Growing pains

Sometimes there's nothing you can do to shield your children from life and the sad and bad decisions made in this world. Sending Owen out into the world to go to school at the young age of 15 has been one of the hardest things I've ever done. It still is. Owen's made some friends and made the baseball team and seen and heard more in the last 5 months than he has in his lifetime. I've not enjoyed all the growing pains school has brought forth. Owen was born a different kid. Having three older sisters has made him different for that reason alone. Lots of days he has 4 women giving him instructions about how to behave and how to dress. So far he's been an easy child to raise. In Jesus name it will stay that way.

I know kids have to grow up but some lessons are very painful to watch. All my kids were snug in their beds at 2:00 Sunday morning when Owen found out through facebook a boy his age had died. John was sleeping when he came into our room to tell us about it and it kicked us in the gut. In the last 48 hours we've talked quite a bit about decisions made that can never be reversed, never be taken back. It's been a sad couple of days. The devil had a good weekend. I hate it when I can say that.

The one love Owen's always had since he was a baby was baseball. He's loved it forever. He doesn't like to watch it or talk about it but he loves to play it. He started t-ball at 5 years old and that's when he played with the boy that died the other night. In t-ball it was all about having fun and cheering and sliding and scoring even when you'd been thrown out at first. All fun and no business. But at some point in life, at least by the time kids get to high school, it becomes serious business. Owen's finding that out more and more every day. It's sad to watch it happen.

School was tough today because teenagers have a hard time trying to handle grief, and being a mom and watching the growing process is hard as hell. I've always watched my kids like a hawk but I've tried to find the balance between letting them have their wings while still keeping them tethered to the ground. It's a tough needle to thread. The fact is they are growing up and the tethering rope is about to be cut forever. I want to let them go but also to remember whose they are and hopefully they'll stay close to home. I plead the blood of Jesus over my kids and ask for protection from all of life's snares and problems. I'm not so sure it'll get easier as they get older because I can no longer scoop them up in my lap and fix all the hurts with a kiss and a lollipop. And in this process of letting them go, I've realized, my growing pains are far from over as well.

How did we get from this......


and this......


to this.....


Lord please keep watch over us every second of every day.

I cannot believe I'm about to have to yell go tigers. Maybe I'll just yell go Owen.

The final Christmas 2010 push

Christmas day at the gmaw's was full of eating, visiting and opening presents. After each household had Christmas at their house, we all met at Mom's for the final push. As usual, pictures were taken and hams fought for first place in the "see who can be the most hammy in pics." I'm afraid Bill lost first place to two others. Have a look and see. He was in it to win it for a little while, but he was up against seasoned hams. He had a good run. I love Christmas but I'm glad this is the last of it for this year. It's time to move on to something else.

Otis is going in for the sugar.


Maggie reined him in.


Then Whitney had to have a turn.


The only reason I added this picture is to show that no matter what the situation, Mollie's always aware of the camera....Caitlin however is not.


And a close up. It's ridiculous.


My lovely daughters.


Carlie looking sultry?


Clearly ham Mollie's now in the lead.


Yep for reals.


And again....always in the photo.


Then she must have quickly jumped over here when she saw another photo op.


Becky and Keith coordinated for the day. I DO NOT coordinate with John. He used to try to sneak coordination on Sunday morning with me but I made him STOP IT.


Left side of the room. Mollie wasn't fast enough to jump over here.


Right side of the room. But there she is on this side.


Now Whitney was singing at this moment and Dale was listening intently and Lydia was recording it....but look at Mollie. It's shameful.


By this time Bill tried to make a run for the title but by this time, it was too little too late.


The bounty.


Keith opening his "special" present from me.


They're stunned at my artistic ability. No one draws a stick person with a triangle dress like me.


You can't see the stick people, but they are all contained in the green oval. This was a western theme paper so that meant it was a depiction of July 4ths.....that's multi 4ths......


This was the piece de resistance (that's more french....I'm on a roll.)


It was an awesome picture and I wish I could take credit for the idea.....but Becky gave it to me.


Keith loves the dogs so much I decided to give him a picture of his favorite part.....lots of them.


Now it's Emma's turn to open her present from Whitney....she looked frightened.


Still opening.....


Check it, smell it for authenticity...


YES!! It's a Coach purse.....can't wait til spring to use it.


Then came Olivia's turn....Maggie gave her the Duke blue hair. Olivia rarely outs herself in this kind of photo position.


Olivia books for Olivia. Grandma's given her the whole series.


This picture is highly amusing. Owen looks like he's in the stocks....the punishment thing....Carlie's looking a little haggard and Emma? Well lets just enjoy shall we? Unfortunately Becky and Keith weren't doing anything stupid.


Caitlin's preparing to become a blue hair.


And she's happy about it.


She seems quite satisfied.


Keith looks forlorn, Carlie regrouped from her haggardness, Emma and Owen are unaware.


Now she's aware.


Full on shot of the aftermath.


Emma's turn for the blue hair.


Long tall Texan....actually Louisianian plus Carrie.


Caught in mid chew.


Great picture of Austin.


And another.


Cute pic Bill but it's just too late.


Caitlin's holding up an entirely inappropriate gift. It's an ice cube tray of Titanics and icebergs. Tsk tsk.


Seen this stance and face on Becky many times.


As well as this one with the hands on the hips.


Nice try Emma but Mollie won the day.


Even with these back to back cute pics. Bill and Emma live on to fight for the title another day. And that my friends is THE END of Christmas 2010 documentation. I couldn't be happier.