Just some long overdue updates!

Again, I am faultering on my blogging as of late. I am overwhelmed with the time management of kids, school and sports. Not to mention my working every so often, although I did finally give my notice so that will give me some relief! We finished basketball with an undeafeted season and we will play in the final tournament this coming Saturday! I am so proud of all of the boys and the great job they all did playing as well as learning excellent sportsmanship with their team mates and other teams as well. I had a few of the boys over a week ago for a night of roller skating and sleep over. It was a lot of fun but this ol' gal was exhausted the next day! They all wanted me to take them "ding-dong ditching". I was afraid to ask but I finally did only to find out it was just the old trick of knocking on doors and running away before someone answered. I tried to tell them that was probably not the best idea on Valentine's night even though they didn't understand! They settled for snipe hunting with Bart whatever that is.

Next we have baseball for Ross and soccer for Reese! As if my head isn't already spinning. We have had a long ongoing inner struggle trying to decide to keep Ross in Leonard sports or go elsewhere. Oh the small town politics and I have about decided Leonard is far worse than Celina ever thought about being. Bart has had two winning seasons with little league baseball here in Leonard and we have endured quite a bit of turmoil without going into detail. So, when we learned that they went about choosing their coaches a little differently this season, it made our decision easier as to what to do. Bart will coach this season in the Sherman league. We have been wanting to put Ross in that league for some time so it wasn't anything new. They are a much bigger, more organized league with strict rules about who coaches as well as parental behavior. I am excited to see what the season brings! The only bad thing, is that I had already signed Reese up for soccer in Bonham before this all came about! So now I will be going to two different towns for sports and still work in school two nights a week as well! Whew! It will work out and will be good for the kids. I will just be sure to register Reese to play in Sherman in the fall!! (If I make it that long!)

So, here are some random snapshots of the kids since I haven't done my blogging duty lately. I will be sure to post some sports shots soon! Reese is a little humdinger of a player so I'm excited to see this! She can out run Ross's basketball team!

A Not so Prestige Membership

I have become guilty of being a bad blogger and friend lately! I have an old friend from high school that I email on a weekly basis and they reminded me so politely yesterday that it has been *cough* 12 days! So, my sincerest apologies to all my friends and family for being such the recluse lately. I have good reason...I really do! First off, we have all been sick to some degree. It seems when I go awhile without working and then return to the ER, I bring EVERYTHING home. Even though I anti-bacterialize my whole body when leaving, the little virus bugs still sneak in my jacket or pocket only to be found by the ever so curious Vest children. Not to mention us older kids. So, we have been battling pneumonia with Reid, upper respiratory with Reese and the good ol' stomach bug for me.

All for good reasons I think, since I offered to work a little extra for a friend at work. A friend that at only 22 has just lost her mom in a horrible accident. I hope that through all of my negligence, I can at least be a friend to her right now, although, unfortunately I missed the memorial for her mom due to the stomach bug I was carrying around this week. I will get over the virus and be well in a few days but she will carry this for the rest of her life. Please pray for my friend as she is unfortunately inducted into what some of us refer to as "the club". The club is an unspoken organization for those of us who have lost a parent, or heaven forbid, both parents. The price of membership doesn't require currency, but a lifetime of regrets and questioning. My friend may not realize all that is ahead yet, and soon she will go to make "the phone call." The one to tell her mom about something her 2 yr old did that was so fascinating and when she picks up the phone, she will have a pain in her heart so deep as she remembers there will be noone on the other end. She will be angry for a while and that will be replaced with the deep sorrow that won't seem to go away. I pray that she will learn to lean on the One that understands what it is like to lose someone so precious. I pray that I can be there for her, a big sister in a sense, to help her through this. The ER is far from kind and understanding, but maybe I can prove that wrong. So please pray for my young friend. She is a young mom having just lost her main support and life line. Pray that I can be there for her and that my busy life can slow even just for a little while to help shelter some hurt. I am also so thankful through this, that even though I am "fatherless", I am fortunate to still have my mother...well, actually two of them. My natural mother that gave birth to me, of course, and my adoptive mother that takes the form of my older sister. Both of which I couldn't imagine life without. Life can change in an instant, and I see that everyday that I am at work. I know its kind of cheesy but the last couple weeks really has made me think more about the saying "Live every day like its your last". So, if its not too late to add to my New Year's resolutions, I am going to pin that one up. My friend told my boss after the memorial that she didn't want to be a part of this club anymore. I want to tell her, neither do I, but we will get through it. I want to tell her you never get over it but it does get better with each day. I will tell her that I love her and I am here for her. Despite school, family and basketball, I will make time for her so that she doesn't feel alone. Its the worst feeling and she doesn't deserve to go through that alone right now.

I hope everyone has a good week and go spend time with your parent or child. Give someone a much needed hug today and let them return the favor. Live today like its your last and love like you have never lost before.