My maze/path

So last week kicked my booty. I let the stress get to me. I pouted. I was bitter. And who did I think I was hurting? It makes me so angry at myself that I know better and yet do the same thing over and over again. Sunday morning while teaching the 4/5 yr olds they taught me instead. We were doing a maze - the disciples at the bottom and you had to draw a line to Jesus who was in heaven where He has gone to prepare a place for us. Everyone mastered the activity and one little boy said "Can we take the wrong path to Jesus?". I sat there for a minute and I started to ask him why he wanted to do that. Then I thought to myself and then told him "No, you don't want to take the wrong path, trust me, Mrs. Sheila did that and it's not something you want to do.". While he didn't understand what I was saying it really made me think. I know I didn't intentionally take the wrong path. Well I just didn't realize it because I was living for the moment. I wouldn't have volunteered to have my life go the direction it did. The heartache. The loneliness. The bitterness. The selfishness. The lies. But. Without those things I wouldn't be where I am now. Without Jesus I would still be a lost soul searching. I then realized I took the path, the maze, the obstacle that led me to Jesus. Even if it all wasn't pleasant that is my life. I've learned a lot, yet still have lots more to learn. The difference now is that I have a Savior that is faithful. Standing on the promises of God!

Why do the evenings go by so fast? I have so much to do that by the time I start thinking about baths it's nearly 9:00 pm. Being tired doesn't help either. I drink coffee most nights but I can drink a cup and go straight to bed. As a matter of fact, I am dosing off while drinking coffee and writing. Sad I know. Ok, I'll stop boring you. With. Useless. Information. Reese Dean does not hide the fact that he loves all things construction. Love is really putting it lightly. This afternoon we see a truck hauling a big tractor. Reese says "I'm going to be that man one day." Then he says, "well, God might want me to be another man so ill just wait.". I hope that he will keep his childlike faith for a long time!! He is just precious!

Field Trip

So today was the field trip to Montgomery. The bus ride wasn't too bad. Except for having to use the bathroom. I mistakenly had a cup of coffee and a glass of water prior to leaving. Big mistake! It wouldn't have been so bad if I had been the first use it. Instead 5 or 6 boys had used it. While the bus was moving. I'll let you use your imagination as to how that went. After being traumatized by that, someone had an upset tummy and let's just say that smell is still in my nose. Going back to the field trip.....I really did enjoy it. Lots and lots of history! I would love to go back and see everything. The last part of the field trip was my favorite. We go up to the 6th floor to watch a live legislative session. We get up there and there are people everywhere. To be more specific, there were Hispanics at every turn. I don't think I've written about my opinion on the new law pertaining to illegal immigrants so ill just say i think it is awful and I dont agree with it AT ALL! My heart starts racing and it really hit me that we were at the place/building that laws are made. Looking at those people, their children, their families and thinking of the impact the decisions these lawmakers make will have made me emotional. I wanted to hug all of them. I wanted to scream to the top of my lungs what an injustice this was. I did briefly speak to a lady holding her baby and told her I did not support this law. I made eye contact with another and smiled at her. We go in, sit down and start watching what was going on. I was disturbed. I was shocked as each representative got up to give their opinion on things coming up to be voted on and NO ONE was paying attention at all! People talking to each other, on cell phones talking, texting, some on computers. No wonder our government is in the shape its in! You've got a bunch of people that aren't directly affected by this stupid law that appear to not have any compassion voting on the fate of a whole group of people. Unbelievable! I just don't get it. I pray that hearts will be changed and that a different resolution that will help these children of God will be made. Please Lord!

Monday

Where does time go? Really. I feel like we just got home and it's after 9:00 pm! Bailey had a game tonight and after rushing home to get to the field we get a text that the game was cancelled. We were disappointed but happy to be home for the evening.

Tomorrow I will be going on a field trip with Bailey to Montgomery. Should be interesting and a long day!

On a heavier note..... Over the last week I have heard of so much sickness that it is just heartbreaking. A dad of a sweet 7 yr old passed away, a 3 yr old had a kidney removed due to cancer and his great - grandmother was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer that has spread. All of this in the same week. Join me in praying for complete healing in these situations.

Grateful this earth is just my temporary home!

Where's the wagon?

Well, I have fallen off the blogging wagon and it's nowhere in sight! I am going to make an effort to catch back up. More importantly I am going to work hard on being more intentional in spending time with God, which was the reason for blogging daily. I have let life get in the way and I have a feeling this will be a lifelong struggle. Thank God He hasn't given up on me!

Of course we have been super busy with ball. Bailey is doing great and has hit a couple of home runs! Reese is not real enthused with ball but he managed to get the game ball last week. Now that pumped him up!

Last week was a week of first for Reese. He learned to ride his bike without training wheels, got his first game ball AND he learned how to make tooting noises with his hand and underarm. Yes, I am very proud! The latter of the three -- he had been trying that for a month and finally got it. Since then he does it constantly. Even in the stands at the ball field.

I guess we'll see if I make it tomorrow! Night!

What? Really? Why? Daily questions I ask Reese.

Bailey brings to my attention tonight that a brand new bottle of shampoo is nearly empty. I immediately know what happened to it but decide to ask Reese about it anyway.

Me: Reese, why did you pour the shampoo out tonight?

Reese: I didn't do it tonight.

Me: Really? When did you do it then?

Reese: I did it last night.

At least he was honest. I have got to come up with some creative punishment because obviously nothing I currently do works. Boooooo!

It's official, I'm a slacker

I thought I was just a few days behind in blogging and I realized tomorrow would have been a week! Boy am I slacking.

I am getting back on track. We got a lot done this weekend even with being at the ballpark. That is a shocker I know. However, I feel like we are back in a routine and feel at home in our house.

I will share a funny story that ended with tears. Well now that I think of it it started with tears too :). So Denson has a deer head that I refuse to let him hang in the living room. He doesn't have an office anymore so he decided to put it Reese's room. Reese was super excited. The deer head was on the floor waiting to be hung. During that time I went in his room to get him ready for a game. I walk in the room and he is hugging the deer and crying. I ask him what's wrong and he says he is so upset that Daddy killed the deer. Well bless his heart he is just like his momma!

I talked to him and got him to quit crying and told him I would carry him to the car. I guess I forgot that he's not a baby anymore. I got almost to the car and stepped on a rock or something and my ankle rolled to the side. I over compensated to the other side and ended up on the ground on my knee. Oh my goodness it hurt! I limped back to the house to not further embarrass myself. Luckily I had on blue jeans but not so lucky for the jeans. My favorite jeans suffered a tear across the knee.

It had been a looking time since I've had a skinned knee and I hope I never have another!

Boundaries

The day after we moved we were really busy unpacking so Reese decided he could do what he wanted. Which was crawling out his window. And attempting to go visit his friend that lives 2 doors down. Except that he went the wrong way. Luckily Bailey got him right before he rang the door bell to our next door neighbor. I just don't know what goes through his mind. I really don't think it ever stops.

Changing the subject now. This last Saturday was our last bible study on James. I was sad to see it come to an end. Part of the last lesson was on boundaries. We were given 4 solid boundaries we shouldn't cross.
1. I can't.
2. Unauthorized danger.
When you try to help someone outside of God's will and despite your good intentions the situation is not good. Don't do it!
3. My help doesn't help.
You can't help someone that doesn't want help. If you want it or are trying harder than the person needing help it's time to walk away.
4. It's wrong.
If someone ask you to lie to cover up their sin, don't do it.

As usual this came at a time that I needed to hear these things. If you haven't read the book Boundaries I highly recommend it. I may read it again soon. I will list one other sentence that resonated with me. "our narcissistic culture makes it easy to twist the concept of boundaries into a practice Jesus didn't teach.".

A to the men!!

I'm baaaaack!

It has been a looong 2 weeks. We finally got moved and have Internet and TV. I have many stories but will post those later throughout the week.

Of course ball has taken up a ton of our time. Bailey had a tournament last weekend. She hit a home run, which I missed due to the move. Reese had a tournament this weekend and they finished 3rd. He played catcher for 2 games and that was interesting. He liked it but mostly because he was able to entertain the people sitting behind home plate by commentating.

I have a lot on my mind tonight. We went through the things we had in our attic in the old house. I cannot believe the JUNK.....that I moved a total of 3 times! Not again! It really made me think about why I couldn't throw things away. My emotional state during those times. It represented emotional junk that I held onto for SO long. All the junk I've let go of in the last 5 years. If we don't get rid of the junk it makes it really hard to move on. I can understand how people that have emotional junk can't move forward......they are weighed down literally. I can say that because that was me. I still have a tendency to try to hold onto things but seem to recognize the clutter quicker and deal with it. Whew, glad I said it.

I am crashing for the night but will be back tomorrow. Hope everyone has a great Monday!j

Another Installment brought to you by Reese

I know I said I would be taking a break from the blog for a few days but this was just too good to wait.

The last couple of nights Reese has been sleeping in Bailey floors on a pallet, at his request. So, last night I put them in the bed/pallet and go to bed myself. Never hear a word out of them.

This morning, I turn the light and start waking them up and this is the first thing I see:




Before actually going to sleep Reese decided to draw a brick wall. Of course he had to sign his name to it.


And then, I discovered another word. I asked what the word was and he said he didn't know he just wrote some letters. Great choice of letters Reese! This is the word:


Did I mention our house will be going on the market next week? Looks like I will have more to do this weekend than I thought thanks to my sweet baby boy. Thanks Reese!

Taking off for a few

So I am going to take a few days off from the blog. We are moving this weekend so I have lots to do before Saturday. Along with lots to do around the house Reese has baseball practice Thursday and Bailey has a game. Depending on the outcome of the game will determine when she plays again. If they do well this tournament will last until Monday.

I'm loving ball season and if we can make it through this weekend it should be much easier. Well, less stressful anyway. Hopefully we won't be without Internet for long. Until then, I'll catch you later!

Too much going on!

Well, it is almost 10:30 pm and I'm just now sitting down. Bailey had dance pictures tonight and we didn't get done until after 9:00 pm.

I had planned on getting more things packed since we are moving Saturday. But those plans are out the window along with my sanity. Judges should sentence people to take a kid to have dance pictures made as punishment. I am not kidding.

Quick update on the lizard. The lizard ambulance didn't get him and I know this because Reese dug him up. He told me in a quivering voice that he was still there and the ants were crawling on him :(. It broke my heart and I may have told him something unbiblical like "it's ok, the lizard didn't feel it, his soul is in heaven.". I know thAt isn't true. I just wanted my tender hearted, baby boy to feel better. I will make sure he knows when he's old enough to understand that lizards do not have souls.

Spray paint and lizards

Well, if you were thinking the title has Reese's name on it you are correct.

Saturday Reese was playing outside and Denson came out to get him ready for baseball practice. He didn't answer and then a whiff of paint.
Reese had found a bottle of blue spray paint and decided the sidewalk and retaining wall would look better blue. Awesome! Especially since our house will be on the market next week. Great timing my little sugar cookie!

Baseball practice was about 2hours which is about 1hr 45 minutes too long for Reese. They played a scrimmage game and at one point he was rolling around in the outfield and after hitting the ball WALKED to first base. With his coaches yelling for him to run. I bet they are pumped now.

Sunday, Reese and Bailey caught a lizard. Well I should say tortured a lizard. It actually bit both of them but to the lizards dismay did not deter them. Bailey did talk him into letting the lizard go and when he put it down he was shocked that it ran away. He started crying asking the lizard to please come back. It didn't so he caught again. He loved it so much that it did quit moving. For good. Tears once again. He was devastated.

He calmed down until bed and prayer time. He was just heartbroken. He said maybe the lizard ambulance would come get it. Or maybe God would heal him. I forgot to add that the lizard was buried. I hope he doesn't get dug up tomorrow.

Meet Crim

Reese informed me this morning that I needed to call him Crim from now on. He is a record producer with Spinsicki Records. I had him repeat this information because surely I had not heard him correctly. He told me he got this from Drake and Josh.

He told me this after he dressed himself.....and when I say dressed himself, it may or may not have included a silver sparkly belt that belongs to Bailey. With his shirt tucked in. And a camo phone attached to his pants. We keep it classy around here.

I must add that "Crim" cut his hair last week and I haven't fixed it yet.


I may need to take back what I said last week about Reese having a career in construction or pest control. I think acting may be his thing. At the very least he keeps us entertained!

Random thoughts

1. I am so over American Idol.
2. I love my kids even though they drive me bonkers at times.
3. I love my husband and sometimes don't understand how I got so lucky.
4. I have the best job ever.
5. I have the best coworkers/friends ever.
6. I actually really like to watch softball now.
7. I'm thinking soccer may be more Reese's speed.
8. God is awesome!,
9. I am aware of lots of answered prayer lately and Im always amazed at how He works.
10. I am exhausted which is nothing new.

Now that I've emptied my brain I think I'll go to bed now :)

Reese Question

After seeing all the pictures of brooms on facebook I decided to give it a try. Well, my broom is a little lopsided so I couldn't get it to balance. I did however manage to get attention from my very observant 5 yr old.

"Momma, what are you doing?"

"Nothing Reese. Just thought I'd try to balance this broom."

Reese tried it too and actually did get it to balance a few more seconds than me. As he put the broom back in the closet he noticed the steam mop. And began asking a bunch of questions about why I don't use it.

Before I give my response I would like to say the steam mop is not a friend to hard wood floors. I thought it would be perfect and make cleaning easier but I was wrong. It left white spots on the floor so now it is a closet decoration.

Back to the story.....to avoid getting into a lengthy explanation I told Reese that I decided not to clean anymore. He got upset and said "Momma, you don't want our house to get infested with cock roaches do you, you have to clean!". He was genuinely upset.

I guess I should learn that what I think is a quick response that won't brinng a lot of questions - usually works out the opposite :)

And I give up on a title

Bailey and her team didn't lose a game during the tournament! Although it was a pre-season tournament I am so proud of all of the girls. They have a really good coach that works hard with them without putting them down. I cannot believe the way some of these coaches talk to these kids. We have been blessed to not have to deal with that.

Saturday was soooo cold. We left our house at 10:45 am and didn't get home until after 5:00 pm. Luckily I left blankets in my car from the fall ( or just haven't cleaned my car out) so I was somewhat prepared. I know in a month I'll be complaining about the heat :)

On a more serious note, God has answered our prayers over the last week. We are still going through a tough time but I know He is working in our situation. I continue to stand amazed!

Win!

Bailey's team will be in a pre-season tournament this weekend. Actually it started tonight......and her team won!! AND she hit the ball! I know, this is softball, that's what she is supposed to do.

Let me back track to last spring, her first season. She was terrified going to bat. She wouldn't even swing. Towards the end of the season she swung the bat a few times. Finally, the last weekend was a tournament and she hit the ball. At the end of the season. I was thrilled.

Then she played fall ball and she got a little moe comfortable swinging. She hit the ball several times and even made a home run. I think I was more excited than she was.

This season she looks like a ball player. First game she came out swinging AND hit the ball. So,so proud of her. I just know this will be a good season for her. This will be Reese's first year but he is catching on pretty quick. Looking forward to the next very busy few months!

Words you don't expect to hear from your 5 yr old

As I've mentioned over and over again, I never know what will come out of Reese's mouth. Tonight he said a word I can't even spell. Thankfull for spell check right now!

I can't remember the sentence now but he said anaphylactic shock. He couldn't tell me what it meant but he said "well Joanna said it when she got into the ants.".

So you may be wondering who Joanna is. Joanna is from a movie called "You Again". It is a bit of a girl movie but he loves it! He has watched it too many times to count. He refers to Joanna a lot and I think he thinks they are the best of friends.

Speaking of friends, he made a new one today. Our church is under construction to add more space right now. As we came in this morning he saw Mr. Bill (superintendent). Wednesdays are show and tell and Reese happened to bring his work gloves to show his friends. He told Mr. Bill that he could borrow his gloves if he needed them. As i walked him back to his class he said he wanted to be like Bill and wondered if he would hire him when he got big.

Later in the day he saw Bill again and told him he liked his boots. I have no doubt that Reese will work in the construction industry or in pest control one day. Whatever he does, he will be really good at it!

Thankful

I am in awe! Without getting too deep into some personal things I have to share an answer to prayer. Last night I had myself a little pity party. I literally cried and prayed about a situation for a while. I felt better and went bed.

This morning I get up and Denson brings up the very thing I struggled with the night before. I almost couldn't listen to him for thinking in my head "Dear Lord you have answered my prayer, within hours! How? Oh my, I just can't believe it!". In true Sheila fashion I of course cried. It was a great morning for both of us, knowing God was obviously at work. I did finally ask if he had read my prayer journal because I thought it was odd that he woke up talking about what I went to bed thinking about. God is awesome like that, no doubt!

A friend told me years ago that there were no coincidences with God. I believed it then and thankful for the reminder today.

Oh, and one last thing. In doing my bible study tonight, Job was referenced. And what is our Pastor preaching on? Job! God has a word for me through Job and James, no question!