3 lists...

To do list already done:

• Washed clothes and put up
• Got all suitcases down, tagged and ready
• Started packing
• Got warm clothes down to pack for the beach
• Got passports and id's ready
• Researched best parking for us at airport for 6 days
• Called and asked airline tons of crazy questions about customs, bags, etc
• Got 3 ounce containers and quart size bags for carry on (never mind that, Jason just informed me that he didn't pick them up yesterday like I asked)
• Loaded currency converter, Spanish word dictionary, pinterest, etc on Ipod for use while there
• Called cell phone company about getting International long distance plan, but backed out since it was more for a month of it than .99 per minute that I probably will not use
• Washed Eves team leo, warm up suit and packed for competition
• Ordered tickets to College meet on Friday night there (Can't wait!)
• Took Christmas decorations down inside and outside ( well except for the mailbox) and put back in the attic (well not yet in attic but Jason's got that on his to do list next :)
• Swept, mopped, vacuumed, clean toilets, cleaned sinks, cleaned counters, cleaned tubs, showers, girls finally cleaned their rooms, etc
• Used gift cards up that we got for Christmas(Oh yeah!)
• Painted my toe nails for the beach

 Now my to do list that hasn't been done yet:

• Finish packing
• Wash Eves practice leo and remember to ger her grips
• Get someone to watch our animals while we are gone
• Worry about being patted down and stripped searched at the airport over and over and over
• Make my feet less ashy someway so I can wear sandals while there ( I need a pedicure real bad)
• Spray tan myself or get Jason to stain me up so I am not scary white for capris and sundresses
• Shave
• Worry about Eve and Jasy loosing something very valuable at the airport or in Mexico bc they never keep up with anything!
• Etc, etc, etc

Here will be my to do list starting Wednesday about 3:30 Central Standard time:

What a CHRISTmas...

We had a great Christmas! It was such a wonderful time. We made lots of good memories and the kids got more than they needed of course. So much that my whole living room and breakfast room were covered for days!  We all spent the night with my parents on Christmas Eve and I think it made my parents year. They loved it and we did as well. The kids didn't get much sleep bc they were so excited but we are use to  not getting much sleep anyway on Christmas Eve. We woke up to my Moms wonderful Christmas breakfast and it hit the spot! We then opened our enormous size stockings that I made for everyone that we had filled the night before with lots of goodies. They were stuffed with all kinds of $5 gifts! My favorite was the zebra cosmetic bag that my Dad picked out all by himself!!! After that, we cleaned up really fast and went home for the kids to see what Santa brought them. They were thrilled to see that Santa had full filled all their Christmas wishes! After that, we took showers and went to church for  a wonderful Christmas service. It was a great way to celebrate Jesus birthday and was so nice being back in His house after missing several services while sick! After church we went to Jason's Mom and Dads to celebrate with them and the rest of his family. The girls got so much more there as well and so did we. It was such a great day! On Monday we finished our Christmas by going to Dollywood! We won tickets on a local radio station and I was ecstatic! The lights were BEAUTIFUL! It was also the anniversary of when Jason proposed to me so spending the day with him there made it that much more special! I was so happy that we were all healthy again to be able to enjoy such a wonderful time of year together!

Now we are getting ready to go on our trip to Cancun in a week. I am so ready for some warm weather and some sand between my toes! I have to admit that I am not going to Cancun with Eve's meet in my mind lol. But...I will be there for her huge meet but right after I will be back on that beach! Jasy doesn't understand why I got all of their summer clothes back out and packed them for our trip. She keeps telling me it's winter and that the clothes I got are for summer, lol. She will thank me when we get there though! My mom is really worried about us traveling to Mexico. She keeps telling me over and over how safe we need to be. She is starting to make me worry too! That and worrying about security at the airport has  my stomach a little upset. I think we will make it though.

We survived...

The Donald household has been rocked by the dreary old word "THE FLU"!! Oh how, it has not been fun! I am writing this with a roll of toilet paper by my side (done used up all the tissues) and a noise full of snot! I am feeling so much better though! Eve and Jason too! I started this whole mess last Thursday night, not feeling well at all. I had a hair appt to get my hair done and I felt horrible! No fever then, just felt awful and I could tell that I was catching something. I gagged the most part of getting my hair done, trying not to barf on my hairdresser while she put highlights in my hair for Christmas. I made it through and went home, soaked in a hot bath and went straight to bed. Friday morning, not good! Didn't feel good at all but I pushed myself to go to work for the last day and make Jasys class party that she was so excited about. Again, no fever, just felt awful! I prayed my way through the day Friday and made it home. I crashed! Saturday am, felt like I had been hit by a train! I got up to take Eve to gymnastics practice and I could not function! I called my mom and she came to take Eve for me and when she showed up I must have looked like I was dieing bc she insisted that I go directly to the Urgent Care. I drove myself there, I do not remember going there at all, I get there at 8:40 and I am thinking I can be the first one seen, get in and get out and go to bed. I look at the door and they do not open until 10am! I had to sit in my car for 1hr and 20 mins and wait for them to open! I thought I was going to die!  I get home, immediately take my medicine and go to bed! I wake up 20 minutes later vomiting all over the place. I run to the bathroom, and it's like a monsoon of vomit, I can't quit. I throw up on myself, on the floor, in the toilet, on the clothes in the floor that I just threw there when I got home bc I was too sick to put them anywhere. I eventually stop vomiting and start trying to clean up the disaster area to the best I a delirious woman can, then I crawl back to bed and sit there. Jason comes home 5 minutes later and walks in the bedroom, looks at me and has this concerned look on his face like he is fixing to loose his wife. I must have looked like a ghost. He then has to leave to go get Eve in Greenville at her gymnastics Ice Skating party, and pick up Jasy at  my moms. I am stuck by myself again. Ughh....Will I ever make it?! Well I did make it somehow and I wake up Sunday morning, and their sick too. Jason is sick as a dog, Eve is sick as a dog, and Jasy is bouncing off the walls wanting to eat! Poor Jasy had to wait on us with our request for water, cold washcloths (which were still soaking wet that they drenched our face when applied), etc. At one point I look in the kitchen and she is sitting on the bar buttering her bread by herself. It really broke my heart so I called my mom to come get her so she could get out of the retirement home for a bit. Jason has to fax his time sheet for work every Sunday night so he will get paid since our fax machine is tore up he goes to town and faxes it. He was so sick Sunday night that he could bearly drive. I was as well. Finally he mustard up enough energy to go, after about 1hour of him being gone I start to get worried bc it usually only takes him about 30 minutes. I am so sick that I can bearly remember how to use my cell phone. It takes me about 5 minutes to work it but finally I call. No answer. Okay, I am real worried now. After about 15 minutes of calling him I hear him pull up. I wait for him to come in the garage door but after 10 minutes he still hasn't come in. What? Then the door opens and in he comes, drenched with sweat, pale as ghost, and collapses on the couch. I ask him if he is okay and what took him so long and he precedes to tell me that he was so weak when he got there and was about to pass out that he had to go to sleep in the truck before he could go inside to fax his time sheet! Poor thing! In the meantime, Eve is lying around, with dark circles under her eyes, coughing her head off, crying bc her head and throat and body is hurting so bad. I go to get her something to drink. Again, I am delirious as well so I find myself standing over Jason handing him the drink and then I realize that it wasn't him, it was for Eve. I did this all night. I am taking care of them while I am sick and not doing a very good job lol. But we survived it all thank God and we are doing so  much better! We just have some funny stories to tell on Christmas! Jason and Eve are pretty much completely better and I am still coughing my head off, and dealing with a terrible sinus infection but I will take it !!!! We are so fortunate that we didn't get sick at Christmas! It was hard being sick and missing so much that was going on the last week. My calendar on my phone went crazy Saturday and Sunday and all I could do was turn it off and go to sleep knowing that I was missing all of the festivities. It wasn't like I had planned but I know that it could have been worse. Jason couldn't do the Christmas program at church that he had been practicing for a while. That was hard for him. But we still had each other. Jasy drew us lots of pretty pictures, and gave us lots of kisses so it made it so much better.

Now it's Christmas eve and we are so ready to do some celebrating! Jesus was born tomorrow and we need to get this party started! I hope everyone has a very Merry CHRISTmas! Because of Him, and only Him!

Happy Birthday my sweet Lord and thanks for taking care of the snot noise Donalds so we could be all better by your Birthday!

Christmas in an element'ry school

 Only 2 more days until Christmas break! This is soooo true and too funny!



(To the tune of “Winter Wonderland” )

Children scream, they won’t lis’in;
When they go, we won’t kiss em’,
In all of this pain, we try to stay sane,
Workin’ in an element’ry school.
Christmas comes, they’re excited,
Though our nerves, they’ve ignited,
They’re off the walls, they run in the halls,
Workin’ in an element’ry school.
In the lunchroom we can hear them yellin’
And we know that they are really wound,
Someone hits, the other says “I’m tellin’ “
And that is when our heads begin to pound.
Pretty soon, we’ll be restin’
Cause our nerves, they’ve been testin’,
We’re happy its clear,
It comes once a year,
Christmas in an element’ry school!

These are a few of my favorite things...

Smiles on faces and lights all lit up
Bright Christmas colors and warm blankets
Sparkling paper packages tied up with ribbon
These are a few of my favorite things
Chocolate candies and hot cocoa
Christmas music playing all around and kids saying "I want that" all through the town
Wild kids on Christmas morning rushing to the tree
These are a few of my favorite things
Girls in red dresses with lime green ribbon
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Church steeples glowing on Christmas morn
These are a few of my favorite things
When the alarm goes off
When the tiredness sets in
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

:)

My favorite book of the Bible...

Oh how I love me some Phillippians! What a blessing I get every time I read it. The Lord so gracefully showed me what I needed this morning. May we all have a wonderful weekend, full of fun, excitement and blessings.


Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, [my] dearly beloved.
2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and [with] other my fellowlabourers, whose names [are] in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord [is] at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things [which were sent] from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
20 Now unto God and our Father [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.
21 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.
22 All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.
23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen. ([To [the] Philippians written from Rome, by Epaphroditus.])

Wrapping baby...

Well we started doing the wrapping this weekend of the presents! I love it when you look under the tree and it's full of pretty packages, bags and ribbon! I love pretty wrapping paper, sparkling tissue, and glittery bows! I must admit that I am not a master wrapper though! I'm not bad but I am not good like Jason so I design the outer shell- you know, pick the paper for each present,do the gift tags, and tie the pretty ribbon and he does the elegant wrapping. I thought about getting him a second job for the Holidays wrapping presents but I figured he had enough on his plate right now. Hobby lobby is one of my favorite stores in the whole world!!! I can just walk in those doors, and it's like a light turns on and the angels start singing in harmony bc I am in Heaven! Especially right now with all of their Christmas decor out I could stay in there for hours on hours! BTW-all of their Christmas decor is 50% off including their wrapping paper, bows, boxes, bags, etc! I racked up by getting the 100 sq foot rolls for $3 bucks! That goes a long way baby! Another favorite place to visit during the Christmas season is Dolly Wood. We used to go there every year the week after Christmas and "prolong" our Christmas a little bit longer. We would go see all the lights at Dolly wood, and then New Years eve we would watch the ball drop in Gatlinburg. I wish we could start that again. It was so nice not having that dreaded feeling you get after Christmas when it's all over and done with but you still are in the festive mood. You can pack up and head down and celebrate the Saviours birth some more! If you have never been to Dolly Wood at Christmas, you need to go bc it's simply breathtaking with all the lights and music! Speaking of music...I am one of those shoppers who love walking in the department stores and hearing Christmas music playing softly. You know the way they entice shoppers to get in the Christmas buying mood and spend too much money before they know it. I get hooked every time! I think I need to start wearing ear muffs while shopping. I might borrow my brothers ear muffs that he wears when my sister in law vacuums, lol.

The Meaning of the Candy Cane

Many years ago, a candy maker wanted to make a candy that symbolized the true meaning of Christmas-JESUS. The hard candy was shaped like a "J" to represent Jesus' name. The color white stands for the pureness of Jesus. The color red represents the blood Jesus shed for us.

So the next time you chop into a  yummy candy cane, remember what it really means. :)

Gobble, Gobble...

What a wonderful Thanksgiving break we had! Good food, good fellowship, and good times! The girls and I got to sleep in a couple of days as well and it was nice for a change! We watched the Macy's parade on Thanksgiving morning, cooked, and just had a good time together. Jasy brought home a turkey yesterday that she made at school last week and it was the sweetest thing! They had to write what they were thankful for this Thanksgiving and she wrote "For Jesus dieing on the Cross". She drew a picture of a hill, and a cross with Jesus hanging on it with a smile on His face. Not a frown bc "He wasn't sad to do it". He sure wasn't! He paid it all for us, He gave it all for us, He sacrificed His life for us! SINNERS, nothing more are we. I am SO THANKFUL FOR MY LORD! THAT IS MY ULTIMATE THANKSGIVING THANKS! Not the food I ate, the decorations on the table, not the times with my family, not Black Friday shopping (which I would rather croak than to adhere to that nonsense), not the petty little things that I listed last month that I am thankful for! I am thankful that my sins have been forgiven, and my name is written in the Lambs book of Life! Is yours?

Whew...

Hello all...It's been a busy week and weekend! Whew... Last night when I went to bed, I think I really passed out instead of drifted off. I went to the Biltmore house yesterday with Eve on her field trip and riding on an activity bus through curvy mountain roads with kids vomiting, sticking suckers in your hair, yelling, wore this mama out!!! The sucker thing... I had a little boy that insisted on sitting with me on the bus ride home. Well he was eating one of those long rainbow spiral suckers, just licking away and talking to me about everything that popped in his little 10 year old mind. As he was eating the sucker I could tell that the sugar was literally going through his veins bc he started talking faster and faster! Next thing I know, I turn my head to look out the window, you know, to try and enjoy the beautiful fall scenery in the mountains, and I feel a big tug at my hair, I turn my head, and sucker is stuck all in my hair! I had been dodging that stick for an hour bc I just knew he was going to put my eye out or something with that thing bc he used it as a pointer as he was talking to me. I was also trying to avoid him slinging spit on me from that slobbery sucker but instead I should have been avoiding him sticking that thing in my head!! I screamed at the top of my lungs and I think that the kids around us thought that someone was dieing bc everyone started jumping up and running over. Yeah...that was not fun!! That and cleaning vomit up from the kid sitting behind me was not a walk in the park! Not for a germ freak like myself! It was a beautiful house though and I did enjoy walking around with Eve when she walked with me that is! Pre-teen days! She did great at her meet this weekend! Looks like we might survive this level after all. She did good and her team got 3rd so we were happy with the outcome! Best thing though was God being her right hand and making her feet like hinds feet so she didn't fall not one time! That was the biggest blessing of all! She had some nerves get the best of her on a few things but with everything that was going on at that meet and it all being on top of you I would have passed out! Here is a cool picture of her on floor. One day I will buy some of these pictures but I'm waiting on a special occasion since I am a tight wad lately!  I am very thankful this Thanksgiving and I wish everyone a happy, healthy, blessed Thanksgiving day! Gobble Gobble!

First meet jitters...

Okay this Mama's feeling the stress of the first meet of the year approaching! Eve has her first meet tomorrow in her new level. We keep hearing that this level is the "make or break it" level for most gymnasts. Something about how the judging is way more crucial. They say gymnast either do good or do terrible. Pretty much not a in between! They have to work so much harder to score anywhere around where they scored the level before so a lot of girls get frustrated and end up quiting after this year. This is a huge meet to start with too! Lots of good gyms will be there and a lot of them. 860 Gymnasts, 45 Teams, 10 States, 2 Countries! Eve is very excited but very nervous too. She came home from practice last night and went straight in her room and proceeded to get her gym bag and supplies ready. Her grips, wrist bands, tape, warm up suit, sentimental items, etc. I think that was her way of dealing with her nerves. I finally washed her competition leotard that has been in the bottom of her hamper since her last meet-in March! I'm weird like that!

I honestly don't know what to expect tomorrow bc I never stay and watch her at practice since she is there all the time. I just know what she tells me. I did stay a few weeks ago for about an hour and I got so see a little bit but I still don't know how she will do with judging. She says she is ready and I haven't heard otherwise so we shall see. I am very happy that her meet is not on Sunday! That is a prayer answered! Please pray for her safety as she is doing harder skills this year on three events and although she is still doing the same vault, it is the event that most gymnasts injure themselves on. Something about running at a standing still apparatus and flipping over it scares me! Also please pray for focus, and self control. I know she can do it but I pray that she will have that confidence tomorrow that she needs. PRAY FOR ME THAT I WILL MAKE IT THROUGH! I am such a basket case at meets and I am thinking about going to the bathroom when it's her turn. Really!

Rainy fall day brings Christmas cheer...

Today I am thankful for this wonderful rain that we are getting! I love rainy days in the fall! Not summer, because then you can't go outside and swim and bask in the sunshine, but fall rain is the best! I am looking forward to some snow this year too! I hope it snows on Christmas eve! That's my Christmas wish! We have a special Christmas planned with all of my family and it would make it that more special to wake up to a white Christmas!! I am already in the Christmas spirit, playing Christmas songs all the time, Christmas shopping, and Jason doesn't kow it but next weekend the trees is going up!!! Yes, I said trees! I would like to put a tree up in every room in the house, but that gets shot down by "Mr. I hate getting stuff out of the attic"! I wanted to put it up two weeks ago but he said I was insane. I just love this time of the year! Everytime we get in the car Jasy yells, "put on the Christmas moosic (music) mom"! Love it!

Holiday tree???

This is going to make the devil really mad but since he's already on my back then it really doesn't matter to me! I read this article and I think it hit the nail right on the head! See what you think.

Apparently the White House referred to Christmas Trees as Holiday Trees for the first time this year which prompted CBS presenter, Ben Stein, to present this piece which I would like to share with you. I think it applies just as much to many countries as it does to America .

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God ? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Here's the church, here's the steeple...

Do you remember the rhyme "Here's the church here's the steeple"? I used to love that finger rhyme! You would join your fingers together , make a steeple with your two pointer fingers,  and use your thumbs as the church doors. You would say the rhyme, "Here's the church here's the steeple open the doors and here's the people" while acting it out with your hands. It amazed me! Look at all those finger people inside! Wish we had a packed out crowd every Sunday and Wednesday like that! I am so thankful for my church family! I love everyone of them!

Ch--CH-what is missing?

Thankful for biscuits and excited about my heavenly body...

Today I am thankful for buttermilk biscuits and butter!! Can't live in the South and not like biscuits and butter can you?! I miss the way my grandma used to make them from scratch. They were the bestest! ( I love the word "bestest") We would go over to her house at least twice a month on Sunday after church and she would make homemade biscuits to die for! I miss her being able to get around as good as she used to. She is getting more and more feeble and it's really sad. If only we could stay young forever!  Well...one day we will be able to-are you ready?

Top 100 things...

I don't think I am going to fit everything that I am thankful for this month. So here are 100 more things that I am thankful for today. Some are repeaters, but these are my top 100! Not in any order! If so, Jesus would be number 1!

1. My family


2. The coffee pot being ready when I wake up – thank you Jason for making it for me every night. You are the best hubby to think of me like that!

3. Weather in South Carolina-the best place to live I think!

4. The church I attend. Best Preacher around!

5. My job-Love working with these kiddos!

6. Our bills being paid

7. Not having to go without

8. Jinks buy me a coke phrase-LOVE IT!

9. The steak and cheese sub I had from Subway yesterday. Steak, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, green peppers, mayo, salt/pepper, sweet onion sauce, toasted on honey wheat! YUMMY-go try it, ok!

10. Getting my hair done- so relaxing that I about fall out of the chair. I love when she puts me under the dryer for 20 minutes bc I get so comfy that if I could get to my hair to twiddle I would be asleep in 5 flat!

11. The fact that I almost know how to trouble shoot most minor computer problems now.

12. My passports for my family and I bc that means that we are going to get them stamped real soon. Hopefully a lot more in the near future!

13. My children again and again

14. Kids with dimples

15. Our fish- Eli the 5th or 6th or whatever he is

16. My blankie that I absolutely love to be under while I am sitting on the couch

17. Cooking shows!!!

18. A night of movies, popcorn, goobers (the candy kind people), diet Pepsi, my blankie and my family! Movie nights are the bestest!

19. Six Mile Mountain ( or hill as Eve would say) I love that we have a view of it from our front porch

20. Watching kids have fun

21. Reading a good book on the beach

22. A nice pair of new socks (fuzzy preferably)

23. Nothing to do on a Saturday

24. A no makeup kind of day out of the blue!

25. My friends

26. Lazy afternoons on Sunday! Love them!

27. The seat warmers in my car! Love some warm buns!

28. A day on the beach

29. Looking at the stamp on my passports and thinking about the places I am going to go- (yes again)

30. Not having to travel to Las Vegas ever again- I hated that sinful place!

31. The fact that I have never won anything ever- I really want to though!

32. The first night on a new pillow

33. The comments and emails my readers provide, I think I’m over 30 regular’s now-whoo hoo.

34. The closeness that social media provides with my extended network of friends that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with other wise

35. Looking at my girls in aww…

36. That logic mostly wins

37. When I have more that two beverage choices in my refrigerator

38. Onion and it’s great flavor

39. Amazon

40. Etsy.com

41. When my kids smile

42. The day that Jason said I should shave more– good advice for everyone I think

43. The day I decided to give this whole blog thing another chance

44. 102.5 playing Christmas music for over 1 month! LOVE IT!

45. Water-I am an advocate drinker!

46. That I don’t watch the news and I never know anything about nothing!

47. My favorite stinky shoes

48. My favorite tweety bird pj’s

49. Everyday I have the opportunity to learn something new

50. Google-what a time saver!

51. A nice day on bikes in Edisto

52. Any day I can find my keys

53. A day that I can’t find my keys and I can break in the garage door with my credit card

54. Our girls trip to Memphis- one of the best times of my life!

55. Smores from the microwave

56. When we get good deals on Clemson tickets!

57. When I don’t forget my families birthday

58. Not having to travel for holidays since all my family is local

59. That I still have my senior shirt in my closet from high school

60. All the great friends I have

61. That I have in-law’s that are sweet

62. Salty, salty, McDonalds French fries with tons of ketchup

63. When my kids brush their teeth without me reminding them

64. When Jason knows what I am thinking before I say anything

65. The Clemson Tigers going to National Championships- yes they are!

66. Shrek 1, 2 and third

67. Watching Eve on balance beam-so graceful!

68. Watching Jasy rub her blankie the way she does –so sweet

69. Watching Jason fuss at the tv while watching sports- sometimes I want to slap him though-just saying…

70. When I drink a cold drink in the morning and it hits the spot

71. That most people are thoughtful and kind

72. Chips and salsa from Chili’s

73. Having very athletic kids

74. Teamwork makes the dream work- I love that saying!

75. Sometimes a cliché just works – I mean there has to be a reason they exist

76. Getting out of bed on the day you leave for vacation! So exciting!

77. The day I realized that I needed Jesus!

78. Any day I run

79. Quiet time just spent remembering past experiences-especially while relaxing in a hot bath or shower

80. When the batteries die in an annoying toy at Christmas or Birthdays

81. Clearing security on our trip to Mexico. That really bothers me for some reason –even though I know that we aren’t bringing anything bad.

82. Moments when I have the clarity of thought to acknowledge that I can’t control what happens – only how I react

83. That I almost have the right tools for nearly every job

84. People who have warm hearts

85. When dinner is actually delivered quickly at a restaurant

86. Every time I type a message on my computer and it automatically spell checks it correctly

87. Big sisters being patient with their little sisters

88. When my friends/family are willing to help me on stuff and are willing to let me help them on stuff

89. A short line

90. Having nothing left on my itinerary on Saturday (again)

91. Grilling outside in the summer

92. An unplanned weekend in the mountains – you decide at noon and your in a cabin at 6PM. (never done this but I really want to)

93. That it all works out in the end

94. The burn that happens in your throat when chugging a Pepsi on a hot day

95. No traffic when late

96. A hot fudge sundae with nuts!

97. A perfect steak

98. That a Little Caesar’s has $5 hot and ready pizzas!

99. The feeling you get when you can’t wait for something!

100. Any opportunity to share, listen and be with people I care about

Thankful cont...

"Worry is the dark room in which negatives are developed". I read this on a church sign today. That is so true! Anytime we allow worry, or negative feelings to seep in, they take over. Before we know it, we are seeing negative where we once saw positive and seeing negative where we really shouldn't be. So today I am thankful that I am still able to see the positive in things even when others might not be able to. I can only do that because I have faith in my Saviour Jesus Christ.

I didn't get a chance to write what I was thankful for yesterday. But I will start here-

 I am so thankful for little questions from my  5 year old along the lines of "Mommy, do you think if I am a Doctor, gymnastics coach and a hairdresser that I will make enough money to buy a guitar and a surfboard?" She is so stinkin cute! Then she started talking about how she wanted to be a Doctor so she could take care of me for free! Last Friday when her field trip was cancelled and I signed them out of school for a "girls day", she pulled a wadded piece of paper out of her overall pocket as she was getting out of the car at the shopping center. I asked her what it was and she opened it up and showed it to me and said, "this is a note that you wrote me one day and put in my lunchbox, I put it in my pocket when I'm sad or when I miss you so it can be near my heart where you are Mommy". Aww...... I about broke down in tears right there! I asked her if she got it out a lot bc it was very worn, and she preceded to tell me that she got it out every day at school until recess bc she starts feeling better then. lol. She is such a sentimental child. Very in depth. She worries about people, prays for people, and then the other day she told me how when she sins she always ask God to forgive her to make it right again. She is mature beyond her years! She never seeks to amaze me and that child is a true gift from above! I am so thankful for her!

Today I am thankful for having stinky trash to go through!Yep, yesterday it hit me that I threw away Jason's sticker for his tag, so we preceded to go through the trash to find it. Past the coffee grains, yogurt, meat containers, candy wrappers, empty juice boxes, cheese wrappers, soiled french toast, cereal, used paper towels, etc I realized that we are so fortunate that we don't have to worry about food. We don't have to savage through trash bins to find our  next meal and we have plenty to eat and drink. So...I am thankful for that!

Thankful things cont...

Update on things I am thankful for. Day1-4 and day 6

• I am thankful for my salvation! No one can take that away from me. I didn't have to do anything to get it, just asked and He gave it to me.  No contract or anything! Pretty good, huh?!
• I am thankful for giggles an cuddles. One of my favorite things in the world to do. Laugh with my girls and cuddle up under a nice warm blanket with them and just chillax!
• I am thankful for sweet little nudges at my heart from my heavenly father. He is always there for me and when I need help or a little tender touch He nudges me to let me know that He is in control.
• I am thankful for the country I live in. I am so proud to be an American and to have had the privilege to be raised and born here. My life could have been so much different other wise but God allowed me to be here. Not only am I in the best country on earth I am raised in the best part of it too!
• Last thing I am thankful for today is hair to twiddle. That's right, you read it right, I think it keeps me sane. Get me comfortable, and the foot starts shaking and the hair starts twiddling. I love it! I am not one of those people that should be on "My strange addiction" or anything, I don't make my hair fall out, I don't do it while sucking my thumb, I don't do it while rubbing my blankie, I just do it when I am sleepy. That's all. :)

Blessed beyond...

Happy Saturday peeps! Time is really flying by and before we know it Christmas will be here! Jasy had a field trip yesterday to the Orchard but with the heavy am rain it got cancelled. I had already taken the day off to chaperon so I signed the girls out of school and we made it a "girls day"! We had so much fun! We went out to eat, went shopping, and went to the movies. God was really looking out for us bc we needed that time together to just mellow out and have those little girl conversations. Eve really opened up to me which she NEVER does. We got to talk about boys, life, and well just girl stuff. She is a daddy's girl and she acts a lot like her daddy. She doesn't go in depth about much, very mellow and trying to to get information out of her is like pulling teeth. I am sometime envious of Jason and Eve's relationship bc he can get her to talk when no one else can. Especially more now that she is approaching middle school, I want that line of communication to be open for us. Maybe I need to just take more girl days just to show her that I am never too busy to talk to her about anything. :)
I have wanted to start posting about things that I am thankful for since this month is November. So I am going to start today.

Today I am thankful for my family. I am so blessed to have an amazing, caring, husband, and two beautiful, smart, sweet girls. Their what I live for every day! My every thought is revolved around them in some way. I wake up with them on my mind and I go to bed with them on my mind. God knew exactly the husband and kids that I needed and He provided! I am also thankful for the rest of my family. For good parents who raised me in a good Christan home, worked hard to provide for us so we would never go without, and molded us into who we are today. I am thankful for my brother who has always had my heart! I have always looked up to him even when he teased me the way brothers do. I am thankful for my big sister. The one who took care of me growing up, rescued me when times got tough, and loved me no matter what. I am thankful for my nieces and nephews. Each have their own uniqueness about them. Mathew who is special to me bc he was like my little brother growing up. I was only in 7th grade when he was born. I worshipped him and would stand over him and stare at him for hours. He was one of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen. I know God has a special plan for him and I can't wait to see what he is possible of doing for Him.  Jacob who is genuinely one of the sweetest people that you will ever meet. He's not deceiving in any way or fashion, what you see is what you get. He is going to make someone a wonderful husband bc of his warm heart and ways. Will, who was my right hand buddy when I was a teenager! I took him with me everywhere and I spent the night with him most weekends just to be with him. He was a little stinker, hilarious and so stinkin cute! I can still picture him searching for bugs and fighting with Jacob about how it was OK to capture bugs and keep them in jars when Jacob swore it was murder. Kaitlyn, who was my first girl. I treated her like an over sized doll and I would go to her house every chance I got just to dress her and fix her up. I thought she was beautiful and she still is! I can't believe that she is a teenager now! Allison who I swore was Hispanic when she was born, lol. She had the most hair too and those dimples stole my heart. Allison is such a great student. She works hard, makes good grades, and I know that she will grow up to be the best that she can be! Kinsley, you are a sweet girl who made your Mama and Daddy complete. You are a great little pal and I love you! Kolby, I love the way you get so excited about the little things. Give you a key and you are content for hours! I can already tell that you are going to be a kind person. The world always needs more of those! I am thankful for my sister in laws- Addie and Andrea. Addie has always been my sister since I can think back really. I really don't think of her as a sister in law bc she's not. She made my brother the happiest man in the world and I love her to death! I am thankful for Shane-my brother in law. He is a good christian man and God has got to be proud of His servant. My aunts and uncles. The list goes on and on. I am blessed with such a great family!

Mexico on my mind...

I am so excited about our upcoming trip to Cancun!! Jason and the girls have never been out of the states so their ecstatic! Eve is competing at a HUGE meet there and the gym did fundraisers and we were allowed to get business sponsors to help pay for the trip for each family! Her gym is almost taking up one whole flight!! We are staying in an all inclusive resort and Jason and Jasy will be in hog heaven getting to eat all day long!!! They eat all like horses and both of them are so little! Back to our trip...I can't wait to bask in the Mexican sun, order room service and eat authentic Mexican crusine! It's the best! I haven't been to Cancun since 1997 but that's the one thing I remember other than the beautiful crystal blue water, white sandy beaches, is the awesome food! It taste nothing like the Mexican food we have here. So full of flavor it just explodes in your mouth! Y-U-M-M-Y!! Eve just competes one day so we have the other days to do whatever our hearts desire! I would like to go snorkeling again. I think Eve especially would freak out seeing all those large fish! She freaks out in the lake feeling those fish bite on her toes! Who knows we might come back with a new spring in our steps and doing a little jig !

Halloween 2011

You would not believe all the candy my girls got last night trick or treating!! I mean the good stuff too, chocolate candy bars, and tons of goody bags full of a vast variety of chocolate!!! We poured it out when we got home and checked it and it filled our entire rug in our living room almost!!!The girls looked super cute in their costumes. Jasy was a ladybug and Eve as a woodland fairy (without wings). She said wings were "too girly". What?!

Deck the halls with fall...

What a nice weekend we had! I love fun weekends that I get to spend with my family! Fall is my favorite time of the year besides Christmas of course! I love the crisp weather, and the BEAUTIFUL changing of the leaves! I love decorating the house with orange and browns, carving pumpkins, buying costumes, making goody bags, making fun treats like candy apples, and  theirs nothing like Halloween candy!!! We had a great party at my moms house Saturday night. She had it for the young kids so they could play games, bob for apples and just have a good time but the grown ups had a blast too. My brother cracked me up in his "gangsta" wear and my sister was the life of the party in her "Old lady costume". Her booty kept knocking the items off the shelf though lol. One year, we had a spooky trail over there. We made a trail in the woods for my dad to drive the tractor through and we had all kinds of spooky creatures along the way. It was so much fun!!! We thought about doing that this year but never got around to it. I think my mom is such a fantastic lady and she really goes all out for her grand kids! My dad is a ball of fun too and I am so thankful for them. My girls worship them!

Tonight I can't wait to take the girls trick or treating! Theirs nothing like dressing up and piling in the car going house to house loading your treat bag full of delicious treats! Eve is 10 this year so I know that she will only want to participate a few more years. I am going to enjoy it while I can.

We had a great trunk or treat at church last night too. My bestie and me (shout out to Andrea!!) decorated my car using a camping theme. It included, a fire (not a real one), marshmallows on skewers, old lit lanterns, picnic baskets, blankets, sleeping bags, hot chocolate, etc. We froze handing out treats but boy did we enjoy every minute of it. I love that sweet lady! She is such a wonderful, genuine person!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Halloween, with lots of trick or treating, candy eating, fun costume wearing kind of night!

From our house to yours,

Peace out suckas (as Jasy would say :)

Heaven is for real...

I read an incredible book the other week. It is called "Heaven is for Real". It's a book written by a father (who is also a pastor) about his son Colton, a 4 year old at the time. I can't seem to get this story out of my head. It was so realistic! I don't want to go into details because if you haven't read it you need to! I do want to talk a little about how in the story it talks about a little girl that drew a picture of Jesus. An amazing picture of Jesus!!! She is a child prodigy to say the least. Her mom was atheist and she was not brought up in church at all. She had never seen the inside of a church. Just looking at it brings tears to my eyes. Look at His eyes and the peace that they give. So comforting and loving! This picture is different than all other pictures that I have seen before of Jesus. Makes you want to run and sit in His lap and tell Him all your worries, doesn't it? 

Rainy day scriptures...

Oh what a beautiful rainy day! A good day to hibernate! My girls have been feeling a little under the weather anyway so I was tempted to hit the snooze button and go right back to dream land. BUT...life goes on! Life has been throwing us dodge balls but I know that God is on my side and that He will take care of His children. That's the way life goes. No one ever said living a Christan life would be easy. It's far from it but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world! God is so good to me and my family and I love Him so much! I know He is fixing to do something AMAZING and I can't wait to see what it is! I really have no clue what our lives have in store for us but I am just content living day by day as a Christian and as a child of the most AMAZING King! Sometimes I have found that it is easier to take the road most traveled but in the end it's always best to take the longer route, you know, the narrow, curvy road, it always ends up being for the best. I am trying to take that road everyday in my life, no matter who else is taking the "other paths" . I know my road is best. I take wrong turns all the time, I'm human, but He just gets me right back on. It's the people that we meet along the way that make a difference in our lives. Even those we dislike or those who dislike us. God has a purpose for everything and God will have the last word in our life, no matter what we might want. This life is so corrupt, people just don't care anymore but I know that the end is coming soon and in the meantime all I have to do is lean on Him and He will take me safely through.


Matthew 5:
37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. *this is a hard thing for me, but I know God's way is best*
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have [thy] cloke also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

My new thang...

I have just joined a company out of Savannah Georgia that I am very excited about! Their a lot like Thirty-one gifts, they have really cute monogrammed items. Every price on their website includes monogramming, so its not extra. You can purchase the items online and put my code as the representative ( my code is"Shannon") and I will get credit or you can just get me your order and I can bill you for it through PayPal. I LOVE their lunch bags, laptop bags, market totes, duffel bags, cooler totes, book bags, backpacks (small bags for everyday use)luggage sets, wallets (love these),travel mugs, Bible cases, diaper bags. Their so cute!!! They make really good gifts for Christmas! You can also host a show and you get free stuff! Here is what you get when you host a show;

At home shows we also offer special discounts and bring our "bargain bin" along with us for even better deals!
We have GREAT hostess benefits! Included in these are:
-$50 of free merchandise just for hosting
-$20 for getting $100 in pre-orders
-$10 for each $50 in orders over $250.
-A fabulous 2 Cutie Patooties Hostess Gift! (usually it's a really nice wallet!)
We also provide invitations, either mail or email, and fabulous door prizes!
We will provide you with catalogs before the show for those guests who may not be able to attend, but would like to place an order.
I have attached pictures of some of my favorite items but you need to check out their website to see EVERYTHING!! The website is http://www.2cutiepatooties.com/

Let me know if I can help you in any way! I am super excited!!!

Routines...

Routines...they are a way of life at our home. I don't think we could live without them. I have instilled major routines in my girls as well and didn't mean to. Get them off of their routines, and you are asking for trouble! Jasy is still adjusting to getting up so early and staying awake all day. She has a rough time in the morning lately getting up. It really breaks my heart to have to go in her bedroom and get her up out of her little bed when she is snoozing so well! Her and all of her "friends" and her blankie. She has to sleep with certain friends every night or it's just not going to work for her. The Eve doll that says big sissy on it, the Garfield that Jason won her out of the machine onetime, Eve's favorite blanket to cuddle with, her little chubby baby, my teddy bear from when I was a little girl and her blankie that she has been inseparable too since she was about 6 months old! Whew...now that's a bed full! If she gets scared during the night she will grab the picture of Jason and me that sits on her nightstand by her bed and put it near her heart and sleep with it. (I know...so pitiful) She is such a caring little girl. God has really blessed her with a warm, caring, sweet personality.

Eve has to have her milk 3 times a day or she will hurt someone! Her binder for school, has got to be in tip top order or she will have a meltdown (Gets that OCD from her mommy) and that's just the icing on the cake with that child!

Jason on the other hand, doesn't have to live by routines. He is good spur of the moment, go. He gives our family a little creativity there. ;)

I am killed over with routines and I honestly need counseling probably. It drives my sister crazy who is "go with the flow", "who cares" type of person. Isn't it so weird how two sisters can be so different? I was reading the Bible Story Cain and Abel last night to Jasy at bedtime (another routine) and it made me think about how different the two brothers were. Abel so obedient and caring and Cain so high strung and self centered.

So tonight, I might, just might, go to bed doing my bedtime routines in a different order!!!! Who says I can't be wild!!!

My mind...

Happy Tuesday everyone! What beautiful rain we have been blessed with lately! God is always so good to us! I really am trying to make time again to blog so maybe it will get more consistent. I can tell that we are back in the swing of things again bc my laundry has made it's way into a mountain again in my bedroom floor. Clean, I might say but not folded! Poor clothes get washed and then abandoned for a few days. Oh well, that's part of our life right now. I promised myself to look beyond the dirt in the floor, the pile of laundry in the floor, and the toys in the floor and just step right over them into the more important things. If I died tomorrow, people wouldn't care that I didn't do the laundry or sweep the floors, they would be thinking about what I did here that really matters anyway. Like, witnessing to others, loving my children, helping my husband, teaching and loving my Sunday school class. I am going to confess first hand that those little things bother me and I let them keep seeping into my mind. A lot of things bother me right now. I have a lot on my mind for some reason and I can't seem to shake it. It seems like the Lord has put a vast supply of opinion in me and I usually just keep things to myself but now I can't seem to keep this ole trap shut and it just slips right on out. I don't know if God is preparing me to be more outspoken since for now He has us moving far north in a few years. You know those northerners love to speak their mind lol! I dunno, maybe I am just getting mean the older I get. Pray for me!  One thing that has been on my mind and heart our my girls. (You knew that right!) I pray that my girls find a good christian man that is good to them. Not one that comes from a family of different religions that will not agree with our faith. That worries me because I know that the devil tries hard to fit couples up like that. You take your kids to church and raise them up strong in faith and then when they start dating all you can do is pray that they will find a mate that God sends to them and not the other way around. It's got to be really scary waiting and worrying about who they will bring home when they reach that age. Jason already said that he is not allowing them to ever marry so at least we don't have to worry about that right!? No really, when young couples are dating even the nicest of people can have the worst impact on your child's life. I know that's confusing but I have seen it happen first hand. People who "claim salvation" just to fit into your child's life when really they are living two lives! I know my girls are young but being a parent I have seen the years already fly by and I know I will blink my eyes and hear the door bell ring and some boy standing on our front porch wanting to take one of my girls on a date. Please help me pray for this and pray for our young people. I can see the devil working in them but I know that I serve a God who is bigger and He has the last word!

A mothers dream...

I'm going to put myself out there a bit here, but bear with me. I want to know what people think about a 10 year old training 17 1/2 hours a week. I see nothing wrong with it as long as it's what she wants to do and can keep up with her grades as well. As long as she loves what she is doing I will be her taxi. As long as she doesn't mind having aching joints, back pain, bruising, and no free time (even on Saturday mornings) and loves what she is doing, I will take her. BUT...I get snares, looks and people who think that it's us pushing her so this is for that. Here you go...

 I have big dreams for my child. I'd love to see her progress and be a fantastic, high level gymnast. I'd love to see her score high, be a top gymnast in the area, etc. Would I love to see her become an elite level gymnast - I think so, but that is just not going to be in the picture.I just want her to learn the skills that she wants to learn and do her best in all she does! So yes, if I fork out money all the time and back her up in her dreams then I will remind her that she needs to do her best just like in school and don't just do it to say she is doing it. Make sense?
That being said, I would never push her beyond her comfort, put pressure on her, make her feel "not good enough", etc. I would never punish for low scores, force her to stay in a sport she was done with, or force practices beyond what she could handle. I will always tell her how wonderful she did (assuming she tried her best), how much I love her, what a great little person she is, etc. She will try other sports and have plenty of other opportunities as time/finances allow and she wants.

I hear/see comments so often that are something along the lines of, "she is only 10". As long as the parent isn't pushing their hopes/dreams onto their child, putting too much pressure, or forcing the sport in one way or another on their child (extra practices, home practice, etc) - what is so wrong with wanting big things for your child? Or hoping that your child will be "that one", even though you know they likely will not be. I know a lot of parents can't separate the two and the hopes & dreams lead to pressure & burn out, but what about those of us who can?

What's so wrong with wondering how your child measures up (in general, obviously kids peak at different ages)? Or looking for a program that might push your child a little more (assuming your child is one that can handle it/desires it and that it isn't TOO MUCH)? Or even just talking to friends/family/other gym parents  about your dreams and aspirations for your child?
I dunno....maybe I've said too much and changed every body's opinion of me. Maybe you'll all classify me as a "pushy parent" now. I just think that there's nothing wrong with dreaming that your child will someday be an all around great gymnast, or wanting them to be "the best THEY can be" as long as you aren't forcing those dreams on the child or pushing them in a way that hurts their self esteem and/or causes burnout.

I hear all the time "she's only 10, or WOW that's a lot of time!"  Just because a parent talks about their child and the sport that their in doesn't mean they are actually putting pressure on the child and I think the conversation deserves a response without judgment or a glare. I often am just proud of my child just like anyone would be when their child does good on something. I am a proud Mom when she is raving and thrilled when I pick her up that she got her layout on bars, or her round off backhandspring backtuck on floor. She has been working hard to get them and deserves to have a mom who is proud! :)

I hope this all makes sense and that I've expressed myself well..... I promise I'm very easy to get along with, hate confrontation, and have a little to no pressure household. Eve is my oldest so this is new to me. We have a long journey ahead. You hear from various people that your child is talented, fast, strong, etc...it's exciting. You wonder where will they really excel...and a coach recommends your child move up to an advanced level...even more exciting. You want them to do well. You want to make sure you are doing everything you can to support them doing their best. But at the same time, balancing things so you don't become "that mom". It's hard.

I think some things will come with time. It is great advice for people with older children who are competing to say "let it be their sport" but when you have a 10 year old, you are deciding for them what they do. Sure, I ask her if she wants to go, but I am the one who started her in gymnastics...if I hadn't suggested it, she wouldn't even know about it yet. You need to go with your gut that they seem happy doing it. We can also decide that they aren't doing it.

I think the constant reminders to be "the most laid back, content gym parent ever" are fine....but I think that goes for every sport. Parents at baseball, football, hockey,cheer....every sport has it's crazy parents .

There is nothing wrong with wanting the best for your child, and maybe even believing your kid has a great future. It can happen.

I am just trying to constantly remind myself to take this one step at a time. She may or may not be the best in her group but as long as she still wants to go and we can afford it, she will. But also know that at some point she may like another sport better, ...and also reminding myself that gymnastics is a great base for everything. ;)