freshman Grand Championship Daily News Journal article Today!

Three Rutherford County freshmen wrestlers won their weight classes in the Fred Rigsby Middle Tennessee High School Freshman Grand Championship on Jan. 23 at McGavock.



Eagleville's Blake Solomon won at 135 pounds. Riverdale's Scottie Boykin won at 189 and Siegel's Jacob Schultz won at 145.
The tournament included wrestlers from more than 30 Middle Tennessee schools.
 (wish I could find the article that has the picture attached to it...but oh well.)


DNJ
 
 

GO BLAKE GO!!!

Off the market

After much discussion we have finally decided that when our listing expired to not relist. It has really been a hard decision for all of us. It almost feels like giving up a little bit on a dream. BUT...keeping my sanity is important so we are going to wait. The problem is I am not raising newborns any more. Raising our family on the land was what we always wanted. The last time I looked my oldest child is 15!  It takes around a year to build a house (give or take).  If we don't start building our house now we really aren't going to be raising our family in our house on the land. We talked with Blake about this...we had the full discussion and even the full disagreement with him present!!! He needed to be in on this decision too.  So my thoughts have changed lately a lot. I have decided to simplify. Selling our home or trying to sell our home while finishing up my last year of college is not a very simple way to live!  Here's what has brought us to this decision...

watching my brother in law and sister in law be without a job for almost a year has been heart wrenching.  I realized really we have so much. Our house is fine. We have enough of what we need!

Being with my family while my Dad has been so so sick this year has taught me that it really doesn't matter where we are raising our kids but how we are raising our kids.

And last we have a close friend/family that recently lost his job as well. Not only has he lost his job but his whole family-this has been so hard on my kids mostly.  But the thing I have learned the most from this to cling tight to my family and to hold them a little more and especially to Steve.  Because when the kids are grown regardless where we live now...he's what's left!  My family unit is far too important to let something like a house/job/car/money get in the way.

 What I really want to do is really be happy where I am instead of "waiting till we get there"  to be happy!! 

This post was probably way too much information but it sure is good therapy.

BTW..I still can't find the spell check button. I updated the blogger a couple of weeks ago and there is no spell check any more...if anyone knows please tell me! 

It's one of THOSE days!

I could feel it coming on last night. The end of my weekend was almost here!  I barely saw Steve, the girls, or Blake so my family time was way short!  We were finishing up FHE and playing a game!  C. was losing her cool because we were not playing the game correctly!  I was losing my cool because she was losing her cool!  (who said FHE was a family bonding time-watching TV seemed far more bonding than playing games last night!) My nerves were on end. The nerve endings continued on into this morning. I woke up already feeling in a rage. Could it be menopause at my new age of 36? Ha.....
So in my selfish world...#1. I was complaining in my head about how the house is falling to pieces.
#2. The girls dresser drawers are breaking.  #3. because the van is a mess and I'm doing the carpool after seminary run this morn. #4.  Warren Co. got out of school and we didn't. #5.  That my poor daddy is still trying to get stable and regulated in the hospital-where is his heart already!   #6.  That all my teacher's gave me just enough information last week to get completely stressed out but not enough information to complete any of the assignments. #7.  Every single thing one of my kids said another one had something grumpy to say back.(getting on my nerves!) #8. I am so behind in every single aspect in my life...calling, laundry, mothering, cleaning, homework. #9.  Trying to set up the studio for pictures this morning and grumpy about the boys scouting stuff that has been lingering in the studio for a week. #10. Someone brushed their teeth with MY toothbrush!
So me, myself and I had to have one of those "come to Jesus" meetings. As I finished up the morning carpool my rage started to settle down when I made myself think of all the good things I have. I really wish I was one of those people that didn't have to settle myself down-that it was natural for me to always find the good eveyday!  So here's what I came up with.  #1. At least I have a house-warm, dry, messy house! #2.  The dressers need wood glue. -easiest task in the world..even I can do it!
#3.  I'm so glad I have a van...it works, it runs good, it gets me just where I need to go.
#4.  Glad Warren co. got out even if we didn't (mom didn't have to use a sick day while she's at the hospital with dad)
#5.  Last Monday Dad was so sick he was in critical care. It was bad. We were crossing our fingers and praying so hard that he would even make it. This Monday he's stable he's even walking the hall  a little!
#6. Glad for the opportunity to go to school
#7. Still gets on my nerves that they argue back and forth so early in the morn.-but being a mom is my favorite thing to do and be...even the bad! 
#8. I'm always behind on something...until I die I'll be behind.They'll have to call Mckenzie(my organized friend )to come organize all the stuff I left undone.    I am never still. I have 500 projects going at once. It's the way I am and I'll always be so I need to just finish a few so I can live with myself!
#9.  I needed the money really bad so setting up the studio is actually a blessing!
#10. I can wash my toothbrush in the dishwasher!
Life is really pretty darn good! EXCEPT...where is the darn spell check key on this updated blog??????

Zach is BACK

After two years of serving a church mission in Africa our Zach is back! He's back in the states  60 pounds lighter , nice beautiful tan, a stronger testimony of Jesus Christ and a funny little slang when he talks. We enjoyed hearing stories and seeing pictures(except all the weird stuff he ate and how sick he got while he was there) We are so glad he made is way to Tennessee since it's hard for us to leave with Papa so sick. We hate getting too far away!  It was great to visit with him and see how much he's grown up and changed!  Wowie he's gonna make someone a great hubby!

cave men!

Steve took his scout troop on an exciting campout this past weekend. They stayed in a cave. My brother (uncle A) and his kids are very familiar with this cave so my nephew William helped out by being the cave guide!  They had so much fun. I don't know who had more stories the boys or Steve and his brother Bruce!  Fun memories but I'm so glad I didn't have to go to sleep in a cave!

I can't believe it!

On Tuesday I will reach the ripe ole' age of 36. IN JUST FOUR days. OH MY GOSH! This really is starting to get on up there in my book. The beginnings of the 30's weren't so hard for me. 35 still felt ok. BUT 36...holy moly seems like a whole new thing. The 40's are just around the corner. I used to say this: Have my babies in my 20's, raise them in my 30's and send them off in my 40's, party and plastic surgery in my 50's! But now I am thinking maybe I should start the party and plastic surgery now! YEAH sounds good to me!
Ha!!!

BTW...school went great. All that anxiety. The kids did great and while I sat in class, although overwhelmed, It felt good to be back. It's good to feel like I have something for just me! It feels great to stretch my brain and learn and accomplish!

roller coaster of feelings

Hitting the snooze button this morning a flood of emotions attacked me. It's already time to go back to school. I am down to the nitty gritty. This is it! My last semester of classes. Could it be that I am already finishing my practicums? This is it before I student teach. The summer of 2008 seems like yesterday when I decided to go back to school. Packing in as many semester hours as they would let me;it didn't seem possible to be where I am now. Then- I never thought I would be taking all my practicums or the Praxis II test. 5 semesters then seemed like a lifetime. It's almost like when you have a new baby and the La Leche league lady says if you can just nurse 3 weeks you can nurse this baby a whole year. Those 3 weeks feel like a decade but then at the year mark you pick up your precious little stinker and you think where did my year go! We made it!
So today I am a basket case.
I am happy that I am finally where I am.
I am sad to loose the month I just had with my kids just being a SAHM and part time photographer.
I am stressed to begin this semester with all the work that is going to be due.
I am overwhelmed with a messy house that I meant to get all organized before I returned to school.
I am amazed that I am in the program and finally finishing up.
I am scared..What happens if I mess up when I'm in the first grade classroom-what if I teach for fun instead of by the state standards! Ha
I am worried about my kids when I am trying to juggle them around.(they are the most important thing in my life-I don't want them to feel like they are on the back burner)
I am grateful for this opportunity to spread my wings and for steve for supporting me in this journey.
So today, I am going to be hitting my knees, praying for strength in all these things because for sure one thing I have learned is I can not do this without a higher strength of help.
My schedule is:
Mon-math lab(teaching math to students-HA! I know me teaching math)
Tuesday morning-practicum lab
Tuesday night -Literacy practicum lecture
Wednesday morning-Practicum lab (1st grade)
Wednesday night -Math lecture
Thursday morning-Practicum lab
Thursday night-Literacy lecture
Friday half day...8-2 practicum set up and lecture!

I can smell graduation just not taste it yet! This is a journey that I wouldn't trade. The lessons I've learned have made me a better wife and mother. So on with this roller coaster i'll go. I guess I'll just keep being an emotional basket case. When I sit in class tonight I'll be missing blake's wrestling match, and wishing I was picking up andrew from practice and going over Leah's spelling words and watching zack and cody with caroline but when I do get the night to be with them again (Mond. martin Luther king day -no school) I'll be far more grateful for the time. It's kind of like sweets...when you take them out of your diet you'll start wanting them more!
So here's to the curvy, bumpy, upside down ride-I think I'll keep my eyes opened!

thankful thursday!

My mom loaded this on facebook this week. I laughed so hard at my bangs (what happened to my bangs!) I knew this one had to make it to the family blog! This is Lisa, Joy with me. We are hanging out at a slumber party when Joy came in for a visit! We've all been friends since we were 3! The great thing is Lisa and I still see each other a couple times a week. We carpool, trade kids, we are wrestling moms, seminary moms, scout moms and church moms together. Joy is far away but we keep up with her fam. through facebook. It's fun to go through life with people you love and they love you back! This Thursday I'm Thankful for good friends and family.

Food Storage

In our church we have been advised for years to have a reserve of food. Store some food for emergencies...also have a 72 hour emergency kit. It's better to be prepared than without. I don't doubt the council. Each year I have this on my goal list. I have done it before. Stored up the basics. Only to let the food go to waste because I didn't rotate it or I put it some where and forgot about it. At my old house Wears Drive house we had a pantry. It was big enough to designate a few areas for storage, but here I have no place for extra food. I understand what to do, how to do it, but can't for the life of me bring myself to storing food every where. One lady I knew had food under her bed, closets, etc. I just can't do it. I feel cluttered enough as it is. I just can't imagine storing food under my bed. So it brings me to this problem... I need a solution. Where do I put food storage? We have a huge 21/2 car garage but I've heard you shouldn't keep it there because of the temperature changes. Is that true? We have huge storage spots of attic areas. They are full of junk that needs to be decluttered, but if they weren't full of junk could we store it there or it the same idea...temperature changes? I could sure use some advice in this area!

New blog for my primary calling

http://www.mcminnvillestakeprimary.blogspot.com/
2010 primary themes are amazing. I have been president to this crazy stake calling since April of 2009 and still can't quite wrap my head around it. Just when I think I am getting it-I realize that I'm really not!!! But I am so excited about the 2010 guidelines. They are layed out exactly what we need to do. It makes it so much easier for all. If you are not serving in primary it has great ideas that we can use as parents to supplement for FHE. Also the song for the year is there in a link. I always get so so excited about the primary theme! I guess that's why I have served in primary for 13 years!

Pass along any links or ideas you may have to me. The email is mcminnvillestakeprimary@gmail.com.