Catching Up

 

Good morning on this chilly Tuesday morning!  I do hope the autumn season is treating you well.  I woke up to a dark morning, did my school van run, came home and started some laundry and had breakfast.  Now I'm just taking some time to relax but I think I've done enough relaxing over the last three days and it's miserable.  

From Friday night until Saturday morning I had trouble falling asleep as I began to experience some intense chills.  I tried bundling up with extra blankets and moving to different positions but nothing was working.  On Saturday the chills continued but then also came body aches and a fever.  It was a busy day of my son's championship cross-country race and I did not want to miss it.  This was the last race with the high school team.  As rough as it was I made it and watched him with pride.  Then went home and took a nap.  Later that evening was the marching band show, which both my kids are part of.  This was another last for our son and something else I refused to miss.  On Sunday I missed out on church and stayed in bed.  Thankfully, my husband was kind enough to help out with dinner and other things.  On Monday I was still miserable and took off work, something I don't like to do and they don't even like when we do it but I was not in any shape to drive.  I stayed in bed.  Last night my head was pounding so badly that it caused my eyeballs to ache.  I took Tylenol and headed to bed early.  This morning I woke up feeling better and was able to do my van run.  So far, I'm okay and need to make up for all the housework I couldn't get to but I'm still going to try and take it slightly easy.  I did not get a professional diagnosis but I'm certain it was the flu.  One of the boys in my van had the flu last week so I'm guessing that's the culprit.  It was miserable.  I cannot remember the last time I felt that sick.  

Today my daughter is home sick.  We can never seem to get through one month of the school year without a sick day, it seems.  I'm praying November is kinder to us in that way.  

I hope you are staying healthy.  

Random Thoughts For Friday

 Happy Friday!  Friends, we made it!

This picture is from a walk I took around my neighborhood.  I'm trying to become more intentional about walking daily and also getting into a good exercise routine.  I lost that motivation a long time ago and need to get back on track.  Not for vanity but for health.  These horses are across the street from my neighborhood and I love when they hang out near the fence.  

I actually wanted to do a Five For Friday today and include five pictures of what fall looks like in my area but I did not have time to snap many pictures so maybe that will be done next week.  I lack in consistency when it comes to this blog but I'll give myself the excuse that I'm a busy lady.  

Yes, it's been a busy week.  The weather is changing into the cold season and I've had to make some extra time in the morning to defrost the windows in my school van.  The four boys in my van are good at entertaining themselves but they can be quite wild.  I constantly hear them chanting, "siiixxx seevvvven" and it's the most annoying thing ever.  Have you heard about the 6 7 craze among teens lately?  If you haven't, I'll just say you're quite lucky.  I don't get it but I don't think they get it either.  

Tonight is the last high school football game of the season and I'll get to watch my two kids perform in the band and tomorrow night is their final band show.  Tomorrow morning my son will be running in the championship race and it will be the last time he runs for the high school cross-country team.  On Sunday the band will be in a Halloween parade.  My son is opting out of doing it but my daughter is excited to join in.  The problem is she is going to have to miss church and I'm not exactly happy about that.  Missing church for a Halloween celebration just does not seem right with me.  But I told her we will be going to the evening service, for sure.  Forgive me, Father, for I don't always know the right thing to do and even when I do know the right thing to do I struggle to follow through with my convictions.

My daughter has been struggling emotionally and it's affecting her relationships with people.  I'm trying to reach out to a Christ-centered therapist for her.  As much as I try to help her it just isn't enough.  So there's that.  

I look forward to a fun weekend of watching my kids in their activities.  Maybe, just maybe, I'll find time to rest.  

Have a good weekend, friends!  Thanks for visiting with me today and putting up with my rambling.  You are appreciated and adored.  

I Don't Prefer This Type of Sandwich

 On Saturday I spent the day with my parents.  Because of my busy schedule I don't get to see them as often as I should.  I'm in what is called the "sandwich generation" where I'm raising a family of my own but also having to take care of my aging parents.  Its not an easy place to be but it is necessary.  My three siblings live on Long Island and their lives are pretty hectic too.  They don't get to visit often and, sadly, they don't bother to call my parents often either.  That bothers my father a lot.  Jumping in when needed is left up to me and as much as I'm willing to do it, it's not always easy.  I was supposed to watch my mother while my dad went to Long Island for his best friend's funeral but his sciatica pain has been acting up and he was not able to make the trip.  I still went over to the house to help clean and made dinner.  My mother is in her final stage of Alzheimer's.  She can no longer walk, can barely speak, and often needs help being fed.  My father insists on keeping her at home with him instead of a nursing home but it's taking a toll on him.  Saturday was the worst I had seen my mother.  She has also been choking on her own saliva and it gets bad.  Her neurologist warned my father that her time is coming to a close very soon.  This has weighed heavily on me and I don't know what to do.  They need me.  My husband and kids need me.  I'm torn in between.   

Friday was senior night at the football game.  They honored all of the senior football players, cheerleaders and band members.  We escorted Matthew on the field as they talked about his future plans.  I've been able to hold myself together but at the end of the game as the band played "Sweet Caroline" in the stands the tears began to flow uncontrollably.  That was the last home game my son would perform in and it felt bittersweet.  More bitter than sweet, honestly.  

I've been trying hard to keep it all together but feeling unsure if I'm mentally equipped to handle all of it.  That's when my faith kicks in and I ask God for guidance, strength and clarity.  He certainly gives it to me and I'm grateful for that.  Even in this season of trials I still remain thankful.  

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

-- James 1:2 -4

Seasonal Energy Loss

 What is better than being belly up on the couch while it's chilly outside?  

Previously, I listed all the reasons why I like autumn and those are very true; however, my body can't seem to adjust well to the change in weather.  I'm not sure why but it feels as though my body wants to shut down for the season.  I just don't do well in colder temperatures.  It is also when I start feeling lazier and more down-in-the-dumps.  All I can think of is bundling up under a blanket and relaxing. 

Last night my husband and I headed into our bedroom early and watched Twisters.  Have you seen that movie?  It's pretty good.  I actually like it better than the first Twister movie, and I'm not one who usually likes sequels and remakes.  Although, I'm not even sure if this is even considered a sequel.  It definitely felt like a movie all of its own.  The story is about a retired tornado-chaser and meteorologist who returns to Oklahoma and reluctantly joins a new team to begin the tornado chasing again.  Now, I'm not quite sure why anyone would want to risk their lives chasing tornadoes but it was a good action packed movie.  It did have some bad words but no inappropriate love scenes/nudity and plenty of country music in the background.  My son wants to see it and I would definitely watch it again.  

How are you doing, my friends?  Are you enjoying autumn where you are?  I see I have a lot of views on each post and I know quite a few are from all over the country.  Here in Pennsylvania we experience all four seasons - from the rainy spring, to the blistering hot summer, the crispness of fall and bitter cold winters with occasional snow - I should not complain.  But this time of year, blankets and sweatshirts become my go-to companions.  

We did manage to go to the pumpkin patch last Sunday.  It was a pleasant family experience where we walked around comparing one big pumpkin to another.  My daughter and I came up with an idea to buy a bunch of smaller pumpkins as an activity that could be done during our time of hosting the cross-country team's dinner on Monday.  We did manage to buy 11 pumpkins and then headed to the dollar store for new paints and paintbrushes.  

The dinner was a pre-celebration for Tuesday's county race.  My nerves were high before the dinner.  My social anxiety often sets in and I struggle with being around people.  There was rain in the forecast so we had to scratch the idea of having it in the backyard and spent the weekend reorganizing and cleaning the house so everyone could fit inside.  The dinner went well and everyone seemed to enjoy the time together.  All praise goes to my husband who cooked the spaghetti.  Surprisingly, we did have some left over, which served as dinner for the last two nights.  

After work on Tuesday I made it in time to watch the race.  My son and three others from the school advanced to the championship race, which will be next Saturday.  I'm so proud of him.  He is having a great senior year so far.  

I'll leave you with this adorable squirrel and a message I'm beginning to relate to.  Have a great Thursday, everyone!