September's Arrival

When September arrives we are reminded of the changes that are ahead.  The changing colors of the leaves, the changing schedule from a new school year, and the change in temperature.  The mornings start off with the crisp coolness and by afternoon the air becomes warmer.  This month sends me into nostalgia as I remember my own days of back to school time.  I did not like going to school so that memory is one that keeps me from enjoying the transition into fall.  Now as a mother, I'm finding myself in full stress mode when it comes to helping my own children navigate school.  So far it's been an easy start and I'm thankful for that but there's eight more months to go.  I enjoy fall but I've always been a summer girl.  Well, I guess I can be thankful in knowing that summer is not officially over, according to the calendar, for another eighteen days.  

Another student was added to my school van so I've been out the door earlier than usual.  The sun is rising as I'm driving, making the view in front of me beautiful.  I wish I could take a picture of the sun beginning to move it's way up the mountain filled horizon as the vibrant colors paint a peaceful picture in the sky but I'm not allowed to be on my phone while driving, obviously for good reason.  So I just enjoy the moment of capturing God's gorgeous design with my own eyes.  After I drop the three boys off at their school seven miles away I come home to a quiet, empty house.  Rob is at work and the kids are in school.  I turn on a podcast or music and begin to clean the house.  The clutter in this house builds up fast and does not seem to go away regardless of how much I get through.  Messes are a big cause of anxiety and that explains why I'm always stressed but I'm also learning to take it for what it is.  We have a lot of stuff and not a big space to put it.  Also, when I do put things into place no one seems to know how to put it all back where it goes.  Other moms please help me!  Repeating myself constantly and sounding like a broken record is not working.  I've already gotten rid of so much and I've threatened to go through with a garbage bag again.  As I'm dealing with the feelings of stress at home my husband has been feeling stressed from work.  Pray for us!  Still, life is good and we are thankfully working through it.  

My husband's friend's wife gave us a butterfly bush and it's been filling with little butterflies, which is hard to see in this photo.  I need to get my better camera out.  

We invited my parents over for a Labor Day barbecue.  We don't see my parents often but I try to squeeze time in with them as much as I can.  They live twenty-seven miles away and with busy schedules it's hard to see them and I feel bad because my father could use the company.  Taking care of my mother puts a toll on him, especially with lack of sleep added to it.  My siblings are over two hundred miles away so the time they get with them is few and far between.  I'm all they have here in Pennsylvania and it's a tough one for me.  

My daughter was excited to come home from our town's carnival with a goldfish she won.  I was in a bit of a shock since we were not prepared.  Luckily we had a small fish bowl stuffed in the garage so we washed it and filled it with water.  The next day she went with her dad for pebbles and goldfish food.  Unfortunately, little Goldie did not make it and received a very quick funeral down the toilet.  She was upset but also understanding.  We were not properly prepared on taking on a goldfish in the moment but made a promise to buy her some new fish soon.  Rest in peace, Goldie.  

And here is my little princess this morning, with her hair curled wearing a new shirt from Old Navy.  She was reluctant on letting me snap a picture but I could not resist.  Later this evening I will be watching my son in his first cross-country meet.  I'm grateful for a good start of the school year.