August Already?

So it is already August 2012.   Another summer gone, just like that.   This summer has been bitter sweet for us as a family.   We have had so much fun watching the kids grow up and MATURE.  Emma has stepped up and had the responsibility of watching Luke and Dougie for the two weeks at a time when they are at our house.  She did a superb job! I must say she has really shown us just how capable she really is - from washing her clothes to doing dishes and sweeping...... I could go on and on.  Don't get me wrong, she whines a tad, but for the most part...... She is a HUGE help.    She is 14 and 3/4 and she does love her some texting, so I think she will do anything to keep her phone in her pocket.
As far as Luke and Dougie are concerned, I thought I was going to have to enter them in the WWF at one point.  I was watching to see how they handled an argument one day...... Next thing I see is Dougie (11 at the time) has Luke by the neck pinned against the wall feet off the ground..... So, Luke (5) knees Dougie right in the groin and Dougie drops Luke to the floor.  I guess you could say they worked it out!  Those two are night and day when it comes to personality.  Dougie, for the most part is calm and reserved, but has a short fuse.  Luke is loud and boisterous and as laid back as they come...loves to play jokes on you.  Eventually we had to tell them how much fun they could have if they just got on the same team! The funny thing is I can see Dougie acting very much like Emma did when they were younger.  Emma would always change the rules of the game so she could win.  Dougie does that very same thing to Luke now.
Lily Claire is a fire ball.  She is totally. Daddy's girl!  She gives kisses like they are candy.  Yet she squeals like a baby pig.  Aaahhhh, I can't handle the squealing!  Make it stop.....  But when I drive up to get her from the Goering's house, she is soooo excited to see me.  I love that girl.  No one could have ever explained to me that you really love each child differently.   In a good way, not more or less, but different due to the sheer fact of personality.  Currently Lily is a parrot.  She is trying so hard to say everything.  She has many words.....Mommy, Daddy, Wuke, Gougie, and Mema.  Gannie and Mammie are frequent ones as well ( Granny and Sammy).  She actually said her first sentence on Wednesday.  "Wuke wait".
So we did the normal beach vacation this year to Hilton Head, spent a few weekends at the lake on the boat, played some baseball, sat at home some, went to church camp, swim camp and fat camp.  Just kidding, I had to throw that in there.  I am so proud of Doug, he has lost about 25 pounds, the right way, by exercising and decreasing calories!
We also said good bye to Luke and Lily's last Granddaddy, Pot as he was affectionately referred too.  Don went in for a simple yet serious leg surgery and never came home.  He spent 3 months in the hospital and rehab but just couldn't pull it off.  God had greater plans for him and I am glad he is no longer hurting on this earth.  He was a wonderful Christian man who loved to tell stories to his grandchildren.  One day riding down the road, I heard Luke tell Lily, don't worry Lily, I will tell you all of Pot's army man stories.   Don was a Marine, and how he loved them.  Luke was mesmerized by his recounts of his former days.
So now as the summer comes to an end, we are slated to start school on Monday, we begin a new chapter in the Springer household.........Emma is officially in high school!  Dougie will be playing middle school football and Luke starts kindergarten.   I worry for Dougie's safety, being that he is not the largest on the team..... But that is out of my hands.  Luke, is Luke..... Following open house he asked me how come K4 has more toys than K5?  Bahahaha........

Much love to all,

T-ball 2012

                                                           Dougie and Luke 1st game

      T-ball 2012 has been an experience.  It has been hot in this Georgia heat and  it has been cold with this crazy spring weather. T-ball has been F.U.N.   It has been a lot of fun to watch the kids grow and learn the game.  The first games they would dog pile on each other trying to get the ball.  Now some twelve games later they can actually stay in their positions, watch the batter hit, scoop up the ball and tag the runner out!  They all just love making outs and chasing their friends down with ball to home plate.  Doug and I have had to divide and conquer.  With Dougie playing in Augusta and Luke playing in Waynesboro, we are all over the place.  For instance we have 6 games this week.  3 each. After this week we will be finished with T-ball.  
Hugs to all!

When the world seems to be falling apart........

Tonight I feel that everything is very gloomy and sad. There is so much pain in this world. People that I do not even know personally have lost a child to cancer. A small toddler has basically lived a life of cancer and now has died. Her poor grieving parents. I cannot begin to fathom what they feel. A lady I do know had to bury her young adult son a few short months ago and she relives the tragedy of his car wreck every day. Another lady is overwhelmed at work. She is responsible for several departments in the hospital and has many employees that report to her. She feels like she has too many plates spinning and cannot control their speed. Oh, by the way her son is getting ready to graduate high school and go to college! Divorce looming over a few of my friends who would rather toss it out the window than bust their bottoms to keep it together. Yet all this being said I do have a reason of hope. I am able to hold on to the fact that this world will pass away and I will be able to give glory and honor to the God who gives me the strength to get through these days. The God who created all of this world, the good and the bad for His glory. I don't want to wish that my children do not grow up and have a life to live, but I do not want them to experience any of the pain this world has to offer. Yet again I have to trust that God is sovereign and he has a plan just as he tells us in scripture.....Jeremiah 29:11 is a very popular verse.... For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.... Yet verse 12 brings it home for me.....it is our part..... Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you.

What Did You Expect?

I must admit that our marriage is better than ever.  I have come to learn that even the best marriages go through seasons.  I am pleased to report that our marriage is in a great season. Yes I will admit that it has not always been great.  I truly believe that our marriage is great because God has ordained our marriage and wants it to please Him.  One thing that we regularly do is take time to work on our marriage.  Usually on a yearly basis we go away to some sort of marriage retreat and re-connect with each other in the way that scripture reveals. These trips usually allow for a lot of time to talk.  I mean really talk....not just about the kids or work or a current headline, but to connect on a level where you cannot if the kids are pulling at your shirt tale or fighting in the next room. Now we have started a  book study on Wednesday nights at church.  I am eager to see where this takes us.  So far; it is pretty convicting even in this great marriage.  It is not just for couples, but for those wanting to know what to expect in a marriage as well.  I highly encourage you to read it. 

Do we have too?????

Christmas pictures will no longer be the same..... On two different days each child, Emma and Dougie, asked me if they HAD to sit in Santa's lap this year!  WHAT?  Emma tried to convince me that she is "too old" to sit in his lap.  Dougie just flat out said "I don't want to and if you make me I don't want to wear a red shirt."  So he also has an aversion to red shirts now???? Hmmm, on that note, I took the little kids to see Santa at Christmas on Liberty Street this year.  In our small town some of the local businesses open up on a Friday evening for special hours of shopping.  The high school chorus wears old timey outfits while singing Christmas carols in front of the courthouse, and Jolly Ole St. Nick is at the end of the street! 
I must say, I was a little curious how Santa was going to seat all four kids on his lap! 
Merry Christmas and I hope everyone is getting in the spirit! 
Love,

One Short Year Later.....

                                                                Lily Claire -  1 week old

                                                             Lily Claire birthday celebration

                                                                 Lily Claire - 1 year old


Wow, it seems like yesterday that Dr. Bartley said, "It's a......." and turned you towards me so I could see for myself that you were a girl!  The entire pregnancy I accused you of being a boy.  Oh boy, am I glad you are a girl.  Oh how I love dressing you in pretty dresses and playing with your curly red hair. 
So, a little remembrance for later...... at 1 year old, you weigh 20 pounds.  I really don't know how tall you are because we have not gone for your check up yet.  You love Sammy dog and know that she is a "wuff wuff."  In your most serious face, you bring your lips together and quietly bark, "wuff wuff". 
You recognize all your family members and especially go crazy over Dougie.  He is Da (duh) - and Daddy is Da (dah).  It is funny that those two are the only ones you have named. 
You started walking at 10 months old.  You love for Daddy to 'chase' you.  You have four teeth - 2 top and 2 bottom.  So far you haven't met a food you do not like. 
You have the happiest disposition.  Very rarely do you cry. Your sleep patterns could be better, but you go straight down only to wake up a couple times a night.  Never upset, you just want to play.  Mommy is not a night owl, just in case you haven't noticed.  You love love love your baby sitters - The Goering's. They dress you up and take more photos of you than I do! 
LC, Lily Claire, Elsie, we love you so much and are truly blessed by your life.  Happy 1st birthday. 

Rocking in Savannah

Can't you see me in the photo? Oh, that's right I was 1 of 23,000 people running in Savannah this past weekend. My very good friend, Cristin and I have been training for 12 weeks to complete our first half marathon. We did it! We also had a blast traveling together and I just wanted to record some of our "note to self" moments. I have such a terrible memory, I would like to have this to look back on one day.
The weekend started on Friday afternoon at the Talmadge St Bridge. Actually on the bridge for quite a long time and I have a fear of heights. Traffic was obscene! It was an hour wait to get to the Expo Center to pick up our race packets, swag bag, and bibs. Note to self - don't wait until Friday afternoon to pick up items (with the other 22,000 people) when you could get them Friday morning.

Thankfully, I called the hotel to see if I could cancel my second night reservation since we were only staying one night....did I mention that there were 23,000 people running this race and I stumbled upon a hotel room just 4 weeks prior to the race? One small thing, they wanted a two night minimum. Check, got the room, will settle that problem when I get there. Oh and by the way, that shuttle ride we promised you on race day, you know the one from the hotel to the start line.... well, the trolley service backed out of the deal. Good thing I called because we were able to reserve tickets on another bus for a ride to the start line at a whopping 35$ a head. At least now I had suffice reason to start my plea to cancel my second night reservation. Did I mention that it was estimated for Savannah to gross 23 million dollars from this event? You have got to be kidding me? Note to self - reserve room closer to event and give yourself a little more search time.

Port a potties can be your friend at 6:15 am in unseasonably cold and windy downtown Savannah. We were right on the river, the wind was whipping around at 15 mph and it was still dark outside. I was shivering to the core because I had a long sleeve shirt and shorts on....so I preceded to find a food tent and help pass out bagels just to stay warm. SO not only did I run the race, I was a volunteer for about an hour. That tent was so cozy and warm compared to the naked wind. I still had about 15 minutes prior to the race so I sought a port a potty to give me shelter from the cold weather. I'm not proud. Note to self - wear warmer clothes when windy conditions are advised.

Ok, so then we ran 13.1 miles - that was truly the easy part. The hardest part is the first 3 miles, the rest was a breeze. I just want to remember the people of Savannah that were outside standing in their lawns or along side of the road cheering on total strangers. There were kids and adults hanging out their hands for high fives as the runners passed them. People were enthusiastic and excited to be there. What a great host city for the first Rock and Roll 1/2 marathon I completed. The words of encouragement and signs made for individuals brought tears to my eyes multiple times. Individuals were running for different reasons.... some survivors, some in honor of friends and family members they lost to leukemia. One lady had a picture of her 6 year old son pinned to her back - she was a mom running in his honor. Note to self - live everyday as if it is my last, love my family and friends, and don't sweat the small stuff.