It’s been SUCH a weird, whacked, thrilling, exhausting, and just different last several days.
We’ve been anticipating the actual “launch” of my husband’s new book….and it was YESTERDAY!
Jim is pretty fabulous at not getting his hopes to high….but I’m not 🙂
So, the better and better the day went in regards to the “launch” the more surreal, happy, and odd the day seemed.
We are SO thankful that this opportunity came his way. It was a challenge though…he had deadlines, editors, interviews, etc….during the last year while I have continued to have both good and bad days in regards to my (stupid) PTSD.
This book is ‘just paper and words’ to some…but …. between the two of us …. it is a symbol of perseverance, God’s Providence, and of our commitment to each other to fight through the hard times…even if they are really, really, really hard some days.
So…that was all odd yet happy.
Now, I think I’ll let some pictures speak a bit now in regards to why the last few days have also been…well…kinda like our normal crazy but more ‘intense’ for some reason…
Somebody tell me these pictures aren’t just a LITTLE crazy!
For heaven’s sake…little girl that hoards, little boy that adores marsupials …. reptiles ….
When I look at the pictures on my camera sometimes I, literally, laugh at loud at US. We just are not very normal 🙂
I’ve come to terms with it. But I will NEVER come to terms with holding a sugar glider on my arm…….ever. I try. I try. But nope. It’s not in this city girl to have a mini-demonic animal crawling all over her.
Though Zane seems to have no problem with it. These dang Sugar Gliders…they can sense my fear! 🙂
We added a “eye-lash crested gecko” to Zane’s collection..cuz..ya know..the boy doesn’t have enough animals 🙂
It was actually an award for doing something he was terrified of (competing at the Tae Kwon Do Tournament last weekened)
We never, and I really mean never, “bribe” our kids for good behavior … such as “Johnny, if you are good at the grocery store you can have a sucker.”
However, we DO reward for achieving LIFE SKILLS.
Now, if Johnny REALLY has issues (like Tye used too) about not screaming, thrashing, and yelling for help in public (smile) then we would tell him, “Tye, if you act nice, do not scream, or hit, you can have a hot wheels car at the checkout lane” b/c for TYE that WAS achieving a life skill.
Anyways, “Mallie” came into our lives because it takes alot for a kid with Zane’s wiring (rather be behind the scenes like his Daddy kinda kid) to get up in front of hundreds of people, and his little friends, and attempt to break boards.
The deal was as long as he stepped foot onto the mat and acknowledged the judges, did his best, and walked off mat without running (smile) he’s get a new reptile.
The boy got THIRD in his age-bracket. I mighta been “played” but…I’m okay with that. It’s not the first time nor will it be the last.
We have had a kid or two say, “But MOM! Getting to the 432nd level of XYZ game on the PlayStaion IS a life skill! I deserve a new game.” Even I, the Momma who struggles with “NO”, can say “NUH-UH but thank you for trying honey” to that line!
And he/she/it leaps in little springy jumps that are pretty cute 🙂
As I mentioned, we had a pretty major Tae Kwon Do tournament this last weekend. “Major” because we only attend two or three, at most, a year.
This is a SUPERB opportunity for my home-schooled (ya know…unsocialized, weird, only happy with adults, can’t make eye contact, only wear hiking boots) kids to step up to the plate, of sorts, in a public fashion and “perform”.
It is a necessary life skill to be able to handle the stress of public speaking, etc. The tournaments give our (oh so odd) homeschooled kids a chance to hone this skill.
(ya’ll know I’m playin’ ya with the weirdo homeschool kid thang. It’s fun. I can get people all worked up 🙂
I always think they look so lonely out there all by themselves…wondering how they did…feet, arms, hands, etc hurts from whatever they just competed in!
When we found his birthmomma in Russia, in the letter she wrote him, she said “HE MUST be in SPORTS” …. She would be pleased because Chase excels in them.
“Kick Him!”
So, You ask….where is TYE? He is in Tae Kwon Do (achieving new belts on a regular basis…booyah!!!)
Well….Tye has a bit..no…a large attitude the morning of the tournament. Attitude as in kicking, stomping, yelling, throwing…etc. (Parenting is SOOOOO fun, yeah?!)
Dad warned him, “Tye, if you do NOT stop yelling and kicking, you are NOT in the Tournament today.”
Now, I know Tye is all of ya’lls favorite cuz he has so many “difficulites” and cuz he’s stinkin’ cute….BUT..I PROMISE that Tye COMPLETELY understood Dad’s words. So…HERE is TYE at the TOURNAMENT …
Your “weird” family is odd but what’s wrong with that? The “normal” families are fragmented and have no time together and nothing interesting ever happens to them. Embrace the wonderful family you have. 🙂