I am so excited! School is out for 3 days!!!! Yipee! Yahoo! I am feeling a little relief! I thought by this afternoon that I was going to pull someone's hair out and it was not going to be mine. I have got to figure out how to control my precious little darlings! This group of kids are fearless. There is no care or concern for rules or for doing a good job on work in this bunch. I might have a handful of kids who seem to care and know that if I call their parents, they are in trouble. But there is a whole lot of them who just don't care. It is so frustrating to see kids who don't care about doing good. They seem to not have any pride.

On a happier note, I HAVE A NEW CAR!!! Yes, I was approved for a new vehical and it was the easiest process I have ever had in buying a car. Mike and I really prayed about this one and it was so nice turning the decision over to God. We had driven this little Equinox suv and thought it was cute and what we were looking for for me to drive instead of the big suburban. We had almost paid off the suburban and didn't know if we should just keep it and deal with the gas issue or go for a vehical that didn't drink gas. Anyhow, I decided to just trust God in this decision. We prayed that if this was meant to be, we would not have any "speed bumps" in the process of buying the car. If it was not meant to be, we would know from the bumps we would run into. Needless to say....NO SPEED BUMPS! They gave us what we owed before we told them what we needed for the suburban. The loan was approved immediately and I drove the car home today. It was amazing. It is taking some adjustment from driving my "bus" to now being in a normal size vehical. I almost cried in leaving the suburban. It was like leaving a family member behind. It really had been a good truck. It carried us everywhere. This one won't be near as roomy, but it will do what is needed. I am sure of it. We drove it to the football game tonight and it was really nice. However, we could not carry everyone that we would have normally loaded in the car. We took 2 vehicals instead of our one. It was okay, but it did make me miss the big bus!

Kaufman won the football game! It was fun. Mom and I got to talk through most of the game. I mainly go to watch my girls perform at halftime, but I do enjoy the game too. Mike and my dad yelled like it was the most important game of the season....instead of one that really doesn't count. Chelsea is big enough to play with some of her friends during the game and be totally entertained. Tara and Ashton did really well and the color guard and band looked good. It was fun. However, AShton had a melt down after the show. She felt like she messed up and started being way to hard on herself. We all thought she did great! She also had an unfair event happen before the game. She organized for her color guard girls a "secret sister" gift exchange for each game. The girls draw names and buy their person a $5 or less little prize for the week. This was meant to build some of the sisterhood that the girls have needed. However, the girl who drew her name was the only one to NOT bring a gift. That left Ashton without anything. The other girls were very upset with the one who didn't bring Ash a gift. I have to say, I am too. It was just not right. The little girl is not very nice to the other girls either, but this was a little much.

Mom and Dad are not doing too well. I don't know for sure what all is going on, but most of it goes to the event of my brother, Todd coming home for a visit. This weekend we are having GrandMary's birthday dinner and Mom is going to pick Todd up for a 48 hour pass. None of us know how wise this move is, but Todd's case worker seems to think it will be good for him. We are all apprehensive and Mom is a basketcase. Dad is just not happy about it at all. He doesn't want to have anything to do with Todd. Dad's idea is to load up the travel trailer and sell the house and tour the country and run from anything that reminds him how hard life has been. Not quite my Mom's idea of living. So now, they are fussing. Not bad, but Mom is tired and stressed. DAd is wanting to pretend life is grand and not face the issue. I am sure it is the recipe for disaster.....or atleast a blow up. I just pray that God continues to lead them to people and places where they can find healing from all of this. I don't think either one is willing to go where they need to go to heal yet, but my prayer is that they do. Mom insists that she doesn't need any help....yea right....and Dad just hides and runs. I would really like to bop their heads together and make them see what they are doing. I am trying but they are not listening.

I also went to see my grandmother.....finally. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. She only fussed at me for 30 minutes instead of an hour this time. Not really, she was pretty good. I have learned to stand my ground with her. It has taken a lot, but when she starts attacking or belittling, I just shoot it down with truth. I like having a backbone again. It took me long enough to find it. I am trying to hold on to it.

We are off to Mike's dad's house this weekend. I plan to sit by the pool or in the hot tub and just rest. My house needs me to work on it, but I think I will just run away....for the weekend. I may just sit in front of the tv or sleep late or enjoy the pool. I'm not sure, but the time off will be greatly appreciated. We have started getting kids from Louisiana at school. Not many yet, but we know there are several families in Terrell, just 10 miles down the road. Also several other families in AThens, about 30 miles away. We know we will have more kiddos to take care of. It is just too sad to think about where these children have been and what they are going through.

The news is so dreary from New Orleans. It is so unbelievable what people will do to each other. I can not stand to watch the news, but on the other hand, I want to know what is going on. It just is shocking. I don't want to sound unmerciful, because I have been torn up emotionally about this situation, but the thought of Sodom and Gamorrah came to mind. My mother even asked me what I thought about the idea. I know our God is merciful, but I also know that He can not stand evil. More than once He taught His children that lesson. Who are we to think that He would not teach us the same lesson? There are 2 or 3 cities in this country that are known for their wild ways and unruly nature. New Orleans is one of them. I just pray that God is through with the lesson, if that is what it was. One of my buddies at school made a great analogy of this situation. She said, "The people knew this was coming. They had the opportunity to pack up and leave, but chose to wait and see and keep living the way they were living. Now look at the consequences. It is just like KNOWING that Jesus is coming again soon. Yet, some choose to wait and see and keep on living like they are living until they HAVE to change or move. As with some of those who chose to stay put and not leave the hurricane force winds, it may be too late if we don't recognize that He is coming sooner than later." So true.....

I don't pretend to understand why our God, our wonderful, merciful, Father and SAvior would allow such horrible and terrifying events happen, but I do know that His plan is perfect. He will have mercy on who He chooses to have mercy and He will punish those whom He chooses to punish. We are not in control or in charge of those decisions. Our job is to trust and obey and KNOW that our God is Holy.