Five For Friday: Summer Memories

 This post is going up late today.  I should be at the football game watching my daughter perform in the marching band.  My son has been sick all week and this evening he spiked a fever so I'd rather be home keeping watch over him.  He's been feeling terrible.  I took him to the doctor and they cancelled out it being the flu/covid and strep.  I'm worried this may turn to pneumonia.  Please keep him in prayer.  

I haven't been consistent with the Five For Fridays but today I wanted to do one on five memorable things of this summer.  

1.  Summer vacation started with my daughter's dance recital.  Oh, how I'm going to miss seeing her dance on stage.  This was her 10th year of dance.  

2.  Our trip to Chincoteague Island, Virginia.  

3.  Seeing Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham and Josiah Queen perform at Hershey, PA.  If you have never heard of these singers, they perform Contemporary Christian music.  The show was phenomenal.  

4.  It is a difficult process being able to get tickets to see the Savannah Bananas so it was exciting when we were able to get 4 for the Baltimore game.  

5.  Most of the summer was spent at home relaxing.  My favorite thing to do.  

Back To Van Driving And School Time Sicknesses

 The morning drive can be rather quiet, as I pick up three teenage boys and drive about eight miles to their school.  We'll have friendly conversation here and there and I'll ask questions.  These three boys were suspended from their home school and need to go to another school that will help guide them, change them, and teach them how to navigate through life's challenges with a better behavior and attitude.  These kids have been respectful towards me and I don't have any reason to complain.  Every morning I start my day in prayer that God can guide me in being a good influence to them.  

My third year at this job has started and I am thankful for it.  It's mostly free of stress with management that cares.  I know I'll have to go back to full-time work eventually but for now I am going to enjoy being a school van driver.  I enjoy being on the road for a short time in the morning and again in the afternoon, with time in between to be at home hanging out with the dog and getting housework done.  

This is week two of school for my own children and my son is still in bed ... sick.  Oh, goodness.  Here we go!  It's always something when the school year starts.  He should be awake and working on his college online classes before going into the high school this afternoon.  I'm not sure if he will make it today and we may have to run to the doctor.  So, I will remain quiet as he gets the rest he needs.  

It seems these sicknesses come as the weather is changing.  We have definitely been seeing slightly cooler temperatures, which hints that autumn is soon coming ... but it's not here yet.  So put away your pumpkin spice latte, it's not time.  I'm a summer girl through and through but I do try and make the best out of the seasons that are to come but I insist on waiting until they come.  That orange box filled with fall decor will sit in the attic until mid September.  I just wish the fall sicknesses could wait too.  

Back To School

 

This week arrived faster than we had anticipated.  Summer vacation blew by like a breeze and we're already counting down to the end of May.  

My heart sank as I watched Bri and her neighborhood friends step onto the school bus for their first day of HIGH SCHOOL.  Talk about time moving fast, I'm not sure how we got to this point already.  She seemed excited for this next step and has already made new friends in marching band and cross country. Sadly, she decided to pack away those dance shoes and trade them in for running sneakers.  I'm okay with that.  As much as I'll miss watching her dance on stage it will be good for our bank account to get a little break from those heavy costs.  If you've ever had a dancer you'll know what I mean.  I look forward to seeing all of the things she'll do in high school but I do wish time could slow down just a bit.  

And speaking of time moving way too fast, Matt has made it to senior year.  It was difficult to think that he had his last first day of school.  I remember so clearly the day we put him on the school bus for his first day of kindergarten and now he gets to drive to school.  Ugh!  Since he's doing duel enrollment he'll be taking two online college courses in the morning and then going to the high school later in the day.  He was voted captain of the cross country team and continues to play trumpet in the marching band.  

We have now entered the busiest season of the year!  I'm just glad both of my kids will be doing the same activities and I'll get to be present for all of it.  

Right now I'm only scheduled to drive for one school and they don't start until next week so I've had this week to enjoy slow paced mornings and a full day of housework and time to myself.  My school van is back and parked in front of my house awaiting for it to be filled with teenage boys next week.  I'm sure as the year goes on they will add on more students and maybe even an elementary school run.  Regardless, I'll be happy when those paychecks start coming in again (and I know my husband will be relieved for that too).  

Say a prayer for my kiddos, if you will!  The high school years can be rough.  Also, this mama's heart can use some prayer for comfort as well.  

Happy 14th Birthday!

 I had a moment on this Saturday evening to add a little updated post on what has been going on in the last few days.  

First off, yesterday our Brianna turned 14 years old.  It was a simple day, most of which was spent at home aside from a girls trip to the mall in the morning, cross-country practice in the afternoon and Taco Bell for dinner.  Yes, she picked Taco Bell.  She had also asked to get her hair highlighted, which we did a few days earlier.  It's really hard to tell in these pictures but she does have some blonde added to her  hair.  

What can I say about Brianna?  Well, while she may be small in stature she has a pretty big personality.  Or should I say attitude?  Oh my!  She's definitely been my greatest challenge and it's probably because in a lot of ways she's just like me.  That's not to say I don't enjoy being around her.  She makes a great shopping buddy and doesn't mind snuggling up with me to watch something on television.  I'm envious of her in many ways because she isn't afraid of being herself and also stands her ground when it comes to her belief in God.  While some girls are into all the popular things she's quite content in her own style.  

Today we packed a picnic lunch and met my parents at a park near their house.  It was a nice few hours with my parents.  I failed to snap a picture of them but I did take a picture of someone we adopted for the afternoon.  

My son kept feeding him chips and he enjoyed every bite.  I'm not quite sure if squirrels can have potato chips but this little buddy was enjoying the feast.  When my parents left we headed to the mall next to the park in an attempt to do some last minute back to school shopping.  My children are so difficult to shop with because they can't seem to find anything they like.  My daughter did leave with a few new tops.  

Now we are home and going to enjoy the rest of the evening relaxing.  Nothing beats being at home.  Tomorrow will be church and getting things ready for the first day of school on Monday.  I have another week before I start back at my job.  I'm trying to hang onto the last moments of summer vacation we have left.  

One More Week

Well, we have made it to the last week of summer vacation.  Cross country practice has officially started for the kids and also band rehearsals.  If you haven't noticed my kids like to be busy.  Both of their school schedules came today and they seem eager to start the year.  I get my van schedule on Thursday during my meeting.  Tonight my daughter goes in for high school orientation.  It's all happening so fast.  

The week will end with my daughter's 14th birthday.  Then will be my dad's 78th birthday over the weekend so I'm planning some things for him.  On Saturday my oldest sister and her husband came to visit them from New York so I went over to see them.  It was nice to see them but it's also not easy.  My family are loud, vulgar, judgmental and have views about things that are oppositive of mine.  This makes it difficult being around them but I do try.  I leave my parents' house with a tension headache and regret of not standing up for myself.  All I want is peace.  I no longer want to focus on the past, as my father always seems to do, and I just want to live a life honoring God and focusing on my own little family, which already has it's own little challenges.  

With the school year beginning will come a set routine again.  Every day will be busy and I'll be glad to start making money again.  I'm going to embrace these last few slower paced days and try not to think too much about what's to come.  The introverted me got used to not having a routine.  

I'll end with the picture I took this morning of another butterfly on my lavender butterfly bush.  I'm not sure it's true but I heard the Monarchs will soon be extinct.  I hope not.  We need more of this beauty in the world.  

Summer With A Purpose

 Good morning, friends!

We are in the final stretch of summer vacation and in two weeks my kids will be back to school.  Summer started off slow and I was embracing how much time we had and then, just like that, we are in the last two weeks and everything seems to be hitting us at once.  My kids are at band camp this week; which means 10 hours each day of learning footwork and music under the blistering sun.  It's day 3 and my son is ready to be done.  My daughter seems to be enjoying it.  I'm glad they are doing something together.  As they are at school I'm attempting to get as much housework done as possible.  Yesterday I was supposed to have my mammogram but it was cancelled and I need to reschedule.  Ugh!  I was really hoping to get that over with.  So, once I get my work schedule for the school van I'll proceed with rescheduling so it doesn't interfere with when I'm supposed to be on the road.  Today I have to pick my son up from band camp and take him to another location for pictures the newspaper is taking for cross country and then back to band camp.  My parents wanted to stop by after.  

It's been busy!  Too busy!

Next Monday my daughter goes in for freshman orientation and they both will have the official start of cross country practice every day.  Then the following week is back to school.  Summer vacation went by in a blur but I'm thankful for this time we've been able to kick back and relax.  We had one vacation to the beach, a very special concert in Hershey and last Saturday took a trip to Baltimore to watch the Savannah Bananas play some baseball.  Have you ever heard of the Savanna Bananas?  I'd say, they are like the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball.  A lot of dancing, back flip catches and even one guy who pitches on stilts.  If only all baseball was that entertaining!

A big part of this summer was watching as my children's faith grew immensity.  After they spent one week in June at church camp I have noticed a big change in their commitment to God.  My son has been spending every night before bed reading Scripture and taking notes.  He feels as though God is preparing him for some type of ministry.  Our church developed a calendar filled with events for this summer and called it Summer With a Purpose.  I definitely do believe our summer did have purpose when it came to drawing closer to God.  I'm grateful for that.