A last minute win

The boys went to the UT v. UAB game and had a decent time. They had horrible seats (something we'll remember in the future when ordering) and tried to move around for a better seat, but never really found it. UT did win in overtime and so it was a good game.

Gabriel spent the rest of the night playing his new game, which he is playing again now. Civilization Revolution. Everyone is telling him what to do, so it is a communal game, whether he likes it or not...

To Save a Life

A new movie, just out on DVD.

Very good portrayal of teenage issues from a Christian perspective. The kids enjoyed it and were rooting for all to work out in the end. (Which they did, but not all perfectly) A very good approach to teen suicide as well.

Busy week

Lots of happenings this week...

Girl Scouts has begun, both for Anna and Marian. Anna's troop is planning a trip to NYC, but unfortunately she won't be able to make it, since that's when we're going to HI. She is also hoping to do a Gold Award project. This is the Girl Scout equivalent to an Eagle Scout Award. She will learn more about it in November. Marian is now a Brownie and there are 14 young and eager girls in her troop, which I have to corral.

Gabriel is busy with rowing and Math Team. Oh, and he also has a girlfriend, according to his friend who told me yesterday. She goes to our church and so I said to him, "Well, I guess going to religious ed won't be a problem..." He is also working on a Spanish project and he turns 12 this week. He is going to the UT game and otherwise hanging out with friends.

Bogdan finally met with a good oral surgeon (yes, there are many "not so good") and will have 2 of his wisdom teeth removed in a couple weeks. Glad it is all happening before we go on our trip.

Working on a sewing project for a neighbor, making them a padded seat for their outdoor porch swing. Then, I have a couple small things to make for the girls.

Clash of the Titans

Well, everyone agrees that the old version is MUCH better. After waiting many weeks to get the new Clash of the Titans, we were sorely disappointed. There was hardly a plot, way too many computer graphics and no sense of honor. Too bad, they could have really done a nice job. Liam Neeson is sadly one sided in the movie, just angry. And the computer graphics weren't that stellar.

Oh, well, sometimes best to leave well enough alone.

While I'm waiting

Lyrics to While I'm Waiting (one of my favorite songs)

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

Weekly happenings

CCD has started and I am team teaching with 3 other moms, we are tackling 30 second graders who will make their First Reconciliation and First Communion this year.

Anna has 4 tests this week, but ends the week with a fun Girl Scout event. She is doing a murder mystery party with her troop, a Hawaii-themed night is in the works.

Bogdan is loving his new laptop (Mac Book Air) He keeps on showing us new things about it, and now Gabriel is loving it too. We told him, he can buy his own. At $1500, we told him to keep on mowing lawns and save up.

Huge rainstorms came in last night, but clear weather predicted for the weekend.

Being a home game tomorrow, all the UT fans are decked out in their beloved orange. Gabriel and Bogdan are going to the Alabama game next week to celebrate Gabriel's birthday.

Katerpillar Kids' Camp

The weekend was busy with Katerpillar Kids' Camp. It's a camp for grieving children sponsored by Covenant Health and Covenant Hospice. There aren't too many like this in the country and it's a huge success. I did the music for the younger kids (grades 1-3). They had about 80 kids and it represented most of East TN. Grades 1-12. We were at Camp Wesley Woods for all of Saturday and Sunday. There was hippo-therapy (horses), climbing walls, ropes courses, hikes, group time, therapy dogs, music, puppet shows, and a release of butterflies at the end. Of course, it didn't solve anyone's problems, but it helped the kids take a step toward healing.

Boomsday

We spent the weekend at a cabin on a lake, it was a beautiful weekend. The weather was cooler and we even started a fire in the fireplace at the cabin. We hiked and canoed and the kids went swimming.

We also went to Boomsday, which is a big fireworks display in Knoxville. It was a good display and lasted about 1/2 hour. We (luckily) avoided traffic coming home. There were supposed to be 500,000 people there for the whole day and fireworks. And Bogdan heard from some officemates that the police issue thousands of parking tickets. We found free parking under a bridge and lucked out.

Having a BBQ tonight with friends from church.