Oh, not again!

 So, now there is a huge virus spreading called the Hantavirus.  I don't know much about it aside from what I hear - that this is a virus worse than Covid and there is a small chance of survival when contracted with it.  People are beginning to panic - wondering if they will get it, wondering if the government will shut us down again.  Ugh!  I hope not.  I really, really, really don't want to go through what we did 6 years ago.  

Instead of joining in on all the fear I'm just going to take the time to pray, and just like I did during Covid, Psalm 91 is great to read and pray over in a time like this.  If you'd like to join me grab your Bible or I will have it copied below.  

Psalms 91

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

"Mommy, Push Me"

 I remember hearing that voice so clearly ... 

"Mommy push me!"

My son would jump on the swing and ask me to push him.  My mind would go to thinking about all of the things I had to get done around the house or even pulling weeds while being outside.  The house has always been in need of my attention but my kids needed me too.  Even when I wanted to focus on getting things done I knew my son's need for a push on the swing was not going to last forever.  He would grow up and not have any interest in playing anymore.  So, I let the housework wait and I pushed him.  I'd listen to his sweet voice sing songs or ask me questions about life.  I would watch as that sweet little innocence moved back and forth stretching his legs into the air.  

"Make me go higher!"

Laughter would always follow.  

I looked over at the swing set the other day and began to cry as I thought of those sweet days that had quickly gone by.  The swing sits empty.  No longer being used.  No longer does anyone ask me to push them.  The housework remains the same.  The laundry, the dishes, the dust.  The weeds are continuously sprouting and the grass keeps on growing - and my kids, well, they grew too.  

Mothers of little ones, let me be the one to assure you that all of the errands and housework can wait.  Your little ones can't, because they don't stay little forever and all that is left of those precious moments is the memory.    

Weekends Go Fast

 We are here on another Monday.  The first Monday in May. May is a busy month in my household as the kids are on the last month of school and that means everything gets crammed in until the last day.  It's a busy time.  There's also my husband's birthday to look forward to and our anniversary.  Oh, let's not forget Mother's Day.  A good month ahead but a busy one.  Also, a month of doctor appointments and that's not fun but important.  

On Friday my kids were both in the last invitational of the season.  Both of them set a personal record.  My son ran a 10.08 in the 2-mile and got 5th place.  The top 6 get a medal.  We all are so proud of him.  He's also advanced to counties on Wednesday.  

My daughter came in last for the 800 but got a three second personal record.  I'm proud of her perseverance this year.  

On Saturday the guys headed up north to the college track championship so they could watch my son's future college.  They were happy to see him.  While they were gone my daughter and I enjoyed a girls day.  We went shopping and one of the things we bought were these cute ceramic ducks that we brought home and painted.  Mine is on the left and hers is on the right.  We watched a little television and she requested Taco Bell for dinner.  I love those sweet moments with her. 

On Sunday my son had his outdoor senior pictures.  A guy who graduated two years ago and ran with Matthew is in photography school so I asked if he was interested in taking his pictures.  We met up after church and I do believe the photos will turn out great.  I can't wait to see them.  We did some track photos, cross country and formal shots at his old elementary school.  

It was a fun and eventful weekend but now we're back to another week.  Today will be busy with typical Monday housework and a trip to the grocery store.  This week will be an orthodontist appointment for my son, track counties, a breakfast at the high school for all the seniors doing athletics in college, and a band concert for both kiddos.  Whew!  This is why I decided to use winter as a chance to rest.  We are entering the busy season.  

I also want to thank those of you who leave heartfelt comments in my posts.  A lot of my readers are older women who have adult children and already experienced what I am currently going through.  It's nice to hear advice and feedback from those who have had that experience.  These are the good times but also not easy.  It's bittersweet.  I enjoy who my kids are now but I miss when they were small.  The teenage years have been the toughest to go through but I do not take it for granted just how blessed I am to have this experience at all.  You should also expect that in these next weeks I will be very sentimental and a bit down in the dumps.  Going from an expectant mother to the mother of a high school graduate happens far too quickly.  The days are long but the years are short, as they say.  

May Is Here

 May is here!  The countdown to the last day of school is on.  Graduation day is coming soon.  Matthew got his cap and gown yesterday and when he tried it on my heart sank.  It didn't hit me until senior night at track that this is it.  I haven't been okay, to be honest.  There are moments when I just burst into tears.  I think of when he was little and how I miss that sweet little innocent face.  I think of mistakes I made and how I wish to go back to fix it.  I just want to go back.  That's it.  I just want to go back.  I can't, that's not how life works.  All I can do is focus on the young man he is today and I'm pretty proud of that guy.  The last post I complained about how we've had to push him into motivation but I also understand he's had a lot thrown at him at once and it's too much for one human but he has been getting through.  Tonight is the last track invitational for the season.  

I haven't been on the blog much lately and have been consumed with getting stuff done around the house.  I spent all morning outside pulling weeds and mowing the grass.  My dad gifted us with a new mower last year and I just don't have the heart to tell him that this mower is a piece of junk.  I'm sure it doesn't help that I let the grass grow long and no mower wants to deal with that but it is a gas guzzler and doesn't always want to start.  I also had to pick up three dead bunnies and one dead bird.  That's what happens when you have a dog with high prey drive.  So devastating.  A bird couple also found an area under our roof to make a nest and I can hear those baby birds chirping.  Does that make me a grandma now?

I have a new kiddo for my van run.  He's a second grader and the cutest little boy.  Currently I have three boys for one school and one girl to another.  The three boys have school until the second week of June.  I don't want to rush the year and I certainly don't look forward to having a high school graduate but at the same time I can't wait for summer vacation.  We have trips planned.

Well, welcome May!  The weather is beautiful today and I will just be outside enjoying it.  Came in for a lunch break and to say hello to all you wonderful reader friends.  

Don't be fooled by the cuteness.  She's a killer!