Is it almost Valentine's Day?

Our schools here are pretty protective of our kids privacy. I get that. So, we have no idea who the kids are in our children's class...well, I do because I go up there...but no birthday lists, no e-mail lists and even crazier?? NO VALENTINE LISTS. Yeah. Not even a list of their first names. So, on the girls' Valentines this year they wrote, To: My friend, From: Susannah or Grace (whoever was writing them). No skin off my nose, but where is the fun in picking out special valentines for your friends? Oh well...welcome to the age of the schools taking our kids and fun things from them. Did I mention that we couldn't bring candy to the party? The PTA is providing nut-free cupcakes and pizza...that's it. We were told if there was any candy attached to their Valentine that it would be thrown away. Uggh. It's a fun holiday for them to celebrate for 45 minutes...oh, did I mention that they changed the name to the "Friendship Party"

I do love that my girls are learning so much...I just have a control problem. Valentine, Halloween and Christmas Parties were fine for us growing up....since when do politics and "political correctness" determine how our kids have a few (they only get 3) parties in school??

Okay, I'm done...Aaron has been gone all week. That's right stalkers...I shouldn't have written that he is out of town, but he's on his way home now and by the time I get all of this typed up and on the net...he'll be home. So there.

Back to the point...He's out of town. This has been the week of crazy projects. Valentine boxes, I mean, Friendship party boxes....filling out their valentines and then their normal homework. I am worn plum out. I seriously don't know how I did this single parenting thing when he worked on the north slope and was gone for 2 weeks at a time. Oh wait...we had 2 kids and they we little and slept lots then. I forgot. So, I'm asking the question, "Is it Valentine's Day, yet??"

This being Valentines' weekend. I don't want anything...really, anything except rest. Good, no extra kids in my bed, rest. Oh yeah...and my husband home!!


Grace is working on her valentine box...she did it all herself...like always! I try to give a little help here and there and I get, "Mom! It's my project. " I'm glad she is so much more creative than me! I totally spaced and forgot to take a picture of her finished project...I'll do that this afternoon. She named it, "Field of hearts" It was green all over (she made grass) and then had hearts stuck in the grass like flowers. Too cute.


The girls did their Valentines all by themselves...Grace picked out animals and Susie picked out Tinkerbell (surprised?) Susannah was so excited to get hers all done!

This was Parker's first year to do his own Valentines. I would write the kids names (at his little pre-school, they actually gave us a list of first names) and then Parker would write his own name!! I was floored!! He did a great job...You could even tell that it said Parker!! He's getting so big.
Hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day with all of your loves!! I know I can't wait for my long weekend with all 4 of my wonderful loves of my life. Happy Valentine's Day!!

I will praise you in this storm

Last night in the Youth room at church we had a great worship. I mean really great. We have been talking about C.S. Lewis and what we can learn from his writings about the Bible. During his time at Oxford, Lewis went from being an atheist to being one of the most influential Christian writers of the 20th century. Did you know that the C.S. stands for Clive Staples Lewis? Yeah...I didn't either. We were talking last night about this quote from Lewis:

"it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."

He wants us to ask him for things...he wants us to have the faith to pray with faith that can move mountains. Oh, I needed this lesson! Then after we had our lesson....every person in the room, got up in front of everyone and told their prayers....some prayed for strength to get through the school year, some prayed for their family, some prayed to be better students of the word. The point was for our kids (7th-all of us adult teachers, too) to get up and JUST ASK!

When I was standing in line and waiting my turn...5 million prayers (okay, not that many, but you know) flooded my mind and then when I got up to the microphone in front of the whole youth room, that is what came out. I got up and I asked God for peace, I asked him to heal my heart and to show me my way. We sat down and minutes later a friend was telling me just how she knew that I was feeling. It was the lesson and the words of comfort that I needed to hear.

Then this morning...this is the first song that I heard on the radio after dropping Parker off at school. I love Casting Crowns anyway...and I know this song. But this morning, I heard it. I REALLY heard it....Read the words and if you don't know the song...just go and look it up. Love it...
Man! My day just got so much better...despite this gross rain and cold outside. I will praise you in this storm!


"Praise You In This Storm"

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you
And you raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

But as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

Open mouth, insert foot

I'm on the Executive Board on our PTA at the girl's school. Since we moved in town right before school started, I didn't have any position, much less a board position. I loved being on the Exec. Board at Green Valley and being so involved...we got a say in what was going on at our school, but as the volunteer coordinator, I was so stinkin' busy. That is one thing that I don't miss completely about moving. You get to start over...kinda.

I don't know a ton of people at the kids school...I mean, there are almost 900 kids in the school. That makes for a lot of volunteers. But for some reason, someone dropped off the executive board and they found me and asked me to be the new Council Delegate. Cool. Makes you feel pretty good. Okay, just a little. Council Delegate is a great board position. I have a friend that does it with me and we have a great time together. Abby and I go to the Council PTA meetings and the school board meetings (once a month, sometimes every other month) and then we report back to our Executive Board what we (or they) discussed at the big meetings. That's it. And for that, we get a voting board position on our school's executive board. That means, the planning of the carnival, breakfast with Santa and the Auction. If we don't like fundraisers (ME!) we can let it be known and vote against the next fundraiser (I'm really good at that one!)
That is one of the real reasons that I'm glad to be on the board.

Okay, so on to my story.....We were in our meeting yesterday morning and our board secretary and her family are going to be transferred to San Diego at the end of the school year. She was clearly upset, as were the rest of us. You see, this part of Houston has a ton of people that have been transferred in by oil companies. It would be safe to say that over half our board members have been moved 5 or more times, you know, like us! Oh, did I mention that this mom is pregnant with her 5th child? Yeah, she is a rock star...so organized, always is ready to do something and her kids are so very polite. She is talking about the transfer and we are all consoling her and here is what comes out of my big mouth, "A little piece of you dies every time that you get transferred, doesn't it?" Selfish. I know. It's what I was thinking and it totally came out. She totally agreed, as did the rest of the table, but after I said it, I felt horrible. Here she is pregnant and facing moving with 4, almost 5, kids to California and I make a comment like that.

Yep. Open mouth, insert foot. I was telling Aaron what I did last night and then I think I just made him feel bad. I think it's just because when we got moved here, I felt like the company that won't be named, cut out a huge hunk of my heart out. It's not Aaron's fault. He is doing great with his job, he loves what he is doing and we are all happy and healthy. God always has a plan...I may not see it right now, but I will be able to look back in 20 years with Aaron and say, "Wow...remember when God moved us to Houston? That was a great move with great friends and family!" It's happening now. His plan. And He is healing my heart, slowly....I just need to learn to keep my selfish comments about how I am feeling to myself and help comfort someone else who needs support, not worries.

A little disappointed

I can't say that the adults went to bed last night in a great mood. We were pretty disappointed after the Colts lost the Super Bowl last night to the New Orleans Saints. The first half of the game was just great....the second half, starting with that just ridiculous onside kick, was just crazy.

I initially didn't want to have anyone over to watch the game and I didn't want to go up to church to watch it with the youth group. When there are big games, I like to just watch them at home. But, Aaron leans over to me during church, "Jenn, I asked Laura and Clint over to watch the game tonight, who else to do I need ask over." HUH? Okay, I can't fault him. They are new and in our small group so that's fine. Then after church he went and asked another family. I looked at him and gave him the "quit it!" symbol. I know....mean...but how often does YOUR team go to the Super Bowl? If there had been others, it would have been fine, too. I love to have company and people in the house. Besides, the house was already clean from having small group at our house Friday night so I can't complain...

Ends up. It was perfect. We had a great time with friends and I got to watch my game...as pitiful as the last quarter was...ugh! The kids all played great together upstairs, they only came down to eat dinner and to show us what they had found to wear in the dress-up bin. They were pretty cute.

Me and Parker before the game. The girls were upstairs playing and we were waiting for the game to start...He wore this to church yesterday and was so cute! I wore a blue dress in honor of my Colts. Had to hang the jersey back in the closet this morning until the first game in September.

It's another beautiful day that God gave us. For that I am thankful and it gives me reason to rejoice....even if the Colts lost a football game. Besides, who remembers from year to year who wins and loses those games? Although I will be ready for them to actually win the game next year! :) Love you Colts. Have a great off-season and we'll see you again!

Getting Excited!!

I love football!! For years, I was a HUGE college football fan. Didn't matter what team, I loved to watch. I would only watch Pro football if the Cowboys were playing. Remember, I am from Arkansas....the state with no pro team, so I grew up as a Cowboys fan. I wanted to be a Cowboys cheerleader when I was a little girl (mom said no), I got to meet Danny White and Too Tall Jones and I was in heaven! They came to Searcy when I was 8....loved it...I still remember exactly where I was and what I was wearing. I told you, I loved the Cowboys when I was little.

Now that I'm out of college and a tad bit older, I have become a pro football fan. I don't know if it is because I followed my favorite players to the NFL or I just realized that the kids that play college ball really ARE kids. Don't get me wrong...I still LOVE college football. Sometimes a little too much, but not like I did when I was in college or first out of college. Now I watch my favorite teams play and that's about it.

But NFL football is a totally different story. I started playing fantasy football 7 years ago and it totally changed the way I watch football. I love it...but I love it more when my players score me points!! Okay, that sounds totally and completely selfish...Now that I read it again...I guess it is....What is funny is that I play in a total women's league. Last year I got 2nd, this year I got 5th...UGGGH. We don't play for money, just for bragging rights.

Fantasy season is over and now it's time for the big game....I love my Colts. Yes, I know I said that I was raised a Cowboys fan. I love the old Cowboys teams. I just can't get into watching them play anymore....I don't know if it's the bazillion dollar stadium, the felon football players or just their owner in general. I just have not been a big Cowboys fan for a while.


No, I followed Peyton Manning to the Colts and now our family is a full fledged Colts family. Not only do we love Peyton, but now we have Sunday love for Reggie, Joseph and don't forget Dwight! Our Colts are playing in the Super Bowl tomorrow against the Saints. I'm not going to be ugly on my blog about the Saints. We lived in Louisiana for a while but, still not a fan. I do love Drew Brees...he's a great QB and they are going to give our Colts a run for our money!!
I'm starting to get nervous, so I'm going to go and clean out Parker's closet today with the radio turned up for some distraction time from thinking about the game tomorrow. I'm soooo excited!! GOOOO COLTS!!

Too much coffee....

I love coffee. I do. I have a fabulous coffee maker. It's a one cup Tassimo that uses little pods of coffee. A fresh cup of coffee...All. Day. Long. Today, I drank so much coffee that I should have just gotten out the old pot and made a big 8 cupper....Really.

It's cold. Okay, I know, it's not cold like ya'll have cold, but 45 degrees is pretty cold for Houston. Don't judge. It's also been raining for 3 days and doesn't show any signs of stopping soon. So, not only is it cold, it's wet. That makes it even colder for me. It's 10:00pm and I'm still wearing my Ugg boots and 2 layers on top. I told you I was cold.

But when it's cold....I don't want to go to Sonic for a coke (which I haven't done in FOREVER)...I want a cup of coffee. I want one in the morning when I take the girls to school, I want one when I'm paying the bills, I go to take Parker to school and it's Coffee talk day for the moms....It is everywhere!!!! Maybe I should just put my dear Tassimo under the counter for a few days.

I should drink some water tomorrow..... but my body might go into shock! Thanks Dad for the great addiction...what was that you called coffee when I was little?? Oh yeah, coffee milk. Ahh, wonderful.

So, too much coffee translates into craziness! I've made a ton of muffins for the teachers at the girls' school tomorrow...I'm in the middle of cleaning the kitchen and then all of the sudden I get the urge to blog. I told you it makes me crazy. Aaron will be going to bed soon and I will still be out here making lasagnas for tomorrow night's small group at our house. I hope that the coffee gives up soon because I'm babysitting 2 of the cutest little ones in the morning...Parker is so excited for the playdate.

I'm just hoping that I'm not passed out on the couch from being worn out from tonight!!

The movies...

I love to go to the movies. I do. We don't get to go very often...remember we have 3 kids and not a bit of family close. So, when there is a movie that we want to really see, we call our great babysitter Shelby and high-tail it to the big theater. I can't wait for this movie to come out next week. Really. I'm a hopeless romantic. Pretty Woman, Dirty Dancing (and yes, mom, I did finally see it), and The Notebook. Oh, The Notebook. I love that movie.

Lucky for us...next Sunday, February 14th...the youth group is having a parent's night out at church and I am going to see this movie!

Here is my question, and yes, I can ask it because this is my blog...remember? What do you think is the most romantic movie that you've ever seen??

100th day of school...For Susannah!

If there is one thing that I have learned in my 8 years of being a parent, it is that you start early! I am usually the one, personally, who does great work on a deadline. I do. In high school and in college, I would just stay up all night and get things done. I would be dead tired and worn out the next day, but I would get it done and it would be awesome...or so I thought.

Now that I have children...I do not operate well with no sleep. Anyway...they are doing the project so I don' t have to!! :) I love that both girls really like to do their things on their own. We started Susannah's 100 day of school shirt on Monday. We went to Michael's and let her pick out her own shirt and what she wanted to put on the shirt....she came straight home and got to work on counting out the hearts. She chose felt hearts that had a sticky back, so that she could just put them straight on the shirt.
After counting out 100 hearts, she went in and started laying them out on the t-shirt. At one point, Grace wanted to help her and Susie made her leave the room. It was too funny. She knew exactly what she wanted done on the shirt and she was going to do it her way.
Then yesterday after school, she started on the taking the paper off the backs of the hearts and sticking them on her shirt. It took her about 30 minutes and she was all done. Easy, easy, easy. All done by 4:30, in the afternoon. I told you...I want them to get their projects done in their own time, but on time! :) And everyone was in bed at 7:30...on time!!

This morning...proudly wearing her shirt that she made on her own! :) Oh and another little brag on Susannah. She moved up from level 3 reading to level 5 reading yesterday!!! We celebrated after dinner last night with ice cream for our little reader. We are so proud that she is getting so excited about learning how to read!!

A quick read...

Grace devours books. She does. We go to the library once a week and she gets 7 to 10 books every week and reads them all. I should have started a list of all of the books she has read this year...should have. Oh well. She wants to be a librarian when she grows up. I think she would be a better book editor or do book reviews. But the girl loves to read. Did I tell you she is 8 years old? Right now, we get her books in the young adult section. The problem is that...well...she is 8. I tell her all the time (I can do that...I'm her mom) "Just because you CAN read it, doesn't mean that you SHOULD read it." Her teacher can only test her up to a 8th grade reading level because that is as high as they test at this age because that is as high as their testing software goes. CRAZY! Last year, I tried to read everything that she read....this year, I just can't keep up. Until now.

Grace started this series right before Christmas: Percy Jackson and The Olympians. She would read them sooo fast that I was sure that she wasn't really reading them....but, she was. We couldn't find book 4 right before Christmas and told her that she wasn't getting it because we couldn't find it anywhere....until Christmas Eve and mom and I found one copy. It was soo funny. Christmas morning, she found book #4 in the Percy Jackson series in her stocking and was loosing it! She was so excited and totally convinced that Santa brought her that book because we couldn't find it anywhere! Oh...that makes me feel a little bad, but not really...she was so excited!

I have been on the waiting list for the first book in the series since Christmas. Crazy, I know, but yesterday it came in and we made our weekly visit to the library!! I started on this book last night and so far, it's pretty good. So, if you are the mother of a child that loves to read and loves adventure, pick up this book. Now, I'm getting off the computer to go and read my new book from the library. I have to catch up with Grace!!

A better place

Last night a wonderful wife and mother passed away here in our community. Anna has battled cancer for the past two years with the support of her loving husband, Charlie, and 4 sweet and small children. Anna and her family are members of our church family. I never met Anna. I heard stories upon stories about her kindness and her love for her family. She was fighting her cancer the whole time that we have lived here in our new town. I've taught her sweet little ones in bible class. They are precious. One of her littlest ones is friends with Susannah. Now sweet little Clara has a mommy that is in heaven and I'm so thankful.

I'm thankful that she has not a bit of pain anymore. I'm thankful that her children don't have to watch her suffer. I'm so thankful that her husband has such great faith that he came to our small group last week and gave US a lesson in who we can deal with our faith. I've never been a part of such a moving talk. This man's wife was dying last week and he was talking to us. I'm so thankful for Charlie and his example.

Anna is in Heaven. What a blessing and we are rejoicing with her and her wonderful day. Today I am praying for peace for their family as they will miss their mother and wife and all of the adjustments that they will make now that she is really gone. Please keep the Tipps family in your prayers. I know that Charlie and those 4 sweet kids are in my prayers.