Busy End

June dragged by with a long list of "to do" projects and now July is rushing by with trips, birthday celebrations and church camp. If you had asked me if I was ready to go back to school in June I would've said yes because it was slow and boring. But, the last week of June changed that. The fun time kicked off when we took my brother in law's boat out for the annual 4th of July celebration, which is always a favorite of mine. Then we took a *kind of* spur of the moment trip to the coast to celebrate P's birthday.

As you may know from following my blog over the years, trips/vacations are so special to me. I won't pay 10 extra cents per gallon for gas but I won't think twice about dropping $$ on plane tickets or hotels to create memories with our family. Over the years, some trips stand out because they are more special and/or more fun than the others. This trip to the coast was one of those trips. We were only there for one night, but we ate good food, watched an exciting minor league baseball game, spent a little time poolside and laughed a lot.

On the 4th of July, the boys and I went to a fireworks stand for the first time in years. We ate burgers and let off fireworks, which the boys really enjoyed. I was a nervous wreck since the boys were in charge of lighting them, but they loved every minute of it! 

Then this past week, the boys and I went to youth camp. I went as a counselor and had so much fun. When I was young, camp was one of the highlights of my Summer. I always looked forward to my week at youth camp with my friends. But, camp has really advanced since my days of youth camp where we stayed in dirt filled cabins, had worship time in a dirt filled amphitheater and the only organized fun we had was a limited pool time, grass volleyball and pick up baseball games during the scorching hot afternoons! Now students stay in college dorm rooms, have a huge buffet of meal choices and have organized games/tournaments every day. The worship time is like going to a concert with strobe lights, glow in the dark bubbles and fog machines. The week at camp was a blast and I loved spending time with our church youth group, getting to know the students better.

I unpacked this afternoon after church, but E and I will leave for another trip with my brother and sister in law in a few days to close out our Summer break. So, while June was boring and slow, July has been action packed and oh so fun! I am thankful for these Summers of rejuvenation, productivity and fun trips.

Teenage Bonding

P and I have always had a special bond. We get along and, for the most part, have the same sense of humor. He has taught me to hug more naturally and to say 'I love you" regularly. He has good manners and is polite to most people. Is he perfect? No. There are days he can drive me crazy, and days I drive him crazy as well, because I'm far from perfect either. But we have a bond and love hanging out together. 

E and I are a bit of a different story. We have spent a lot of time together this Summer, but some days I'm doing my thing and he's in his room doing his. He doesn't always want to run errands with me and would rather be by himself most of the time. I don't always find his sense of humor funny. His mood can literally change from minute to minute. BUT, I do appreciate a lot about him. His sense of humor, which I don't always understand, can also have me belly laughing. I'm envious that he's got his dad's quick wit because I don't have it. I appreciate that he's inquisitive, which can lead to some really good conversations. I appreciate that he talks to me about school life, friends, frustrations and successes, and asks my advice on those things. He's quick to help me with outside chores and enjoys learning new recipes with me in the kitchen.

Last night was one of those times I want to remember when I get frustrated with E (which is why I'm blogging about it). I made a nice dinner after P got off work.  Both boys couldn't wait to go "hit digs" (mud riding for you older folks) in the side-by-side since it had rained all day. They inhaled what little dinner they ate, ready to get back outside. Rob fell last week and hurt his back so he came home from work and fell asleep on the couch. E ran out the back door and a second later came back in the kitchen. He asked me if I wanted him to come sit with me so I wouldn't be eating alone. That was about the sweetest thing he could've said. Of course, I told him to go have fun with his brother, that I was fine eating by myself. But it warmed my heart that he'd even think to ask that.

Later, after the boys cleaned the mud off themselves, E asked me to scoot over so he could cuddle up with me on the couch. While cuddling, we got the giggles because E was talking to me, but Rob answered him, thinking he was talking to him. We looked each other in the eye and then fell out laughing. It made me realize that he and I laugh together a lot more than I think we do. Yes, we are very different and get on each other's nerves a lot. But, I do love and appreciate our fun times together!

Sweet Summer Time

Summer is something I look forward to all year long. Not because of the heat or the longer days, but because of so much more. Summer is when we can enjoy waking up on our own, without alarm clocks going off, followed by lazy mornings. Give me a good book and a cup of hot coffee in a ceramic mug over rushing out the door and trying not to slosh coffee out of a travel mug while racing to school any day of the week! I am not one to sit a lot so I use Summertime to do projects around the house. My current project is removing ALL the 90s style wallpaper in our kitchen. It's not a project I particularly enjoy, but I can't wait to see the final result. I enjoy taking my dog for a walk when it's not 9000 degrees outside. And when it is, I enjoy going to the gym with the boys. But, let's be honest....I don't enjoy staying as long as they do. I'm not a gym rat by any means, but I enjoy getting some daily exercise. I love traveling and Summertime is when we get to do that. This Summer we aren't traveling as much as we usually do (trying to learn to live within our means is for the birds!!). But, so far I have been to Cali, Alabama and Georgia. I'll get to go back to Alabama at least one more time with the boys for church camp and then E and I are meeting up with my brother in Houston at the end of the Summer. Another favorite Summer activity is napping. When I don't sleep well or am tired from being so busy, I love a good afternoon nap. I could make a living off of being a napper if my schedule allowed it. I enjoy meeting up with friends for lunch, trying new lunch places with the boys and cooking meals (or making milkshakes) for my family in the evenings. 

All of these things are great, but my absolute hands-down favorite part of Summer is that it is a stress free few months where the boys get along. One of my most favorite things is watching our boys hang out together, goofing off, fishing, going to the gym together, run errands together. There are very few things that top that in my book because it's something I pray for often. I pray that they are not only brothers, but also friends, that they enjoy each other's company. That doesn't always happen so when it does, it sure makes my mama heart happy! 

Awe, the joys of sweet Summertime!

Rambles

I’m not blogging because I have a lot to say. I’m blogging just because. I had a few things I was going to blog about last week, but that seems like forever ago and I’ve forgotten what the topics were. So, this will just be a rambling blog instead. Forgive me.

A week ago I was celebrating the end of the school year with a big 6th grade style field day. It was a beautiful day and a fun way to say goodbye to yet another school year. That seems like it was much longer ago. I closed up my classroom Tuesday and got on a plane early Wednesday morning to come help my mom recover from knee replacement surgery. It’s not often that I visit my parents without the boys in tow and, as much as I miss them, I cherish this time with just me and my parents (despite the circumstances).

This Summer won’t be as hectic as usual. Yes, we have some fun little trips planned, but I also want to get some upgrades done around the house. I’ve already painted the mud room and, with E’s help, I am removing the wallpaper that covers most of the kitchen so I can paint it and make it look less 1990s.

I also want this to be a somewhat relaxing Summer because next year will be busy with it being P’s Senior year. How is it our baby’s Senior year already??!! Just yesterday he was dancing on the laundry basket, with a toy guitar, singing “Cruise” at the top of his lungs. How he has come so far! And we couldn’t be prouder of the young man he’s becoming! He worked part time and maintained good grades with a heavy class load this past year. So I’m glad that his Senior year won’t be as strenuous. The next chapter, after high school, is up in the air, but he will put his heart into whatever he decides to do.

E made the jr high baseball team again and decided that’s the only sport he wants to focus on this year. While I understand why he’s decided this, I think that being a multi sport athlete is very beneficial. But, between taking advanced classes, working part time and playing school ball, he’ll definitely stay busy.

Well, I rambled long enough without even getting half of what I wanted to write in this blog. Oh well. Until next time……

Empty Nesters Practice

Growing up, I was never one of those girls who said I couldn't wait to be a mom when I grew up. I knew I'd be one, Lord willing, but I didn't obsess about it like some of my friends. Being a mom, however, has become one of my greatest joys in life. As the boys get older each year, it brings a new element to parenting and a new kind of joy. But, it also comes with a new reality and a new bittersweet feeling.

You see, now that the boys are growing up more, they are becoming busier. They are working and have a social life. Which means that Rob and I are getting a taste of being empty nesters. There are afternoons where both boys are at work and Rob and I are at home. There are evenings where the boys have gone to a youth event together, giving Rob and I an evening together. 

At first I worried about it just being the two of us. Our world revolves around our boys. What do we talk about? Do we have enough common interests to keep us from getting bored? What I'm finding out is that I really enjoy dating my husband again. We go on fishing dates, go for drives like we used to do before having kids, go out to eat once in a blue moon. Sometimes we just sit and watch a ball game or talk about our day. Regardless, I enjoy our newfound time together.

So, as our boys grow older and begin branching out more, I will be thankful for this new chapter. I will be thankful for the time spent with each boy, time spent with both of them, time with just me and Rob and time as an entire family. It's a beautiful phase of life and I will soak up every moment of it!

Fridays Are my Favorite!

I naively thought that when E decided not to do travel ball this Spring, that it would free up our schedule. And it has.....to add different things to our calendar. Travel ball has been swapped out for fishing tournaments. But that, for the most part, does not include me. I watch the blast off (when I don't oversleep) and go to the weigh ins. 

Despite having my Saturdays free, Fridays have become my favorite day. I was laughing with E the other day, telling him that most people are busy on the weekends but just go to school/work on the weekdays. We are just the opposite. Between school events, church and work, we are so incredibly busy during the week. But, the weekends for me, are spent cleaning, catching up on laundry and doing projects around the house. Most weeks I am on countdown mode to Fridays, when I can relax and be on my own agenda.

Fridays are when I can take a deep breath, make dinner (sometimes) and read a book or catch up on shows that I've missed during the week. Fridays are when I can put the stress of the school week behind me. Fridays are when I can shut off my phone and enjoy family time. Fridays are when I can fall asleep in the hammock or walk Rebel for more than a half mile. Fridays are when I can lounge around and doze off on the couch as the TV plays in the background. Fridays, at 2:30, are when I can begin to reset for the new week ahead.

As with a lot of families, it is that busy time of year. School is wrapping up, sports are becoming the weekend norm and Summer plans are being made. So, I will enjoy the quiet Fridays when I can because they are my favorite!

Class of Their Own

This morning, in our Sunday School class, our teacher asked us who we would consider to be in a class of their own. My friend, Nikki, pointed to Rob at the same time I was thinking that I would put her in a class of her own. Not in a bad way, but in a way that I try to emulate. She exudes joy, even when things are getting thrown at her and people are trying to bring her down. You see, she's not only our friend, but she's also the school's administrative assistant. There are days I walk into the office and, despite her beautiful smile, I can tell she's in "duck mode". She looks calm on the surface, but she's paddling like crazy under it, trying to stay afloat. The thing with her, though, is that most people wouldn't know that because she makes everyone feel special. She makes them feel like she has all the time in the world for them and I want to be more like that. I get caught up in my head with all that has to get done and I overlook the people around me. I want to be more like Nikki because she's in a class of her own for sure.

Another who is in a class of his own is our boy, E. I tell my students every year that junior high is such a hard age. But, I don't think they truly get it until they're there. E is in the throes of it right now, but he refuses to give up. He's not the best at baseball or the Beta president or the straight A student anymore. But, he keeps trying. He was under the weather last week, but he still played his baseball game. He was under the weather, but refused to stay home from school. He was under the weather but still went to work and Bible Study....after going to school all day. He has grit! He is not perfect and he has consequences when he messes up. But, I'm thankful that he is determined to not give up even when he's not feeling it.

As we discussed today, there are many people who can be in a class of their own. So, if you had to choose someone that fits that criteria, who would it be?

A Day of Love

On one of our first dates I told Rob that, if things got serious between us he needed to know something important about me. I don't do Valentine's Day. Maybe it's because I worked at a flower shop for 7 years so I associated Valentine's Day with bloody hands from dethorning hundreds of roses, long days/sleepless nights and angry customers. Maybe it's because I got married later in life so I was jaded by many "bad" Valentine's Days of past. Or maybe, on the flip side, I watched my parents intentionally love each other 365 days a year so I learned at an early age that love shouldn't just be shown one day out of the year. No matter what skewed my views of Valentine's Day, I am not a fan of the Hallmark holiday.

To me, as I said, love is shown 365 days a year. Yes, Rob and I went out for a nice steak dinner last night. But, it was because both boys were hanging out with friends, we had a gift card to use and we hadn't spent quality time together for a couple weeks. It was a really, really good dinner but tonight's dinner at home will be just as nice because I will have made it for my boys out of love. 

The boys woke up to a small Valentine Day treat and candy. Later today I will make chocolate covered strawberries because both boys love them. I do these things because service is my love language. I LOVE giving to others, doing things for them. That brings me joy. So, today and every day, I will show those around me that I love them through the little things I can do. Whether you go all out on Valentine's Day or it's just another day for you, I hope your day is filled with much love!

Spring in February

 This isn't going to be a long post and it's more for me than anything. It's for me to look back on when it's miserably hot and I'm complaining about the heat.

The Fall is usually a busy time for us- back to school activities, football, golf, deer season. By the time Winter hits, I am ready for slow days. Days where we sit around, watching football or a movie by the fireplace. Days where we roll out of bed at 7am and it's still more dark than light outside. Days where we eat dinner at 5:30pm because it seems so late in the day.

BUT, this is the first time I am over Winter. I have been perpetually cold for 2 months straight. I wake up with a scratchy throat due to a draft in our bedroom. I take scalding hot baths every night, trying to warm up. I bundle up to walk my dog. I charge my battery pack so my heated jacket can be warm all day. The heated seats in our vehicles are on more than they're off. I am over the cold!

Today I woke up, excited, because we have a busy weekend ahead of us. We took the boat out last night and, although we didn't catch anything, it was fun to be on the water again. The boys piled up on our bed when we got home and we did devotions, laughed, talked and didn't have to be piled up under blankets to enjoy our time together. This morning we're heading off to a local beekeeping supply store and then are going to visit a friend in the hospital. Tonight I am going to enjoy a girls' night with 2 of my closest friends. Tomorrow we have a big soup potluck after church and then we may or may not watch the Superbowl. In between it all, I am going to be outside- doing yardwork or playing with my dog. 

It feels like we're waking up from a long Winter's nap and, I for one, am very excited about the warmer weather, busier social life and longer days. Bring on Spring!

New Year, New Me??

 Welp, I dropped the ball....again. So much for blogging every day in November. I guess I have a lot of ground to cover for the past few months. What a better morning to catch up than one where I wake up not feeling great and the wind chill is in the single digits. I'm bundled up with a hot cup of coffee, enjoying the quiet (P and Rob are at work and E is still sleeping). So, I thought I'd use the time to catch up on our blog.

I don't know where to begin- like usual when I take a hiatus- so this may be a jumbled blog. November through the beginning of January have not been the easiest. No. I am not going to sugarcoat it and make it look all pretty for the sake of others seeing it. So, let me rephrase that. November through early January have been downright brutal and absolutely shredded me. Parenting is hard. I naively thought that, once kids were self sufficient, it'd get easier. Wrong! Parenting teens is not for the faint of heart. Sleepless nights, anxiety, countless tears and walking on eggshells about sums up parenting teens. But, on the bright side, I can honestly say that I am so thankful for a godly husband who has become my teammate more so since being saved than ever before. Our bond is stronger than it's ever been and I love it!

Despite the hard, there has also been a lot of good. We stayed local for Thanksgiving and enjoyed a quiet- if not a tad boring- week at home. We are pinching pennies due to a huge, unexpected house repair in late August. So, we did not travel anywhere like we usually do during Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving night we bundled up and went to the local baseball stadium that had been converted to a Winter Wonderland. The boys enjoyed ice-skating with some school friends we had run into and I loved looking at all the beautiful lights. 

We have gone to Alabama a couple times over the past couple months to spend time with our 96 year old uncle at his farm. We always enjoy our time there. It is a time filled with roaring fires in the fireplace, watching football games, good food, stories told by him and priceless memories. A couple weekends ago we went there and E ended up killing a once-in-a-lifetime buck. I got to be with him when it happened and it was such a fun hunt!

In December we had a busy month. We spent time with friends and church family. We also got to spend Christmas with my family for the first time in almost a decade. It was a low-key week with them because of the weather. But, it was a nice reset- a time of naps, board games, family devotions and an early birthday celebration for E. The day after we got back, we celebrated E's 13th birthday with a couple of his buddies. He wanted to go to a local trampoline park/arcade and then we had a late lunch at a local hibachi restaurant. It was local key compared to years past, but that's what he wanted to do.

Last weekend the boys went to a youth retreat and Rob and I enjoyed some much needed husband/wife time. We prepped for the forecasted ice storm, went out for a nice steak dinner, slept in and watched movies. I absolutely loved every minute of our weekend together! Due to the weather, the youth retreat was cut a little short. When the boys got home, I enjoyed listening to the memories they created and how they were challenged spiritually.

I laugh because Rob turns into a meteorologist when skinning deer and can determine, even in early October, what kind of winter we're going to have based off the deer. He told me it was going to be a really cold Winter and I reminded him that he said that last year and it wasn't too bad. This winter hasn't been bad until January. And then, oh my word, it has been beyond chilly! I feel like I can't ever warm up. Rob has had to work a lot this week because a Winter snow/ice storm pushed through last weekend and the damage from it has been catastrophic! Trees down, schools shut down, over 150k without power, deaths, roadways closed (with cars on them). I think this is the first time that I can ever remember actually looking forward to Winter being over and warm temps being the norm.

But, that is how life is....some days are warm and sunny and some days are downright cold and miserable. The beauty of it all, though, is that every day is a new day. The storms pass. The sun comes out. And life keeps going. Through it all, we love, show grace and grow from the trying times. I am thankful that both boys have a good group of friends at school, are involved in Bible Studies and have a solid youth pastor to lead them by example. 

Now, onto sunnier, warmer days full of school baseball, nights on the front porch, afternoon walks with Rebel and weekends spent fishing....

A Day...or 12 of Thankfulness

So, it's been a hot minute since I blogged about all the things I am thankful for. To keep this short, I've abbreviate the things I am thankful for and will try to blog daily for the rest of the month (Who am I kidding? That most likely won't happen.)

Nov 3- I am thankful for the beautiful area we call home. I love driving across the causeway and spillway, looking at all the wildlife. I love going to the boat landing and seeing a beautiful sunset. I love watching the leaves change colors. I love how green and relatively clean it is around here. I don't take all of this beauty for granted.

Nov 4- I am thankful for field trips. I tell all of my students, every year, that I don't define students by test scores. So I love watching kids being kids at field trips, playing with friends and not being confined to 4 walls.

Nov 5- This may seem lazy to some of you, but I am thankful for grocery order pick ups. For me, it saves me money and time. It also counts down on the amount of junk food I buy. It's nice, after a long day, to have someone else "wait on" me.

Nov 6- I am thankful that I am a teacher, which has been my dream since I was in 3rd grade. My students amaze me every day. Today I got news that they absolutely killed a district test that all 6th graders take. I am so proud of my students! There is no other profession I'd rather be a part of at this point of my life.

Nov 7- Today I'm thankful for our neighbors. In fact, I'm thankful for all of our neighbors we've had since getting married. Some were in our lives for a season and some became friends for life. But, I'm thankful that we've always had neighbors that watch out for each other and help each other when needed.

Nov 8- I am thankful that I got to spend the morning with 2 of my closest friends. We went to a large craft fair and then to lunch. Afterwards I got to spend the afternoon with E and Rob at our camp. I hate that P wasn't with us, but he has been working so many hours lately.

Nov 9- I am thankful for our church. We had a great time in our Sunday School class, laughing and digging into the Word. Then the worship time was on point and I loved the praise songs the congregation sang. I am forever thankful that my best friend invited us to give her church a try a couple years ago because we found our church family there.

Nov 10- I'm thankful for a good workout. I'll be honest and tell you that I wouldn't go if it wasn't for E wanting to work out. But, once I am there, I like the stress relief of a good workout after a long day.

Nov 11- Today, and every day, I am thankful for our veterans. It amazes me to comprehend their level of selflessness, how they give so much for my freedom. I am so thankful for our men and women in the armed forces.

Nov 12- I am so thankful for our beautifully outdated house. I love the front porch and how comfy our house is. I love the acreage it sits on. Growing up, my childhood house was always filled with guests and I wanted the same thing when I had a family of my own. I am thankful that Rob is on board with this. Between parties, out of town guests, family, and crawfish boils, I would guess that we've probably hosted about 200 people in the 3+ years we've lived here. I am so thankful for our HOME.

Nov 13- I have not felt well for about the past month or so. I'll feel good and then a few days later I'll be congested again. On the 13th I lost my voice and had very little energy so I was able to come home and take a nap after work. I am thankful for naps, especially when I don't always sleep great at night.

Nov 14- Today I am thankful for laughter. I am glad that God gave us a sense of humor and the ability to laugh. I had the CRAZIEST dream last night and I got a lot of laughs out of it as I shared it with so many people (mostly my students).

Nov 15- This brings us to today. The weather has been beautiful the past few days. Today I am thankful that it was warm enough to wear shorts and open my sunroof on the way to meet up with a friend at an outdoor craft fair. After I got home, I enjoyed taking my dog for a walk and then went for a bike ride. I am thankful for warm Fall days.

Nov 2- A Day of Rest

 Today I am thankful for a day of rest. I am not good at sitting around and relaxing. I don't know when the busyness became a way of life for me, the To-Do lists piled up everywhere. But, I struggle to just be. When life became extremely busy in August, however, I realized that I needed to make rest a priority so I didn't burn out. Most of the time my day of rest is on Sunday. Other times it's a different day. When my "rest day" happens, I still do things. But I do things I enjoy- making big meals for my boys, going to church as a family, reading, napping, taking my dog for a long walk, sitting on the front porch, baking. It's a self care day in which I reset after a busy week or before a busy week. I am thankful for these days of rest and, the older I get, the more I realize how important they are.

Nov 1- A Month of Thankfulness

 Well, it's your lucky day. I don't blog for 2 months and then I blog twice in one day? Lucky you. I woke up this morning realizing that, for the past decade, I have used November as a month to focus on our blessings, all that we have to be thankful for. Some times it is easy to overlook our blessings or just focus on the negative things. So I use the month of November to focus on one thing I am thankful for every day. 

Day 1- Today I am thankful for prayer. This week was a challenging week in several ways. I am thankful that I can talk to Rob, my parents and my friends about things. But, sometimes I just want to lay everything out there without getting advice, sarcastic remarks or sympathetic looks. I am thankful that when I want to get it all out, I can pray. God understands and tell us to come to Him. I am thankful that, unlike other countries, we have the freedom to pray about what is on our heart, not what is dictated to pray. Prayer changes things, all things, and I am thankful for it. 

A New Life

I don't know how to start this except to say that I believe in miracles. Small miracles, big miracles, all miracles. The Bible tells us to have faith and believe. But sometimes that is easier said than done (even when you believe in miracles). I digress so let me backtrack. When Rob and I first met he pretended to be a devote christian. There were red flags before we got married, but I went through with the wedding. Shortly after we got married I realized that he was not the christian that he had professed to be. So for 18 years I prayed. Not consistently and not with the faith I probably should have. But I prayed. 

Fast forward to mid September. I used to dread going to school events with him only because of his language. But, I was sitting in front of him at E's football game and noticed that he hadn't said a single cuss word during the game (and he had talked a lot). I thought it may have had to do with the man he was talking to. Then, a couple nights later, he told me that he had had a miraculous rebirth earlier in the week as he got in his truck to go to work. He told me how he broke down and just laid everything at the Lord's feet that morning, feeling like a true miracle had happened. What a glorious moment!

My dad often tells his testimony, but it's hard for me to fathom because I've always known him as the spiritual leader of the house. But now I get it. Rob is truly a new man of God. He is constantly holding us accountable, sending us scripture and making God a priority in our family. 

I often wondered how this would affect our marriage and our family IF Rob ever repented and had a real relationship with God. As most know, I can be a control freak and I am used to being the spiritual leader of our family. I didn't know if I could relinquish that "control". But, it has been so easy because I trust Rob 100% to make godly choices after spending time in prayer. It's such a release for me and I have worried less in the past 6 weeks than I have in 18 years. Do we still have bad days? Yes! But, has my perspective changed, knowing I have a godly man I can discuss things with? Absolutely!

Rob is a new man through God's love and mercy. And I am so thankful for this blessing.

Fall Frenzy

 For some, Fall means a slower pace of life. For us, it means a crazy, busy chaotic schedule. Both boys are involved in two sports. E is playing Fall travel ball with his new team and plays JR High football. I am super impressed that, although he hasn't played anything other than flag football, he starts on the defensive line for the 8th grade football team. He also starts as QB for the 7th grade team. His coaches also asked him to be a manager for the varsity football team, so he spends every Friday night being the best water boy he can be! On top of sports, he also still works 1-2 days a week, is getting involved in our church youth group (YAY!) and is pulling all A&Bs in his classes (one of them being an advanced Math class).

P started the school year on the XC team, Golf team and the Bass Fishing Team. But, he works 3-5 days a week and couldn't juggle 3 sports, work and 2 advanced classes. So, last week he decided to drop the XC team. It's the first time since 4th grade that he hasn't been on a XC team. But, he felt like it wasn't fair to the team since he wasn't even running during his "down" time. He is killing it on the Golf Team! Over the Summer he took some private golf lessons and, between the lessons and the countless hours he played golf this Summer, he has done GREAT at his 1st two tournaments this year. He's come in 1st for the school both tournaments and finished in the Top 15 for both tournaments. The best part, in my opinion, is that he and some of his buddies got together and decided to start a daily Bible Study. They meet in the parking lot before school every day. Since it's started, the group has grown quite a bit and is now a co-ed Bible Study!

Rob and I are just living vicariously through the boys. Since P drives now and has his own truck, it has lessened my load as the Mom Taxi. But, Rob is an assistant coach for E's baseball team so his schedule has gotten busier. I got nominated to help with Children's Church on Wednesday evenings so I started doing that this past week. I enjoy that the boys and I go to church on Wednesday evenings. If P doesn't have to work then the 3 of us go together. Otherwise, E and I have 1:1 time, which gives us a chance to talk. 

I am looking forward to Fall Ball being over and for cooler weather to kick in. Then it'll feel like Fall and life will slow down a bit...until the holiday season!

Memorable West Coast Trip

 Well, July finished our Summer with a BANG! We celebrated P's birthday and then headed out West for our annual Summer vacation to see my family. This time we did it a little different than usual. We flew in to see my brother and his family. Then, after spending the 4th with them, we rented a car and drove up the coast. It was so much fun! Once we got to my parents' we took another road trip to just shy of the Oregon border. I loved showing the boys where I had spent my Summers growing up. It was a lot of fun (and a little sad) to take a walk down Memory Lane. We crammed a lot into our time there with family! (and drove over 1000+ miles!!!)  

When we came back we hit the ground running. I only have a couple days left of my Summer break, and both boys picked up their class schedules today. I'm so glad that our break ended with a fabulous trip full of priceless memories!

Sweet Summertime!

 Usually Summer is filled with go, go, go for us. So much so that I welcome the new school year just so life will slow down. But, we broke from the norm this Summer and are having a rather uneventful (ie boring) Summer. Well, it's not boring for the boys. One boy has golfed non-stop and is currently taking golf lessons. He also spent a week at church camp and a week at the family farm. So he's living the good life. The other boy is working....a lot! He also wants to go to the gym every day so he's holding me accountable with working out. 

But, this Summer has been bittersweet for me. With both boys busy doing their own thing, it's giving me a taste of what empty nesting will look like. And I don't like it!! I've been staying around the house, getting projects done, and occasionally getting together with friends. It's so quiet when both boys are gone. I look forward to when they get home and we can catch up on what happened during the few hours they were doing their own thing. 

This Summer has made me appreciate the slower pace of life and the relationship I have with the boys. I love spending time with them and don't take it for granted. I love the weekend we spent together, fishing, at the farm. I love the weekend getaway that we enjoyed at the beach. One of E's friends came with us and we had a lot of fun together. And I am looking forward to our 4th of July tradition where we go out on my BIL's boat and watch fireworks. We'll top off the Summer with our big trip to see my family, which I am excited about. Overall, it's been a fun, yet relaxing Summer...at least for me.

Your Legacy

If you know me, you know I dwell on things. Some might say I over-analyze things. But, I guess that's what I've been doing the past several days. I keep dwelling on, "What will your legacy be when you die?" Morbid I know. But, I think about it in how I LIVE my life currently. One of my pet peeves is when someone dies, people start talking about what a great person the deceased was despite that they were an alcoholic or had affairs or stole or had anger issues or was unreliable. Obviously, when I pass away, I hope people have long since forgotten my snarky tone (the thing I seem to always be working on but never improve) and instead remember me as someone who was quick to love but slow to anger, someone who made others (even strangers) feel valued. 

Our pastor's message this morning was about griping. And I admit, I can be a griper (especially during the school year). But, the past year or so, I've constantly asked myself, "Is that important?" or "Will this be something that matters in 10 years?" If it's not, I either choose to let it go or try to address it and then let it go (so I don't dwell on it). Too many people these days get angry or gripe over dumb things. Things that won't matter in 10 years. BUT,maybe what they don't realize, is how they will be remembered in how they dealt with it. Let's take road rage for instance. I very rarely get riled up when I'm driving because it's not worth it to me. The way I see it is I can either get somewhere a few minutes later than planned or if I rage someone may pull a gun on me or the boys over a driving issue. I'd much rather arrive a little late than not at all. Several months ago a guy pulled into a parking spot I had used my turn signal for, that I was waiting for, in the Kroger parking lot. I was hot! I waited for him at the entrance of the store to give him a piece of my mind and his response was, "It's not that big of a deal. Get over it." I was mad because of the principle of the matter, of how he made me feel. But, then I realized that I let him win by festering about it when he had obviously already moved on. This year, at school, I finally gave in and let students chew gum. I don't agree with it because they never seem to get the chewed up gum in the garbage can, but that's not a hill I'm willing to "die on". 10 years from now it won't matter if there was gum under a desk or on the floor. 

I think, the older I get, the more I realize that some things just aren't that big of a deal. Issues aren't worth getting worked up about, and letting someone else "win". I'm not that insecure that I have to worry about "winning" an issue, especially with a stranger. Our boys' salvation and walk with the Lord is a BIG DEAL to me so I try to live my life in a way that witnesses to others and is pleasing to the Lord. Holding our boys accountable for the way they treat others or show integrity is important to me. I want them (and me) to make a great first impression because that, in turn, becomes a witness to someone.

So, I guess my question to you is, what will your legacy be? How will people remember you? Do you make people feel loved and valued or will people have to try hard to remember you in a loving a way? Make today count for how your legacy will be in the future. 

Backseat Driver

As one of my best friends says, "I've been up in my feelings lately." I'm having a hard time coming to terms with the boys growing up. For the first time in 6 years, I won't be at the elementary school with either of them. I'm so thankful that they'll still only be a building away from me, but I'm going to miss knowing they're at the elementary school with me. And then P will be a licensed driver within a couple months and that's really got me emotional. We were driving to school last week and he said, "Mom, why are you looking at me like that?" I told him it's because I can't imagine he'll be an upperclassman when we return to school in the Fall. I told him that, before we know it, he'll be moving out. I told him that he's one of my best friends and I will miss seeing him every day. He jokingly replied that he'll call me every day to ask what's for dinner and if I have Ben n Jerry's for him in the freezer, he'll stop by a lot. Deal!

When I was driving to school by myself this morning, this song came on. I know it's referring to the singer's daughter, but it still makes me tear up because we are past this phase of the boys' lives. As much as I enjoy this current phase of their lives, I sure wish time would slow down so I could enjoy them while they're "little" just a little while longer.

The song:

https://youtu.be/YNKt863IzlI?si=FmgZrjJqKSX9F_aI

A Little Catching Up

 Oh, where oh where has the past couple months gone? Figured since I had a few minutes, I'd catch up on our blogging life so one day, when I get around to printing this into a book, I can remember our adventures. In March we spent Spring Break at Lake Fork. It's always a favorite place for our boys. We stayed at the same cabin we stayed at before and the boys fished nonstop. They also brought a friend and he loved fishing Lake Fork. Everyone caught some big fish...except me. 

Once we got back, life got really busy with baseball, tennis and fishing tournaments. Rob has also been working a lot this year so he hasn't been home as much. P picked up tennis this year and seemed to enjoy it. He's on the fence as to whether he'll play again next year. We went to his end of the season tennis banquet last night, where his coach said some nice things about him. He wasn't a starter this season so he didn't win any awards, but he was supportive of his teammates who did win. He and his fishing partner ended the season last month. P has come a long way with tournament fishing and impresses me with how hard core he fishes. He and Rob fished our favorite local tournament earlier this month. They didn't finish as well as they had hoped, but they still placed in a decent spot. I've gone fishing a few times with Rob, when we actually have a few free minutes, and one time I caught several fish, but that's the exception rather than the norm for me. 

E played several one day baseball tournaments this Spring. It makes for a long day, but I'm thankful that it allows us to go to church on Sundays. His team has really struggled since the head coach stepped down to take a lineman job. Lack of communication and strong personalities with the coaching staff has made the tension in the dugout almost unbearable. It has caused a lot of undue stress with the team and parents. So, after this past tournament, we decided it would be best if E stepped away from the team. He has stuck it out all Spring, but he will miss the State Championship tournament next month. His team did finish as runner up a couple weeks ago when the previous head coach made a guest appearance for the day so that was fun for the boys. It was the first time they had won some bling in over a year! 

As I said, we've been active at our home church. I sing in the choir so we're there every Sunday. One Sunday, the boys and I had gone to church without Rob. We only had one vehicle that weekend so the boys and I went a different route than usual to pick him up after church. As we were driving down a highway, a toddler ran across the road, wearing only a very soiled diaper. Long story, short, both boys amazed me with how they stepped up and handled the emergency. They helped me as we turned the toddler over to CPS for them to place him with a family member. I can't go into detail about the whole thing, but this sweet little boy clung to me like his life depended on it...and I guess, in a way, it did.

If all that craziness wasn't enough, we added more to the LazyH Farm. We now have 2 ducklings, 6 more chickens and 60,000 (?) bees. On top of that, I planted our garden last month. At this rate, we're going to be able to live off the grid. Ha!

The school year is quickly coming to an end. It has been one for the books, in a good way. I have absolutely LOVED this group of students! It was also such a blessing being E's ELA teacher! I can't believe he's officially done with elementary school. We found out last night that he will be playing on his junior high baseball team, which he's pumped about. And I can't believe that P will be an upper class man when we return in the Fall. I looked at him the other day, when we were on our way to school, and got sad. Before I know it, he will be moving out and spreading his wings as an adult. But, he's one of my best friends and I can't imagine not seeing him every day. He now owns his own truck and will be driving it independently within a few months. That is the only thing I am excited about with him getting older. I feel like I live in my car, driving the boys everywhere. E works at a local dog kennel a couple days a week and P always wants to go golfing so I put hundreds of miles on my car each week. My 2020 4-Runner has A LOT of miles on it so I'm looking forward to lessening my taxi load by Fall.

We have a lot of fun planned for this Summer, but I will try to find a few free minutes to blog. Hopefully I won't have to play catch up as much. Until next time....