Happy Halloween

 Halloween doesn't have quite the same meaning as it did years ago.  It's hard to believe my boys are past getting dressed up in costumes.  I had a Halloween party yesterday and Jay put on my giraffe head for giggles and Nick wore a skeleton sweatshirt with crazy glasses.  My favorite Halloween was 6 years ago when I dressed up as Nick's momma giraffe and he was my baby giraffe.  Another favorite of mine was when Nick was 18 months old and Jay was 5.  Jay went as a farmer and Nick went as his cow.  What fun years! 

 Here's my good friend, Brandy and Laura.  I invited 7 families with their children last night.  Mike and I don't think we've ever had so many people in our home but we loved it!  We had snacks first and then took the kids trick or treating. 

 Here are the big boys.  They did not dress up but I guess if you could put a costume on them, it would be, "High school boys growing way too fast."  Ha.  I remember taking pictures of these boys when they were in second grade & now look at them.  They are some good boys though. 

Every year Laura comes in a costume.  I remember years ago she and I would plan elaborate Halloween parties.  Those days are past us but I love her Halloween spirit. 

Our October

 After the summer I had, I have welcomed being busy this fall.  We are getting ready to wrap up October and with it came football games, concussions, get together with friends (see above) and family (see below).  I am beyond thankful for the steady work Mike has had (more on that below).  The picture above was taken this past weekend.  I got together with my former co-workers and although I do not miss my former employer, I sure miss my former employees (ha). 

 My mom took my sister and I to a Halloween tea.  For about a week leading up to the tea, I would ask my mom, "Now what are we doing again?"  I was clueless.  We had such a good time though.  It was great food and great company, a perfect combination.  And of course we laughed over our witches hats that mom got us.  We decided Kim pulls off a hat so much better than we do. 

 Luke and Kim came to Nick's football on Saturday and cousin Luke got to hang (literally) with Jay.

 I'm going to discreetly point out Mike's tshirt in this picture so look closely (it says "Real Men Do Pilates").  I'm posting this picture at my own martial risk, ha.  In late August, Mike was hired to do work at a new pilates studio that was opening.  I hesitate to use the term remodel (because Mike's business isn't really a remodeling business) but essentially that's what he did.  It needed a lot of work and Mike did a ton of work that included custom work.  He was happy to have the steady work (and income) and his customer was thrilled with the end result.  She invited our family to her grand opening and gave Mike his pilates tshirt.  I love that he wore it and actually smiled while wearing it.  Ha. 

Here's Kim and I at our Halloween tea.  As I write this blog, I am at my table, looking out over my back yard that is covered with leaves.  The wind is colder and I'm consistently wearing long jeans and sweatshirts.  Football for Nick wraps up this upcoming weekend and Jay has already started basketball.  What a month, but I am so thankful for my health (especially after this summer), the steady work Mike continues to have and my family.  I find that even though I feel somewhat blindfolded in this new journey I'm on with Mike, God is still present in my everyday life.  Mike and I have a new phrase that we say to each other but for different reasons, "Stay on Path."  Our path is still very unknown and foreign but we're trying to stay on that path each and everyday. 

I heart audio books

I may have blogged about this before but Nick loves audio books.  What makes my heart really sing about this is reading is hard for Nick (and Jay).  I'm an avid reader.  Right now I'm reading, "The Nightingale," by Kristen Hannah.  Every time I pick that book up it takes me to France during WWII.  I can learn about what France was like and I can almost close my eyes and picture the characters and the village they lived in.  I can almost smell the smoke in the air from the bombs and feel their hunger (well almost).  I might be a little dramatic but this is what reading does for you.  It opens doors for you and just because you have trouble reading doesn't mean you can't be transformed by it.  With the help from my mom, Nick has discovered a joy in listening to audio books.  He recently devoured "Wonder" and now he's listening to "Dead End, in Norfolk."  Every night when he goes to bed I hear him listening to the latest chapter in the book he's listening to.  Last week my mom rented an audio book that Nick's entire classroom is listening to right now.  His teacher sent me the picture above.  Five students (including Nick) got to listen to the audio and read along. All I can say is thank goodness for nana's (thanks mom) and thank goodness for audio books.

Good times at the farm

 This weekend we went with our good friends to their parents farm.  This is the second year we've done this and it never disappoints.  My boys love it.  There is something to be said to be out in the middle of nowhere (literally) separating cattle, getting dirty, riding around on four wheelers, fishing and doing good old fashioned work.  Come to think of it, I rarely saw Jay on his phone while we were there and that is a small miracle. 

 Jami's parents got a new beagle puppy, Rhedd.  She loved Jay.  She would have growled at me if I picked her up this way.  ha. 

 The pond is fully stocked with fish and Nick got a monster catfish and Big Jay (below) helped him fillet all the fish on Saturday night. First thing this morning all the kids got up (all 8 of them) and went fishing. 

And here's all 8 kids!  Jami's parents hosted 18 people in their home this weekend - kid you not.  If that's not hospitality, I don't know what is.  We had a ball and I am so thankful for friends like Jami and Andy, Brandy and Jay and Laura and Mike. 

Punches

This blog is going to be real so you've been warned.  When I think about this past year I think of a boxer who starts out strong but continues to take punch after punch.  Every time, he gets himself back up, dusts himself off and has a few moments of clarity before he gets another punch....didn't see that coming.  Mike's job change started out the year and that is proving to be an uphill battle with enough punches to render you unconscious.  Don't get me wrong, the work is there but it's too much for one person to handle.  It's discouraging, stressful and it's really hard to see how this will play out.  However, Mike and I still believe he's been given a rare opportunity and we try, oh how we try, to be thankful in all things.  But I digress.  My grandpa died in April.  My sweet grandma died Labor day weekend and although it really was a blessing, it was still a blow.  I dreamed about my grandma last night and when I woke this morning I wondered if I had tears on my pillow from being so sad.  I sustained my injury this summer.  The second punch came with the blood clot and PE, followed by the third punch, my clotting disorder.  Jay suffered a concussion in September and we are still waiting for him to be cleared.  I found out last week that I passed on my clotting disorder to both boys.  What that means exactly, I'm not sure.  Certainly there are worse disorders to pass to your kids but it's still a disorder I had hoped would remain with me alone.  Last week my internet went out and it didn't get fixed until today (9 days later).    Losing my internet may seem trivial and maybe it is but when your job depends on the internet and your are the primary person supporting your family, it tends to make me a wee bit stressed.  And so my friends, my life right now is just hard.  It's uncomfortable, monotonous, worrisome and unpredictable.  In between punches I've been able to catch my breath and gain some perspective.  I am holding on to three things right now.  I know God is good.  I remember I told Him repeatedly I would trust Him and I remember how my heart felt that Sunday morning when I heard the words, "Cornerstone Custom Carpentry."  I've seen how God can take situations that seem impossible and make them possible.  I'm so far from perfect and I struggle each and everyday to keep these three things in mind but they are what holds me together during the punches. 

Hoco 2016

 I apologize in advance for the mess of pictures posted for this blog post but Jay's first Hoco was a big deal!  I know I'm biased but I thought he looked so handsome and his date, Kaelynn, is such a cute girl. 

 Seriously, can they be any cuter?  Kaelynn was not successful with getting Jay's flower on so Mike gave it a try.  Check out Jay's face.  I think he was nervous having his dad put his flower on. 

 This might just be my favorite picture from hoco.  Jay and Reece, friends since 2nd grade.  They look so grown up together in this picture and I might add, I think their outfits coordinate well.  LOL

 Jay went with a group.  It was so well coordinated (by the parents).  The kids met up for pictures then went to dinner at one of the girls' house, in her shed (very country, just the way we like it out here).  The parents made all the food.  They went to the dance and ended the evening at Garrett's house.  The girls were picked up later that evening and the boys spent the night.  So fun!

 This is the entire group!  The girls look so pretty.  I can tell you that girls did not look this good when I was in high school (just sayin). 

                                            This is my favorite picture of Jay and his date.

                                   Jay, Kaelynn, Reece and his date.  Another one of my fav's.

                                          Erin (one of my favorite people) and Reece.

                                               The boys at the shed, having dinner. 

Until next year.............certainly freshman homecoming won't be forgotten.  Such a fun night for a great group of kids.