As time goes by....

Let's see if I can get through this without crying! Hush! deutschman...hush!

Tomorrow is the 7th grade orientation. Tomorrow my baby gets on the big yellow bus and rides it to the big ole school (it's 7th-12th grade by the way)! We have always lived in walking distance to the elementary school, so I don't have the official 1st day of school photo by the bus. That scrapbook page(well it will be scrapped booked as soon as I do it!) has always been marked by my kids standing next to each other with their backpacks on next to the tree out front.

No, I will not take a picture of him as he gets on the bus tomorrow! That would not be cool! If I thought I could get the picture, I seriously would do it! So just wait...maybe I will! AH-AH-AH-AH (sinister laugh).

Ok I am prolonging the inevitable....you see starting next tuesday, either Jay or I will always drive the kids to the school. I have loved that time with Chelsea in the morning! Just she and I for the 10 minutes to start our day! Now Alex gets to join in on the fun!

Alex has not always been the easiest child to deal with. From the moment he was born the strong will was very apparent! He refused to sleep in his crib and then bed until he was in Kindergarten. There have been moments that he has looked at us and said, "I will not do what you want until I get what I want" Yes ladies and gentlemen, the kid in the Dobson book "Strong willed child" has NOTHING on Alex! I just laughed at that book and prayed my life would be that easy. For the first year of his life, I only slept about 3 hours a night. I had bruises on my arms and face from where I would walk into doorways and walls because I was soooooooooo tired! He screamed at people when they tried to talk to him.

Jay and I would just pray for God to lead us to become the kind of parent that he needed us to be for our son. It was hard. There were times when I wanted to give in and let him have his way. I knew in my heart of hearts that it would only hurt him in the long run. Jay and I often had to take turns dealing with Alex and his tantrums and strong willingness. There were times we often had to physically restrain him until he relented. It would take hours and upset Chelsea. We would tell Chelsea that Alex needed to learn this lesson to submit to his will to authority because God tells us to obey first. We obey Him and THEN we might get what we want but no matter what we surrender our will to His. Jay and I knew that if we didn't instill that in Alex then we could lose him when he hit teenagehood.

4th grade was another horrific year! We stayed on him like his life depended on it becuase in a way, it did. His spiritual life for sure and maybe his physical life. I would look at him and say to myself..."what is wrong with him!" "Why doesn't he get it?!" At one point Jay and I seriously considered having him tested for learning disabilities because he REFUSED to give in and learn his lesson.

5th and 6th grade were GREAT! He made the turn around the corner! That is not to say that he doesn't try from time to time to exert his will over ours but it is alot less frequent and not as strong. My prayer is that it doesn't rear it's ugly head like the first 10 years of his life again!

My point is this. Jay and I believe that you shape the spirit and break the will so that it can be submissive to the Lord's will. We also believe that what we do now is to raise a child of tomorrow. What we do now is to shape who they are as adults not just deal with the here and now.

I was watching Alex come out of the school today (he went with Chelsea while she got her locker) and it hit me! We are in a new phase of life! It is AWESOME!

Jay and I worked hard and cried tears and with God's help--I do believe we are on the other side! Alex is such a GREAT kid! He is funny and talented and yes he is strong willed. But I would rather him be strong willed with friends and drugs and alcohol and sex than with God's will. I am so proud of who he is! He is turning out to be such a fine young man. I know his cousins think so! His cousins have always thought Alex was DA BOM!


Thank you Lord for your steadfastness and faithfulness. Lord willing, we won't be going through the next 6 years like Alex's first 10 years!

Whew!

CHELSEA MADE THE JV VOLLEYBALL TEAM!!!!!

Way to go Chels!!! We are proud of you!

what can i say?

I have been remiss in posting because I don't know what to tell you all. Our summer has been well....quick, busy, good, fun. I don't know how to put it in words.

Right now, I am feeling very anxious and I don't know why. I have been feeling that way for a few days now. I think there is change in the air. I don't mean to sound ominous but I can't explain the way I feel. I also think that is has to do with hormones too. I feel this way sometimes....I will leave it at that.....

Right now, I am alone. The hubby and kiddos are at an amusement park for the day with the student ministry. It is nasty humid outside...maybe that explains my mood too....the hubby has called me and says that our son is having a GREAT time! He has seen our daughter with about 10 of her friends once.

Our lives are changing. This summer, we have been without kids so much. It is weird! It is a preview of things to come. As much as we enjoy each other's company and time alone together, it is weird becuase my mommy role has taken on a different meaning. It feels natural but yet weird at the same time.

I have a new found reality show....Cash Cab on the discovery channel! This NYC cabby picks up people and asks trivia questions and then they win cash or not if they get 3 strikes! While we were in NYC, I tried very hard to find cab # 1G12. No such luck--I mean how hard could it be with 15,000 cabs!!!??

Alex played some competitive basketball this summer and loved it. So he is all about the basketball now....basketball in the livng room, in the front hallway, in his room.....ugh! We have a hoop in the back yard!

By the way, did you all know that Alex HATES to ride a bicycle? I have done everything I can to bribe him! No such luck!

Alex has pimples!!! oh my! I have noticed the attitude is very teen like now but I am not readyfor the body to change! WE took him shoe shopping for new baskeball shoes. His last pair of shoes--8.5. His new shoes---10.5!!!! Opps!

Chelsea has volleyball tryouts tomorrow. I am nervous about that. I just want her to do her best no matter what happens!

WE have had major car trouble this summer. I have spent a good amount of the summer with out a/c!!! It has also been one of the hottest summers in 10 years! Lovely!!! Get it fixed you say?! What a good idea EXCEPT for the fact that our regular mechanic AND the dealership can't figure out why it is overheating!

I hate buying new cars! I love getting them but hate buying them. We have not had a car payment in 3 years!!! I don't want one now!!! but alas, it looks like I will get one....any suggestions?

Well that is enough of my rambling...sorry but again, I had nothing specific to say! Just felt the pressure to make a post!