An evening home alone

Catherine will be leaving shortly to go to work.  Andrew took Thomas to his swim meet.  Normally I would never even consider missing a summer swim meet, even when they were away.  However, this meet always starts later because of the diving afterwards, and it's the biggest team, so the coaches always do all the optional events.  I work tomorrow, so I don't get to just sleep in.  Not only do I hate to miss Thomas swimming, but I hate for Andrew to have to be alone.  However, they put out a plea for timers this morning, and Andrew doesn't mind timing, and that would solve him being alone...so home is where I am.

I've had a tremendously productive week, both at work and at home.  I'm so grateful for working fewer hours.  I'm only working about 5-1/2 hours each day and trying to leave between 2 & 2:30.  It's working out very well, and the house is even picked up (although that is also another post).

I'm grateful for the quiet time, and the time to reflect.  We are getting ready to enter Thomas's senior year.  We are becoming very close to being on the edge of empty nesting.  Honestly, I don't understand how it happened so fast.  I couldn't help but remember a moment that occurred fifteen years ago yesterday.  We had taken the kids to a church festival, and the younger two rode a little roller coaster.  Each time Thomas's little car passed us, he was becoming more and more concerned about the situation until it was just all out tears.  I'll never forget how comical it was (since we knew he was truly okay), and I vividly remember how Catherine was trying to comfort him from her seat.  I love that she is still such a good sister to him, he's so good to her, and they are friends.  I'm so, so grateful for that.

Which of course brings up thoughts of my oldest.  Last weekend at the closing ceremonies for Thomas's week, there was a lot of military fan fare.  To be honest, I feel guilt in terms of the fact that Robert was so awful in the military. I know it isn't my fault, but listing to things just hurt and made me sad.  It is what it is though.

I don't want to fail to mention that we have had absolutely gorgeous weather here for the last couple of days.  Tuesday it was actually chilly in the evening, and even though it is much warmer now, the humidity is still low.  Love these summer days with beautiful sunshine and awesome temps!