The audit man died today....

The man, Mark, that just did our audit week before last died today. Ford Credit called us this afternoon to tell us he had a heart attack and died Before I knew this I sent him an email, I am carrying around a letter in my purse he sent me and I write with a pen he gave me.

I am so sad. I haven't been bothered about something like this in a long time. He was a Christian and a God fearing man. He spoke from his heart when he would tell us stories, at one point he even ask us to pray for his friend that is in jeopardy of losing his job. His friend did lose his job that day and I am sure he had been crying that morning when he came in the office.

Several things come to mind. One he was only 55 and has four children. One of which is eleven. That is the same age as G. Second, God spared in life to come and audit us because he knew that is who would do best. It is funny how God had a plan for him. Third, one morning he was not at the dealership as early as I thought he should have been and I asked could I call and check on him he might have had a heart attack. I tell you this is just too weird. I really want to talk to his wife an tell her what a good man he was.

I will update tomorrow. I am not in the mood tonight..

It's not a very good race today...

so I thought I would blog! When I walked away from the tv Carl was two laps down.

We went to Sunday school and church. Today was confirmation Sunday for G. We had a big lunch in the fellowship all for all the confirmands and their families afterwords so I didn't have to fix lunch. I was thinking about cooking supper but I think I am thinking probably not! We had a good supper last night and no one ate so whats the point?

Brian, Cydney and Grayce went to batting practice for two hours. I mopped the kitchen floor, no that didn't take two hours. Justin had a ballgame today so the boys haven't been able to play. James Brian has been really good playing by himself today. I don't think he likes the way I play sometimes.

Our friends from Canada are coming in the morning. I am so excited. They have to leave Tuesday morning.

I have to go to work when they leave to correct what the Ford Man told me needed to be corrected. Oh, joy! He originally said I could have ninety days. Then the letter came and I only have about thirty. I know it won't take that long. Probably a week or so but it was nice not to feel rushed. Somebody might have a big sale I need to attend to! Hopefully I can get it done in one week and then enjoy the beach!

I can't think of anything else to ramble on about so I will just go finish watching the race in pain as the toyotas run the Fords down. Yik!

Cydney can Pitch!

Thursday: Cydney still won't admit she likes softball but tonight I turned around and she is pitching! I didn't know she could pitch. Her coach apparently was playing some kind of trick I don't know for sure, we were way ahead of the other team. They put her in and she did great. She doesn't pitch fast but she pitches strikes!

Now the coach is excited because he thinks he has another pitcher on the team. I will just bring a book because I can't stand to watch them.(it makes me crazy)

She also got a couple of hits tonight and a walk. I know she is liking it!

I have started taking my camera but tonight I didn't because I thought it was going to rain. I am so aggravated!

Friday: Grayce had a softball game. She finally got a good hit. Once a year she gets into a slump and can't hit the ball. JB spent the night with daddy and I slept in the middle of the bed!

After the game about 25 of us went to Mexican for supper. Brian had promised the girls he would take them and late Friday seemed like a good time. Our friend, who is a police officer came in and said it was late, they were closed and he was throwing us out. The girls thought that was fun.

The school canceled all the other after school activities in honor of Luke. It was a pretty sad day at school. On Thursday all the children wore camouflage in his honor.

Saturday: I slept until 8:00! I feel like I have slept the day away. The fun thing was in the middle of the night I could watch TV and not worry about having to get up at 6:00 or waking JB up or him getting me up! Nothing was on. I hate that. When I need to go to sleep there is always a good movie on!

Cydney went to Luke's funeral. I think mostly to support her boyfriend Zach. I am proud of her for getting up early on Saturday for unselfish reasons. Of course now she has gone to have lunch with her friend at Applebees.

Justin is here playing with JB. He was ready to come home early so he could play. Daddy brought him so I didn't have to get out in the rain.

Cydney and I are going to color our hair this afternoon. I was being mean and said I was going to color my black and Brian said okay I think that would be fun. Well, never mind now... if someone isn't going to fuss about it whats the point in doing it!

I don't know if you have seen the movie Fireproof. I haven't seen the movie but I did read the book. It is a by a Christian author and actually has a plot. Never leave your partner behind. It also tells you that Fireproof doesn't mean things won't catch on fire, it just means they won't burn. So me being the perfect wife that I am bought this book called the Love Dare which they talk about in the movie. Well, it is actually a joke. It is 40 days worth a stories and bible verses and dares that you are supposed to do for your spouse. I already do all those things! They only thing I can figure to do with the book it to hit Brian with it when he aggravates me!

We are staying home tonight and I am cooking supper and we are going to eat together as a family if I have to hog tie everyone to a kitchen chair! (Love Dare).

We have to take a load of stuff to the warehouse tomorrow but besides the few things left to do this morning the house is pretty clean. Hopefully it will stay that way until Monday when our friends from Canada get here. I am so excited. Daddy O already emailed and told me Momma O was bringing me bread and James Brian cookies!

May the force be with you!

How do explain death to an eleven year old?

Yesterday the children lost a classmate. His name was Luke. He was a senior at their school. Luke was diagnosed with Lymphoma in 07. In October 08 it came back as leukemia. Sometime this year he had a blood transfusion and was doing better. It was fun to seem him occasionally at school visiting his friends. The last few days he developed a brain fungus, which we all have but our immune system is able to fight it. Luke's system was not and died yesterday afternoon. One of the bad things it at this point he was cancer free.

After she heard he died Grayce said to me "mom, I prayed for him." I know she did everyone did and I tried to explain it to her but I am not sure I know myself. I know God was ready for him in heaven and I told her he wasn't in pain anymore and he was happy and his hair was all grown back. I just don't know if that is what she wanted to hear!

The school was open today. They were going to have an assembly this morning with counselors and some local pastors. I hope she heard what she needed to hear, along with the other children because I am afraid a childs faith might be real fragile at this age.

Please continue to pray for the Campbell family. I know they have some tough times again.....

I am a terrrible soccer mom!

Everyone knows I only miss a game, well I just never miss a game. I did miss one basketball game this year of G's because it was an away game @ 8:00 or something crazy. I have realized that the older your children get and the more activities they play it is just hard to keep up.

I told all of that to say this...I on purpose did not go to a soccer game yesterday. It was 2 1/2 hours away. Boys and girls. The game only last an hour or hour and a half so it was not a wise decision to drive 5 hours to watch a game that was only going to last a little over an hour. And guess what, the world did not fall apart. I know Cydney wanted me to go but I also know after she had been on the bus 10 minutes she called and said she wished she would have not gone! She had a softball game that she really wanted to go to. We ended up at the ball field to support her team, they won! Then the next game started they asked me to keep the score book. Yuk. I have never learned how on purpose. You have to sit still the entire time. My friend helped me and it ended up that he just did it. But I did sit there for a while and try to learn. Then I went and got a sandwich and I watched some more and then I went to get french fries. I just can't sit still and keep up with everything they want you to write down. So thus ends my score book keeping!

Tonight we have soccer at 5:00 and softball at 6:00. It looks like another hot dog night at the ball field. But other than that it should be a pretty easy early night.

My cousin Kelly emailed and wants to come down and take pictures of the children playing games but I don't think we can get a date when both girls play at the same time. I hope she can just come for a visit. My children love her. They should because I know her mom(and dad)loved me when I was a little girl!(well they still do!)

My aunt Judy is sick with some kind of crazy pneumonia that apparently eats holes in your lungs. She was in the hospital but I don't know about her today.

My mom is still dragging from being sick.

James Brian had school pictures this morning. He was so cute. He got up early and took a shower and washed his hair. He told me yesterday what he wanted to wear. He is his daddy's child!

I am just happy to be me.....

It has been a loonnnggg few days!

All the Ford stuff is over! Praise the Lord! I am feeling so much better than I did this time last week. We had a hill to climb and I know that Prayer got us thru!

The mans printer wouldn't work so he is mailing his report but he told us what was in it and I feel confident that he won't change his mind. I have a bunch of work to do but he gave me 90 days. I am taking a fews days for me first!

Grayce and I left Friday after lunch for Epworth. Fun might be stretching it but we had a good time. It still is not a place for a princess. The accommodations were not what I am used to. I know that sounds spoiled but I have decided I don't care. My family and husband have spent many years spoiling me so there is no use in trying to deny it now! It was actually exactly like vacation bible school for 6th graders. I finished one book and almost finished another one. I would have finished it but I didn't realize the first day I could read and pretend to listen if I sat in the back of the room. At one point today I thought I don't know why I wasn't smart enough to do that in high school. Maybe I did and just don't remember. I hope Cydney doesn't read this!

I did learn some things about the Methodist church that I didn't understand before so now I feel better about that.

The worst part is G and I go back to the exact same place in three weeks for a school field trip. That is my last activity with other people for a long time! One good thing: St. Simons Island is a beautiful place. I don't want a house there, it isn't that pretty, the sand isn't as pretty as on the Gulf, but they do have big huge trees. I wished they could talk! I bet you could get some good gossip!

Brian did a fine job taking care of Cydney and JB. At least I haven't seen an emergency room bill and they don't look any worse for the wear! Both children met me at the car when I got home. Brian waved at me from the couch! He did take them to Sunday school and church.

I guess I will try to get JB in the bed. Good night!!

(the top picture is G at the top of the lighthouse. It is still a real working lighthouse. It was my idea to go there but I got more leg exercise climbing 10,000 steps than I ever do at curves. it was really only 120 something)

Here I sit again, waiting!

I got to the dealership early so I could have the things finished that he ask for.

Well it is almost lunch and here I sit. I am sure he is at his motel working but I could have gone home and done some laundry. Daddy would't let me call and check on him.

Hopefully we will be finished today. God has shown himself more to me this week than in a long time(or maybe I was just looking harder!) I hope daddy and Margarett have seen him too! I know troubled times are supposed to bring you closeer to God. So if that is what this is about, it has worked!

Yesterday Brian picked the children up from school and they hung out with us until almost 6:30. Cyd had soccer but her coach dropped her off afterwards. We ran home, changed clothes and jumped back in the car to be at a game at 7:00. I tried to take pictures but it was dark and they didn't come out so good. Cydney is playing third base. She made several awesome plays. She caught a line drive and a pop up and several more. I was so proud of her. I swear I watch half the ball game with my hand over my eyes! She is liking softball better and she did admit to me last night that she would not admit that she really liked it!(I knew that already!) I swear children think parents were born 40!

Tonight Cyd has a soccer game at 5:00, luckily it is at school. Grayce has a softball game at 6:00 and Cydney has softball practice at 7:00. I have to do laundry at some point or I will have to wear my pajamas to Epworth!

Keep praying for us. I hope we are on the down side of the hill.

I will see what I can get done!

I am working at the car lot today. Right now I am waiting on the Ford man. He is still at the motel working. I have read the news, read the gossip, checked all my personal email accounts. Text a few friends, pulled the information the man needed, emailed my mother in law and now I decided I would blog.

The bad thing is daddy or Brian will come in here and say you aren't doing what your supposed to be doing. Thats right I am supposed to be cleaning my house and doing a laundry!

I can't remember from the last time I blogged but Cydney had a soccer game and Grayce had a softball last night. I drove Cydney and her friend and the coach to Americus to the game. I led the way. About 10 cars followed me. That might not be funny to you but I am the get lost queen. Remember the Albany episode just this weekend! I only missed two turns, the road snuck up too quick, so we just uturned and kept going. No one had anything smart to say.

So after about 15 minutes into the game Cydneys ankles were really hurting. She came out of the game. When she was ready to play we were already down so much the coach started subbing the bench warmers. (she realized she was going to have to suck it up next time!)

Grayce had a softball game. They lost, I wasn't even there and got blamed for it. I jinxed them because I have never not been there! I don't know what happened. They won Saturday 20 something to 4 and then lost this game?

Cyd plays tonight at 7:30. She won't admit it but I think shes excited.

Brian had to leave work early to take G and she forgot her belt for her pants so Brian had to run home before the game. Daddy took JB with him to play so he didn't have to be unattended at the field.

We got back home about 9:00.

Today I am having lunch with my church girls at 12:00. At this point I will just have started working at 12:00!

My cousin Steven who visited us a few weeks ago is buying a car today. I am so excited for his family. I wished I could be there when the children see they have a movie player in the car!

Keep praying for us/me. This thing is supposed to last until Friday. Then I leave to go to Epworth by the Sea for the weekend. I tried to get them to stay at a Holiday Inn or something. I have to take my own towels and sheets to this place. Someone didn't realize the princess was going apparently(me, not G!)

How many more days until Spring Break????

Always making time to blog!

Here we go....

Friday I took time to exercise and then I left to go to the soccer game in Albany. They had a customer on my car so I got the bright idea I wanted to drive a mustang. Ha, I am too old for a sports cars. I thought I was going to have to call 911 to help me get out.

Cydney won her first soccer game. The first game the school has ever won. This is only the third year for the soccer program at her school. They didn't win the second game but the team did score. Last year they only scored one goal the entire season. She is on varsity and starts. She also plays the whole game and they have 21 girls on the team. (not enough for a JV team). I was all ready to leave and she ask me to go eat with her and her friends. How could I say no. She rarely wants me around anymore so I was honored that she wanted me to go with her. It was a very long day. I got lost in Albany, mapquest directions suck, I rode around town for probably 30 minutes. I lost my car keys (Brian always programs the door so I don't have to carry the keys for that reason) I found them really quickly (Praise the Lord!) I got home about 11 and everyone was alseep and when I left Saturday morning to go back to Albany JB never did wake up!

They lost that game. Cyd and I jumped in the car and headed back to Perry for a softball game at 1:00. She did good. First game jitters but she settled down pretty fast. Brian ran around like crazy until I got home taking G to pictures and getting breakfast, ya, ya, ya!

G had a game at 4:00. Her team won. Brian is helping coach that team.

We went to church this morning. Had Cyds team pictures at 2:00. Grayce played with Caroline, JB had Justin over and Cydney had Zach over.

I had to work at the dealership for a couple of hours. We are having some really important things happening this week. We get audited all the time for one thing or another but this time it is the once a year audit they do this time every year. It seems to be a little more in detail this time. I know it will be fine but Please keep us/me in your prayers this week.

Now I have finished supper and am trying to round everyone up for bed.

Have a good week.

Soccer, Softball, Soccer, Softball, GRRR!

Did I mention I had been suckered into being team mom for Cydneys team also? So now I have another team to keep up with. The worst part is you have to babysit softball players. I know I am fussing but I really enjoy it and it makes me feel good for so many people to depend on me.

Cydney had her second soccer game Tuesday night. She is loving it. We had to immediately leave the soccer field and go right to the softball field.

Wednesday was an easy day we only had one softball practice and no soccer. It was nice having all three of my children in the car with me. Those times are so rare these days that I really enjoy having them all together. G's practice wasn't until 5:30 so Cydney and Zach followed us in his car. It made me a little sad thinking that is probably how it is going to be from now on. The good thing is Zach wants to be with our family. He even came to me last night and said they don't get it do they? All the fussing and carrying on. He finally ate supper with us last night. I can't afford to feed him often.

Brian is working on his off day. Surprise. He just feels like he needs to work because he takes so much time off during ball season.

Cyd has a soccer game in Albany on Friday and Saturday. The first game is at 2:00 so she is riding with a friends mom because they have to be there early. I don't have to be there until game time. They also have another game at 5:00. She is going to spend the night because the first game Saturday is at 10:00. I am coming home and turning around to go right back then rush back home for her 1:00 Softball game. Grayces game is at 4:00. You think your confused you should try to be me! James Brian is such a good sport he just goes and finds a friend to play with. Actually he had rather stay home. I think Saturday he is going to stay with Justin.

Well, I guess I better go clean up. Mary might be coming next weekend to help Brian while G and I go to Epworth by Sea.

My mom is in the hospital. She was going to come to my house last week to stay with the children while Brian and I went away for our anniversary. We had too much to do that weekend so we decided not to go and she decided not to come. Well Sunday she worked and I knew she was catching a cold and I called to check on her and she said she was glad she didn't come she was really sick. Monday she went to the doctor and he gave her an antibiotic. She called Melissa on Wednesday and said you are going to have to take me to the hospital. They admitted her. She has strep throat and the flu and she was/is dehydrated. Last night he told her she couldn't come home until she didn't have a fever. Last night she got made because they wouldn't give her anything for her cough so she told Melissa she was coming home this morning. I am sure she will give the doctor an ear full when he comes in. She said at least at home she could have taken something for her cough! Please add her to your prayer list for me.

Spring Break is less than a month away. A whole 7 days with an empty calender. We are going to the beach!!

Cydneys First Soccer Game!

She is still hanging in there. I have said soccer isn't my favorite sport. Part of the reason is I have no clue what is going on. I don't know the rules, I am not positive of the object of the game. I am learning. I was really hating it last night when Cyd was not getting to play but it didn't take but a minute and she was out there. They have two 45 minutes quarters. You are running the whole time. I have to give her credit for that. I am proud that she has found something she likes.

Cyd is still playing softball, too. So tonight she has a soccer game at 6:00 and softball practice at 7:00. She will be late to softball but she wants to go. She should sleep good tonight.

Brian, Cydney and JB went to the race on Sunday. G and I stayed home and cleaned house. They had a good time but Cyd was hoping she would get some sunshine and their tickets ended up in the shade!

Zach came over last night. He is getting on my nerves. He actually helped Cydney babysit Grayce and James Brian on Saturday while Brian and I went out for our anniversary. I figured she was less likely to do anything in my house with her brother and sister around than anywhere else! Zach loves the noise of the other children.

I went to curves yesterday and then went to the carlot. I am finished there until next month. Except I have to do a personal financial statement for Wayne. Isn't that funny that Margarett calls me to do a personal financial statement.

Cydney is #18

Grandparents Day 2009

Westfield makes a huge production out of Grandparents Day. The kids in K-4 thru the 4th grade sing and dance for the grandparents in a musical. They work on it for months. The make pictures for their grandparents and hang them in the room, they make art projects. The school mails out special invites. It is really a big deal to a lot of people. I don't especially care about it. Too many other peoples children. A friend yesterday said you are going to miss it. I say I will miss a messy house, I will miss tons of laundry, I will miss shuffle children around. But I will not miss grandparents day!!

After that we went to lunch with Grayce's friend and her mom. I had to run to Warner Robins for fabric for soccer jerseys. We finished up the night the same way we always do. Softball, supper and Zach.

Today we had a basketball game at 10:00. The other team only had three players so they deceided to play three on three. We didn't want to do that so we left. The game didn't count and we didn't want to take a chance on getting hurt and interfering with softball.

Now we are headed out the door for a scrimmage softball game and then to another softball practice.

The picture of the pizza is something Cydney made in art class. It is on display in the glass case at school. I was impressed!

Zach has already called. That boy is getting on my nerves! Enjoy the pictures.

Today is making up for the slow day yesterday!

Isn't funny how I still find time to blog!

I went to exercise this morning then I came home, ate breakfast then went to the car lot. After working a couple of hours I went to the grocery store. Came home unloaded the car, started supper, picked up the children and now I am playing on the computer waiting for 5:00 to get here so I can take G to practice, drop JB off with his daddy, go to a coach's meeting(don't ask) then turn around and take Cydney to practice at 7:00. Her team is going to scrimmage so I will hang around the field and watch. She is so nervous about it but her coach told her last night to settle down she was one of the best players out there.

When you write it all down it doesn't seem so bad!

I got word today that our friends from Canada that we having been trying to get to all winter are just going to come to our house on there way home. The children are so excited.

I guess thats not so bad after all!

Easy Day Today!

Every one went back to school. It was a little hard for everybody to get up but it always is on "Mondays"!

Cyd and G both had practice last night but Cydney wasn't supposed to practice for another day so we let her bat, because she wears a helmet and then she just stayed and watched. G, JB and I came on home because G has a project to finish up.

Cyd is at soccer right now but will be home in time for G's practice at 7:00.

Coach Travis from basketball called this afternoon to tell me we were going to play one more game this weekend. I was excited but G says she doesn't want to play. Hopefully she will get with her teammates and classmates and change her mind. The game is against the other Perry team and it would be great if we could beat them.

I stopped by the car lot this morning and ended up staying a couple of hours. Tomorrow I am going to exercise and then finish the day up there. I had to get gas this morning and then Brian called and said they had a customer on my car. It always happens when I have a full tank. That is okay. We would actually fill up every ones car if that is all it took for them to buy!

Did I mention I had been suckered into chaperoning another church trip. The lady that puts them together knows if I don't go, G won't go so she ask me did I want to go and I said yes and the next thing I know I was a chaperon. So it looks like I get another vacation. I had rather be going to the beach or something. It is at Epworth by the Sea and it is only the 6th grade and we are riding the bus and it will be just me and another man so it won't be so bad. I hope it isn't boring. They are taking the church bus this time because there should be less than 15 of us. I hope they are quiet so I can nap on the way! Riding in the car is like taking a sleeping pill for me. I will be asleep before we get out of our county!

Snow day in Houston County!

Actually the county had to go to school but my children got to stay home. The children go to an independent school so there are lots of children from surrounding counties and I am sure some of them did have dangerous driving conditions. My children have never been out of school for a snow day and probably will never be out again. It never snows here. We still didn't have enough to keep us home but believe me we are enjoying a surprise vacation day. James Brian even slept until 9:20.

I went to runs some errands early and then to curves. Soccer is canceled for today, we just have two softball practices. My day isn't much different I still have laundry!

Saturday night my family, Stevens family and Michaels family all ate mexican. I am going to turn into a mexican. It was fun. Maria ordered in spanish(she is from Columbia). The girls loved it. Maria even taught Cydney some no so nice things in spanish. Steven does martial arts and Saturday night the girls and Steven worked on self defense. Now the girls love Steven and Maria.

Brian took JB and Justin to the Monster Jam on Sunday. They had a big time. The girls and I plus Zach went to see Steven at daddy's before they left yesterday. We really enjoyed the visit.

We all went to Sunday school and then the girls and I went to church. After church we went to waffle house. Our friend David, not David Johnson another friend named David came in and sat with us. I realized after he sat everyone probably thought he was my husband and those were our children, GRRR. He is nice but rather large. He was sort of squishing G in the seat. He did buy our breakfast and we laughed about the situation.

Enjoy the sunshine!