Tuesday, June 21, 2011

A Day Just for Dads

This has nothing to do with Father's Day, but I will say it..... OH it is SO nice that my kids have figured out how to sleep in!!!  And speaking of sleeping in and fathers..... My dad has the mentality "if you can hoot with the owls, you can rise with the chickens."  I am so glad I can recall all of my early morning productivity with my dad.... and smile about it.  ME?  I looooove the quiet.  The quiet is peaceful and though provoking.  THIS particular morning is thundery and rainy....such a pleasant thing in this hot summer.... so I will blog!  :)

Father is biological, dad-daddy-pops-papa..... now those words are relationship.  I truly have a great daddy.  I think it is funny that when I say daddy, even today at 35, occasionally I will get a funny look.  I can't help it, that's who he is to me.  He has worked hard his whole life.... growing up in a gigantic, very poor family.... lots of boys... my poor aunts.  He truly "pulled himself up by his boot straps."  I admire him.

I can honestly say that Nathan Scheer is an outstanding daddy.  Words to describe that fall short.... in fact, there are not enough words.... if there ARE words even.  Most don't know his story.  You should.  If you want to see a glimpse of divine intervention in a man's life, you should talk to "Big Nat."  (pronounced "gnat".... haha.... Maribeth Parette coined that term in all of her sweetness, and I just can't go back to Big Nate)  The END of the story is a great one, after several step fathers, his DAD is awesome.  His father, not so much.  HIS DAD, Charles Huckabee, is his DAD.  Tears stream down my face as I consider what it must feel like for your father to not be around..... for your father to walk away and seem like he doesn't care.  I know he must care.  I just watch Nathan and know that I am SO thankful to NOTHING but God, that Nathan is NOT a product of his environment.  My children's Father's Days will never look like his.  His Father's Days will never look like his biological contributor.  I wonder if he stops on Father's Day and considers what he did as a father.  Nathan's life had a purpose, and one of those purposes was to be DADDY to MY children. 

Nathan's Pa molded his life..... Nathan's Pa is an amazing man.  If you have ever been to one of Micah's baseball games or one of Jon Robert's soccer games, you know who Pa is.  Nathan's Great Grandfather.  Pa has left his mark on many lives, Nathan Scheer is one of them. 






Bloggin "ethics" means Nathan will have to tell his story.... I can only tell mine.... I am leaving that topic now, it is very emotional for me.

WHAT A DAY WE HAD SUNDAY!!  Micah was chosen for Ruston Dixie Baseball AllStars..... we are so proud!  He is a "baby" as far as age goes, and I am SO proud of all that he has learned.  Playing tournament ball with the Ruston Regulators has developed him in unbelieveable ways!  This time last year we were considering whether or not he needed to stay in PeeWee, the first level of pitching machine. 

We showed up Sunday at our tournament, and the boys were proud.  Our little team and the other Ruston Dixie team are TRUE representations of Dixie AA baseball.  We don't stack the sides, we don't choose AllStars before the season.... we don't play them all year so they will dominate at the tournaments.  The jury is still out on how I feel about that.  When little boys go to a tournament head held high because they were CHOSEN as some of the best from the season, you expect other teams to be the same.  Basically, our team got our rear ends handed to us.  We got to play travel ball teams that also play Dixie (like the Regulators that Micah played for).... the difference?  The Regulators were evenly distributed among Dixie teams.  So, now added with the other Ruston talent that didn't play tournament ball, we have FAIR teams representing Ruston.  And we lost. Bad.  There is definitely a positive side to losing....  I think everybody needs to know what that feels like.  It is an added tool in your tool box that helps you with life.  BUT, nobody like to lose.  Nobody likes to lose so bad that it is humiliating. 

What I do know is that we WON!!!!  The umpire came to our coach after the game and told him that our team was a class act.  He said that the attitudes of the players and the fans was great and that he would umpire teams like ours anytime.  THAT is what 8 year old baseball is about, THAT is what 18 year old baseball is about.  Being a true sportsman.... holding your head high, being disappointed not disrepsectful, playing hard even when it looks like you aren't going to win, shaking hands with a smile when 8 year olds with arrogance laugh and call you a loser. Managing disappointment is difficult for ME, I can't remember or imagine what it is like for an 8 year old boy....But I know that not one of our players threw a glove or a bat, or cried, or stomped.  Not one of our boys blamed another team mate for mistakes.  THAT is what makes me proud.  A win is fun, NO DOUBT!  But watching these boys that seem to have more maturity than some of the other coaches, makes me a PROUD MAMA!!!  Seeing smiles on their faces, through the disappointment, sends me a message.  We have an outstanding All Star team..... these boys are a pleasure to watch grow.  The parents are a pleasure to be around.  I have made friends by watching Micah play sports that I value dearly.  The life as a ballpark mom is not one I would have chosen 4 years ago.... I will be honest.  But today, I wouldn't trade it for the world and love every minute!



After all that, I do have bragging rights.  My Micah had an OUTSTANDING BALLGAME!!!!  He hit a true triple, a true double and had an INCREDIBLE play at the plate.  I love watching him!  I love watching his buddies, Josh and Gauge, run to him and hug him on the field after the big play stopping another run. 
Such sweet memories.....


Micah ready..... He is so cute when he is up in this secondary postion..... You don't see that much in AA Dixie.  He is strong as an ox like his daddy.

Sweet friends

Big Nat isn't used to being behind the fence.... but he's getting used to it!  Love this Daddy son coaching time.


Nathan says that the ideal Father's Day would be to watch Madison dance, watch Micah play baseball, and watch Jon Robert play soccer, all on the same day.  All on the same day won't happen I am sure, but OH how I love that I get to do that so often!  All of that mixed with the best friends in the world..... well, true to my blog title.... LOVE TO LIVE!  Who wouldn't love this life I live.  ha!  There are plenty.... I am known as the crazy person to some because of all we do.... I have in fact had some pretty harsh feedback about how this craziness is bad for the kids and me.  I pray I don't live to regret it, but I just can't see how what we do can be negative.  Good family, good memories, good friends, memories to last a lifetime..... Give it to me any day!!!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

My girl is 10!

I am not quite sure it has hit me that my girl turned 10 this week!  Why is it that people have told me for 10 years now that I better not blink because time is going to fly by!  I do my best to savor and enjoy watching her grow, but she is 10!!!  She is headed into her LAST year of elementary school in 2 months!

My first thoughts are that I can not possibly take credit for who she is.  How could I, so very full of gigantic weaknesses and screw ups, possibly have molded this little life.  But, I do know that she is so much like me.  Unfortunately, I see more of that in the way she storms down the hall and slams the door and the way she sends hate mail for me to find on the counter talking about how little compassion I have for her because I won't go get her feathers in her hair.  Little does she know, that hate mail only confirms the fact that I will NOT be running to the store to get her feathers in her hair.

When she calls me because she doesn't quite like spending the night away from home and as I watch her defend her baby brother at the ballpark, I know I must be doing something right.  I fear one day she might sit in a group talking about how her mother messed her up..... then she begs me to hold her while she falls asleep, and my confidence grows that she knows that I love her more than I words could even possibly describe.  All I want is for her to learn what kindness and compassion are.  I want her to be generous and loving.  I want her to be responsible and make wise choices.  I want her to be gentle and sweet.  I want her to be strong and confident.

I TRULY am at that point where I feel, "Oh if I knew then what I know now."  I admit, sometimes I parent out of my own fears and insecurities.  I sometimes parent in ways that I know will backfire.  I admit, I have a habit of asking my children if they are crazy...... or if they have lost their mind.  In my defense, they seriously act like they have lost their minds!!!!!

I don't want her to be like me in my worst quality..... I have to learn from mistakes rather than taking advice.  Oh as a young lady, if she would just listen...... she will eventually know that I mean what I say.  Just as I look at what my parents said and now believe every word.  okay maybe not EVERY word, but I don't expect Madison to believe everything I believe either.

I would like to say, "SHE'S 10!!!!  STOP!!!"  But, doesn't it feel like just a few months ago that she was 2???  I don't want to look up and she's 20..... so I worry.  And I constantly assess my parenting skills, and I constantly read parenting books, and I PRAY PRAY PRAY that I am making good decisions.  My beautiful girl will soon be another year older, and another year older.

And here she is...... my sweet girl

All made up for dance recital #1!

She is right in the middle

Sassy pants..... this is a number she did with Performing Company.  




Wednesday, June 15, 2011

How do I start???

Okay, so how do I start? Where do I start?  There is no possible way I am going to come even close to comparing to the blogs I follow...... and while I am usually NOT someone with few words, I just don't know how to begin.

I guess just starting somewhere is better than nothing......

Baseball baseball baseball!  My life is consumed with baseball!  BUT, I just got word that my dear husband is headed back to the softball field tonight!  Of all of the things that I love about him, I can honestly say, I LOVE watching him play softball!  I hope he doesn't break an ankle, and I hope he can still hit a homerun so running the bases won't induce a broken ankle..... But, I am looking forward to the game. Baseball takes a break tonight, but I will still be at the field!  Who know I would be a ballpark mom???  Not I, that is for sure!  But, league ball, travel ball, now All-Stars!  I am consumed. and love it.  Jon Robert asked not that long ago if he gets to play travel ball next year..... I am sure his days will come, though PLEASE not yet.  :)

Madison is taking a little break from dance..... 2 weeks.  What a break.  Then she is double timing it so we can go to the beach and she still can go to the Louisiana Delta Ballet workshop.  I truly had the thought at her recitals a couple of weeks ago.... "She is almost 10, and is more accomplished than I was at 20." And I don't really think I am just being "mom."  She is absolutely a gorgeous dancer.  She has grown this year exponentially more than she has her previous 6 years.  She was dynamic.  Her smile was unbelieveable.  When I figure out how to load pictures on this new blog, I will post them.  You must see.

I will get the hang of this, until then.......