"Changing"

Yesterday was the day. My girls (age 11, in 5th Grade) saw the "Changing" Video on Puberty at school. EEK! I went to view it the day before, at the parental screening. Now I must note, in our school there are Five 5th grade classes, all of them I believe have around 30 students in them, if not more. Almost all of these students would see this video. Every parent had to sign a permission slip. I was one of 3 parents who came to see the video! That's pretty sad to me.

I must say this video was much better than the one I saw when I was in 6th grade! Mine was cartoon eggs dancing down the fallopian tubes. I remember talking with my sister, who was 13 years older than I and married, and like a second mom to me. And she asked me "did they tell you you would bleed when you menstruate?" I was shocked! "No, what are you talking about?!" Oh the Horror! (I still feel that way sometimes!) And in my defense, my Mom was of the generation that you just didn't talk about "private matters", though she does now, I think we've forced it on her! (and I lived with only brothers, and they weren't about to tell me anything, even if they knew! Though I think they talk now more that they have daughters. Vengeance is mine! haha) So, my sister explained it in a way I could understand.

Well, I've made sure my girls know more than I did! We talk about "private things" often. And they can ask me anything and I will answer. Any way, back to their video; it had real people in it, and was done more like an after school special! (Do they still make those? I always loved the after school specials! I guess with the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon now, they just put the issues in their regularly scheduled programing. I miss after school specials! We should bring them back. But I digress.) After they watched the video they had a question and answer time. They told me what all was asked and how their teacher answered the questions. The teacher also sent out E-mails to the parents. It was all handled very well.

Now, If I could keep my girls little for ever I would. I loved the sweet innocence. But I've also loved EVERY stage they've been through. Watching them grow and learn, and yes, even "change!" But, I've got to say, I'm excited for the future and what's in store for them. Even though it scares the crap out of me! In the timely words of Aladdin; "It's a Whole New World!"

Senior Year - Part 5 (Senior Ditch Day)

Yes, a beloved tradition by seniors. Ditch Day! Oh the possibilities. . .

When I was a Senior in high school, on Senior Ditch Day a bunch of us went to a local Water Park here in the Phoenix area, called Big Surf. It was a lot of fun!

John said he thinks he went to school on his Senior Ditch Day. (I told you I married a nerd! Even though he was a partier in high school)

So, today was Kyle's Senior Ditch Day. Guess what he chose to do? Sleep in! Yep, that's it. Well, I guess it is different when you get out of school EVERYDAY after third hour. And he had to work this evening. Oh well, he liked it.

"There's No Crying In Baseball!"

With all this talk around here about Baseball and Spring Training,
it got me thinking. . .

I have two very naturally athletic boys. They seem to be good at what ever sport they attempt. And throughout their school years they have played Soccer, Hockey, Basketball, Football and have ran Track. But, the one and only time they ever really played Baseball was this:

(Kyle was 6, and Zach was 4 and a half)

So, there very well may have been some crying in Baseball~!

Remembering Columbine

It was 10 years ago today . . . I'm sure you remember exactly where you were, I know I do.

We were living in Michigan, we had two elementary school aged boys and one year old twin girls.

John was home from the church office and I came down the stairs carrying a load of laundry. As I walked through the living room, it was on the T.V.

Now, even though we didn't have teenagers yet then, we were Youth Pastors, so we had 60-80 teenagers that we considered our own.

I remember very clearly just stopping and then slowly sitting down on the floor there in front of the television, John slid off the couch to sit next to me. Tears streaming down my face.

It was unbelievable. Yet it was happening. Right before our eyes.

I've read the books by the parents of Columbine students Cassie Bernall & Rachel Scott. I loved them both, they were very well done.

I've had many conversations with my kids since then about bullying, and making fun of someone, and how you never know what's happened in that persons life, and how what may seem like harmless fun can be the last straw that breaks the camels back.

In 2007 John and I went to a Worship conference in Denver. On one of our free days we drove to Littleton, and went to Columbine High School. They have built a Beautiful memorial in the park right next to the school.

I must say, it was a little strange being there. As we looked at the school, you could just see it as it was that day, with all the students running from the building.

My friend Stefanie over at Because I Pause shared her memories of living in Denver during that time. And a video done by CNN. I'd love it if you'd head over there.

There is a wall that circles the memorial that has sayings engraved on it written by student's, teachers, faculty, and parents. It was very moving! This one touched me the most:

"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"

The other day I was walking out of my store in the mall to go on a break. And as I walked through the doors, into the mall this man, straight across the mall from me made eye contact with me, not that unusual except for this man was in handcuffs and was being frisked by the Chandler Police! Awkward!

So there I was in one of those situations of not knowing what to say. Should I smile and say "Have a nice day"? Or maybe give him the ole head nod and a "so, what are you in for?" Or should I go the other way with "It sucks to be you!" I think I just gave him a half smile and kept on walking.

But, thinking about this, I'm reminded of one of my favorite movies from Childhood. Mary Poppins! She sings a song about the word your supposed to say when you don't know what to say: "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious, if you say it loud enough, you'll always sound precocious! Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!" (I remember Zach, when he was little, studied very hard to learn how to spell that word!) So, what do you say when you don't know what to say?

I have always loved the movie Mary Poppins. And on my 40th Birthday, my sister-in-law gave me the limited edition DVD, she was so excited to give me my gift, you see it was the 40th Anniversary Edition of Mary Poppins. She truly had found the perfect gift for me! One of my childhood favorites was turning 40 along with me!

I find myself quoting that movie quite often, and so do all my kids. We sang "A spoonful of Sugar helps the medicine go down" to my mom while she was in the hospital. And the other day we drove past a park where a father & son we're flying a kite and simultaneously, I, and all my kids started singing "Let's Go Fly A Kite" together. It was so funny!

And just last week I found myself in a conversation with a friend of my sons who's in college, and for reason's I can't remember now, we were talking about the bird lady from Mary Poppins, who sold bird seed to people to feed the birds outside of the bank. There are so many life lessons to be learned from Mary Poppins!

I think it might be time to, once again go jump into a chalk picture and take a ride on a carousel horse. Or dance on a rooftop with some chimney sweeps! See, now you want to go watch it again too, don't you?!

Speech Easy Revisited

Earlier this year Erica graduated out of Speech. Both girls had been in speech since preschool. Well, now it's Lexi's turn! I had a meeting with the speech therapist at the girls school today, and Lexi is now graduating out of speech as well! She is so excited to finally be done with it. It's hard to always be pulled out of class. It's really helped though, and was so worth it, but it's good to finally be done.

Good Job Lexi! You Rock!

This was the girls around the first time they were tested in their speech!
They are in 5th grade now, and finally done!
They deserve two thumbs up!!

A Double Easter Blessing

Yesterday was an Amazing day at Mesa First! We had over 850 people at Church, which is our largest number ever, I think. And God really moved in people's lives! It's just amazing to think about all He's done for us . . . and all He continues to do!

Then we actually got to take my Mom home from the hospital! She's been in for 23 days, and needless to say, has been ready to go home! She had some complications from her lung surgery. But the good news is they did get all the cancer, and it was NOT in the lymph nodes, which means she does not have to have Chemo. Yeah! Thank you to all my Blogosphere friends who prayed for her.

All around it was good day!

Me with my Mom (and Dad) a few years ago.

Forbis Family Fun Night, Easter Egg Style

Every year we color Easter Eggs together, it's probably something we will do no matter how old the kids get! (like the pictures with Santa for Christmas!) It's fun and funny at times. Here are some pic.'s of our eggcellent master pieces!

Here's John with his creations!

Color is the key!

Zach, aka: Ninja

Eggtastic Erica

Lexi showing us her stuff!

And of course Kyle had to do an Egg for the Oakland A's!

Happy Easter!

"Why do you look for the living among the dead?
He is not here; He has risen!"
(Luke 24:5-6)

And He did it all for me . . . and for you.

Farewell Boys Of Summer! (Or Spring, in this case)

Well, yesterday was opening day in the MLB! Which means of course Spring training is over. We're sad to see them go. Kyle had a great time working with the Oakland A's! He's saving the money he earned to put toward buying a car. I finally had the day off and was able to go to the very last game of Spring training. It was fun.

Here we are! Go A's!

Olivia went with us (You can see John talking to Kyle in the background)

The team was good to Kyle. I love sports, but, I'm not a big follower of Baseball. Until now, that is. My new favorite player is Matt Holiday (because he gave Kyle a big tip, at least I have my priorities straight, right?!) He also got signed bats from Jason Giambi, and other team paraphernalia.

This is Kyle on Sunday, wearing an A's tie to Church! ;)

The A's opening game was on T.V. yesterday, so Kyle ran upstairs and came down wearing their jersey and cap to watch the game in. He said it's strange to see the guys he was hanging out with every day on T.V. now. Here's hoping for a good season!

Employee of the Month = Me!

Yes it's true, I've been employed by Shade Clothing for One whole month now, and guess what? I'm Employee of the Month! How funny is that?! (It's because my manager got married and was gone for two weeks, and I had to keep things running!) I even get a prize! Man, I love my job!!

April's Fool

Yesterday was April Fool's Day, and Erica got this idea from The Disney Channel on how to turn the boys beds into a "little pocket." (I didn't tell her it was called "Short Sheeting" a bed, and that it's been around for years!) She was so excited to try it out, and pull one over on her Big brothers, literally!

So after she got home from school, without the boys around, she got to work. . . I called home to talk to the girls, and Erica said to me "Phase One is Complete!" I guess that was secret code for she did it! It was so cute. And she really did do it.

Good for her. Keeping those older brothers in their place!