My Butterfly Bush

 Good afternoon and welcome to the second day of September.  Even though we are inching closer to the official start of fall the weather in my area has stayed hot.  I guess that's how September always begins.  Right now I'm sitting on the couch next to my dog while the sky outside gets darker and thunder can be heard pretty close by.  I hope the rain passes before I have to leave for work and I especially hope it's all clear by the time my daughter runs her cross county race this evening.  Dinner is in the crockpot and I've been spending the day exercising and cleaning.  Last night we had a pretty violent storm that scared our pup.

Lately, there's been so much devastating news that I catch on social media and I just want to step away from it.  My goal as of the last few years has been to avoid all the outside noise and focus on creating a peaceful home.  I pray for this world but I know we will not experience true peace until Jesus comes back.  I pray that happens soon, too.  

So, instead of focusing on the violence of the world and the loud crashing of the rain I can hear right now, I wanted to show you my favorite thing in my flower bed.  It's called a Lavender Butterfly Bush and it has spread so tall and wide that it's taking up so much space but it offers a place for us to receive some beautiful visitors.  

We get bees, moths, small butterflies and my favorite Monarchs.  I've seen orange and I've seen yellow.  

My husband snapped this picture for me.  

I've always loved flowers and butterflies so getting the two to mix is so fun.  

Are you excited that the Ber months have started?  You know ... SeptemBER, OctoBER, NovemBER and DecemBER!  I'll admit as much as a I love the summer season this is also my favorite time of year.  We are preparing for slightly cooler weather and the holiday season.  What I don't like is the season that follows fall.  I just don't.  In those months this bush will be dead and there will be no visitors to it.  But I know it will come alive again in late spring.  

Well, I hope you enjoyed my little post about my butterflies and I hope even more that September is good to you!  God bless!

Those First Few Weeks

 

This school year has started off quite odd.  At first, we lost one of our bosses to a terrible car accident.  She was a lovely woman, just days away from turning 74, who loved the Lord and every person she came in contact with.  One of my students who I take to elementary school has been rerouted to a different van company and that has her, her mom, her nurse and I very heartbroken.  Today is my last day with her.  On Monday the other school I drive for will begin and I will be waiting for them to give me a new elementary student(s) at some point.  Being a van driver means who I take to school is ever-changing.  My son has been doing well with college and bonding with the cross country team.  His classes officially start Monday.  I know he's having fun and doing well but I am missing him a lot.  I have never gone this long without seeing him.  

This week we attended the fall meet the team night.  Brianna and the marching band gave a preview to the show and then she joined in with the cross country team so they could announce their names.  We listened to the athletic director give his usual chat about making sure all students have their grades passing or they cannot participate in the sport, they ran through each team and then we headed home.  This is going to be a busy season of attending Friday night football games to watch our girl play her mellophone on the field, then run in cross country and then head to whatever town my son will be running in his collegiate invitationals.  It will be busy and it will be good.  

The temperature here in Pennsylvania has consistently been hot with another heat wave expected next week.  With having the days to myself it's been giving me a chance to get a lot of reorganizing done throughout the house.  It also gives me a chance to kick back and do some reading.  I set a goal of reading 50 books by the end of the year.  I just finished book 20.  That's not looking promising.  

Yesterday my husband had a minor surgery on his thumb so he's been home and currently resting.  Tonight is the first football game of the season right here at home so our evening will be busy.  I'm going to take a guess and say we don't win this one.  

I guess that's all there is to update as of now.  Enjoy the weekend! 

First Time College Mom

 "They grow up fast!"

I've heard that so much in these eighteen years of raising kids.  I've felt it too.  I remember putting Matthew on the school bus for the first day of kindergarten and aching to have the little baby back.  I remember helping to get him settled into a new routine of middle school and aching for that little baby back.  Then when it came time for high school, the aching felt a lot more intense.  By graduation, it hurt more.  

But nothing, NOTHING, had ever felt more excruciating than this.  

We spend 18 years teaching our children how to be independent and self-sufficient adults and when that time comes it feels like a gut punch.  I knew it wasn't going to be easy but I did not expect just how much it would hurt.  Then again, I know that it is time.  He's ready.  I cannot hold on forever.  You know, that umbilical cord needs cut at some point.  He's going to do just fine and I'm going to continue being proud of the man he's destined to become.  

I love being a mom and if we can be honest I loved being a mom to little ones.  I miss the little ones.  The teenage years and young adult years have been quite trying for me.  Some mothers ease into each stage just fine but I am struggling.  Yet I know, it's all going to be okay.  

So, there he is - my theology major.  The biggest part of my heart.  Always.  

School Has Begun

 Hello on a Tuesday!  I thought I would give a little update since a lot has happened in the last few days.  As I'm in the middle of house cleaning and figuring out dinner plans, I thought I'd stop in to catch up.

Today was the first day back to work as a school van driver.  This is year number four and it's gone by quickly.  For these first few weeks I will only have to pick up one student for elementary since the other school doesn't start until the 31st.  That gives it a slow start to the school year and I'm thankful for that.  Unfortunately, my little one was refusing to get into the van this morning so her mother took her in.  I'll see her at school pickup, and hopefully, she'll behave better for the teacher putting her in.  In sad news, one of the owners of my company passed away tragically in a car accident last Friday morning.  She was the mother of my boss.  Just one day before, I had seen her at the work meeting.  She prayed over us and I know that prayer will continue to carry us bus and van drivers throughout the year.  I was sad at the news and sad for the family.  They are a very close family and she was the light that carried them.  

My daughter Brianna turned 15 this weekend.  She could not think of what to do aside from going to Cain's for dinner.  Have you ever had Cain's chicken?  I did not get a picture of her from there but I did get one of her with the birthday cake at home after.  

And those boxes in the background are filled with things for Matthew to bring for his dorm room.  

For him, he moves into college on Friday.  I am not ready but he is.  Well, he's mentally ready.  He still has so much to pack and we have a few more things to buy.  He's not going far and will be close to my parents so we'll still get to see him often.  Today Brianna started her sophomore year of high school.  She was not ready but I told her the first day of a new year means it's a clean slate.  She can start with a good attitude and a determination to work hard.  We'll see.  She's a lot like her momma was with school.  Hard to find that motivation.  

So, here we are.  A new school year of 180 days, new challenges and opportunities, and room for more growth.  I pray the year goes smoothly for all teachers, school staff, drivers, and students!  Whether they attend public school, private school or homeschool I wish many blessings upon your children/grandchildren.  Let's go!  

I'll also add, yesterday was my dad's 79th birthday.  We stopped over with a cake.  He insisted Bri help him blow out the candles since her birthday was close to his.