Can’t catch up

Do you ever feel like you just can’t get caught up! I have laundry to be done, a 2 car garage that can only fit one car, a car that needs cleaning out, books and school supplies that need organizing and the list goes on. On the other side I have 3 kids who are healthy, a husband that I got to go on a date with this week, 3 kids that got to play in the water hose with friends, go to the pool and enjoy their summer. I guess if you put that all into perspective a little disorganiztion and piled up laundry really aren’t a big deal. As moms we put too much pressure on ourselves to have the perfect house, perfect kids, etc. and even though I know that is a trap – I still fall into frome time to time. Sometimes it just seems like there are not enough hours in the day. I am planning for this week to be a week to get caught up and ready to start school – hopefully starting today. But if I don’t get my to do list accomplished I hope I can look back at the end of the week and reflect on what is really important

sweaty eyeballs

If you live in the south east you know it has been a warm few days. We had been outside a few days ago and Drew said “Mine eyeballs is sweaty” That’s pretty hot when your eyeballs sweat.
I LOVE hot weather. I love summer and I hate winter so today has been exactly what I like. We did get a little sticky and drained doing the kids camp at the Fiddler’s Convention today and I have to admit the air conditioning at home felt pretty good. One thing I do love about living in the mountains is that when it is really hot during the day it almost always cools down at night. It’s still a little muggy out but comfortable. Our VBS for the fiddle kids is going really well. Shout out to Hannah and Brittany for doing such an awesome job with the music! We only have a handful of kids but it is great to see churches pull together and minister to the families and kids that are visiting our town.

Fiddle Time in Galax

It’s fiddle time again. Every year Galax explodes into a town 5 times it’s size when the Galax Fiddler’s Convention rolls around. It is a Blue Grass and Old Time Music Festival sponosored by the Galax Moose Lodge. This is the 72nd year. It’s a time for people who are serious about blue grass music to get together and stay up until the wee hours of the morning playing and competing. It’s a time for people who enjoy the music and incredible talent of these musicians to walk around and hear some good music. It’s also a time to hang out with friends and catch up with some old ones. The last is my favorite. It’s fun to see people that I haven’t seen in a few years and catch up as well as hang out with our friends. We took the kids down last night for the kids competition to let them get a taste of the Fiddler’s Convention and we had a good time. My friend Stephanie and her 4 girls went with us and we had fun chasing our 7 (her 4 and my 3)kids (all age 8 and under) around and watching them eat melting icecream in the humid night air. Her oldest girls stayed over for the night and camped out in the living room. Being a kids is so much fun. They snuggled up in sleeping bags and giggled until their little eyes couldn’t stay open any longer. Those were the good ol days. Here is the official website of the Galax Fiddler’s Convention.

A date

Last night I had a date with my husband! I will admit I have read almost every book out there about marriage and know that keeping a regular date night is important but . . . we don’t do it. Not every week or even every month like we are “supposed” to anyway, but we do try to be aware of when we need some time to just be together no cell phones, no kids, no distractions. We had had a long complicated week and it was nice to get a break. My mom and dad kept the kids (thanks papa and nini) and we went to see The Bourne Ultimatum. It was a great movie. We both loved the first two and this one was just as good and action packed with car chase scenes that make you dizzy. I am not a chick flick girl. I really like action movies with lots of twists and turns and complicated plots. I can’t tell you the last time I saw a “girly” movie – I just don’t get into them. I guess I don’t need fantasy romance when I have the real thing!! So we may not keep up the regular date night every week but we do take time for each other every day and keep our marriage a top priority. Sometimes that gets hard when everything is fighting for your time.

Last swim meet


Emma and Luke swam in their last swim meet this year today for the Conference meet in Elkin, NC. It was really hot today and we were outside in the sun from 8:30 until about 1pm today. It would have felt good to jump in the pool with them. Drew got really hot and cranky so he and I left for an hour or so and road around to cool off. They had a great time swimming this year and have shown lots of improvement. Here are a few pics.

A day with Emma



Emma and I had a great day on Friday. For mother’s day she got me a certificate for her and me to go to Spaladida for a mom and daughter day. We had a great time just talking on the drive down and we ate lunch at Cold Stone Creamery. Nothing like ice cream to start off our day!! We went over the the mall to do a little shopping – OK actually we did a lot of shopping. It was tax free weekend so we had to take advantage of that!! We got some really good deals and lots of fall clothes for her and the boys. I hardly ever buy anything unless it is on a big sale and there were plenty of sales. We probably did the biggest bargin shopping at Old Navy – we had the stuff it in the bag and save 20% deal – so we stuffed the bag full! After our shopping we went to the spa. It was alot of fun. We got manicures, pedicures, hair and makeup. I skipped the makeup but had my hair put in a twist. Emma got sparkle blue nails, purple toenails with little jewels, a cute little updo with pink glitter and eyeshadow, sparkle lips and little cloud stickers beside her eyes. She was adorable and smiled the whole time (except when they used the file on her nails – she hates that) I recommend it for any mom/daughter outing or it is a great place for birthday parties for “tweens”. I can’t believe I have a “tween” already. Emma will be 9 in about a month and I am still in shock sometimes when I look at her and think “where is my baby”. She is a wonderful little girl and I am very blessed to be her mom. I tell my kids all the time that I am so glad that God let me be their mom. I don’t deserve them. Here are a few pics of our evening. It will be one I will never forget and I hope she doesn’t either. I would like to freeze her but I am learning there is something special about every age and when you finally figure out your parenting for one phase they move on to another and you have to start all over again! It’s an adventure. I love being a mom.

People actually read my blog

Mike set me up with a site meter and now I can see if anyone is actually reading my blog! And they have! So – hope you enjoy. I have really loved blogging and I love reading other peoples blogs. Let me know if you have a blog too and I will check it out.

I have a headache

I just noticed that this is a funny title to follow my last post! I really do – I don’t know if it is the heat – it’s been hot today or the cold we are all getting over or the really loud Star Wars movie playing in my living room. Luke’s friend Jordan is here and they love Star Wars. Mike enjoys the chance to crank up the surround sound for the boys. I guess it’s pretty cool if you are a 7 year old boy – but it gives this old mama a headache! Here is the recipe for the cookies I have in the oven now.

Choc-oat chip cookies

1 3/4 cup of all purpose flour
1tsp baking soda
1 1/4 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 tbsp milk
2 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups oats (quick or regualr)
2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts (pecans are great)

Preheat oven to 375
Combine flour and baking soda in a small bowl
Beat brown sugar, butter and white sugar until creamy
Beat in eggs, milk and vanilla
Gradually add flour
Stir in oats, choc chips and nuts
Drop by rounded spoonful on ungreased cookie sheet
Bake ’em until they are like you like ’em – I like mine gooey -but the oatmeal is good baked a little longer until it gets crunchy – at least that’s what I say when I forget and bake them too long because I am blogging!
Enjoy

Having sex with the pastor

Hey – I bet that got your attention – (whoa – I hope my mom isn’t reading this -I really hope Mike’s mom isn’t reading this.) When I was thinking of a blog name I jokingly told Mike this is what I was going to name it! Watch this video by Mark Driscoll, pastor at Mars Hill in Seattle, directed to pastor’s wives – every pastor’s wife or friend of a pastor’s wife or just anyone who cares about their pastor’s wife should watch it. Mark Driscoll is a very gifted speaker and I really enjoy listening to him. The main point of the whole video (it’s about 9 minutes long) is that there are people that have expectations for the pastor’s wife to sing, play piano, lead the children’s ministry, take meals to sick people, lead the women’s ministry, etc but God’s main calling on her is to take care of her husband (the pastor) and their family. Lots of people in the church can lead the children’s ministry or sing but only one person can be the pastor’s wife.