District Champs

Well...last night, the Mulvane Wildcat Football team beat Winfield.  What does this mean you ask?  Apparently, it means they are the District Champions!!!  How cool is that?  I was very proud of the team and so excited to watch them after the game in the end zone as they held each other up and showed their award.  Hearing them whoop and holler all the way to the locker room was pretty cool too.  AND...after they got into the locker room, they came back out to find their parents and thank them for all their support. After hugging their Moms and Dads, the players found the coaches that offered them support and hugged them too. 

I was fighting back the tears as Coach hugged these boys and patted them on the back of their heads like they were his own sons.  Seriously...tearing up again now.  Watching the pride in his eyes as he congratulated them on their job well done was one of the coolest things I've seen in our marriage.  I could hear Boys of Fall playing in my head and about lost it. 

Let me back up. 

For those of you who know me...I am not a football fan.  Not because I don't like it...but, mainly because I don't understand a lick of it.  Last night's game was not much different.  I will tell you that every once in awhile, I am watching the game.  I can never find the ball after the snap.  I don't understand a single "call" the referee makes...and don't even ask me if I know the final score of the game.  I probably didn't see it. 

Two years ago, the football team had what I remember to be kind of a rough season.  Our last chance to play in a (playoff game?)or to advance in the playoffs...I can't remember...was to win a game against our biggest rival...the Rose Hill Rockets.  Rose Hill is ten minutes away from here and I kid you not...our BIGGEST RIVAL.  I can remember that we were losing the game.  And in my coach's wife head...I was celebrating.  Football would be over.  WAHOOOOOOOO!!!  I would have my husband back!  The kids could see their Dad on the weekends!  No more planning...no more stress!  No more late nights of equipment being put up or early mornings of game planning!  Goodbye Football.

As I was strapping Little into his stroller and and practically skipping to the parking lot...THE CROWD WENT WILD.  I can remember it like it was yesterday.  In slow motion, I turned to see what had happened...and our QB had "hailed a Mary?" down the field and one of our receivers jumped up and caught the ball in the BACK CORNER OF THE END ZONE.  The music was blaring, but I could barely hear it.  I just stood there while everyone around me was jumping and screaming with joy.  I can remember in my mind I was dropping to my knees shouting WHY GOD....WHHHHHHHYYYYYYYY? But on the outside I was saying things in a monotone voice like..."That is just so great.  I am so happy that he just caught that ball.  What a pass.  Wow.  This night could not get any better."  Stand up for the Champions was playing in the background as people danced around shouting and singing.  And I...crouched down behind my stroller pretending to fold a blanket...started to cry.

Okay...that seemed a little melodramatic, but I wanted you to understand how far I've come in the last few years(and the whole scene totally happened).  Last night...I was of course thinking...okay great.  One more game...at least.  FANTASTIC.  But after watching the boys celebrate their accomplishments, and then seeing Coach being so proud of the kids...my heart melted.  Play on players.  I am happy to support you and I'll do my best to not get upset with Coach not being around for another couple of weeks.

My husband is a wonderful man.  His influence on the lives of these young men is so important.  All of the coaches play a very important part in the lives of the football boys.  They fill a role that no one else can.  So in my moments of selfishness...I have to remember that these men are there for the boys.  They are there to not only teach them football, but to teach them about life.  The kind of lessons you can't learn from just being told.  They are shining examples of His light to the players.  And I am pretty glad to say...I am married to one.

So...do what you do football boys.  And we'll be supporting you from the Coach's Wives section on Tuesday!

Have a Blessed Friday and a Safe and Happy Halloween!  You'll never guess in a million years what the boys are dressing up as.

Referee of 3

Mom's Cup of Joe...a little late!

Mom’s Cup of Joe

What does it mean to be a “Mimi and a Grandpa”? Today, I reflected on that as Brady celebrated his 4^th birthday! Wow – seems like only yesterday he arrived to brighten up our days!

What does it mean to be a “Mimi and a Grandpa”? It means the world to us . . . we are blessed with five wonderful grandkids. Oh it sometimes means that we have to be the “heavy” and let them all know that just because they are with “Mimi and Grandpa” it doesn’t mean they will be getting away with everything, but almost. What it really means is that they will always have unconditional love from someone other than their parents. It means they have a safe place to come if they need a shoulder to cry on, a hug of reassurance, something to eat to nourish them and above all just a place to hang out where they can regroup and know everything will be ok.

Isn’t that what God does for us? He gives us unconditional love when we least deserve it. He gives us a shoulder to cry on, a hug of reassurance and nourishment through his word. He gives us places to go where we can think and regroup and know that everything will be ok. To reflect and “Be still and know that I am God”.

Oh and don’t think for a minute, if you have not been blessed with children or grandchildren of your own yet, that you are not called to do this work because God gives us plenty of opportunity to mentor to our nieces and nephews, to the children we worship with in our churches to the kids we see on the streets in our communities. Yes, opportunities are there for all of us to use his word, to do his work, to fill those shoes.

So, for all the Mimi’s, Nana’s, Grandpas, Uncles, Aunts, Teachers, whatever your title may be – here’s to being the best you can be because you have a great deal of work to do – we are called to be mentors for all God’s children. God has given us an important role to fill. Are you doing it?

God loves the little children of the world . . . we are his hands, his feet, his communicator of his word.

Go and do God’s work!  Love the little children of the world and you will be blessed.

Not what I expected

As I read through my post yesterday about how much we love Little...I started to laugh.  Sometimes when things are going good...I forget the reality of the situation.  I have gone back and read my "Pollyanna" version of our life before and it kind of cracks me up.  To think...one minute we are blissfully loving the unexpected surprise that we've been blessed with...and the next, wanting to pull him out of his classroom by his ear lobe.

Perhaps I should explain

Yesterday, was Little's Birthday.  I must tell you that we were very excited to celebrate with him because he is so excitable at this age.  He loves attention (he gets that from me) and he just gets so happy about things sometimes.

However...after writing my post, these are the series of events that happened.

Little wakes at 5:30am.  It is a tradition at our house for the entire family to wake the Birthday person up with a breakfast item of some sort and candle.  We sing happy birthday and let them open a gift.  From 5:30 on...all I hear as I am trying to down my first cup of coffee was...

"Mom!  Bring me my pop tart with a candle!  I need my Birthday candle!"

I literally chugged my coffee knowing it was going to be a LONG day.  I woke Big and Middle and then proceeded to wait ten minutes for them to get themselves into the hall ready to 'wake up' the already awake Little.  We sang, we watched him open the gift and then we went about our morning to get ready for the day.

I started to feel guilty because I wasn't planning on taking Little to school.  We had made special cupcakes and I wanted to be there to help him with his first time of passing out Birthday treats.  (Sharing his normal monthly snacks had not gone so well.)  So I made special arrangements to deliver the special candy corn cupcakes that I made for him.  First of all...He LOVES candy corn.  But thanks to a song on Nick Jr. called 'I don't like candy corn', he informed me that he did not like candy corn.  Great.

So we get to school and his sweet teacher has a paper Birthday crown for him to wear.  I suggested that he put up his backpack and come put on his crown so I could get a picture.

"I am NOT wearing that hat.", said Little

"Please?  For Momma?", I asked

"Nope.", said Little

"Okay well maybe you could just hold the hat for the picture.", said his sweet teacher

"Nope.  I am not holding that hat either.", said Little.

"Okay (teeth gritted and forced nice voice),I'll just leave my camera here and when you feel like putting on the hat, your teacher can snap a picture for me.", I calmly said...okay not so much.

"I am NEVER wearing that hat.", said Little.

Sweet teacher must have seen the anger staring to form in my eyes and hands so she said...

"Have a good day Mom!"

And that was it.

Why you little...Little.  I got up at the crack of dawn to finish these cupcakes that apparently you don't even like...and you won't wear the stupid Birthday hat?  What kind of ungrateful child are you?

And then I remembered.  He is 4.

One year olds are so cute.
Two year olds define terrible.
Three year olds...well no one likes three year olds.  They are still a bit terrible but mouthy too.  AND you have to potty train them that year.  That is just no fun in itself.
But Four year olds...Oh how I had forgotten that four year olds...they make their own choices. 
Reverse psychology no longer works.  Telling them to do it because I am the Mom doesn't work either.  Not even my pathetic puppy dog eyes and lip stuck out worked.

I am NEVER wearing that hat.

Well FINE then.

And you know what?  He didn't.  Sweet teacher got one picture and I am pretty sure she slipped the unfolded crown onto the table without him knowing.  Oh and he took the candy corn off his cupcake before he ate it. 

It is our job to appreciate our children for who they are and what they become.  We can guide them.  We can love them.  But we can't always have our way.  I wonder what age I was when I started defying God?  And yet, He is always there.  I am sure I said I would NEVER do something that He asked.  I am sure I decided I no longer liked something that He was a part of simply because someone else told me they didn't like it.  But He never turned away.  It is my job as Little's Mom to one, never turn my back on him and set an example as God would...and two, drink enough coffee in the morning before he wakes up to  handle his Little choices.  Oh Lord...be with me. 

Have a Blessed Day!
Referee of 3

Little turns 4

Today is a big day at our house.  Little has a Birthday.  It is so hard for me to even believe that he could possibly be four.  Our family was just as it should be with Big and Middle only having a  2 and 1/2 years difference in age.  We had conquered the stairs...the training wheels had come off...and we could wear underwear and wash with "man soap".  The family was complete...

We plan...God laughs (Right Marissa?)

Life has been crazy ever since.  But I cannot imagine life without his smile... the way he raises his eyebrows when he speaks...the hilarious (and not so funny) things he says.  He is a total and complete laugh a minute.  He drives me crazy sometimes because there have been days when he skips his nap and talks for 12 hours straight.  I kid you not.  He was a super cranky baby...and then turned into the sweetest little thing at about 6 months old.  He was speaking in full sentences by 17 months and had all the NFL football teams memorized by his 3rd Birthday.  He has his own bat bag...batting gloves...football helmet...eye black...and goal post.  He lives to play sports (imagine that) and would sometimes rather watch ESPN highlights in the morning than Handy Manny on Disney. 

I prayed for a Girl.  I slept with a pink blanket even thinking the girly vibe would somehow rub off into the womb. 

And I got a sports crazed little boy.  Another one.  But oh how I love him!

Thank you Lord for blessing me with Little.  He is the light of our lives...and we love him so much.  You have given us so much to be thankful for and on these days that we celebrate our boys on earth, I hope you know how much we love them and how grateful we are that you blessed our lives with them.  Amen

Have a Blessed Day!
Referee of 3

We Love You Little!  Happy Birthday!
Love,
Mom & Dad

Sing Praise

“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”- Ephesians 5:19-20

I love to sing.  I have always loved to sing.  However...not everyone has always loved listening to my singing.  I can very vividly remember my sister getting quite annoyed with my knowing and singing every word to every song on the radio.  I also went through a phase in my life where I would sing the answers to any question that was asked.  (I still do that sometimes to annoy sister and Coach).  I have always loved singing.  Singing is how I have always talked to God.  I love to sing during worship and just close my eyes and praise Him.  It is like the words I am singing are exactly what I want Him to hear.  And there are certain parts of the songs that I really want Him to hear.

Shout to the Lord....Nothing compares to the promise I have in you.  I love that!  That is so true.  Nothing compares to the promise.  Nothing.

I don't think that this verse gives me the go ahead to sing everything I say though.  (Right now...my sister is breathing a sigh of relief)  What this verse is saying is to do what we do in His name.  Do it with the Joy in our hearts from knowing and loving Him.  The music that surrounds us when we know that we know that we know...that He is the ONLY one.  He is God.  He is the Almighty Father.  He is the one who can bring us peace in times of trouble.  And when we share our love for Him and the love we receive from Him with others...it is music to His ears. 

The last part of this verse says to give thanks to God the Father for everything.  EVERYTHING.  We give thanks to God the Father for the good and the bad.  For the moments of joy and of sorrow. Because we know that every decision He makes on our behalf...is part of a bigger plan.  If we trust Him the way we should trust Him...we give thanks.

So as you go about your day today...make a joyful noise.  Tell someone about God.  Show someone His love so that they can join in with your song. 

I love you Lord.  And I lift my Voice.  To worship you...all my soul rejoice.
Take joy my King...in what you hear
Let it be a sweet sweet sound in your ear.

Have a Blessed Day!
Referee of 3

Perspective

a mental view or prospect 

That is one of the many definitions of perspective.

To me...it is amazing to see how your perspective changes when you are aware of all of the facts.  Not just because you might feel differently about a situation...but simply because parts of it become more clear. 

It is kind of like putting on your glasses.  You can look down the hall and see that something is in the way.  But if you can't see clearly, you might walk right into a situation that could be painful or could create an issue.  If you put the glasses on, you can clearly see what is blocking you from getting where you are to where you are going...and you know exactly how to handle it. 

Sometimes, I think God makes things clear for us at just the right time. He allows us to put on the glasses and say..."Oh...now I see." 

His grace is like that too...

Amazing Grace
How Sweet the Sound
That Saved a Wretch Like Me
I Once Was Lost
But Now Am Found
Was Blind But Now I See

His Grace gives us the opportunity to see the distractions...the obstructions...the obstacles that are in our way of achieving the perfect outcome.  However...the outcome is not always ours to determine.  It is important that even though we may be able to clearly see the obstacle in the road...we need to wait for Him to tell us what to do next.  Whenever I am feeling uneasy about something...I go to Him in prayer.  I usually talk to God as if I were talking to Coach...and say

God, I don't know what to do here.  I am stuck.  I feel like I should be doing more, but my heart tells me that I shouldn't.  I feel like I should be moving forward, but my instinct tells me to stay right where I am.  Help me to understand my place in this situation and to know exactly what to do to share your love.  And help me Lord to continue to help me not make it about me.  Amen

My perspective changes in His timing.  Which makes me need to trust Him all the more. 

God I trust you.  Thank you for allowing me to have a different outlook on situations than what I would have myself.  And thank you for allowing me to know the difference between yours and mine. 

Today's verse...
Proverbs 12:22

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

My study bible says this...

People with tunnel vision, those who are locked into one way of thinking, are likely to miss the right road because they have closed their minds to any new options.  We need the help of those who can enlarge our vision and broaden our perspective.

My point today is this...things aren't always as they seem.  We need to remember that with many things in life...we aren't going to have all the facts.  We as Christians are are to assume there is more to the story.  We are to allow God's Grace to flow from us to them...and to know that what we see might not be clear.  We need to trust that when we can't clearly see what is in the path from here to there...that He knows.  And He'll present it in His timing.  He'll supply the glasses when He is ready for us to see.  Until then, we are to act as He would...no matter what.

Have a Blessed Weekend!
Amy

Turning Back

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”- Psalm 51:12

Have you ever heard the expression...

'There's no turning back now!'

Meaning...what's done is done.  You can't go back.  Might as well make the best of the situation and move forward.

In most cases of life, I whole heartedly agree.  I told Big  last year when he had a problem at school, that we must live with the consequences of our actions.  When we make a mistake, we have to deal with what comes along with it.  But if we have a Christ like heart...we can ask for forgiveness and pray that God will be with us as we deal with whatever consequence stands in our way. 

God's love is a little different than that though.  My study bible says this...

God wants us to be close to him and to experience his full and complete life. But sin that remains unconfessed makes such intimacy impossible. Confess your sin to God. You may still have to face some earthly consequences, but God will give back the joy of your relationship with him.

Confessing of our sins can be extremely difficult.  We are disappointed in ourselves that the thought of letting anyone down...let alone God.  The good news is that God wants us to experience his full and complete life by laying those things at his feet.  How many times do we tell our kids...Just Tell The Truth!!!  The consequences will be far less if you just be honest with us!  God wants that same honesty.  He needs to know that we know what we've done is wrong and that we are sorry...and that we need Him.

The best thing about Christianity is that you CAN turn back.  You have every reason to do so.  In fact...we are to turn back...confess...ask for forgiveness and then share of our experiences with others so that they too may find the joy of a relationship with Him. 

The one place you CAN turn back is to Him.  We make mistakes every single day.  We have to live...we have to learn...we have to love...and we have to admit when we've done those things that we are less than proud of.

God never turns His back on us...

Keep that in mind as you go about your day and have a good one!
Referee of 3