It's my favorite thing about our church

This evening we handed over the gifts for the Giving Tree that we do at our church each year.  Over the years, this has become "my thing".  I am the one that gets the information from the school, creates the gift list, and gets the gifts to the school social worker.  Our church has members that are becoming much older each year, and many of them wish to simply give a financial donation.  That means I am also the one that does the shopping for those gifts and wraps them as well, then gets everything sorted and handled.  I love it!  It is my absolute favorite thing we do at our church each year.  I am so grateful that our church is so supportive and generous with this activity.  This year we were able to provide 61 gifts to two families that included a total of seven children.  It is such a blessing!

Really looking forward to this!

I have been looking forward to this weekend for quite some time.  I'm off tomorrow, which is delightful.  Thomas doesn't have class, so he will be here as well.  When Catherine found out, she decided she wanted to be here also, so she arrived this evening and will drive back for her classes tomorrow, then spend the rest of the weekend with us.  It's going to be cold, and with my family around, so very cozy.  It's also a little town festival in my hometown which I plan to journey to tomorrow, and Saturday has the Empty Bowls fundraiser in our town for those facing food insecurity.  I am so very excited about getting to share this with my family.  I am so grateful!

Early November weekend

I'll be honest, it didn't exactly feel like early November around here much as temps have been in the 70's.  Yesterday was rainy and dreary, but today was bright and sunny.  The winds yesterday took most of the leaves off the trees, but fall in Ohio is still pretty darn lovely.

Yesterday had some really great college football games.  The weather was hard on OSU, but they still be Northwestern.  LSU gave Bama their second loss of the season.  I hate rooting for LSU, but love seeing Bama lose!  I was disappointed Tennessee lost to Georgia, but LOVED the Irish victory over Clemson.  Awesome games!

Today Andrew took advantage of the weather to get a lot of yard work done.  I spent some time working in our back sunroom to make it a more pleasant space.  It will give Catherine her own space even when my mother-in-law is here.  It still needs work, but it's coming together.  This evening we drove up to have a dinner with just Catherine.  It was such a lovely visit, and it's so nice to see that she is in such a good place.  It makes me so excited about Thanksgiving coming up and all the time we will have together as a family!  And then on the way home, we got to see the most beautiful sunset!

I love this month, and in this month of gratitude, I am so very thankful for so many things!

Last part of 2022 vacation

On Thursday, we awoke to the most beautiful weather.  Knowing that Friday, our last day there, was supposed to be hot and humid, I decided Thursday would be beach day for me.  Andrew and I had taken a beach umbrella, but we also bought another one as well as two beach chairs.  I ended up staying at the beach much longer than I had originally intended.  Although I took things to read, honestly I mostly just say and watched my kids and enjoyed the view of the ocean.  It was truly an amazing afternoon, and one I know I'll always remember.  

That evening we ventured further inland for a dinner.  It wasn't anything fancy, but it had the best menu we'd seen all week.  By that time, even I was getting a little tired of seafood.  It had a teriyaki chicken that was awesome, and it was next to a used bookstore.  We enjoyed a bit of browsing before heading back to the house.  Unfortunately, about 10:00 that evening we had quite a storm go through.  We were all inside by then though, enjoying our TV episodes.

Friday, I decided the sinus problems I was having were just too much.  I felt pretty lousy.  We walked over to some near-by shops and did some shopping.  Andrew and Thomas spent the afternoon at the pool, and we had an early dinner at a near-by restaurant that is always a "must" on a trip to Garden City.  We took my mother-in-law to do some shopping after dinner, and then finished the evening with some ice-cream.  It was really a lovely ending to our week together.  We packed as much as we could that evening, and of course finished with some TV episodes, before the rain poured down again overnight.

Saturday we had gorgeous weather for the drive home, although we had a significant amount of standing water around the house before we left.  Traffic was pretty heavy on many parts of the drive home, but it still only took us 15 minutes longer than the drive down.  We ordered pizzas for dinner, and I was never so grateful to be sleeping in my own bed as I was that night.

It was really a lovely, lovely vacation.  Realistically, it was my mother-in-law's last major trip.  As it was, she only left the house for dinners and near-by shopping.  I also know, there are absolutely no guarantees that my kids can join us each year.  I filled my heart with as many memories as I possibly could.  The trip was truly a blessing.

There's no place like home

We got home about 7:00 last evening.  It was something of a rough trip home, and I was so grateful to finally make it home.  We walked through the house and did some unpacking, and my heart was full of so much gratitude not only for our amazing vacation, but for the house where we spend the majority of our time.  I felt like I was seeing home through new eyes, and I couldn't have been (and continue to be) more grateful for the home in which we live.

I'll write later this week about the vacation itself.  Today, I'm getting ready to face reality again with back to work tomorrow, and I'm enjoying celebrating my husband on this Father's Day!

Prom and Mother's Day weekend

It's been a busy and memorable weekend around our house, and my heart could not be more full.  I was fighting a sinus infection most of last week, and that was tough.  It's not completely gone, but I feel much better now.  Sleeping is the tough part, which is often the issue with congestion.

Friday evening was just Andrew and myself for dinner, and nothing sounded good to me...except Dairy Queen blizzards.  We ordered a sandwich so it wasn't just ice cream for dinner, but I won't lie, it was exactly what hit the spot that evening.  The rain had cancelled baseball for the entire weekend, and I'm very grateful.  Thomas was home about Midnight that night, and it allowed us ALL to sleep in yesterday.

Mid afternoon, Thomas started getting ready for Prom, and Catherine arrived late afternoon to see him.  We met up with his date and her family a little after 4:30 and took some very lovely pictures.  Catherine hung around for a couple of hours before driving back to her apartment.  Thomas and T had a lovely dinner and enjoyed the dance before heading off to After Prom where Andrew was also volunteering.  It was 4AM before everyone was home again, which never allows for much sleep!

We slept in as much as we could today without completely destroying (we hope) our sleeping patterns.  Thomas had to work this afternoon and I returned his tux.  Andrew did a lot of yard work, and the weather could not have been more gorgeous.  It was absolutely wonderful.  Thomas's girlfriend very thoughtfully brought by some flowers and gifts for my Mother's Day.  It was such a kind gesture and I was touched.

This evening has been the best part, and I have my sweet little family to thank for it.  Catherine had sent me the sweetest text earlier today, and since Thomas was leaving for After Prom just after Midnight, I had very "early" wishes from him.  Catherine made the trip back to town for the evening (and is here until at least Thursday with her work schedule), and I had told Andrew I wanted to order some food in.  After dinner, the kids and Andrew gave me some gift cards, and Catherine gave me such a sweet paperweight.  It truly means the world to me.  All of this was after listening to Catherine and Thomas bonding over college things.

As I was driving home this afternoon, I couldn't help but feel that all of my dreams had come true.  I have an amazingly blessed life and I am so incredibly grateful!

My grandmother's video

When my grandmother passed away nearly two years ago, we took lots of family photos and made it into a memorial video.  My mother made sure all of us grandkids received a copy, and I'm so very grateful.  It's one of my favorite things to watch.  I know that Andrew and the kids probably don't care very much, so I watch it when I'm home alone.  In the beginning, it made me so emotional because she was gone.  Then, it made me very emotional because of the essential break-up of the family.  Today, I watched it, and although there was still some sadness, there was also so much gratitude.  I'm still saddened that there will be no more group photos, but I'm so grateful for the photos that do exist.  I'm grateful for all of the times that our family gathered together and the memories that were made, both physically by photos and in our hearts.  I'm also grateful that gratitude can outweigh the sadness now.  I miss those no longer with us and I miss those that have been hurtful, but I'm still grateful.

Appreciating some quiet time

Andrew left early this afternoon to take his mom back home.  He'll be back tomorrow afternoon.  Catherine and Thomas both left about 45 minutes ago; Catherine for work and Thomas for swim workouts.  I had taken my grandmother to an appointment, and had returned just a few minutes before the kids left.  The appointment didn't go well (a different post), and I am so, so grateful for the peace and especially the quiet of these moments.  I enjoyed having my mother-in-law here, but it was a lengthy visit.  She didn't bring anything to read of occupy her time, so I felt obligated to entertain her.  While we get along fine, it was just a lot of days of togetherness.  I am grateful to be able to sit here and not feel guilty for enjoying the quiet!

Sunday Blessings

I kind of want today to last forever.  I know it isn't possible, but maybe the feeling I have today can last forever.

We spent last evening with our "social bubble friends".  They have been part of our social bubble since the beginning.  And honestly, they are the only part of our true indoor social bubble, other than Andrew's parents and my mom.  The kids love being together, and knowing that we are getting together always entices Catherine to come and spend the weekend with us.  It's beyond delightful.  While there, we made plans for the holidays.  We will have Christmas Eve dinner with them, just our two families.  We will also spend New Year's Eve with them, again, just our two families, and they have asked us to bring our pup and stay overnight.  I am so grateful for their friendship, love, and hospitality.

It's also been a truly lovely day.  We all slept in, and hope to do church this evening (our church is again closed and service materials are sent out over email).  When I got up this morning I put on YouTube, which has  channel that is a fireplace playing Christmas music.  It even simulates the crackling of the wood logs.  It was so lovely to sit in my living room this morning with that, my coffee, and the Christmas tree lit.

Andrew and Thomas had to go pick up some stuff from my mom this afternoon.  Catherine drove back to her apartment this afternoon to do a quick assignment, and then to get some more clothes.  She decided that since the campus is closed and finals are all online, she would prefer to spend at least tonight, and possible tomorrow night with us as well.  Truly, truly grateful beyond words.

I have a significant amount of work to do to pick up the house, but I am oh so grateful for the blessings in our lives.  Even though things are very different this year, it doesn't mean they are bad!

So blessed to have this quiet morning

I am again only scheduled to work this afternoon.  It is not yet 8:00, although I've been up for nearly two hours.  I am so grateful for this time this morning to relax and just allow myself some quiet time.  I am so grateful for the moments I get to sit here, with my sweet pup cuddled up next to me, and one of the cats snuggled up next to the pup.  These moments bring such a sense of calm and gratitude that I can't even begin to explain it.

A very selfish weekend

I'll be honest, this weekend was full of complete selfishness for me.  I guess, I shouldn't look at it that way, but honestly, I didn't do much except things I wanted to do.  I did cook dinner on Sunday and do some grocery shopping on my way home from lunch with my mom and grandmothers, but that was about it.  It was a weekend I very much needed.  I was able to get some scrapbooking done (I am still over nine years behind though) and I pretty much ate what I wanted and watched on TV what I wanted.

After Catherine got off work on Saturday, she and I hung out and watched a movie.  I loved my time with her.  She is becoming an absolutely fabulous young lady.  The thought of her finishing school and leaving home one day brings tears to my eyes.  I am so proud of the lady she is becoming, but I sure do miss my little girl.  I admire her in ways I can't even describe.

I am so grateful for my little family, and for each day we get to spend together.  I'm grateful for me time too though.  We are so blessed!

Bringing joy

Lately, it seems as though the whole "does it bring you joy when you touch it" movement has been surrounding me.  I get it...I really do.  Life being less cluttered certainly can be advantageous.  I don't think people would consider my house cluttered though, and I'll be honest, I love the things around me.  Yes, they bring me joy.

I love the pictures hanging on my wall.  Many of them are from the last family portrait session we had done a little over two years ago.  I also so love the pictures sitting around my house on shelves and elsewhere.  I love the picture of our family at Disney, and I love the picture of my kids decked out in their Notre Dame clothing when they were very young.  I love the photos of my grandparents' high school graduations, and I love the photo of my mother with her mother, brother, and sister.  These are only a few of the photos, and they all bring me great joy.

I also love some of the "things" around my house.  I love the building cut outs from the towns in which I've lived, as well as some of our vacations.  I love the rock on my shelf that is painted red and has the word "peace" etched on it.  Not only is that a lovely visual in itself, but Thomas made that for me at a church activity.  I love the kids' ceramic projects sitting on the shelf, as well as some of our word blocks.  I love the reminders that "the time to be happy is now", as well as "We are so blessed" in front of our kids' pics.  These things, yes, they bring me joy.

Maybe I am way too sentimental.  Maybe I am ridiculous.  But for right now, that's fine with me.  I have room, my house isn't crazy, and I have much joy in my life.

Memories from over break

Overall, I tremendously enjoyed our time over the last two weeks.  It's definitely not the same as it was when the kids were younger because there are still swim schedules and teen job responsibilities.  In fact, poor Catherine had to be at work yesterday at 7AM!  In some ways, getting up at 6AM yesterday was a good transition because I was up but relaxing, and it made the 5AM this morning not quite so awful...but still not awesome. 😀

Several specific, very special memories stick out from over the last two weeks.  The first was on Christmas Eve.  Our church changed to only one service for the evening, and honestly, it was wonderful.  It was dark (we had always gone late afternoon in the past) which made the candlelight part of the service almost magical.  It was also very nice to get to see so many of the teens who are away at college, and I thought it was very nice that it was full.  It was a wonderful way to bring in Christmas.

Another very special memory came on the first Thursday, when everyone was still at our house.  I had given Andrew Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation and we all sat around and watched it.  The kids and I had never seen it before, and it had been years since my in-laws had seen it.  Andrew and I both commented that not only did we enjoy watching it, but we enjoyed watching the reactions from the rest of the family.

We had an entire week on our own as well.  Robert left his four-month-old puppy here, and we had to care for him until we could get him to my mom's house.  She is going to care for him until Robert is able to make arrangements to have the dog with him.  He is a sweet dog, but we aren't in the market for caring for a dog.  Most of this past week involved caring for the dog, double swim practices, and family bonding around the TV.  It's not my most favorite way of bonding, but I do appreciate that we are doing it together.

So many, many times over the break I couldn't help but think how amazingly blessed our lives are.  I even told Andrew how grateful I am for this life we have created together.  My heart is more full than I can describe.

Our house is very full, and our hearts are even more so

We are all here, and for the next 72+ hours we will pretty much be together every waking moment.  There are seven humans and four pets.  That is a lot of breathing creatures, and a lot of personality.  Both Robert and my in-laws leave next Saturday.  I know it is going to be crazy, and I'm particularly praying for patience and kindness for us all.

As full as our house is, my heart is even more full.  Robert will be at his next assignment for three years.  Because of the cost of transportation, it will be only once he can come for a visit, if that.  My in-laws are older, and my father-in-law especially is failing.  This is the year to make memories.  I'm so grateful for the opportunity.

Remembering to keep it all in perspective

Just 4-1/2 hours until school is finished and we are out until Monday.  I'll be honest, while I accept the changes to our holiday this year, inside my head I've been lamenting things a little.  For instance, I don't love the fact that Andrew will be making two trips to PA to retrieve and return his parents for the holiday, nor do I love the fact that I have to spend several hours on Wednesday and Friday working at the rescheduled band fundraiser.  I also don't love the fact that Catherine has to work two eight-hour shifts this weekend.  I accept it all, but I don't love it.

As a reminder though, my kids are all healthy and happy.  A family in town has a young son whose leukemia has relapsed.  He is currently preparing for a bone marrow transplant and is spending several weeks, this holiday included, in the hospital.  He is transported twice a day from the Children's hospital to another hospital for full body radiation treatments.  This young man is eight-years-old.  He has already been through so much.  His parents are both from very large families, and I'm sure they really wish they would be spending their day similar to mine.  Instead, they will be sitting with their young son who is in the process of fighting for his life.

It really helps to keep things in perspective for me.  I may not have as much relaxing time or as much family togetherness, and Robert may not be here, but overall my family is extremely blessed in more ways than I can count!

Appreciating the quiet start to my day

It's been a crazy week.  Almost laughably so, except that it's really not funny. 😊

I am in day three of a five day assignment.  The teacher had hand surgery and had spoken with me the first day of school about being here for her at this time.  The students are awesome.  I really enjoy her classes.  This teacher has 1st period off, which I don't generally love.  However, because her classes are so good throughout the day, I don't really mind either.  In fact, this morning, it is particularly appealing.  I've been catching up on some things I needed to handle personally, and I was able to get some hot chocolate from the coffee cart.  Honestly, for a few minutes, I just sat here and felt so grateful for my life.  I'm staring down the beginning of day where it will be about 11:00 before I am home this evening, but I felt such peace and gratitude this morning.  It was a lovely feeling to begin this Friday!

Veteran's Day

Today is Veteran's Day, and is the 100th anniversary of the ending of WWI.  This year is definitely a new perspective.  While Andrew's father was a Marine, my family has very little military experience except for my grandfather in WWII, and a great-uncle in the Korean War.  Now though, my son is serving.  I'll be honest, the day has made me emotional.  Our pastor, who is very emotional, became choked up while speaking about Robert from the altar, and I can't ever let anyone cry alone!  The songs have made me tear up, and it's just a completely different perspective for me.  I feel like I really get it for the first time, and I also know that I don't completely get it.  I have not yet had to deal with Robert facing imminent danger, but that will most likely be in our future.  I am so very proud of Robert, and I'm grateful to the military for another reason.  I am grateful to our military for making men out of the boys who join.  I know many are like Robert, and I can't imagine where he would be without the discipline and structure of the military.  I'm so grateful for it all!

It really got cooler here

It has rained almost 48 hours straight around here.  Needless to say, there are some flash flood warnings around here.  The nice thing though, is that the humidity is gone, and the weather is so much cooler.  We are wearing flannel pajama pants and the fall scented candle has been lit.  With football on the TV for the last two days, it absolutely feels like fall.

I'm so grateful for this life.  As I was folding laundry earlier this evening, even though it is one of my least favorite tasks, I couldn't help but feel incredible gratitude.  I'm so lucky to have a job I enjoy, in a house that does far more than shelter us, surrounded by a family whom I love dearly.  I am blessed beyond words.

We don't take it for granted

There is a couple who both work at the high school, and now both of their kids are at the high school.  She mentioned that she doesn't take it for granted.  They know getting to spend so much time together won't last forever, and they will miss it when it's over.

I completely understand what she means.  By the time I started subbing, Robert was already at the career tech school.  There have been eight school days so far this year where all four of us living in this house have left the house for the same school building.  I love every minute of it.  Strangely enough, I haven't seen Thomas as much as I might want.  But I did get to have Catherine in class today.  I see the in the hallways, and sometimes Catherine even comes to see me where ever I am during the day.  It makes me smile, and makes my heart full.  I do not take this opportunity for granted.  Hopefully our finances can hold out and I can still sub the entire four years that Thomas is at school.  I am so grateful to be living this life with these kiddos!

Appreciating some quiet moments

With three teenagers and two adults home all day every day right now, there are rarely moments of quiet.  In all honestly, we are rarely ALL home at the same time, but that just kind of adds to the chaos.  Right now Robert is at swim practice for about another ten minutes.  Andrew has taken the younger two on a college visit to a local university.  The weather is actually comfortable enough that the windows are open, and I enjoy hearing the birds chirp.  I am soaking up the peacefulness of my surroundings!