Cub Scout Advancement Encampment 2009

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We had a great time at the Cub Scout campout! The weather was absolutely perfect all weekend - 70's & 80's with gorgeous sunshine during the day and 60's cool for sleeping at night. We stayed both Friday and Saturday night. The boys have really enjoyed Cub Scouts this year and this campout was a wonderful "finale" event for the pack.

Throughout the campout, the boys are involved in activities to help them earn patches, pins or other achievements. They helped cook meals, did service projects, learned to fish, took hikes, learned about Leave No Trace, played soccer, did skits and songs at campfire and more. Franklin earned his whittling chip too - they practiced with plastic knives on soap, then advanced to real pocket knives on wood blocks.

On Saturday night at the campfire, they advanced in rank. Harrison went from Wolf to Bear. Franklin went from Bear to Webelo. The boys have several friends who are in both our neighborhood and their classes that are also in Scouts. Truman is looking forward to starting Tiger Cubs next year! It was a busy, but fun weekend with not a lot of down time. Other than an overpopulation of ticks, everyone had a great time! Though, we were happy to get home for naptime!

It's Football Season Again!

I love watching my kids doing something they enjoy! When they are really into it, wholeheartedly playing, trying their best... it is so much fun for me to watch!! Truman loves football. He adores it. He cannot wait for the season to start and is so excited for every practice and every game. He asked me yesterday - "Mom, tomorrow is my first football game. Will you come watch me?" So cute! I love football, but I love my little football player even more...

Looking up to Dad for instruction...

Preparing for the hand off...
This picture just makes me giggle...

Reaching out to grab the other team's flag.

Run!

Hut, hut, hike!

Who do you think will receive this hand off?

My little man.

Team huddle. Tommie played assistant coach today!

Running down field for a 1st down...

Uh oh! I lost my tooth...

Truman lost his first tooth today! My big six year old boy is really growing up. The one right next to it is really wiggly too, so we'll see when it comes out...

私の日本の友人 (My Japanese Friend)

Today was the first time that I have had face-to-face contact with my Japanese friend again. We see the back of each others' cars in the carpool line, but have not had an opportunity to communicate again - until today! I was volunteering to collect baked goods from the cars in line for tonight's Cake Walk at the school carnival. She got out of her car to go inside the school and when she saw me, she grinned and ran back to her car. I wondered whether to follow her or to wait there. I decided to wait there (don't want to appear over-eager, right?). :)

She brought me this:

I'm relieved to know that I did not scare her off or say something completely crazy with my Japanese translated note last time! We'll see where this international friendship takes us...

Happy 6th Birthday, Truman!

Dear Truman,

Happy Birthday, Bubba! I love the time that we get to spend together each day after school. You always think of the funniest things to say or the deepest questions to ask. You challenge me, but (mostly) in good ways. I love it that you are still willing to cuddle with me (once in a rare while!). You have always been ALL boy and all about FOOTBALL. I pray that you are able to attain your dreams, but more than that - that you would seek God with all of your heart. I know that you will be successful, because you are so focused and determined... just temper that with a passion for the things of God and you will be a true success. I love you more than words can describe.

Love, Mom

Music Monday: "Thief" by Third Day

This song has always pierced my heart. On this day after Easter, I thought I would share the video version with you.

Music Monday Idea

I'm stealing this idea from my friend Jaycee's blog. We worked together at a summer camp in college, so I still affectionately think of her as "Jazz". She thought it would be fun to post about a song that has impacted her life each Monday and I love the way she worded it. I've often found myself agreeing nearly word-for-word with something she posted and this is one of those instances. Since it was her idea, I'll let you read her eloquent way of describing it.

Thoughts on Good Friday

Honestly, I've never really thought that much about Good Friday. I think that I'm usually so wrapped up in preparations for Easter that I neglect this very important day. Sure, I think about Jesus dying on the cross and communion, but not specifically Good Friday. Today, I had extra opportunities to think about what Good Friday means to me and why it is important to celebrate.

This morning, Franklin (9) was getting ready for school and he said, "Well, this isn't such a good Friday. We still have school!" That offhand comment really got my attention. I was offended that he had reduced the crucifixion of our Lord and Savior to a meaningless comment about having to go to school. Then, I wondered why on earth he would do that? Did he not recognize the importance of Good Friday? Have my kids learned nothing from the Biblical instruction we've done with them? Then it hit me. Do I recognize the importance? Do I share the importance with my children?

So, I asked him - "Do you even know what Good Friday is?" To which he replied, "Not really." WOW. In all of the times that we have talked to our kids about Jesus and what He did for us on the cross, how did we miss this key information? I suppose we like to skip right over the death part and go directly to the resurrection without passing GO. So, we had a little chat about Good Friday and the significance thereof and how it doesn't really matter that a snow day caused you to have school today, you can still focus on Christ and His sacrifice today. I think he got the point and I'm pretty sure I did too.

I pray that I will never again casually think of Good Friday as a day off of school/work or a "travel" day to see family or a day to finish last minute Easter candy shopping... but that I will truly STOP WHAT I'M DOING and reflect on Jesus' death. I've spent so much time pondering Jesus' death today that I'm REALLY looking forward to celebrating His life on Sunday!

Whenever I truly stop to meditate on God's Word and the fact that Jesus DIED on the cross for MY sin, I always walk away in awe and feeling humbled. There is nothing else to do BUT worship.

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:12-13

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." John 3:16-18

"It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last." Luke 23:44-46

Should I feel ripped off?

I opened my granola bar package to find a much smaller version of the (weight watchers 2 point) treat I frequently enjoy (see bar on the right). I couldn't believe my eyes, so I promptly opened a 2nd wrapper (from the SAME box - see bar on the left) to see if I was going crazy or if the bar really was smaller.

Do these both look like 1.4 ounce bars to you?

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My boys

Spring Photo Shoot

My mom & dad came to visit over the weekend. As always, we had a great time & enjoyed each others' company. I love the fact that my husband and my parents get along! Our tradition is to play cards after the kids go to bed and we sure did a lot of that. My dad recently bought a new camera, so I had some fun playing with it this weekend. We took the boys out on the town in their Easter clothes and got some good shots (and a couple of everyone else too!)...

My dad & mom

Three crazy boys at the end of a long photo shoot...

Truman (turning 6 next week)

Harrison (8)Franklin (9)All three boys at the beginning of the photo shoot (and the only decent pic of all 3 of them together!)

It is rare that Tommie & I have a photo taken together, since one or the other of us is usually behind the camera!

Lucky & Max got some of the camera attention too...

Maybe on another day, I'll post all of the outtakes! We probably took over 250 photos with three different cameras to get these few good shots... But, that's the fun of digital photography!

Self Portrait