Eyes Tightly Open
Last night our church observed a day of prayer for missions in remembrance of the Pentecost. Judith (our missions coordinator) led the program and showed a well-done IMB video on the fascinating Sayang people of the Pacific Rim. Afterwards, we went to the track next door to prayer walk for this virtually unreached people group.
I took the kids over with me and gave each of them a bullet point on the prayer guide to concentrate on. I noticed Number One (he's 13) looked a little perplexed but then he looks like that often. I've told you about him before, but the best way to describe him is wonderfully, naively, innocent. The kid has amazing book smarts - but the street smarts? Notsomuch.
After I'd told the kids what to pray, One looked at me and said, "Momma, can I just pray with my eyes open so I won't run in to anything?"
Just when I thought I couldn't love that precious boy more...
More Fun at the Fields
One guess where we spent Thursday night.
Ball fields, you say?
Why, how'd you ever guess?
This game was a little more exciting because it happened to be a Do Over from an unfortunate second game of a double header. It appears in the coaches' zeal to get two games made up from our schedule, no one (But me! No one would listen!) noticed the other team played with an altogether new and refreshed group of boys while our rag-tag, mad-cause-they-wanted-to-be-elsewhere kids barely drug themselves on the field. Yes, the other team played with an illegal roster and we ended up losing which put us in a playoff situation for first place in our league.
Now I know that I've told y'all I'm over baseball and I really am. Really I am. But, when things get close and your kid is completely invested in the outcome, it would take a Supreme Loser Mom not to care just a little about that. I'm pretty certain I'm in the running for Secretary of the Loser Mom Organization but President is not an honor I'm hoping to hold anytime soon.
So, with all that said, Thursday night was the Boy Two's Do Over. Did I say that already? And yes, we played the Real Team instead of the Stunt Team. I can promise you, however, there was no overconfidence on our part. This photo of the team going face down is evidence of that. (By the way, Luke is the official Chaplain for all our boys' teams. He is the calm one who invites the Holy Spirit onto the field and isn't afraid to have a Come-to-Jesus-time-out with overwrought parents and coaches and a certain nameless Chaplain Wife when things get a little insane.) 
Here's Boy Two taking his stand. It's obvious here why his brothers call him Pipes.
Here's Boy Three and his girl, Whit. She's the first girl he has 'gone out' with that I'm pretty sure can kick his tail. That's a must if this relationship is going to make it.
Three's Ex Girl. And yes, they all hung out together for the game. I will forever love Olivia because she is the one who introduced me to the goodness that is sour gummy worms. We shared an entire container of them at the fields last year and my life hasn't been the same since.
And finally, here's Luke - chaplaining. Can you just hear him saying, "Lis, you better not be putting my picture on the blog again."
Sorry, babe. This new camera is fresh crack to my blog addiction and I just can't stop myself. And besides, look how cute you are! If posting your picture and bragging on what a blessed woman I am is wrong, I don't wanna be right.
Unless you force me, of course, with those Mad Chaplaining Skillz.
(If I don't come back it's because he's killed me.)
Okay, I'm off to do some summer/winter clothing switch out in The Girl's room and clean out her booby-trapped closet. Just what I'd hoped for on a beautiful Saturday. But, never fear, there is another ball game tonight. It's for the league championship so say a prayer the game is calm. I don't even care if we win as long as everyone loves one another after it's over.
And I mean that.
Really.
But it'd be great if we won AND loved each other.
The End.
*Deep Sigh*
The school year that is and I couldn't be any more pumped than if I had just finished 30 Days of Shred and discovered my arms had morphed into the exact representation of Jessica Biel's.
Okay, so maybe I'd be a tad more excited about the arms than the school being out but the thoughts of either one - no matter how unlikely the buff biceps - make me plain giddy.
It truly doesn't take much anymore.
So, this week has been filled with Awards Days and Kindergarten Graduations and year end luau's. If I weren't such a Loser Mom, I would have tons of great pictures to show you. Unfortunately, the camera fiasco has severely limited my ability to capture thousands of words in a single image. (Thank you for all your suggestions! I'm watching sale papers now that you've given me some direction.) You'll just have to settle for significant verbiage and a few charity pics from girlfriends who love me.
Let me see if I can succinctly summarize all these events: My kids are brilliant and they received lots of accolades for being so. I know that sounds totally obnoxious but that's okay. They deserve to be applauded, loved on, acknowledged and if their momma won't do it then I don't imagine anyone else will feel so inclined. I'm incredibly proud of what great little human beings they are becoming and full well recognize they outshine any example I've been (or failed to be) for them. This is where I give full credit to their daddies (Heavenly and earthly) for exemplifying biblical manhood for the boys and the adoration of a doting father over that precious girl. Yes, I am one blessed woman and my heart is overwhelmed within me as I sit here telling you so.
Here's Boy One (far left) getting a medal for being on the Scholars Bowl Team. He couldn't get that thing off his neck fast enough after the ceremony. Someone tell me why a teenager wouldn't want to walk through the halls in a Team Nerd necklace? I only felt slightly more sorry for the guy who received a ringing liberty bell as an award. I have to give a major shout to the teacher who gave her Spelling Bee Champ a gift card to Rue 21. Can you spell C-O-O-L?
I don't have any pics of Boy Two at his awards yet {Nice save, Deb! Thank you!} but I have to show y'all this one that I love so much I could wallpaper his room with it. We had Buddy Pictures at school this year and this is Two (far left) with his besties. Anyone thinking Saul, David and Jonathan? (No, Saul is not standing on a box and yes, he's the same age as the other boys.)
Here's the picture Deb just sent me. I had to add it because I'm not altogether sure y'all have ever seen Luke and this is a great picture of him. He's threatened me in the past about putting him on the blog but I think he was just afraid I'd show the 80's mullet.
If y'all hang out with me on FaceBook, then you know every night of our late-winter, early spring lives are spent on the baseball fields. Thanks to the photographic prowess of my bff homegirl, Deedra (who also took my new bio pictures), my Boy Three's aka Big Daddy's pitching debut has been captured in great detail. Check these out. Smoltz-y better guard his mound.
What about it, Catch? Fast ball or slider?
Boy's got a booty like his momma. You can thank me now that I haven't worn baseball pants since the 80's nor do I plan on doing so ever again.
Maybe if I hold my tongue just right it will be a strike.
One spout short of a teapot.
And now that I've unintentionally paid homage to all the Male Children, here's one of The Girl and her BFF Forever. These two are the epitome of All Things Frou Frou.
It's official: The relief of summertime has been overshadowed by the joy of completing this post.
Y'all have a fabulous weekend!
A Beautiful Baptism
Proverbs 10:19 says, "When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise." I could say many, many words about these pictures, but I prefer to let them speak for themselves. This is the baptism of my 9 year old son. I can't even express the joy at his confession of Jesus Christ as Lord. For those of you who know him, you understand why. And so y'all know, this is Luke baptising him. As if the baptism isn't enough, the whole father/son dynamic slays me all over again. 
Thank you so much, Deedra, for ministering to us through your gift of photography. I'm seriously considering staging a fake baptism for the other boys so I can have a collage. You've captured the most important day of our son's life with pure innocence and perfection and I'll forever be grateful!
I Want to Go Baaaackkk..
No, this post is not a tribute to LOST though it should be because HELLO, PEOPLE!! MY FAVORITE SHOW IN THE UNIVERSE IS COMING ON TONIGHT! Just don't get me started on ABC moving it to Wednesdays when I'll be in the church house. Since I am one of the only people in the civilized states who does not have DVR, I'll be streaming Thursday morning.
Now for the real point. {Oh, yes I do have one!} For those of you who are new around here, I'm the proud mom of three boys and a little stinker of a girl. Boy Two just had his eleventh birthday which we celebrated Monday since he was out of school for MLK.
Now once upon a time I was a little neurotic with the birthday festivities. Let's just say I've moved past the days of making table centerpieces from tissue paper, weighted blocks, dowel rods, and themed paper plates (though they were genius if I do say so myself) and have transitioned nicely into the non-party birthday. This year, Boy Two officially tired of pointy hats and noise makers and instead wanted a few friends to spend the night. The plan the following day was to go to the movies and walk around the mall.
Excellent stuff as far as I was concerned.
The sleepover was pretty uneventful until about 12:30 a.m. when Boy Two walked into my bedroom and said, "Dad, I need to ask Mom something." Now I was dead asleep but he persisted in talking to Luke who kept insisting I was asleep until I was no longer. I finally, very sweetly, said, "WHAT IN THE WORLD DO YOU WANT?"
Very, very sweetly.
Boy Two said:
"Mom, I was just wondering. When we are at the mall, will you walk at least two stores behind us?"
The kid woke me out of a dead sleep after midnight to ask me to be invisible.
I replied, sarcastically of course because that is our love language, "Gee, Boy Two. You sure you didn't want to bring a knife in here and stab me right in the heart while you are at it? That should slow me down."
He laughed and walked out not having any idea that in front of my weary eyes he had grown up just a little bit more.
Maybe I'm not transitioning so well after all.
Next birthday we are totally getting a themed birthday cake.
And some table decorations. Some really awesome, homemade table decorations.