Memorial Day

It's Memorial Day weekend! 

I love all things patriotic. The music, the movies, the people, even the decorations.

My grandfather served in WWII and was a prisoner of war. As I also hear many people say of their relatives, he didn't talk of it at all. I don't know what atrocities he saw, felt, or experienced. I can't imagine the fear, horror, homesickness, and loss he felt. I don't know any of that. All I know is that many years after he came home I knew him to be a loving, loyal, and kind grandfather. He was a Christian, who loved the Lord. He prayed with his eyes open, I don't know why, but I always loved that. He was a good man and I am proud to have called him Papaw.

My biological father served in Vietnam. Not once, but twice. I don't remember meeting him until I was 12. Oh, how I loved him. I would see him for a week once a summer for about seven years. By the time he died, I had seen him probably 60 days in my life, (my life as I remember it. He and mom were married until I was around 3) 60 days, not a lot of time. When I was about 20, I spent some wonderful time with him, we talked, really talked. I felt I needed answers, and he felt that way too. He explained the war as he saw it. The sadness and the responsibility he felt for the people of Vietnam, and how that affected his life as a husband and father. He didn't die in the war, but he died because of it. It was many years later that he took his life, but it was the war that, in the end, took his life. 

I am proud to be an American. I'm proud to be the granddaughter, and daughter of veterans. On this Memorial Day weekend, I remember you. 

Daybook

In the great outdoors...We woke up to rain. It was a beautiful sound and I turned over and went back to sleep. Great day!

Within our walls...We're getting used to summer, no school, new chores, later nights, and a little bit more fun.

Thoughts from the kitchen...I've made a couple of chicken marinades and a sauce for meatballs this week. They were yummy and made me a bit more impressive in the kitchen! Lol

Sounds of the moment... The washing machine and dryer are going, the TV is on and every once in a while one of the kids laughs. 

What I'm wearing...Khaki shorts, UAFS t shirt (trying to convince Samuel to go there), and socks of course.

Favorite moment from last week...

This moment

On the calendar...The boys may be running in a 5K this weekend. Daniel broke his pinky toe, so we haven't decided yet, but have to know by tonight. Other than that, nothing is going on. Weird.

Mother's Day...A Little Late

Ok, so Mother's Day was last week. I didn't write about it. I don't know why, but I will now.

Last year we celebrated Mother's Day on Saturday, it worked like a charm so we did it again. Sunday's are very busy, there's no relaxation or celebration. I, of course, wanted to go shopping so we headed to Little Rock for the day. 

We ate and shopped, ate again and shopped again. I made sure to go to stores that everyone liked, so there was no dissension in the group. I've learned over the years how to have a successful trip!

Sunday the kids came into my room with cards. And only cards. They had hung my gifted ferns in front of the house already, so sweet. 

Oh, how I remember the many years of Mother's Days gone by. The kids would wake up early and prepare breakfast for me. Samuel would usually be in charge, and the others would be the waiter/waitress. Breakfast always included a pickle or olive on the plate. It was the sweetest of gestures, and I learned not to gag with a breakfast of pickles, cereal, and toast. 

Anna made me mugs with our names on them.

How cute are these?! 

It was a good day to be me. Oh, how I love my children.

The End of a Season

We've had a fun few days. The state baseball tournament was held in Harrison this year, so we made the drive up Wednesday night. The team got rooms in Branson, so we did too. We love Branson so much, and we were super excited to get to visit for a couple of days. (Stephen not so much, he's been saying he's tired of Branson for about four years now!) 

We shopped and ate and went to two baseball games. This first one was Thursday afternoon. We were down 2-1 most of the game. It was nerve wracking for all of us. None of us were having fun. I thought I was going to throw up or have a heart attack, or both! Samuel played 1st base and made a heck of a play! He sacrificed his body to make an out and save a run. We were so proud. 

Finally, we scored and made it 3-2 and won the game in the last inning. It was too much!

The boys were so excited!

Friday, we weren't so lucky. Samuel didn't play so I wasn't as invested in the game, but I wanted to win! I really wanted to win! But it wasn't to be. We lost and headed for home. 

It was a really great season of baseball. I'm so glad Samuel has had the opportunity to play. God has given him some ability and he is enjoying being able to use it and succeed. He practices hard. 

Baseball is over, summer football will start in a couple of weeks, and we'll be making decisions about what Daniel and David might play next year. The season is over, only for a new one to begin.

A Win!

If you've read here this week, you know it's been a rough one. Emotions have been high, the tensions have been high and my anxiety level has been out of control!

Yesterday Samuel's baseball team had there last regular season game. We played a team that if we won we would finish 1st in our conference, and if we lost we would finish 4th. Since we had won our last five conference championships, they really wanted to win a sixth. For some reason, my anxiety was on alert. I get anxious from time to time, especially when my kids are involved, but this was crazy! 

The game started off great, Samuel made great plays at 1st base and was hitting the ball. Then the 6th inning came, and this wheels started falling off. A bad call was made, Stephen yelled and almost got thrown out. It was tense! But we won!

After the game I got to take this picture. He said, "I'm sweaty." That was an understatement for sure! He was so excited, the whole team was. The parents were. It was a really great night for the Wildcats!

And that's what winners look like!

 

A New Day

When I was in high school, maybe junior high, our church adult choir sang a cantata called "Joy Comes in the Morning." I can still hear the title song in my head, it was one of my very favorite cantata's ever!

 And I love using the word cantata. What does it even mean? It reminds me of canasta, which I know means baskets in Spanish. I also know I'm not good at canasta, and I don't have a good singing voice so I'm not real good at cantata's either! 

ANYWAY!!,

Joy comes in the morning, is a phrase that has always been in my heart. The verse is Proverbs 30:5, it says weeping lasts for the night but joy comes in the morning! Isn't the Bible great?! The truths that God has given us are so rich, and so good. There are many times my weeping has been intense and long lasting, but joy came. It always does. 

And today was no different. After a rough Monday evening and night, Tuesday wasn't a lot better. Feelings were still hurt, hearts were broken, and egos were smashed. And today, all of those things are still true, but joy came this morning. There are more smiles today, some pep in our steps. My favorite verse in all of the Bible is James 1:2, Count it all joy when you face trials of many kinds. I have a thing for verses that talk about joy evidently! 

Our burdens are light compared to all the other burdens and hurts people are facing. I know that. But right now, one of my children isn't at 100% and that hurts. But joy comes in the morning!

Break-ups & Break-downs

Yesterday was a beautiful spring day. I couldn't get enough of it. But by 10:00 I could tell it wasn't going to be a beautiful day in my mind and heart.

One of my kids was hurting for a friend. You know how that is. Our friends hurt, we hurt. It was no different for my child. He hurt and couldn't do anything but watch it all happen. While he was texting me about it, I cried. We were kindred spirits for a little while.

Later in the day, it seems as though he was punished because of his merciful heart. Bearing one another's burden, although the right thing to do, ended up hurting him too. 

And then, his heart was broken. As if the day couldn't get worse, it did. Being a mom yesterday was HARD! My best friend in high school and I used to analyze everything thing someone did to us to figure out the real reason behind the action. And yesterday, I found myself doing the same thing, except not for me, but for my child. Oh my! I needed to shake myself so I would quit! 

Texting back and forth with him was hard, but seeing his face at the end of the night was tough. Keeping my tears at bay was what he needed, but it was hard. I'm telling you motherhood isn't easy. It's rewarding, and knowing he wanted to see my face and hear my voice at the end of a very long and hard day was really perfect. I wouldn't give this mom thing up for anything. Sure, I think about it, HA! Don't you? But these kids are a gift from God, and they will forever be my treasures.