Jenna sprained her ankle at Volleyball - that's bad Millie got an A on her speech- that's good Joey doesn't think his most recent trip to the dermatologist did a darn bit of good- that's bad Bret is finally done with basketball and has a little free time- that's good Christine thinks her allergies are kicking in- that's bad Doug got the Scouting District Award of Merit last night- that's good Friedo got into the trash and ate day old turkey- that's bad Jenna did very well on her report card...even in science- that's good Millie refuses to put away her folded clothes, saying she prefers the laundry basket- that's bad Joey has been earning money mowing lawns- that's good Bret's lacrosse team had a game called due to fighting- that's bad Christine had the time to make a yummy dinner tonight- that's good Doug is working so much we hardly see him- that's bad (well and good I guess...$$$)
I am sitting in traffic. Truly amazing how technology has advanced. This weekend Doug and I had the pleasure of driving up to Salt Lake with a bunch of champions. Our lacrosse team was invited to participate in the Beet digger tournament in Jordan, Utah and for thefirst time since the tournament began the title went to an out of state team. We are so proud of the boys for doing so well, but even more grateful to be affiliated with such a fine group of young men. Our boys have been under scrutiny for such along time. Our team, for whatever reason can't seem to get out from under the league's animosity. Whatever the team does is challenged and our team is constantly the recipient of harsh judgements. All of this stemming from events that occurred years ago while Joey was playing in a middle school. It is so ridiculous I don't even want to get into it here, but suffice to say it is frustrating and has really cast a shadow over the victories that our boys have earned. This weekend was a different story. Our boys won every game, some with ease, other with more of a fight, but either way we came up victorious. Our JV team made it down to the semis bit were beat by what appeared to be a much older team of boys, many of them play on their teams varsity program. Joey plays varsity this year but because he is young he is allowed to play both JV and varsity in tournament play. He played hard in all 9 games, some back to back. He scored lots of goals and was the first to score in the hardest of the varsity games which made things exciting. He was the face off king and I do mean king. I think he won about 90% of all his faces. In the JV games he did not miss one and on varsity he was close to perfect too. Way to go boy.
I have not done a music memory in along time but very early this morning I was giving oldest son a a little driving practice on the way to seminary and this song came on the radio. Normally while he is driving he doesn't like the radio on, but when I went to shut it off, he waved me away and said, "It's okay, this song is nice." I was glad he thought so because I have always loved the Pretenders. Chrissie Hynde has such a unique voice and even at the time when her music was very popular, it never seemed overplayed. Anyhow, in the early 90s when this song came out and I remember every young girl I knew pledging her undying love to the boyfriend of the minute using this song as the backdrop. All you girls who listened to the radio in 1994 know what I mean. How could you listen to these lyrics and not think, 'FOREVER'. Me? I was a little older, already married, but I thought it was a great song and oh, sooooo romantic. Today when Joey got out of the car and I watched him amble up to the door of the stake center with this song playing in my car, I started to cry. Really. Listening today I felt this song had little to do with romantic love, but instead a more maternal or paternal love. I mean read these lyrics.
Oh, why you look so sad? Tears are in your eyes, Come on and come to me now. Don't be ashamed to cry, Let me see you through, Cause I've seen the dark side too. And when the night falls on you, And you don't know what to do, Nothing you confess could make me love you less I'll stand by you, I'll stand by you, Won't let nobody hurt you, I'll stand by you.
I don't think it is easy to understand if you have yet to have a child, but let me tell you, there is nothing, nothing, NOTHING that could make me stop loving my kids. I might be sad, disappointed or even angry with them at times, but the love, it never goes away. I know Carrie Underwood covered this song on American Idol, so a whole new crop of teenage girls are using it to pledge their undying love to Jacob, or Brandon or Trevor. But all the moms (and the dads) know what it is really about. So I guess I will dedicate this song to Joey, Jenna, Bret and Millie. I'll stand by you.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Well it has been a while since I have pulled my camera out of the case and photographed anything that goes on in Mechamville. truth be told this time of year is filled with great things to photograph but hardly a moment to stop and grab the camera. I have spent much of my free time, if you could call any mother's time, freetime, at sporting events. Lacrosse season begins and it begins with a vengeance. Jamborees are the typical kick off and last weekend found us at a bunch of games for Bret with this weekend at the fields watching Joey. Next weekend both boys have a weekend long tournament and the girls have an all day event out in Henderson for volleyball. I wish I was Hermione from Harry Potter so I could be at everything. We also have Stake conference which adds another facet to the places we have to be and the things we have to do. Sounds crazy, I know, but I do love it. I love this time in our lives as we watch our kids grow in so many ways; social, mental, spiritual and physical. They are all so terrific carefully figuring out how Doug and I can fit in a game or two for each of them. I appreciate the effort they make to be fair although I know each of them wishes Doug and I would come and plant ourselves at their individual event for the entire day. So like I said last time, you may see less of me on here during the upcoming weeks and months but know that I am where I should be, cheering on one of the four kids and loving it!
