Bridge Dedication in Honor of Papaw

Article from Murray Ledger and Times:

Tuesday, they dedicated and named a bridge in honor of my Papaw, J.D. Waldrop. He is 93 years young and proof that you are only as old as you feel. He still takes care of himself, drives, hunts, goes 4 wheeling, and has his wits about him. My Mamaw died a few years ago and I know that he misses her daily. The last time I visited him back in December, he was recounting some old stories. Some of the stories were funny, some were a little sad, but they were all personal. I learned things in that little visit that I had never heard before. He was in a very talkative mood that day.

When I was a little girl, my Papaw was a positive male influence in my life. He would let us crawl up beside him in his recliner, play hairdresser with him, have us looking for cats that weren't even there (they didn't even have cats), and he would always make us laugh and smile. He would take us fishing with old cane fishing poles and we would often get scolded (never too much, of course) for running around inside their house.

Tuesday, they had a ceremony to name a bridge in his honor. I can't wait to get back to Murray and take a picture of him beside his bridge and sign. I wish I could have been there. I know that even though he is healthy as can be, he is not going to be around very much longer. I know that he was proud and we are too.

Hannah's School Play

Which is quite possibly our last school play ever! That seems kind of strange right now, but she looked cute and did wonderful. She was so excited to get to be a clown. We painted her face up and she wore the clown outfit that has been passed down forever. My Mamaw made it for Davida, I believe. It was a bit big on her, but clowns are suppose to wear things big and silly, so it worked. Micah also had to wear it one year for a play and I'm sure all my nieces wore it. I remember wearing it twice for Halloween myself, because I loved it so much.

So, we got to sit back and enjoy the circus. It was a really cute play though. The music teacher out there is really creative.

Here are a few pictures from the play. I love that my kids are short, because they are always on the front so I can see them well!

Walking in:

Singing and playing the Kazoo:

The clowns did some cute little "clowny" things:

Snow Days!

We've had 3 snow days this week. The kids are stir crazy and so am I. Chloe is coughing, so we couldn't play outside, and we've had enough of being cooped up. Next year I won't have to worry about snow days:-)

We were sitting at the lunch table and Jamie said something he shouldn't have. Not a major crime, but not something that we would want our kids repeating either. Hannah said, "That's OK Daddy, we forgive you". At first we were like, "awwww...that's really sweet". But, I said, "you have never said that to me". She said, "that is because you are older and should know better". Ummm....yea...who knew that 5 extra days on earth would give me so much widsom! I just learned that today.

We had to cancel the winter trip due to the snow and threat of more snow (NO!). It is disappointing, because we all get geared up for it, Jamie has studied hard, and all the youth had momentum going towards the weekend. Now the trip will be during spring break. I'm sure that we'll lose some and gain some by changing the dates. I just told Jamie to thank the Lord above that he didn't schedule a Gatlinburg trip, which has been his tradition in the past 11 years! We would have been out a lot of money!

Hannah has a make-up Upward game tonight and hopefully they'll have school tomorrow. They are looking forward to their Valentine day party at school, and maybe I can actually go since I don't have to pack!

Decisions and Changes in our House

Proverbs 22:6 Direct your children onto the right path,
and when they are older, they will not leave it.

Over the last week, Jamie and I have been in the praying process for the future of our children. The Lord has entrusted us with these 4 little children and, through him, we want to do what is best for them. That isn't always easy. I think any good parent questions decisions that they have made. I think we all secretly walk around wondering if we are "ruining" their lives. I think we start worrying about our children the minute that we see 2 lines on the pregnancy test. It changes your outlook and life to have this ultimate responsibility.

Almost 2 years ago, God jerked the rug out from under us when he moved us away from our comforts of "home". It was a wild ride and that is how we ended up where we are. Of course, again, I wasn't worried about our adjustment, I was worried about my kids (especially my oldest 2 children who already were in school). You know what? They did great. Kids are usually more flexible than us old people, and I think we tend to forget that.

Since we moved here, there are some things that I have missed tremendously about Murray. At the top of my list is that I never get to go on a "free" date with my wonderful husband. We have only been on 1 official date since moving.

The other issue that I have had a constant struggle with for almost 2 years is the school. It is a great academic school, don't get me wrong. My kids are learning a lot and it is ranked in the top 10 schools in Kentucky. Academically, I don't think we'd get much better in a school system. But, it has been a growing frustration. My kids do not get recess, even in Kindergarten. It is not built into the school day. It is only "if they have time". Guess what? They never have time! It broke my heart that sometimes they would miss some beautiful spring days by being inside a school building.

Another issue was the amount of work they are putting on my children. I want my kids to learn. I want them to learn tons and excel in every way possible, don't get me wrong. But doing 2-4 hours of homework by 8 years old is too much. Especially since they never get any sort of break during the school day. Even adults want to turn their brains off for a bit to wind down. That has been hard to watch. Our evenings are spent policing homework. We have absolutely zero quality time Monday-Thursday when school is in session. I live for breaks, to be quite honest. During Christmas, we had the best times in the evenings just playing with our kids.

So, these issues have been plaguing my brain for a while. Everybody around here is always telling me what a "great" school we are in. I want to say, "great for what?" Test scores? Academics? Stressing my kids out? Stressing me out? Teaching to test? Looking good to everybody else? Yes, it is great at doing all those things, but I want my kids to be kids. This "wonderful" education has come at a very precious cost and a cost that we won't have a second chance at. We will turn around twice and they'll be headed off to college. How much time do we really have with our kids anyways?

So, last week, I hit a brick wall. I was literally in tears after a 4 hour homework session. Sweet little Micah never complains. One of his best traits (among many....what a sweet boy!) is his "go with the flow" personality. I told Jamie how frustrated I was. I was just so "done" with the situation and really mourning what we were missing out on. I also knew what 3rd grade would entail for Abbi next year. Abbi is a child that really needs a break. She is doing great in school, but she is so "over" it by the time she gets home in the evenings.

He mentioned homeschool and we talked about it casually for a few minutes (not even a serious conversation). Well, I dreamed homeschool that night. I got up the next day and emailed one of my best friends that homeschools (she also pulled hers from a very academic-oriented public school) and scoured webpages that she sent me to get a "feel" for the costs, logistics, questions, etc. I think I wasted the entire day Friday just researching homeschool.

I pondered all weekend and I had that sick pit in my stomach and couldn't get it out of my head. I had to wonder...was this a calling from God or was it just my frustration levels? I also had a million other uncertainty's and questions rolling around in my head. I'm sure Jamie would even say that I was in "la la land" this weekend.

Monday I finally just prayed about it and surrendered. Jamie was already telling me that he wanted to do this, but ultimately I'd be the one carrying it out, so he wanted me to have the final say. I just gave up the internal battle. I had tried to bargain with God, beg my way our of it, justify another decision, etc. None of it worked! God was calling us to change and we want to be in His will.

So, as of 2010-2011 school year, we will be a homeschooling family. My kids are very excited about it. Hannah said, "I think this is an excellent idea!" and you would have thought I had told Micah that he was going to Disney world. He was so happy to get to play again and very excited that we will be "A Christian school". There is a group here where my kids can still be involved with field trips and such with their peers. It is the best of both worlds!

It will be a lot of work. I'm sure there will be days, that I want to throw my hands up and give up. I'm sure I will wonder many times if I'm teaching them the "right" things. I'm positive that my confidence level will go up and down through all of this. But, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! He doesn't call the equipped, he equips the called!

It doesn't hurt that I have an educational background. I do have a "teacher brain" so to speak. I graduated from college 12 years ago. I was a new Christian at that time and I really didn't know what my future held (who does?). But, as I sit back, I realize that God was probably preparing me even then. He knew that this day was coming. He was preparing me for such a time as this!

So, just pray for us! It is very overwhelming, yet exciting! We are embarking on new territory for us. I will have a great support system here, but it is still the fear of the unknown that is scary!

Sorry for the novel!

Snow Fun and the Tooth Fairy is Visiting

Well, Hannah finally lost that first tooth! The child didn't even have a tooth in her head until she was 13 months old, so it isn't any wonder that she is just now loosing that tooth. My other kids were 5 and she is almost 7. She is very proud though and she will get a sticker tomorrow at school.

Saturday we had some snow fun. It was a good snow. The temperatures weren't totally unbearable and even though it was a bit powdery for a snowman, the kids sure did have fun. Chloe could barely walk in some areas where it had drifted so deep.

Jamie did shovel the driveway and made them a little fort. Well, if you can call it that. The girls were using it to play house instead.



Here is Micah being buried in the snow. A little bit chillier than being buried in the sand.
And, I think we've watched "A Christmas Story" one too many times. You know the kid that sticks his tongue to the metal pole? No, he didn't really do it.


Not much else happening on the home front. Jamie and I are praying and thinking about some things on the horizon. God knows what they are and I suppose that others will know soon enough. No, it is not another baby!