Goodbye Middle School Era

We are finally at the point of saying goodbye to the middle school years.  The youngest is finishing up her week after three long years of a very difficult journey.  In my opinion, the middle school years are frustrating.  It's the bridge between the fun, innocent elementary days and the demanding, independence of high school.  It's when hormones change, the pressure to fit in is at a high and confusion of where do I belong sets in.  And let's be honest, middle school kids are mean.  

For my daughter, she has still yet to care about fitting in and following the crowd.  She has no desire to be among the popular girls and proudly chooses to dress and act as she wants.  Unfortunately, this means that she's been a victim of some bullying from those who do strive to be like everyone else.  It's also meant losing some of the friends she's been close to during the elementary days.  She's also made new friends.  The season of middle school had been a struggle but I always assure her these experiences she faces will be part of her testimony.  

I remember those dreadful middle school days and they were definitely the worst years for me.  It was especially hard because of having to move to a different school in a different state in the midst of it.  I don't think I completely healed from that shock, to be honest.  

After longing for these middle school years to end she's beginning to feel some sadness about letting it go.  She's mixed with both excitement and fear about entering high school.  I'm stuck wondering if it was right to send my kids to school or if the homeschool route would have been better.  They are growing up so fast and are learning things I'm not quite sure I want them learning in a way I don't want them finding out.   The educational system is a mess, let's be honest.  But my husband and I do our best to make sure our kids know how to find the truth and so far they've been wise to it.  It hurts watching them grow up.  The years do go by too fast.  

Memorial Day Weekend Recap

 As we enter the last week of school for my kids I'm feeling regretfully ashamed that I did not get to finish all of the house projects I said I'd do while I had the house to myself throughout the week.  It's so much better to get things done without the distractions.  Then again, I find very little time in between my school van run to get much done.  It's usually the same - vacuuming, sweeping, dishes, laundry - the every day monotonous things that don't allow me any extra time to reorganize and declutter.  I'm hoping that as I'm not working this summer and have more flexibility I can get those things done (didn't I say that last summer though?).  

I wanted to recap on what Memorial Day weekend was like for us.  It was busy but it was also enjoyable.  On Friday my husband turned 46 years old.  He was only a week away from turning 23 when we married and I was already 23.  It's crazy to think we've been married half our lives and have known each other for more than that.  I don't post a lot about him on here and rarely ever on social media because he doesn't like that I'm on there.  He does sneak a peak at my blog and doesn't seem to mind that, though.  I do have to brag for a bit because he really is a great guy.  He wakes up in pain that carries on throughout the day from the arthritis he's had since childhood but he never uses that as an excuse and rarely complains.  Still, he gets up and goes to work and when he's home he keeps busy doing things around the house.  He often picks up where I'm slacking.  Even through all the busyness he followed the call to serve on the school board and is doing a great job with that.  He stepped in as a scout leader when they needed someone and also spent years coaching his son's baseball team.  When I'm feeling down he takes it personally and does whatever he can to make me feel better.  He's always telling me I'm beautiful even in the days when I'm a mess.  Most importantly, he's a man of God and leads our family with faith.  I love him.  

He took the day off work and put together our new Blackstone griddle he got for our anniversary.  It's something we both wanted so he got to work assembling it while I was doing my van run.  We enjoyed a peaceful day at home while the kids were in school but once they came home we went out to eat at an Indian restaurant.  He loves Indian food.  It was a lot of food and it was good.  Then we went home for cake and presents.  I hope he had an enjoyable day.  

On Saturday we headed to Knoebels Amusement Park in Elysburg, PA.  If you ever get a chance to be in that area I recommend this place.  It's free admission and you pay per ride.  The food is reasonably priced as well.  There's plenty of shade and although it sits in the mountains the ground is pretty flat.  It takes a few hours for us to get there and it's well worth it.  We all had a great day.  

Sunday was church and the girl and I ran to the dance store to get her a new pair of pointe shoes for ballet.  She only has a few more classes to go but has desperately been needing new ones and plans to practice all summer.  The rest of the day was spent at home relaxing.  

Monday was Memorial Day and we had no plans to barbecue or have anyone over.  My husband has been slowly repairing our back deck and I got to work planting the garden.  I'm a little late in getting it done this year but everything is planted and I'm hoping for a successful outcome.  I don't have much of a green thumb but have been able to manage growing a garden.  

And I can't forget to mention on Monday morning my boy ran in a Memorial Day 5K.  He ranked 7th overall and 1st in his age group.  I don't know where he gets all this endurance from but I'm so, so proud of him.  He amazes me.  Now, if only I can get him to keep his room clean.  

Today is back to work/school for us and I've been busy cleaning up a house that became disorderly from a busy weekend.  I also gave the school van a rinse and vacuum.  Happy Tuesday, everyone!  

Happy Memorial Day

 

Good morning and Happy Memorial Day!  I woke up shortly after 6 a.m. to coffee that has already been made and a dog begging to go outside.  My husband and children have the day off and the guys already left because my son is running in a Memorial Day parade.  Today will just be a day to catch up on housework and yard work as I think of the lives lost in battle.  If it weren't for them I wouldn't have the freedom to live as I do.  I am thankful to be an American, today and every day.  

I was sad to wake up this morning to find out that the patriarch to the Duck Dynasty show and family, Phil Robertson has passed away.  He was certainly a man of God who helped many others.  May he rest in peace.  

I have so much to catch up on but for now I'm going to enjoy this cup of coffee and read my Bible with prayer time while the house is still quiet.  My daughter has yet to wake up.  

Hope your Memorial Day weekend is going well.  Remember, it's not about the barbecues and fun.  It's about those who lost their lives so we can have the fun.  Thank you, heroes!  

A Monday Update

 Good afternoon and happy Monday!  Another week is upon us.  Two weeks left until my kids are finished with another year of school.  I will have another two weeks after that with my school van, since I take kids to another school.  I'm looking forward to the break.  Our summer calendar is already filling up.  

The weekend was a good one.  I visited my mother for her birthday on Friday.  After work I went over with a pot of flowers and a piece of cheesecake, her favorite.  I hung out with her while my dad ran an errand.  At first she seemed happy to see me and we talked about her birthday and she joked that she refuses to be 80 and considers herself still to be 39.  That's been something she has said since turning 40.  Then suddenly she zoned out and looked at me as if she did not know who I was.  My mother forgetting who I am is a big fear of mine when it comes to this Alzheimer's.  I was as patient as I could be until she snapped back to herself, again joking about her age and other things.  While I was visiting her my daughter was in Washington, DC with the 8th graders for a field trip.  She had fun and I was glad for that.  

On Saturday I spent the majority of the day pulling weeds while my husband replaced the stairs on our back deck.  The weather was as hot as a summer day and we were miserably trying to work through the sweat.  That did not stop us from enjoying some family time at the fire pit eating s'mores that evening until some rain came.  It was a great day at home.  My Eagle Scout son did a great job getting the fire going.  

Sunday was our 23rd wedding anniversary.  Sadly, I have no pictures from the day.  We have a no cell phone policy on Sundays so I did not take any.  I will share a picture of what my husband got me as a gift, which I consider it to be something for both of us to share.  I can't wait until it's set up.  He made breakfast before church, my son drove us to church (he has his learner's permit) and then the two of us picked up lunch for our kids to have at home while we went on a date.  We spent the rest of the day at home and I made lasagna for dinner, my husband's favorite.  It was a good day and I cannot believe how 23 years went by so quickly.  There's been a lot to learn about this thing called marriage.  We've struggled through a lot of difficult times but there's been a lot of joy as well.  I am thankful.  

This week I plan on getting through a lot of housework in between van runs and squeeze in some Bible and prayer time.  In the midst of such a chaotic life having the peace of God and His Word helps me get through.  Three of my evenings are spent in the dance studio while my daughter is taking her classes and preparing for the upcoming June recital.  

I hope you all have a great week.  I'm happy to see a sunny sky today.  

Rainy Days And An 80th Birthday

 It has been raining for 40 days and 40 nights ...

Actually, this has only been day 3 of the rain but it really does feel like it's been going on forever.  I'm going to need Noah's blueprints on how to make a boat.  This was Tuesday morning during my morning school run.

And it looked like this poor rabbit was trying to figure out how to get inside the car for shelter.  

Since I've been missing from blog land for a little bit I wanted to share a picture from last Friday when Brianna went to the 8th grade school dance.  She met up at the park with some friends for pictures.  She said it was fun.  As we are closing in on the school year she's prepping to say goodbye to middle school and she's ready.  

And I need to give a special shout out to this amazing woman.  My mother had always been the most sweetest and welcoming person.  In her late 60's she suffered a stroke and the odds of her surviving were not good.  She wasn't supposed to make it to 70 but tomorrow she turns 80.  

Last weekend my brother and sisters made a trip from Long Island and we met up at my parents house to celebrate.   Saturday was her birthday party and then we met up again on Sunday morning for a Mother's Day breakfast before they headed back home.  

My dad gave us the news we expected but did not want to hear.  The neurologist confirmed my mother is in late stage Alzheimer's and is showing signs that her end is coming.  It could be a year or two but she's already beat so many odds so I'm relying on God and not doctors to say when.  It brought tears to our eyes thinking about losing her.  I actually don't want to think about it, instead enjoy every moment I do have with her.  Tomorrow after work I plant to visit and see her as she officially turns 80.  

Goodbye Feathery Friend

 

Just a little over twenty years ago we took on the responsibility of this cockatiel named Elvis when Rob's grandfather passed away.  We had only been married for a few years and lived in an apartment at the time and he came with us when we moved to our house and was there when we brought both babies home from the hospital.  He and my daughter seemed to have developed quite a bond.  He was often grouchy and mean with others but loved whenever Brianna went near him.  He would perk up in her presence and sing sweet songs to her.  Every night she would say goodnight to him and it would set him off into a song.  

Unfortunately, last night as she went to say goodnight she found him laying lifeless in his cage.  I feel so bad that it was her that saw him that way first and it was so unexpected.  After having such a great day this was not something she needed.  She cried hard and I hugged her for a long time.  

I'm sure you think it's silly to mourn over a bird but he was very special to us.  This is the first day we've experienced being in this house without him and the first day the kids are experiencing life without him.  And as my husband mentioned last night, he was the last piece of his grandfather we had left.  

Rest in peace, Elvis.  It's going to be so quiet without you.  

I found this video from September 19, 2019.  A girl and her best friend.