Not really a photo-shoot

Paige has been busily babysitting this summer. She has been kept busy 2-3 days a week by the Albrechts. Our whole family is just crazy about these two little ones. Ryan is a whopping 1-year-old and Taylor is (I believe) around 6 months.

Anyhow, I can't resist taking pictures of them. Actually, neither can Paige. She is always taking her camera over to Albrechts to shoot these kids. Well, they were outside with mom and dad and I had to run over. I will stop short of saying it was a photo-shoot. That is reserved for actual "photographers", but I did love my subjects!

My Love/Hate Relationship

I, Valerie Blackburn have a love/hate relationship with sports.

I love, love, love to watch my kids play sports. I think it is soooo important that kids be in physical activity. Game playing is awesome and learning to work and get along with other kids is always a major plus.

I am not the most athletic person and I was raised in a family of mostly girls, so maybe that taints my view. But I have started to notice that in ALL of my kids sports activities there is just some WRONG things going on. From Austin's age on down.

Why, when your child is 7 years old, do parents have to scream at their child playing coach-pitch (as if it was major league baseball)? Why do kids have to insult their team members or tell them how they should be playing? Why do some parents think its the ultimate that their kids "get a sports scholarship"? Why can't kids just play? Why does it always have to be such a big deal?

I had to get that off my chest! With that being said...I have posted some pictures of Trent at coach-pitch. I don't see us signing with the Indians anytime soon. Okay, I love this kid more than air but he runs like cement blocks are tied to his feet. We plan on taking him to the pediatric podiatrist soon (flat feet) to have arches made to see if that will help with his foot pain, etc. The good news is....if heart makes up for ability, this kids will play in the major leagues. He loves baseball and he is busy collecting cards and memorizing stats. Love his brain....

Father's Day....

Father's Day has come and gone and I didn't get to see my dad. UGH! I hate going back and forth between families for holidays and this one really bugged me. So, I plan on making it up to you dad. Perhaps when you return from Colorado?

Anyways, the Saturday evening before Father's Day I had given Austin my bank card to put gas in his tank. On Sunday, Austin, Mike and Mike's dad decide to golf for Father's Day. Mike said that at the course, Austin offered to treat "in honor of the day" and pulled out my bank card! HA! That's Austin for you! Anyhow, Mike was thrilled because he beat both his father and his son.

You will see by the picture that Mike also likes to rub in his victories! I wanted to take a photo of him with his father and he had to sneak in the score card! That is why my father in law is laughing so hard!

Enjoy your day!

Only In Avon..............

Well, here you have it. Only in Avon can you attend the Duck Tape Festival. AND only in Avon can you attend the Duck Tape Festival Parade. Yep, everything is made from Duck Tape. And we have the pictures to prove it. I know this sounds rather odd, but this little celebration can light up our neighborhood. Everyone was outside on their patios, watching the fireworks. Some had their firepits going. It was all good fun.

A few Crazies!

I don't know why, but these pictures struck me as crazy so I had to post them. Paige and her friend, Megan were so funny on the bus trip. This is their "photo shoot" showing emotions. HA!

Faith is a living and unshakable confidence. a belief in God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake. -- Martin Luther

Yep, Soccer

If anyone knows Austin, they will know he has never been too fond of soccer. At all. Ever. But magically one matures and their mind seems to expand and....**voila** soccer is now considered a sport. The guys Austin once referred to as "foot fairies" (HA!) are now team mates. And Austin, well, he is actually a decent soccer player (or foot fairy - depending on your viewpoint). He is currently playing on a team with some Lutheran West guys and will be playing on a travel team this summer, coached by the Lutheran West Men's Soccer Coach.

Please rest assured though, he WILL NOT be giving up golf in the fall in order to play soccer. His mind MAY have expanded but us Blackburn's DO have our priorities!!

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear. -- John 4:18

O-H-I-O Trip

Paige and I spent the past three days on the Ohio Trip for 7th and 8th graders. It was quite an experience. All in all, I am feeling pretty lucky to live in Ohio these days. For starters... HELLO LEBRON JAMES! I do believe the best state in the nation is home to this amazing basketball player!

We traveled to many Ohio sites, but my favorite was the State Capital. I have always loved history and politics and the State of Ohio, so I knew this would be right up my ally. We sat in on Senate in session and we were recognized on the floor of the Senate. Cool stuff. But the coolest part was meeting Senator Robert Spada. I didn't know that we were visiting Senator Spada until we boarded the bus, but I recognized the name immediately. Senator Spada was extremely instrumental in the recent signing of Ohio's Mental Health Parity Bill into law. Substitute Senate Bill 116, sponsored by Sen. Robert Spada, prohibits discrimination in group health care policies, contracts and agreements in the coverage provided for the diagnosis, care and treatment of biologically based mental illnesses. One of the specific disorders it targets is OCD. This bill has been sitting out there for about 15 years and Mr. Spada has pushed it through, making it possible for those with mental illness to afford more treatment. Perhaps they won't feel the financial push to skip filling prescriptions and seeking medical attention due to higher health care costs. Mr. Spada was very candid with me and shared that he has a son that suffers with bipolar disorder, so mental health issues are important to him. So, this week, he is my hero.

Something else that struck me on this trip, our nation's forefathers were soooo intelligent and detail oriented. Just to create the form of government that we have (including the consistution) is one thing. But when you see all the little details, it is really amazing. Did you know that when the Ohio flag and the U.S. Flag are displayed in unison (or any other state flag) that the U.S. flag must be positioned slightly higher to show respect and authority? Just a cool little detail.

Above you will also see pictures from the Ohio Caverns (cool place), Air Force Museum and COSi.

Yet, still good to be home!

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. -- Romans 10:9