Category Archives: Gratitude

Time flies

School is back in and HOLEEEEE. CRAP.  Summer done washed away my memories of how freakin’ busy the fall is.  Lord, have mercy.

We are starting to hit our rhythm now that we are done with Labor Day’s brief respite and it’s starting to come back to me.  Plan.  Plan.  Planplanplanplanplan.  Ahead.  The planner aheader gets the easier night.   Truth.  Young mamas, take note.

Last night I had the amazing GRACE of our 16 yo son calling me at work to see what he could do to help with dinner.  Be still my heart.  The boy got those meatballs simmering and then whipped up the awesomely hugemongous spinach salad to go with the Angel hair past and meatballs.  WinNING!!!  He also chauffeured me to me grandmother’s to pick up some family tree papers to add to our 11 yo’s family tree project .  A sweet treat.

Then taking our almost 14 yo to his French horn practice we had a raucous discussion on men’s hairdos (the  boy is FINALLY going short–fingers crossed and double crossed, I think the Bieber look is on the way out!!) and somehow we were rolling on a drag queen discussion–don’t even ask–and Mama made a huge funny because that kid was almost hyperventilating he was laughing so much.  Mark another “W” in the column.  A banner evening.  Topped off only by waiting for the horn prodigy for a mere 30 minutes in which I was able to read, get caught up on some emails and do a chapter in my study with my awesome friend.

Tonight I got a great walk in while our youngest was at cheer practice and came home to chicken and dumplings in the crock pot which EVERYONE loved….seriously, do you know how hard it is to find a meal that they ALL love???!!!!?  Insanity.  Hubs and the 16 yo enjoyed watching the World Cup Qualifying Final with the US and Mexico, I kicked the 13 yo off the computer and made time to blog.

I should stop while I’m ahead.  It’s only Tuesday.

Road Trippin’ for a Friend Fix

There lies the season where I miss my friends.    It’s a crazy thing, getting older.  Not as simple to make friends any more.  Everyone is busy.  Everyone has baggage.  And so I remember the plaque that hung in my grandmother’s kitchen from a hundred years ago….(or 40):

Make new friends, but keep the old;

The new are silver and the old are gold.

These friendships have weathered life’s storms:  Cancer, infertility, marriage struggles, divorce, faith struggles, death of a child, children with emergency surgery, financial drain, suicide, depression, alcoholism, prison, poor health, aging parents, death of parents, miscarriage, many children, few children, job changes, bullying, education challenges, children growing up and moving away, children with faith crises, deployment, moving, starting over, making new friends and the list goes…..it is life.  Distance may separate us, however, these life cords forever bind us.

So worth the road trip with my girls to visit these dear friends.  We didn’t get to make ALL the rounds due to end-of-summer craziness and that only makes the argument for another visit and for visitors here.  Life’s too short, make the effort, you won’t regret it.

Rollin' with my homies.

Rollin’ with my homies.

7 super quickety quick takes

Joining Jen and gangster bloggers for the 7QTS this week!!  Woop Woop!

And so in my usual bon-bon fashion….I am leaving myself with 6 whopping minutes to post this before I need to get ready for work.  Fortunately, I’ve showered, eaten and my lunch is mostly ready.  Ready set GO:

1.  This week I flipped back to old school style planner.  Paper.  Pens.  Pencils.  Still love my iPhone calendar, but I’m a tactile person and I need paper.  My anxiety is decreasing already….this will do until I find something super purty…feel free to leave your suggestions in the combox!

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2.  This past weekend (Sunday) counts as the week start correct?  We did a huge ole bed swap…our bunk beds to the neighbors (below right) and my girlfriend’s daughters trundle to our girls (below left) and my girlfriend’s daughter moved a futon into her room for hang/sleep/teen stuff (not posted)….can you say WINX3?!?!?PicMonkey Collage

3.  Back to school is right around the corner…..Our sophomore had orientation and our 6th grader as well.  2 down and 2 to go.  Sweet structure is almost here.  orient4.  I’ve been walking all week while our youngest has cheer practice for about 45 minutes each night (in addition to my morning classes) and am down 3 pounds.  BooYA.  Meh, the weekend is coming, all subject to change!

5.  I’m taking one last road trip before school starts with my girls.  We leave in the a.m. for a fun and packed weekend of friend visiting….hence the 3 pounds are subject to change.  You feel me?

6.  Oh no…..3 minutes over my time.

7.  Have a great weekend!!!

Day 2. Friends.

Day 2 of jumping in for the weeklong challenge with Jennifer and blogging posse.  As I logged on to my trusty laptop this morning….she wouldn’t start up.  UGHGHGHGHGH.  Finalllllly she did.  Now I am backing this baby up as soon as I post this.  Let’s all take a moment and pray for my computer, K?  Thanks.

Last week was a great week with lots of visitors, family and friends.  I told you about my sister’s visit HERE.    

The fun didn’t stop there though!

I had the great opportunity to meet (IRL) a blogger I follow, Circles in the Sand, as she and her family were here in our neck of the woods on vacation.  From Dubai.  She is a delightful gal from the UK, her Hubby is a pilot in the UAE.  I enjoy hearing her tales of parenting, life in Dubai and travels elsewhere.  She was a joy to meet and I felt like I was catching up with an old friend.

Bloggers IRL.  Photobombers and bunny ears are universal!

Bloggers IRL. Photobombers and bunny ears are universal!

Our boys were at sleepovers so Hubby and the girls came along for dinner.  There was no lull in conversation and she was completely easy to talk to and incredibly comfortable to be around.  Our girls adored the little guys with the English accents and enjoyed every moment of dinner and chasing them to and fro while the parents chatted.  (They are good little babysitters, keep that in mind should any of YOU venture my way…)

Silly kids

Silly kids

Our Hubbies were so sweet to humor the meeting of the bloggers.  Next time, perhaps Dubai?  😉

Hubbies rock!

Hubbies rock!

Now if that wasn’t already an awesome week of visiting, one of my oldest friends came to town and I met up with her and her mom for dinner at our favorite sushi spot.  Catching up, making the rounds of life, kids, hubbies, work and celebrity drama.  Three hours goes by far too quickly.

Only downside, I’m hungry for more friend time!!

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Weekend SURPRISE!!

My nephews are big ole baseball players.  You know the travel team, All-star team, any team you can put together and they’re IN!  My brother in law loves the game and coaches and my sister loves the game and brings the cheers.  This past weekend they had a travel game tourney of several days long scheduled, sadly, it superceded our July 4th plans.  And then……the baseball mojo just wasn’t clicking and they lost and were done.  Early.  Days early.  What do my sister and her hubs do?  They drive south, of course!  Surprising me at work and stayed with us the weekend.  Super fun.  Super spontaneous.  Super idea.  Props to my brother in law for the great idea.

Sister love!

Sister love!

Dinner out Friday night (gift certificate from Christmas FINALLY put to good use!), beach day, ice cream, fishing and enjoying each other’s company.  Good for the soul!

Cousins

Cousins….yeah, YOU get a good picture of all of them!

collage

Weekend collage!