Could it be???

The amazing truly happened last weekend. We went to Arroyo Grande, after our crazy week, and Logan quizzed in the District Finals. His coach has been telling me all year that sometimes God just smiles and blesses even when we don't understand. In ways, this happened the weekend before at the quiz in Fresno. Two teams that had not done well all year, but had the potential, came away with 2nd and 3rd - however, it wasn't our team. So, here we are at our District Finals wondering if we could possibly place within the top three and be headed to Nationals. It is NOT that I didn't think they could do it. It was more a matter of if the kids thought they could do it.

The first quiz goes fine, we win by an okay margin. Then the kids realize they have to quiz against Sacramento next - the top team of the year. You could see the kids squirm and start to question their abilities. Then, they got up there and quizzed. Logan did okay, but it definitely wasn't his best quiz. But, his teammates did awesome and they won. I was pacing outside praying, that God would smile on them and help them do well. I always wonder how God is going to answer that prayer because I know the Moms from the other team are praying the same thing. So, I decided to pray for peace and calmness for the kids. They pulled off the win - and the kids were stoked!!!! They could not believe they had beat Sacramento. The kids were so proud of themselves. Then, they realized they were guaranteed Third Place - a spot at Nationals in Branson, MO. We kept telling Logan, don't quit at that - you guys can take First.

The next morning, we were up against Loomis. A team that has beat us everytime except once. Unfortunately, we lost. But, the kids weren't discouraged. I could tell Logan was really nervous and had a hard time pulling answers and verses out that I knew he knew like the back of his hand (or like the football stats in December!). His coach and one of the senior quizzers, took the kids out and drilled them for about 30 minutes. When they came out, the senior quizzer looked at me and said "We are taking first. Those kids got it figured out!!" That was exciting, but somehow Logan's nerves needed to get under control. The only thing to do, was pray.

We had to sit through a couple quizzes to find out who we were up against next, and wouldn't you know it...it was Sacramento (again!). Yikes....I talked to Logan and he said he was going to spend a few seconds praying right before the quiz on his own, asking God for a clear mind, peace in his heart and a calm spirit. As Logan sat down, I saw him put his head in his hands. He looked up and had a glow on his face like he knew everything was going to be okay. They ended up winning the quiz and going into the championship round.

Then they had to quiz against, you guessed it...Loomis!! And, in order to get first they had to beat them twice. Their first quiz was awesome, Logan quizzed out - meaning he got six correct. They beat Loomis and as Phil would say "got them off their game!". It was amazing. Then they had to switch sides of the table and quiz again. And wouldn't you know it, the computers went down. Then everything started working again, except the big monitor that showed the score to everyone watching. That stunk! So, I had to sit their without knowing the official score. After question #12 (of a total of 15), they called a time out and I went to a place where I could see the score. All that was left were 3 questions, each worth 30 points. After looking at the score, I realized all they needed was one 30 point question to clinch it. I went back to the back of the church. The question was read, Logan interrupted, I said "Dear Jesus, help him!!!!!" and he nailed it. CORRECT!!! The quiz was won and they got FIRST PLACE.....Absolutely amazing.

It was a perfect end (or kind of end since now we need to keep on going since we are headed to Branson) to a difficult year. Besides us moving and having to find a team for Logan to quiz with, he has struggled a bit more and has gotten more questions wrong than he did last year. In some ways, that is just growing pains but it has still been hard on him. But God truly did smile on them. It is like we have told Logan all year, you do your best and leave the rest up to God.

So, we are now off to figure out how to pay for our trip to Branson....But, as I told Phil, God saw fit to let them qualify that means He is going to help us get there!!

How Can This Be?

I keep asking myself this question today. It just can't be possible. How in the world could my youngest child, my baby, the last added blessing to our family be turning five tomorrow. No longer will she have to hide fingers when she shows her age. Now, when Nana calls, she can say "Hi(gh) Five!!". Now I have three "school-aged" children. Okay, okay, I know, I am very sentimental. But, it is so hard for me to believe it is here. When little Mariah was born, I thought I would never get another full nights sleep, never quit changing diapers, never quit searching for a pacifier. But, here I am, sleeping all night (unless I just feel the need to check on them and watch them sleep - they are so angelic), diapers have been GONE for a few years, and the pacifier left the family with the Sanipac Truck a couple years ago...


Oh, how we remember those first few weeks of her life. I wasn't allowed to lift anything heavier than my newborn babe. Did somebody forget to tell them that regardless of the fact that I had a c-section, I also had a 20 month old that still slept in a crib, a husband that worked 14 hours a day and was long gone before the 20 month old needed lifted out of her bed (and we are firm believers in "never wake a sleeping baby" especially if it is at 5:30am)? Good thing for a great 4 year old brother that helped me pull his little sister (seriously!) out of her crib each day...Good thing the 20 month old loved her bed enough to get in it when I told her it was nap time.


Then the school year started and we began our homeschooling career. I felt the need to be "super homeschool mom" of the year so I put Logan in a homeschool enrichment program - to make sure he was getting all the socialization he needed (I have sense thrown that philosophy right out the window, trust me...my children are not lacking in the social category!). That meant running around during the late morning hours taking Logan to Tae Kwon Do, art class and a geography class. All this while Mariah sweetly sucked her pacifier and held her blanky while seated in her car seat and Victoria sat on my lap (or any other mom's lap) with her thumb firmly planted in her mouth. While I felt like I was juggling many things that were much bigger than me.


Mariah was the most even-tempered baby I could ask for. Life was fine as long as she knew where I was...and I was always close by! Even despite her severe milk allergy and all its complications, an ugly, infected thing on her tear duct, and an inverted eyelid that caused her eyes to tear constantly (and eventually required surgery), she just went with the flow. She will be known for her floppy hat and sunglasses because this was the only way she could go outside without crying because her eye hurt!!


So, as I sit and reflect on how quickly five years can go by, I start to cry because I know the next five years will go just as fast - if not faster - and then she will be ten!! But, I am not going to go there today...

Today, I will enjoy having a four year old for the last time. And know that God knew we needed her and knew how much joy and happiness she would bring to our family. I will drool over her precious cheeks that I just want to suck on. I will remember the many, many nights we slept in the recliner together because I was too exhausted to get myself up to put us both to bed. I will cherish every moment when she wants to crawl in my lap and just cuddle. I will smile when I think of all the adults that adore her because of her many conversations she has started with them. I will listen to her sweet voice without getting impatient. I will watch her run off as fast as she can to keep up with her siblings and I will hold her tight when she comes running inside crying because they didn't wait for her....


Have a great day today Mariah....tomorrow you will be FIVE!!

Are We Crazy?

This week kicks off "The Swank's Craziest Two Weeks". I am really not sure if we are crazy or just over-indulgent parents. Everyone will have their opinion, I am sure. But Phil and I continue to do the best we can with the knowledge, wisdom and long-suffering the Lord grants us. Here is how it goes....

Thursday is sweet Mariah's 5th birthday...more on that in my next blog. I am not going there right now or tears will spring and never end until I need to ask my mom for another new keyboard.

Friday we leave for Fresno for District finals with the WPF organization. We had decided, nope not going there. No money, no time, tired, exhausted, we are headed for Oregon for Phil's meetings the next week, UPC finals are the following weekend, what will do for Mariah's birthday, etc., etc. Then the coach..."this is a great practice quiz for UPC District Finals" (very confusing about the two different organizations, but I don't have time for it right now!). Then Logan..."I really want to go Mom. I just want to quiz." Then my memory...the only thing my son cared about when we moved was that he could Bible Quiz (ouch - that hurts). More memory...when we moved Phil and I committed to Bible Quizzing being a priority for our family (our poor girls!!). Phil has meetings in Bend on Monday and Tuesday...when will we head to Oregon? The struggle is on and the decision is this....

We head to Fresno for Friday and Sat. Come home Saturday night and head to Oregon EARLY Sunday morning. Arrive at Mom and Dad's in time to unpack the car, shower, and dress for church. Then, Papa's Pizza after church for the kids to play and Mariah to get her wish for her birthday..."I want to go to Papa's Pizza with my friends". Who would have thought she would really get to do that when we talked about her birthday several months ago? You see, a couple months ago, I told Phil - no you go to Oregon by yourself the kids and I will stay home. Then the memories...Mariah could be with her friends a few days after her birthday. Then Logan and Victoria...we want to go see our cousins. The common sense mom...this is ridiculous, we can't keep running back to Oregon, when will we EVER finish school, when will Logan study for District Finals the next weekend. And the non-common sense dad...the company is paying, who cares about all that, let's go see our family and pick up your sewing machine from mom. UUUUGGGGGHHHHH!!!

We will arrive home from Oregon LATE Tuesday night and run to Concord the next few days for quiz practice. Then up that Friday morning to head to Arroyo Grande for UPC District Finals. Yikes....

So, when it is all said and done, maybe we are overindulgent parents. But, as our Pastor said, the kids are only young once and now is the time to make memories. There will be a day when we will be sitting at home after dinner and the house will be VERY quiet....Oh, Lord, please don't let that happen too soon. I often pray for time to slow a bit so we can enjoy the fact that we are blessed with three of the most wonderful children in the world and that I have the privilege of staying home with them teaching, training and molding them in hopes that they will become adults who love the Lord thy God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. Over-indulgent or not, we are doing it for our kids - and how could we not?