Sports and Other Stuff Pertaining to the Shoe

Fall...I love the slight changing of the seasons that we experience here in the South - cool breezes and crisp, clear days. I am hearing the roar of a crowd and the beats of the marching band at a Friday night football game in my mind - the aroma of corndogs and freshly popped popcorn meandoring through the bleachers. Ahhhh fall! Fall and spring are my favorite seasons of the year. They both bring change; necessary change...good change...Have you ever considered how mundane the experience of life would be without some sort of change? Something to ponder...


Several of my kids, like many of yours, are taking a bite out of sports this fall. Riley has been raring to play soccer since last fall. Might I say...HE LOVES IT!!!!!

El numero tres

Tryin' to get in on the action!

James loves football. Last year he really wanted to play, but I just wasn't quite ready for all that. This is the year...He's already talking NFL...

For real...he's pretty good. Kicking is his thing. They don't kick in Little League, but he practices every day. He gets it in between the posts of the trampoline net from a good distance at a good height. Hey...this Mom says he's one awesome kicker!


Syndey is taking a tumble...power tumbling with Opelika Parks and Rec. She has the build and energy and determination of a gymnast. "Look Mama...look mama...watch me do a cartwheel...a handstand...was that good...when you were a little girl did you do cartwheels?"

She is into asking lots of questions about when I was a little girl. Just this morning - "Mama, when you were a little girl did you ever get cold in the morning a wear covers to the table?" "When you were a little girl did your Mama tell you stories?" "When you were a little girl did you like Hannah Montana?" "When you were a little girl did you like to wear make-up?"

Madelyn never asked those kinds of questions - so this is throwing me off a little bit. I chuckle inside at a lot of the questions she poses, but deep down I know she is searching to be identified with her Mama. When I ponder that I am terrified, awestruck, and humbled. Terrified of failing, awestruck at the power I hold in my hands, and humbled at her admiration of me and love for me. "Mama's, (I am speaking to all of us here - most of us already know this, but...) we, along with the Daddo's, hold the power in our "hands" to build up our children or unknowingly tear them down." Whoa...whoa...whoa. That's deep. That's awesome. That's one of the reasons why we need to know and rely on the love of Christ that dwells within us. Praise Him for He enables and equips us! Everyday - everyday, like you, I am reminded just how inadequate I am. Yet, my Faithful Friend is always here cheering me on..."I am all you need. Stick to me and I will show Myself adequate through you."


This little-bit is trying to sit up. She sticks it for about five seconds...then she takes a nose-dive, rolls over, and tries her hand at crawling. Yesterday, she rocked back and forth several times then actually took 2 "crawls." (What do you call that...in my mind I am saying steps...but I know that ain't rite...?) Anyhoo - ofcourse I didn't catch it on film. Carrie...you go girl! Before long she'll be giving Bo a run for his money.


Madelyn and a friend of hers are baby-sitting for us on Wednesday nights so we can go to a small group. The kids love it!...we love it!


Homeschooling...ahh...the joys of homeschooling! :)


This by far has been one of the most demanding, die-to-yourself, rewarding experiences I have encountered. Each morning the question is posed, "Are you going to have your way and hang on to what you want, or are you going to let Me have My way?"
Some days I hang on to what I want...nobody likes those days too much. ...Then some days I give it up and over...those days are fantastic - like a breath of fresh air.


Today has been one of those days; schedule straight out the window. James wanted to go with Dad to work today. The "teacher" in me said, "No way!" The Mom in me said, "By all means - take him and teach something good - we can "do" school tomorrow (Saturday)!" God said, "Let him go, I've got something different for you all today." Sydney was working on some of her "seat-work," and I was working on this post when the phone rings...on the other end was a friend. "God told me to come pray for you today. What is your schedule like?" (Isn't God neat?!He knows...He knows everything...He had already cleared my calendar for the morning...) (I am so glad He has (painfully and slowly)loosened my grip on my life - my schedule - my time - my agenda.) What's even better - she came to pray over something that I had spent yesterday afternoon crying out to Him about. AWESOME GOD!!! If we ask He will answer. If we seek He will show us. If we knock He will open the door. Man, that's powerful stuff! GOD, YOU ARE GREAT AND MIGHTY AND POWERFUL AND ABLE AND STRONG AND LOVING AND KIND AND GOOD AND ALL I NEED!
My time to blog ran out about 30 minutes ago...mild chaos is breaking out...Carrie is starting to cry...Sydney, Bo, and Sara Joy are scrambling around screaming, sqealing, and shrieking...aaahhhhhh the sounds of childhood play!!! So much more to share...not enough time. Catch you all later! Have an awesome weekend!

School in and out of the Shoe

Okay...Can anyone give me an accurate and complete definition of overwhelmed? No...you can't. (Chuckle, chuckle, smile.) No description, no matter how thorough, can aptly define being overwhelmed. You know why - I just had this light-bulb moment as I was typing the previous sentence - because different things - circumstances and situations - affect different people in different ways. Did that make any sense? (My brow is furrowed as I read back over that explanation.) More simply stated - What makes me feel overwhelmed may not make you feel overwhelmed and vice-versa.

PICTURES ARE COMING (they're at the bottom)...give me a break...I have a lot to share this post...(smile)...so if you must...scroll on down and check the pics...then slowly make your way back up and read...read, I say...this is good stuff. (I think I may still be hopped up on the coffee I drank this morning.) (big smile and a couple of laughs)

Let me tell you why I am overwhelmed...(Can you feel my pain already? Smile. Are you hearing me already? Ahh - yes, any mother, any mother, no matter how many children - especially those moms who homeschool - can already sense my overwhelmedness.) (I think I just made up a new word.) (with a little snicker and chuckle) (l-o-v-e the parentheses...you'll see them a lot in this post)

Overwhlemedness reason number one: The summer was hairy - too much to do and only 24 hours in each day to do whatever it was that we did. The kids had a break from school, but I was overloaded. Now - let me just say this. One can still have a great time and enjoy life while still feeling overwhelmed. (smile)

Reason number two: school started back. Okay, Okay, okay. I know you are thinking to yourself, "What's wrong with this girl - she's overwhelmed out of school; she's overwhelmed in school. What's wrong with her?" Well...Aren't you sometimes? School means schedules and routines. And...those schedules and routines have to be planned out. And...someone has to plan them. And...that someone would be - ME! It is the planning out of things which creates a mental fog (aka overwhelmedness). Information overload with 7 kids to schedule and plan for.

Reason number three: I am homeschooling two of my kids - second and fourth grades. Nuff - sed! Don't you love the phonics...Way to go mom...I mean Mrs. Sims. (Smile...slight chuckle!)

Reasons number four - one hundred : I have seven kids three of whom are three and under. I don't think we need any more explanation. Unless, you want to include meal planning, house cleaning, clothes washing, orthodontic appointments, pediatric appointments (shots for Carrie), taxi-ing to and from school and extra-curricular activities (soccer, football, gymnastics) along with reasons 2 and 3. That doesn't even include quality time - meaningful interaction with my kids or husband...And...(whew, I am out of breath)these are just the events that I know are going to occur any given week.

Last week I was crying out (last week was a hard week), "Lord, I really can't do this - I can't. His reply...This is why I love Jesus so much..."I know you can't - BUT I CAN." He kept telling me all last week, "It's worth it; what you are doing is so worth it. With the right attitude in your heart, all your efforts are going towards the building up of my kingdom."

Needless to say...I don't feel near as overwhelmed as I did last week. He's got my back...and my mind...and my heart. He's got me covered. I - cannot - neither can you...but He can and He will if we will just let Him. I am so thankful that my life is not easy. If it were I may deceive myself into thinking I don't really need Him. Oh, I may pledge affection for Him - praise Him - but it's my inability which causes me to fall on my face in utter desperation for Him. These past few weeks my prayers have been really, really simple. Over and over I breath out these words...I need You, I need You, I need You. I love You, I love You, I love You.

On the way to church this morning God spoke profoundly to me about my overwhelmedness...I realized that every time God doesn't step in to rescue me on my terms I wag an accussing finger in His Face. I would say, "Lord, this really stinks - if this is how it's going to be - I don't think I can trust You anymore." God have mercy. And He does. His kindness leads me to repentance. The Lord Jesus Christ suffered more injustice than I could ever imagine while He lived in this world - and never complained - never turned away - only trusted. How dare I, how dare I accuse Him of failing me. "Lord God, forgive me for accusing You and not trusting in Your plans and purposes for my life."

Dissappointment seperates; that was one of the points in service this morning. Conviction grabbed my hand and said - "Let's deal with this and be done with this - God does not dissappoint - He pours Himself out." I think a reading of Job may bring my self-righteous self back to reality. (Smile) How thankful I am for a kind and merciful Savior.

Overwhelmedness (smile) takes a back seat to the wisdom and providence of God. These are His plans for this life and this family. My God is bigger than how I feel and the things I experience here and now. I place my trust in HIM!!! YES!!! Can I get an AMEN!!!! Say it sisters. (Smile)
Now that I have preached to myself - let me share some pictures...and some more thoughts.


First day of 10th grade. I cannot believe that Madelyn is already a sophmore! Okay...she can stay in 10th grade forever. She can stay at Trinity forever. My heart already feels the wrenching of my first chick-a-dee readying herself to leave the nest.

James and Sydney their first day of 2nd and 4th grades at Sims' Academy. Love it! They are good students - mostly. (Smile Grin) I really am so proud that God is doing this through us. It is only by and through Him that we are able to do this thing that He has called us to this year. (Notice I typed...this year.)

Riley - first grade - didn't want to get a picture for the first day of school. He marches to a different beat. I am learning - so is Brad - how to discpline/train him while still allowing him to keep his own little march. (It's HARD and we fall short in so many ways.) Can you read his award in the picture? This mother's heart swelled with pride as I drove around the corner in the car-pool line and saw my sweet little drummer standing in the first-grade pick-up line bright-eyed and bushy-tailed with a big, bright, student award dangling from his neck. I started crying. I'm not ashamed. I cried...like he had just won gold for team USA in the Olympics. His award states that he was a "good friend" to his classmates. You have to understand that this little whipper-snapper has lots o' trouble keeping his hands to himself and his mouth closed. He's like a little whirlwind - but that day he was a gentle breeze in Mrs. Ledbetter's first-grade class at Trinity Christian School. AWESOME!!!

"Would you like me to stick a marker up your nose, too? I am really getting good at it - and so proud." Bo doesn't really understand that he is only 19 months old. As far as he is concerned he's 3. He loves to scribble...on himself...on the walls...on books...on the floor...on the couch. Most days, Praise the Lord, he naps for a long portion of the morning so we are able to "do" school. On other days - like this one - he and Sara Joy create all sorts of mischief (and fun)!

All I can say when I see pictures of Carrie is, "Smiling sweetness!" She is all smiles and a mommy and daddy lover. If we are in close proximity she wants us to hold her. If Brad is holding her and I walk by she smiles really big as if to say..."See me - ahh yeah - I got it made - this is the life." Then just a I pass by she cries...as if to say..."Hey - where are you going - wait - I may miss something by staying in here; take me with you." She is a little smile for all of us.

Sara Joy blooms were ever she is planted. Don't you love the garden hat? (I will have, h-a-v-e, to take some time this year to make school fun with crafts and activities.) Right now, as I type, Sara Joy is asleep on the kitchen floor underneath the table. The picture below is of the same scene several weeks ago. She will fall asleep anywhere if she is still long enough. She, too, has napped several times these past few weeks of homeschool - such a blessing!


We thank you, Lord, for Your faithfulness to provide all we need for the task at hand.

"God bless you and keep you - make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you - lift up His countenance upon you and give you (and we say this part really loud in our family) PEACE!" ~Numbers 6:24-26