Today My Son Moved Out

...of his little brother's room.

...across the hall!

He's 9.  And tomorrow will be the first day of fifth grade.  This afternoon, our son made a random announcement, "I want to move!... To my own room!"

Really?  Ok... so as I wonder where the fear of noises in the night and of the sound of wind went that prompted him to share a room with his brother 15 months younger, I begin to calculate  how to coordinate such a move with not just clothes, but also all his worldly belongings.

To my surprise, he tells me he really only needs his laptop, earphones, and of course, his Yamaha Keyboard.   Duh Mom!  Right?

Okay.  I know.  So he hasn't technically moved "out of the house" yet.  Sure, we've been through this already with his older sister, now 23 and living on her own.  But as we said our prayers at bedtime this evening in his "new" room, he chatters away about how excited he is to meet  his new teacher, how grown up he feels as a fifth grader, how much he loves his new Minecraft tee shirt from Kohl's,... I am picturing my two little boys that only hours ago shared a bedroom.

The endless hours of Beyblades, clutter of all things boys everywhere, piles of dirty underwear, jumping beds across the room, giggles about fart jokes, episodes of TMNT, and the hysterical nightly naked butt shaking.

From my child that once told us that he planned to go to college online in order to enjoy the comforts of home, kinda makes me wonder what to expect next.  Do you know what I mean?  As moms, we will get all kinds of calls/texts from our children.  Don't we?  Whether it is "Mom! I got all A's," "Mom, I got my best running time!" "Mom, can Ben sleep over?"...  or...  when it gradually becomes...  "Mom!  I met a girl!" "Mom, we finally set a date!"  "Mom... my boyfriend crashed my car.  We're ok!"  "Mom... can you pick me up early?"  to, eventually things like "Mom... I joined the military; I'm moving to Chicago; I need a loan; I'm pregnant..."

It all starts with a move across the hall.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."  Proverbs 3:5-6

O-mazing!

This week on Moms of Faith:

http://momsoffaith.com/2012/09/an-o-mazing-weekend/

Here we are:

Surviving Tropical Storm ISAAC

http://momsoffaith.com/2012/08/six-rs-to-storm-survival-for-tropical-storm-isaac/
We're in survival mode here at the Hott House.  Yes.  Even for a storm unlikely to affect us here in the hills.  Images like this on tv can send Levi into hysterics.  (Btw, this is Tropical Storm Isaac's actual path... no where near us!)

The Hott brothers get so anxious about the least little change in the weather!  Do your children react this way?  Or, are mine the only ones having tummy aches every time the sun disappears behind a cloud or a tree begins to bend in the breeze??????

Sharing "Six R's to Surviving Storms" with you all today in my column.  Please pass along and let me know if you have any children secrets to storm survival.  And, remember to pray for those in Isaac's path.
http://momsoffaith.com/2012/08/six-rs-to-storm-survival-for-tropical-storm-isaac/
love, a

Back-to-School Blues

No one seemed to be singing the blues at our house today!  It was, thankfully, a pretty smooth send-off.  How did it go for you?  The boys are sporting their new Nike sneakers.  Violet got up early to "wand" her hair.  Me?  Well, I'm watching anything but Adventure Time while doing laundry... "loads of fun"!  What about you?

Guess this mom is the only one with the Back-to-School Blues! See today's column "Hott Flashes" for more:
http://momsoffaith.com/2012/08/do-you-have-the-back-to-school-blues/

Love Thy Neighbor

Still having a hard time comprehending some recent happenings over here in the W. Va. hills!  Have you ever encountered anything like it?  Please see today's "Hott Flashes" on Moms of Faith here:
http://momsoffaith.com/2012/08/love-thy-neighbor/
And... please share my prayer concern.  Thank you, dear God, for your love and protection.  Please help me to be an example of your kindness by showing love, not matter what.  Amen.

“... ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”  
– Matthew 22:37-39

Another Stranger in the Supermarket

Do you ever get to grocery shop alone or are your children always along for the fun?  See what happened to me in Food Lion the other day when I met a "stranger" in Aisle 4!

Link to today's column "Hott Flashes" on Moms of Faith is here:
http://momsoffaith.com/2012/07/strangers-in-the-supermarket/

Please link to your friends!  Thanks for listening to "my story"...
love, a

153 Say What?

http://momsoffaith.com/2012/07/153/

Find out what "153" means on this week's column Hott Flashes!  It could have been the number of lightening flashes from Friday's crazy storm; but it's not.  153 actually has nothing at all to do with the storm. LOL!
Praying you all are safe and find your blessing from "153,"  -- that "no matter where you are, trust God."

Especially in the middle of a major storm.
http://momsoffaith.com/2012/07/153/

I Am Optimus Mom!

Leader of the AutoHotts!  LOL.... That continues to crack me up!

For today's column on Hott Flashes, chick here:
http://momsoffaith.com/2012/06/i-am-optimus-mom-leader-of-the-autohotts/

"What If When We Get to Heaven Everything Is Made of Lego's?...Help Me Answer the Hard Questions!

http://momsoffaith.com/2012/06/what-if-when-we-get-to-heaven-everything-is-made-of-legos/
"Mom, Will There Be Lego's in Heaven?"
After searching the Bible from Genesis to Revelations, I could not find one single reference to the favorite pastime of my 7 and 8 year old boys:  Lego's.  Not a notion anywhere.  Listen in to our conversation in this week's "Hott Flashes" post, "What if when we get to heaven, everything is made of Lego's!"

http://momsoffaith.com/2012/06/what-if-when-we-get-to-heaven-everything-is-made-of-legos/
Any suggestions to answer some of these questions?  Let me know.  This mom sure could use some help.

love, a

Three, Two, One, Let It Rip! An Epic Beyblade Summer

http://momsoffaith.com/2012/06/when-the-nos-knows/
Randomly from the back of our hottmobile (aka Chevy Suburban Tank), our 7 and 8 year old boys will errupt in a song that I am certain can be heard across town, the Beyblade Metal Fusion Theme!  Often, they correct this not-so-cool "hott" mom whenever I attempt to chime in with the wrong words.  And, add another boy in the back (mostly Ben or Chago), and we have an "epic" chorus of Beyblade fans!  

Are you wondering "What's a Beyblade?"  Well, come on over!  We have them EVerywhere!  Some all the way from Japan!  Today's column on "Hott Flashes" shares just how obsessed our boys are with what is, essentially, a modern day spinning top.  Go figure.  http://momsoffaith.com/2012/06/when-the-nos-knows/

Ready for an epic battle?  Here is the Metal Masters theme song.  Now you can join in too.  (And in case you were wondering, Isaac wants me to add "Beyblade has it's own tv show!  New episodes are Saturday mornings!)

Beyblade Beyblade Let it rip.

Lets fight an epic battle.

face off and spin the metal.

no time for doubt now no place for backing down.

Beyblade Beyblade let it rip.

Beyblade Beyblade let it rip.

Spin out your bey now bring on the power.

Right to the top yeah.

Were never giving up.

Here comes Here comes.

Metal Masters.

Lets go beyblade let it rip.

Metal Masters let it rip.

Beyblade Beyblade let it rip.

This is it get a grip.

Let it rip.

I must admit, my favorite part is when the boys explode in a fit of giggles

over the "Let it rip!" line.... you can only imagine what they are thinking!

Wai-yai-yai-a-a-aiting!

http://momsoffaith.com/2011/12/waiting-for-christmas/ 
Today on Hott Flashes:  Waiting is so hard sometimes!  What is the hardest thing you've ever waited on?  How are your children handling the wait for Christmas?  Mine are NUTS!

Please share today's post.  My blog journal is  nearing 20,000 hits!  Can you believe it?  Hoping to get there before 2012.  Thanks so much for sharing these stories with me this year.  It is my hope that you find a small giggle or a grin as you hear about my crazy times here in the WV hills.  Merry Christmas to all!

love, a

Empty Eggs!

This story published today on Moms of Faith... please check it out! Hope you enjoy it; let me know!
http://momsoffaith.com/columns/hott-flashes/empty-eggs/
love, a

Dear Mom:

In the fall of 1984, I walked in to the dark sorority room of Holloway Hall on the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan College.  I was barely 19 years old and I was about to pledge the sisterhood of a group of girls:  Zeta Tau Alpha.  In a dimly lit ceremony, I joined a group of young women for what turned out to be too short a time.

Little did I know then, that nearly 28 years later I would be standing in the exact same room, once again lit only by candles, preparing for yet another sorority ceremony.  This time, our baby girl - just barely 21 years old and only moments after receiving her hood, MBA, and BS degrees (magma cum laude), would present me with the Zeta Mother's Pin and...  the following letter:

"Mom,

People always ask me, "Is that your mom?!" 

I have come to get used to this question.  Whether you are dressed in a crazy costume for the kids at church, e-mailing your blog to all my friends, or telling the President (of Wesleyan College) my life story -- your energy and positive attitude always bring people together -- and leave them wondering who you belong to!

I don't mean to make it sound so terrible!  I am always proud to say, "That's my mom."  When you amaze all those who know you with your strength and grace when faced with life's hardest struggles.  I would like to tell you that I am proud to be your daughter; I am proud you are my mom.

Graduation has made me think about what I want to do and who I want to be in this new life.  I want to be just like my mom.  I admire so much your approach to adversity with a strong trust in God and confidence; I admire how your writing is an inspiration and blessing to everyone.  I have always looked up to you, and today - like any other day, I am proud to be your daughter!"

You know what...  I realize that I am not the most organized mom around; I normally carry a 100 lb bag full of snacks, books, DS games, toys, crayons, etc; I probably should have had my hair cut months ago (at least colored, right?); if given a choice, I would eat chocolate all day; I tend to laugh a jokes a little late... and loud; and my clothes are mostly Caity's hand-me-downs. 

But hey...  this day, Caity's college graduation AND Mother's Day, well... (sniffle, sniffle)...  well, you know what I mean,... right?

".....28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her."  Proverbs 31