First Day of School

My girls.

ERIN: off to 8th grade, her second year in Junior High. Volleyball, Band, Pre AP English and Pre AP Math, Career Orientation, World History and Science.

LAUREN: Off to her first year in High School. Pre AP English, Biology, Geometry, Band, World History and CBA.

Sheridan: First year in the Elementary School. Mrs Bradford...look out!!

Our little boy...a Junior...emotional going to school and leaving his best friend behind.

I love these kids. Our Bible verse for the year:

Give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God's will for you.

I Thessalonians 5:17

Last hours of summer

This is probably the last time Ryan will ask me to write on his school books for him. We've had a long day together starting with visiting the chiropractor together! His hip was messed up, my neck is killing me before my event.

Next we went over to the hospital where our friend had delivered a little "Ryan" at 5:30 this morning. We're very close with the family, so we BOTH got to hold this little miracle. Ahhh.

Next a trip to WM...not so much fun, but necessary. Following my FORGETFUL streak, we forgot to fill up the car with gas and had to make another stop on the way home.

Lunch with the WHOLE FAMILY, replaying our favorite summer memories. Ryan tries to get on my good side and say that working on Rhea Lana clothes was on the top of his list.

Later I meet him at the doctor office where he gets a cyst taken off of his back. I told him we'd do it this summer, and we did. Eleventh hour kind of.

Tonight we bond over the notebooks and my capital letter skills.

He may grow up but he'll always be my little boy.

Ah. Junior year, here WE come.

The day before the last day of summer

Had to count down the hours until Sheridan's open house. then she cold-shoulders the principal, when he introduces himself. OH, I can't get over that Sheridan has a little shy streak. I take full responsibility for her choice tonight. I've treated her like the baby of the family one too many times. We're working on it.

We capped off a wonderful summer Bible study with wiffle ball and sno cones at the church! I love this group of kids. They have been so faithful to our study and to one another. They have text(ed) me when they're going to be late and come after work some nights. They have called to just talk and a couple have made really big decisions. I am so thankful for this time. Richard and I both looked forward to every Tuesday night.

Katie, the human scoreboard.

The very tough winning team.

5th inning stretch: sno cones!

Three more days of summer

It takes talent to strum a guitar that is out of tune, sing a pop song in tune, all while Wheel of Fortune is on in the background. That's my girl. Life's a climb.

Yesterday in a nutshell:

Missed church to go to soccer tournament.
Soccer game cancelled due to injured players.
Half way to tournament when we found out.
Two stops to make in LR.
After first stop, XTerra is dead in parking lot.
XTerra will not start or be jump started.
Borrow friends car to visit Tyler's family at ACH while waiting to talk to Richard (who was in church).
Wilt in parking lot while tow truck loads our vehicle and takes our money.
Wait in A/C at Rhea Lana's of WLR, help with their sort, and wait for friends.
Sweet Diamondback family (who was also visiting Tyler) picks us up and brings us home.
Today neighbor takes Lauren to work.
Ryan gets a ride to football practice.
Richard lets me take vehicle to Conway...where I picked up the wallet I left in LR yesterday after paying the tow truck, and my camera...that I left in Searcy last week. AND, I returned keys to friend that I borrowed yesterday. UGGGG.
ALMOST ran out of gas, even though Richard called to remind me to check it.
Met leaders in Russellville to exchange goody bag inserts, posters and yard signs. Delivered lables to a consignor but FORGOT to drop off a shopping pass.
After lunch at Subway, had Richard drop me off at home, then remembered Erin needed a ride to volleyball, so he had to come get her at 3:00.
Richard and Ryan are now on the way to LR to pick up the XTerra, diagnosed with a dead battery cell and fixed at the dealership.

This song came on the radio today when I was headed to Conway...praying for Tyler, thinking about the car in LR, processing the upcoming sales, a headache creeping up the back of my head...

There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say "It is well"

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

There's a day that's drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
"Worthy is the Lamb"

"I Will Rise" sung by Chris Tomlin

Summer

This has been the hottest summer ever! Ok, not according to the official weather documents of the last 200 years, but definitely to all of us living now! The last three weeks have been continually in the the triple digits! I've never been so thankful (truly thankful) for the air conditioner in my house and car. I've always told my kids not to be the ones who grumble about the weather, but this has driven us to stay inside and fairly unactive.

Last week I was in Searcy working at a RL event. Unfortunately the metal building the sale was in just wasn't able to keep very much cool air inside. It was 82 degrees! My mom called me one day to tell me that Searcy was on the front page of the paper as the hottest spot in the state! The sale was fabulous and I had extreme gratitude for my cool motel room and my limited hours required at the actual event. The skinny girls were sweating too.

Last Wednesday our friend Tyler went down at his football practice with heat stroke. He was unresponsive and then sedated until they could stabilize him on the flight to Little Rock and Arkansas Children's Hospital. I had taken the girls out of town when Richard called to tell me he was on his way with Tyler's dad, and two of our other friends to the hospital. Today, four days later, Tyler is still sedated because his vital organs are not working properly. He has just started kidney dialysis for the second time although they seemed to be working earlier today, they aren't now.

It's sobering when a 16 year old is facing death and he doesn't even know it. His parents and brother are at the hospital processing all the information during many hours without any answers.

Tyler and his dad are here on the end of the second and third row. This picture is from 2006.

Richard baptized Tyler on the same day he baptized Erin. That was about 5 years ago now. Tyler was on Ryan's competitive baseball team from age 7 - 13. We've vacationed with this family all over the country.

Please pray for Tyler and his family, the doctors and our community as we face this uncertainty.

Hmmm.

We had this picture taken for an article on a web site in Tulsa about our new sale. We haven't had a family pic in awhile and so I'm especially excited for this fun photo. Everyone in the family has been helping with sale things around the house. And we're all getting psyched up for our local event...in 11 days!!

I want to blog. I do. But I'm too tired to be clear minded. My mind is in "sale mode." This means if I wake up at any time during the night it's almost impossible to go back to sleep because of the details of my event floating around my head. I have so many lists, of so many details, and my desk is a mess. I LOVE MY JOB! But right now, I'm really cluttered in the brain.

Because we are opening in Broken Arrow next month we are headed there tomorrow with two of my teens to hand out around 6000 brochures. I've also got a new phone friend who I'm going to meet and pick her brain about BA moms. I'm excited, but not nearly ready to go.

Today I took the day off and took Sheridan and a friend, and Lauren and a friend to the Alma waterpark. I have had the whole family working every extra minute getting clothes hung and tagged here at home for the last two weeks. I have an awesome family, and it was time to take them out of the house for some fun. Erin went yesterday with a friend to the waterpark, and Ryan had football today, so they weren't left out, just opted for something different today.

8 days until school starts. 9 days until we move in to our location. Before then: 2 day trip to Broken Arrow, Soccer tournament Saturday and Sunday in LR, football practices, volleyball practices and four open houses.

strength

Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40: 28-31