Winning motivates

Yesterday was a perfect day! The weather was sunny and warm. Elijah got a good nap in the great outdoors, and Paige didn't get stung. (even tho the bees were busy and definitely after our lemonade!) We packed up the car and a lunch and took a trip over to Wilmington to do some climbing. It's a great spot! The river sounds in the background, picnic area, trails, the whole bit. We played a little soccer and some football after the climbing was complete. I hiked up and around the back twice and thought for sure I would die. (I am in need of some serious exercise!!) All three kids topped out at about 110 feet! They all were motivated by something different, one in paticular for the sheer enjoyment of beating her sister! I guess it runs in the family--tennis is coming!!

Life has been a roller coaster ride for quite some time now and I don’t think the ride will be stopping anytime soon. I am getting a bit sick and wish the remedy were as simple as throwing up and feeling better. My spinning head has slightly slowed down only to start spinning like a top once again. There are times when I feel like I am floating on a chunk of ice in the middle of a freezing ocean with no landing in sight. When my feet are not planted on this ice chunk, I feel as if they are being lifted and blown around like a kite in a wind storm. Sleep evades me and my dreams chase me as if I were in a marathon that never ends. My calendar is like trying to put queen size sheets on a king size bed—no matter how you turn it there isn’t enough room! My list of to do’s is ever growing and yet keeps disappearing. And there is no one to remind me what’s on the list!
So because of all this- I am CERTAIN I birthed some brain cells!

Last night I got to watch my hunk of studliness play soccer outside! He has been playing all summer (when he is able) but this was my first game this year due to a certain someone named Elijah. Can I just say I was so proud of my husband! Not because he scored a lot, or kept the team working together, not because he made some AWESOME runs from the back, and can still run with the best of them, not because he can slide tackle a man and get up so quickly and stealthily that the ref doesn't know what just happened. Not because his teammates say they need him to stay in because they get scored on when he's out, not for any of these reasons alone. But I am proud of my man because of the man he is at home to me and our children! Sure, watching him play soccer does stir a bit of pride in me, but the greater pride comes while listening to him read a story with the kids piled on his lap. Or watching him show Jamin how to open the doors for ladies by opening my door. I am proud when he willingly takes up the extra cleaning around the house because I am unable. Or when he pulls out the bible and reads to our children.I smile when he tells one of the kids to get mom some ice cream or make mom some coffee! I am proud when he teaches our children to be thoughtful of others by giving up his seat, or simply playing a game that he doesn't feel like playing at the moment. I am proud to be Mrs. Jack klose in so many ways! I don't have to get to the soccer field for that, I can simply go to my back yard and watch soccer being played by dad and his kids!

Questions concerning face book.

Face book. Upon joining face book I must admit I wasn't thrilled, just another thing to occupy my time and another system to figure out. (Which by the way they decide to change more often than not just to keep you busy with it.)
"FRIENDS"
When you take a good look at face book it would appear that any one person has hundreds and hundreds of friends- but can this really be the case? Can classmates from 3rd grade, whom you haven't spoken to in 30 years, really be considered a "friend?" Doesn't there have to be some form of communication between two people to be called friends? I think I even have some on my page that I don't even know or cannot place! Are these people really my "friends"?
"REQUESTS"
I have never in my life had someone who formally "requested" to be my friend and yet here on face book this is a regular occurrence! Should one ever, in any relationship, have to "request" to be your friend? I cannot remember a time when I went up to someone and said something like "I have only known you for a short while, but may I request to be your friend? This I am sure would send some running in the opposite direction!
"IGNORE"
I would never purposefully "ignore" my friend, yet once again that is an option for any "friend" I have on face book. I can ignore them any time I want! Now granted, there have been some times while speaking to friends that my mind has wandered and my focus was not completely with them, but to purposefully tell myself I am going to ignore them- I have never done.
Now, before you call me a hypocrite I admit, I do have a face book, I do go on it occasionally, I do have many "friends" (and have even ignored some) I have "requested" some friends as well. But it just makes me wonder- how many true friends do I have out there? How often have I been "ignored" without even knowing it? And am I just part of a status symbol to be added to someones friend list to make them appear as though they have more friends than the next guy? Face book.......hum..

I do have childhood memories!

So today I was sitting in the living room watching Jamin and Paige wrestle. This is a common occurrence in the Klose home. Paige was winning when out of nowhere Jamin scrunches up his face, takes the stance and screams out RAAAAAHHHHHHH as he charges. It is at this point that Paige loses all control because she is laughing so hard and Jamin is able to defeat her. A few minutes later as they are both recovering Paige says through her giggles "Jamin, you know that saying that word doesn't make you stronger." Right then I myself begin to laugh hysterically. I actually have a childhood memory and it is so similar! You see, I too fought with my brothers and sisters, (o.k. mostly the sisters) and one particular sister, (I will keep her idenity secret) who, like Jamin thought one word would give her "super strength". Anybody remember that word..... TOTAL! We would be in the midst of fighting and at any given time she would shout out TOTAL and would go crazy!! Just flailing like a mad girl, every limb swinging and of coarse, she would at that point win because the opponent was too busy laughing to defend herself. She swore for many years that the word gave her super strength and she could fight anybody and win. Oh, the joys of watching my children fight!

Lessons from Paige

Well today was the day. Paige and four friends came here after school for her first Bible study! She and a friend Abby came up with the idea, got together to plan where in the Bible they would start, what game they would play to get the point across, what time parents would pick up their girls, the whole thing! I was pretty impressed with what they came up with. They were going to start with the Romans road, (their desire in all of this is for their friends to know Christ!)The next step was for them to start in Genesis. Jack and I both have offered help, but Paige and Abby seem pretty confident and have done the planning faithfully. (her independence here is killing me!) My prayer in all of this is that Paige and Abby would have the boldness to press on, even if, no... WHEN persecution comes. I also pray that they would see the fruit of their labor and that they would grow to be more like Christ because of this. What a proud moment for me as a mom, and yet, I recognize that it's all by the grace of God!

These are a few of my favorite things

Sitting in the sun sipping iced tea, wathcing the kids play.
walking the park with Jack.(really doing anything, anywhere with him.)
Cheering on the kids with hubby in whatever sport they're in.
floating on my raft in the pool all alone.
a giant gilatti, mango if they have it.
listening to the kids talk when they don't know I'm listening.
a hiking trip with the family.
getting together with the sisters. (I like the brothers too!)
a real good book
a good workout followed by a good long bath.
my hammock.
rocking on the back porch.
a big snow and sledding with the kids. (followed with some hot chocholate.)
being the one my kids run to for comfort.
those special talks with my kids.
getting an unexpected check in the mail.
picking strawberries and blueberries.
finding a good deal at the grocery.
accomplishing anything!
being able to complete a thought!