Jacob and his brothers called us into the living room. "Mom and Dad, please sit. We have a play for you." Joseph: "Uh...Jacob...? I don't know my lines or when to say them." Jacob: "That's OK! This is a random speaking play!" "We are going to say things that pirates would say!"

5 minutes of chaotic screaming, furniture jumping and sword fighting ensued.

Decoram and a calm, quiet spirit flew out the nearest window. I wonder if it will ever return.

So, this fabulous chorale is touring central FL this week. It is comprised of home schooled high schoolers from NJ and we happen to know one of the choir members from our nostalgic days in NJ.

We enjoyed their excellent concert last night and right smack in the middle of it (just after he observed that one of the young men in the choir looked angry...), Joseph leaned over to me and whispered, "so, do you think they also have a football team?"

So, our efforts at refined culture around here will have to be stepped up a bit.

Joseph:

"I'm making a new store mom. Its called 'Joseph's Store. One dollar.' Everything will be one dollar."

"Mom, when I grow up I want to be a ninja. A good ninja. In a red suit. I'll help people. Good people. Do you think I can?"

"Did you know you can have more than 5 toes on a foot? It's pretty awkward."

"Instead of being a baseball player, I'm just going to be an empire."

One rainy day last week, Jonah put his head under his pillow and whined," no take boys to school!" whatever will he be like when it's his turn? Oh he is sooooo a sun-loving FL boy. He starts singing Twinkle Twinkle, throws in s couple ABCs and ends the song with " yes sir, yes sir, three bags full."

I'm reading The Cost of Discipleship by Bonhoffer. Have you read it? Wow, its tough. I'm really loving it though.

What else? Filling out adoption agency applications...congratulating my bro and his wife for finally having a boy after 4 girls! Woo hoo!

Joseph: "I'm making a new store mom. Its called Joseph's Store. One dollar. Everything will be one dollar. I'm going to sell canes for old people and toys for kids."

Joseph: "Mom, do you like to draw?" Me: "I do but I'm not good so I get discouraged." Him: "Don't worry. I'll teach you. I can teach you landscapes. I've done one and now I know how. I'm pretty good. I'll show you."

Today was the beginning of their Spring break. We drove over to Sarasota to see a spring training game with our dear friend from NJ, Cheryl. The game was sold out except for standing room only tickets. We stood out beyond the outfield behind the folks who had bought seat tickets. As the crowd thinned near the end of the game, some seats opened up. Joseph in his usual form, befriended an older gentleman and promptly got offered a seat. This maddened Jacob...primarily because he isn't comfortable going up to people and asking for things or just starting a conversation. He gets too self-conscious. It is funny how different they are.

We are fully riding the adoption roller coaster again. We were presented with a possible placement last week and got very excited. However it did not happen. This mom, about whom we know very little, really wants to parent her son and we pray she is able to get the support she needs to succeed. So, we will keep waiting for the child that is meant to be ours!

Ahhhh, weekends

With daddy out of town this week, we had a pretty happy afternoon yesterday when he returned at 3. We soon entered the mad dash however. Two baseballs (at the same time in fields far apart), a bible study to be hosted at our house (at same time as games) and visiting after drove us in a variety of directions. Joe took boys to games, I stayed home to let people in.

Jacob's team got crushed and his coach lauded him as the best sportsman about it. There were boys crying about it. Pretty excited to be a part of THAT aspect of little league. Should be a fun season!

Joseph's team won but he didn't get a hit. He also decided that catching (as in playing catcher) isn't his fav. position. Jacob, however, loves it and has decided this is his new calling.

Sadly, he has also decided that Latin is NOT his calling, as evident by his current performance. So we are having a week of re-orienting our priorities. Spring is in the air and homework is gone from the mind. But not for long!

Today we attended a luncheon for Grove City College alumni. It was pretty cool to hear about the vision and plans being made, all based on a free-market understand of economics in general and the times in which we live, specifically. I want my kids to go there. Amen.

Baseball

Second games of the season tomorrow night. Joseph feels he won't be needing to finish Little League before he starts with the Yankees. And he means it.

Sadly, from day to day he can't keep all of his equipment in one place. He'll have to work on that.

My first blogspot post!