Score!

Every kid wants to win every game. Every kids wants to be the fastest, most skilled player on the team. Parker is no exception. He took a break to try football last year, ended up starting to play the drums instead, and didn't get back to soccer until this spring. Fortunately, the coaches of Caden's team were kind enough to let him practice with them, and he also practiced with his new spring team....the result? 

The most practiced kid on the team with the winning kick at the end of the season. His team saw much improvement from the beginning of the season to the end and Parker led the pack. 

This kick was made from the corner toward the goal and it ended up rolling right into the far side of the net in a "Bad News Bears" sort of way. Way to go, Parker! Score.

Silver Lining

We had the opportunity this week to celebrate all of Caden's hard work with his studies this year and see him receive the "Silver Hawk" award for academics, 3.5 GPA and higher. He found out that sixth grade in the middle school takes a lot more work than fifth grade in elementary school. He put his memorization skills to the test as we crammed, and prepared for more tests that he thought possible. He should be proud of himself for staying ahead of the work and giving it his best in every class! Seventh grade..? Bring it on!

Eighteen Days of Pure Joy

I'm reminded of the phrase Anthony Hopkins' character says to his audience at his birthday party in "Meet Joe Black": "Sixty-five years! Don't they go by in a blink?"

Eighteen days! My they went by in a blink...

Waiting for the arrival of baby Evelyn provided Erica, Jefferson, and I time to learn new things, discuss the intricacies of life, eat many well-balance meals, see a few movies, and prepare all the baby clothes and accessories in a neat and orderly fashion. We even took a picture of what I now call, "the invisible baby".

Eveyln Jade was born on May 8th and then time went by even faster. 

Eighteen days of pure joy.... getting to visit with Erica and Jefferson, welcoming Evie into the world and then holding her, dressing her, singing to her, taking 500 pictures of her, sharing all my words of wisdom with the new mom and dad, helping around the house, and running errands with and for Erica. Did I mention holding Evie? Yes, that was so enjoyable and such a precious gift. I now know why people say being a grandma is better than being a mom. It's because you get all the benefits of having a new baby in the family without going through all the work.

I'm so looking forward to our next visit. If I'm lucky, she'll still be a baby and she'll still let me hold her. You know how fast eighteen days can go by?

Patience: "Waiting Without Complaining"

I recently began to think of all the scenarios in my life in which I wait:

• In line at the grocery store
• At a red light
• At the park while my boys play soccer
• In the car during music lessons
• At Erica's, waiting for her first child

...And many other places that would lull you, my reader, into a guaranteed slumber. 

If patience is a virtue, and I'm seeking this virtue, I must wait without complaining. I've learned, during the many years of my life, to make the most of every moment. I blame my "task-oriented" personality. If I'm not being productive then I must be wasting time.

So, to insure that my waiting time is productive while in line at the grocery store I catch up on all the Hollywood happenings. Mindless wanderings are good at making the time go faster. At red lights, I skim through my music collection to find just the right song before the light turns green. At the park, or in the car during practice or lessons, I catch up on my novel writing, list making, day organizing, or event planning. Time is never wasted. 

My most recent activity for the past week has been WAITING with Erica for her first baby to be born. We have made the most of our time together and have learned a fun new skill that will definitely be put to good use in the years to come, for both of us. 

  

What did we ever do without Google and You Tube in the "Old Days"? We've been watching "How To" videos for every new item we wanted to make: Headbands, flowers, and bows, and then we pat each other on the back in amazement when they turn out so darned cute!  I now have something new to work on in the car!