Football, Flags and Racing

Seems our daily life would not be complete without the mentioning of one of the above. Cole lives football, Dakota wouldn't ever breath without a flag and well the rest of us Live for racing. Ray has been working on both Tobias' engine (yes two) and a new engine is almost complete for me. It's going to be a very busy summer racing, but I am so ready to get back into a seat and throw some dirt.
As we watched the playoffs last night for the super bowl, Ray commented on how it will be a while before we get to enjoy a game after the super bowl. Cole will start training again in July, so watch out, time will fly!
Dakota has been competing with her team to go back to state in two categories this year. I would so love for her to have the opportunity to go back to back for state titles in the same category, but with another team. Her team this year is the best. No Drama! Five of the funniest girls you would ever meet. She's got a couple great coaches that I love. Two more competitions, to qualify, so I hope they can!
Tobias is learning to read soooo much! I taught him our phone number the other day. And he found it so funny that even my cell number reflects back to racing. Only the rest of Jan and then two months before the summer tracks open up. Trying not to wish life away as it has a tendency to fly right on by any way. But ohhhh, how I'd love to hear some robins chirping right now........ Soon

Veterans Day

Though I will never fully understand why or how you can give up so much for me, I want to say thank you. Thank you to all the Verterans out there that have made this country what it is today.

Thank you to my daddy that served in the Army. Thankfully it wasn't during a war time.

If you see a Vet today, give them a hug, or shake their hand. They deserve it.

Trick or Treat, The fun is in the Tricking!

I can't believe how time flies. When I close my eyes for just a second I can see about eight or more of us kids all trick or treating together. Walking house to house. Now out in the country this is a feat! So after we got to all the houses we could walk to, mom would always drive us to those others that wanted us to stop by. Yeah, I said wanted us to stop by. Popcorn balls, Home made ones I mean, Apples, Oranges. You always knew who's house to go to to get what. Mary Stephens made the popcorn balls, Mary Russell was always ready with the fresh fruit. Uncle Jessie, not my Uncle, but we all called him that, always gave apples. Then of course tying stuffed dummies over tree limbs and pulling them up as a car approached. Purses left out by the road on strings. And always T-Peeing was going to happen. Big church basement parties. And dad would always pull us on a hay ride. With the tractor never failing to breakdown somewhere. I wish I could turn back the time and do one Halloween the way it was, but enjoy it with my kids. When you didn't worry about the candy being contaminated, or evil lurking.

But alas, here we are in the present. Dakota will be performing at the pumpkin path kickoff here in a while. The downtown hands out candy, but since we are having rain, it will be at the high school. Tobias dressed up for school today, but him and Coleton will get to dress up again tomorrow and go watch another Halloween parade Dakota will march in.

Have fun everyone and stay safe trick or treating!!!

Giving it all over to God

I am trying to remember to hand all my problems over to God. Seems there is always issues at hand. This person holding out their hand for money, this bill collector wanting money and it never ends. And of course with the fear of everyone around you being constantly sick. I've never seen a flu outbreak quite like this ever. Coleton has had it in our home and I'm hoping the rest of us get to skip it. We are stressing over a proposed trip we planned to make to VA to see Ray's family over Thanksgiving. But with the loss of child support which we haven't had since Aug. it's really put a damper on any extra money at all. I don't understand why the ex stopped paying child support. I do know he had a job change, but it should never have taken this long to start collecting again. The state has told me he lied to them about not working. So whatever his plans where to stop, we say thanks alot. I could go on and on about his flakyness, in and out of the kids lives, but I won't. Just trying to list some things I need to keep handing over to God. I've always handed things over to God before and they get done. Just seems this one is taking longer to be. I'm sure God has a plan and our best interest at heart. It's tough learning to be patient. I'm trying though, really. Here is a great bible verse that I need to print and read daily, maybe even hourly right now.

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

Grandma's Diaries

My Grandmother Campbell always kept a diary. It may have been just a short one page per day summary of her day, but I loved the fact that the family now has something to go back and read about her. It is almost amazing to see how the simple things gave her such pleasures. We forget in this fast paced society about those little pleasures in life. Grandma never drove and didn't ever have a car after Grandpa died. So if she got to go somewhere someone took her. We just jump in a zoom off and never think of staying home for a solid week. It may seem simpler back then, but I'm sure Grandma had her struggles as well. The reason I've decided to start blogging is to remember the day and grasp the little things that may not seem so big today, but some year when we go back and read this, we can see those simple pleasures. My kids are growing so fast and it feels like just yesterday each of them were born. There is so much that goes on in a day that we tend to forget. Those crazy things the kids come up with or say, hopefully I can capture some of that here. No promises, but I hope to give this a great try.

Post one complete, well on my way I'd say! :)