Blog-Jog

I realize this am as I was jogging around the trail at the park that I blog in my head as I jog. I also pray and sometimes they get mixed up together, but that's ok. The Lord understands and I'll try to blog appropriately--as usual.

I haven't been on the jogging trail lately. I was detained by a busy life of Student Council elections. (Kat lost by 19 votes-- a character building experience, says Mark. I think he was talking about mine. I was so bummed.) Then we had a ton of rain. Last weekend we went to the hoots and hollars of SE MO to a youth retreat. It took a lot to recover from that, so I was lazy and didn't go to the park. But I'm back in the game now and it feels good!!

The youth retreat was so FUN!!! Mark spoke--did an awesome job. If anyone needs a meeting on Grace, he's the Man!! So excellent!! It was fun to see so many old friends from JC. The kids were great, the food was wonderful. We stayed at a lovely facility called Camp Allen. If anyone needs a good reunion, retreat, camping with nice bathrooms etc.... Camp Allen is it! Our little girls got to stay by themselves at Grandma and Grandpa's overnight. A rare treat!! Abby got her picture in the SE Missourian with her cousin, Savannah, when Joy K took them to the Art show. Fun! We took our big kids with us to the retreat. Kat played football in the rain with the teenagers. Everytime I looked out, she had the ball and was scoring. H ended up having fun even tho she didn't mean to---argh!! Another LONG lesson in my endless book on"Parenting Teenage Girls--the cyanide Years--give it or take it?" We did enjoy our van, the ac and the dvd player both were appreciated! :) Getting a small visit in with the folks was good. We have the CUTEST baby nephew--Amy and Eric's Joshua is totally adorable. We are used to cute girls--all our cousins are adorable, but this baby boy this is a novelty.

We came home to softball, band concert, track awards banquet, Abby's luau and laundry. Kat's team won their 1st game--amazing! Kat got to be the lead off batter, got a stand up double and made the first score of the season! She played first base all game and got a couple outs. Mark got to see all of it. I was at the 8th grade Track banquet. I knew H would get a participation award, but didn't know her relay team set the school record. (This is the 1st year for the Middle School so many events had the school record.) Her name will be on the wall until it's broken, so that's cool. Abby's grade had their big luau yesterday. They do a 45 min program about Hawaii. Abby looked so sweet up there with her long hair and pink flowered lei, made me teary eyed. In 10 short years it will be graduation time. I'm trying to store up so many memories in my heart and not let it all whiz past in a blur. Jess is done with her first year of college. She is taking a 2 week class (Sociology) and then comes home for a week and then goes back to take Anatomy and Physiology. Sure am ready to see my big girl. Hence my emotions seeing Abby in her program probably.

Mark has all the girls out shopping for Mother's Day. I'm going to find the vacuum and seize the opportunity to spruce up the place without the usual round of questions, "who's coming over? Are we having company?' You'd think they'd never seen me vacuum. argh!!! Anyway, the girls have a birthday party tonight. M and I are going out to eat to celebrate our 25th anniversary that got overshadowed (ignored) by the youth retreat. (Will refrain from whining about that publicly--tho I didn't suffer in silence to be sure). This week is full, but not as full---maybe. As my brother used to tell me, "Time marches on---your face. "