Taking a Break

 I'm giving myself a break from the chaos.  Every day is chaos around here.  I wake up before everyone else and give myself some prayer time.  Starting the day conversating with God helps prep for the rest of the day.  Then I get the kids up and we're all hitting the ground running until bedtime.  

This Saturday I watched my son's 9am game and then had to take my daughter to an event going on at the high school where she joined her dance company for a little show.  There were vendors to check out also.  Then at night we all relaxed by the fire.  It's nice to have a chance to unwind and chill.  I need to find more time to just stop.  The laundry is always there.  The dishes are always in the sink.  Crumbs everywhere.  Messes all over.  My attempt to get everything done is a constant failure.  I've stressed so much.  Then I remind myself that this is all temporary.  So the messes will be there until I get to it.  I'll get to what I can.  It's just too much.  My kids are also at a stage where they need my attention, physically and emotionally.  More than ever.  They are both going through things.  Hard things.  So, they need my attention more than the mess. 

On Sunday Franklin Graham came to our area with the Newsboys.  We are fans of Contemporary Christian music and have listened to the Newsboys for many years.  They put on a great show and Mr. Graham's message was well worth standing in the rain waiting to get in.  

My son is still dealing with migraines and had to miss the concert because of it.  We are trying all sorts of things to try and help and it sure breaks my heart.  

Hello Fall

 Here we are!  It's the first day of fall and you know what that means ?

No, there actually isn't pumpkin spice in this cup but I am going to get some.  It's pecan.  Pecan is a fall flavor though, right?

The first day of the season has been right on track.  A little rain, and a breeze that is knocking the leaves right off the trees.  

I brought out all of the fall decorations and haven't quite finished setting it all up. 

I do like so much about fall.  The weather, the colors, the flavors.  I just don't enjoy the season that follows.  

Happy Fall y'all!

Goodbye Summer and our Summer Visitors

Well, summer is officially ending.  I know a lot of people will jump to decorate and sip on their pumpkin spice goodness as soon as the calendar turns to September but I'm one that chooses to embrace each season until the very end.  As of now it's still summer.  

As the cooler weather approaches I probably won't see much of these sweet furbabies for a while.   I just love how the rabbits in our backyard aren't afraid to get close to us.  We see so many through the summer.  Our dog got a hold of a few before but I won't go there.  

Now that we are back to school and the busy evening activities I miss the slow, relaxing days of summer vacation.  I'll miss the heat, yes that's right I said it.  I've always been one who enjoys the warm weather.  

I am, however, looking forward to the crisp fall air, the holidays that are quickly approaching and the flavors of pumpkin and apples.  

I'll miss the bunnies. 

Also, this is my 200th post on this blog!  I've had several blogs since the beginning of the 2000s but I am pretty sure I'll be sticking with this one from now on.  

Band Night

 Last night we joined the town under the Friday night lights where the middle school band joined the high school marching band.  Brianna started playing clarinet in the 4th grade but I am not sure if this is something she plans to stick with.   After last night she has been talking about joining the marching band.  For some time she talked about joining colorguard, something I had done for a few years in high school, or the cheer team.  With having a full dance and competitive dance schedule I told her the choice is limited.  

It was fun watching her join in and have a good time.  My son hung out in the student section in his Hawaiian shirt, which was the theme for the night.  

Today Matthew is playing a baseball double header far away and Brianna is at dance rehearsal.  I'm not able to make the games and that makes me very sad.  I'm so proud of my kids and all they are involved in but somedays my husband and I have to split directions so each kid has at least one parent with them.  I don't like to miss my son play but I need to stay close for when it's time to pick my daughter up.  Every day has been busy.  So, I'm spending the day cleaning house and nursing a headache.  

To those who left a comment in my last post, I thank you.  I'm faced with a lot of tough situations right now and it's definitely a tough season but I know it all has a purpose and we will get passed it at some point.  The hardest part of being a parent is watching my kids struggle.  Seeing my son unhappy and teary eyed on the way to school, seeing how he's not properly interacting socially with others, and not knowing how to heal him from migraines and eye ticks is just a lot.  Life isn't easy and my children are finding that out.  They may think I don't understand their pain, and maybe I don't always do, but I want them to know I am on their side and I will always be beside them guiding and fighting for them.  

It Hasn't Been Easy

 My house is enduring a lot of struggling these days.  My son's adjustment back to in person school isn't going so well.  He's one who easily stresses out and the stress causes migraines.  He complains about a headache every day.  His neurologist isn't much help and I'm getting ready to find a good counselor for  him, hopefully one that can help him navigate through these struggles.  He's also being picked on by some of the students because of his height.  He is small for his age.  I don't understand why that is such a problem.  I have worked hard at teaching both of my kids that their size doesn't matter but it doesn't help when others have to tease them about it.

My daughter also has her struggles with middle school.  She complains that the work is hard and she's also still dealing with the same boys who were giving her a hard time last year.  It's really frustrating and nothing is ever done.  

I loved the charter school my son was working with through middle school.  He loved it too.  I've been doing a lot of praying and asking for direction.  I want my kids to get a good education and be happy while doing so but I also want them to have that normalcy of being surrounded by peers.  But what was once normal is now so different.  Do I really want my kids exposed to everything that goes on in public school?  It's becoming too much.  

Working in an elementary school cafeteria is quite a struggle this year.  The behavior of most of the kids is crazy.  It seems more and more kids are undisciplined at home and, because of it, they have no concern for any discipline received elsewhere.  It's very sad.  Aside from that, it has been extremely busy at work.  So much stress.  Although, I remain grateful to have a job.  I work with an incredible staff who knows how to laugh and joke around even through tough moments.  

In a perfect world, I'd have a job I can do from home while my kids school from home.  I need to work to help out financially.  With my daughter so active in many dance classes the extra money is needed and that's something she wouldn't want to give up.  I think having them at home could open up so many possibilities of things we could do and I also believe it would alleviate so much stress.  But that's not in the cards for us right now so I pray that we can be directed and led to do what is right and what would help.  It's only September and I'm already done with this school year.  

I'm also just struggling with my kids growing up.   I often think of my days at home with them when they were babies and toddlers.  At the time the days felt so long and I struggled through those sleepless nights but I'd give anything to go back.  It felt so much easier than what life brings now.  I miss their innocence.   My son, 14 years old, no longer kisses me goodnight and it's been a very long time since I heard him say he loves me.  I say it to him all the time with no response.   It hurts.  The years are flying by so fast and I'm trying to be intentional with living in the moment but how I long to have those babies back.  

If you believe in prayer we could sure use some sent up for us right now.  

Rest in Peace, Queen Elizabeth II

 "Each day is a new beginning, I know that the only way to live my life is to try to do what is right, to take the long view, to give of my best in all the day brings, and to put my trust in God." -- Queen Elizabeth II

photo credit: celebrityinsider.com

30 Hikes

Starting on June 1st our local library teamed up with a Get Outdoors program where they set up 30 different hikes in several parks all over the county.  You follow directions until you reach the post where the rubbing plate is.  It ended the day before school started.  We have been doing this for several years but this was the first year we got them all done and we finished on the very last day.

I take a picture at every rubbing post but here are just some.  

My son wanted to get them all done this year and I was determined to make it happen so he wouldn't be disappointed.  I'm super surprised my daughter got through them all, even though she complained a lot.  

It was a great way to get moving over the summer.  Some of the hikes were easy while others brought on quite a challenge but we got to see some cool things along the way like a bat cave, waterfalls, and standing in both Pennsylvania and Maryland at the same time.  We also got to visit a lot of parks we didn't know existed.  Despite the rise in gas prices we did it.  

I'm hopeful we'll be doing it again next year.