Catching up with pictures.

These are pictures of my surprise 50th birthday!

Me spotting and hugging my sister Beth!

My niece Jamie and my oldest son Tim.

My sister, Beth, me and my brother Dave!

Sierra helping me blow out the candles!

Sierra and brother Paul The whole crew!


On Thursdays Sierra and I go t our friends Debbie's Bagle shop. Sierra loves Debbie and the feeling is mutual. She gets to go behind the counter and "help". This past Thursday we decided to walk up. Really walk, with no stroller. It was a beautiful day and Sierra's first with real pig tails! She kept wanting me to stop and take her picture!

At home in the apple tree before we left!

Stopped in front of our friend Pat's house with the beautiful flowers!!


Helping Debbie behind the counter!

Picking flowers with Debbie

On the way home with flowers in hand!

It's Final!

There are times as parents that your heart just breaks because of the pain your child is in. It could be physical or emotional. The times when you wish there was something you could do to ease their pain...but there is nothing you can do. You always wish you could transfer their pain to yourself. Tonight was one of those nights. Scott, Sierra and I were at Dutchess County's big Fair. Scott's cell phone rang and it was my middle son Paul. He said David had just arrived at his house and the decision was final. NO Varsity Football this year. I asked how David was( I had a pretty good idea since Paul had called not David) He replied"He's a wreck". I think my heart broke in a few pieces.We knew it was probably coming but the kids had practiced all week hoping against hope that somehow they would get to play the game they love so much. But it is not meant to be. Too many kids could get hurt and no one, not even the players wanted that. I didn't mention this before but earlier in the week David was chosen as a Captain. The newspaper came and took his picture. Everyday he checked the paper to see it if it was in there. Now all the paper will run is a press release stating that the varsity season has been cancelled. A few minutes later David did call me. He seemed OK. I know his brother Paul helped him. Actually he said him and Paul cried together.(Such big tender hearted men!!) Paul told David that he was the best out of the three of them an he will miss seeing what he could have accomplished this year. I know this will be a learning situation. David will be OK and will find other things to occupy the time usually set aside for football. He already told me he has been helping the new JV quarterback and he wants to continue to. I , as well, will miss the Saturday afternoon or Friday night games when the air starts out warm and sometimes ends in Nov.cold with snow flurries. I am sad that Sierra won't get to see her brother play the game he loves. I am glad no one will get hurt. But right now we are all just sad....

Thoughts and Prayers for my friend

You may have remembered my bloggy friend Linny. Her house burned down while e were in China. The next day her son had emergency surgery. A few months later her daughter was diagnosed with a pituitary tumor. Then her husband went to Africa on a missions trip and returned home and got very sick with Hepatitis. And another son had surgery on 2 legs. You get the picture. (Oh yeah and in January they had just returned home from Africa with 2 little toddlers!) Anyway they have been waiting for 18 months to bring their daughter Jubilee, home from China. Now china has rescinded their approval to adopt her because some paperwork has taken longer than they think it should have. They are heartbroken and are hoping that God can move a mountain. Follow along their story at
http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/ They are an amazing family and really need our thoughts and prayers! Thank you!!

Not so good news about football

This is getting ridiculous. I got worried today when the new high school principal called my house. You see, in my excitement this morning I wrote an email to the principal, the superintendent and the Athletic Director thanking them for helping the kids get to play. I knew we were in trouble when the principal called to see what I was talking about. He knew nothing about JV kids moving up. He said actually they had decided it wasn't an option. I didn't say anything to David before he went to practice. Well he came home with the news. Apparently the kids had misunderstood the Coach(Yeah right!!!!) and what he meant was that IF the JV kids wanted to move up he would accept them. Well the kids didn't want to move up( I wonder why?) and the adminisration hadn't changed their minds about leting them,, Could this get any worse for the kids??? My heart is breaking. They picked David and 2 other kids for captains. The newpaper came and took their pictures!!!(This all happened yesterday.) So now thery are telling the kids they will tell them after practice on Friday!!!What.!... are you kidding me!! At least tell them at the beginning so they can all go home!!!! I am so very angry right now. I am not saying another word until something is official!!!

Thank you!

This has been a roller coaster week. But we are so happy with the football outcome. The boys have a rough road ahead of them. They are playing schools with over 40 kids on the team. We have 22! And none too big!!! We need to pray for their safety but am so glad they are getting the chance. I want to thank all my bloggy friends who have been so supportive. I have felt a little guilty worrying so much about football when I KNOW there are so many other important issues the world is dealing with. But you have all understood what was going on in my 18 year old sons heart and therefore in mine as well. It is what makes us great moms!!! But I want you to read about something important. My "friend" Sharla is a fellow adoptive Mom. She is a believer, an incredible writer, and an awesome photographer. She has just returned from a mission trip to Africa. I would love for you to read her posts about her journey. We must be aware of what is going on all around us. click herehttp://www.thehandsofthepotter.blogspot.com/ and follow along. You won't be sorry you did!!!

YES FOOTBALL!!!!!

The will have a Varsity team and they will be able to play their first game. They have heart!!! The powers that be finally decided to move up a few JV kids. They had not wanted to do that because it puts JV in jeopardy. I don't know what changed their minds, probably the look on these poor boys faces. Anyway they should be able to play their first game. It is going to be a long season but at least they get a chance!!!! This Mom is crying tears of joy!!!!!

Still No Decision!

OK I was prepared, I had my tissues and everything. But the decision tonight was to make no decision until Friday. The kids are so discouraged. Even if they get enough players by Friday, they will have to forfeit their first 2 games and not play until Sept. 18th or something. Now they have been practicing since August 17th. For the first week they practiced 2 times a day. Now they are telling them that they will have to practice for 3 more weeks without playing any games, IF 8 more kids show up. And they would have to be very big kids. I was very proud of the kids tonight. They expressed their desire to not drag this out. They feel that the kids that really want to play football were sitting in that room and if there wasn't enough of them then so be it. They feel that a kid really has to have football in their hearts to play and if they aren't there and haven't been then its not in their heart. They all talked( David actually talked first) and expressed their concerns. Then they went outside to talk as a group. They came back in and said they wanted a decision tonight. But the adults wouldn't hear of it. They said you never know who might show up. I felt bad for the kids because the adults weren't really listening. They don't know what it is to practice day after day. And as David said with having to forfeit 2 games there is no chance of play offs or anything like that. So they will practice until Friday and a decision will be made. They could possibly play for another school but again he wishes they could have started that sooner. It is so frustrating and so sad. And then you have the coach wondering why kids aren't coming out for the team. I did not want it to become a let's rip the coach apart night but many of us know why. He didn't even sit with the kids.Ugh!!!!!!
David played for a Football League when he was in 4,5 and 6, grade. He loved the coaches and had a blast. It was not through school. These 2 coaches have been hired by our school to coach our modified team(7 and 8 grade) David has expressed a desire to work with them if he can't play. I know they would love to have him. But when I think of him not having his senior year to play quarterback it still makes me want to cry. I hope the issues are fixed and no other senior group has to face this. I attended this school over 30 years ago and as far as I know they have never not had a team. I will keep you all posted. David came home and cried. He is sad, discouraged, tired and frustrated. The decision tonight is prolonging the agony. Thanks for all your thoughts.