Christmas is a time for traditions. One of ours is going to the Fayetteville Square with are friends, the White family. We mosey around enjoying the lights and I always buy fresh mistletoe while we are there to hang in the doorway.

again Kevin's happy face, someday he will learn how to smile

the White Family: Tim, Christy, Katie, Brandon, Joshua, Nathan, & Courtney

I finally bought new ornaments this year!
Were you naughty or nice this year?

Kyler's "ginger bread" house that he and two of his friends made at school!

Just for a Laugh

I would never do this unless I thought that it would make someone laugh. So here goes some self humiliation. The picture below is of me and my friend Jason when we were about four or five, I think, I know that we hadn't started school yet. I'm a little sketchy on all the details, but I think his parents were having a ditch dug to run a water line to the barn, maybe? It had rained and rained that May and the ditch was full of water. Like most little kids, we thought it would be great to play in that muddy water. I don't remember how long we were in there. I just remember us laughing, throwing mud at each other, and Jason pretending to shave! When our parents found us they didn't even get upset, they just laughed and took our pictures. When we were ready to go inside and get cleaned up, there was no way that Colleen was going to let us in her house all muddy. So, they took the outside garden hose and showered us off! It was freezing! I remember running around Jason's back yard screaming because the water was so cold!

This is the memory that I go to when things start to get a little to serious in my life. To be honest, sometimes it stinks to be a grown-up and right now some of my friends just need to laugh! My outfit alone is enough to make you chuckle, zip up jumpsuit! What was my mom thinking?

Thank you.

Tonight as I think about Veterans Day, I think about all the people that answered yes and who have served our country because they wanted to. I am proud to say that my granpa (on my mom's side) and my dad were two that served. Granpa was in the Philippines during WWII and Dad spent his tour of duty on a hill in An Khe, Vietnam.

Granpa in 1943

I also think of Granma and Mom as they watched their husbands leave with no guarantee of returning home and how hard that must have been for them. Dr. Maya Angelou, a Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University said, "How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!" When Granpa left for WWII Granma had two small children. My parents had only been married nineteen months when Dad was drafted. Just because my granma and my mom were not issued a weapon or fought in a battle doesn't mean they are not she-roes. When do we honor them for their sacrifice? So tonight I remember them too, the unsung heroes and she-roes, who have stayed behind as their loved ones have served and who are currently serving.

Granma in 1940

The English writer G.K. Chesterton said, "Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die." There have been approximately 711,864 United States soldiers die in wars and/or conflicts since WWI, including the current war in Iraq. How do you honor the men, women, and families that have freely given of themselves and have paid the ultimate price for our freedom? Saying thank you doesn't seem to be enough. I asked a friend who is a Major in the US Army and who has fought in Iraq and is waiting to go back, "How would you like to be celebrated for serving our country?" His response, "We don't want a celebration or parade one or two days a year, we want your support and prayers everyday." I don't think that is to much to ask.

The Day After

When I started to write this post I had several thoughts swirling in my head. I was trying to collect them in a manner that didn't sound like gibberish, not that it would be any different than any other post. When suddenly Luke 23:34 came to me, "Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.' And they divided His garments and cast lots." Today, I feel as if "we the people" are the ones at the foot of the cross casting lots.
The last few days I have been called many things for being a Republican, by people who claimed to be my friends; a sheep (for following others), a redneck, stupid, ignorant, uneducated, and even a racist. Today, I am letting go of all that and moving on. My prayer for them and for America, is that God will not turn His back on us like we have turned our back on Him.

h a l l o w e e n!

here are a few pictures from halloween, yes kevin was there, he just hates to have his picture taken!

kyler was a "blind referee"

me and my baseball moms, tanya & jamie

kyler and one of his coaches

A Weekend Without Baseball...

It is amazing what you can do in a weekend when you don't have any baseball to play! We spent Sunday afternoon at the Tulsa Zoo. We NEVER go to the zoo! When I say never I mean NEVER, I think the last time we went was about four years ago. I love it, but living with two boys, I easily get out voted. Sunday was different, I don't know what came over them, but we went and had a great time. So here are some pictures from our baseball free weekend.

Deep thoughts from the Spectacled Bear...

Baby Chimp, Vindi!

Penguins in Tulsa? They must hate the summers.

I know it may be a little trashy, but I love pink flamingos! ahhh, tiger love!!

This is another one of the zoo's new arrivals...

After the flamingo's, the giraffes are my next favorite!

There was a slight breeze on Sunday and he kept leaning over as far as he could to get the leaves when the wind would blow!

This was on the train ride...I thought you might want to see a picture of Kyler without a baseball uniform on or a catchers mask!

Kyler took this one of us, sorry it's out of focus..and yes this is Kevin's happy face!

Turning in the Cleats for High Tops

This weekend marked the end of a season. Now it's time to hang up the bat and put away the glove. Sunday we played our last baseball game of 2008. We finished the tournament 2-2 and both of our losses came from the team that one it all.
I'm sorry, I had to include on last picture of Kyler catching, I know you probably get tired of seeing baseball pictures, but that's what we do, watch him play ball!


As one season ends, another one begins. It's time to dust off the basketball shoes and start working on the hook shot. City basketball league practice starts tonight! Like in years past, Kevin will be coaching Kyler again this year. It is truly a treat to watch the two of them work together, Kevin and his Mini-Me. It will be fun to watch the season unfold. I'll be sure to keep you posted.

A Statement from David Letterman?

I was sent the following statement and the subject line stated, "David Letterman wrote this; it's the David we don't often see." I"m pretty certain that he did not actually wrote it, however, what is stated in the letter is true and how we have become an ungrateful nation.
"As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark. The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? The Newsweek poll alleges that 67%of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69% of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?'
A.. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?
B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
C.. Could it be that 95.4% of these unhappy folks have a job?
D.. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?
F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
G.. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.
H..Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital?
I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70% of Americans who own a home.
J.. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.
K.. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
L.. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
M.. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.
Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31% approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?
Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an 'other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable' ' discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69% of Americans?
Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or an other Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J.Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!
Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative. With hurricanes, tornado's, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

David Letterman?

Sorry, Another List

I was looking on MSN.com and how the Dow closed up today +936.42 (+11.08%), yeah! I'm not trying to sound smart and like I have money tied to the markets, but in my office it is conversation. Like everyone else I have been hearing a lot of "gloom and doom predictions" and how we better be prepared for a turn for the worst. While I was looking at the markets I came across this fun and challenging exercise. The exercise is simple, you must list 10 THINGS that are GOING WELL in YOUR LIFE TODAY. It comes from "Frugal Zeitgeist" who observes that it's "cheaper than therapy and healthier than alcohol." So here goes:
10 Things that are Going Well in My Life Today
1) I have a God that has forgiven me & all my faults
2) I have someone who loves me & to share my life with
3) Kevin has a new job & is happy
4) Kyler is healthy, happy, and doing well in school
5) My job
6) I have great friends who listen to me whine & who make me laugh
7) I have a roof over my head every night
8) My hairdryer worked this morning, it is just a matter of time
9) I have fabulous shoes (I love my shoes!)
10) I was able to get out of bed today without anything hurting!
As you can tell making the list was harder than I thought it would be and that is truly sad...so I have decided to start looking at the glass half full and focus more on the positive things in my life instead of the negative. Maybe if I start looking at the things I already have in my life instead of what I don't, I may just find that my cup has been running over and I never even noticed.

"Wisdom through Experience"

I was lucky to have my grandparents live close to me growing up. I used to think that they knew something about everything. I asked my Granma once how she knew so much, her answer was simply, "I'm old, I've seen a lot and been through a lot in my time."
The name of the company that I work for uses the words "Wisdom through Experience" as a tag line. Our very name, SAGE, means characterized by wisdom, prudence, and good judgment and/or having wisdom that comes with experience. Honestly, I use to think that was somewhat egoistical. Over time I have seen that it wasn't about their ego's it was their confidence, the lessons that they had learned from past mistakes to use good judgement now, and not to repeat those mistakes.
My dad use to say that I pull my soapbox behind me in a wagon so I can get on it whenever I want. Well, Dad, I think it's time to get on my box. Now, more than ever, is the time to use prudence and good judgement. Last night we watched the second Presidential Debate and the question was asked, "If Israel was attacked would you, as President, wait for UN approval/support to go in and support Israel?" Senator McCain did not hesitate to say, yes he would send troops and support Israel and not wait on UN approval. Senator Obama's answer was much different, in fact there was no answer. The answer he provided was that they are our biggest ally in the Middle East and we should try to prevent anything from happening, try to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons, try to keep the peace. That's great, but what would you do if they were attacked? There were many other questions and lack of answers from both men, but that is the one that stuck with me. I could go on, but I'll stop there for now.
I don't agree with everything Senator McCain wants to do, if elected. I also don't believe that being a POW entitles you to be President, but character, love for this country, fighting for what is right, and moxie are all qualities I would want our next leader to hold. I'm not telling anyone who they should vote for, your vote is your vote cast it how you wish. However, I would just ask you to think about this: Proverbs 22:6 states, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." If wisdom comes through experience, what wisdom and experience does Senator Obama have to lead us?

Waitng, Praying, and Serving

"They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

The above verse is attached to the bottom of every email that my friend, Jenn sends out, replies to, or forwards on. I know other people who do the same thing, one attaches Jeremiah 29:11, another uses Colossians 3:23. A few days ago I received an email from her explaining that her grandmother had passed away and what a strong Christian woman she had been and now she was "reaping her rewards for her faithful service to the Lord," those where Jenn's words regarding her grandmother.
As I read the bottom of her email and came to the verse I started to think about the words "wait upon" and their meaning. It was like someone hit me over the head, that verse doesn't mean we are to sit around watching the clock go tick-tock and wait on the the Lord to renew our strength. No, the author didn't use the word "WAIT" alone, he used the words "WAIT UPON." I might be a little slower than others but, when the two words are used together they take on a verb meaning, "to perform the duties of an attendant or servant." Do you know how many times I have read that verse and never put it together? More than I would like to admit.
It is only then, when we "SERVE OR ATTEND TO THE LORD" that he will "RENEW OUR STRENGTH." For those of you who have ever worked as a Server or hosted an event, you try to do everything that your guest ask of you, without asking any questions in return,in exchange for a tip or reward for a job well done. What if we took on that same attitude when we serve the Lord? Can you imagine if we did everything He asked of us and never asked any questions in return? How would He reward us then? He tells us, "they shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." There is no big surprise here. If we serve him he rewards us, this is not a hard concept to grasp folks.
Recently our pastor spoke about how when you are praying and serving God be prepared for an answer. He used the following example: If you are praying for a job, be ready to receive two offers, because God rewards and gives favor to the people who serve Him. Kevin and I looked at each other knowing that word was for us. You see, Kevin has been looking and praying for a different job for about a year, something with better benefits, more responsibility, more flexibility, and more money. Two weeks later Kevin received two different job offers. Both offers had more responsibility, more flexibility, better benefits, and more money; everything we had prayed for, however, one would disrupt our current lifestyle and be a huge adjustment, the other would not disrupt our life at all. So, this week he started his new job with very little disruption. Usually I would be freaking out a little bit, but not this time. This time, there is complete peace in our house. He is excited about the new position and we know that this was designed by God's hand. It is amazing to me to think that He made it that simple. God and His Word are not difficult to understand, we are the ones who muck it up.

Weekend Widow

It's football season and I am now a Weekend Widow until after the OKLAHOMA SOONERS play their bowl game in January. I know, it's sad, but I am not alone, there are several of us. Sometimes I don't mind it. In my case my husband focuses on college football and the SOONERS, which I love watching with him. It is like an event within its self. He has to make sure that we all have a piece of SOONER paraphernalia on whether it be a hat, a t-shirt, or a jersey. He can not eat during a game, because he gets to excited and it upsets his tummy. There is no talking to him or to anyone else in the room during the game, only during commercials. (Several years ago, my mom called during a game and the SOONERS lost, she has never called during a game again.) After a touchdown there is the Barbie Dance or celebratory strut. It really is a hilarious site to see. I don't mind watching the SOONERS with him I just don't understand why he watches all the other games. I don't ask to many questions, I just accept it, knowing that it is part him and the season.

Some of my friends have a much worse situation, their husbands are College and NFL fans. I was recently given a few, I'll call them "guidelines," to help me through the season I have posted them below. If you need more help someone to talk to, there is a support group available for Weekend Widows, they meet at your local mall every Saturday and Sunday Afternoons.

THE GUIDELINES

1.) From the last weekend in August until the end of the bowl season, the television is mine, at all times, without any exceptions. The remote control will be fingerprinted each night, any sign of your fingerprints and all shopping trips will be canceled for a month.
2.) If you have to pass by in front of the TV during a game, for an important reason such as preparing snacks or getting drinks, I don't mind, as long as you crawl along the floor.
3.) During the football season, read the sports section of the newspaper so that you understand who I'm yelling at during the season. As a tip, check the box scores for the referees names too.
4.) During the games you cannot expect me to listen to you, open the door, kill any spiders, answer the phone, etc. It ain't gonna happen.
5.) It would be a good idea for you to keep plenty of things to nibble on, and please do not make any funny faces to my friends when they come over to watch the games. In return, you will be allowed to use the TV between 12am and 6am, unless they replay a good game that I missed during the day.
6.) Please, please, please!! if you see me upset because my team is losing, DO NOT say, "I'll get over it, it's only a game," or "don't worry, they'll win next time." If you say these things, you will only make me angrier and I will love you less. Remember, you will never ever know more about football than me and your so called "words of encouragement" will only lead to a break up or divorce.
7.) If a great play occurs while you are in the room, you may be required to freeze or repeat your act for the rest of the game as good mojo. If my team wins, you will be showered with gifts for the next 6 days. If they lose, you will be blamed repeatedly for moving, blinking or secretly not believing in your heart of the power of mojo.
8.) Tell your friends NOT to get married, have any babies, or any other social related parties or gatherings that requires my attendance because: I will not go, I will not go, and I will not go. However, if a friend of mine invites us to his house on a Saturday to watch a game, we will be there before the brats plump on the grill .
9.) You are welcome to sit with me to watch one game and you can talk to me during halftime but only when the commercials are on, and only if the halftime score is pleasing me. College Game day and the highlights on Saturday night are just as important as the games themselves. Even if I curse Lou, Herbie, and Corso, I still want to hear what they say.
10.) And finally, please save your expressions such as: "Thank goodness the football season is only during the Fall." I am immune to these words, because after this comes the NFL playoffs, the Pro Bowl, AFL, AFL2, the CFL, and the replays on the college sports channels.

Enjoy your mourning!

A Return to Church

I had the experience of growing up in a Christian home, thanks to Jerry & Colleen Von Moss. They were the ones that invited my parents to go to their church when I was just three. Some of my earliest memories as a child are getting up early on Sunday morning and going with my dad, Jerry, and Jason to a local nursing home. While they would help to conduct an early morning service Jason and I would sit in the lounge and eat Twinkies and donuts and watch cartoons.

Sunday's were always the most predictable days in our house; Sunday morning church, roast for lunch, my grandparents for an afternoon visit, back home by four, because we had discipleship training at five, and church at six. We went rain, snow, sleet, or hail. (Don't forget Wednesday night services at seven.) We were at church every time the doors were opened it seemed.

As I got older it seemed that we became more distracted. We were spending more time at the lake and other activities. Somehow going to church was not a priority anymore. I know that they didn't wake up one morning and say we are no longer going to church, I'm not placing blame, it just seemed to happen that's all. It has been 15 years or longer since my parents attended a church on a regular basis.

On August 1st Mom and I were in the car on our way to Little Rock for Kyler's appointment at ACH and out of nowhere she says so casually, "Guess where me and your dad went last Sunday." My response, "I have no idea, where?" Not expecting the next words to come out of her mouth would be, "We went to church." I couldn't believe it, it showed in my profound answer, "What? Where did you go? Why? What brought this on?" It was not my finest moment. Instead of being happy I think I was in shock. My mom, calm, almost coy, answered all my questions simply saying, "We went to church. We went to First Baptist, but we are going to visit some others. I told your dad that I wanted to go so, we did." We continued to talk about different churches in the area and where they may visit. They have gone every week since with the exception of one, and they were out of town. I'm still a little unclear on what caused the stirring in their hearts to return to church, however, I won't dare question it. I will just smile and know that God still answers prayers.

Prince Charming?

Do Princesses Really Kiss Frogs? that is a title of a children's book by Carmela LaVigna Coyle, those of you with little girls have probably read it or maybe heard about it. When I saw the title I started to think about the idea of Prince Charming. Does he really exist or his he an urban legend?

Growing up I was read Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, & all the other fairy tales and wanted to grow up to find my Prince just like every little girl in the world did. However, I never really stopped to think about what that meant. Did it mean that some horrible spell was going to come over me? Was I going to endure some sort of punishment until my Prince found me and rescued me from this terrible situation? What if the Prince that found me wasn't my Prince, he was just some random Prince trying to be nice by helping a poor girl out? What if he wasn't ready to commit? Then what, because he helped me according to the "rules" we have to live happily ever after?

I have a friend, who is getting married in December, and all she talks about is how her Prince has finally found her and she can finally be happy. Is this what girls believe? That a man is going to make them happy and that their life will be complete once they get married? I love my Prince, however I wish someone would have told me that he was going to leave the toilet seat up, his clothes may not always make it in the hamper, and all the cute funny things he did when we were courting might start to get on my nerves after a few years of matrimony. In reality I don't think I would have listened, but it would have been nice if someone would have at least tried to tell to me.

I know it doesn't come from reading girls fairy tales, but where does it come from? Why do some girls expect someone else to make them happy?

As young girls, we want to believe in Prince Charming. We want to think that there is someone out there that will rescue us in our our time of trouble, sweep us off our feet, make us completely happy, and never do anything to hurt or disappoint us. I am afraid that if we don't start telling the Princesses the truth they are going to be very disappointed in him. I'm not saying to stop reading them fairy tales, I'm just saying maybe we should add a disclaimer that states, "these are not actual events." He doesn't really ride up on a white horse, it may be a 4x4 truck instead.

I don't know. I just know that I'm trying to raise a potential Prince Charming, and teach him to be polite and to have good manners, and proper etiquette, it isn't easy. So far my greatest accomplishment in ten years is that he says "excuse me" after he burps, however that is usually followed with "that was a good one." That doesn't leave me with much hope for his future Princess, maybe she will have brothers and will understand.

Fifth Grade!

Kyler started 5th grade yesterday!
This year when it was time to buy school clothes I asked him what he thought he wanted, I was anticipating his answer, like every other year, "shorts & t-shirts are fine." I almost fell over when he said, "I want some plaid shorts & some golf shirts. I want to start dressing a little nicer." I was shocked, I couldn't believe it, the kid who spent everyday this summer in gym shorts and a baseball tournament shirt wants to "dress nicer" what's up? My immediate thought, there is a girl involved. I didn't really care I was just happy that he was excited about dressing better! The shopping experience itself was like no other. He was a different child; he knew what he was looking for and wasn't going to just grab something just so he could go home, no arguing about trying things on, it was truly a surreal trip.
Last Thursday we were getting ready to go to his school's Open House, he changed his clothes three times before we left. Three times! This is the same child who just two weeks ago would have left the house in a dirty t-shirt! What is going on?
So yesterday, on the first day of school Kyler got dressed, brushed his teeth, washed his face, then he asked me, "would you help me fix my hair"? What? This is not my child. When we went outside to take his picture, it's a tradition we do on the first day of school, he asked, "Do I look okay?" Huh? He never cared before what was different about today?
I drove him to school and as I watched him walk across the street and into school I couldn't believe how grown up he looked. Then, it was like a ton of bricks fell on me I got over the shock of the morning events and became really nervous and I realized that if there is a girl involved I have a new set of issues to worry about. I know I'm not ready for those. Can we go back to the t-shirts and basketball shorts, please?

ACH Visit

August 1st marked the date of Kyler's five year check up with Dr. Aronson at Arkansas Children's Hospital (ACH) in Little Rock. Kyler was born with a Right Clubfoot, also known as talipes equinovarus, is a congenital deformity of the foot that occurs in about 1 in 1,000 births in the United States. The affected foot tends to be smaller than normal, with the heel pointing downward and the forefoot turning inward. The Achilles Tendon is tight, causing the heel to be drawn up toward the leg. This position is referred to as "equinus," and it is impossible to place the foot flat on the ground. Since the condition starts in the first trimester of pregnancy, the deformity is often quite rigid at birth. The condition is treated with serial casting and/or surgery.
We started with the casting. Kyler's first cast was put on when he was thirteen days old. We would go to Dr. Rosenzweig's office every 7-10 days for a new cast and stretching exercises, we would have to soak off the cast he had on the night before our visit. We did that same routine until he was five months old. Then in September 1998 we were referred to Dr. Aronson.
The following is what the medical community knows about Dr. Aronson; he is the recognized leading practitioner of the Ilizarov bone-lengthening technique in the United States. He is one of only a half-dozen orthopaedic surgeons in America who are truly accomplished in this procedure. He studied this unique method of lengthening short limbs from the developer of the process, Professor G.A. Ilizarov in Siberia in the 1980s and was the first to bring it to this country. It is a complex procedure involving the severing of bones and attachment of external metal fixators (braces) to stretch them as they heal. He is a professor in the Departments of Orthopaedics surgery and pediatrics at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), he received the international Nicolas Andry Award in 2003 from the Association of Bone & Joint Surgeons. Dr. Aronson earned his M.D. degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1975. He served a one-year residency in general surgery at Maine Medical Center in Portland and a four-year residency in orthopaedics at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, before coming to UAMS in 1984.
This is what we know about him. On our first visit to ACH he came into the room and examined Kyler and talked to us briefly and said, "With a simple procedure I will fix your son's foot." Not "I can", but "I will" and he did. On February 3, 1999 we had the surgery to correct the defect. He came out of surgery with two pins in his foot, one on top and one on bottom, holding it at a ninety degree angle and a cast up to his hip with his knee bent slightly. Four weeks later we headed back to Little Rock for the removal of the pins and the last cast, a smaller, lighter one that stopped right below his knee. At the end of March Kyler was out of his cast and we saw his foot straight and flat on the floor for the first time, he was almost 11 months old.

This visit was the first time Kyler was able to tell him about his love of baseball. As I watched Kyler tell this man about playing in the World Series, pitching a no hitter, playing catcher and making the plays at the plate and throwing guys out at second I noticed how Dr. Aronson looked at him as if everything that Kyler was saying was the most important thing in the world. He was truly interested in what he had to say. He wanted to know is batting average, his ERA, he made notes in his chart about what he was telling him. I watched the two of them connect for the first time. They were looking at each other, Kyler was saying thank you and Dr. Aronson said your welcome.

Then the doctor quizzed Kyler on famous athletes who were born with a clubfoot/feet. Kyler knew a few like figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, soccer star Mia Hamm, football quarterback Troy Aikman and football kicker and announcer Pat Summerall. Dr. Aronson then told him about baseball pitchers Larry Sherry & Jim Mecir, and infielder Freddy Sanchez. Kyler later told me that someday his name will be added to that list.
Dr. Aronson, is an accomplished surgeon, he has won many awards for his research and work in the orthopaedic field, however for us his greatest work was done on February 3, 1999.

B R A C E S!

Since Kyler was about three the dentist told us that he was going to need braces. He had his first orthodontist visit in the Summer of 2004 at age six. Where they immediately put in a pallet expander, that we had to turn every night, to make room in his mouth for the baby teeth he still had and his new adult teeth coming in.
Four years later, he is finally ready for his braces and a new expander! Our lives now consist of the "What Not to Eat List" and Gishy Goo.

Preparing his teeth for the brackets...

Brackets on...

Showing them off...

Kyler & Char, the only reason he doesn't mind the orthodontist!

Time in a Bottle

Recently I was asked a simply question, "How old are you, really?" almost accusing me of lying about my age. Not that I wouldn't lie, but this time I was telling the truth. They said, "I never would have guessed." Whatever that means. I'm taking it in the most positive way a person can possibly take it.
After the conversation ended I began to think about where all those years have gone. When I was little I always heard my parents and all their friends talk about how fast time passes. I didn't understand it. It seemed like it took forever for Christmas to get here, or for school to get out. But even then it always seemed like Spring Break and Summer Vacation flew by, maybe that was a little insight into what they were saying, but I was to young to get it. As I got older and would spend more time with my grandparents, I would hear them say that the days pass so slowly now. Is that what life is, constantly trying to control the speed of the sand in the hourglass? Where's the balance?
As children we are in such a hurry to grow up and move on with our own life. Looking back I wanted to be a grown up so badly and now I would give anything to be able to go back to my childhood. Most of the time being a grown up stinks. There is an unwritten list of rules you can't do without other grown ups looking at you like you lost your mind. For example, hopping a ride on the shopping cart in the parking lot. You know what I'm talking about. You get it going really fast and hop on and coast to your car. Or getting a slushy at the convenience store and adding a little soda for that extra real flavor. Or splashing in the puddles after a rain. One of my favorites, eating a watermelon during the summer and having seed spitting contests. I know it's disgusting now, but that's my point, did we really stop to appreciate the freedom that comes with being a child?
As a grown up you can't do those things without someone saying or at least thinking you are acting like a child. As grown ups we are responsible for everything. It seems that someone is always asking or needing something from us. That is when I think that time starts to speed up. We are so busy with our children and their activities, our careers and trying to move up the ladder, our church and trying to be a what God wants us to be, our friends and being there for them. We get so wrapped up in all of those things and a million more that we sometimes forget what it feels like to be free.
In the song, Beautiful Boy, John Lennon sang, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." Is that what my grandparents meant? That now that their children were all gone and married and the grandchildren were all older that their life had passed them by with out realizing it. Now the only thing that was left to do was to reflect back and try to hold on to the time they may have missed.
Some of you know that I have been working on making my life less of a spectator sport. I have tried to learn something new everyday, I try to look for God's handy work throughout my week, I am listening to Kyler and trying to hear what he is really saying to me, and I am trying to say yes more than no. However, by doing this I feel like my life is like trying to walk on a high wire without a net. I don't have any idea how to keep my balance without holding my arms out on each side of me and walking ahead slowly. Maybe that is the key, walking ahead slowly, not running in all directions fast. We only get to be with our families for such a short time and then it is gone. I don't want to have to look back and think about all the things I may have missed. I want to know that even though I may not be able to lay the hourglass on its side and call a time out. I can know that in my heart I touched each grain of sand that went through it.

Muskogee ~ A Week in Review

We are back and this is what I learned after spending a week in Muskogee, Oklahoma:

• Muskogee isn't on my Top 10 Places to See & Do, but it wasn't that bad
• 7 Strike outs = a 7 in Kevin's head
• A week is a long time to spend with some people
• An XBox game doesn't stand a chance in a microwave
• Popping one kernel of popcorn at a time in the microwave is not a good idea
• You really can cook anything on a grill, including pancakes
• 10 boys can take over a hotel
• Some people are "doers" and some people are "watchers"
• Are boys are brothers; they win together and lose together
• There really is such a thing as Karma
• You can never smile or laugh to much
• Our boys brought home 4th place trophies from the World Series

Muskogee will always be a place where "even squares can have a ball" even if it is baseball!

What's Your Dirty Little Secret?

Do you remember watching Father Knows Best or Leave it to Beaver? Me either really, I'm not that old. I do remember the image of the mothers, baking cookies in their high heels and pearls. However, I did watch Happy Days and The Brady Bunch. Mrs. C and Mrs. Brady were the perfect moms. They always knew the right thing to say, always had dinner ready when their husbands came in the door, and did it all looking fantastic. We sometime forget that was television and Mrs. Brady had Alice.
If we can talk among us girls for a moment...not one of us can say we are a perfect mom all the time. I said it, WE ARE NOT PERFECT! As moms we have put so much pressure on ourselves to be everything June Clever was and most of us didn't even watch that show! Lets start embracing our failures, so we can learn from them. I found this excerpt online that made me feel better knowing that I'm not the only mom with secrets:
"You're not the only mom who's forgotten to brush her kids' teeth or cursed in front of her toddler. Trisha Ashworth and Amy Nobile, both 39, have compiled these confessions and more in their new book, Dirty Little Secrets From Otherwise Perfect Moms. Here, they reveal how they got moms to spill the dirt.
How did you convince so many moms to tell you their secrets?
Trisha: When we interviewed moms for our last book, I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids, we would inevitably ask them, "Are you happy?" They would say, "Well, what do you mean by happy?" That's when they would talk about deeper issues, like feeling guilty about barely keeping it all together, and the confessions would just start pouring out.
Did certain secrets come up again and again?
Amy: Dinnertime was a huge hot button. When we asked about cooking, so many moms said, "Oh, my gosh, dinner just throws me over the edge!" Then we would get confessions like, "I sometimes feed my children macaroni and cheese five nights in a row" or "I get takeout and pass it off as homemade!"
Why do you think they were telling these secrets to you instead of their friends?
Trisha: There's so much pressure to be the perfect mom, and if you admit these secrets, it makes you feel like you're not doing a good enough job. We quickly deduced that there's not a whole lot of honesty about these issues, which makes moms feel like they're all alone. But in truth, we all have those moments when we don't make the best decisions!
Did the moms seem to feel relieved after they confessed?
Amy: Definitely — it was so cathartic! A lot of them started by saying, "I know you've never heard this before, but...." And we felt compelled to say, "Just so you know, this is probably the 10th time we've heard this!"
Okay, what's your dirty little mommy secret?
Trisha: We just gave Amy's two kids and my three kids lollipops and stuck them in front of the TV so we could do this interview!"
Moms, remember this, you were perfect today if you did these three things: hugged your kids, told them you loved them, and fed them, no matter what it may have been!

Summer Vacation

As people do in the Summer, most of our friends have already taken their vacations, if they haven't they are preparing to do so very quickly. A couple of our friends are going to the sandy beaches of Destin, Florida. One friend is boarding a ship on Friday for an Alaskan Cruise. My sister-in-law and her husband are doing a "grown-ups only" trip to New York City. As for us, we leave on Sunday for our Summer Vaca. We have decided to spend our time off in a remote area that is well off the beaten path, a place where many people have never heard of before, where the sunshine will be plentiful, and there is little to no chance of rain. Where is this isolated place I speak of...Muskogee, Oklahoma. I'm not kidding, so stop laughing, you know you're jealous.
Yes, Kyler's baseball team has earned a bid to the 9U USSSA World Series in beautiful Muskogee. For those of you who don't know where Muskogee (Musk-go-ge) is, it is approximately 50 miles Southeast of Tulsa in the middle of nowhere! Muskogee is famous for Merle Haggard's 1969 hit "Okie from Muskogee" and its annual Azalea Festival. How much fun could a place be that mixes old country music and flower tours together? According to Mr. Haggard, it's a place "where even squares can have a ball," well, we'll see.
Kyler and his teammates have worked so hard to earn this trip. For those of you who are stat minded, here is a few for you:

38-7 IN-CLASS RECORD (42-19 Overall Record)
4 CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHIES
4 SECOND PLACE TROPHIES
7 THIRD PLACE FINISHES
RUNNER-UP IN THE ARKANSAS STATE TOURNEY
2 ALL-STATE SHOWCASE PLAYERS
3 ARKANSAS STATE ALL-TOURNEY PLAYERS
Ranked #1 in Arkansas out of 33 teams (Power and Points)
Ranked #4 in the U.S. out of 900 teams (Points)

Ranked #32 in the U.S. out of 900 teams (Power)

FOR ONE WEEK (May 1, 2008) RANKED #1 in the country in Power Ranking

One last stat, Kevin and I have been at every tournament, every game, and we won't miss this one either, even if that means we get to spend our vacation in the Oklahoma Sun instead of the Florida Sand!

We are not Dogs

For some of us we live in the "woulda, coulda, shoulda world" and we can't get out or we don't want to get out. We continually think about what we would have done differently or what could have been or what we should have said. We like that world. It's comfortable. Nothing changes there. We never have to grow or learn anything new. Proverbs 26:11 says, "As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly." Are we no better than dogs?
I have been listening to people lately and I have come to the realization that for some of us we never learn to "let it go". For humans vomit comes dressed in different clothes, for some it is old boyfriends, girlfriends, friendships, career choices, a divorce, it is a something different for everyone. It doesn't matter how it is dressed, it's all vomit. We keep whining and going back to toxic people, old ways of thinking, bad habits, or bad behavior. If we are not progressing and not learning from our past then, according to Proverbs, we are fools and we are no better than a dog.
After Kyler has lost a game, he will dwell on that game for the rest of the day, most of the evening, and sometimes he will carry it with him through the next day. He will replay every at bat, every play in the field, every pitch, over and over in his head trying to figure out how they lost. If we wins, he may talk about it for a few hours, but then he is focused on the next game. Even at ten years old losing is his vomit and he can't let it go. He keeps going back to it. I know some of that behavior comes from being competitive, but I started to think about how much of it comes from observing me and my behavior? Is that what I want to teach him, that it is alright to keep going back to his vomit?
So, I am working on trying to be a better example, I am trying to "let it go". When we ask God to forgive us, He forgives us from EVERYTHING no matter what we did. We have His promise that the vomit is gone, FOREVER. We have a hard time understanding unconditional forgiveness because Satan and all his devious ways, won't allow us to forget. His job is to keep us swimming in the vomit pool and to keep us thinking we are not worthy of God's love. God made us in His image and gave us free will to choose Him and to have life more abundantly. We have to learn to stay away from the vomit.
My life is not always what I thought it would be, in fact it is very different than I had pictured it as a little girl. Honestly, it could be better in some areas if I would stop acting like a dog. Some people act like dogs because they don't know any better, no one has ever shown them a better way of life. I know better and I want my son to see the better way in me, so, when I feel like I am returning to my own vomit I have started repeating, "I am not a dog" it is a simple statement that helps to remind me that I am better than our four legged friends.

The Boys of Summer

It was an incredible weekend of baseball!

The Bombers went 1-1 in pool play, not the start we were hoping for, but the boys worked through it. Our bracket play started 10:45 on Sunday morning, the sunshine was plentiful, already a toasty 81 degrees and climbing, and a slight breeze blowing. Our boys didn't care they were on a mission - make it through 3 games then to the Championship Game at 7:00.

First on the list the Arkansas Bearcats. Our bats were on fire, the boys blazed by them, 18-2 in three innings, run rule in effect, game over. One down 2 more to go.

Our second game of the day started at 2:30. We had seen this team before, a scrappy little team from Fort Smith. They had us down 5-0 until the bottom of the third. Then with two outs #50 steps up to the plate, he turns to the third base coach for any last minute advice, "step in there and swing the bat." With his teammates looking and waiting he steps into the box, one foot in, both feet in, back foot digs in, pitcher throws his fast ball, bad move, Bryce turns perfectly on it, ping the ball is over the left field fence, it is outta here! Two run home run. We're rallying back, we ended the inning 8-5 and held them for the rest of the game. Two down, one more to go.

It's 4:45 next up the Dragons. This team is a good team, full of talent, good pitchers and hot bats, however their coaches struggle getting them to play as a team. Each player wants to be number one, you don't win ballgames with that attitude. Kyler gets the call to pitch this one. He's ready, he knows what's on the line. They have to win this one to make it to the Championship Game. He knows is job, throw strikes, no junk, if they hit it the defence will back him up. That's what he did they shut them down 14-2. Our boys bats were smokin hot! They were hitting the ball all over the diamond! They did it, three wins in a row! They made it to the championship game!

The sun was setting, and the temperature was beginning to fall and the breeze was picking up. Game time 7:00 under the canopy of the lights. Magtel Twisters were coming into this game undefeated for the tournament. The knew the journey we had to get here, and they had saved their best pitchers or our boys. Bombers win the coin toss, home team. Top of the first, not our best effort, the boys allow 5 runs to score before getting three outs. We start to chip away one or two runs an inning, but our defence was wearing down mentally. They never recovered, final score 15-13. Second place.

Even though it wasn't a first place victory when the dust settles on home plate and after all the pitches, catches, hits, stolen bases, fly balls, line drives, and home runs are over, our boys of summer can look back and remember that they beat the odds, made it the big game, and did it all as a team.

For Rene

Rene...I have been in your shoes, not wanting to go back to work full time. Let's be honest it stinks and for the record Gloria Steinem is not my hero. I don't have any wise words of advice for you and you didn't even ask for my opinion anyway, but I feel you need someone to tell you that it will be alright if you have to go back to work.
Don't think of it as a punishment, you have to think of it as a your mission field. If this is what your path is suppose to be God will place you in the right job where you can be a blessing to someone. He will open the door at a great child care center for Tatum & Evan, where someone there can be a blessing to you if you let them. That's the key, you have to allow someone to bless you. Yes, it is our job as parents "to bring our children up in the way of the Lord", nowhere does He say that you can't have help.
God will provide a way for you and your family to prosper, it may not be your way or even a way that you would prefer, it's just HIS WAY.
I hope you have found some comfort in the above words and know that I will continue to keep you and your family in my prayers...love & peace, Nikki.

P.S. You asked me what I did for a living...I am a Property Manager for a commercial real estate firm.

They Don't Get It

Why do people think they have the right to tell you how to raise your children?
I had a conversation with a partner in the company that I work for today and he said that "we need to get rid of all the baseball. It takes up to much of our time." We started in March, we have our state tournament this weekend and the World Series in July, which is a week long event. I immediately asked him, "Why? It's only the three of us. Kyler loves it. Why should we get rid of it?" He had no real answer and just said, "He didn't get it."
Then I started to think about how some people don't get it, as they would say, "let baseball consume our lives" and others, our friends and family, who know Kyler completely understand that we did not push him into baseball he pushed us.
Kyler loves baseball. It's in his DNA. Without any prompting from us, when he was about 3 years old we would come home from preschool and he would get his little backpack with his tee ball bat & glove and go out to the back yard for his “bayball practice.” My parents had gotten him a little pitch back for his birthday and he would spend about an hour a day in the back yard hitting and throwing tee balls into this pitch back. He always worked on both fielding & hitting!
He never wanted to watch cartoons only ESPN. He learned his letters by watching ESPN’s Bottom Line. He would go to Pre-school and tell his teachers that Albert had 3 RBI’s last night or that Matt Morris has an ERA of 3.6. They would just smile, they had no idea what he was talking about.
I have stopped trying to justify our life and our choices regarding sports to everyone else. We have never forced Kyler to play anything. We have always said if you want to try something then "you play the season through and quitting is not an option, no matter what."
The lessons he has learned from playing sports and being part of a team are unmeasurable. He knows that you don't win all the time, there is a winner and a loser. If you don't win then you practice harder and you get better. He knows what it means to trust his teammates and for them to trust him, how to take directions, be a good sport and encourage others, how to be responsible for his actions and the effects of those actions. He also understands the result of hard work, determination and perseverance. As another season wraps up his team is currently #1 in Arkansas out of 33 teams, #26 in the nation out of 904 teams (at one point they were #1), they have an over all record of 34-5, scoring 446 runs and only allowing their opponents to score 149 against them, looking back it as been a great season!
Some people won't ever get it and that's alright, I don't expect them to. I'm not telling anyone to do what we do. I just wish they would show us the same courtesy. In the meantime we will continue to go to "bayball practice."