Yay for My Husband!!

Just a little brag on my husband...the conference coaches voted for him and another guy to share Coach of the Year Honors. He never told me about it; I found out about it when it was in the newspaper! The kids were so excited and proud to see their dad's picture in the local paper yesterday. Cy said, "Look- it's a really big picture. Most of the time they just put you in a little box!! Can I take this to school and show my friends?"

He also received Coach of the Year for our state's district (of the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association). Congratulations, Mark! You have deserved this from day one of season one. I know it's only "high school", but this man puts 150% of himself into our school's football program (from physically tearing down cement walls and expanding the weight room...to the hours of coaching, studying the game, networking with other coaches around the country, breaking down game film, recording defensive and offensive stats after the game, painting the field, making most of the awards (woodworking), creating motivational music, posters, handbooks, helmet awards, etc. etc. etc. Plus still finding time to be an awesome husband and father. Mark backs away from any attention, and after years of coaching struggling teams...this season's conference championship was extra-meaningful for us. No one appreciates or deserves it more than Mark.


Like I said, he didn't tell me about the coaching honors...he is embarrassed by it and would rather give credit to his players and his coaching staff. So congratulations first of all to the Potosi Chieftains, Six Rivers Tri-Conference Champs! First time in 16 years...

Having coached for 15 years, Mark knows how lucky he is to have been working with his friends here for the past 7 seasons. We understand the sacrifices these guys and their families make for our football program, and we are eternally grateful. Here's our Chieftain Football Family:

Thanks everybody! And thanks to my friend Carolyn for taking the pictures.
(And I love you, Coach. Congratulations.)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, and not for men.--Colossians 3:23

My Kind of Day

I don't know if it's a mom thing, but normally I don't like having the spotlight turned on me. My Christian upbringing has instilled a humility inside of me (the kind where I would rather focus on what Jesus did for me, because I sin and fall short of His glory every minute of the day).

This is not to say that I am a sad-sack, woe-is-me person. Far from it!! I have always had a silly side, a funloving side that loves to pretend (hence my drama major in college). And as I grow in my faith and in His Word, I also find a contentment and sense of JOY at being God's child. God has given me so much--especially His only Son who died for me and for you. Who can't be joyful about that?? My folks raised us to work hard and to be grateful for what we have, and those values have only grown deeper over time.

So when my birthday rolls around, it feels kind of funny to get the "star treatment". I think back to when I was a child and all eyes were on me and my birthday cake. I was kind of embarrassed, but also felt very special. This was MY day!

The neat thing about becoming a parent is that your children never let you forget that special feeling. The mom side of me fights it--"I've got work to do; I should be helping others and not taking time for myself!"....but the kid side of me is encouraged by my OWN kids. "I LOVE birthdays!" "Mommy, this is YOUR day and we're going to do whatever you want today!" "I made my bed today without anybody telling me to, just for you, Mom!" "Where are we going out to eat, Mom? You get to pick the restaurant!"

Like most grown-ups, I would rather skip the getting-older part. And I don't really need presents in boxes. I already have so much more than I deserve or need. My favorite present of all this year was when my husband made & decorated a birthday cake with the kids. I wish I had a picture of that--oh wait, I do!


So I guess even a Slacker Mom like me gets to enjoy a special day. For 24 hours, I indulged myself. And the little girl from the 70s came out to play!

Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom.--Psalm 90:12 NLT

Now We Just Need Some Pilgrims

My girls had their own pre-Thanksgiving celebration....



Perhaps not the most politically correct observance, but you gotta love the enthusiasm!



And who can forget the First Thanksgiving Meal of popsicles on a laminate wood floor. (Wynne even learned how to sit "Criss - Cross Applesauce" style!)


Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
--Psalm 100:2

Three Little Cuties

Our weekend was full of beautiful baby girls!
First we went over to visit my brother & sister-in-law. Mark hadn't met baby Elsie yet (she's 2 weeks old). She's so alert all of the time (well all of the time means the 2 times I've seen her!) and so darn cute! Wynne loves to play with her baby doll and was all ready to hold this "live doll"!! (Just so you know, we didn't let her. Not quite ready for that excitement yet.)



Then yesterday we drove over to Doug & Paula's (Mark's brother & our sister-in-law)for Madyson's baptism. I am extremely blessed to be her godmother! Her cousin Kierta is 2 months older than her. These girls will have fun growing up together! (Kierta's on the left, Mady's on the right)



Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD...Psalm 127:3a

Hotel Life

One of the perks of Daddy's job as athletic director is the big convention every November at a fancy hotel in Appleton. As you can tell, the kids just hate going.






I wish I could share in their enthusiasm. Is it the whole Mom thing that makes this experience less of a thrill for me? Could it be all of the packing/unpacking/laundry--carrying everybody's stuff--forgetting my own bathing top and sadly fitting into my daughter's girls size 10 top--sleeping 3 to a bed thing that diminishes the fun for me?
Like Mark said on Day 2, "I'm a one-swim guy now. Guess I'm getting old!"

Oh well. Seeing these eyes and these smiles makes everything worth it!

Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him! Psalm 64:10

Election Days of Old and New

I'm dating myself here, but back in the year of our country's bicentennial, my mom made my sisters and I these groovy shirts with sailor collars and great prints. One of the shirts said "VOTE" all over it and was red, white, and blue. Somehow I hung onto a few of these blouses and our 5-year-old twins wore them to school today!

So no matter who you're voting for, just remember how lucky we are to have the privilege to vote, have running water, electricity, and a roof over our heads, and retro clothes to wear!

I am the LORD, and there is no other;
apart from me there is no God. Isaiah 45:5

Busy Day!

Last Friday was a busy, wonderful day. The kids helped me clean the house for a family baby shower on Sunday (we were gone all day Saturday to our play-off game), then they helped me make a big sign for Daddy's football team.

We had to hurry to get the sign in the locker room before the team came in from practice! Then we went to the bank to enjoy a tailgate benefitting the sports and music boosters. I love it when I don't have to cook! (especially when the house is clean:) The kids were motivated to be helpful because they were looking forward to carving pumpkins and trick-or-treating.







It was the first year since I can remember that the kids didn't have to wear coats to go trick-or-treating!

As you can see, they made quite a haul. Good for 2 days of playing "candy store".

But the best treat of all was that our new baby niece was born to my brother & his bride 3 minutes to midnight! What a day!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!