date with daddy

Jeremy called me and he wanted to surprise Lila by picking her up from school and then we would all go to Chick-fil-a....her favorite.....for lunch! She was so excited! It truly is the little things, you know!

She polished off her chicken and Polynesian sauce and then she and daddy celebrated with ice cream! Cheers to a fun, unexpected lunch!

frazier field trip

I was able to spend a little time today with Riggs on his field trip to the Frazier Historical Arms Museum. What a cool place! They are studying the Civil War and what a perfect place to come and see and experience this period in time.

Our favorite part was learning about the soldiers...what they went through....how they lived and fought on the battlefields. 

It's one thing to look at a photo of soldiers who fought...but it was another thing altogether to see my son's face in the pictures.....

I know he is 9...and it wasn't real, but still my heart went out to Moma's everywhere who have sent their sons off to defend our country. Something about that picture haunted me all day long....

Skate Party

As the Vice President of the PTA one thing on my list that I am in charge of is the annual PTA skate party! What a stress free and easy event to plan....and everyone that comes just loves it! It was the first time SK has even been on skates! She was a little wobbly for sure.....and I think it was mostly my fault! Little sister here has had 3 broken arms in her short life so I was holding on pretty tight!

We had fun.....

and she was cute as a button!

The boys were wobbly too.....we need to head to the skating rink a little more often I think!

Mrs. Peters even came to see all the kids skate and fall and have a ball! It was a fun night!

100 days down!

We celebrated the 100th day of school this week! We are moving right along!

It was a big deal....there were crowns to make, 100 days of school bracelets to pass out, certificates to distribute! Just another reason to celebrate!

After school we even stopped by the candy store for treats! Happy 100 days of school!

xc assembly

Another little bright spot in the week was the Goshen XC assembly....

I didn't realize how much I missed this.....these kids....this team...until I walked into the gym this morning.

The kids were all together for the first time since our banquet in November. As I walked in and up the steps they called out to me..jumped up for hugs, high fives, long embraces and shy "I missed you" smiles. Oh my heart was so touched....I love each and every one of them so much!

Jeremy spoke to them about XC and motivation...and I was so proud of him.

The kids and the team were recognized for their amazing season....

My boys got to step forward for being on the top 7 of the State team......

It was just a little step forward.....and his face never changed....but it meant the world to Riggs to be recognized in front of his classmates. He was so excited about this assembly! He loves this team and this sport so much!

Back in the water

It's been a rough little patch with the extended family....we have prayed a little bit more...hugged a little bit longer....but kept up the routine of our calendar all the while. We got back in the water for one....

The boys started their swim clinic last Sunday.....

It gave me a glimpse of days to come this summer as we packed bags with towels, goggles, and snacks....I'm already hungry for the sun and we have had the most mild winter ever.....

The boys said it felt good to get back in the water....

I know it felt good to watch them....I loved seeing them kick one leg after another and get from one side of the pool to the other.Sometimes that is what you have to do...focus on the tiny steps...one kick at a time...and before you know it you have made it all the way across.

night phone call

When the phone rings in the middle of the night....the chances of it being good news are slim...last night at 2 am my phone rang.

It was my sister telling that that there had been a bad accident.....a bonfire and gasoline....my nephew Alex...burn unit at University Hospital by Ambulance....get mom.

We could not get mom by phone so Jeremy went over to pick her up while I got dressed. It seemed like forever so I made fresh team for my littles to have in the morning...unsure what the night would bring....What we would find when we got to the hospital.

We arrived and found the burn unit and....and my sister crying into her crutches....she has a broken foot.  When your baby is hurt...it hurts you....no matter how old your baby is ....that is just part of being a Moma. We comforted and talked and waited....

 Finally they told us the preliminary extent of his injuries....both hands...belly...chest...right hand and face would need skin grafts probably....plastic surgeon would be in.....and the nurse told us he was so upset to scare and disappoint his family....we took it all in in choppy doses of information...processing it all slowly but what we got from it in the end was that he was not going to die....there would be a great, long battle to recover but he was going to be here to fight it....and in that moment that itself was a victory.

 Finally we were able to see him...and he looked awful...bandaged and the raw skin peeking from under the bandages...the smell of singed hair in the room....and although the long eyelashes were gone....his beautiful blue eyes were right there...

 He said he was sorry....we told him we loved him.....we told him we would get through this...we told him we loved him....we told him to take his pain meds and get some sleep.....we told him we loved him....and he told us he loved us too. The ebb and flow of he speaks...we speaks..was nice....his voice...unaffected by the accident was comforting to hear. He was still here...we could touch him and talk to him. This night could have ended very differently...but it didn't...

I cried seeing his girlfriend Sara see him for the first time all bandaged up....she is his first love.  One word...Tender.

He wouldn't rest until we all left so slowly, reluctantly we all headed home....hugging everyone goodbye just because they were there to hug....

It will be a long, slow, painful recovery for him....

It had been a long night but that is the thing about nights...no matter how long they are....they always end...bringing with them a new day....and new hope. Praying for comfort and healing....and offering support and love very step of the way. We love you Alex Clay.

Brother Brent

Peace I leave with you: my peace I give you. I do not give to others as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:27

I have four brothers and one sister....this post is about my brother Brent. We are four years a part and although he lived four years without me in his life....he has always been a part of my life since the moment I came into this world.

 We grew up together....some of my time with him as a child was really fun. I remember going around the house and collecting pens from every drawer and bag and purse and we would have races with them. We would line them all up and push them across the carpet...to see what pen went the farthest. I made him a lot of cinnamon toast because he loved my cinnamon toast.  One time he dared me to drink this dark liquid in the study.....told me is was coke...and I believed him. It was some sort of alcohol ...older than dirt that was just on display for the pretty bottle...just thinking about it makes my throat burn...and there were darker times with him too but my heart just can't get that dark any more.

 He was cute....and loved. We called him bird dog. It took him forever to grow into his front teeth.

 We celebrated holidays and took trip to places like Disney World,  Cape Cod...and the mountains of New Mexico but somewhere a long the way he got lost.   He went down dark paths and liked them...one dark path after another.... he chose them...was drawn to them. It was like he grew up drowning in the darkness....coming up for air every once in a while...but settling right back down into the dark waters. He has hurt a lot of people a long the way...people who have loved him...believed in him...hoped for him ....prayed for him.

Over the years he has been slowly drowning....one gulp of black water after another....and every once in a while there would be a glimmer of that little boy before he ventured off the path...but the glimmer never lasted long.  Last year at age 38 he was convicted of selling cocaine to an under cover cop...somehow...some way he got off on probation. He had been heading to prison and then somehow he was given a second chance...all he had to do was be good....stay away from the dark waters.

It was only a matter of time...we all knew it. Yesterday he was arrested for selling drugs to an undercover cop three times over the past few days. The dark waters had called him back...he just can't stay away...and this is it....there will be no more second chances...no more one more tries...brother Brent sits now in a jail cell...counting down the days until he goes to prison for a very long time. His time is up. Hopeless.

This picture below is my brother...my brother Brent and I know it is....the man being put in this police car shares a history and a family name with me....and yet...seeing it....it's like it's someone else.....this is a picture you see in the newspaper...on the TV...other people's brothers....but no, this one is mine.

He deserves every day he will spend in prison....I know it...and yet it is still hard. I feel so bad for my dad and his mother...both never gave up on him. I can't imagine having a child you tried to save over and over again....and failing at it every time.  Watching a child drowned in darkness....it must be agonizing. Sometimes the dark waters are too much for even a parents' love...but as much as I love my children it is so hard for me to fathom that. My heart aches for many reasons...too many to name...for now all I can do if offer prayers for peace for all those touched by Brother Brent.... who sits in his jail cell tonight.  Sending you love and calm as you weather this storm Brother Brent......and praying for God to surround the family in love as we watch and wait for years to come.

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise
-Blessings by Laura Story

Super sleepover

We did it....we had our first Super Sleepover...we have had big ones yes...but this one was super because every Hardy little had their best friend here....and for the first time that included Lila Ray too! Watch out.....she is now officially in the sleepover mix!

We all had the best time! 9 kids...one house....one night....and lots of fun memories! We danced...Riggs was so sweet dancing with Lila.....

The girls had a stage set up...so the divas had concerts, fashion shows, and just so much fun!

The boys headed down stairs for basketball and the girls headed to the kitchen for manicures....

They had glitter from head to toe!

The boys got in on the fun too...and painted their nails blue and white! The girls thought this was so funny!

We eventually settled down for movies....

and popcorn.....Lila and Lexi shared a bowl on this their very first BFF sleepover!

and eventually everyone was asleep....the littlest ones the very last to go.....it was like they wanted to get every second in they could!

aahhhh....sweetness!

Thanks to Jenna we had doughnuts in the morning! It was a great super sleepover! Welcome to the club Lila and Lexi!