That's bad...that's good

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...$$$)

Beet Digger

Last weekend's post...I am slow in updating...

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 the first 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.

Music Memory Monday

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.

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!

Slacker

I admit, I have been somewhat of a slacker in the blog department. I have been consumed with
lacrosse and a bunch of political league mumbo jumbo which has left me some what disenchanted. I tend to think everyone does things for the right reasons, but with this situation, I am not so sure. I am happy to say that at least we got past the nonsense and are now onto the season.
Enough about that. On a totally different note, I was called to be the Stake YCL leader this year. I love this assignment and am thrilled to serve in this capacity. I adore the girls and the time up on the mountain. It is wonderful to be able to go again this year!

Weekend

This weekend:

Boys=Lacrosse

Joey=ACT

Girls=Volleyball

Dad= Scout training

Mom= Taxi cab

The big four-one Finding joy in the journey

Fifty is the new thirty is what I keep hearing so I guess that means 41 is the new 21. Yahoo, I am legal again. Oh right, I don't drink so I guess I should just be glad that I am finally old enough (again) to buy cough medicine without having to show my ID.
February 3 is a great day to have a birthday when you are a kid. Far enough from Christmas that you don't get lumped in to the Christmas gift pile, but close enough that you know exactly what you wanted that you did not get on December 25, and you can ask for it 5 weeks later.
Really, when I think about all the changes the past 20 years have brought me, I would not go back to being 21 for all the silver in Nevada, all the rice in China, all the Steelers fans in Pittsburgh. (Whichever is greatest.)
You know, I have never been one of those folks who is upset about aging or getting older. I really think I have a pretty good, healthy attitude about this. It is what it is. I have always found joy in the age that I am at the time. I guess, I must be honest here, when I was a young teen, 13, 14, I wanted to be older. I wanted so badly to be 'old enough'. For what, I don't really know. But I loved being 20 ,25 and 30, 35 and 38. 40 was actually rewarding, I felt like I was right about where I wanted to be in my life. Great husband , wonderful kids. So what if I took the long way , I got there. And even with all the curve balls that life throws us, I can still throw my hands in the air each day as I look at Doug and what we have built together and say, I WIN!
Now, I spend a lot of my time trying to convince my kids, the four that live with me and the 150 I teach, to enjoy the place they are in life. Just yesterday morning I spent 20 minutes talking to a young man at school about waiting on the whole 'girl thing'. He mentioned to me that he spent the whole Super Bowl on the phone with a young lady and I said, "You know, later in your life, and for most of your life, you will probably have some interruptions during the big game days. Maybe it will be a young wife who needs help with a little one during the Super Bowl of 2020. Maybe your mom or your dad will need help with a sibling who is moving away to school during the World Series of 2018. Maybe your own child will have a pee-wee soccer game during the NBA playoffs of 2024. And you know what, you will be a good man, I hope, and you will be there helping and doing what you should do then. Not doing then, what you should be doing now. Which is eating wings in front of the tube without a care in the world. Carrying around a stick or a ball or a bat like it is the most important thing in the universe. Hanging with your friends, doing your school work, enjoying your family and the activities of your youth." I told him, "What Doug wouldn't give to watch just one game with out me or one of the kids 'needing him'."
Of course the boy thought I was old, 41, and helplessly out of touch with it all.
The good news for me, is I don't think this advice falls on deaf ears when it comes to the 4 kids that mean the most to me, or a good many of their friends.
Back to 41. I had a great day yesterday. My lovely VT brought me a Brighton key chain, LOVE IT. Sunny and Dee went in on the most extravagant passing of a Peppermint Patty, story later. My kids showered me with yummy food and thoughtful gifts . I came home to find a white noise maker from little Miss T, I am guessing. I had numerous cards and calls, texts from all my YW and some of my more tech savvy friends, and Facebook, gotta love it. I was wished happy birthday on my 'wall' from many, many friends I have not seen since I really was 21. Glo Pat brought me shrimp and butter which is another story all together, but suffice to say, she knows my 'tastes'. Doug took me to dinner, and gave my flowers and ohhhhhh how clean my house was when I got home. A singing phone message from Joey's best pal's family and finally, just as I was heading in to get the kids ready for prayer, a knock on the door found me staring face to face with birthday carolers. I know, too cute. Tif, Banana and Bishop were singing away accompanied by my friends Ben and Jerry.
What a day.
Who said birthdays are just for kids!
In my favorite movie of all time, It's a Wonderful Life, Clarence George's gaurdian angel said, "Remember, no man is a failure who has friends."
I am blessed beyond measure, and if Clarence is right, I am wildly successful too!
Thanks to everyone who thought of me on my special day. I am the luckiest 21 year old girl I know!