Happy 14th Birthday!

 I had a moment on this Saturday evening to add a little updated post on what has been going on in the last few days.  

First off, yesterday our Brianna turned 14 years old.  It was a simple day, most of which was spent at home aside from a girls trip to the mall in the morning, cross-country practice in the afternoon and Taco Bell for dinner.  Yes, she picked Taco Bell.  She had also asked to get her hair highlighted, which we did a few days earlier.  It's really hard to tell in these pictures but she does have some blonde added to her  hair.  

What can I say about Brianna?  Well, while she may be small in stature she has a pretty big personality.  Or should I say attitude?  Oh my!  She's definitely been my greatest challenge and it's probably because in a lot of ways she's just like me.  That's not to say I don't enjoy being around her.  She makes a great shopping buddy and doesn't mind snuggling up with me to watch something on television.  I'm envious of her in many ways because she isn't afraid of being herself and also stands her ground when it comes to her belief in God.  While some girls are into all the popular things she's quite content in her own style.  

Today we packed a picnic lunch and met my parents at a park near their house.  It was a nice few hours with my parents.  I failed to snap a picture of them but I did take a picture of someone we adopted for the afternoon.  

My son kept feeding him chips and he enjoyed every bite.  I'm not quite sure if squirrels can have potato chips but this little buddy was enjoying the feast.  When my parents left we headed to the mall next to the park in an attempt to do some last minute back to school shopping.  My children are so difficult to shop with because they can't seem to find anything they like.  My daughter did leave with a few new tops.  

Now we are home and going to enjoy the rest of the evening relaxing.  Nothing beats being at home.  Tomorrow will be church and getting things ready for the first day of school on Monday.  I have another week before I start back at my job.  I'm trying to hang onto the last moments of summer vacation we have left.  

One More Week

Well, we have made it to the last week of summer vacation.  Cross country practice has officially started for the kids and also band rehearsals.  If you haven't noticed my kids like to be busy.  Both of their school schedules came today and they seem eager to start the year.  I get my van schedule on Thursday during my meeting.  Tonight my daughter goes in for high school orientation.  It's all happening so fast.  

The week will end with my daughter's 14th birthday.  Then will be my dad's 78th birthday over the weekend so I'm planning some things for him.  On Saturday my oldest sister and her husband came to visit them from New York so I went over to see them.  It was nice to see them but it's also not easy.  My family are loud, vulgar, judgmental and have views about things that are oppositive of mine.  This makes it difficult being around them but I do try.  I leave my parents' house with a tension headache and regret of not standing up for myself.  All I want is peace.  I no longer want to focus on the past, as my father always seems to do, and I just want to live a life honoring God and focusing on my own little family, which already has it's own little challenges.  

With the school year beginning will come a set routine again.  Every day will be busy and I'll be glad to start making money again.  I'm going to embrace these last few slower paced days and try not to think too much about what's to come.  The introverted me got used to not having a routine.  

I'll end with the picture I took this morning of another butterfly on my lavender butterfly bush.  I'm not sure it's true but I heard the Monarchs will soon be extinct.  I hope not.  We need more of this beauty in the world.  

Summer With A Purpose

 Good morning, friends!

We are in the final stretch of summer vacation and in two weeks my kids will be back to school.  Summer started off slow and I was embracing how much time we had and then, just like that, we are in the last two weeks and everything seems to be hitting us at once.  My kids are at band camp this week; which means 10 hours each day of learning footwork and music under the blistering sun.  It's day 3 and my son is ready to be done.  My daughter seems to be enjoying it.  I'm glad they are doing something together.  As they are at school I'm attempting to get as much housework done as possible.  Yesterday I was supposed to have my mammogram but it was cancelled and I need to reschedule.  Ugh!  I was really hoping to get that over with.  So, once I get my work schedule for the school van I'll proceed with rescheduling so it doesn't interfere with when I'm supposed to be on the road.  Today I have to pick my son up from band camp and take him to another location for pictures the newspaper is taking for cross country and then back to band camp.  My parents wanted to stop by after.  

It's been busy!  Too busy!

Next Monday my daughter goes in for freshman orientation and they both will have the official start of cross country practice every day.  Then the following week is back to school.  Summer vacation went by in a blur but I'm thankful for this time we've been able to kick back and relax.  We had one vacation to the beach, a very special concert in Hershey and last Saturday took a trip to Baltimore to watch the Savannah Bananas play some baseball.  Have you ever heard of the Savanna Bananas?  I'd say, they are like the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball.  A lot of dancing, back flip catches and even one guy who pitches on stilts.  If only all baseball was that entertaining!

A big part of this summer was watching as my children's faith grew immensity.  After they spent one week in June at church camp I have noticed a big change in their commitment to God.  My son has been spending every night before bed reading Scripture and taking notes.  He feels as though God is preparing him for some type of ministry.  Our church developed a calendar filled with events for this summer and called it Summer With a Purpose.  I definitely do believe our summer did have purpose when it came to drawing closer to God.  I'm grateful for that.  

On This Date

 12 years ago!  Can we please go back?  When my kids were little and parenting for me was fresh.  My kids were easy going and went along with everything, cheerfully embracing every experience with excited eyes and big smiles.  

Sandy Point Beach, Maryland.  Laughing as the waves from the Chesapeake Bay crashed onto their feet.  The thrill of how they can turn sand into sandcastles and other fun shapes.  Picking up seashells as if they found treasure.  Oh, yes, take me back to simpler days.  

One thing I love about Facebook is the "Memories" feature where I can see what I posted in previous years.  

That long bridge you see in the background is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.  We went across that a few weeks ago on our way to Chincoteague, Virginia.  4 miles of my husband having his hands tightly embracing the wheel as we silently prayed our way to safety.  I'd say it's much better to look at from afar than to be on.  Whew!

I laughed, smiled and then felt a lot of aching and longing for those days back when looking at these pictures.