We did it!!! 4th to 1st baby!!!

2009 Dunham Park Rookie Cubs CHAMPIONS!!!

Sunday morning was exciting! If you read my earlier blog you learned that we, the Rookie Cubs, came from 4th place and beat the 1st place team, the Diamondbacks. It was an exciting game. We were so excited to be apart of the Championship game. Jason, of course, had church to tend to so it was nice that all the dad's pitched in to help out. Our family attended Willow, a church nearby that has a Saturday night service, the night before so that John and I had time to worship God. So Jason came dressed in his suit and baseball tie to coach the beginning of the game. Our friend Kim picked the girls up and took them to church AND took over children's church for me! Thank you Kim! We kept texting him throughout the service to keep him updated on how we were doing. Although, no one thought to let him know which number we were so later we found out he knew the score, but didn't know if we were on top the whole time. 8-) The kids did a great job and we came out and won it 21-8. These kids worked so hard all year for this and we were so proud of them. We had a great picnic for all the teams in the association afterwards. It was a lot of fun! Below are some pictures and video of our fun times! Enjoy!! ***if you want to turn th e music off during the videos, scroll down to the bottom of the page and pause the music.***

Below: John is getting ready for the game. Isn't he cute? That toothless smile gets me all the time!

John plays in right field. This is him in his ready stance ready to get any ball that comes his way!

After we won, a celebration isn't complete without the toss of the hats up in the air! Go Cubs!

Someone was nice enough to make the beautiful cookies for all the boys after the game. I had to get a shot of them.

I ran a marathon in my heart

Yesterday, our rookie baseball team, The Cubs, played the first place Diamondbacks for a chance to play in the Championship game on Sunday. This is the highlight of the Little League season and everyone plays for a chances to participate in the fun event! This was more than just a game to our team. The D-backs have been a hard team all year, and in more ways than one. The coach on the other team has been a very difficult one, for families, fans, team players, umpires and other coaches. I can't go into all the details, but let's just say that Jason had to send an email out to our parents to stop responding to his antics. Yesterday, I am proud to say the parents listened and just encouraged the boys to have FUN and play with great SPORTSMANSHIP. And they did. And they were winning 12 to 7 in the 5th inning (we only play 6). In the bottom of the 6th inning the Diamondbacks came back to 12-11 with two outs. We were fumbling the ball all of a sudden and let them catch up that close. It was intense. The parents were lining the fence with anticipation. My heart LITERALLY ran a marathon. Who knew little league games were so intense??? **smile** Thanks Dad for getting me into baseball so much! Coaches and other teams that were practicing at a near by field heard we were beating the D-backs and ended practice, hopped on their bikes to come see the action. The poor boys on the field must have been overcome with excitement. With the tying run at second and the winning run on first, the batter hit the ball. Our pitcher ran up, you should see this kid, he is so tiny, but has gotten really good this season, and HE CAUGHT IT!!!! It was the third out. All of us looked at each other, thinking, did we win it? Did we really win it?? The boys were so excited!!! We had not beat this team all year! Well, there was the one that we were winning against them 17-7 and in the fourth it started to storm and we had to end it and replay another time, which we lost (we had to start the game 0-0). We ended the game with a water balloon toss to see who got the game ball. Everyone had already gotten one for the season. So the boys took the left over water balloons and soaked Jason, who gave a pretty good fight! So off we go to our Championship game...stay tuned for some more fun!!

Check out my sisters cool Bridal Shower Online!

My twin sister, Kristyn, and I wanted to have a bridal shower for our younger sister Leslie, but all her friends live all over the country. She is a very popular girl! Most of the people that could make it for the wedding could only stay for the day before and the day of the wedding. When in there are we to have a bridal shower??? Situation resolved...our own online bridal shower. You can see pictures of all that is going on, polls, check out the registry, etc. We did have a game, but it seemed to be blocking the system. So check it out! You are invited to come to Luke and Leslie's Wedding Shower....www.leslieandlukewedding.blogspot.com

Meet Lota

Lota is eleven years old and lives in the Musele community of Zambia. He says he wants to be a doctor when he grows up, so that people may have life. In Zambia, the average life expectancy is 37 years. 37! Like many communities in Zambia, Musele feels the impact of poverty and the AIDS pandemic on a daily basis. But Lota has hope for his family and community. Because of help from World Vision, Lota now attends school and receives proper health care. His family and entire community benefit from things like clean water wells and AIDS education. Many children like Lota live in desperate situations, but they are not without hope. As you tie your shoes this week, think about Lota and children like him, and remember to pray for him and World Vision as they seek to serve his community.

She is why I am running! Check out my website: www.firstgiving.com/tplatt on how you can help Lota and others like her out!

My plan is to have a list of 13 individuals that I will be running for. Each mile I will be praying for those individuals while I am running. Lota will be my mile 1. Check out my donate box to the right if you would like to support Lota and my mile 1 of the race. If you can't suppose financially, please pray for her while I run, Sunday, August 2nd! Thanks!!

Someone has reminded us...

So for those of you who read my blog from a couple of days ago: http://theplatt6.blogspot.com/2009/06/constant-pulling.html
this little article on another blog might be of some comfort to you.
It was encouraging to me, and I wanted to share it with you. I have come across this blog before in searching another topic and found it amazing. I haven't checked back on it for a while, until today when my friend Jennifer sent me to it. I think I just might have to add it to my link list as I have really come to find it a refreshing place and a encouraging one as well. Check out this cool ariticle:
http://blog.bravewriter.com/2009/06/15/the-crush-of-young-kids/

The CONSTANT pulling

"Mom, are we stressing you out?"
"Why," I asked.
"Because you did that stressful sigh you do when you are stressed out."

It was then that I realized, they can really tell.
They know, as much as I try to hide it, they know.
But, do they really know?
No.
They think it is them, I finally realized.
But, it really isn't.
Yes, I get stressed at them, but it really isn't them, it is the CONSTANT PULLING of everything else BESIDES them that is overwhelming. And sadly, it is CONSTANT.
Talk with the moms or play with the kids at the park?
Clean the house or read a couple of books to the kids on the couch?
Blog for two minutes or wash those dishes that need washing?
Listen to the kids for a second or answer the phone that is ringing?

Constant, constant pulling...but who wins?
Who actually wins, when what is stressing you out is everything pulling you from your kids, but your kids think it is them?
This is my new thing that I am working on...
So if you don't see a post for a while, or just a short one....the pulling has been hard and the others have won. Which in this case, is it so bad that you are the loser...I think not!

Life is an adventure...

Little did we know Monday night that the next few days would be full of fun and adventure. We were expecting fun, but didn't realize just how much fun, we as a family, would have. It all started with this little thing right HERE6

Yes, this thing 5decided to act like a uncontrollable robot. I still don't know how we made it to the service station. I am thinking God probably had something to do with it!

We knew that we were suppose to leave Tuesday to head to MI for my father-in-law's 65th birthday celebration. LONG STORY SHORT our car was far from okay ($1,000 computer malfunction to be exact), so the only way to get there was to get tickets on AMTRAK (thanks to the help of my in-laws). So an hour before we were suppose to head out in the car, I was selecting what I could fit in one suitcase and trying to figure out how to get the kids and I downtown to meet Jason (who was working down there). Thankfully, a neighbor volunteered to take us to the 'L' station, but at the last second decided to drive us all the way down to Union Station (thanks Steve!!).

(above): the kids and I waiting for Jason to meet us at the station. Since our neighbor saved us the expense of us on the train, we decided to get a little treat.

(below): The kids in the Grand Hall...it reminds me of My Best Friend's Wedding...one of my favorites.
We got on the train and enjoyed a fun trip. It has been John's dream to ride on the Amtrak train, so he was elated!

Below: passing the time reading all the places Amtrak can take you!

We finally made it to Michigan and had a great time meeting some new cousins we haven't met before. Eli, 4, who wouldn't get in the picture, totally looked up to John and wanted to do everything that he did. He kept saying, "Where's my friend John?" John at first wasn't sure about it, but took it in stride and made Eli feel like a "big boy".

Below: (lft to Rt) Wes, John, Jason and "Uncle" Bill (Wes' college friend)

After cake and celebrations, Jason wanted to take his dad on a walk along the beach. So we went to catch the sunset at Silver Beach.

below: Sharon and Wes at the pier

The kids got to enjoy a "dip" in the water.

The next morning we headed to the train station in the pouring rain. Here is our train pulling into the station. This was at 9:30 Eastern time (8:30 Central). Our train was suppose to get in at 10:30 Central...little did we know...

...that this was not to be true...

below: enjoying some coloring

The train went through Flash Flood Warnings the whole way, which meant going 15 miles an hour the whole way. Our two hour trip turn into a 5 1/2 hour one!

(above) to pass the time I was trying my artistic hand at drawing a portrait of them. As you can see I did not take a picture of it and put it on here! 8-)

(above) After a 3 1/2 hour delay, total 5 1/2 hour tour, the kids get excited to see Union Station! ***There is no picture of the 3 block run the kids had to do in the pouring rain, and the train ride***

(above) Riding on the bus on our way home.

(below) The final 1/4 mile walk home from the bus stop.
Notice the beige jacket that Kiley is wearing, a man on the 'L' saw that my kids were cold and GAVE us his jacket so they wouldn't get sick. It was a great example to my kids of selflessness.

It was a crazy adventure for us, but the kids were AMAZING and for the most part had great smiles on their faces. I was impressed at the fact that John did not did not complain once, and that even though Emily did not want to run in the rain, she did it and kept going because she knew she had to. I loved that Emily took hold of Karli's hand and encouraged her when Karli thought she couldn't go any further. I loved that Karli kept going even though she wanted to give up. I was excited to see Kiley really push hard through the fact she didn't want to trudge that last quarter mile, but did. I congratulated and encouraged the kids that people on the train praised the kids for handling themselves better than some of the grown-ups. I thank God for the situation to teach the kids to be content no matter what the circumstances and that sometimes things are thrown at us in life the we CAN'T STAND, but we have to learn to roll with the punches. It was a great chance for Jason and I to do nothing for five hours but hang out with our kids. To see the selflessness of the man on the train and what an example he was to the kids and I and how I hope that I am that example of love to others I met during my day. This was a crazy throw in our schedule, but such a blessing in so many ways. May I use this trip to continue to learn how to be patient, learn to love without strings and to enjoy each curve ball that is thrown my way. Live is a great adventure I am glad to be a part of!

Kids say the darnest things

My kids have been saying some of the cutest things lately, which I will have to write more later. But, I had to write what Emily said on our ride on Amtrak. We had pulled out of the station and were looking at the cars on the highway. As we were riding Emily turned to us and asked, "Are we on the highway, yet?" I just couldn't help but laugh. They always ask if we have gotten to the highway when we are driving. So we reminder her that we were on the train and that trains don't go on the highway. She just smiled and giggled and said, "oh". I love the way their minds think.

They have been promoted!

Here are a few pictures from out graduation/promotion ceremony with TEACH, our homeschool group! I am so proud of the kids they worked so hard!

Our promoted kids! (above)

Below are our high school (dark blue) and 8th grade gradutes (light blue)

My dancing girls

Here is one of the dances that the girls did through a local park district. They loved Mr. Jay, their teacher. We were so excited that Karli actually got up and danced. Last year she just stood there. We think it is because she has such great big sisters to encourage her on. Enjoy! (please note that viewing it here on the website, it cuts Karli off from time to time, don't worry she is actually in full screen on our camera. 8-))