A quick catch up

We now have two teenage drivers in the house!!!!!!! We celebrated Kristian's 16th birthday yesterday. He celebrated by getting his learner's permit and a job. His is the proud employee at a local burger joint. He had actually been hired two months ago but the manager didn't realize that he was only 15 y/o. He was then told to report on his 16th birthday. He starts tonight.
Peyton is LOVING football. Liz had to practically drag him off of the field Monday night. I'll get some pictures and post them.
Maddie started soccer practice this week. She is having a tough time with the conditioning, but she has improved each day.
Devon has also been having soccer practice (JV). They played the girls varsity team yesterday and beat them 2-1. He is enjoying it and improving.
Mackenzie had a wonderful time as a counselor at Bible Camp last week. She made some new friends and is looking forward to doing it again next year.
Liz is ready for school to start. They go back on Sept 7.
Well, I just wanted to stop in and fill you in on some of the little things gong on in our journey. Keep in touch and God Bless.

Growing Pain Tears

Yesterday was Peyton's (9y/o) second day of football. He has played soccer up to this point but decided to give football a try. He made this decision on his own despite the fact that he only has one other friend that plays football and all of his other friends play soccer. Anyway, his first practice was a disaster for him. He had missed the first two practices due to his late decision so all of the other boys had two days of training and knowledge behind them. Boy did he feel like a fish out of water. Half way through the practice he came over to me with big alligator tears running down his cheeks and onto his jersey. "My stomach hurts" is Peytonese for "I'm out of my comfort zone and am not happy." I told him that he could take a knee and watch the others until his stomach felt better. Well it never did. After practice he got into the Jeep and I asked him if he was okay. Well, the floodgate opened up. He started crying heavily. We hugged for a while and He told me that he didn't want to play football. I asked him why and through his sobs I understood him to say that he doesn't know anything about football and he "feels like an idiot." Haven't we all been there? A new place, a new job, a new school? Not knowing anything about anything. I've been there. It is through these times of stepping out of our comfort zones that we do some of our biggest changing. I told him that he shouldn't make a judgment based on his first night of practice. After all, most of the practice was conditioning and not FOOTBALL. I called his coach and we got the lowdown on football. Being a prior soccer player, I knew very little about football. The coach explained positions, stances, gaps, yadaa yadaa,yadaa. I then got off the phone and gave Peyton a lesson in footballology. It took us 10 minutes before he was telling me "if they call I formation 44 power, then this player does yadaa, yadaa, yadaa." WOW, you've got it buddy. You could see in his eyes the confidence build. Yeah!
Second night of practice... We get there, Peyton is excited. Good things. Half way through the practice he comes over to me,tears running down his face onto his jersey "My stomach hurts." OH NO!! What happened to that little boy that was calling plays on my bed last night. Where is the confidence. Oh, yeah.... We are out of our comfort zone again. I put my arm around him and we walked and talked as the other players did their thing. We talked about commitment, we talked about working through the emotional pain, we talked about growing. After a while his coach came over to check on him and encouraged him to come back over even if it was just to listen to the information. He reluctantly agreed and buckled his helmet. I went to a spot that I knew he would be able to see me. The coach explained blocking to the kids. I could tell that although he was listening his mind was elsewhere. Now the moment of truth. The coach is going to let the kids block each other. Peyton is up. He gets in his three point stance (don't worry I didn't know what it was either). The coach yell "DOWN, SET, .....HUT!" Peyton steps up and into his player and knocks the other player on his back. He turns and looks to me and through his face mask I see THE SMILE. The smile that says "Yeah, I can do this!!"

Northward Bound

Since birth, I have been Northward bound. Geographically I have continued from my birth state, Georgia, to Maryland, and now (WAY) Upstate New York. Yes there have been some side trips. But for the most part I have been Northward bound. I guess I've been traveling the same way in other areas of my life. Personally, I would like to think of myself as a better person today than yesterday. Matrimonially (if that is in deed a word), I know that I am a better husband today than yesterday. Parentally (even if my 5 children don't agree) I feel that I have made some progress. Spiritually, hmmm, now we have some problems. Seriously, like all other areas in my life, I have made progress. But like my life geographically, there have been many side trips and moves South. I hope to share with you, through this blog, my journey Northward. In all areas of my life. I will share my times with my beautiful wife, Liz. I will share my life as I attempt to lead 5 children (3 teenagers right now) to adulthood. I'll share my personal and spiritually journey as well. You will even be provided with a few side trips to our hobby farm, Birchwood Farm, where we have 26 chickens, 2 goats, 3 dogs, 2 cats (3 if you count the cat that was left by a stranger for us to take care of. I'll share my hobbies with you. This will be your opportunity to get a glimpse into my Northward Bound Life.