Chandler's Birthday Party--- 13 going on...I'm not quite sure

SO this was the big one...well the biggest one we've hit so far. Chandler turned thirteen and therefore the party had to be the best yet. I'm a huge fan of the big parties with lots of friends simply because I love having kids over and I always want it to be fun. So...we had Chandler's Amazing race. That's right...complete with Detours and Road Blocks. We had over 30 thirteen year old boys and girls at the house and running through the neighborhood completing fun and crazy tasks. It was a blast! Here's a few pics and I'll add a slideshow later!

Happy Birthday Chad (and Chandler)

Well, it's time for Birthday celebrations and parties...Chad's birthday is today...he's a whopping 33! But, because he's a good sport and has shared his birtday with his sister his whole life(Julie's is the 7th) and his daughter(hers is tomorrow- the 6th) for 13 years, we will be having Chandler's birthday party tonight. 30+ 12 and 13 year olds will be here in our house/neighborhood for "Chandler's Amazing Race"

So in the spirit of Chad's special(not-so-special) day i want to share with you the top 33(because there are so many more...) reasons I L-O-V-E him

1. He loves God more than anything else
2. He loves me in spite of my many flaws
3. He is an amazing dad
4. He truly cares about people
5. He makes me laugh
6. He is passionate about what he does
7. He is driven
8. He is oh so(makes me crazy sometimes) organized
9. He cooks
10. He cleans
11. He does his own laundry
12. He makes me feel so important
13. He is very involved in his kids lives
14. He is thoughtful
15. He is a Do-er
16. He has a heart to give whatever he has away
17. He is steadfast in his commitments
18. He serves in children's ministry with me
19. He is an encourager
20. He's amazing to look at!
21. He committed to working out
22. He is disciplined
23. He gives good gifts
24. He is teachable
25. He is willing to be vulnerable
26. He is modest
27. He is ready to help whenever help is needed
28. He will give you anything if you ask for it
29. He is an amazing provider
30. He LOVES his family with everything in Him
31. He is an honest man
32. Did I mention he's HOT!
and...
33. He puts up with me!!!!

Happy Birthday Chad-bo I love you more than you'll ever know!

The blog slacker...

So...I know it's been a while and a lot has happened over the last month so this will be my attempt at an update.

*Chad- done travelling(for the most part-aside from hunting trips)
*Riley- Football season is over(PRAISE GOD!!) Don't get me wrong, we LOVE football but it is such an intense busy season that we also love when it's over...until next August. Chad actually turned down the offer to play on a select team...smart choice.
*Chandler- Select soccer is on break till after Christmas. She tried out for basketball at school and made the C team(Very exciting considering she has NEVER played basketball- always enjoy the break between soccer seasons)
*Me- finished up a busy fall with a couple children's ministry conferences, baby dedication, now getting ready for Birthday and Christmas parties like crazy!

Here's a few pics from the last month...





We are almost DONE with our Christmas decorating and shopping so we can spend the majority of our time ENJOYING the holidays with family and friends.

God is challenging and changing the way I think and feel about myself and my family and people and things and circumstances and you name it...HE si working on it....

Love you and I'm thankful for each of you!

Chandler is AMAZING!

Chan ran in her last cross country meet of the season. She did amazing! Ran hard, finished strong and placed 6th place for jr high girls-west. The coolest part of it all is that her time beat the FIRST place runner in the jr high girls-east. She ran the two mile course in 13:26 which is a whole minute better than the first time she ran and BETTER than all the Weatherford Middle School BOYS did tonight!!!! Here are a few pictures from tonights run.

Cross Country Tomorrow

Just a heads up...Chandler runs in her quad-county cross country meet tomorrow. In my earlier post I said she would only be running against 7th graders but...they changed that this year and she will run against both 7th and 8th grade girls. It just means more competition right? So, we've tanked her up on carbs and sent her to bed. Please pray for her...this is her last cc race for the season and it is our prayer that she would run to win but not in mans eyes...not gonna lie, the medals are cool...but even better is the victory when they know they have done their very best with all the drive and talent God has given them. Pray for endurance, favor with the weather, grace with the course, wisdom to go the right direction, and a God-given strength to finish strong. Thanks friends! I'll update tomorrow night!

* sidenote * I did get my new camera and am REALLY excited to take pictures tomorrow. Hopefully I'll remember everything the guy at the camera store told me so I can get some great pictures!

Three Day Weekends are GREAT

This weekend was a busy and full Saturday and a VERY relaxing Sunday.

Chandler ran cross Country in Decatur this weekend. This was the hardest course yet with the most and hardest hills ever. She was running against about 150-200 7th and 8th grade girls from all over the metroplex- there was even a school from Austin. SO because the school was up on a hill you could see most of the course from one spot. She was doing amazing in the beginning...not pushing it too hard and I was waiting for her after one of the biggest hills. She got to me and gave me that "mom, I can't" look and my heart broke. She took a few steps and started running again. I cheered her on and prayed and even ran alongside her for a few yards. Christ did give her the Strength to finish the race with excellence. She finished 11th with a time of 14:34. She was disappointed because only the top 10 medal ed but she did GREAT! The majority of the top 10 were 8th graders so we were VERY proud! I didn't get any good pictures because a good ol' point & shoot camera doesn't really do the trick for the sports..so hopefully I can get my hands on a new camera-or at least borrow one- for quad county on the 22nd. At county she will only run against 7th graders...which is a plus.

Riley played in Rio Vista Saturday and they won. Chad and friends said he had a GREAT game too(I had Saturday night service so had to miss it) He had 3 sacs on the QB. Next week he plays out of town again in Whitney on Saturday night-- I'll be at work/church. Week after that it'll be a home game- can't wait!

Sunday we spent the afternoon hanging new decorations in the living room-yeah! and relaxing during the Cowboy game.

Today was a great no school day. We slept in, went to lunch, saw Beverly Hills Chihauhuas(sp?) Absoltely HILARIOUS and ended the day carving pumpkins!
It feels like fall! Life is beginning to slow down a bit and the weather is AMAZING. Praise God for a great 3 day weekend!

Update #2-- Crazy

Random family pic just so it's not just my rambling words!


Week three of the craziness of traveling Chad. Last week I had gone mad(according to my daughter), this week I'm just crazy!!

*Crazy in love with my husband who I so miss-- weekends just aren't enought for me.

*Crazy determined to stay on track with the Bible Study I started-- God is already showing me so much(good and not so good) that I want to finish what He's started.

*Crazy ready to get this house decorated-- got a bunch of really cool stuff this weekend and where is it sitting? On the floor in front of the walls they will eventually be hung on when Chad has the time!

*Crazy tired of being a cranky mom-- my kids need my best not my leftovers!

*Crazy longing for a little bit of extra time to GET ORGANIZED-- things are just stuck in closets and drawers from the weekend we moved in(Five months ago!)

*Crazy thankful for my friends, family, church, job, house...and all those things I take for granted.

*Crazy wishing I hadn't lost my camera-- I miss takin' pictures at my kids games and stuff(I did use a friends this week- will upload pics asap)

If you're reading this...you're a friend or family, so thanks! Thanks for jumping in and helping while Chad is gone, for praying for us(me especially) for the love and encouragement. And thanks Beth for the great blog idea!

Update

Well, Chad's been working in Houston for two weeks but he DID come home for the weekend. He will be coming home this weekend too...Praise God! Not sure how lomg this will last. It has been tough but as the saying goes, God never gives me more than I can handle...but does allow me to be pushed to the edge(of me) so HE can work. I have had my share of telling God what I think about it and am now in a season of listening to Him! Don't know why it takes me so long sometimes.

CHandler will be running in a meet in Keller this weekend. Hopefully the course will be well marked. Riley plays in weatherford...it's the BIG HOMECOMING game for him. Not sure if I'll have pics or not because...sob, sob, I lost my camera(gasp). Those of you who know me well know of all my possesions my good ol' Cannon is my friend and goes everywhere with me. Well, cannon went with me to a soccer game and got left in the stands. Not gonna lie, I am mourning the loss of my dear friend...don't know when I'll get to replace him...my birthday is around the corner...but all that to say, not sure what kind of pictures I'll get from Cross COuntry or the football game this weekend.

Will post after the weekend.

Thank friends for all the prayers during this "season"!

Pray for Chad...

Well, we just entered day one of this "season" God has us in. Chad left this morning for Houston to work. They have a contract to do a bunch of "blue roofs" through FEMA. What they do is bring in crews to tarp all of the houses that were damaged from the hurricane. He is projected to be in Houston about a month with a potential trip home somewhere in there. SO we have begun life without daddy. I didn't sign up for the whole single mom buisness. But I know my God loves me and will take care of my family and has given me some amazing friends to help us out.

Just talked to Chad and day one didn't go so hot for him. They got there, flat tire on the trailer, trouble finding a tire store with the right tire, not many places open to eat, 300+ guys with no where for them to stay and no work this week because the supplies aren't there yet. Chad is a little down and sent a text..."I love you so much...just pray I can see God in the dessert" Please pray for him with me...that he would find his hope in HIM alone, for his safety and protection, for a place to stay, and for favor with this whole thing.

On another note, I have a few other friends whose husbands are going to be working out of town for the next few weeks because of Ike...so pray for them as well, that HE woudl supply all of their needs...Thanks friends!

Our AMAZING Weekend

OK...so we had a very busy weekend despite the threat for crazy weather. Chandler's very best friend Emma turned 13 on Thursday and Chandler and a few other friends planned a surprise party. It was fun because she had NO IDEA...until the very end and mom(KIMMIE) did a great job of derailing any hope Emma had for a surprise...as a matter of fact she was mouthing her thoughts about it as she came in the front door....SURPRISE!!!! Happy Birthday Emma'le Nichlole and great party Chandler! We had a ball watching the kids hang out, swim, eat(alot) and have an all out cake figh(definitely unplanned) All the kids proceeded to Jump Extreme to continue the party...and the girls all spentthe night at Emma's. They ALL had to get up early...5:00AM to be at the school by 6:00AM for the busses to head to volleyball tournaments(Grandbury) and Cross Country Meet(FW Country Day)

Chandler ran in her first EVER Cross Country meet and we got there for the 8:00am start time for the 7th grade girls...luckily we were with some parents who had done this whole cross country thing before. SO we cheer her on as she and 80+ other girls start their 2 mile trek through the campus and surrounding roads of the Country Day campus. We decided to head to the mile marker so we could check on her and cheer her on at the halfway point. Chad was at one point and I was across the way at another. Chad was talking with other dads who had done this before and Chad was telling everyone that we had no idea how she'd do becasue it was her first run...and then they get sight of the first group of girls...and Chan is not only in the first group but in the lead...by a pretty good ways. He ran towards me and then I saw her coming down the hill...it was a huge moment...so incredibly proud and speechless and in awe of how cool our God is. We prayed that morning for miss Chandler that she would run with all her heart and that little girl did. She continued to stay in the lead but at one point stopped and looked around...I thought it was because she was ready to quit but found out later it was because she wasn't 100% sure she was going the right way. Being in the lead there's no one to follow....SO she continued and we cheered and yelled and she finished the race....in FIRST place...with a time of 14:50...that is what I call amazing. All things do work together for good...if she had made the volleyball team she would have never pursued Cross Country, and we would have never been able to celebrate this amazing gift/ability she has to run!!! Thank you Lord that your plan is PERFECT.

We finished the weekend on Sunday with church--packed house(again). Around 1300 peaple were at New RIver this weekend. This means lots of babies and preschoolers and kids and....you get the picture...It's so exciting to be a part of what God is doing in Parker County and in the lives of the people, in my friends lives and in my life personally. "He who is faithful with little will be trusted with much" May we be faithful with the much HE is entrusting to us right now. After church I got to hang with my lifegroup friends for lunch and some quality PT(prayer time). And to finih the day we had a family baptism service where we baptized abou 10 kids and 6 adults.

HUGE weekend!

RIley- Weatherford vs Aledo

Kids Camp-- July 2008

Catch up

OK, so I finally have a free night with no kids activities...the laundry has been folded, some clutter cleaned out and I am in a quiet house...there are lots of things I could be doing but as I was rearranging my messy closet full of scrabooking supplies I recalled a conversation with a friend earlier...I really do think blogging is my new form of scrapbooking for my current speed of life. SO in efforts to do this well I'm gonna play a little catch up. I know I never blogged much about two of my major summer events being Kids Camp and our mission trip to Honduras. Starting with the camp so here goes...a shout out to all my blog friends who have inspired and encouraged my getting the stories of life in writing. Thanks Friends!

What best friends do on a rainy afternoon

OK, so a few weeks ago when it was rainy Emma(Chandler's best friend who lives around the corner) came over to hang out and watch movies. I was busy working and realized I hadn't seen or heard them in a LONG while. Remember these are twelve year olds not 2 year olds. So I called for them in the house...no response, walked outside and spotted them. They were across the street and this is what I found...the funny thing is they were so into their playing in the mud that they didn't see me come outside, go back in and get the camera, and get a few good pics. These girls are growing up but still know how to be kids and play for fun!

Football, Soccer and Cross Country...

Well Riley is playing football and having a great season. His team is 2-0 and that is a first. Riley has made some great tackles in the backfield and a couple sacks on the quaterback. he scored at two-point conversion last Saturday against Alvarado.

Chandler is playing on a select socer team called the hurricaines. They played their first game Saturday against the number one team in our division...we were predicted to loose in a major way but the girls played well together, great defense and held them to 1-0 until the very end. Then we lost 3-0. Great job girls and better luck next time!

And last is my update on cross country. We have decided that Chandler not making volleyball was the best thing that could have happened to her. She started cross country last tuesday and did GREAT! She ran with all of the 7th and 8th graders. She beat all the 7th grade boys and girls and all the 8th grade girls...the coach had to put her with a group of 8th grade boys! The icing on the cake was the cross country coach bragging to one of her teacher friends about this 7th grader that did awesome that she was going to tell the varsity coach to keep his eye on! The teacher friend was Miss Kimmie and she was talking about Chan! We have our first Cross Country meet this Saturday at Country Day. Chan is running aprox 3 miles a day between off season in the morning and Cross Country in the afternoon...I am truly jealous that my daughter can run circles around me! I will post pictures after this weekend...

Today is a better day...

Well, after my complete meltdown yeasterday I've decided that my kids getting older isn't entirely bad. I am learning so much from them, especially Chandler. Today we had to deal with the reality of letdowns...Chan tried out for volleyball and didn't make it...I was worried so I took her lunch as an excuse to see her and check on her. Well, she was fine. Actually relieved because she didn't really like volleyball and was only doing it because we said we'd try everything this year. And good has come from it all...the cross country coach talked to her becasue they saw through volleyball tryouts that she was a really good runner. Proof that "all things work together for good for those who love God" Way to go Chandler Paige, I am so proud of you baby girl!

I am tired...

Can I say that....I AM TIRED...tired of everything around me moving so fast...and I know some moms look forward to the day their kids go back to school but right now I am sad...I miss my kids...the reality is here... more now than ever... that my kids are growing up and every day I waste is one that I will never get back. Now I'm not throwing a pity party, there are super exciting things happening in the Lacefield family. Chandler started Middle School but I don't take her to school on most days because she has to go at 6:45 for athletics. I don't see her again until after 4:00 and we have homework and soccer and church. Riley is playing football which he loves but he and Chad have practice three days a week for 2+ hours. I work most days and spend aprox 30 minutes at home that isn't eating, showering, sleeping or gettig ready for something. I pray for(and need prayer for) the peace that surpasses ALL understanding for me and my family right now. Sorry to those that ar e reading this as a result of my complete mom meltdown!!!!!

Few more family vaca pictures

I am so blessed to get to go on family vacations and love the hilarious and powerful memories that are made and cherished from these times.

Family VACATION- If you can call it that...

Well, we got back from the much anticipated and anxoiusly awaited family vacation. We were totally pumped to go on a cruise with our kids and a few other families. Well, the cruise itself was a blast if you don't take into account sleeping on bunkbeds(I really wasn't quite ready for kids camp) loosing my son numersous times(only had to get security involved once), and breaking one of my favorite things(my digital camera). SOme of the high points wer definitely the spa on the boat(that's about all there is to do)...of course the yummy food(again, not much else to do), the amazing beaches(Jamaica, Grand Caymen, and COzumel) and watching my kids parasail. Then there was the night life...eating(again) karaoke(hilarious) people watching in the casino...and pizza from teh mindight buffet. Here's a few pics of the fantastic vacation. I loved it, had a blast, but will not go on another cruise anytime soon.

Jessie Hall 8 day Prayer Vigil

Here's the plan...June 1 & June 8 at NRF we are going to share a little about Jessie and her surgery in service and have a prayer sign up. In our atrium you can sign up for an hour shift(or two or three) to pray 24/7 beginning Sunday, June 8 at 9 am through 11:59pm on June 15. We will have around 182 1 hour shifts to get covered. Throughout the week the sign up will be available for other friends and family if they can't make it during the weekend services. We are planning on giving out pink bracelets to all who sign up for a shift to serve as a reminder to pray for Jessie and her family as well as an info card with prayer prompts.

Here's what Kristi, Jessie's mom sent me:
Jessie Hall, at 5 years of age, was diagnosed with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis. Rasmussen’s Encephalitis is an extremely rare and cruel brain disease that almost exclusively attacks little kids; usually kids like Jessie, with no previous health problems. There are no medicines or treatments that can stop Jessie’s seizures, and if they are not stopped, the disease will progress with catastrophic results. The only treatment for this disease is a radical brain surgery called a hemispherectomy. Surgeons will remove the entire right half of Jessie’s brain.

Jessie will fly across the nation to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore Maryland to have this procedure performed under the direction of Dr. Eileen Vining, Neurologist, her assistant Diana Pillas, and the surgical direction of Dr. Ben Carson (Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery) on June 11. After an approximate 2 week hospital stay, Jessie will enter extensive in-patient rehabilitation at the Kennedy Krieger Institute for 3 weeks before coming home to Texas.

Please pray for the following:-Dr. Carson, Dr. Vining, Diana Pillas and their support staff of doctors and nurses
-no paralysis (not even partial) - we pray for full use of arms/limbs-no blindness or issues with eyesight-no cognitive loss-no seizures on after surgery-no more multiple medications-limited physical and occupational therapy-no mechanical ventilator-no more than 2 week hospital stay-no hemorrhaging-no blood clotting-no brain inflammation -no strokes or seizures during surgery-no increased fluid pressure within the remaining brain tissue-no death-no loose of sensation or muscle control especially on left side of body but not in right side either-keep intellect in tact and increase her in knowledge and wisdom-no complications with surgery or hospital or rehabilitation stay-same bright bubbly child
If you want more information visit her blogspot www.Jessiekelley.blogspot.com
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Happy Mothers Day to ME!!!!

SO you spend twelve years with someone hoping and praying that your are loving them enough, teaching them good values and morals and trusting God will give you the strenght and endurance to be the mom HE wants you to be. Well, I am convinced that there is nothing harder in life right now than raising a pre-teen girl. You know the old saying, kids are payback for your own childhood. Here's how it went...this Mother's Day we had all the kids in our ministry write Tributes or letters to their moms telling then why they loved them and why they were thankful for them. Pat, one of our pastors read a few during his sermon. The first one went something like this....Dear Mom, Thank you for being nosy......and for always caring. FOrtunately they were posted in the Atrium as well and everyone knew I was the nosy mom, thanks Chan. I know with all my heart though that kids need nosy parents. I've said it and I'll say it again, we have a responsibility and we HAVE to ask the hard questions...and then, becasue we know we won't get the real answer in the beginning, we have to ask again. I really do wish I'd had a nosy mom....could've kept me out of ALOT of trouble.

Rain, Rain, Stay away

So we moved into our new home about three weeks ago. The day after moving in...we had the hail storm (which makes our life crazy beacause my husband is a roofing salesman). At that point we discover the drainage problems in our front yard. Had to wait for everything to dry out to lay grass...couldn't lay grass near the house becasue we were waiting for french drains...had the french drains dug, then it rained...and their continues to be rain in the forecast...and can't lay the rest of the sod until it all dries out...so i'm ready for a break in the rain so we can finish our sod and landscape...but for those of you who haven't seen it...here's a pic of the new house...without lanscaping or total sod.