Long time no post.....and YES I know it is a long one

Well I have decided to quit posting that I am busy because it seems to be all I say. So lets just let it be understood that I AM BUSY and that is the end of it. Each and every one of you could make the same statement and I don't want to come off as complaining so on with my post. haha
Teaching has been fun for me. I have really grown to love these little children whose parents have entrusted me to be a part of their education experience. The little girls are sooo girly. I love it!!! They are sooo sweet to me and feel bad that I only have boys. Several of them have invited me to come over to watch girly shows since that does not happen at my home. The little boys are precious and are all boy!!! Everything becomes a gun or sword and is pow pow, of course we are not allowed to let that happen so I have to encourage them to find something else to play. They are loud and fidgety(not a word) I feel very much at home with them because there are not many calm, quiet moments around here with 3 boys and two dogs.
I feel blessed to have been given this experience. I know my dh would probably argue that because he has to hear the other side of me working part time and that is that I am not able to get anything else done around here. I used to be a perfectionist about my home then I had 3 kids and I settled for picked up and maybe really clean a few times a week now I feel like I am just blessed to get every one where they need to be on each day with everything that they need to have. I know this is just a season and I pray that the investments that I am making in my children's and my student's lives will be substaintial. I mean really do my boys care that my house is "eat off the floor" clean or would they settle for picked up and me playing with them?? My house is stuff and while I do believe we should teach our kids to take care of the things we have been blessed to have I don't want them to ever feel that our "stuff" is more important then they are. I have not always had this mentality but I am thankful I finally got it. My younger two will benefit from this but my oldest will probably need therapy. haha
We are off tomorrow for the soccer state championship. Chandler's team has won this 3 times in a row and not to sound greedy but I would love to see the team win it for the 4th time. We have one of our biggest defenders sick right now and if he even gets to play he will be weak. We also have a player that got a red card last game so he has to sit out our first game. Not great circumstances to play under but all teams go through these types of situations so we will just have to see how it plays out. My dh and I love to watch this team play. We have been so blessed by our coach and all of the parents. This team is truly a TEAM. No superstars, everyone is needed and they all know that. It has been fun to see my son and the rest of the team really have each other's back on the field and to see the relationships they have formed off the field is exciting as well. I have been told that teams are not always so special. Meaning that the players may be good but the coach is degrading to them or the parents cannot get along. I don't know what goes on anywhere else but I do know we have a wonderful coach, great players and great parents and my dh and I feel very blessed that the Lord put our son with this team and it's is a long story but it truly was the Lord that placed him here.
I will let you know how it all pans out but would love to have you pray that our team plays their best and that no one on any of the teams this weekend gets hurt. I also am praying that if it is in God's will that we will win and if it not that the boys will be gracious in losing.
Tonight we get to pack for the weekend and then move furniture out of 3 rooms since the carpet and hardwood are being laid Monday. Any creative ideas on keeping the kids and dogs off the floor for 24 hours???? Short of moving out for the night I am not sure how I will be doing that but I know it is doable(sp)
Hope a great weekend is in store for all of you.
Blessings
Linda

Soccer/Harvest Party

Well last night my dh and oldest, Chandler arrived home from Chattanooga from the last weekend of premier league. We had to win the first game against the Huntsville Strikers to win the league and we ended up losing 2-0. It was a great game. The Huntsville team is very good. Chandler's team finished 2nd. The only way to qualify for regionals in July is to win premier league or State. We compete in State on the 9,10, and 11 of November. If we win State we go for sure. If we don't win then we hope that Hunstville will win their state because if they do they go to regionals as State winners and with us being second in premier league we get to take their first place spot and head to regionals ourselves. Was that clear as mud???? It has been a great run for our team and now they are just preparing for State. Chandler will also begin his Olympic Development training in about a month and do a couple of tournaments with that team and then for the first time in a long time he will only play on one team in the spring. His school team. In our State you cannot play on any other organized team of soccer if you are on the school team. It will be strange not traveling on weekends but it will be a nice break.

I just walked in from our Harvest party and Farm animal visit. The kids all got to feed the animals and hold a few of them. Last week it rained everyday so it was so nice to have a pretty sunny day for the children. Then we had our little harvest parties in our rooms. I was pretty hot and sweaty by the end of it all. Trying to run to each of my own children's rooms and then my own class's party it was pretty hectic. Maybe it is pre-menopause but even with the cool temps I am finding myself pretty hot lately and I'm not talking about my looks. (haha) Guess what?? I get to do the same thing tomorrow with the Tues/Thurs. class. Yeehaw!! It really was fun though and I with all the activities I did not even have to teach just coral them in.

We are trying to make changes around here to get the house on the market maybe in mid spring. I met with someone about getting new carpet in 2 rooms and hardwood in the living room so we are about to have that done soon as well as painting some rooms and probably new counter tops. It may look so nice I won't want to leave, who knows?
I don't get to blog as often as I would like but I still lurk around when I have the chance. Hope it is a God-centered week for all of you.
Another one from my late pastor, Dr. Adrian Rogers,

"The most miserable man on Earth is not an unsaved man. The most miserable man on Earth is a saved man out of fellowship with Jesus Christ".
Blessings,
Linda

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad

Just want to wish a Happy Anniversary to my Mom and Dad. They have certainly taught me that you really do and can stick together for better or worse. By God's grace they have had 42 years together which is a real accomplishment in the times we live in. Hope you two have a wonderful day! (the picture is of them with my Grandmother and all the grandkids last Thanksgiving)

Blessings,
Linda

Happy Birthday Aunt Debbie

Just want to shout out a big Happy Birthday to my sister, Debbie. This is a picture of her and her sweet family. We hope you have had a great day!!!

We just made it in from Alabama where my son's soccer team played the LA. teams. We came out with a win and a tie. It was a great time, great weather and I am glad to be home. The drive there was 5 and 1/2 hours which was the best since our schedules require so much movement and thought I really enjoyed just riding in the car and not having to think about anything. I was also glad to have my dh back in from Europe. He arrived late Friday evening and we were gone by early Saturday morning right after my middle son's local soccer game(they won). He is extremely tired but glad to be home as well. Thank you to those who prayed for us while he was gone.

Have a great week!
Blessings,
Linda

I know it has been a while and saying I am busy would be an understatement. Hubby has gone to Europe and I am trying to hold down the fort with work, school, soccer practices, games, and going away parties and it is only Wednesday. I am looking forward to his return on Friday. We will then leave for Alabama for a Soccer tournament. I am sure I am not the only one in the world who is busy but when you are in the midst of it it can sure seem like it. Oh and did I mention I am pmsing? Lucky for my husband because he is gone but my poor children. Satan is having a field day with me this week.

My nephew, Adam has made it overseas. He emailed us to let us know he made it. As the Lord leads please lift him and all the soldiers over there in prayer. We get caught up in our busy lives and forget there are a whole lot of families out there who are separated and are hurting.

I hope you all have a great day. I want to leave you with this:
Peace is not the subtraction of problems. It is the addition of power to meet those problems. (Dr.Adrian Rogers)
Blessings
Linda

WW update/Prayer Requests and a great give away

Just wanted to let you know about a 100th post give away. KJ is having one and has some great gifts to give. Hop on over there, take a peek, and be sure to leave a comment. She is trying to reach a personal goal of 100 comments, So even if you are not interested in the gifts please help her reach her goal.

Wanted to give you a WW update. My dh and I had to go weigh in today instead of tomorrow because of other obligations.
I lost 5.8 and he lost 5.6. Very exciting for both of us. You will notice that I am .2 ahead of him. Not bragging of course but I am basking in the lead right now because the weight just drops off him so I will not be ahead for long. (haha) It really is amazing what happens if you cut out daily Starbucks Carmel Fraps and Three Muskateers bars... Who Knew?? Hopefully we will be able to stay on program. So far it has not been to hard. I just have to remember... slow and steady wins the race. It is when I start having grand expectations that I fall of the WW Wagon so to speak.

Two things that have been prayer requests for us this week. My sweet brother in law Bruce lost his Mom this past Thursday. She was a wonderful Christian woman and a great mother. A very classy person who loved much and was loved by many. Her funeral is tomorrow. This same brother in law is sending his only son off to Iraq this Wed. my nephew Adam. I mentioned him several posts ago. His training is completed and he will fly out Wed. This will be hard on the whole family but especially Bruce and my sister in law Helene as they will be burying a beloved mother and sending a son off to war all within 4 days of each other. If the Lord should lead any of you to pray please do so.

I will leave you with something my pastor used to say....
If you please God, it doesn't matter whom you displease. If you displease God, it doesn't matter whom you please.
Blessings,
Linda

Tag. I'm it.

I have been tagged by my sister with a meme that lists seven things you might not know about me. Now my family will know most of these but I will list them for those of you who don't know me very well. Here goes:

1. I used to twirl the baton in high school and College.( The Universtiy of Memphis)
I also taught the twirlers at the University for several years.
2. When I was growing up I loved The Brady Bunch and I wanted to be Marcia Brady.( embarassing huh?) Marcia, Marcia, Marcia....
3. I am scared to death of Frogs. YUK
4. I have had a lot of backed into wrecks. Me being the one who backed into at least 4 cars, most of which were parked in my driveway. Now when my family visits they only park on the street in front of my house. Wonder why??
5. I am a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
6. I started dating my husband when I was 15 and he was 17. We dated for 6 years but planned our wedding in 3 Weeks.
7. I too like my sisters love sweets. I would pull Little Debbies out of the front of the package rather than open the whole box. I had hoped my mom would think she got jipped and instead of 12 little debbies she only got 11. I guess it was a dead give away though when there would only be 6 in an original box of 12.:)

Thanks Sandy for tagging me. Stop by and read her answers as well as my sister Debbie's.
Not going to tag anyone in particular. If you want to play go right ahead but be sure to leave me a comment so I will know to come by and look at your answers.
Blessings