I loved our Saturday evening of laughter

Saturday Thomas had a double header for rec basketball...and it felt even longer than usual.  With two players unable to be there the team had no subs so everyone was gong to play ALL of BOTH games.  And to make it worse, the two missing players are the best on the team.  It made for some ugly moments, although it afforded Thomas the ability to get plenty of playing time, and he had some decent shots (one even went in!).  I was ready for a quiet evening, but Robert's choices were making it look like that wasn't going to happen.  Overall though, I thought Andrew and I handled it well, and things didn't spiral downhill as they often do when dealing with him. 

Our family decided to sit and watch a movie since none of us had anywhere to be that evening.  We chose one of my favorites, and there is nothing more I love than watching my kids laugh.  We were all curled up in our family room, and while I love my favorite scenes, I love watching the kids react to those scenes as well.  We are down to about six months of having all three kids living under our roof.  While there have been more challenging moments then I ever imagined, there have been so many incredibly fabulous ones as well.  I'm grateful for all of them!

We serve in other ways

At the end of January, our church served a pot luck lunch that was to be a prelude to learning how to serve the church.  It is specifically for jobs that are related to during the service.  I've often felt selfish, but I've just never been thrilled to serve our church in those ways.  My husband is on church council, and we are both part of the Christian Ed committee, but we generally speaking do not volunteer in roles during the service itself.  Yesterday, I realized we are still doing our part, and we are doing okay.

Andrew went early during Sunday School in order to be the Sunday School volunteer.  I did it twice in January, and will do it again next weekend.  All three kids were in the basement putting together submarine sandwiches as a youth group fundraiser.  Thomas was going to work the powerpoint, but Andrew agreed to do it for him since he was needed for the sub assembly.  I was the adult nursery volunteer, but both teen girls were there so I just needed to check in and relieve them briefly so they could partake in Communion.  It's a good thing I was sitting near Andrew at power point because Pastor decided to install this year's church council members so I needed to keep the power point going in his absence.

I was laughing to Andrew later.  I try to be very good about not judging others, but sometimes I need to show that same patience and understanding with myself.  We may not be serving front and center at the altar, but we serve in other ways!

SIx weeks since Christmas

It seems hard to believe that Christmas was six weeks ago already.  The time is flying by.  I know that I should lament this and not be grateful, but honestly, I want Robert to finish high school and graduate, and get himself into the Navy.  That is what needs to happen.  So far, so good, but I hold my breath and do lots of praying each day.

I also think this is just the rough part of winter.  It's cold, and the days of sunshine are so very short.  We had a delay this morning (a bit of a surprise) and it was so nice to be heading into school and not have it be pitch black outside.  We have a real shot for a snow day on Wednesday, and I'm cautiously optimistic we will get to sleep in.  I am scheduled to work that day, but if I don't get paid I would get to sleep in...win/win!

I love being off on a Friday

I am off today.  There were no high school jobs available, and I was thrilled to be home today.  I had a migraine this morning, so it worked out very well that I was home.  I was able to close my eyes and get a little more sleep.  I love that this leads right into the weekend.  I'll be honest, we have several things happening, but we should also be able to have some time together as a family.  The hard part of a Friday off is that because it leads right into the weekend, it's hard to find motivation.  I did get some dishes done though, and I'm grateful for a little down time!

This day is moving very slowly

All week I've been working in a math class.  I felt that the days moved quickly, although I couldn't specifically say why.  I just know that I don't remember feeling as though the days were dragging.

Today, however, is an entirely different story.  We still have two hours left in this day, and it feels as though it has really, really crawled today.  I usually really enjoy being in this class, but it has had some minor challenges today.  I'm also really tired from a busy week, and I'm sure that doesn't help.

I've also been doing a lot of praying for my kids today.  Thomas mentioned that he isn't sure who he is going to be able to room with on his D.C. trip coming up in May because no one wants to room with him.  He seemed okay with it at the time, but it absolutely broke my heart.  I try to remember to pray for each of my kids in what he/she might need each day, but that added to it.

And then I came to school today and have overheard so many conversations.  As a parent, they kind of scare me to my core.  Some of the things I'm overhearing about teens seem so dramatic, and some of the things just seem so mean.  More and more prayers.

I am hoping to be able to take a nap...and maybe even be off tomorrow!

The little things make me happy

A couple of years ago, some very dear friends got married.  They were both around 40, and they found combining their households to be challenging initially.  They began to realize they just had too much stuff, and decided they needed to do some decluttering.  I remember being told that they were using the method that if something didn't make them happy to see it or touch it, then it was gone.

I thought it sounded wonderful!  I quickly began to realize though, that I'm different.  I'm not entirely sure why, but little things do make me very happy.  Just after the holidays, I purchased two little wooden blocks.  One reads "We are do blessed", and one reads "Faith, hope, love".  It might sound ridiculous, but seeing them truly brings me joy.  Just as do the many pictures that are displayed throughout my home.  It may seem odd that these things have meaning to me, but they truly do.  They absolutely bring me joy.

At the same time, I have been able to get rid of things that don't bring me joy.  My kids were really impressed that I was throwing things away.  I am hoping to live something of a simpler life, but I'll be honest, that does require motivation that I don't really have right now!

Already the beginning of February

I really feel like January went by pretty quickly.  I think a lot of that is because by the middle of January, we had only had four school days, so it took us to the middle of the month before we were really in a routine.  Now we are at February, which is usually one of my least favorite months.  I am always grateful that it is a short one!  This year though, we have the Olympics, and our family absolutely loves watching the Olympics!  This year is going quickly!