August meetings

 Eight years ago I took a big leap of faith.  I quit my 16 year job that I had gotten when I was in college.  At the time there were a few people who thought I was nuts.  My sweet grandmother was one of them.  I desperately wanted to work from home.  I was confident I was doing the right thing.  It was a door God opened for me and I walked through it.  I have never looked back.  When I made the bold decision I knew God was orchestrating it.  He protected me for what was to come.  My entire department ended up losing their jobs or being forced to take different jobs.  Mike, who also worked for the same company at the time, lost his job.  I remember hearing about all this from the comfort of my basement office.  I started this job when Nick was in kindergarten and Jay was entering 4th grade.  I've been able to be present for them.  It relieved a lot of stress for me - no more commuting and flexibility to attend their school functions.  God is good.  My department has changed people over the last few years but we have one awesome group.  Wanda, our fearless leader, hired me eight years ago and since then her unit has only grown.  I'm very thankful!

 As usual August meetings did not disappoint.  Here I am with Brian and Nancy.  We were waiting for Keith Urban to perform.  I really like Keith Urban but I had no idea how excited I was to see him in concert until he came on stage!  I literally stood for the entire concert, dancing and singing.  I didn't care.  I was having fun!!

Until next time, Cincinnati!  So thankful for my group of co-workers and my job God blessed me with 8 years ago!

Senior and 8th grade

Last night it finally occurred to me I didn't post a first day of school picture and this is Jay's official last year of his first day of school!  Geesh!  It's been a busy couple of weeks.  School started on Aug. 14.  We've settled into our school schedule.  Jay has senioritis but seems to be doing well.  He isn't working but mows Nana's lawn every week and works for his landscape company when they need him.  Nick is tolerating school.  He still complains but it doing better.  He's playing football again this year!  Here's to a great year, boys!  Love you both bunches.

I'm tired

Mike and I are knee deep in the comings and goings of teenagers.  To all the young parents with babies, let me tell you how it really is.  Most of you are probably in your 30's.  For the first year of your baby's life you will get little to no sleep.  For me, some days it was a wonder I even remembered how to dress myself, let alone my boys!  Eventually you move on to raising toddlers.  More sleep comes during the toddler stage but not much.  When Jay and Nick stopped napping at age 2, I was devastated.  Then you hit elementary school and as far as the sleep department goes, it is bliss!  By elementary school your kids are much more self sufficient and after baths, teeth and a bedtime story, then it's fair game how you spend your time after that.  In general in our house Jay and Nick (in elementary school) were in bed at 9:00 pm and slept through the night.  I had no idea how good I had it.  It was a small window that was gone before I knew it.  I didn't have to track the boys on our smart phones, give them curfews or lay awake at night until they got home. Fast forward to our current situation.  Jay is 17 and going into his senior year and Nick is 13, entering 8th grade.  Nick is a social butterfly but he's still at the age that he's home and settled by 10pm!  Jay, on the other hand is a different story.  He has met a really nice girl and they are spending a lot of time together.  When they are at our house I feel it's important I stay awake.  I usually watch TV until she leaves to go home.  I admit that some nights Mike takes one for the team and stays awake until she goes home but most nights we yawn together on the couch, trying for all that is holy to stay awake.  We are "middle age" you know! This summer in particular it doesn't help Mike has literally worked the last 6 weeks without a day off!  And because we are middle age I find it is rare that I sleep much past 6:30 so most nights I run on about 6 hours of sleep.

I am encouraged by Rachel Hollis.  Her blog posts inspire me and motivate me except for one teeny little thing.  She says that it's vital we all get a good nights rest!  Well duh!  But seriously this woman does not have teenagers yet, nor is she 45!  I'm telling you your sleep goes to SH** when you have teenagers and you're pre-menopausal.  You literally come full circle from being up in the middle of the night with babies to staying awake (15 years later), waiting for your teenager to walk in the door at night.  When I hear Jay pull in our drive at night I literally exhale, close my eyes and thank Jesus for his safe return.  Mike would say that within 5 minutes I am snoring logs!  Yes, Mike gets even less sleep than I do!  Considering I have another teenager to contend with (who will be driving in 3 shorts years) I use my favorite verse from my childhood book, "I think I can.....I think I can....I think I can."

Jay's Ozark Adventure

 Jay's "boys," as he affectionately refers to them are really a cool group of boys in that they are tight knit.  Kaden's parent have a condo in the Ozarks so last weekend the six boys and Kaden's parents went to the Ozarks for the boys to have one last fun summer weekend together before they started their senior year.  It did not disappoint, except for one minor issue - a dislocated shoulder (see below).

 On Friday, their first full day Jay was tubing (see below) when he dislocated his shoulder - Ouch!  Kaden's mom took Jay to the ER and they popped it back in and then all was well.  Sadly, however, Jay could not return to his landscape job but thankfully he only lost 2 weeks of work.

Jay is the kid all the way to the left in the black jacket.  Truthfully as I look at this picture I wonder how Jay was the only one that dislocated a shoulder - ha!

Kaden's mom sent me this picture once Jay was all "fixed up and ready to go."  It was not a pleasant experience and now that he's back home he has to go to physical therapy which I think is kind of ridiculous.  In any case, Jay and his "boys" have a great weekend!  It was a weekend none of them will forget and will continue to laugh about in the years to come!  Senior year, watch out, because here they come!

This summer

Tomorrow will be Aug. 1 and in 13 days my boys will go back to school.  My heart is heavy!  Yes, you read that correctly.  There were so many summers where by Aug. 1 I was ready to lose my ever loving mind!  I didn't think I could take another episode on the Disney Channel, the Popsicle wrappers all over the house, the fighting between the boys, the money I hemorrhaged, and the mounds of laundry!  But this summer was the summer of absolute sweetness!  Granted it was not the greatest summer for my mom but for my boys.....it was pure joy!  Let me start with Jay.  His job was a such a blessing!  He worked full time the entire summer and even got a raise.  It built confidence in him, taught him a skill and I saw him grow leaps and bounds in so many areas of his life.  People, you have to understand this is my boy who I wondered if I would ever get him raised!  My mom had to consistently remind me that Jay was "under construction."  Mike had to remind me that boys are built, and girls are "raised."  The best part of all of this is that because Jay is working full time there is no time to argue with Nick.  At night I hear the boys laughing from the cat walk.  I hear them sharing things between the two of them.  I literally have to pinch myself.  Tomorrow Jay leaves for the Ozarks to take a trip with "his boys."  His boys are is his people!  As he left tonight I told him to be careful, have fun and to use his brain (my favorite line)!  But really, what a great way for these boys to start their senior year!
As for Nick....once he settled into his summer schedule I got to see the Nick I know and love.  Stress plays a huge part in Nick's reactions to things and school stresses him out.  I am really hoping and praying he can learn how to better handle stress and school.  I really don't want a repeat of 7th grade again!  Ugh.  Nick has spent hours on the lake, working with Mike and hanging with his friend, Mason, our neighbor.  When Mason was over today I told him I didn't know what Nick would have done without him this summer.  Mason will be a freshman and is going to a different school.  Thankfully the boys live across the street from each other so I don't anticipate their friendship changing.
Truly as this summer comes to an end I am more sad than anything.  I would pay money to make it last just a bit longer but then I'd come to the end and only want more.  It's hard to wrap my head around my first born being a senior.  But then I have to remind myself this is why Mike and I worked so hard.  It has always been my goal to see Jay flourish and now that I'm so close to it, it's hard to accept.  That is the bittersweet part of parenting.  I remember when I was entering my senior year of high school.  In August, right before school started, my parents marriage was a disaster and by October my dad had moved out.  Talk about a derailment.  But I know my mom was so proud of Kim and I during that time.  Perhaps it was clouded by her sadness but what a joy it is regardless of your circumstance (and in my case, my mom's stroke and fall this summer and in her case 30 some years ago, her divorce) to see them slowly (but surely) turn into the adults you have desired them to be!  

Life

It's been awhile since I blogged. July has been filled with ups, downs and some coasting along the way.  On July 1 my mom fell on her bad leg.  She did not break anything but she strained ligaments which was painful for her and as a result she became sedentary (rightfully so) which for someone who already has a weak leg, it did not bode well.  By July 6 she could no longer take care of Walker so we have inherited another dog, temporarily.  By July 8, she could no longer take care of herself.  On July 10 mom went to a short term care facility (she hates it when we call it a nursing home).  It is our hope she is able to go home sometime this week, but with going home we face another set of challenges.  Her walking is not good.  Her pain is gone but the leg is very weak.  All we can do is get a discharge date, try to be as proactive as we can (we do have help hired when she gets home) and pray.  For mom the month has been filled with disappointments.  We had a huge party planned to celebrate her recovery at the one year anniversary date of her stroke.  That party was cancelled.  Mom also had to miss her 50th high school class reunion.  As I write this there isn't much emotion involved and that isn't because I want to sound heartless.  If the past three years have taught me anything it's that this life is unpredictable.  It can change in a blink of an eye and there is no sense in wallowing.  You have to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward.  Mom demonstrates this everyday in what has been a year long struggle for her.  There are times I simply can't believe I have come full circle and Kim and I are witnessing the effects of a stroke with our other parent.  Wasn't one parent enough?  I quickly push these negative thoughts, which are certainly placed in my head by Satan himself, aside and ask Jesus for guidance.  Some days are better than others.  I recognize I'm human and I truly know nothing and I try to keep an eternal perspective.
Moving onto to my boys - a happier subject.  Mike is finishing a project he's been working on since April!  His deadline is Aug. 10.  It is my hope he can then catch up with other projects he committed to and "coast" the rest of the year, but we'll see.  Again, my idea of how things should or might go usually go the total opposite way.  Mary was over the other night and reminded me how much God has blessed Mike's business.  Although I know this to be true, the demands of daily life get the best of me and I can sometimes lose sight of this fact.
Jay is doing great this summer.  He is sun-kissed, gorgeous and a work horse.  He has even had a few dates with a girl!  He continues to work full time for a landscaper and that job has served him well.  He has plans to go to the Ozarks with "the boys" in a few weeks.  I simply cannot believe he will be a senior.  He's a typical soon to be senior.  He's gone all the time!  Ha.  He joked the other day he will actually be glad to get back to school because he can stop getting up at 6am every morning!
Nick is also doing great.  He looks like a surfer.  He is bleach blond, tan with his piercing blue eyes.  He went to track camp last week and enjoyed it.  He is spending hours fishing each week, his favorite past time.  The start of summer was rough for Nick and I, but when he got home from church camp in June, the tides turned and the Nick we know and love returned!  I'm hoping and praying for a smooth transition to school.

Our week.....in a nutshell

 I have loved every minute of this past week.  The only down side was my mom fell on Monday and thankfully she didn't break anything but she did hurt herself.  Her fall has really hindered her plans this week and its very frustrating.  Nick had his good friend, Chase, over this week.  They spent an entire day together, fishing and hanging out.  Nick went to fireworks with Chase on July 3!

 The best treat of the week was that Faith and Curt were in town.  Faith and her friends came out on Monday night. As I write this tonight Curt and Faith are coming back out tonight and they, along with Sieb have a flight to TX tomorrow morning.  How I miss these kids but it sure does my heart well to see them!

 Sarah was kind enough to drive the girls out on Monday night!

 Some thing never change.  Nick still loves to fish!  I took these pictures the night of July 3.  I adore these pictures.  I think they really reveal how much Nick loves to fish!  Fishing is his happy place.

As the week draws to a close I'm thankful for a lot of things.  One thing that has been on my mind a lot is my mom's year anniversary of her first stroke (July 9).  We are all thankful we can view that time from our rear view mirror but there have been struggles and this week was another reminder that mom's life is different.  Everything she does takes longer and requires more patience.  I'm very thankful she continues to live in her own home and who would have thought she would have a dog!  But Walker has been a huge blessing!
Mike is getting ready to spend a few days in TX.  I'm praying he can relax, enjoy his time with his dearest and oldest friend and come home refreshed!