Thirty years ago today

Thirty years ago today one of those event occurred that if you were alive, you will always remember where you were.  I was in sixth grade, sitting on the seats waiting for gym class to begin.  Mr. Hoover walked in from study hall to tell us that the shuttle had exploded.  I remember we kept watching it over and over again at home that evening, and we all gathered in the library later to watch the memorial service where President Reagan spoke.  It seems impossible to believe it has been 30 years!

Sometimes it is easy to feel jealous

Due to commitments yesterday, Thomas was going to have to get off the bus alone.  He didn't particularly love that fact, so I have my friend Jenn if she could pick him up when she got her kids and she offered to keep him for about 90 minutes until I could get to pick him up.  He had a blast, and it is so adorable that he has a little crush on her daughter Bella.  Jenn and I met through various school activities, and are very excited that we now have the opportunity to work together at church.  We've had lunch and we've vented to each other about life and been there for hugs, but we haven't been to each other's houses.  When I picked Thomas up yesterday and went down to their beautifully finished basement, I pointed out that her basement was pretty much the size of my entire house.

It is so easy to feel jealous about that.  I absolutely love our house and I'm so grateful for it every day...it is so much more functional than our previous home, and for the most part I love the layout and the location.  However, seeing what others have can trigger jealousy, and I know I shouldn't let that happen.  After all, I read an article yesterday about how many Americans do not have enough in their savings to cover a major car repair.  I am so grateful for the blessings in our lives, and for the decisions both Andrew and I have made over time.  I am also so very grateful that we choose time with family over being out in the world finding ways to make money.  I'm grateful we both agree that cutting spending works just as well, and I'm just so grateful for the life we live together as a family.  I know that sometimes I'll allow the green monster to creep in, but I also know there might be people out there who feel the same way about our life!

So grateful for our church

I can not put into words how grateful I am for our church...and all of it was made possible because Robert decided to switch schools for 7th grade.  It shows that you truly never know how big an impact any decision will make.

Because Robert decided to switch schools for 7th grade, we learned how truly fabulous these schools are...and we decided to move here so that all three kids could attend here.  When we made the move, it was an opportunity to church shop.  My husband was aware that I was not at all happy in our previous church or in that denomination as a whole.  He was willing to look around to see if he could find something that would work for our entire family as a whole...and that is how we came to find the church we are currently attending.  I LOVE our church!  I love that I am able to be a full member and to truly participate and be a part of the church.  I've been asked to be on the Religious Ed committee, and it's also the source of my very part-time job.  It is truly not a lot of money, but just a little bit of extra that will be very helpful.  It's also been a source of comfort as we've struggled with some of Robert's choices, and I appreciate that the pastor will sit and talk with us, and that he truly knows our family.

Yesterday was the annual congregational meeting at our church.  It was going to be contentious as the discussion of whether or not the church was going to allow our pastor to perform same sex marriages, both inside and outside the walls of the church, was to be voted on and decided at this meeting.  There was a great deal of discussion, and I found it to be as respectful a discussion as could possibly take place given such an emotionally charged topic.  As people talked, I was especially grateful to hear some of the older members express their desire for our church to be open and welcoming to everyone.  At the end of the day, we know we don't all agree, but the measure did pass by nearly a 5-1 margin.  I was so very grateful to be attending a church that is such a good fit for our family!

It was a busier weekend then I expected

This weekend ended up being much busier than I had expected, but for the most part it was fun.  As I mentioned in my previous post, our Friday had a lot going on, and then Saturday morning Thomas had a basketball double header.  My mom brought my grandmothers down to watch his second game, and we went out to lunch with everyone following that.  I had to return a sweater Robert had received as a gift while Andrew took the boys for hair cuts, then we were asked to join some friends at dinner.  We have so much fun hanging out with them and are grateful we've made some friends here in town!  Yesterday I had to step in at the last minute and be the Sunday School volunteer, and then we had our annual congregational meeting afterwards.  I knew there would be some contentious discussions (I'll write another post) and then I had to deal with some of my job duties.  I certainly didn't expect to be at church for nearly five hours yesterday!  I went to pick up Robert from work then ran to pick up some things I needed for a new recipe I was trying for dinner...which then proceeded to take me over an hour to prepare.  So much for the easy soup recipe I was going for!

After all of that though, I sat down and was able to watch the Broncos victory over the Patriots.  I have always been a fan of the Broncos, and when Peyton Manning became their quarterback, well, how can you not love him as well?????  And then of course there is the fact, even more delightful in some ways then the Broncos victory, that the Patriots lost.  Few things make me happier than that!

We are headed into a busy week as well, but I'm grateful for each day and the opportunities!

Not exactly a relaxing Friday evening

I am pretty accustomed to Friday evenings not being overly relaxing, but usually it doesn't involve family members heading in several different directions.  Last Friday we were even all home and cleaning our house (and I very much appreciated and enjoyed being with my family).  This evening I almost completely forgot that Thomas has basketball practice to make up for the cancellation earlier in the week.  Andrew is working as a school site manager and Robert is also working, so it's going to be me running around this evening.  I don't mind, but I do prefer quiet Friday evenings at home!

The snow event that isn't

Earlier in the week it looked as though we might get some serious snow this evening and overnight.  By Wednesday, it was evident that we were too far north, but just across the Ohio river they were basically calling for "snowpocolypse".  Schools began issuing early dismissals and many even closed last evening.  Even Cincinnati Public shut down for the day.  Of course, it's pretty much turned into the snow event that wasn't.  We are going to get absolutely nothing, and Cincinnati is only going to get an inch or two overnight.  There were a lot of kids out of school today for no reason!  I guess in that regard, I am grateful that it was obvious early on we weren't getting anything!

We got a snow day!

We had such a mild December that Andrew was convinced we would have no snow days this year.  After not closing last Tuesday when clearly we should have,  I was beginning to think he might be right.  Over the weekend, it was looking good that today and Friday there would be significant snow.  As they forecasts got closer though, it was definitely not looking good.  By 10:00 last night, it was forecasted for us to get less than an inch, although it would be falling during the morning commute.  Because of this, I was surprised when the phone rang at 5:00 this morning letting us know we were delayed.  I knew that things were only going to get worse during the commute, so I suspected we had a pretty decent shot at that point of being closed, and when I looked out I noticed we already had a pretty decent amount of snow.  Sure enough, about 90 minutes later the "closed" call came.  It was so wonderful to sleep in!  It turns out the path of the snow changed and when I got up this morning we were over 2" of snow, although not much more was predicted.  As I always say with snow days, it's like being given the gift of time...especially since it means Thomas's basketball practice is also cancelled this evening!

Update on Robert's hand

Yesterday Robert had his follow up for his broken hand.  He was really looking forward to it because he hand had been heavily bandaged (almost to the point of a cast) and he knew yesterday's appointment would mean he was back in the brace.  They took out the stitches for the incision they had unexpectedly had to make and also took an x-ray of the hand.  The x-ray showed very minimal healing at this point, which is not terribly unexpected.  He goes back again in two weeks for another check, at which point there is a chance he could have the pins removed, but that is doubtful.

One of the things I am so incredibly grateful for is his very, very high pain tolerance.  I certainly don't want him to suffer in misery and would give him the prescribed pain medications if needed, but other than the initial night at the emergency room and right after the surgery, he has not needed any.  I am so, so grateful that we don't have to worry his reliance on those!

Another crazy weekend

I knew this was going to be a pretty crazy weekend, and I knew there wouldn't be as much sleep involved s I would like.  I get it though, this is life with three crazy kids!  I've also learned that planning is just a general blueprint...gotta roll with changes!

On Friday I was out the door at the grocery first thing.  I had to have a green bean casserole at the church for a funeral before Noon so I had to be home from the grocery in time to get it in the oven.  When I delivered it I stopped in the church office just for a quick hello, and of course that isn't how that worked out.  The secretary needed some help on some of her few financial duties and I hadn't anticipated "working".  By the time I got home I needed to eat lunch, and all of a sudden it was afternoon!  I spent the rest of the day cleaning for company coming over on Sunday.  But our house still had tubs upon tubs of Christmas decoration stacked everywhere, and layer upon layer of dust.  I couldn't work too late into Friday evening (and the kids did help a good deal on Friday) because I had to be up at 5AM on Saturday for my shift at the swim meet which began at 6AM.  While I was there, Andrew took Robert to our former town for his scout meeting, and then we were home long enough to grab some lunch before heading out the door for Thomas's afternoon basketball game.  We arrived home from that and continued picking things up.  I had time for a very quick nap before getting cleaned up and heading to an athletic fundraiser that evening.  It's just not something I really enjoy, and to be honest, we just don't have the money to spend on these things like they would want us to!  Not to mention I was exhausted, so we "only" stayed until Midnight.  I had to be back at the swim meet Sunday at 10, but was grateful I was home again by 12:30.  Robert worked that afternoon, and our friends arrived that evening.  It was so wonderful to see them and they brought their girls.  It had been six months since we had seen each other...which is entirely too long!  While they were here we managed to catch Robert in some lies again, and it's just more exhausting and draining than I can even put into words.  It was another late (and sleepless night) thanks to a teen's shenanigans, and even though yesterday was no school, Andrew and I just didn't sleep much Sunday night.

Yesterday was a much quieter day.  Andrew took Robert to his doctor appointment, and then spent the afternoon with the younger two at the new Star Wars movie.  Yes, I completely acknowledge it had been out for a month, but it is what it is.  Robert had wanted to go, but there are consequences to poor choices!  I spent the afternoon reading and it was just quiet in the house, which is exactly what I needed.  Since we had tons of leftovers that took care of dinner, and we just spent the evening kind of hanging out.  I really enjoy that more than I can put into words.  I know that my kids are growing up and that time is passing so quickly, and I'm so grateful for the moments of being together!

Really not worth crying over

Last evening we attended the open house for the county career high school.  Robert is most likely going to be attending there next year.  Overall, I think it is a good thing, but I do worry about the fact that he will have more independence...and experience has shown us so far that he can't handle that.  He is most interested in criminal justice, and has listed commercial art as his second choice.  I think criminal justice is a fabulous choice, and I hope that helps to keep him on that side of the law!  We had also talked to him about precision machining.  Employers in our area are begging for skilled machinists, and the trade schools can't churn them out fast enough.  When I worked with my dad, we sold the machines that these companies use.  Robert wanted to check out the class and as we walked in, my husband and I looked at the first machine and exclaimed, "Oh, Milltronics!"  We were the number 1 distributor in America of those machines when I worked with my dad.  I recognized every single brand of machine and was explaining the difference between manual and CNC.  My first thought was that I couldn't wait to call Dad and tell him, and then I had to fight tears.  For one brief second I was so connected to Dad again, and I really, really miss that man.

It makes me sadder than it should

The TV in our bedroom is dying, and I'm ridiculous sad about it.  I mean seriously, who gets sad about a TV???  I do folks, I do.

My senior year of college, I asked my parents for a "larger" TV.  With graduation coming up in the spring, I knew that I would most likely be living on my own at some point, and a 13" TV just wasn't going to cut it for me.  Under the tree that year was a 19" TV, and that became my primary TV until I got married and Andrew had a larger TV.  When we got married, it became our bedroom TV.  Andrew even pointed out yesterday that this was the TV we were watching on our first date, and it was the TV we were watching when Barry Bonds broke the baseball record (tainted though it may be).  Two years ago my mom was getting rid of some of the TVs my dad had around the house (he brought a couple home from the lake) and I mentioned that I wouldn't mind having one since I knew our bedroom TV was 18-years-old and could go at any point.  We sat it in our bedroom and waited...because Andrew and I wanted to know how long our bedroom TV would last (the adage they just don't make things like they used to is so very true).  The new TV has sat there, and this past Christmas morning our bedroom TV had officially served for 20 years.

This week though, it's obvious that the days are numbered and it's on its last leg.  Andrew wants to go ahead and change it out...I mean the other TV is right there!  I  haven't let him do it though, and even now the thought makes me cry.  It is something I attach to my father.  It is something that is a carry over from before he was even sick.  In fact, I've had this TV nearly half my life!  I acknowledge this is completely ridiculous, but I have to do this on my terms.  I might be ridiculous, but at least I'm realistic!

Probably should have been a snow day

I'm pretty sure today should have been a snow day for our district.  It started snowing overnight, and really picked up about 5 or so this morning.  We had a 90 minute delay, and we thoroughly expected to receive the second call for a closure.  Many of the districts around us are closed, although the larger urban districts aren't even delayed.  Apparently we are going to "play with the big boys" now because I can't believe we had school today.  Attendance is down according to my husband.  The snow has stopped for now, but the wind has picked up and oh my, is it blowing things around!!  There is currently a car in our ditch that I believe belongs to someone in our neighborhood.  I went outside and heard them calling AAA, but since they were able to walk back to a house I doubt that they are going to be anywhere near the top of the response list.  I told my kids as I took them to the bus stop this morning that praying for safe travels was a good idea this morning!  Andrew has been saying all school year that we aren't going to have any snow days and to be honest, if this morning didn't get us one he might be very correct!

We received some snow

We finally got a decent amount of snow around here.  It was less than 2", but it arrived in the morning and made things messy.  I was scheduled as the Sunday School volunteer, so we were off to church for our regularly scheduled morning.  It was pretty outside.  This morning, we woke up to wind chills below zero and it's going to be a pretty cold day.  We even have a legitimate chance for a school delay tomorrow, and maybe even a day off tomorrow.  Not going to get a lot of snow, but it's going to arrive at just the right time.  Sleeping in tomorrow would be great!

A busy first week back

I can't even believe that Christmas was only two weeks ago.  To be honest, it easily feels as though it was an entire month ago.  It just doesn't seem possible.

This week was busy, and I know this is just our lives these days.  My very part-time job began officially this week as the training is pretty much over.  Being in accounting though, year-end is crazy and I've worked about 2-1/2 weeks of expected hours just this week.  I don't mind, and I certainly appreciate and am grateful for the extra money.

Robert had his hand surgery yesterday.  It went fine, although the surgeon did have to make an incision which he hoped he wouldn't have to make.  Robert also had a horrible reaction to the anesthesia and stopped breathing when he got into the recovery room.  He vomited when he got home, but after he got the anesthesia out of his body he was able to rest and did really well the rest of the evening.  He has an amazingly high pain tolerance and I'm very grateful...the last thing we need is to be introducing narcotic pain killers into his system.

My grandmother turned 85 yesterday.  She is just such an amazing woman.  My sister took her and my mother out to dinner last evening, and we are heading up there tomorrow to celebrate.  I am so grateful to have her in our lives.

I hoping that this week's earlier sad mood leaves as quickly as it arrived!

Enjoying the lights

Wednesday when I undecorated my house, I wasn't able to get everything finished.  I made a point however, to make sure I got the ornaments down and put away.  I'm not sure why, but I really wanted to spend time by myself with the ornaments...and while doing so I cried and cried.  I can't even explain it, it was just the emotions of my day.

Andrew hadn't brought down the tree boxes from the attic though, and since I didn't have time I didn't worry about it.  The trees and the lights are still up, and I find it very peaceful.  The trees look better overall with ornaments, but I still enjoy the glow, especially at night and early in the morning!

Undecorating

I had Andrew and the kids get the Christmas tubs down last evening and I began undecorating the house.  I enjoyed the holidays and loved our time together, and yet kind of feel like I missed the entire magic and spirit of it all.  Maybe it was the weather, maybe it was the crappiness of the teen, maybe it was something I need to fix within myself.  Regardless, instead of feeling sad while I take down and put away the decorations, I am actually finding myself feeling irritated and annoyed.  I don't know if it is the time of year, or hormones, or aging, but I am finding myself praying for peace in my heart and home!

Robert's injury

Because of my new job, I wasn't able to be with Robert at his appointment yesterday.  My job is very part time and usually very flexible, but it's end of the year and people in accounting knows that means deadlines!  Anyway, Andrew took him, and overall the news is good.  He will have surgery on Thursday but it's very, very minor.  He'll be in a brace for six weeks following that, and than all should be good.  I'm glad it's nothing more serious, but I hope it's enough for Robert to learn it shouldn't be repeated.

Our first day back to reality

Everyone has been out the door for two full hours, and it is going to be one of those crazy days.  My VERY part time job kicks in officially today, but because it is accounting and the end of the year, working today is not optional...it is necessary.  Reports are due tomorrow and I have to be there this afternoon.  Fortunately, we were able to get Robert in to the orthopedic doctor which means Andrew has to take him.  He's a little irritated about it, but I keep pointing out to him that having a stay-at-home wife for the better part of our parenting years has spoiled him a bit.  He claims he doesn't know how to get a sub in the middle of the day, and I point out that it wasn't uncommon for me to get called and asked to report ASAP, so having a couple of hours notice is not going to be an issue.  We also had to establish plans b, c, & d depending on what time the appointment might be and how it was going to effect each of the other kids.  Hopefully one of these days Robert understands life isn't only about him and his actions can cause chain reactions.

We also got a bit of snow overnight.  Not enough to really accumulate, especially down here, but enough to make things a little slick and leave just a bit of snow on the ground.  It's definitely winter around here right now.

Today

I am very grateful to be celebrating my husband's birthday today.  For one thing, without his birth 42 years ago he wouldn't be here with my now!  I can't imagine my life without him...especially as we go through these teenage years.  I am more grateful for him in my life than I can put into words.

For another thing, I'm not loving the end of our break this year.  I never felt overly "Christmasy" this year, but I enjoyed the holidays.  I loved the time spent together as a family, and I am very well aware of the fact that this much stretch of unscheduled time only gets rarer as the kids get older.  I treasured time spent with my kids, and try to do that every day.

The last day of this break though, is staring down at the tough part of winter.  The holidays are over, the dark bleak days of winter are staring at us with no end in sight, and long school breaks are done.  At least at the end of the summer break everything is new and exciting, and summer is so long everyone is kind of ready to head back.  This is the same old, and thanks to kids' choices, often tough routine we face every day, and it's hard to get geared up for it.

That is why I am even more grateful to celebrate the birth of my husband today...something fun for today!

Resolutions

As an adult, I have not particularly been a person to make resolutions.  However, I am this year...and hoping I can keep them going!  Remember, I am removing "perfect" from my vocabulary so I don't have to keep them perfectly, just do better than I've done in the past.

The first is to eat better.  I'm picky, and I simply prefer junk food.  I'm not going to pretend to eliminate junk food from my diet, but if I can eat less, that is an accomplishment.  I'm also hoping to do better about exercising.  Again, it isn't going to happen every day, but my goal is to work out with wii fit at least four times a week, and walk on the days that I don't (and hopefully even on some days that I do).  I'm also hoping to stay on top of tasks and not waste my time on the internet (ironic as I sit here typing).  I'd like to learn to try cooking different meals that are hopefully not only healthier, but budget friendly for our family...and that brings me to the final one.  I'm hoping to really focus on the purchases we make and stay within our budget.  I know it isn't easy and there will always be things we want that aren't an option.  I am certain however, that we can meet our needs, and perhaps it wouldn't hurt to reinforce to our children the difference between needs and wants.

Now, perhaps this is a cop out, but I am actually beginning all of this tomorrow.  After all, today is a day pretty close to nirvana as far as I'm concerned, and that involves some soda pop and a little bit of sweets!

Again, here is to the beginning of a fabulous new year!

The first day of this year

Happy 2016!  The first day of the new year is always an exciting one.  There is nothing but a fabulous year in front of us, and everything is clean and hopeful.  I pray that 2016 holds many good things for our family, and I intend to personally work toward it..."Good Morning!  It's a great day to be alive!"  My husband has said it for years and I think it is a nice way to begin our days.

I'm also hoping to remove the word "perfect" from my vocabulary.  Nothing is life is perfect, and nothing is all bad either.  I'm hoping to strive for goodness in everything I do each and every day, and that is how I plan to live my life.

The kids and I enjoyed our evening last night.  Our dinner consisted of wings, potato skins, and cheese sticks, and the kids enjoyed movies while I watched (some pretty crappy) football games.  Andrew visited with our friends and when he arrived home we poured a glass of wine and glasses of Sunkist for the kids into champagne glasses, and rang in the new year.

Today is the one day of the year where there is great football (go Irish) and there are no commitments.  We've purchased some shrimp cocktail, and Andrew is making ham and bean soup for our day.  I am hoping to play some games with the kids and just enjoy the first day of our brand new year.