2017

New Year's is not my favorite holiday. In fact, it's far from it. (It's a close 2nd to Thanksgiving.) But, since we don't really celebrate it, it gives me a chance to reflect on the year that's ending. With only a few hours left of 2017, I have spent the past few hours thinking back on all the GOOD 2017 has brought to us through God's blessings.
2017 started with us buying our second house! After much frustration and heartache with a couple other houses, we realized it was worth it because this house has become our home. We have been able to use it for BBQs, dinner parties, pool parties, house guests, sleepovers and play dates. I love our neighborhood and even feel like we like in the country with all the perks of living in a city.
E started sports this year! He was only old enough to play soccer but he thoroughly enjoyed both seasons that he played. His best friend was on his team and, together, they became the dynamic duo. I don't know why I am surprised, but I was amazed by his athletic skill every time I watch him play. Now that he's 5 (give me a sec while I shed a few tears over that!), he is excited to add T-ball and football to his repertoire. He's going to be our all American athlete I'm sure.
In April I took a girls' trip to Nashville to compete in a half marathon. Not that I am a pro marathon runner by any stretch of the imagination. But, that was by far the worst marathon experience I have ever had! I am grateful to say I finished it on my own accord because several dozen runners couldn't say that. Nonetheless, it was a fun get away in a new town with a good friend. So, all in all, it was a memorable experience.
In May, P finished the school year earning 5 different academic awards! His craving to learn anything and everything astonishes me. He always has his nose in a book and remembers information like my mom. In May, I finished my first school year as a high school teacher and I have to say that I loved it a lot more than I thought I would! The boys and I ended the month in Cali, where we spent a couple weeks visiting my parents. One of my best friends got married so I was thrilled beyond belief to attend her wedding.
We had a super busy Summer! In fact, it was by far the busiest Summer we've ever had. Between friends coming over to swim, day trips and weekend get aways, I don't recall having one single day where we sat around with nothing to do.
School started and E got bumped up to preschool. Although he LOVES his teacher and friends, he doesn't like school per se. I don't think he's ever going to love it the way his big brother does. In fact, every morning he wakes up and asks, "Is today Friday?" because he knows that Friday at 1pm means no school for 2 days. Ha! But, regardless, I'm impressed with how much he's learning.
One of my nearest and dearest friends came for a visit from AZ in September. She and I snuck away to a beach side condo for the weekend and thoroughly enjoyed our time together. We laughed til our sides hurt and ate until our stomachs ached. It was one of the best weekends I've had in a long time!
Fall brought the busy time of the year for us. Between P's football schedule, hunting season, choir practice for our Christmas performance, photo sessions and school obligations I felt like we were in a continual juggling act with our time. But you know? I wouldn't change it for the world!
My parents surprised us by coming to us for Thanksgiving this year. It's the first time in almost 4 years that they've come for a visit and we loved their time with us! The boys loved showing them what we do here for fun and I loved having them meet our friends so they could put names and faces together. This may sound weird/gross to you but one of my favorite things my mom and I do are nightly foot rubs. So I loved our foot rubs/Hallmark movie nights and all the memories we created while they were here!
After mid December, our lives slowed down considerably. We didn't host Christmas at our house so it was just the 4 of us for the first time ever. Then Rob took off to camp so it's been just me and the boys most days. It's been cold and gloomy so we've used this break to stay close to home and rejuvenate. E and I have been fighting sinus infections so I think our bodies (and minds) needed this down time.
I didn't mean to give you a complete rundown of our entire year. I meant to just give you a glimpse of all the good that's taken place this year. Short story long, it's been a wonderful year. 1000x better than 2016 for sure! I am looking forward to 2018, praying that it'll be as good of a year as 2017. There are some great things in the works. Happy New Year!

A Lost Christmas

Where do I start? So many thoughts running through my head this evening. This day did not go at all how I imagined. Not because of Rob. Not because the boys didn't love all their gifts. Not because we didn't spend quality family time together. Not because we didn't enjoy a nice meal together. But because I got so caught up in my head that I didn't take time to enjoy the day. I knew it was just going to be the 4 of us for the first time in our married life and that didn't set well with me. One of the things I love most about the holiday season is all the social events- Christmas parties, dinners, entertaining. But it was just the 4 of us all day and it seemed too quiet to me. I also knew that I had opened 90% of my presents before Christmas so I didn't have much to open. Selfishly, that kind of makes Christmas morning less magical for me because I love surprises. It's never about the size or the price of the gift, but how much thought was put into it. My absolute favorite thing is opening my stocking because I get things that I "need" but don't buy for myself, things like nail polish and lotion. My dad always puts together the best stockings! So I started the day in a funk.

Then, after opening the presents, I was trying P's drone out that Santa brought him and I lost it. Like, it flew over someone's property and just disappeared. I spent several hours looking for it to no avail. While looking for it, I lost the ring he had bought me at the school Christmas store. I was beating myself up about losing the ring and drone on top of being in a funk.

We laid down for a nap and when I woke up I had a few minutes to myself. I realized that I had spent the day thinking about all that the day was lacking instead of counting my blessings. First and foremost, the reason for Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We work very hard at making sure the boys know that that is the real meaning of Christmas. But, sometime I don't put enough importance on it. Second, even though I've missed my parents terribly today, I have Rob and my boys. We are all healthy (for the most part) and spent the entire day together, playing and relaxing. Third, we are blessed beyond measure. Although we never go overboard with gifts, Rob and I are always blessed to be able to buy the boys (and each other) the gifts everyone wants. We have a beautiful house (Our first year celebrating Christmas in it!) and we had a nice meal. There are a lot of people that can't say that.

So, while Christmas wasn't how I pictured it to be, it was imperfectly perfect. It was a day packed with memories and blessings. And most importantly it's about our Savior, the One Who was born to show us grace even on our most imperfectly perfect days! 

Merry Christmas y'all!

Traditions

If you have been following our blog for awhile, you know that I value family traditions. I love making birthdays and certain holidays even more special by partaking in family traditions. In my opinion, traditions add to memories. Now that I'm a mom, I try to keep certain traditions that we enjoyed when I was a child. Traditions such as driving around, looking at lights; searching for the German pickle on the Christmas tree; stocking filled to the gills (One of my most favorite things about Christmas!). Certain traditions we have not kept for various reasons- the "Orange Man" and cutting down a fresh Christmas tree; enjoying In N Out Burgers after looking at Christmas lights; falling asleep on a pile of wrapping paper Christmas morning. Other traditions we had made as a family- elf on the shelf; reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and the "Birth of Christ" Christmas Eve; supporting a family in need. This year I realized just how important our traditions have become because P told his teacher about the German pickle. She was very impressed with this tradition and shared it with another teacher, after asking P more about it. I hope when the boys grow up and have families of their own they are able to keep our family traditions or create their own with their family. Traditions enrich our lives and help tie generations together!

Making or Breaking?

Maybe it's because I have a Bachelor's in Child Development (basically child psychology) or maybe it's because I am a mom to two very different kids. But, I've been thinking a lot this week about making or breaking a child. I have heard two people speak to two different kids in two different settings in ways that make my heart sad. I have no doubt that either person meant to hurt the child's feelings or harm them in any physical way but it's just made me think. I feel that adults (parents, teachers, coaches, etc) have an important job in a child's life. It's to help a child without tearing them down. It's to understand that a child does not cognitively have the same ability as an adult. It's to build self esteem, highlight a child's strengths instead of always harping on their shortcomings. It's to make them feel safe, to feel loved. A child should not feel that s/he has to earn love and praise. It should be unconditional.
I am by no means a perfect parent so please don't think I am pointing fingers. I lose my patience with the best of them. I make sarcastic comments and see the hurt I have caused. But I try. I try to love on both of our boys equally. I try to discipline them equally. I try to encourage their strengths equally. All the while knowing that our boys are as different as night and day. Both are smart and strong and brave in their own ways. I want to start acknowledging that more.
Here's why. By the time the boys become teenagers, their mental foundation has basically been set. What they have heard over and over again is what becomes engrained in their mind. It can become their focal point. I want those things to be positive things. I want both of our boys to feel they can conquer the world because that's what they've learned from the adults in their lives. I want them to be strong (mentally as much or more than physically) to handle what life throws their way.
I am not the type of mom to think every child deserves a trophy. I think that society has made kids too soft with that mentality. But I do think that it's vital to teach while nurturing. That doesn't mean to be soft. It just means to love. To build up. To understand. To give them your best. Because they deserve nothing less. They are our future.

**Scroll down to see our Southern Winter wonderland.**

Winter Wonderland

I thought my friends would be what I'd miss most about moving away from NV. But, as much as I miss them, it's not the thing I miss the MOST. I miss the weather. I REALLY miss the mild Summers and snow filled Winters. I miss a layer of snow covering the trees, making everything look like a Winter Wonderland. I miss sitting on my overstuffed chair, with a cup of coffee, watching the snow come down. So I was beyond giddy when I heard that the weather report called for snow today. I was even more excited when Rob woke me up at 6:45 this morning to tell me that snow was falling. We bundled up and went outside to enjoy snowball fights and building snowmen. For just today (and maybe tomorrow morning?) I got what I miss the most....a Winter wonderland! Merry (early) Christmas to me!!

A Winning Combo

I am not a gal who shies away from food. I love to eat. But, I have never been a big fan of Thanksgiving. I remember my mom starting the meal preparation around 5am and cooking all morning. Then we'd sit down and eat for 10 mins before spending an hour cleaning up all the dishes. Yesterday, however, that didn't happen. Rob deep fried the turkey, freeing up the kitchen for me to cook some new recipes. (Carrot soufflé and homemade pecan cheesecake, anyone?) I was in the kitchen for about 1 1/2 hours before putting all the food out. We had a feast and everyone seemed to love the new dishes I made (as well as some of our old time favorites). Then my parents and Rob tag teamed the clean up, giving us time to play football, watch football and do a little "Black Friday" shopping. It was the perfect day! I am thankful, not only for all the delicious food we had, but the teamwork that was put into making it happen.

Thankful Catch Up

This has been a blog fail. So much for blogging every day this month. Between teaching, photography, football games and my parents here, blogging hasn't been a priority. But I will play a little catch up for the past week.
I am thankful for parents. In the past, parents have definitely not been my favorite part of teaching. However, that has changed since teaching at SCA. I recently had a parent-teacher conference and I was so thankful for the parents' support. I am also thankful for my parents, who have been visiting for the past week. They have helped in numerous ways- cooking, the boys, laundry, being my chauffer when I hurt my foot, projects around the house. It's been fun having them here, showing them around. I am thankful for parents and all they do for their kids, young or old.
I am thankful for the cool weather and rain. I have been waiting for a cool down since last Spring. There are very few things that make me as happy as wearing my UGGs so I jump at the chance to wear them whenever possible. I am so thankful that I've been able to bundle up in scarfs, hoodies and my UGGs this past week.
I am thankful for my camera! It has been one of the best investments I have ever made. It allows me to capture moments in time for our family, the school and my clients. It allows me to be creative, to think outside of the box. I have enjoyed it beyond belief!
I am thankful for "surprises" in the mail. I love going to the mailbox and finding an unexpected letter from a friend, or money, or a letter from a business that an issue has been resolved. I love opening the front door to find a package. Despite getting bills in the mail, one of the highlights of the day is when the mail arrives because you never know what's going to be in there.
I am thankful for friends. That goes without saying. But, I am thankful that some of our good friends will be making a 2 1/2 hour drive (one way) tomorrow to come have Thanksgiving with us. I am thankful that friends text me to see how things are going. I love hugs that friends give me when I see them. I love that friends are there and will listen, even if what you're telling them is not the most pleasant stuff. I love that my friends are my cheerleaders!
I don't think I have caught up on all the days. But at least I have caught up on a little bit. I'm forewarning you that I probably won't blog tomorrow. It's Thanksgiving so I'll be hanging out with family and friends, looking at the Black Friday ads, stuffing my face. You know? The usual! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

Another 3 for 1

Nov. 14
I will be the first one to admit that I miss the snow, the cold weather. Come October, it's supposed to be cold enough to wear a hoodie. And, by November, you should be bundled in a coat and UGGs. But there's something to be said for putting on shorts and a t-shirt to do yard work. It's nice that the boys can come home from school and burn energy, playing football outside. It may chap my hide to turn the A/C on when we go to bed, but there are some things I enjoy about the warm weather.

Nov. 15
Three and a half years ago a little mutt darkened our doorstep. She wasn't the cutest dog I had ever seen. In fact, she wasn't even close to it. But something about her made us fall in love with her. After showing up for a few weeks, every day, we decided to adopt her and I am so thankful we did. P named her "Fetcha", which is funny only because she hates to fetch. Her toy of choice? A balloon. Other than that, she could care less about anything other than us....and the neighborhood cat that comes into our yard. Her only annoying habit is running out an open door and then having the boys chase her to get her back home. But, for us, she has been near perfect of a pet. She is connected at P's hip until he goes to bed. Then she split her time between me and Rob. She either lies on the carpet in the bathroom while I take a bath or she lays at Rob's feet while we watch TV. She is fiercely protective of her boys and, I have no doubt, would give her life if one of the boys was in danger. I am so thankful that she found us a few years ago because she has been such a welcome, and very loved, member of our family.

Nov. 16
I am a high school history teacher so, on more than one occasion, I have taught about how people traveled in the 1800s during the Westward Expansion. I teach how it would take months to get across the country, if the people even made it to their destination. So, today, I am thankful for modern transportation. I am thankful that my parents were able to get on a plane and travel across the US in a matter of hours. I am thankful that I was able to get the boys and drive to the airport in about an hour to pick them up. I have always been close to my parents. So, the thought of not being able to see them a couple times a year would be unthinkable. I am thankful that they are here for Thanksgiving, seeing our world.

Lunch Bunch

I'll be honest....making everyone's lunch every night is not my favorite thing. It's usually the last thing I do at the end of the day. By the time I make them, I'm ready to be done. So, most days I am not thankful for making three lunches (most of which will not be eaten the next day and will be thrown out). But tonight I realized that, although it's not my favorite thing, I am thankful for the opportunity to make them. I am thankful that we have the resources to provide a variety of lunches four to five days a week. I am thankful that I can drop little notes of encouragement and love in their lunchboxes. I am thankful that I can make them smile when I pack them small treats that I know they'll enjoy. I am thankful that I have three boys who may not eat their entire lunch but appreciate that I make them. Well, 2 out of the 3 appreciates them. This morning our 4 year old informed me that he wants Rob to make his lunch because I don't make them the way he likes. But, nonetheless, I am thankful that tomorrow, at lunch time, my boys will enjoy a token of my love when they reach into their lunchbox.

Alone

I am sitting on the couch, drinking my cup of coffee and watching the news. It is quiet. I am not getting multiple breakfasts ready, washing dishes or arguing with a 4 year old about life. I am simply waking up at my own pace, a rarity in my life. Today I am thankful my "me" time. As a working mom, I do not get a lot of alone time. After I drop P off at school in the morning, I get 7 minutes (9 if I get caught at the light at the top of the offramp) of "me" time before walking into my classroom. After that, I usually don't get any more alone time until after 8pm and that's usually only a few minutes. I am not complaining in the least. I would not change my life for anything. However, it just makes me thankful when I get an extended amount of alone time.
Growing up, I wanted a marriage like my parents have. I wanted to be connected with someone 24/7 the way they are. But, once I became an adult that goal changed for me. When Rob and I got married, our marriage was different. He worked out of town a lot and I did my own thing. It worked for us because it had to but it wasn't what either of us wanted. After moving to LA and getting a job in management, he is home every night. We do a lot more as a family. We sit down to eat together every night. We drive to football and soccer games together. We go to church together on Sundays. I feel like we are a team more than we ever have been. But, I still like my "me" time. Whether that's going out with girlfriends, watching a cheesy Hallmark movie by myself or just reading in bed after the boys are in bed. I NEED that time to decompress. For awhile I thought that meant something was wrong with our marriage. I didn't want, nor need, to be around Rob 24/7 to be happy. But, after spending hundreds of dollars in counseling last year, I realized that our marriage works just fine for us. In fact, it's perfect for us. We don't have to be connected at the hip. Our personalities don't work that way.
Rob took the boys to deer camp this weekend because I had photo shoots and I wanted to get the house cleaned for my parents' visit later this week (yay!). As much as I love being a wife and a mother, I have enjoyed this weekend by myself. I have run a copious amount of errands and they have been quiet and at my leisure. I have lounged around, watching what I want to watch. I went to bed late one night and to bed early the next. I have edited and done lesson plans without feeling guilty for being behind a computer screen, ignoring my family.
So, today, I am thankful for "me" time. I wouldn't want it for a long period of time. But, today, I am thankful for the weekend I have had to myself. My alone time makes me a better wife, a better mother and for that I am thankful.

Veterans

Far from home. PTSD. Desert life. Gunfire and bombs. Questioning who to trust. Missing holidays and birthdays with loved ones. These are just a few things soldiers endure. Marriages dissolve. Alcohol and drugs take over. Nightmares occur nightly. These are things that great men and women know they are signing up for when they become a soldier. Does it happen to every soldier? No! But, it's common.
That's why it infuriates me when football players-skilled athletes who are paid millions to catch a ball and run for our entertainment-take a knee to disrespect the flag and our veterans. They do not consider everything someone has given up so that America can be the land of the free. Where we can enjoy freedom unlike other nations.
I am thankful for the men and women who join the military every single day. I am thankful for their selfless acts in defending our freedom. I am thankful that they put on a uniform every day to go fight for our country. Thank you, veterans, for giving so much! You are appreciated. Happy Veterans Day!

A Three For One

Well, will you looky here? I only got a week into November before I started slacking. So, I guess tonight you get three blogs in one. Sooo.....

November 8
I am thankful for our church family. Over the Summer I signed up to help with the kids' Wednesday night church program and I loved it. I was planning on taking a break once school started, but the boys were excited about the new program starting up. So, I signed up to help with that one as well. I will be honest. There are some nights I don't want to go and some nights the boys don't want to go. It's hard during the school week and it's made even more difficult when we have sports 2-3 nights out of the week as well. (Let's not forget the school events either.) But, once I get to church I am thankful for the people I get to fellowship with.
On Sundays I look forward to catching up with friends at church. I love the hugs and the "How are you doing?" conversations! I love how some of us get together, on occasion, to go to the movies or have a play date with the kids in tow. I love how we help others out and they are quick to help us as well. With our families being in other states, I am thankful that we have our church family. It is such a blessing!

November 9
Preston is our bookworm. He loves to read and loves to learn! But, another thing he loves is football. I am thankful that he found a sport he loves because, quite honestly, I was wondering if he would ever enjoy extracurricular activities. He is a social butterfly. However, he doesn't like to do something if he thinks he may fail. (Yeah, he doesn't get that at all from his mama!) So whenever we asked him if he would like to join a certain sports team or do Boy Scouts he wouldn't show interest. But, now that he's into his third season of football, he is really loving it. And...he's gotten to be really good at it! He is awesome at defense and, most games, is the star of the game as far as making "tackles" (insert: pulling flags). I love watching his games and really love watching Rob coach his team!

November 10
I can't let a "Thankful Day" go by without mentioning cold weather. We finally got some...until tomorrow. I have loved wearing hoodies and my UGGs. I loved freezing at P's game last night. Seriously, I did. I love seeing my breath in the morning. I love everything about the cold weather! So, on the rare occasion we get a cold day or two down in the Sultry South, I love every minute of it. Who knows? Maybe this year, we may even get some snow! A girl could hope anyway.

P.S. I want to get back to my book so I am not checking for grammar or spelling mistakes. You'll just have to deal with my imperfect blogs.

School Support

As you probably know, if you're in the working world, a work environment can make it or break it for making your job a fun one. Thankfully, I am blessed with a great work environment and a wonderful boss. One thing that makes is great is that, while my boss and I may not always see eye to eye, I know I can go to him about anything. If I disagree with something he says or does, I am comfortable in respectfully giving him my point of view on the issue...and he listens. Another thing I appreciate about my boss is that, although he struggles to accept change and new things at the school, he has been open to it this year. I have brought him several ideas, along with how I want to implement it, and he has agreed to most of them. He has been very encouraging with my ideas that I present him.
Another thing I absolutely LOVE about my job is our current student council. The students who make up our student council are very imaginative and aggressive in getting things done. Together, we have introduced many new fun activities that have been well received by the student body. It's a great, fun loving group of students that I am blessed to advise.
The last thing I am thankful for at my school is the students. We have a very talented, compassionate, intelligent group of students who get along great (for the most part) and would bend over backwards to help each other. They are the most respectful, well behaved group of students I have ever taught!
I enjoy going to school every day and see it as more than just a job! I am thankful that I have been blessed with such an awesome opportunity to teach at SCA!

Nature's Suprises

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE surprises!! Well, let me rephrase that. I love good surprises! God provides many good surprises using nature. A couple weeks ago the boys and I were leaving Bass Pro when I noticed something in the grass nearby. There are a lot of stray dogs in the area so I slowed down, thinking that's what it was. But when we got closer, we saw that it was a cute little fawn with all its spots still on it. A few nights later I was coming home from a school volleyball game when I saw something standing off to the right of the road. I did a double take and saw the most beautiful buck I have ever seen up close. I flipped a U-turn to go back and get a picture of it but the elusive beauty was gone by the time I got back to where he had been standing. This weekend the boys and I were driving by Bass Pro again when we saw the fawn in the same place as we had previously seen it. This time it stood there long enough for me to get a few good pictures of it.
Things like this happen all the time- a raccoon or an armadillo walking by the side of the road, a gorgeous sunrise, a rainbow, a group of deer off in the brush. One of the coolest surprises I ever experienced with nature is when a bull elk happened upon me and Rob when we were in NV. It was a spike (a young elk) but it was the most majestic animal...and it came within 10 yards of where we were sitting! Nature is beautiful all on its own (except snakes, lizards and mosquitoes) but I am especially thankful for it when God uses it as a little surprise in life. Today, and every day, I am thankful for nature's surprises in life!

Hallmark

OK, I was seriously trying to decide on two different things to write about for today's blog. And, to be honest, they were both equally unconventional things to be thankful for. But, since I am watching a Hallmark movie at this very minute, it won out on my "What I am Thankful For Today" toss up.
I am adamant about not celebrating one holiday before the other one is over. It is a giant pet peeve of mine to start celebrating Christmas before you enjoy your Thanksgiving feast! My only exception? Christmas Hallmark movies! The only reason it's my exception is because there are SOOOO many of them and I couldn't possibly watch every one of them between Thanksgiving and Christmas. So, I indulge and watch at least one a week in November and December. Yes, they are cheesy and predictable but I am a hopeless romantic so it's my 2 hour escape from reality. Sometimes Rob will even join me in watching one, which makes me even more thankful for Hallmark movies! So, for the next couple months I will enjoy my cheesy romance movies and be thankful for the brief escape from reality every week!

Adventures

Being a parent of boys is not for the faint at heart. Every week brings a new adventure. Some are easy, crafty, my kind of fun. Others are educational. Some are destructive. And, as they get older, I am sure some will be gruesome. But, never the less, they are all interesting. This week's adventure includes yet another turtle. I have learned more about turtles in the past 10 months than I ever knew. A few months back we had a turtle (Sniper Jr) that we let out for awhile. Well, while she was out, she dug a hole and we believe she laid eggs there. We have been monitoring the area ever since, hoping to find one of her babies. Yesterday when I let our dog out, lo and behold, there was a baby turtle in our pool. We grabbed it, put it in a box and named it.....drum roll please....Sniper III. (When we find a name we like we stick with it!) Now, you may have learned by now, that we don't have the best track record with turtles. Who knows if we'll have this one a week, a month or a year? I do know E already lost it yesterday and, thankfully, one of Rob's friends who had stopped by to visit, found it for us. One thing is for sure- no matter how long Sniper III stays with us, it will be an adventure. And today I am thankful for all of our adventures (so far!).

Family Movie Nights

A couple months ago, when life started really getting busy, P asked if we could have a family movie night. He chose the movie, we popped popcorn and hung out together as a family. Just relaxing. This tradition kind of stuck. When we're in town, and don't have something on the calendar, we sit down together as a family and watch a movie. We take turns choosing the movie, for better or worse. I have come to love these nights for two reasons. Reason #1 is because, after a long week, there is no other place I'd rather be. Reason #2 is whether this tradition lasts a couple months or a couple years, I know at some point the boys won't want to hang out with us on a Friday night. So, tonight, I am thankful for our movie nights. I am thankful for our time as a family, unplugged from our phones and cuddling and making memories.

Teamwork

Today I am thankful for teamwork. I honestly do not know how people survive without a tribe. First and foremost, I have my family. Then I have my church family, my co-workers, my friends. People that come together to help when need be. For the past couple weeks, Rob and I have been a team when it's come to the boys' health (We are a team in so many ways these days but this is one that comes to mind because we've been dealing with a lot of sickness lately.). We have been tagteaming dr appts, all nighters with sick kiddos, taking time off work. And then there are our friends who have helped pick P up from school and have coordinated rides for him before school. One of our church family has recently had a double knee replacement and I am working with a team to bring her food while she's recovering at home. Teams are good. They are essential, especially if you have kids.
It's good to be a part of a team. I NEED teamwork! It is something I take for granted at times, but something I really appreciate. Teamwork makes things possible, less of a headache. So today, and every day, I am thankful for my tribes that contribute to our lives.

A Fly-By Month

Yesterday, I gleefully flipped the calendar from October to November. As I did, P said, "Is it November already? October flew by!" Indeed it did. I love being busy, doing fun things, but we have gotten so busy that I cherish the little down time we get once in awhile. Between school spirit days, football games, church, photo shoots, sleepovers, school events, and Halloween festivities we have had obligations almost every day. Today I am home with E because he is sick. I feel so bad for him being sick but it's nice to be able to take a break from the rat race of life. We are just "being" today. Something he needs and something I appreciate.
So, to give you a small glimpse of our busy life I thought I would share some overdue pictures. Enjoy!

Thanksgiving

A few years I diligently blogged every day of November things I was thankful for. But the past two years I have slacked on this. It's not that I'm not thankful. It's just that life has gotten in the way. So, I am going to try my best to blog every day in November to, not only let you know things I am thankful for, but to be more aware of all the blessings that surround us on a day to day basis.
Now, it goes without saying that I am thankful for my family, my friends, my walk with God, the big things in life. But I am also thankful for the smaller, more unconventional, things as well.
Today I am thankful for modern medicine. I have no problem using essential oils, rice bags, honey, etc for ailments. However, there's something to be said for antibiotics and Tylenol. We have had a houseful of ailments lately, between the two boys. P had some stomach issues that required probiotics and other things to aid his digestive system. Then he had the most random bug bite on his head that has him on antibiotics. E is currently dealing with a fever virus, in which he needs Advil and Tylenol. So, today, on the 1st day of November I am thankful for the conveniences of modern medicines. I can't image life without them!

Parenthood

Some things are not for the faint of heart. Parenting ranks up there as #1. From the minute you bring a child into the world, you begin to worry. About big things like being kidnapped. About little things like eating healthy. I tend to take it to the extreme and worry about EVERYTHING. I worry about their future as adults, how strong of a Christian they will be as they grow older, the music and TV shows they are exposed to, conversations they overhear, getting enough sleep, fitting in at school/church, their future spouse, not getting enough exercise, being well rounded (so I make sure to fit in enough books and crafts to balance out the sports), being hard workers, what occupation they will choose as adults, even what college they will attend. But my latest worry is something that stems from my childhood. I now worry about people liking E better than P. Adults like P. He has a large vocabulary and loves to talk. He is compassionate and is eager to help because he knows it will please people. However, I have noticed that kids are not overly eager to play with him. He is not the first kid his peer invite to a party or ask to participate in their game. Don't misread this. He gets invited to do things and plays with kids his age. It's just that kids his age tend to gravitate toward E when both of the boys are together. In fact, E has become kind of the school mascot where I teach/he goes to preschool. People at the school LOVES when he walks into the room. The ironic thing is that E could care less if people like him or talk to him. He doesn't try even half as hard as P does to make friends. But he is quick witted and people find him to be hilarious. He is a natural athlete and, because he has an older brother, he tends to learn things faster than his kids age (except the reading and writing stuff). He is strong willed and will stand up to people if he doesn't agree, whereas P will change his mind just to make someone happy.
Basically P is me and E is like my brother when we were growing up. After elementary school, I became known as Josh's sister. As we got older, even though I was 3 grades ahead of him, it got worse. My brother was the one everyone gravitated toward and I was more like P- tried too hard, could be a little dramatic, was bossy and wanted to make the rules when we played. So, as much as I take pride in P being so much like me in so many areas of life, this one thing makes me worry. I know how it feels to be the oldest sibling, being made to take the backseat. I hope all this worrying proves to be pointless. I pray that both boys are liked and respected for their individual talents/personalities with their groups of friends, strangers and adults in their lives. Because once that happens, then I can begin to worry about something else in their lives.
Ah, the never ending life of a parent!

Victims

It's been awhile since I've gotten up on my soapbox and I am hot about an issue today so here it goes....
Recently Taylor Swift was in the news for suing a radio host for inappropriately touching/groping her while she was doing a broadcast for his show. According to the media, she did not acknowledge it right after it happened and chose to keep the incident out of the spotlight. She did, however, bring it to the station's attention after the incident. The radio host then sued Swift for trying to get him fired, which then caused her to countersue because of it. As I read the article, I was glad that she stood up for herself and other women that have been in that type of situation. I thought most everyone would applaud her for her actions...until I came across someone who didn't.
This person basically said she was doing it for media hype and she should have dealt with it when it first happened. Unless you are in that type of situation, you never know how you will react. I had a similar situation happen to me in high school with a teacher. When it happened, I didn't speak up. At first I was embarrassed, thinking I had done something to bring it on. When it was done a second time I got angry because I felt like the teacher thought I'd become the "silent victim". Thankfully I had/have parents who are very supportive of me. I told them what happened and they immediately brought it to the school principal. Soon other female students were telling stories about similar situations with that same teacher. My parents never told me all the details of what happened (Of if they did I blocked it out because that's not a fond memory) but I know the teacher did not finish the year at that school. And because of that, I felt safe again.
I am tired of female victims being told how they should deal with sexual harassment or being told that the only reason they are talking about it is because they want attention. Who wants that kind of attention? The fact that Taylor Swift only asked for $1 in that lawsuit proved that she was doing it out of principle and not to gain a monetary win. In my opinion, more women need to speak up for themselves. Victims don't need to be victimized any more than they already are because of the situation. Speaking solely from my situation, sexual harassment is humiliating and you just want it to go away. But, sometimes, speaking up is the only way to right a wrong. So I stand behind Taylor Swift's case and am glad that she had the COURAGE to bring to light the situation, to face the media about it and to be a voice against sexual harassment!
*Stepping off the soapbox...drained.

Never Ending Harvey

Other than a few special birthdays we celebrate in August (Shout out to my brother who is celebrating his tomorrow!), I am beginning to hate the month of August. It started last year with the flood and solidified it this year with Harvey. Whereas we have not directly been affected by the hurricane, it's still painful to watch. Today it's making its third AND FINAL landfall. I am relieved. It was beginning to get a little too close for comfort. When it went back out to the Gulf a couple days ago and forecasters hinted that it was going to hook East when it made landfall, I was nervous. Emotions from last year at this time began to resurface. E woke me up last night because he had a nightmare that our house was flooding. We are all feeling it.
But, despite the horrific life-threatening flooding that is happening along Texas and SW Louisiana, people are once again coming together to show what makes Southerners so special. Common citizens from all over are banding together in a time of need. They are breaking the color barriers that the media tries to hype up. People are burning their vacation hours at work to make a trip to the South to help anywhere it's needed. People of all ages are already starting to collect money and items to send to parts of Texas.
Rob is one of those people who has given selflessly. One of the things I love about him is that he doesn't hesitate to step up to the plate to help perfect strangers. It doesn't matter if it's someone stranded on the side of the highway with a flat tire or an elderly lady trying to pump gas at the gas station. He helps without hesitation. Hurricane Harvey has been no exception. Monday morning, despite injuring his back over the weekend, he felt burdened to help rescue people in need in Texas. He coordinated with a friend who had a boat and he headed out. When he got to his friend's house, the guy's neighbor came over and handed them a substantial amount of money, not wanting anything to come out of their pockets. He couldn't go help personally but he wanted to contribute financially. That's how people do it in the South, give what they can, any way they can. It's the way of life here.
According to Rob, Monday was just organized chaos. He kept being told to go to different places and he spent the day wasting gas and time. He did help load up supplies in his truck but he was pretty discouraged when he got back to his friend's house Monday night. Yesterday he got up and headed for Texas. He and his friend were almost to Houston when it was announced that SW LA would be getting hit hard when Harvey made landfall again. His friend, not having been through this type of storm before, decided he wanted to get back home in case his house was in the line of fire, so to speak. So, when it was all said and done, Rob didn't have a chance to rescue anyone, which didn't bode well with him. That's not his MO. He didn't leave the house Monday morning with the intent of driving around and not coming in contact with those in need.
He is still hoping that someone will call him and ask him to help. He is on the phone constantly, listening to the Cajun Navy walkie talkie app, trying to find a way to help. There's an expression that people have "a heart the size of Texas." Well, Texas needs all the heart they can get. They are not out of the woods by a long shot. In fact, they are only just beginning to feel the impact of Harvey.
If you feel the need to help, I ask that you do NOT donate to the Red Cross. I won't go into why but just trust me on this. Instead, find a non-profit (church or school or....) that will use the donations directly. If you want to donate items directly instead of money, some good things to donate are bottles of bleach, plastic storage tubs, garbage bags, rubber gloves, non-perishable food, baby formula and DIAPERS, bottled water, soap. Those are needed way more than clothes or stuffed animals at this point and anything is appreciated.
Hopefully next August I will blog about what a beautiful month it's been, one void of any life threatening storm. Until then  please pray for Texas as they have a long and seemingly endless road ahead of them.

In Nome, TX, on their way to Katy/Sugarland, TX

A Year Later....

I would love to tell you that after the flood water completely receded that life got back to normal. And I guess in a way it did. It became the new normal. Everyone now speaks in "before the flood..." and "after/since the flood...". It's become a defining time in our community's timeline.
E dealt with PTSD for several weeks after the flood and wouldn't let me or Rob out of his sight. He cried every time we turned down the road where Rob's truck flooded. Our insurance company was more than fair in their settlement for Rob's truck. He was able to use the money to buy a "new" truck. Our neighbors' "few days" stay lasted two months. Their house is still not completely finished but it's getting there. I ended up going back to work 5 weeks after the flood and the school year was altered to make up for lost time. We qualified for D-SNAP (a disaster food assistance program) and our church was inundated with donations so we never went without. While many struggled because they had lost so much, the Lord graciously blessed us so we were able to donate money, furniture, plastic tubs, food, mold spray and ~most importantly~ our time to help so many in need.

A year later the community is still in repair. I read somewhere that, after a natural disaster of the flood's magnitude, it takes up to two years to fully recover. I believe it. We have gotten used to not having all the conveniences we previously had. Within the past year, businesses have closed their doors and walked away completely (Baskin-Robbins, Pretend Play, Popeyes). Other businesses took months to repair and reopen their business (Starbucks, Walmart, Big Mikes). Some are still abandoned and yet to be determined whether they will reopen (Wendy's, Subway). And yet some businesses have been torn down and new ones are taking the place of the old business (Western Store, Shell gas station, Winn Dixie). The same can be said about homeowners. FEMA trailers can be seen in almost every neighborhood. Debris piles still sit, waiting to be picked up. Sadly, the flood left a lot of trash behind that has yet to be picked up.
But, after seeing how strong the community came together (Cajun Navy, anyone??) I have no doubt that it will be rebuilt better than ever. It may take more time, but I am excited for what the future holds for DS! It's been a long year but it's also been a year of growth and strength. One that has made me appreciate a place I barely liked for the first two years here. And I won't forget to give God the glory for it all!

Here are pictures that were taken this past weekend so they are about as recent as you can get:

The Great Flood of 2016 Finale

The water had receded enough so Rob used my car to get to work, with the intent that I would come pick it up later to run errands. I guess in the back of my mind I still couldn't grasp all that had taken place the past 4 days. Our neighbor had a truck similar to Rob's so he said he would take me to get my car. Then he naively thought he could go get plastic tubs to store their belongings. (More about that on tomorrow's blog.)
As soon as we got to the main road, outside of our subdivision, I saw a car stranded in the middle of the road where it had unsuccessfully attempted to drive through a flooded roadway. When we got to the freeway, I thought "This isn't too bad." There weren't stranded cars and, other than a lack of vehicles on the road, it looked like a normal Tuesday morning. But it wasn't.
What should have been a 10 minute drive to Rob's office took close to 2 hours. Roads were closed. Police were out in full force, blocking roads that were unsafe, protecting businesses from looters. In the two hours it took to get to our destination I saw what I imagine the Apocolypse to look like. As silly as this may seem, one of my major regrets during that horrific weekend was not taking more pictures. I wish I would have grabbed my camera before leaving the house to document what I saw.
My neighbor and I had to take surface roads to get to my car once we took the freeway exit. I saw homes with garages that were a mangled mess due to how fast the water was flowing. I saw cars stalled out in the middle of the road. I saw brown residue on the side of houses from the flood waters. I saw a military type vehicle on its side in a ditch. The closer we got to my car (which was at the heart of our town) the more devastation I saw. I can't begin to tell you how many boats were stranded on lawns, tied to lampposts, upside down. Store front windows were shattered from the force of the water. And then something I doubt I will forget....A firetruck that looked like it had been completely submerged. Its hoses unraveled and lying on the ground, lifeless. To me, firemen are invincible so to see that stranded fire truck was what it took to solidify the devastation of it all.
The scene brought me to tears. My neighbor and I drove in silence as we took it all in. By the time we finally got to my car I was a basketcase. I sat in my car and let all that had taken place since Thursday night sink in. I cried for friends who had lost all their Earthly belongings. I cried for friends who had to figure out where they would live while they rebuilt their life. I cried for our beautiful church that was no longer beautiful. I cried for my job as I had received a text from my boss, stating that he didn't know if we had our jobs due to our school flooding. I cried for the uncertainty of the future. I also took the time to thank the Lord from sparing us from flooding. I thanked Him for His protection over us. I thanked Him that He used us to be a blessing to others. I just sat in my car for what seemed like hours, not wanting to go back out on the roads, not wanting to see the devastation.
But I did. I went to the one local Walmart that was open. I waited in line outside the store while only a few people were let in at a time. When I got in the store, I breathed a sigh of relief, finally seeing something that looked normal.
The flood was an event that will stay in people's minds for years to come. People who flooded will probably never forget. I would like to say that, a year later, things are back to the way they were pre- flood but you'll have to read tomorrow's blog to see what has taken place in this past year here in our little parish. Stay tuned.....

The Great Flood of 2016 (Part V)

....but I didn't take in the reality that, after the water receded, there was the aftermath to deal with. I woke up the next morning feeling claustrophobic. Not because we were now a "family" of 10 in a 1700 sq ft home (6 of whom were under 8 years old). But because I felt trapped. To look out the window, at the sun shining, it looked like a normal Southern day. Kids were out playing, the roads were dry. But what the naked eye didn't show were the streets out on the main roads that were still flooded. You couldn't see the washed out parts of the road. You couldn't see the police blocking roads, not letting residents get by. You couldn't look out your window to see the inside of your neighbor's house, to see the devastation that took place 24 hours ago.
Our neighbors (along with Rob) got started on clearing out the flooded debris and gutting the house immediately. If I went over and saw it before the work started, I don't remember it. I did go in at some point during the day and saw sheetrock pulled halfway up the wall. Appliances sitting out in the driveway. Furniture all over and fans going, trying to keep the mold at bay.
That morning I also saw the devastation on a broader scope. You see I would've given just about anything for a Coke at that point. None of the neighbors had any (or so they said). But one of our neighbors graciously let us use his Hummer to get to the store. I volunteered to go because I needed some alone time, some time to process what had happened and our new norm. I got out of the subdivision without a problem and headed down the road to what looked like a ghost town. Stores were shut down. All stores. Even the ones that hadn't flooded. So, after driving a couple miles, I turned around and went back toward Walmart because I had heard it hadn't flooded.
That's when I came across the washed out roads. I was told it was dangerous to cross the road I needed to go across and, in hindsight, it was stupid of me to do it. But I wanted to see that some places had survived, that some stores were open. So I drove down the road with caution and, PTL, I made it safely to the main intersection. Only to be turned around by a police officer. I was near tears. All I wanted was some normalcy. I went back home, dejected.
Later that day Rob was able to get to Walmart in our neighbor's Hummer. Only 5 people were allowed in at a time so it took him forever but, hallelujah, he came home with Coke! I kind of got a superficial glimpse of how Noah must have felt when the bird came back with an olive branch. To know that the water had receded and that at least some of civilization existed. To know we could get groceries, to drive on the main roads.
Rob and I took advantage of our friends living with us to go look at Rob's truck that night. Surprisingly, it started but man, oh man, did it stink. I about gagged when we first opened the door of the cab. That flood water stink is something you don't easily forget! While there, we stopped by the church and our pastor was there surveying the damage. Our church, despite the sandbags, had taken on 3-4 feet of water. Dead fish were on the carpet. Pews were all askew. A brown water line graced the walls and furniture, showing just how much water had come in. And I guess, even though I was looking at it, the magnitude of this natural disaster still didn't set in. I had been living in a bubble and didn't want to accept the reality. It wasn't until the next day that I had no choice but for it to sink in....

The Great Flood of 2016 (Part IV)

....we were awakened by a loud knock at the door. We always lock our doors but for some reason we hadn't locked the front door that night. So, as we went to see who was at the door our neighbor was sticking his head into the entryway, trying to wake us up. He told us that his house was already starting to get water and it was moving fast. Rob and I started working on adrenaline, helping neighbors and putting stuff up high that wouldn't get damaged if we got water. Instead of putting furniture and other expensive items up high we put toys and kitchenware on top of counters. We put photo albums as high as we could possibly reach. At some point, P woke up and helped us despite it being the middle of the night. We were down to one vehicle so Rob got his boat close to my little SUV in case we had to go anywhere by boat. He took our portable safe to a neighbor's where she could put it on the 2nd story of her house so our important documents would stay dry. And then we waited. And watched as water steadily moved from the road up into our yard. I prayed. I called my mom and asked their church to pray.
At some point our neighbors got more water in their house and it wasn't safe for them to stay there. So they moved in next door, to our neighbors to the immediate right of our house. At some point water started creeping into that house and so our neighbors came to stay with us for a "few days". At some point I gave up hope, knowing that if our next door neighbor got water we would too. It was just a matter of time. At some point we realized that I hadn't stocked up on groceries and that we were out of Coke. At some point the National Guard came by in the biggest tank type vehicle I have ever seen up close and asked if we needed to be rescued. At some point the rain stopped only to start up again a few minutes later, bringing even more anxiety.
That day runs together in my mind. I remember little snippets of it. A neighbor saying he killed a snake that was swimming in the water by his house. The helicopters that kept flying over. The make-shift yardstick that we put in the front yard that measured how many inches we were at. Our yellow lab that kept having to use the bathroom. (I thought his pee may put the water over the edge of our threshold.) The kids playing in Rob's boat because they needed to get out of the house for a few minutes, to get some fresh air. Checking my weather app and just watching the yellow and orange and red swirling around my screen, showing no end in sight. The adults wading out front in their rainboots to check on conditions and to check in with neighbors. AT&T going out, meaning we lost internet and our neighbors lost phone service. Trying not to let my tears be seen while I did my best to keep it together for our neighbors and the kids.
Late in the day the rain finally came to an end. Over two feet of water fell. Over 7.1 TRILLION gallons of water filled the waterways, roadways, houses and buildings. We put our furniture back in place and discovered that we had only received about a square foot of water in the master bedroom. For the first time since Friday I was able to breathe. I knew the worst was behind us. Or so I thought....

The Great Flood of 2016 (Part III)

....being bored, antsy, confined, anxious. I remember all these feelings of that day. We sat in the house because the only vehicle we owned that could get us through the flood waters on the main street outside of our subdivision had been submerged under water the day before. It was all so surreal. We watched the news and I looked at FB religiously, praying for any friends who posted they were getting flooded. The day dragged on. In hindsight, I wish I would've slept a lot more that day because shortly after we fell asleep that night....

The Great Flood of 2016 (Part II)

.....the severity of all the rain the night before. I am not good at remembering significant dates, with the exception of a few important family events. But I doubt I will forget August 11-14, 2016 any time soon. It was a three day period of time that stretched me in ways I never knew I could be stretched. It also showed me that God is ultimately the one in control. And, last but certainly not least, it showed me the power of prayer.

My phone started blowing up before 6am, texts stating that all LP schools were cancelled. I selfishly and naïvely thought, "This is great! We get a day off the first week of school and pretty soon the sun will be out. The boys and I will have a long weekend of fun." We got up and they started building forts while I turned on the news. Quickly I realized that we probably weren't in for a very fun day in the sun. News coverage was already showing homes flooded, water rising quickly because of saturated grounds from the previous week's rainfall.
Fast forward an hour or two and I got a text, stating that one of my co-workers was starting to flood. She is a single mom and didn't know what to do or where to take her 3 children. About that time Rob got home and wanted to help. For the next 9 hours of our lives, we saw devastation, team work, the power of prayer and love. We (i.e. Rob and a team of guys from the church. A friend and I stayed with the children in the vehicles, not wanting to be separated from our husbands) went to three homes and our church to sandbag. I wasn't prepared for the long day. I didn't bring a change of clothes, nor did I bring snacks for the boys. Not once did they complain. I think they understood, in their young age, the severity and magnitude of what was going on around them. At one point they needed to use the restroom and I realized that they hadn't eaten anything since breakfast, a rarity for them. My friend and I drove to a local grocery store to use their restrooms. I remember being shocked when I walked in, seeing all the empty shelves. We were told their bathrooms had stopped up and weren't available. So we went down the street to the Dollar General where my friend bought a change of clothes and we bought enough junk food to fill the kids' bellies until we could eat again. Little did I know that our long day was about to get even longer and the boys wouldn't eat again until our last stop....our church.
We were at our last stop, my boss's house. The guys took a small boat filled with sandbags to his house. They had gotten back to the truck and all I could think about was a hot shower and the gumbo that I had left out on the counter to thaw. The parish had set a curfew and we were going to use that as our excuse to get home. But then our pastor texted, asking if we could get him to the church because he didn't know who else to contact. How do you say no to that? So we went.
By the time we got home at 9:30 that night, August 12th, I was mentally exhausted, in tears, and bone chilling cold. I had changed clothes 3 times to no avail. (Thanks to my husband, who graciously let me use his change of clothes and wore the same sopping wet ones all day.) Rob's truck had flooded at our last stop and I didn't know what the immediate future held. After warming up the gumbo, we washed off the flood grime and crawled into bed. I don't remember if I slept well that night but I do remember the next day....

Picture compilation of the flood and its aftermath 

The Great Flood of 2016

One year ago today- August 11, 2016- I was getting ready to head out the door for Bible Study. I told Rob I didn't feel like going with the weather so nasty outside. At Bible Study we made several comments about how hard it was raining. On the way home, I hydroplaned and by the time I walked in the front door of our rental house I was drenched. I commented to Rob, when we crawled into bed, that I had a feeling the FB weather forecaster was right, that this was going to be a bad storm. Little did we know.....

Remembering Heroes

“There is a saying in Tibetan, 'Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.' No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that's our real disaster.”  Dalai Lama

Most of America can remember where they were on 9/11 when they first heard about the twin towers. Most of Baton Rouge (and surrounding communities) can remember where they were when they first heard about the police ambush that took place 1 year ago today. I was in California. At the time, I was separated from the tragedy by 2500 miles so, while sad, I felt distanced from it all. It wasn't until I got back to LA that I realized I had a connection to one of the officers who was killed- Brad Garafola. I had taught his son. His daughter goes to school with P. His inlaws go to church with us. As I started putting the pieces together, I began to mourn the loss of these heroes. The men who went to work to protect the community, while providing for their families.

I remember the heightened tension throughout the area. I didn't want to drive down Airline Hwy, a common thoroughfare through town, unless absolutely necessary because that's where the ambush took place. As the heat began to rise, protests took place. More police ambush throughout the country took place. And more Christians began to pray for our nation, our police officers.

I can't imagine what these police families have been through this past year. I have become friends with Brad's mother in law and once in awhile she'll open up to me. She'll confide in me how she's feeling about losing her beloved son in law, how it's strained her relationship with her daughter. I can't imagine the "firsts" these families went through for the past 365 days. The "what-ifs". So much was lost last Summer- from the ambush to the flood, it was a difficult time for the BR area.

Some good has come from this tragedy. One police was severely wounded- 3 shots to his head, abdomen and shoulder. He has been fighting through a long journey of recovering for the past year. His parents were told he wouldn't live past 5 days, 21 days at most (by a miracle). A couple months ago he said his first word ("Hello") and he used his legs for the first time not long afterwards. Through it all, his dad has become a prayer warrior, has re-established his walk with the Lord. He is also using social media to witness to tens of thousands who follow his son's progress.

So, a year after the ambush, it's important to not lose hope. It's important to pray for our police heroes. It's important to honor those who have fallen in the line of duty. It's important to never forget, yet remain strong.

Thank you to those who put their lives on the line every day, to protect communities around the world.

Summer Fun

I haven't blogged in awhile not because of lack of news. Just the opposite actually. We have been so busy that I literally fall into bed at night, welcoming the quiet. In fact, if memory serves me correctly, Father's Day weekend is the only weekend that we have been home....without entertaining. This past weekend seemed to be our biggest yet- a 8yr old birthday party and a church ministry fish fry. It's been a busy time but it's not over yet.
This Summer has been one for the books! Usually I spend Summer break trying to figure out fun things to do before or after we get back from California, that being our big Summer activity. We spend a lot of time at Bass Pro because of lack of things to do. But this year the fun seems to find us. (We haven't been to Bass Pro once!) There have only been a handful of days where we have been "bored". And by bored, I mean we stay home and clean the house and do laundry to get caught up.
This Summer we have gone to the trampoline park, to the movies, on a camping trip, on picnics, to MS, on the boat, to VBS, to CFA Cow Appreciation Day, to a library magic show, hosted a birthday party and a fish fry, did a day trip to the Coast where we went to the Marine Institute, had friends over to swim several times a week....and the list goes on. Sadly, there is still a list of things I'd like to do but doubt will happen due to lack of time.
Needless to say, I have been having so much fun that I haven't been able to get any of the projects done that I had wanted to do. I wish I could say that I still have plenty of time but that wouldn't be true. This week we'll be going to MS for my FIL's retirement party and next week we'll be going to visit friends with maybe a trip to TX thrown in. Then it's back to the real world. The world where I don't get to sleep in and enjoy a relaxing cup of coffee in the morning. The world where I don't get to spend the day being a kid with my boys. The world where the housework is prioritized because there aren't enough hours in the day. The world where I receive a paycheck again. As much as it saddens me to have the Summer's end in sight, I am excited for the new school year. Until then, let the fun continue!!!