Baseball Continues...

The White Sox ended their regular season in 2nd place, so they made it to the City Tournament. They lost their first game (don't even get me started on the umpire...let's just say you shouldn't be allowed to ump a game in which your child is a player -- especially on the opposition!), but we won the 2nd game so we keep playing. I say "we" like I actually had anything to do with it...which I did...because obviously he also gets his mad baseball skills from me.

You Know It's About Summer...

when you break out the old slip 'n slide...all we need is a little watermelon.

My Birthday Boy

We celebrated Cody's birthday yesterday. We took him rock climbing with some of his friends and then they all spent the night in the treehouse...a total "boy" night. Today he made a purchase with some of his birthday money...yes, anything that could be dangerous...he wants to be a part of.

I'll skip the sappy part of how I seriously cannot believe how fast the time has flown, and how when I look at him I'm totally blown away at what an awesome boy he is. And if Steve starts singing Watercolor Ponies again, I will hit him...but I do realize how precious every day is. My favorite memories of him as a little boy...

*His cry sounded like a goat when he was days old...it cracked us up

*When you asked him where daddy worked, he said at the "police apartment."

*When looking at a picture of the Statue of Liberty in a book, he asked me why she had a crown of thorns on her head.

*In a casual conversation with him at 5 years old in the car one day, he started talking about asking Jesus into his heart. I asked him if he wanted to talk about it and if he wanted help, and he said, "No, I already did it myself." He's been a leader from early on.

Things I am proud of: his tender heart, his fearlessness, he's a hard worker, his free spirit...and too many other things to list. Cody...I'm so proud to see where you've come and am excited to see where you go from here. I love you...to the moon and back.

Don't Mess With Me

Steve took his dad shooting to prepare for his concealed handgun class. I tagged along...and discovered I can kill...but it's just so loud and it would be really messy, so...

Dallas World Aquarium

Last week, I accompanied Caleb's class to the Dallas World Aquarium for their field trip. We had lots of fun and seriously...I saw Barbara Manatee.

Final 2

Well it's down to the 2 Davids. David A is a little goofy...but seriously he's only 17...give him a break...and his voice is like butta. David C...with his shoulder shrugs and puffy cheeks...he's just got to go. At least Parvati wasn't competing.

Prayers

The boys have their nighttime prayers down pat...you know the same words, in the same order...even to the point that if they miss a word they have to start all over because they get out of rhythm. We're not proud of this...in fact we've tried to get them to really think about their prayers and just talk instead of reciting. Sometimes we'll give them prompts in order to get them to pray about something different...sometimes it works, sometimes not. Just maybe they're starting to learn...this was the end of their prayers last night:

Caleb: "I love you God...alot."

I was on the verge of a tear after hearing that, and then Cody started...and ended:

Cody: "Please help school not be boring tomorrow."

Hey, it was different...I'll take it.

These Are the Reasons

In my wildest dreams, I would have never thought that motherhood could be this good. Now don't get me wrong...there are times...oh yes, there are times when I'd like to wake up...have NOTHING to do, have no one to feed...no laundry to do...no taxi rides to give. Does that sound harsh? Yes, yes it does, but let's just all be honest that Mommyville is a tiring, tiring place to live. Actually after 2 baseball practices, 5 baseball games, 2 field days, and 1 play practice this week alone, this week could have been nominated for one of those 'Stop the World and Let Me Get Off' weeks. That and the fact that, even after Steve totally bailed me out last week and got every bit of laundry in my house clean, I totally screwed up and let it all pile back up again...I'm a loser. But I digress. Back to Mommyville.

Today (or yesterday since I am still up at 1:42 a.m. on Mother's Day...I know mom, I need more sleep), the boys got up with their alarm early to make me breakfast...which they wanted to serve me in bed...but we had to be at church early so I had to get up before them to start getting ready. To tell the truth...Steve warned me about the surprise the night before so I could be up and ready if the kitchen caught on fire. I normally get breakfast on Mother's Day, but Steve is usually home to help with that. Today, he was at work. But the boys made breakfast for me and it was good...really good...and no fires! I cannot take credit for the least little part of this because I am so not a cook, and really cannot even fake it. That is all Steve's territory and he has done a fine job of passing on that skill.


Both boys gave me cards (Caleb made me an original work of art (totally Caleb), and Cody got me a SpongeBob card that thanked me for always making sure he has clean underpants (totally Cody). They also got me flowers for our front flower bed...and helped me plant them yesterday. They also both told me they liked my song this morning in church...which made me so proud that they were actually listening.


Seriously, I really count it a privilege to be a mommy...I wear the title proudly and...well, God must love me alot to give me the 2 most wonderful boys in the world to raise. Being a mother is one of the most fulfilling things I do in my life. I sang a song this morning about leaving a legacy, and that is my heart's desire. I need to stop and think, 'do I choose to love?...do I point to God enough to make a mark on things?' I want to leave an offering...to be a child of mercy and grace who blessed Your name unapologetically...and leave that kind of legacy. How will they remember me?

I seriously hope I'm not messing them up too much and that their therapy bills won't eat their budget when they're older.

Happy Mother's Day

This is my beautiful mother. I can't do justice with words to say what she means to me, but I want to tell her that I admire her...that I respect her...and that she has made my life so much sweeter with the kind of woman she is. I know there are alot of rocky mother/daughter relationships out there, but we have never had that kind of relationship. And that's not credit to me...that's purely her and the work and love she has poured in to my sisters and I.

She has lived her life in the ministry, supporting my dad, tirelessly and without alot of compensation...to be honest, they lived on very little throughout their ministry. When my dad retired, she took on the huge role of starting a business (IN HER 60's...yeah, did I mention she was strong too?). And this is no stationery business, or selling trinkets in a posh boutique...this is all heart and soul ministry to the elderly. She is a caregiver...and the best one I've seen.

She began that ministry years ago when she helped care for her daddy as he was dying, and then again with my dad's mother. She is now caring for not only her own mother, Mamaw, but 3 other people as well. These are people whom she only met months ago...but she loves them like they're part of her family and she takes care of them with all the dignity and respect that she affords her own mother. She has loved and carried three different families through the death of their loved ones who lived at her house...tenderly caring for them through their last breaths. Not everyone can do this...as I said...she's strong. I think that's where I get my strength from. We Sparkses don't wallow in stuff...we are hard workers and doers. I credit both my parents for that...but who are we kidding...moms set the tone for families.

So thank you mom...for too much to post here...thank you for raising me to love unconditionally...and to love and live for Jesus. Thank you for loving and caring for Mamaw even when she doesn't know you anymore. Thank you for loving Steve and accepting him as a son...even though he likes to have fun at your expense sometimes. And thank you for loving my boys as only a true Grammy can. You make life sweet...and fun...and you give way more than you could ever get back. I love you...to the moon and back.

Abby the Ferocious

We didn't know Abby knew how to bark when we got her. It was about a month before we knew she could...and then it was just because she was having a bad dream and let a little bark out. Barking is just not her style...she's somewhat of a princess I guess. Well this morning as I was sitting at my computer looking out the window, I could tell the FTD man was having a hard time finding mom & dad's house (everyone has a hard time finding it...why I don't know), so I went outside to give him directions. Abby followed me out and started barking instantly...a mean, ferocious bark...like "get away from us NOW!" It took me by surprise, but I just petted her and told her it was okay. He was a gentlemanly, older fellow and heck, how bad could he be? He delivers beautiful, scrumptuous flowers for a living. Seriously, this man could not harm anyone! He could tell Abby was not digging him...so he goes to his front seat and brings over a delicious doggy treat for Abby... which she, of course, accepted because after all it is food. And then she went and promptly buried it in the flower bed. Either she thought it was poison since it came from the evil flower delivery man, or she was thinking she might want a nice snack later. Hmm...