Too much Snow!

We have only been in school 8 days since December 15th!  This is getting a bit ridiculous.  We have enjoyed sledding, building snowmen, snow tubing, and snowball fights.  Now I am ready for us to settle back into our routine, get school underway, and head toward Spring Break.

Basketball Begins

This morning was the first Saturday of basketball season 2011 for Annaliese and Tanner.  They both play for the Upwards League - Tan's 2nd season and Liese's 1st.  Each had great games with big smiles and enough energy for the whole team.  Annaliese scored 3 baskets and was recognized with a certificate as the most Christ-like player.  Tanner was an amazing dribbler and was recognized with an offensive star for his jersey.  What a great day to cheer and watch some basketball!

Amid the chaos

In the middle of 48 hours of going nonstop, I pause to be thankful for the busyness...

The morning began with 45 minutes of fighting traffic - I thank God that I have a car to transport me.
The responsibilities of my job are piling up and the to do list is very long - I thank God I have a job I enjoy.
I have 4 dentist appointments scheduled within these two days - I thank God for insurance that helps to provide care for my family.
School supplies need to be purchased for tomorrow - I thank God that I live in a country where my children can go to school freely and safely.
I don't get home until 6 pm - I thank God that I have a husband that realizes my weariness and has dinner prepared.
I leave again at 6:30 to take Tanner to Boy Scouts - I thank God that I am able to spend one on one time with my youngest child.
Tomorrow I need to leave my house for a meeting before my kids go to school - I thank God for a friend who steps in to take care of my children for me.
Annaliese and Tanner both have basketball practice - I thank God that they are healthy and able to run and play.
I will be away from home for more than 12 hours straight tomorrow - I thank God that I have a home full of happiness and love.

My life is busy... but I will stop to thank God for the busyness that others do not have the opportunity to experience.

A New Year Reflection

It is time to say goodbye to 2010, but the year will not be forgotten. 

Scott and I enjoyed a year of firsts.  We celebrated our first wedding anniversary in March with a trip to the Biltmore, we bought our first new home together in July, and I was the first to turn 40 years old. We both continue to work our same jobs with him at Home Depot and me at Tulip Grove Elementary.  Our children keep us busy as does our involvement in church.  We love every minute of it – even the sometimes hectic schedules!

Austin is a Freshman at Mt. Juliet High School.  He is 5 months away from getting his driver’s permit (which doesn’t seem possible).  He is still involved in sports, and had the honor of playing on the Middle School basketball team which won 3^rd place in the City Tournament and Babe Ruth 13 year old Baseball team which won the Tennessee State Championship title.  He hopes to play for the High School baseball team in the coming years.  He remains active in the church youth group, and enjoys all the typical teenage stuff like texting, ipods, and spectator sports.

Andrew is an Eighth Grader at Mt. Juliet Middle.  He has outgrown everyone in the family and takes great pride at “looking down” to Scott.  He played Spring and Fall baseball and is now venturing out to try his hand at football.  He has lots of friends and enjoys socializing through texting, Facebook, and “hanging out”.  He remains active in church and his youth group.

Taylor is a Fifth Grader at Elzie Patton Elementary.  She loves playing softball both during the Spring and Fall seasons.  She made some great defensive plays and hit a couple of homeruns.  Between seasons, she was selected to play on a travel team and played in several tournaments in the surrounding area.  She has found a new hobby in photography and enjoys snapping photos of her everyday life.  She is a very social, active, and happy “pre” pre-teen.

Annaliese is in Second Grade and only 1 week away from turning 8 years old.  She played a season of softball and was lucky enough to have her mom as a coach!  She continues to enjoy dance and takes tap, acrobatics, and ballet.  Her new interest is in basketball and began her first season in this sport two weeks ago.  She is kind hearted always looking to make other people smile and is planning to work with me in several service projects in the next year.

Tanner is in First Grade at Tulip Grove Elementary.  He is a joyful child full of energy, laughter and smiles.  He loves all sports and tries to keep up with the big kids.  He plays baseball and basketball and gives both sports his all.  He had surgery in March to correct a hole in his ear drum.  The surgery was medically not considered a success, but for all practical purposes, has done its job.  He is now able to swim without ear plugs and remains ear infection free.  There is no slowing him down and he lives every moment of life to its fullest.

As a family we have been blessed in many ways, but the year also brought its own trials.  Our city experienced a major flood where many homes were lost or damaged.  Schools were closed for several days for recovery efforts.  The Cocke’s lost a family member.  Tanner had to have major surgery.  Transitions and disappointments gave us challenges that we had to overcome.  But, through it all, we have traveled a life journey that has definitely had more ups than downs.  We look forward to a wonderful and blessed 2011!

Christmas 2010

I have decided that as the children get older the dynamics of Christmas change drastically.  Gone are the days of spending most of the morning opening presents in wonderment and the afternoon putting together toys.  This year was full of electronics, clothes, and gift cards.  And when the opening is over, off they go with headphones on to areas of the house where no adults are in sight.  However, it was a good Christmas full of smiles, laughter, and family - what more could one ask for.

Getting Started

An early New Year's Resolution is to do a better job of remembering all of the events that take place in the Fletcher - Cocke household.  With 5 children running around, I seem to lose track of the ups and downs of our life.  So here's to the beginning of a new year - 2011 (which for me will begin with a reflection on the year 2010)