to see what this season holds for them.

What Is That Sound ?

What is that sound, filling the air?  It’s the sound of open G.  That’s right ladies and gentlemen, the unmistakable sound of my little girl with a new clarinet.  “Teach me a song now, Mom,” she pleads.  “Not yet honey, just get comfortable with the instrument and making a sound,” I tell her.  And make sounds she does!  She is actually doing a great job considering she has only be “playing” for 2 days.  She has already asked me to explain how to make first chair in the band!    I hope the excitment continues.  I know I’m excited to have a working clarinet in the house.  I must confess that I put it together in my van right after leaving the music store and made an attempt at a chromatic scale.  Not too bad if I do say so myself. 

Ah, open G.  The beginning of so many possibilities …