Football!..........need I say more?

Yes, that's right folks...football season is upon us. (Pause for all the cheering to cease...) lol!

Anyway, yes football season is here and Hunter is playing tackle football for his 2nd year now. He is really awesome--I know, I know, you think I am biased. I am, but he really is good. All his coaches say that he always gives 110% and is aggressive to tackle even though he is a little smaller than some of the other boys. He isn't scared, either. I am sometimes, but not Hunter.

Seth is getting to help coach this year. As many of you know, he LIVES for football. A good friend is the head coach of the team and is also the elementary school principal. He used to coach high school football, so we have a pretty good coaching staff for his team. Hunter's first game was last weekend. They won 12-6. Good game. I saw Hunter stop a kid running with the ball in his tracks by blocking or tackling him. It was really cool! Of course, I am jumping up and down in the stands yelling "That's my son! That was Hunter! Did you see? Go Hunter!." Jordan gets a little embarrassed sometimes. Ha Ha! Here are some pics of the tough team. Enjoy!

Hunter #25 & one of his friends

The 3rd-4th grade Bangs Dragons--Seth is on the far right w/the white hat.

Hunter is about in the front-middle.

Hunter #25 lookin' tough

Hunter is the shorter guy about in the middle of the picture right behind the coach.

1st Day of School!

Today is Jordan & Hunter's 1st day of school. Jordan is now in the 6th grade and Hunter is the 4th. Wowie! Next year, we will have 2 in middle school. Time is just flying by so fast. Those of you with small kids-- enjoy them. It really does go by so fast. Here are some things that I have learned are very important:

1. Spend those lazy days together. Snuggle.

2. Make sure and institute a family night-it is so important once your kids are involved in sports and other extra-curricular activities.

3. Don't ever put off til tomorrow what you can do with your child today. You will never get that time back!

4. Enjoy and cherish EVERY moment and make each one that you can a teachable moment.

5. Be a fabulous example to your kids. They ARE watching you. :)

6. Always keep God in your everyday tasks. (most important)

7. Have fun! Play! Enjoy!

I am in no way an expert, but these are things I have learned. God only gives us our "children" for a short time. Then they grow up and become adults like us. Have fun while they are little.

Soap box time!.................................................

OK, I have many friends and know many parents who are in such a big hurry to grow their kids up. You know the ones I mean. They are always dressing their child older than they are, trying to enroll them in activities a year or two before they are actually old enough, and my favorite......buying them STUFF that they are not old enough to play with or operate. Some of the parents I know are already talking of buying their kids that are Jordan's age a car. These kids are 11 and 12!!! People...........your child will get there when they get there. Stop trying to hurry the process along. This is not a race to see who can get their child graduated 1st. They will graduate with their class when they get there regardless. Goodness sakes! OK, I'm done.

Anyway, here are some pictures of the 1st day. Seth started school last week and so I included him in the pics, too. All my "kiddos" going off to school today! **sniffle** I am just so proud! It is going to be a great year with many changes and many new things. God is good!!

Look at our sweet boy!

Our beautiful daughter!

Who's that big kid in the back?

I think the Blog Page title explains it...

Well, Seth started school yesterday. He had 2 classes yesterday and 3 today. He is the oldest student in each class, but I gently reminded him that he is a youth pastor and God has surrounded him with "youth." He is taking it well, though. Already has homework and lots of reading to do, but is excited about it all. I will post pics next week when Jordan & Hunter start back to school. They start Monday, Aug. 25th.

I am reorganizing the house, our meals, our finances, and probably our minds (ha ha!) but it has been going great. We had the Middle School open house with Jordan last night. She is now a veteran of the Middle School since she will be in 6th grade this year. Our school district moved the 5th grade to the Middle school last year to make it 5th-8th grade. It went ok, but is still weird. They say it is to even out the # of kids at each campus---whatever. Jordan is a very mature young lady, but it is different for the boys. I am a little worried about Hunter adjusting to Middle School next year for 5th grade. Boys just mature later than the girls and are small at this age. We will just have to see, I guess. God will watch over him and protect him. I have a whole year to worry about it, now. Good grief!

Anyway, pics will come in the next blog entry. Just wanted to update for now. Kinda busy-busy!

Texas Ranger Baseball

Date: Saturday, August 2, 2008.

Place: Texas Rangers Ballpark @ Arlington, Texas

Temperature: 107* degrees outside!!!!!!!

Can you believe it?! I do not think I have EVER sweated so much for so long in front of so many people in my life! Seth, the kids, and I along with some folks from our church went to a Rangers baseball game which was preceded by a Mercy Me concert. The concert was on a grassy park area right next to the ballpark......not much shade there. It started at 5pm. I brought the umbrellas and bottled water, but all 500 people (at least) out there were pourin' sweat. Click here to read what Mercy Me thought -> http://mercyme.org/blog/2008/08/02/go-rangers/ .

I guess you can tell I am not a big fan of the heat or sweating. ha ha! The concert was so good, despite all that. The Holy Spirit was at work and so many people around us were worshipping the Lord. For awhile there, I forgot I was so hot and just praised God through song. I will never forget Hunter singing off key VERY loudly from atop his daddy's shoulders. That is a picture I will cherish forever.

After the hour and a half concert, we went across the street to the ballpark and watched the Texas Rangers play the Toronto Blue Jays. It was an experience.......my 1st to be exact. I just have a question..............Why is it that we drive 10 miles further to save 3 cents/gallon for gas, but we will pay $4 for a regular-sized bottle of water? Had I known we could bring food and drinks inside the park, I would have packed a small cooler---one for each of us! I also paid $5.25 for a large Dr. Pepper and bought 4 of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What shut off in my brain while I was there that usually keeps me from making such INSANE purchases. My thirst must have over-ruled my common-sense. I should have just brought stuff. Oh, well! It was my 1st professional major league anything, so I didn't know-but I do now! They are surely making a killin' off that stuff. You see, I know better when we go to the movies. We either get nothing or we share 1 drink and 1 popcorn. That in itself cost upwards of $15. My excitement got the best of me there at the ball game.

Moving on...............the Rangers lost that game 4-6, but won Friday's game and Sunday's game against the Blue Jays. If you have never been to a MLB game, you need to go. There is so much audience participation that goes on while the TV watchers see commercials. It was so much fun for the whole family. Ahhhh, memories!