Dad Life Video

I found this video on my friend's blog. I am sure it will make you laugh because we can either see our husbands or our own dads somewhere in this video.  I know I did!

I am leaving soon with the kids to enjoy some island fun with my college buddy and her two girls.  I will be back later this week to catch up. Enjoy your mid-summertime fun!


Dad Life from Church on the Move on Vimeo.

Boys Bonus Day

When my husband heard that a local movie theater was going to broadcast the final World Cup Soccer Game Live in 3D he jumped online and purchased tickets for himself and our son. Just this past spring my son has gotten the hang of guy-time in front of the television watching sports, or playing xBox 360 sport challenges with his favorite competitor (dad).  To watch them ham it up with sports jargon and friendly rivalry is very entertaining and makes me smile.

The review of the soccer game in 3D was that it was very action packed and you had to be careful not to get motion sickness.  My son didn't care for the 3D and spent most of his time watching the game without the glasses.  Which meant that there were doubles of everything.  He thought that was entertaining.  The highlight was that there were African bugs at the beginning of the show buzzing around the 3D camera ~ so it added a little Disneyland Bugs Life Theater for the crowd viewing too.

 

The two left in the morning and did not return until fourteen hours later. It was a full day of sports entertainment because not only did they take in the 3D viewing, but they also had tickets in the evening for a Major League Soccer game in the city .  My son's first game in attendance of this soccer team. The spectators tradition is to walk in a crowd from the inner city to the stadium before the game. Complete with a band rally, an announcer, and a player in attendance (one who is injured or not playing that night) rallies up the crowd that assembles at the town square.  After much fanfare, the crowd begins The March. (you can see my son blowing his horn in the tuba picture)

My husband had purchased this horn from the team store a few summers ago and gave it to our son.  He loves to play it and it echoes very loudly throughout (so much so, that I had to ban it. I know, mom is no fun). He was thrilled that he could actually play the horn and not get asked to stop when he got to The March. And The Game.  He now has his sights set on band as a trumpet player.

My son thinks that my husband decided to move up to the tippy top row of the stadium because the seats were better.  When in fact, the behind the scenes story is that the horn my son was blowing non-stop during the game possibly was bothering the folks in front of him.  While it is tradition to blow the horn, there is also tradition in not making other people go crazy.  Way up top, my son could blow to his hearts content.  And he did.

Quote from son:  Mom, I actually got a little dizzy from blowing that horn. I had to stop a few times to rest.

The two had a fabulous Boys Bonus Day.  I am thankful that the two have a great, strong relationship and pray that it continues indefinitely.

Genuine Girl Day

We woke to clouds on Sunday, and that was after only five days of sun reaching record temps into the 90's.  My daughter was a little disappointed because Sunday was the day when her best buddy was coming to spend the entire day and night with us and she had planned a lot of outdoor activities to entertain her friend.

We picked up the friend first thing in the morning and took her with us to church.  I was a volunteer in my daughter's Sunday School class which was crowded with 15 boys and only 5 girls.  During the regular school year, the kids at this age are broken into grade level classrooms of boys and classrooms of girls. The number of girls has always been slim.  Something must have happened in the year '98/'99 because my daughter has always been out numbered by boys at school and church. One day she will like that ratio.  But for now, she really does not see it as a perk. However, I must say that the boys were very well behaved and so fun to listen to and get to know.  I was secretively wishing that my boy was in this grade level because they would be a great group to hang out with.

After church we came home to sunshine. My daughter was so excited!  The girls played outside in the Slip-n-Slide and pool.  Their laughter was contagious and great background music while I baked a plum pie, apple pie, and banana bread from our soon-to-spoil fruit.

The girls are both reading the Anne of Green Gables series. My mom lent my girl the first two movies of the series and they watched that together; making comments along the way and chatting. It was complete girl-time as my husband took my son on an all-day-adventure (blog post tomorrow).  So all day it was just me, the two girls, and our girly dog Cora ~ who enjoyed being included with loads of attention!

My husband made pizza dough before he left in the morning and the girls assembled pizza for dinner. It turned out great!

Although the clouds returned in the evening, the girls wanted to return to the pool at 8pm.  They swam for a good thirty minutes before heading inside for warm showers and dessert before bed.  They giggled and talked and I just couldn't bring myself to asking them to quiet down or go to bed.  Thankfully my son and husband got home later than expected. Which helped the later chat time for the girls since nobody else was home that needed their sleep.  It was close to midnight by the time my son arrived home and was ready for bed.  I finally asked the girls for lights-out-time and they obeyed and settled right to sleep.  It could not have been more perfect.

They slept in until Cora missed them too much.  She snuck away upstairs when I wasn't paying attention to give a morning kiss on the back of the neck to our friend. Cora loved having another kid in the house that spoiled her with hugs and cuddles.  She just couldn't wait to get the girls up and get on with her day.

I met the mom of our friend at the swimming pool mid-day where we chatted while the kids swam.  The girls really enjoyed their hang-out time.  They are very similar in personality, but just enough difference to make it work and keep it exciting.  It will be fun to see how their friendship continues to grow and I pray the healthy connection stays.  It is a family worth keeping, and a girl that is so genuine and honest; a great influence both ways.

My baby girl is growing up.  Sleepovers, girl only time, hanging out, becoming her own person, choosing good friends.  Thankful!

Neck-Up Check-Up

What a fantastic performance last night of our children and their cast mates in Dr. Newheart's Neck-Up Check-Up by Kathie Hill. The kids were given their assigned roles in late May and were handed the script and a cd with all the music.  They were then expected to memorize their lines and know all the songs before attending Music Camp last Monday.  From there, the directors and student leaders of Music Camp put all the pieces together from teaching how to use their props, when to enter and exit stage, stage placements, choreography, and everything else that it takes to put on a Musical in six short days.

My daughter was asked on Wednesday to do a dance solo during one of the songs. She was so excited to be asked and worked quickly memorizing the choreography.  We were beaming; she did fabulous and showed much grace! Her first dance solo in front of a packed gymnasium.  She was so super excited.  She also played the character of Bonnie Bittersweet; who talked in rhythms and tongue twisters.

My son played multiple roles; Rudy the rude and egocentric boy in the choir and he was also Tom The (lion) Trainer who also had to act very mean towards his lions. Both characters were not a reflection of my son in real life, but he played them very well.  Perhaps a natural born actor?  We certainly enjoyed watching him get into character throughout the performance.

 

The only time my son and daughter were on the same side of the stage was at the finale.  My video camera was going left, right, left, right.  I am sure it will make us sea-sick when we watch it. HA!

My son had mentioned early in the week of camp how excited he was to be chosen to use Silly String.  Well, here is the famous Silly String photo that my husband captured.  My son can not stop talking about that String!  Boys!!!  (and what a great shot; poor girl.)

Summer Play

My kids are really into the theatrical arts.  It must really be their gift because my husband and I have never had an interest in performing in a play or musical production. We enjoy watching stage theater, but that is the extent of it.  I do have a recollection of being in a summer theater class as a child. I went to the kindergarten classrooms of my school one summer to learn how to put on a production with puppets.

I can't place much of the specifics, but I do remember the play was about the Titanic and I was about the age of 9.  The puppets were hand made by the actors.  We each had to make our very own apple-head-person out of a real red delicious apple, Popsicle stick, fabric, and colored yarn.  I thought they all turned out very scary-looking. Perhaps that is why I veered off the course of acting. And they smelled bad too.  Rotting apples dressed like old women and men.  I chuckle now thinking about what the real story must have been for my mom to sign me up for that camp.

My kids, on the other hand, are all about the acting.  They each have their own style.  My daughter is more reserved and a deep thinker when it comes to her acting; whereas my son is center-front ready to take on whatever is placed before him. I have received many unsolicited praises from the camp leaders this week about both of them.  It is fun to see the "outside world's view" on how the two perform because none of the comments are coming from family or close friends. Kinda nice.

The kids had one final practice this morning and then it is show time tonight; Dr. Newheart's Neck-Up Check-Up.  I just love these small-time productions that ignite the theatrical interests in my kiddos.

And ... there are no apple-heads involved.

Sole Hope

I know that there are thousands of organizations and causes that speak to the heart of many.  Our world is torn and shattered in so many ways.  Moment by moment you become aware of the needs of our world, our country, our states, our cities. It is no wonder one would feel flattened by the needs of so much that is around us.  Where to begin?  Which way does one's heart want to follow?

I am a Christian and I follow the will of God for my life.  I am not proclaiming that I always get it right, but I am certain of the times when I do. While following Christ is my personal choice and hope for the world, I am a firm believer in the free will that God sets before us.  He allows us to choose.  And with all choices comes responsibility.

So when I state what I believe in and what my passions are, I am not expecting another to follow.  I am simply sharing my vision and my desires, and hopefully planting good seeds for others to sow along with me.  My friend's path may look completely different than mine, but a genuine understanding and acceptance is worth learning from each other.

I have been tugged for Widows and Orphans around the world, but specifically my eyes have been drawn to the African continent.  Some being the poorest of the poor in countries that have a lot to overcome.  And while this is not new news to perhaps any of my friends, it is news that I can not turn off.  Therefore, I choose to act.

I am supporting two organizations that I feel are directly making differences in the lives of African people; Wiphan Care Ministries and Sole Hope..  Not by hand-out, but by education for Orphans and trade school for Widows. Helping to make a difference through love and teaching.  Sponsoring this sweet girl above keeps it real for me.

My support started by reading a blog.  Social networking is wonderful in that regard.  The world becomes much smaller in a matter of seconds.  So with that knowledge, I continue the cycle and choose to share on my blog for others to know what I am doing.  Perhaps another seed will be planted, a sprout started, a tree grown, and the fruit of the spirit to blossom.

This photo below was used with permission from Asher Collie of Sole Hope.  If it stirs your heart as it did mine, prayerfully consider helping.  Step by Step.  We have a choice.  If your heart is ringing, answer the call.

Sole Hope is on a journey to raise funds and develop a shoe that Widows in Ndola, Zambia can make from resources in their own towns to help shoe the people of their village, and beyond.  Working with Wiphan Care Ministries the shoe making will be part of the trade school program.  A shoe can save a life by protecting against disease and infection that robs the body of health. These words by Sole Hope sum it up:

Our prayer is that by adding soles to the feet of these precious people we will give them hope for a healthier tomorrow.  One person can't save the world or even a hometown, but we can make a difference with a pair of shoes - so that's what we are doing. Will you help?


Donations will keep the shoe mission funded. Contact Asher Collie at Sole Hope if your answer is YES!  solehopeafrica@gmail.com

Sole Hope.

Slip-n-Slide

After my husband went to the golf course last night to take pictures of the mountain, and hit at the range, he swung into a box-chain store for some sale items.  While he was there, he found a Slip-n-Slide at a remarkable price. We have never had one, as my husband is admittingly particular about his grass and yard. It is not that he doesn't want the kids to have fun, but he does think about the big picture.

So when I came downstairs to leave for the gym early this morning and found a boxed Slip-n-Slide parked at the kitchen table where the kids would see it first thing, it brought a huge smile to my face.

The kids, well yes, they were ecstatic and they could not wait to get outside after Music Camp.  Here they are slip-sliding-away.

YAY! for summer!