Winter's arrival

On Monday, the high in our area was the upper mid 60's.  Tuesday was equally warm, although rain showers moved in later in the day.  I took advantage of the warm temps to get LOTS of Christmas shopping accomplished.  A cold front moved in that evening, and last night's low was in the teens...and tonight we are under a winter storm warning with a forecasted 3-5".  Winter has definitely arrived, and we are hoping for a snow day tomorrow!

Saturday afternoon

Yesterday afternoon was one of those comedy of errors that we'll all look back and laugh on at some point...but not at the time.  At the time, it made me want to cry, but it all worked out and life could've been worse!

My mom is buying the kids a ping pong table for Christmas.  We are really excited about this.  I've purchased the paddles and extra balls and that is what the kids are going to unwrap from her.  The table itself will remain safely in our garage until we are ready for it.  The purchase however, was an adventure.

There is a Meijer in the nearest major community, just over a 10 minute drive away.  This weekend was credit card discount, which means 15% off general merchandise.  I had noticed at another time they had a ping pong table that was $200 which mean I would get $30 off.  Andrew and I ventured yesterday to purchase it along with our weekly shopping.  We were fairly certain it wouldn't fit in the van, but weren't concerned because we have a luggage rack on top.  As an added bonus, it was marked down to $160 and I still got the discount...woo hoo!!!!!  Anyway, we confirmed it wouldn't fit so the gentlemen put it up on the rack, and I started loading our groceries while  Andrew went in to buy tie down straps.  He came back out several minutes later and spend another several minutes removing them from the package, when I quickly realized they were too short.  He went back into purchase longer ones, and returned and removed those from the package.  These however, were not "simple" ones like the first ones had been and we were completely clueless as to the design.  Two college educated individuals are standing there stumped in the parking lot by tie down straps!  Fortunately a kind samaritan with a clue recognized our problem and not only showed us how to use them, but made sure everything was secure so we could get on our way.  We laughed at our stupidity and were all set to leave...when the van wouldn't start.  We had left the hazards on for 45 minutes, and because of the age of the battery and the very cold temps (winter has arrived!) it didn't have enough juice to start the van.  Of course!!!  Andrew went back into the store and happened upon the store manager who had cables, and another manager brought his vehicle over to jump ours.  Seventy-five minutes after checking out we were on our way home!  We took back roads and went very slowly because after everything that had happened I could just see the ping pong table falling off on the road and begin destroyed.  We made it home safely though, and a neighbor came over to help get it down and hide it in our detached garage.  What an afternoon!

My dad has been gone a year

It just doesn't seem possible that Dad has been gone an entire year.  Frankly, there are days (and today is one of them) that it doesn't seem possible he is gone at all.  I am so, so, so grateful for the memories.  I've also been very blessed with emails that I have from years and years ago, especially sharing stories of the kids.  It's like I can literally hear his voice when I read those emails.  I'm not going to lie, today hurts.  I am grateful that today is the beginning of the weekend so that our evening doesn't have to be so structured, but I am also grateful that it is a school day so that, for the most part, I will have the day to myself.  There will be tears.

But life has to go on, and it does.  Today I will spend the day painting Catherine's room.  Not only is it something that needs to be done, I know I'll feel Dad very strongly today because it's something we had in common.  I've also told Andrew that dinner this evening will be fried chicken brought in.  That was Dad's favorite meal, and at the little local chicken place in my hometown he could call up and order his usual...and it would be ready for him.

I'm going to cry today, I'm going to laugh today, I'm going to hug my family today, and I'm going to remember my amazing father.

It's Hump Day!

We are half way through the week!  Two weeks from today we will be on the first day of our Thanksgiving break...woo hoo!  Andrew and I were discussing last night though, that breaks, much like weekends, aren't what they used to be.  It used to be that breaks meant there was nothing much happening...it was TRULY a break.  Now that we have a teen in high school though, it simply means there is no school but the other activities carry on.  Robert will have dive practice twice (have I mentioned his newest endeavor...diving?) over the Thanksgiving holiday, but it'll work out.

This evening Robert will officially be inducted into FFA (Future Farmer's of America...it's really just an ag-science class) and will also be recognized at the President of the Greenhands (Freshmen FFA members).  He has to give a speech, and we are equally excited and nervous for him.  Tomorrow evening will be the annual cross country ceremony...always something going on!

Yesterday I was able to spend hours out and about doing some Christmas shopping.  In spite of my feelings about shopping generally speaking, I actually enjoyed yesterday.  I think it was because I was able to accomplish a great deal and I feel good about it.  I really feel like there is a plan for what we are getting everyone and I feel much less overwhelmed.

So, life is plugging right along.  I've been doing lots of praying this week as parenting a middle school student feels like it is just about the most wretched thing on earth.  I'm grateful though, that we got one through already, and I just continue to pray that I am able to be the parent each of my children needs me to be!

A year since I've heard his voice

A year ago today I talked to Dad for the last time.  Although he was hospitalized at the time, I still never imagined that would be the last time.  He sounded good that day though, and I'll always be grateful for that.  We were inside a large building and my signal wasn't the best, but I can tell you EXACTLY where I was standing in that building when the call ended.  Strange.

I'm going to be honest...I want this week to be over.  I hate wishing away even one second of my children's lives, but I'm just ready for this week to be done.

Christmas Letters

Over a week ago, I began encouraging the kids to make their Christmas lists.  Last Sunday, several ads were in the newspaper, and Robert got right to it.  As with any 15-year-old, his list is rather short (and electronic).  He put it on my desk when he was finished.  Catherine made her list later that evening and put it in the window so the elves would take it.  I have to mention here, we have never had a talk with Catherine about the realities of Santa.  I can only assume as a seventh grader that she is fully aware, but she still follows through on ALL things...and with her personality, I'm just not sure.  By Monday evening, Thomas still hadn't made his list.  I asked him when he was going to get around to it, and he replied, "I don't know.  I've had a lot to do!"  I laughed and asked him what he had going on, and he mentioned homework and cleaning his room...all true.  Finally after his room was completely clean on Tuesday, he sat down and made his list, and it also went in Catherine's window that evening (I have no idea why it had to be her window, but I didn't question).  Somehow it came up that Robert hadn't put his in the window, and Thomas was aghast.  He wanted to know how Santa was going to receive the letter.  I quickly answered that Robert had mailed it.  Thomas wanted to know how Robert knew Santa's address, and I explained that we don't need to know...we can just put "Santa Claus, North Pole" and the US Postal service will be able to deliver it.  Thomas pointed out that it is the "US" postal service and I reminded him that they also handle international mail.  Good grief!  Again, he still seems to really believe, although I can't imagine things haven't been said.  At the same time, he has such an innocent and magical personality that maybe he is still a believer.  And regardless, if all of them are just playing along because nobody really wants to break the magic...I am a-ok with that as well!

My plans for the day

I must admit, I am looking forward to today.  It is pretty chilly outside, so it's the perfect day to just hang out at home.  Andrew will be venturing nearly three hours north to the playoff football game, which means I will have TOTAL control of the TV remote this evening! :)  I have nowhere to be except a parent performance by Robert's marching band, and I'm planning to just enjoy the day and get a lot accomplished at home.  Tomorrow Robert has to be back at the school at 7AM, and I'm going to head north to my hometown for a little shopping and visiting with family.  I should be back early enough tomorrow to enjoy a quiet afternoon and college football!  I cherish times like this!