It's The Last Friday Of September

 We've made it to Friday!  It's drizzling outside but the air is warm and I hear that the 80's are coming back in the forecast.  September is coming to an end and we will welcome October in a few days.  I guess summer still wants to hang on and I'm okay with that.  

I'm sitting here typing this up while watching an episode of The Gilmore Girls on Netflix.  Even though I've seen this show over and over it never gets old for me.  The sounds from the washing machine can be heard from the basement and I'm sipping the last of my pumpkin spice coffee.  The pup is taking a little nap but I'm sure it won't be long before she's up and full of energy.  We seem to have good days and bad days with her.  Everyone keeps telling me she'll be calmer and better in a few years.  I wonder if I can make it that long.  This was her yesterday after a day of outdoor playtime.  

She's the cutest when she's sleeping.  

I'm awaiting a phone call from the middle school regarding an issue my daughter has been having with other students.  It always seems to be something with this girl and it's exhausting.  But we will take it day by day as it all comes.  This has been a rough week.  While I wait for the call I'm just doing some housework.  

What is on the weekend agenda?  The guys will be off to scout camp and my siblings are planning a visit from New York.  Even if they don't make it I'd like to visit my parents.  We don't get to see them as much as I'd like.  My mother's health is declining.  I hope my brother and sisters can make it because that will make both of them happy.  

In the news of baseball I'm bummed my Yankees didn't make it to the playoffs but congratulations to you Orioles fans.  I can't wait to watch the World Series, whoever will be playing.  I love ⚾⚾⚾!

Wishing you a great weekend!  

Goodbye Summer Hello Fall

 

POOF!  Goodbye to the laid back hot days and hello to the cooler busy days.  Life has already become chaotic for us.  With school, after school activities and rushing from one thing to another.  I don't entirely mind it and my kids are happier this way, especially my son.  

We ended summer under the Friday night lights as my daughter joined the middle school band with the high school band on the football field for Band Night.  My son spent the first half in the student section until he met up with another friend at halftime.  If you're curious about the picture it was neon construction night. My son wasn't participating correctly.  The rest of his baseball team knew the assignment.  It felt like the entire town was sitting on the bleachers but being at a football game is not my thing.  I was happy for the school and their win.  

The fall season started with a weekend of rain thanks to Tropical Storm Ophelia.  My son's Saturday baseball game was cancelled and we just hung out at home.   Of course, it was time for me to take out our fall decor.  I don't have much but here are a few things.  And yes, Saturday morning called for a cup of pumpkin spice coffee.  

A pic stolen from my daughter's Snapchat.  She's too cute.  

And for all you fall lovers from this summer lover:  

These dreary cooler days makes me want to just wrap myself under a blanket and forget about all of my responsibilities.  I find myself becoming more tired than usual and unmotivated.  But I'm going to push myself and make it a good season.  Autumn teaches us that change can be beautiful.  

One Of Those Days

 We are inching closer to autumn as the days and nights are becoming much cooler and the leaves are beginning to change colors.  Fall is a season with beautiful scenic views, pumpkin spice craziness, my birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, my son's birthday, and it ends with the preparation of Christmas.  I love so many things about this season but I really dread the season that comes after.  I'll explain more of that once winter is officially here.  

  This morning started a little rough.  I woke up to the alarm at 5:40am.  I made my way across the hall to wake up my daughter for school.  Then I let the dog outside.  It was still dark out but I could see her running towards the back of the yard and I heard a screaming sound.  I went outside to find the dumb dog running around with a rabbit in her mouth, by then it was dead.  I chased her around trying to get her to drop it and come into the house with me.  I know it's natural for a dog, especially a husky, but it's very upsetting for me.  My husband's comment to my reaction had then upset me more.  I feel like I don't get much support in my feelings.  I love dogs and I was so excited to welcome a new one in my home but I just can't get connected with this girl.  I try but it's difficult.  I used to say I wanted a big dog because I've always had small ones but now I realize I'm a small dog girl all the way.  She's too much for me but at this point there's no going back.  Bringing her back to the SPCA will only leave the rest of this household with broken hearts.  I just wish my husband could be more sensitive to the feelings I express.  It's always something.  My marriage is being tested, my children are testing me a lot lately, this dog is driving me crazy, I can't seem to get this house clean, my mom's progression into Alzheimer's is increasingly getting worse.  It feels so suffocating at times.  

I'm just glad to have found a job that I enjoy and leaves me with time in between to get things done.  Today I vacuumed inside and under the couches, cleaned different areas of the house, started the unending loads of wash, vacuumed my car and the van, and mowed the front yard.  The back will get done another day.  Now I'm sitting here hoping to get some writing done.  This evening my son will be playing a rescheduled baseball game.  Dinner is in the crockpot, which is my favorite thing to do when it's going to be a busy evening.  So like any day, this one has its ups and downs.  

It's just been one of those days!  Maybe I should just leave this post with a cute little fall inspired meme.  

In An Evil World ...

 

A terrible tragedy struck my neighborhood this week.  Without going into details, our streets were closed as the SWAT team surrounded a home hostage situation that ended in a murder-suicide.  For the entire day the schools were on lock-down and everyone was told to stay in their homes for safety purposes.  As you can imagine, the unknown details at the time left us feeling scared and worried.  It's unfortunate for how it ended and I wonder how someone could do something to himself and especially to someone else.  What was going on in his mind?  I know nothing of it but I do know this was a man who desperately was feeling angry and lost.  This man needed Jesus.  

Lately, I've been thinking about all of the things going on in today's world.  Not just in the world but in our own country.  Well, now even in my own backyard.  People are suffering.  People are struggling.  People are lost.  People are hurting.  Mental illness is at a rise.  I was listening to Sadie Robertson's podcast the other day where her guest, who happens to be my favorite singer, Lauren Daigle talked about how one of the reasons why mental illness is on the rise is because our society makes us feel as though we have to rush through everything and have it all immediately figured out.  I believe mental illness, along with all other problems in the world stem from many, many issues but first and foremost it's because we live in a world without God being in front and center.  

Can you imagine living in a world where everyone followed the commandments of God and all the rules set in the Bible?  To love one another, including our enemies.  To not murder, lie, cheat, or steal.  To stay committed and faithful to the one we marry, and to save ourselves for that marriage.  To live each day serving, helping, lifting, encouraging and loving.  Maybe then we could have perfect peace.  Instead, people are questioning why the issues of this world are getting much more worse than they've ever been.  Maybe it's because people have become accepting and tolerant towards evil, and  evil certainly has a way of disguising itself as something good.  People feel a sense of entitlement and if something doesn't go their way they take it out on others.  There are many homes without fathers and other homes with parents who don't put in much effort to discipline and set structure.  The acceptance of abortion has taught us that life has no value and then wonder why there are so many murders around us.  Are you understanding where I'm going with this?  Our parents' generation did not go through any of the things we see in schools today.  It's so abundantly clear to me why things have changed.  If only others could see it too.  

Last night I laid in bed thinking of the events of the day but I was also thinking about other issues surrounding our world.  This morning as I took a moment for myself and browsed Pinterest I came across that picture shared above with the verse that reads, "Never let evil get the best of you; instead, overpower evil with the good" and I wondered how I could do my part in making sure my mind stays clear of all the negativity.  First, I think it's best to do what it states in this picture that I found on Facebook.

It's important to stay vigilant and informed of what's going on but sometimes hearing too much is just not good.  My father will sit and watch Fox News all day and then writes an editorial in the local newspaper stating his opinion.  He gets himself fired up to a point where you can see his blood pressure rising and it's all he wants to talk about.  

Evil is going to be around because sin exists.  All I can do is work on myself and be a source of encouragement and peace to those around me.  I also have to raise my kids with the faith and tools they need to be successful as they grow and go through adulthood.  

More importantly, I'm putting my trust solely on God.  He never promised we wouldn't see trouble in this world.  In fact, He warned us we would.  But He also promises that He would deliver us from it.  In His time and in His way.  I have to drown out the noise around me and trust that He is in control.  Even if the world is on fire around me and all seems hopeless I'm reminded that there is an eternal life in Heaven and that is where I will find that perfect peace.  

I hope you don't mind, but I wanted to share some of my deep thoughts with you today.