The end of September

My goodness, this month flew by!  If the entire year goes this fast, I'm going to be absolutely exhausted.  Work is crazy, and I love crazy!  The last two weeks have been especially insane, but I'm finding I thrive on that.  It helps though, that my evenings have been mostly unscheduled so I'm able to come home and just "be".  That isn't the case for the rest of the family, and I'm sure our sweet pup is sad that she is alone so much.  We are doing the best we can though, and fortunately we are able to not put her in the crate when we have to run out for short trips.

So if today is the end of September, that means tomorrow is October!  Yippee!  It's pretty much my favorite month of the year.  The weather is often gorgeous with beautiful scenery, lots of great college football, and it doesn't hurt that my birthday happens in October as well! There is also the joy that after this month, we lead right into the holidays, which is definitely a fabulous time of year as well.  It is so very easy to feel so blessed and at peace during this part of the year!

Homecoming 2021

Yesterday was the final Homecoming in our house.  The differences between having a boy and a girl are pretty significant.  Thomas already had a sport coat and dress pants, so we were pretty ready to go.  The biggest stress was getting the corsage for Thomas's girlfriend, only because I never think of those things.  Thomas and T went with a group of friends, and they all came over after the dance to hang out here at the. house.  They had a bonfire for a bit then came in to play some video games.  Even Catherine joined in some fun here at the house.  Everyone seemed to have a nice time.

I'll be honest, I'm not a fan of formal dances.  When I was a kid, Homecoming was a dance where you could wear a dress to the dance on Saturday evening and then wear that same dress to church Sunday morning.  My, how times have changed!  Dresses are now cocktail dresses, and I hope some of the young ladies didn't bend over at any point.  Pictures are no longer on the porches or in the yards, but often are taken as group pics at a park or some "on location" shoot.  I'm not a fancy person, and I don't really know how to be fancy.  Even my wedding was not fancy.  If not for my mother, there would not have been cakes or center pieces or other things like that.  It's just who I am.  But because of that, I often feel like my kids experiences with dances are not as special as others.  Overall, they don't really seem to mind.  It's hard to believe our days parenting these events are drawing to a close!

Complete dinner failure

I'll be honest, dinner has been less than exciting in this house lately.  For one thing, the chances of all three of us being home at dinner time is pretty low.  The chances of two of us being around for dinner is probably around 50%.  Secondly, when it is warm outside, I don't want anyone using the oven and heating up our house.  Not much sounds good either.  And of course there is the fact that I am usually the last one home each day, but that doesn't usually mean that anyone else has done anything about dinner.

With the temps finally dropping, oven usage is allowed again.  Wednesday was an incredibly dreary day, but I made a wonderful chicken stuffing casserole for dinner.  It was the kind of meal that is filling and sticks to you.  I had decided that today was a wonderful day for potato soup.  I had gone to the grocery after watching halftime last evening to make sure I had the ingredients.  Even though I wasn't home this morning, I left the "recipe" available and even called to make sure it had been started since it needs to be in the crock pot all day.  Catherine cheered when she heard we were having it for dinner.  An hour before it was ready, I added the cream cheese.  When it was supposed to be ready, it just didn't look right.  I let it cook for a little more, but the cream cheese just didn't seem to be right.  I found the box, and was so upset to realize the cream cheese had expired months ago.  While it was certainly no one's fault, Catherine and I were so disappointed!  She mentioned it had been smelling so good all day.  We ordered dinner in which usually makes me very happy, but it wasn't at all what I was going for.  It was a complete dinner failure in spite of my best efforts and planning!

An historic football game this first weekend of fall

This is an absolutely GORGEOUS weekend.  Fall has arrived, and it's delightful.  It is just the right temp to have the windows open, and the awesome fall scents of our candles are wafting through the air.  The potato soup is in the crockpot for dinner, and it's really just awesome right now.

I had an early morning as I had to be at my grandmother's place at 8;30 to take her for a COVID test before her surgery on Wednesday.  It was an overcast morning with some rain drops, but I couldn't help but think of many early fall Saturday mornings when we were on our way to cross country meets.  Those are some really great memories.  I was grateful to be home just before Noon so I get some things done around the house.

And of course the best part about Saturdays in the fall is college football.  Today was a big Notre Dame match up for the Irish against Wisconsin at Soldier Field in Chicago.  I told Andrew that the hard part of being a Notre Dame fan is that they always play a tough schedule and it's exhausting each week!  Today, they had fabulous fourth quarter and pulled out a victory.  And it was a history making victory as Brian Kelly passed Knute Rockne for the winningest coach in ND history.  Such an exciting game.  Go Irish!

I read a book

One of the things I always had plenty of time for as a substitute teacher was reading books.  I would read them on my laptop which I didn't love, but I did enjoy reading them.  Rarely was my reading ever "heavy".  I preferred the sweet little Maine mysteries.  I could generally churn one out within a week.

Then I changed jobs.  Instead of sitting at a desk all day doing almost whatever I wanted, I was responsible to actually accomplish things.  On top of that, I am supposed to be digitizing tubs and tubs worth of photos from both sides of my family.  I've probably got about 1% done, and I feel it hanging over my head.  Reading a book seemed like a luxury that I simply shouldn't do.  There was ALWAYS something more important to be doing.

While everyone was gone for Labor Day though, I allowed myself to begin a book.  Loans are only three weeks, and I went almost two weeks without getting back to it.  Earlier this week though, I knew it would be running out, so I allowed myself to finish the book.  Honestly, it kind of buoyed my entire motivation.  It was really wonderful to allow myself just a little bit of time to read a book!

Fall has arrived

Fall became official today, and the weather followed right along.  Unfortunately, the cold front made it rain all day, but the temps have been absolutely delightful.  Everything is still very green, although we are starting to see a little bit of yellow creep in.  Looking forward to the leaves changing, being able to wear cozy clothes, enjoying warm beverages, and lighting awesome candles.  I love this time of year!

Monday on steroids

Today was a ridiculously crazy day at work.  It was roadblock after roadblock.  Things that normally happen first thing on Mondays didn't happen until after noon...in some cases until school was almost out.  Everything was just strange today.  The all day rain didn't help anything either.

I found out later in the day that there is a full moon tonight.  I hate to be superstitious and say there is a connection, but it does seem likely at this point.  Hoping Tuesday is not "Monday part II"!

The weekend is ending

I'm tired, but I just told Andrew I didn't want to go to bed because it would mean the weekend is over.  It's not that it was such a spectacular weekend, but it was still a weekend, and I treasure each moment of it.  

My part of the weekend was fairly uneventful.  I did lots of cleaning yesterday.  Today I worked on lots of volunteer responsibilities and allowed myself to read a book (I've missed that).  This evening I met my mom and together we drove to have dinner with Catherine.  My mom really enjoyed the opportunity to have dinner with her granddaughter, especially given everything that happened with Catherine in the last week.  It was nice "girl time."

Andrew and Thomas both had to attend the away football game Friday evening.  Our team won (and it might be the only one of the season).  I was already in bed before Andrew arrived home because he stopped for a bite to eat with friends.  Yesterday morning Andrew had to work, then he and Thomas attended the football game for the local university.  Today after church, the two of them attended the Reds' game.  Andrew had been wanting to go all summer, and it was really the last viable option.  I love that he is soaking up these opportunities while he can.

Another busy week is coming along.  Fall weather will be arriving, and I love this time of year!

What's happening

I wanted to take an opportunity to update what is actually happening in our lives...not just my thoughts and (very) scattered emotions.  As the parent of a senior, my last senior, I understand we are leaving behind a phase of live that has brought me immense joy.  Parenting is exhausting, but more rewarding than I could ever imagine.  I know that I will enjoy this next phase (and already do) of having my children be adults, and hopefully someday adding to our family, but I will always miss the days that came before.

Anyway, after the drama of Catherine's breakup last week, things seem to have settled.  I had a "raw" week and would panic anytime she didn't answer her text, but I'm feeling better after having gotten through this weekend.  The daughters of our dear friends when over to stay with her, and I have no doubt they had an absolute blast.  I also know (because they sent Thomas a picture) that they took her a little care package.  So sweet!  I am so grateful for those friendships.  She is enjoying her campus job, although I think she is finding it a little more physically taxing than she had anticipated.  She is so tiny, and therefore not terribly strong, and it has proven to be problematic for her.  The manager clearly doesn't love her, but overall Catherine enjoys her co-workers.  She also has a new room mate this year and we are thrilled!  She and Catherine get along fabulously.

Thomas is moving right along through his senior year.  He has already applied to two colleges that he and Andrew visited this summer, and has been accepted by one so far.  It's three hours away which hurts my heart a bit, but I know it's not about me!  He's leading his saxophone section in band, and looking forward to swimming.  He had to go on "break" status for lifeguarding which means he doesn't get scheduled, but he is picking up shifts as they become available.  In some ways, that is even better for him because we don't have to worry about him not being able to attend a scheduled shift.  He has a girlfriend who is a pleasant young lady, although they had some drama this week as well.  He's getting involved with FFA at school as well, and enjoys making new friends that way.

Andrew is still working at sporting events as well as teaching, and I'm still working my church job along with my significant volunteer duties in addition to my job.  Andrew and I have sometimes not had much time to chat with each other, but overall things are going well.

I really do hope I'm able to get on here and write a little more.  I want to continue to record our memories, even if my kids are grown!

The break up

For a variety of reasons, Catherine decided Saturday evening that it was time to end her relationship with her boyfriend.  I've not written much here about it, because we had only ever met him once about two months ago.  In spite of invitations, he had not wanted to meet us.  I'd had my concerns about him all along, but kept them to myself.  Anyway, on Saturday evening she let him know that the relationship was over due to incredibly hurtful and immature behavior that day.  We also came to find out that evening that anytime she had been with us he was angry, he didn't want her hanging out with any of her guy friends (or really any of her friends) and he had her share her location with him so that he always knew where she was.  As I explained to her, those are some red flags in a relationship, although he had never been violent or threatened her.  After she broke up, he attempted to text and call repeatedly so she blocked him.  He then tried to contact her on social media, so she blocked all of those platforms.  Yesterday morning she woke up to emails so she blocked him there (we didn't even know it could be done!).  She spent the morning at home doing homework and we shared lunch together before she headed back to her apartment.  When she arrived back at her apartment, he was in the parking lot waiting for her.  She closed the door on him, but he kept knocking saying he wanted to talk to her.  Her roommate told him Catherine didn't want to talk to him.  The roommate when out to check and he was still in the parking lot.  This was when we told Catherine to call the police and we were on our way.  The policed reported that he had been nervous when they talked to him, and he left.  We arrived shortly after and were there for about 45 minutes or so.  There was no more sign of him.  One of Catherine's roommates went through the police academy this summer and is making sure everything is being covered.  Again, at no point has he been threatening, but he just doesn't get it!  It was a much more draining day than we had anticipated, but it could've been much worse.  Catherine is prepared, she has plenty of pepper spray, and good roommates who are looking out for her!

Our house

Our house is for sale again.  Not the house we currently live in, nor the one in our former town.  The "our" is not my sweet little family, it is the "our" of my parents' family.  My parents moved out of that house sixteen years ago, when my father desperately needed to live in a house without stairs.  We had moved into that house when I was fifteen, right after school ended my freshman year.  It was a beautiful old victorian home on Main St., which was lined with gorgeous old homes.  My father spent three years making it into the gorgeous home that it became for our family.  There was even an enclosed back porch he built on the back.  It became "his" spot, and was his sanctuary when he became ill.  In fact, I vividly remember him sitting on that back porch when I got home from work the day we first realized he was ill.

These are the second owners after my parents, but very few changes have ben made in the sixteen years since they moved, with the exception of a complete kitchen reno.  I had mentioned the house being for sale in group text chat with my mother and sister.  My mother began reminiscing, and mentioned how many great memories she had in that house.  The high school and college graduation parties for both my sister and myself were in that house.  My mother hosted so many holidays and other gatherings in that house, and I had friends over often during my teenage years.  It was a large home that could accommodate a good number of people.  Because it was on Main St. my parents made a celebration out of the town festival parade.  Many friends and family were invited to watch from the porch each year.  I remember even after being married and moving away, Andrew and I would often go up the night before and stay over so we could be there bright and early for the festivities.  We didn't even really care about the parade, but we loved seeing the people!

I share my mother's good memories.  The part I am struggling with right now is having the good memories make me smile and not cry.  My emotions are pretty ramped up right now.  Regardless, I am very grateful for all those wonderful memories made in that house.

Twenty years

We all remember twenty years ago.  We remember where we were, who we were with, and we definitely remember how we felt.  So many memories from that day are so very, very vivid, including that beautiful blue sky that should have been clear, but filled with smoke in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania.  Twenty years later, I still want to vomit.  I don't even have words, but this year it just feels like it is all too much.  Prayers for so many people.

The kind of Monday morning I can really enjoy

It is the most incredibly peaceful Monday morning...pretty much ever.  I had grand plans for all the things I was going to do while Andrew, the kids, and the dog were gone and I had no responsibilities.  Reality though, is that is not what I did.  I still cleaned and worked and ran errands.  It's okay though.  I also watched lots of college football, especially Notre Dame's OT win last evening.

The weather has turned absolutely gorgeous, at least for this morning.  I love the way our family room furniture is currently arranged so that I can enjoy the view into my backyard.  There is not a cloud in the sky and it's almost chilly.  I was watching the two outdoor cats wander around earlier.  Yesterday a deer was standing along the edge of the woods chomping on leaves.  It is really lovely.

I'm so grateful for the quiet and peaceful feeling of this morning.  I feel as though life has been anything but peaceful lately, and it bothers me greatly.  I'm so grateful for even just a few hours of this calming, and I appreciate one of the cats wanting to curl up and share it with me!  The weekend has gone too fast, but it isn't over yet! 

So much to enjoy about today

I have to start with the fact that the best thing about today is definitely the weather!  It is beyond awesome around here!  It will be up into the 80's again this weekend, but the humidity has dropped.  It is fabulous.

The next thing to enjoy about today is that I took tomorrow off of work, which means I have a FOUR DAY WEEKEND!  I am so grateful it wasn't an issue to be off tomorrow.  Andrew has to work as a teacher work day, but not only will Thomas be home, Catherine is also home.  She came home for the weekend because tomorrow evening will be the senior recognition of Thomas's marching band season, and then Saturday Andrew and the kids are going to my in-laws.  I very much appreciate that I'll have tomorrow to spend with the kids since they will be gone during the bulk of the weekend.

And another very fun thing to enjoy about today is that college football returns this evening!  Not only is college football back, but OSU plays tonight.  Go Buckeyes!!!!  I will miss my family this weekend, but I at least I know that I'll have plenty of football on TV to keep me entertained!

In spite of some rough emotions lately, I am very, very grateful for these moments of peace.  Life is full of many blessings!