Brains, Heart, and Courage

Last Friday was Chillicothe's Homecoming.  

That means much more to me than it used to.   I have a high school football player now.  It also means that I'm in a group called "football moms".  We painted business windows with our kid names.  We tied ribbons on every single car's antennae at the high school Friday morning.  Approximately 8,938,924 of them.  If they didn't have antennas, we tied them on the wiper blades.  I came across one car that had neither wipers or an antennae.   We make desserts for Thursday night team dinners.  We give the boys treats for the bus ride on away games and we ride on floats during the 

Homecoming parade.  

Then on Friday evening.....

I planted my hiney on a stadium bleacher, alongside my hubby.  Ryan usually plays in the J.V. games and we were flabbergasted when he didn't run out with them.  What Rick didn't know.......what I didn't know......what Ryan didn't know until moments before, was that he was starting his first Varsity game!  

 

My pulse quickened.

I couldn't feel my limbs.

I started to sweat.

I thought my head might explode!

There is my boy.  You see that guy running across the field?  He's my son.  #84.........I am his mother!

His name was announced overhead and I sort-of remember it, but it all seems a little fuzzy now.  I do recall them saying something like this.........

A sophomore, playing end...............RYAN SMITH!!!!!!!!

Then the Hornets swarmed into a huddle.  (you get it?  Swarmed.......the Hornets swarmed.  Oh forget it.)

Then the dance squad walked onto the field and did the cutest rendition of "Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead" I've ever heard.   Are you noticing our Homecoming theme yet?  

Then, before I could catch my breath, they were lining up on the field.

I said several quick prayers.  Something about protecting him, blessing him and guiding him.  Again, my brain still was not clicking on all cylinders.  

I always know where my boys are on the field.  Both Ryan and Ian stand at least a head taller than everyone else.  So, I scan their helmets.  The one that sticks up above the others is usually my kid.  Even though I cannot see his number in this picture, I still know exactly where he is.  It's convenient.

And that would be Ryan before 2,000 pounds of boy pounced on him.

(sure glad I prayed)

He gets his facial expressions from his father.

Half-time

Put 'em up, put 'em up!  Which one of you first?  I'll fight you both together if you want.

I'll fight you with one paw tied behind my back.  I'll fight you standing on one foot.

I'll fight you with my eyes closed.

Ohh, pullin' an axe on me, 'eh?  Sneaking up on me, 'eh?

Ryan, I know you don't read this blog.  It embarrasses you, I'm sure.  But in case you ever do, I want you to know that this was one of my proudest moments.   Your dad was just as proud, if not more.  We were both running on 100% adrenaline.   

You are not just an amazing athlete, your a kind young man.  You're smart and I simply cannot tell you how much I love you.  I know that I'm impatient with you sometimes.  I understand that I'm overprotective and annoying.  It's just because I KNOW I will have more proud moments like this one.  I also know that it won't always include a ball.  

You have a heart like the Tin-man....

You have brains like the Scarecrow....

You have courage like the Lion......

and I love you.

I Know Better

Please pardon my mess on the blog this week.  I'm doing some revamping...... some technical stuff that I have NO IDEA how to do!!!!!  I'm changing things around a bit here because I cannot move the furniture in my house.  I like things to change things up a bit.  

Besides..........

I've just not felt very "bloggie" lately and I'm hoping a change of scenery might help.

I wanted to throw that out there in case you were wondering why my posts are so sparse lately.  (which I'm sure you weren't).

I compiled a TOP 5 reasons why I haven't felt bloggie (humor me)

#1. All we do is go to basketball games and basketball practices.  I could bore you to death with photos from every game, but really, I know better.

#2. It's usually nearing dark when everyone is home.  I hate artificial lighting!!  I love natural lighting.  I could take pictures of Gus and Congo, but really, I know better.

#3. I'm on the verge of maxing this mac out on pictures.  Rick bought me a sizzling photoshop program for Christmas.  I embarrassingly do not have enough memory storage to load it though.  So, long story short........ we have an external hard drive.  I have managed to load all my music and videos on it.  However, I'm not sure how to delete them off the main computer.  I can pretend to be a computer genius, but really, I know better.

#4. I've been taking lots of photos with my cell phone instead of my SLR.  That means..... not such good pictures!!!  Since I am borderline type A, not such good pictures aren't good enough for the blog.  (I completely threw that rule out of the window when I posted Vegas pictures, in case you couldn't tell.  But really, I know better)  Cell phone photos pretty much SUCK!

#5. And the top reason that I am not bloggie is............... 

I flitter between reading everything in sight (including cereal boxes and nutrition labels) to not reading ANYTHING (including "How to Train Your Dog, Your Children and Your Husband"..... obviously!!!)

And now.......... I'm reading everything in my sight.  

                               I've gobbled this up........                              and I've almost gobbled this up.

Soooooooo, I'm applying this mantra from Mrs. Ali.......

and I'm gonna learn the word NOOOOOO (but really, I know better)

It's bittersweet to me that last night was Ryan's last Freshman basketball game.  They won!!!  Ryan played tough!!!  He only had two fouls (that's good for him)!!!  I'm gonna miss the squeaks, buzzers, and bouncing.  WAIT..... did I just say that?  Holy Moley, have I lost my marbles?   Have I grown to love the game of basketball?  I do believe that I have.  

People, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!

It is also bittersweet to me that Ian is playing his very last YMCA basketball game this Saturday.  (sniff sniff)

It is also bittersweet to me that Gracie finished her last basketball game Saturday (and her idiot mother forgot the camera)  Jeez!

Lastly, I hope your Valentine's Day was filled with love, smooches, and chocolate.  

Our Valentine's day was filled with sugar.

and my favorite bulldog candy dish.  

I made some of these.

I wanted to make some of these, but ran of of time (which means, I got to a good part in my book).

Before I log off, I wanted to share a recipe.  It may be the best chocolatie goodness I've ever sunk my teeth into.  REALLY!!

Chocolate Molten Lava Cakes

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate

2 ounces semisweet chocolate

1 cup powdered sugar

2 whole eggs

2 egg yolks

6 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees and grease muffin tin.  (I used a jumbo muffin tin, it is double the size of a normal muffin)  In a large microwavable bowl, melt butter and chocolate.  Stir well.

Stir in powdered sugar until well blended.  Whisk in eggs and egg yolks, then stir in flour.  Spoon batter into muffin pan.  Bake for 13 to 14 minutes or until sides are firm but centers are soft.  Let stand for one minute.

Run a small knife around the cakes to loosen.  Top with vanilla ice cream or whipped topping.  Serve immediately.

I doubled the recipe because I have am feeding five very hungry people.  I am going to try placing them in a oven-safe coffee cup next time.  Or a small oven-safe bowl.  

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for giving us chocolate.  Thank you for Molten Lava Cake.

Amen

HAPPY HEART DAY  a smidge late.  

Will You Join Me?

Do you remember the "One Little Word" that I chose last year?  You can find the post here.  Well it's that time again.  I love the idea of meditating on one word throughout an entire year, especially for the purpose of improving myself.  
Last year I chose THRIVE.  I will be honest with you.  There were many times when I felt angry at my word, especially after our losses this year.  You see, THRIVE means to flourish.  When I looked flourish up in the dictionary it said: "to be in a state of activity or production".  Truly, I probably wasn't angry at my word at all.  I was mad at anything that I could tie to my sadness.  


So, once again, I'm thankful for a do-over.  I'm thankful that I didn't choose a life word.  Every year, I get to change it up and........ I think that's awesome.   I did learn a little lesson through the process however, "Be careful with your word, Mandy".  (note to self)  Even if it is for only 365 days.  365 days can be a looong, looong time.
So without further ado........ (drumroll please)........................ I now introduce you to Mandy's 2011 One Little Word!!!!!  CONNECT


If I've learned nothing else this last year, it's that you NEED TO MAKE WHAT'S IMPORTANT............. ...IMPORTANT!!!!!  What I'm saying is, 
I have an amazing family.......... make them important.
I have an awesome bunch of friends........ make them important.
I have a church home........... make it important
I have an awesome God who loves me, guides me, and provides for me........ MAKE HIM IMPORTANT!!!
Guys, I'm not boasting, but I LOVE MY WORD!!!!!  

Photo from Ali's blog

This is the link to Ali Edwards website.  I challenge you to pick a word of your own and join along.   


Since I was on a roll, I decided to also participate in Beth Moore's SIESTA SCRIPTURE MEMORY TEAM.  Beth has been a mentor of mine since my oldest was in diapers.  Somehow I relate to her.  I feel that she and I are friends (except she doesn't know me from Adam).  It must be her Southern drawl, and her sweet disposition.  Simply put..... she pulls my heavenly heart strings, and I adore her ministry.  

Here is Mrs. Beth showing off the cute little spirals that we will be writing our verses in.  

This is my spiral

I have committed to memorize 24 scriptures over the next 12 months.  If you knew what went on in my rattled brain, you would understand that God will have to intervene here.  I pray He injects me with a dose of Godly serum that helps me remember.  Most days, I cannot remember my children's names (hence they get called three or four names before I get to the right one.  Sometimes I call them by my husband's name, or the name of my favorite cookie.  For crying out loud, I do well to remember I HAVE THREE CHILDREN!  Good thing I named my blog mommyofthree, or else I truly would forget).  


All joking aside...... I would love it if you decided to also join me on this adventure.  Do it instead of New Year's Resolutions!  24 scriptures from the Word of God means so much more than a list of broken promises.  24 scriptures is a good start on your "spiritual arsenal".  Store them up in your mind, then, when "the Enemy" strikes, (and I promise that he will), you will have 24 missiles to fire at him.  


If you are interested, click here for the instructions.  
NOTE:  You do not have to use this particular spiral.  Index cards are sold at most stores and often come spiral bound.  However, there is a link to purchase them here.


I will have a new verse to memorize on the 1st and 15th of every month.  My very first verse is this..............


"As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and deliver me from all trouble".

  1 Samuel 26:24

I've written it in my spiral and read it numerous times since.  I'm eager to see my tattered and worn little book on December 2011.  I've already spilt a drop of acai berry juice on it this morning.  Normally that would drive me bonkers.  But for some reason, I smiled.  It is well on it's way to being well used and well loved.