Where was God?

On June 8, 2017- my life and the lives of many were changed.  There was a tragic bus accident involving 11th graders, 12th graders, chaperones, and our bus driver from church.  Many people will wonder where God was that day and in the days to follow.  As a person who likes to doubt and question, I'd like to say where I saw God.  I would also like to write all of this down so that I can look back and see places God worked that I didn't know at the time.  Some of these things are trivial, some are amazing.  Some are just little God winks that I wouldn't have noticed if I weren't where I am with Christ today.  

I will start months ago when the trip to Botswana was planned.  You see, my husband teaches 11th and 12th grade boys.  Naturally, he wanted to chaperone this trip.  He wanted to share the love of Christ with the boys he had developed relationships with.  I said,"absolutely not."   My reasons were that right now we have a foster care placement that needs our love and attention.  Also we have not taken any family vacations in a very long time.  We have one planned for October and I didnt want him to use all of his vacation time.  Is this selfish of me?  Yes.  Yes it was.  Nate and I even went back and forth over this for some time. In the end, he decided not to go.  This is the first place I can say God was.  Anyone who knows me knows that I have high anxiety about everything and anything.  I dont even fly  If Nate goes for a run and I hear sirens- I think hes been hit by a car.  When the school calls me, I think Isaac had an anaphylaxis.  I am paranoid and a worrier.  ( yes, yes, I know you cannot have faith and fear at the same time.  We can get into that in another blog, ok?)

The youth of the trip had to raise money on their own for the mission trip to Botswana.  One way we could help is to help kids earn money for the trip.  My friend Karen had a daughter going to Botswana.  One way she was earning money was to babysit.  We used her every time we needed to go out.  It worked out well for her that we had a foster kid because we could not leave him without a sitter like we can for our biological kids.  Therefore, we were using a sitter more than we ordinarily would.  I loved using Sarah because I know she loved kids!  Every time I taught children's church, she was a volunteer helper.  She didn't HAVE to do it.  As a matter of fact, I think she just DID it because she wanted to be around kids and serve God.  When we went to the Harmening house to eat, she jumped in their cold pool with my kiddos and taught them how to make a whirlpool.  The kids ran around and around in their pool until it made a whirlpool.  My kids loved it!  Around kids, she talked and laughed.  Around me, Sarah was quiet.  She probably thought I was weird, loud, and New Yorky.  I'll never forget after Nate's Christmas party when I took her home.  No one was there and the key to the house is tricky.  I saw her struggling from the car and jumped out barefooted (Id taken my heels off at home)  Of course, I think I'm the expert of all things and I'd open the door straight away.  "Hand me the key" I said importantly.   Sure enough, I couldn't open the door.  I could tell sweet Sarah was dying of embarrassment.  After both of us struggling, I suggested to call her dad but she didn't want me to.  She asked me to leave and I said no way- We WILL get into this house.  After some jiggling of the key and knob we finally opened the door.  I don't remember if it was Sarah or me that got it open but I acted like I had won the Super Bowl!  Jumping and raising my arms in the air with my bare cold feet. Shouting with jubilation that the door was open!!  I know she thought I was a nut case.  But God was there God was there showing my kids love.  Showing my kids service!  God was showing my kids sacrifice.  We will miss sweet Sarah and I cannot wait to see her again.  She has changed my life in so many ways for the better.  I am 41 years old   Every day I ask myself- how would Sarah handle this?  When I'm mad at the foster care system and I want to lash out- How would Sarah respond?  When I want to get off the children's church rotation? What would Sarah do?  She has left an imprint on my heart that I cannot put into words.  Sarah was 17 years old.  17!  She knew God in a way that most anyone reading this would want to know Him.  That takes discipline.  It takes time.  

The day the bus for Botswana was leaving I was helping greet at VBS.  Before my shift was over, I had heard people were gathering to drop teenagers off at the bus and that my friend Nikki was there.  Nikki- fellow foster parent in the trenches- answered the call to go to Botswana.  Let me say that 10,000 percent I am NOT a hugger.  I don't like hugs.  I rarely hug friends or strangers.  (yes I hug my kids and husband- if he is a good boy)    Something came over me.  I don't know what it was but I needed to find Nikki.  I went and found her in her van in the passenger seat.  I popped my head in and said, "goodbye Nikki have a safe trip. "  I don't know if I warned her I was going to hug her or just went right for it.  I hugged my friend Nikki.  She was more than surprised.  She was like "A hug?"   And I really didn't know what to say.  Maybe I made a stupid joke but I feel like I didn't.  I think I said I care about you- be safe and have a good time.  Poor Nikki looked bewildered.  Where was God that day?  God was there in that van.  God was protecting me from much later in the day when my mind would go to Nikki.   Is Nikki ok?  Did Nikki know I loved her?  Sometimes in these tragedies, your mind goes to selfish places.  God cleared that area away for me to focus on those in the accidents and their family members.  I remembered that I hugged Nikki.  I remembered that one moment in time and could spend time in prayer for things that mattered, not my own selfish feelings.

That Thursday afternoon (after the bus left for Atlanta) I went to our neighborhood pool around 2.  It was VBS week so it was full of Mount Zion people!  We were tired and hot.  As I was getting ready to leave, my friend Sara said,"guys there's been a bus accident."  Of course I thought it was something minor but Sara said that the bus had flipped several times and people were hurt.  People were hurt badly.  5 of us sat there stunned.  I said something I have NEVER SAID BEFORE.  I said,"guys, lets pray.  Lets pray right now out loud."  I feel uncomfortable holding someones hand and praying out loud in front of people.  We grabbed hands and a woman Id never seen before who doesn't go to our church joined our prayer circle.  One at a time we prayed,  We prayed for the people on the bus, families, church members, first responders, hospital workers.  This wasn't me.  I cannot ever say it was.  The Holy Spirit filled me up and flowed those words from my mouth.  Where was God?  God was giving us the words to say.  God was answering our prayers as we uttered them.  Children at the pool watched us pray and beg Him to keep everyone safe.  I pray those children remember that we go to God in a situation like this.  I pray their hearts could be molded into the type of person who knows only God can bring healing and comfort. 

I got to my house and dropped my kids off .  I don't know why but I went directly to church.  I wanted to pray. I wanted to be in a place I consider close to God.  People had started to gather.  Some were parents who had children on the bus.  When the accident happened, many people on the bus lost their phones.  So people were at church to see if they could account for their friends or family members.  In addition to everyone wanting to know how they could help.  Someone donated an airplane to get people to Atlanta.  The Pastor did an Alter call and people went and knelt at the alter and prayed for everyone involved.  By the time I had left the church, the church was full of people.  Most were there to pray or to help.People wonder what a church family really is.  This is a church family,  Running to help and pray for people you do not even know.  God wants us to all love each other and worship as one and I saw this.

I want to write these things down now because with time I will forget the days and weeks following this accident.  

My heart breaks for the Harmening family.  They are just such a wonderful family.  Karen has always accepted me just as I am.  She is such a godly woman and an amazing mom.  Our daughter, Libby, took Sarah's death very hard.  She loved her so much.  I made the decision that my children would go to Sarah's visitation and funeral.  I knew they needed some closure and I knew that the lesson would be good for them to hear from the pastor.  Watching the slideshow and hearing Sarah's beautiful voice was almost too much for my child to bear.  I started to question my decision to bring her.  When we got the receiving line, the girls couldnt have been any sweeter to Libby.  Giving her hugs and love when they were the ones needing hugs and love.  When Libby got to Sarah's mom, Libby was full on crying.  Without missing a beat, Karen picked Libby up and sat on the alter steps and rocked her.  She held her and rocked her and whispered to her.  This woman- who was grieving in a way that most of us cannot imagine was consoling my daughter.  Ive never seen Christ like I did in that moment.  I will never be able to repay Karen for helping my little girl that day.  God was there.  He showed compassion to them in their grief.  In the end, I made the right choice in taking my children.  Listening to Sarah's legacy and where she is now was huge for my kids to hear.  Everything was pointed at one person.  Jesus Christ.  And what kind of lives we should live and what kind of life Sarah lived.  

Kids sold t shirts to raise money for this trip.  We didnt buy any because everyone we knew was selling them and I was afraid to hurt someones feelings.   The other day I was taking a late night walk alone.  I saw a friend of mine in her garage whose daughter was on the bus.  I stopped and asked how they were doing, could I help?, and that I was praying.  She was setting up for a yard sale.  We talked and cried some and then she offered me a t shirt that she had extra that her daughter had sold as a fundraiser.  Feeling a little guilty but never one to turn down something free- I took it.  We parted ways and I headed home.  When I got home I looked at the shirt.  I burst into tears.  On the shirt was written,"I heard the voice of the Lord saying whom shall I send and who will go for us? Then I said Here am I, send me.   Isaiah 6:8)    If youve ever received an email from me- this is my signature on the bottom of my emails.  This is my favorite verse.  I was so touched and in the moments that I am feeling sad- I can remember that God is here.  He is present.  Her giving me the shirt wasnt a coincidence.  

The next day, I took my kids to the yard sale.  My foster child and son each grabbed a large stuffed animal.   Wanting to get rid of them, my friend gave me them for free.  (thanks for that!!!LOL)   Libby didn't get one.  She was really upset/mad/pouting    There was one more huge animal so I texted me friend to see if anyone had bought it and sure enough, it had sold.  I told Libby she would not be getting a large stuffed animal and she would have to just be happy with that.  She sulked and pouted for 2 days straight. I'm talking world class annoying me- bothering me and begging me for a huge stuffed animal.   I just ignored it.  On Monday morning I received a call from a minister that he has something strange to tell me.  Someone had given Sarah's family a large stuffed bear and they wanted Libby to have it.  What?  I nearly dropped the phone.  I know this is trivial  I really do,  But I also think this is an example to an 8 year old that God knows what you need and when you need it.  The bear now has clothes on and doesn't leave Libby's side.  It is on the couch when she is watching TV and in her bed when she is sleeping.  

I've got one more I'm adding here at the bottom.  (I hope they don't mind I'm sharing- I can delete this)  So- the lady who had the yardsale-who gave me the isaiah 6:8 shirt and the stuffed animals that made Libby mad?   Well her teenage daughter lost her phone in the bus accident.  This past Tuesday, I was driving past her house and I saw a Fedex guy leaving a note on her door and walking back to his truck.  Now you all know the DREADED FEDEX NOTE!!!!!   We didn't deliver your thing but will deliver it soon note?   So I did that thing where I didn't know what to do.  I slowed down.  I sped up.  I started to pull over.  Changed my mind. Started to drive.  Then pulled over.  I called my friend and said," L- are you in the house?  Because if you are and you didn't answer the door, Fedex just left your house and didn't leave a package."   She was like ," I'm not home but Sue, go get him, THAT IS G'S NEW IPHONE!!!!"    Awwwweeee snap!  I was basically out of our neighborhood.  i did a 75 point turn and went back down the road with my friend L on spreaker phone.  I saw the Fedex guy coming toward me.  I rolled my window down and waved like a lunatic out the window and was beeping my horn like a clown.   He looked at me perplexed and I gave him the "roll down your window sign"  (you know the hand crank thing)   I yelled,"You were just at my friends house trying to deliver a phone and her daughter needs this phone."  He looked at me and shook his head and started to roll his window back up.  I said,"  Sir- the girl was in the bus accident and lost her phone."  His face changed.  He said,"pull over there on that side road."  I'll skip the part where he verified who I was with my friend L.  He told me I could get fired for this as he handed me the phone.  One detail I left out is that at this point it is 95 degrees out and I'm sweating like a stuffed pig in a suit.  I start to walk away when Fedex guy says," I want to share something with you.  Last week I was on vacation and instead of taking vacation I volunteered at a camp for at risk boys aged 10-15 years old.  they were loud, crass, and rude.  One morning, I decided to share Sarah's story with the group.  When I did, you could have heard a pin drop.  Sarah's journaling and her life had an impact on these boys.  We decided to use Sarah's life as a theme for the remaining time we had.  Live your life for God,  Do whats right.  Persevere."
Y'ALL!  It was 95 degrees out and I was covered in goosebumps.  I just couldn't believe it- here was God AGAIN- reminding me that His hand is here.  It isn't just in Monrovia, it was miles away at a camp!

I could go on and on in the good in a terrible and hard circumstance.  There will always be hurt in this world  But God is bigger than that.   My life has changed because of what happened.  Our church has changed.  Our little community has changed.  I hope this brings us all closer and wanting to know Jesus Christ as our personal Lord.  I pray this intensity for Him and His Word do not die down.  That this is just the start of something much larger to glorify him.

If you read this and want to help- we ask that you pray for the victims and families.   You can go to the church website and give to the Lottie Moon foundation in Sarah's honor.  www.mzbc.net    If you have questions about Jesus, please ask me.  Do you want to know Him?  Youll never regret taking that first step.  I promise.  

Becoming a Baptist

In 2003, I married a southern baptist.  Being completely honest, he wasnt exactly going to church at the time so I didnt think it would ever matter to me.  No way was I becoming a Baptist.  I was raised Missouri Synod Lutheran.  I knew my Luther's small catechism backwards and forwards.  I knew about the 95 thesis and the Diet of Worms.  I knew about closed communion and women not being able to speak from the pulpit.   Nate and I compromised initially at an evangelical church in Davenport, Iowa.  I was relatively happy there.  They had great kids programs and they sang the hymns that I was familiar with.  The Evangelical Lutherans do not take the bible literally which was sort of strange to me.  In 2009, our kids were 4,2, and 6 months.  Iowa was COLD.  Iowa was bad for Isaacs skin.  Nate felt his contract would be rebid to another company.  So I told him we could move south as LONG as we stayed in the central time zone.  He soon found a great job in Huntsville, AL.

Nate had to house hunt without me.  I picked out the houses and he went looking.  The first house he visited, I had written "too much money" and "looks ugly from the front"  Nate took one step inside and knew this was the house for us.  He passed on it because I said it was too expensive.  The very next morning, the builder had lowered the cost by $15,000.  We jumped on it.   Nate called me after looking at it again and said Sue," At the end of the subdivision, there is a Mount Zion Baptist Church. A Baptist church!"  
"ha ha ha.  NO WAY will I go to a baptist church hon.  Nice try"

So we move in on October 31, 2009.  Every time we drive by the church, Nate says- man I bet thats a great church.  It was SO ANNOYING.  But then we had a problem.  I could not find any openings in any pre-k for Isaac!  Oh no.  I was so upset.  The very next time I went to a Pampered Chef party in my neighborhood.  My new next door neighbor Heather took me.  I was glad to meet some other moms.  In walks 10 months pregnant Sara- the host.  I was chatting and mentioned I couldnt find a pre-k for Isaac.  She told me Mount Zion had a great program and I should call up there.  (Great, Mount Zion again.  yuck I thought)

The next Monday I called and sure enough, there was a spot for Isaac in pre-k.  Luke could go two days and Libby could even go a day at 7 months old!   I must say I loved this school.  I loved our teachers.  I found most of my present day friends through the pre-school.They encouraged me to join.  Over my dead body!- I used to say.  I will never come to church here.  I didnt even care if I was insulting to them.  I scoffed at their kindness.  I made fun of them for not swearing.  I couldnt BELIEVE they didnt drink alcohol!!!!

We found a great big giant church that was methodist about 5 miles away.  In my mind, methodist was a great compromise for nate and I.  We really did like it there.  We loved the preacher.  They had a good VBS.  But did we meet anyone there? NOPE   Did we connect?  NOPE  Did we meet any friends? NOPE    I used to think it was hilarious that we only went to church every other week.

When Isaac finished kindergarten, Mount Zion was having a New York themed VBS.  I knew he HAD to go.  So I signed my kids up and I volunteered at a floater.  Ever feel like a giant outsider?  yeah. thats how I felt,  I dont blame anyone, I probably shouldered most of the blame but I didnt fit in.  When I drop something on my toe, I scream shit.  I swear when Im happy, I swear when Im mad.  After a long day, I drink a beer.  Or three.  The absolute worst was when Isaacs VBS teachers had him fill out a card that he wanted to be baptized.  Didnt these yahoos know HE WAS BAPTIZED?  At 10 weeks old!  In our family gown. I pulled Isaac and told him not to let any of these crazy baptists tell him he wasnt baptized and he wasnt a Christian!!!I stomped out of there feeling left out and angry.  Why couldnt these baptists just be happy we came to their stupid VBS?  What do they want from us?

Of course I kept my kids at the preschool because it was at the end of our subdivision and I was lazy.......As our kids grew older, they grew less happy at the methodist church.  Our oldest was in 1st grade and he didnt know anyone from school.  he would cry every Sunday.  He hated going to church.  It broke my heart.  That summer, he went to VBS at Mount Zion (knowing full well he WAS baptized already) and he went at the methodist church.  He cried every day at the methodist church.   So I cried out to God!  WHY GOD!  Why are you pointing me to the church I do NOT want to go to?  All of Isaac and Luke's friends attended Mount Zion as did Libbys very best friend.  As did my best friend.  Fine.  I said to my husband- you visit.  I taught kindergarten Sunday School at the other church and I had to finish another week.  Nate went and LOVED it.  Of course, right?  He only wanted to go there for 3 years since he saw the sign.

The next week I planned to go.  So......how do I do this?  Can I slip in unnoticed?  Id only told half of the 1500 member congregation Id never step foot in the church.  I gingerly walked in and found a seat with friends.  And let me tell you my SHOCK that baptist go to church for 2 hours.  One hour of Sunday School and one hour of church.  Oh hell no I said.  (I literally said that!!!!)  I wanted to spend one hour at church every week and not a second more.  Its so crazy now because Sunday School is my very favorite.  I get so much out of it and that is where relationships are formed.  So we are going and going and the preacher asked me several times to get baptized.   OH NO YOU DIDNT!   How can I be baptized AGAIN?  I cant.  I wont.  Nope.  Not me.   Well after Christ worked on my heart.....maybe I can do it.  After I wanted to serve and vote and really understood why I needed to be baptized.....maybe.  I knew it was a form of obedience.  But I also knew what Id told my children.  you.must.not.be.rebaptized.period.the.end.   One Sunday- I was wearing a red sweater.  I had no plans to go forward and join the church.  And hymn 529 was being sung.  Change my Heart Oh God.  I elbowed Nate and said Im going forward.  I want to be baptized.  "WHAT?  No not today.  what Sue?"     I felt overcome.  I didnt know why or what other than the music touched me and dang, it I was going to join this Mount Zion church and be baptized.  I turned and faced the crowd and was crying.  My friends in the church were crying.  I think the minister even had a tear on his cheek.  The people of Mount Zion, inspired by God had worked on my heart.  The Spirit worked on my heart.   People throw the word church family around.  This is a church family .  They love you before they love you!   I have so much more to say and write but my left hand is killing me and the kids want to go to the pool.  God is real.  Look around.  Listen.  Let people love you.  Im so glad i did!

waterpark part 2

So I want to discuss the inside waterpark!  The best ride HANDS DOWN was the storm chaser.  I had ridden a similar ride about 8 years ago at the Wisconsin Dells waterpark..  You basically go 6 stories straight down in a large square tube and then into a cone shaped object where you go up and down up and down until you shoot out the bottom.  This ride is rather scary.  Isaac and I were SO excited.  These tubes are so heavy there is a machine that brings them up to the top.  So we get to the top and there is a MINIMUM weight!  With my recent weight loss and Isaacs inability to gain weight, we only weighed 185 pounds.  The minimum was 200.   So basically everytime we wanted to ride this we had to find two people riding alone or one person to ride with us.   Luke rode this ride too several times.  It was very very fun.

The boys and I with a stranger

There was another ride directly next to this one which we called The Allen Family Ride.  It held up to 5 people (YAY!) and a minimum of 42 inches tall.  It was also six stories up and was a tiny bit scary but fun.  This was Libbys favorite and I think she felt like a big girl when she rode it!

There were the typical double tube rides as well.  You had to be 42 inches to ride with an adult and 48 inches to ride alone.   I swear after walking up and down those steps you would have thought i would have lost 10 pounds!  Also you had to carry your tube up for those if you want a bicep workout!

The wave pool there was HUGE and we loved it.  The only problem is that Luke appeared to be drowning every time the waves started.  He never was drowning and he was smiling but the way he swims apparently made the life guards very nervous.  They got off their chairs multiple times to check on him!  Yeesh!  

The hot tub was nice and it was half inside and half outside.  The rules state 6 and up.  Of course people had their toddlers in there!   The first night we were there, someone spotted poop in the hot tub.   Nate and the kids got out of Dodge but I stayed to investigate with the life guards.  It wasnt poop!  It was an arcade ticket!  Shew!   I just had to know or I wouldnt have been able to go back in that thing.

One thing I will mention (and this blew my mind)  Alcohol sales.

I bet the majority of the wilderness money comes from alcohol sales.  There was so much liquor in this place you would have thought you were in a nightclub.  I was flabbergasted.  I mean who ON EARTH would get drunk while watching their kids swim?  These were those huge fishbowl type drinks.  People were getting loaded in the hot tub too.   When we checked into the hotel we signed something saying that we would be arms length from any child under 12 while at the park.  It was unreal the amount of kids unsupervised.   Clearly I wasnt shocked because everyone was drunk!  UG!

Some other things I will mention

• for every average weight person I saw, I saw 2 obese people.   I still say they should stop making bikinis over a size 12
• there is a balcony outside the restaurant overlooking the waterpark.  Makes one very uncomfortable when fully clothed people are gawking at the swimmers
• TIME SHARES.  There is a desk right outside the waterpark where wyndam is trying to sell time shares.  They offer you the moon if you listen to their spiel.  I knew about this ahead of time so I avoided eye contact

waterpark part one

Part One SOOOOO. I am SO excited about our recent trip I just HAD to start blogging again! Our family has had two foster children in our house for seven and a half months. We love them SO much but we needed a break to reset, refresh, and to spend time with JUST the five of us. We were going to go to Gulf Shores, Alabama but that was really expensive. Plus it is far away and there is staff or MRSA in the ocean. While I normally do not let my kids miss one minute of school, this is the only weekend we had available until August 2015. So they missed part of Friday and Monday. Im sure they werent missed! We decided to go to the Wilderness waterpark in the Smoky Mountains. It is a little under 4 hours from our house! We arrived on Friday about 4:00 pm. We went up to our room and I was FLOORED at the space. It was called a deluxe suite but it slept 11. It was actually 2 rooms with an adjoining door. It had a full kitchen and 2 full bathrooms. It also had 3 televisions and a balcony. Here are some photos. Room #1 Room #1 Room #1 Room #2 Room #2 Room #2 Please excuse our mess! I just wanted to make sure I snapped some photos. So room #1 had the full kitchen, a double murphy bed, one TV, and a pull out couch. Room #2 had the twin over full bunk, a double bed, two TVs, and the balcony. Because I am sick of everybody, I wanted my own bed! Nate and Isaac slept in room #1 and watched sports on the TV. The remainder of us slept in room 2. But I had my own space and it was lovely. One main complaint is people running in the hallways. I am sure this is an issue at any hotel but I mean it was midnight and I still could hear people banging all around. It was terrible and because of THAT, I didnt sleep all that well. The Wilderness has two different hotels you can stay in. Stone Hill Lodge is across a rather busy street. The rooms are smaller and less expensive. You need to take a little tram over to where the waterparks are. It probably isnt that bad. Many people drove over to the River Lodge. This really really made my husband and I angry. Because people were driving over to the waterpark instead of taking the bus, we had NO WHERE to park! They said that we had parking passes because we stayed at the River Lodge and it was policed, but I can tell you it wasn't. That was super annoying. We stayed in River Lodge. While it was more expensive, for us it was totally worth it! It was so nice to just put on our swimsuits and go down the elevator to get to the waterparks! Also there were two restaurants inside River Lodge and a few snack shacks. I am not sure if there was any eating facilities in the Stone Hill. When we first got there, it was super nice out so we decided to go to the outdoor water park first. They just put up a new thrill ride called The Wall. My kids were super excited about it! THE WALL So As Ike and I were walking to the very top and I could see the beautiful mountains in the background I started to think I didnt want to go on The Wall. It was scary and there is nothing holding you in. But I thought...The things you do for your kids! The wall was only a tiny bit scary and I actually really enjoyed it! Well, I have a rule in my family. If you are tall enough for a ride, you must ride it. Luke, our middle was exactly 48 inches. I pulled him out of the lazy river and said, "Come on son. Its time to ride The Wall" Shockingly, he just came with me. Its like he knew not to put up a fight. He was scared as we scaled those steps together. I told him to pray about it if he was nervous and said it is ten seconds of your life. When we were done, he simply said that we wouldnt ride it again. In the mean time, my husband Nate took Isaac and Libby on these racing slides. I was afraid for her but she didnt seem to mind. You lay head first on a thin blue mat with interior handles and race the people on the other slides. This was a favorite of my family. HINT- The heaviest person wins. While we were outdoors, the only other option was a smallish wave pool with an AWESOME lazy river. The only thing that bugged me to no end was the following: There were signs everywhere that you MUST stay in a tube while in the lazy river. No walking and no swimming. Except people kept swimming!?!? It infuriated me. Finally I asked a life guard and they said yes, everyone should be in a tube and then they shrugged. So.......yeah. Also when we signed in, they made us sign a paper that said we will stay with our kids the entire time we are there if they are under 12. I saw countless kids under 12 all alone. It was not safe and it annoyed me. At one point in the lazy river, I saw a little girl about 7. She was all alone and had fallen off her tube. She was screaming and crying. She was in a life jacket but could not swim. Countless adults passed her. I finally jumped off my tube and helped her to safety. I half expected John Quinones from 20/20 to pop out and tell me I was on "What Would You Do"? 15 minutes later I saw the girl wandering still looking for her mom. It made me sad. The other cool thing is that the hotel gives you towel keys. You get one per person. You go to the pool, turn in your keys and get as many towels as keys. You can exchange them as much as you want and then when you are done with the pool for the day, you turn in your final towels and get your keys back! If you do not turn in your pool keys at check out, they charge you a whopping $25 per pool key! Stay tuned for more tomorrow!!!!

Running

So I have been running for a few years now.  Not too seriously to be honest.  In the past year, I would run 3-6 miles a week, normally around 3.  I do not enjoy running.  I do not enjoy the feeling after I run.  I only enjoy the fact that I accomplished something.  And that, my friends, makes it all worth it. 

When I was 17, I was a competitive swimmer with some knee problems.  After doping up before and after every practice and trying ice, Ben Gay, and many other tricks, I finally went to an orthopedic surgeon.  Consequently, it was the same physician that the Buffalo Bills used.  After many tests and X rays, it was determined that I have a bad patella tracking issue.  My knee caps do not sit on top of my legs bones properly.  Basically, every time I take a step my knee cap rubs against the bone of my lower leg (I thin it is the tibia) After years of doing the breast stroke kick, sometimes during entire practices, I messed up the tendons which hold my knee caps in place.  I was told that I had to stop swimming right then- after my junior year.  Running and any other hard surface sport would clearly be out of the question.  I went to physical therapy for a few years to try and strengthen those tendons but I am not sure it ever did much good.  The reason I am writing this is to say- I KNOW RUNNING HURTS.  It hurts everyone!  My pain in bearable.  I don't limp anymore.  I do not know if this amount of running that I have been doing has strengthened other muscles in my legs. 

All that being said, I have been training for a half marathon for the past 7 weeks.  To even get to this point, I really haven't done a plan.  I started running one mile.  After 2 weeks, I forced myself to run 2 miles.  After 3 more weeks- I ran 3 miles.  Case closed.  It was hard, again- I hated it...but that is how I did it.  I recommend doing anything to get you to the 3 mile point.  A lot of the couch to 5k apps seem to be great for many of my friends.  To train for the half marathon, I am using the Hal Higdon plan.  I follow it to the letter.  I do exactly what my chart says.  I think the best part of running is to find a partner to run with you.  It is hard to recruit people and it seems everyone is busy.  My long runs are normally with people who run better and faster than me.  It is a challenge keeping up sometimes but I think it makes me a better runner.

I still do not consider myself a runner.  Maybe once I put a 13.1 sticker on the van- I can say, "Yeah, I'm a runner."

Bottom line-  get off the couch...push through the pain....be a good and healthy example to your kids!

other things

Here are a few random thoughts for the day

Other things than annoy me:
*When we are talking on the phone and you continually talk to your kids.  I mean the entire time. I feel very awkward and I want to just hang up

*When you bring peanuts to an event when you KNOW I am going to be there.  Next time, I will bring out a loaded revolver and point it at your kids head.  NOW you know how my son feels.

*When people say I talk to loud

*When kids are not properly restrained in their car seats

And here is something I wanted to mention about sports.  I think as parents we often toy with the idea of forcing our kids to do a sport or activity.  I can say from personal experience my parents forced me to swim.  I would say 80% of the time I hated swimming and I hated them for making me swim.  It was very time consuming and strenuous.  I made some AWESOME friends and had some amazing times throughout my swimming career.  I cannot type this without smiling and thinking of all the shenanigans we did.  Looking back, I AM SO GLAD my parents never let me quit.  As a matter of fact I had a full scholarship to a Division One school for swimming which I turned down.  That is one of my biggest life regrets.  I could have left school with zero student loans....but alas....I should really get to the point.
Our son was ready for t ball when the sign ups started when he was 5.  He was one of THE WORST on the team as far as throwing and fielding.  He knew this and after the season was over, he totally wanted to quit.  When the next season rolled around, we just signed him up again to play without giving him a choice.  He has SUCH a good time socially at baseball but really wasn't all that good.  He loved the games and the competition but he was ready to retire after the season.  When you are 6 in our county, you must moved to machine pitch where a machine pitches the ball at 45 miles per hour.  He was not interested in playing but OF COURSE I signed him up.  His skill level was actually starting to improve to be as good as the other boys.  Where we live, this pee wee league is like major league baseball.  There are fights and disagreements and many teams are out for blood.  For his entire career, on the way home, my husband and I would tell him all the things he did wrong during the game.  And I cant say anything once.  I would say it again...and again...and again. 
Before this season started (sometime during the winter) I read an article about a study done on division one college athletes.  The #1 thing these boys dreaded most as a child was the car ride home.  It stuck me like a knife through my heart.  Oh no!  He knew he messed up!  He didn't need to hear it one hundred and seventy times from me.  I made a pact with myself.  and myself....and my husband.  Lets not critique him.  Lets leave that to the head coach.
We started out the year with THE BEST head coach.  He is good natured and kind.  I vowed to blood my lip after the games.  This was what I would say, "I loved watching you play today." 
When he was up to bat- I would say- I believe in you....you can do it buddy.  Eventually it caught on and the other parents laughed at me. But guess whose kid rarely struck out?  Chicken little Allen.  MY boy.  3 years of forcing him to play has paid off.  He loves the game, he loves the kids, he is learning life long skills.  His brother starts t ball in 2 months.  Different kid....more stubborn....and you can bet your ass I am going to make him play. 

26-50 things that annoy me

26.  When someone owes you money and they give you tour share down to the penny.  For example, lets say I went in on a gift with several people for someone and my share was $22.39.  I would have over $25 and that would be the end of it.  I dont really want your nickels and dimes.  I like to give a little extra for the trouble the person went through to buy the present

27. When you are in a construction zone and the lane is ending and everyone must merge.  I hate when people merge at the last minute.  Especially when you have been warned for a good mile.  So you know what I do?  I straddle the lane inbetween the lane I am currently in and the one ending.  That way, no one, I mean NO ONE gets by me.

28. I get annoyed when men watch TV with their hands on their balls. I often wonder if they think the roof is going to collapse and they need to keep a hand on top of their nuts just in case. (not mentioning any men in particular)

29. I dont like close talkers.  If I keep backing away - take the hint

30. I dont like to be hugged every time I see you.  If I am not going to see you for a year- maybe more- a hug might be in order.  Other than that- back off

31. I dont like when I go to the pediatricians office and someone puts a "sick" kid on the "well" side.  I usually practice sounding out words with my kids on that day.  See Billy- we - we -we well.  w-e-l-l- spells well

32. Story time at the library bothers me.  I know toddler can be naughty but I cant stand when the moms just let poor behavior go on.  When my kid stands up in front of all the kids sitting- I yank em down

33. People who park in handicapped spaces and then hop out of the car and jump around getting into the store.  And they are all alone.

34.  Heavy people at disney world who use those electric wheel chairs to get around. And they get preference for rides becuase they eat to much

35. I dont like when I go to mcdonalds drive through and they tell me to "pull forward"  it is supposed to be fast food.

36. i dont like when people squeeze a plastic water bottle when they are drinking.  Squeezing it doesnt help the water come out faster.  It just makes an annoying crackle and irritates me.  A woman I used to work with did this every day.

37. People who pump their gas and then go in the little store and shop without moving their vehicle.  HELLO?  Do you not see us all waiting here?

38. People who do the speed limit or under in the left lane on a highway

39.  People who put stuffed animals on the back windshield of their car.

40. Little boys with long hair that I cant tell if they are a girl or a boy

41. Huge people that wear a bikini.  I know all people get hot and have a right to the pool but a bikini?

42. i get annoyed that I am the last stop the UPS truck makes.  Every time I have a package I am super excited and I have to wait until 7 pm

43. I hate when kids are late for the bus in the morning.  It comes at the same time every day.  And when the same dang kids are late every day, it holds things up.  It is teaching your kids bad habits

44. adults that wear disney shirts....oh wait..I do this now

45. when people dont brush their tounge.  FYI- that is where the bad breath lives. 

46. When people waste water and electricity. do we really need the air conditioning cranked to freezing in the summer?  And if you want it so cold, why is the heat so hot in the winter?

47. Women who engage in the stay at home mom/working mom debate.  or breast/ bottle debate.  There really is no winner.

48. When people go in the express line with more than the alloted items on the sign.  And yes, I do say something

49. the fact that kids these days always have to have a snack.  every where we go kids are eating a snack.  And then my 3 kids go stand in front of them and stare like they havent eaten in a week.  What happened to 3 square meals a day?

50. dust annoys me.  DUST.  I fell that I can dust an entire room and really take my time and I come back one day later and there is dust everywhere...looks like I did nothing!   :-(