Yesterday afternoon I received a text from Catherine. She was swimming the 500m race last evening. I know it is hard on her. No one really enjoys doing it, and coach tries to spread it around. However, Catherine takes great pride in completing her assignments in whatever she is doing.
Before the race started I attempted to locate Thomas to make sure he was supporting his sister. I didn't need to though, because he was at the end of her lane to cheer her on. I could tell that she was struggling, but she never stopped. She just kept going, even though at one point I wasn't sure that she was going to be able. The winner of the race finished 3-1/3 minutes ahead of her, and even when next-to-last finished, she still had 75m remaining. She just kept moving along, and as she flipped for her last 25m, Andrew pointed out she could be under 10 minutes if she had some pep left her in tank. I didn't think she could do it, but she sure did! She was still able to get herself out of the pool, and she was very pleased with herself. It was so cute how she beamed as each parent congratulated her on finishing. I was so happy for her, and tears fell just as they did last year when she completed her first one. I love that even though she knows she isn't anywhere near the best, she pushes and pushes herself to get better, because it isn't just about being the best. It's about being better than before, and she gets that. I am so proud of my girl!
Friday, January 11, 2019
Thursday, January 10, 2019
Year end purchases
I neglected to write about some purchases we made at the end of year. I am ridiculously excited about them. I mean absolutely ridiculous!
I have to provide a little bit of background. We put up two Christmas trees each year. In our front room is a large tree we purchased seven years ago. I had never loved the tree, but it suited our purpose and was pretty much the only thing we could find at the time we purchased it. The other tree is in our family room. It is only a little shorter, but much thinner. I brought the tree into our marriage and it is every bit of twenty years old, but still looks wonderful. It doesn't begin to look real, but I love that the tree is a very green tree. I love this tree.
This year, the cats really did a job on the tree in our front room. They never actually climbed the tree, but they sure did enjoy bending the bottom branches. Because of how the tree was put together, bending them back wasn't really an option. They were especially destructive on one side of the tree, and the tree looked ridiculous by the end of the season. I really wanted a new tree, but refused to spend a lot of money. I checked online the day after Christmas, but I still thought the prices were ridiculous. I didn't want anything fancy, and I didn't want anything pre-lit. I didn't really have time to go out and look because we had things happening. It just didn't seem meant to be, and I really didn't worry about it.
On New Year's eve, Andrew and I needed to run some errands. We found a tree that was $89 originally, and was 75% off! And the best part was, it was a very green tree just like I wanted! As you can imagine, we were both absolutely thrilled! When I took down Christmas this year, it was really nice to just take the crappy tree out to the curb.
We were also able to purchase a new vacuum cleaner. I had asked for money from my in-laws for Christmas so I could buy a new one. I bought it the same day as the tree, and I am suddenly in love with vacuuming. I want to vacuum everything! Honestly, I am a little ridiculous about it. These were some awesome year-end purchases we were able to make!
I have to provide a little bit of background. We put up two Christmas trees each year. In our front room is a large tree we purchased seven years ago. I had never loved the tree, but it suited our purpose and was pretty much the only thing we could find at the time we purchased it. The other tree is in our family room. It is only a little shorter, but much thinner. I brought the tree into our marriage and it is every bit of twenty years old, but still looks wonderful. It doesn't begin to look real, but I love that the tree is a very green tree. I love this tree.
This year, the cats really did a job on the tree in our front room. They never actually climbed the tree, but they sure did enjoy bending the bottom branches. Because of how the tree was put together, bending them back wasn't really an option. They were especially destructive on one side of the tree, and the tree looked ridiculous by the end of the season. I really wanted a new tree, but refused to spend a lot of money. I checked online the day after Christmas, but I still thought the prices were ridiculous. I didn't want anything fancy, and I didn't want anything pre-lit. I didn't really have time to go out and look because we had things happening. It just didn't seem meant to be, and I really didn't worry about it.
On New Year's eve, Andrew and I needed to run some errands. We found a tree that was $89 originally, and was 75% off! And the best part was, it was a very green tree just like I wanted! As you can imagine, we were both absolutely thrilled! When I took down Christmas this year, it was really nice to just take the crappy tree out to the curb.
We were also able to purchase a new vacuum cleaner. I had asked for money from my in-laws for Christmas so I could buy a new one. I bought it the same day as the tree, and I am suddenly in love with vacuuming. I want to vacuum everything! Honestly, I am a little ridiculous about it. These were some awesome year-end purchases we were able to make!
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
A great day to be off work
Today is really a great day to be off work. Although, I don't necessarily think there is a "bad" time to have a day off! Regardless, it's been a great day to our house put back together and try to live with some normalcy in our home. The timing is great in that regard.
Also, it is a lovely spring day here. I know January 8 is not "spring", but let me assure you it is a bright sunny day in the 50's. However, the temp is going to plummet and tomorrow it may not even hit 30. I am working tomorrow afternoon, so I am grateful I get to be off today!
Also, it is a lovely spring day here. I know January 8 is not "spring", but let me assure you it is a bright sunny day in the 50's. However, the temp is going to plummet and tomorrow it may not even hit 30. I am working tomorrow afternoon, so I am grateful I get to be off today!
Monday, January 7, 2019
My grandmother's birthday
Today my paternal grandmother turns 88. She is an absolutely amazing woman. When my dad died, her son, she was amazingly strong. Only once did I see her really break down. Yes there were tears, but only once did she really break down. Two years later, her sister passed away just days after her brother's wife, and that left her as the last remaining member of her generation. She had outlived her siblings and spouses, her husband, his siblings and their spouses. I remember her niece talking about how much she was worried about Grandma, and Grandma just dismissed her. She was fairly close to her sister and I am certain she misses her, but she is amazingly strong. She has kept my kids over night, and is just astounding. I am more grateful than I can put into words that I have had her in my life all these years!
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.
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.
Thursday, January 3, 2019
My husband's birthday
Today Andrew turns 45. I'll be honest, his birthday often sneaks up on me. Part of it is because he is always home in the days leading up to it, so it can be difficult to get out and get his presents and cards. Part of it is that it is always next month/year, and then all of a sudden here it is. We did go out to dinner though, and although I had to run some errands this morning, I made the decision not to go in and work at the church today. Instead, we ran a few errands together, and I love getting to spend time with my husband. I am so incredibly blessed to get to share life with this man!
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
The beginning of 2019
The first day of 2019 is upon us. As our friend Bob said last night, every year seems to go by faster. He is right about that. Time is moving by at warp speed. Several of our friends were commenting that in a year, we will in the middle of Catherine's and Cameron's (a good friend) senior years. Just a year ago we were there with Robert and Michael. It definitely goes unbelievably fast.
It was very nice to ring out the year with so many good friends. Catherine was also there with her best friend, while Thomas ended up getting to spend the night at the house of his best friend. Overall, it was just a fun evening.
Now today is 2019. I'm not a fan of odd-numbered years. I know that is pretty ridiculous, and I'm trying to just let it go. It doesn't help though, that 2013 was one of the worst years of my life. However, I am looking forward to everything 2019 is going to bring.
I love how each new year begins. January 1 is one of my favorite days of the year. There are very few (if any) commitments, and although Catherine is working today she will be home around 2. Andrew is picking up Thomas from his friend's house and then is running a quick errand, and then we will all be home with no place to be the rest of the day. Those are my favorite moments as a family. There will be football pretty much all day (including our OSU in the Rose Bowl), and Andrew has made chili in the crock pot. I will make some chip dip and we have some shrimp cocktail. I absolutely love this day!
It was very nice to ring out the year with so many good friends. Catherine was also there with her best friend, while Thomas ended up getting to spend the night at the house of his best friend. Overall, it was just a fun evening.
Now today is 2019. I'm not a fan of odd-numbered years. I know that is pretty ridiculous, and I'm trying to just let it go. It doesn't help though, that 2013 was one of the worst years of my life. However, I am looking forward to everything 2019 is going to bring.
I love how each new year begins. January 1 is one of my favorite days of the year. There are very few (if any) commitments, and although Catherine is working today she will be home around 2. Andrew is picking up Thomas from his friend's house and then is running a quick errand, and then we will all be home with no place to be the rest of the day. Those are my favorite moments as a family. There will be football pretty much all day (including our OSU in the Rose Bowl), and Andrew has made chili in the crock pot. I will make some chip dip and we have some shrimp cocktail. I absolutely love this day!
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