September took forever...and also flew by

September has been a crazy, crazy month.  It's been a hard month on the work front.  I have spent a crazy amount of time on scheduling and trying to fill all the holes with a very small amount of subs, and last Wednesday we were three teachers short...on a day we also did school photos.  Insanity.  It's been exhausting.

Andrew has worked every Saturday at an athletic event, except for last Saturday when we had a family wedding.  His weeknights haven't been quite as bad as past years, but after a not-too-bad week this coming week, he will work every night next week.  That will lead up to about five weeks off though, so we can handle it.  And this season tends to be the worst season, so that's good news.

Catherine has a new job working in the public school district here.  She works about 28 hours a week, which is a good start, but she needs something else to supplement due to some other choices.  She is with us Sunday evening through Friday afternoon, and then goes to her apartment the rest of the week.  It's kind of like "reverse-college" living.  We call it adulting with guardrails.

Thomas has been in his new apartment for five weeks.  We are so grateful he has a place to live that is so close to his job.

After three weeks ago when the weather was absolutely gorgeous, it got hot again.  Really, really hot, like upper 80's and even some 90's.  The family wedding last weekend was an outdoor ceremony and a non air-conditioned reception venue.  Hurricane Helene struck Florida and came up to Ohio this weekend.  Western North Carolina was certainly not expecting a storm of that strength, and even here in Ohio, we had substantial wind damage on Friday afternoon.  We are on our third consecutive day of rain, but it was much needed as we were in a drought, and it was extreme.  Hopefully this is the end of the summer weather as we are headed into October this week.  I've enjoyed decorating for the fall, and I'm pleased that I've been able to have some candles lit.  I love, absolutely love the smells of fall, and I love that we'll have two months of fall decorations to enjoy.  I'm so grateful for the peaceful feelings that this season bring, because there have certainly been days when life has felt anything but peaceful lately!

It doesn't feel like it's been five years

It was five years ago today that we had the funeral and buried my Aunt Cathy.  It doesn't feel at all like it has been that long.  She is so missed.  I can still hear her laugh, especially when I see a picture.

A good friend recently found out he had a melanoma on his leg.  Gratefully, he didn't wait, and they feel like they got everything when they removed it.  He is quite a bit younger than us.

In some ways, I can't help but feel like five years ago was when the family really changed.  My grandmother had lost her youngest child, and things really changed with her outlook.  We all know that was a big factor in her passing less than six months later.  And that led to the break up of our family as a whole.

It doesn't feel like it's been five years. 

It doesn't get any better

Today is one of those days that, well, it just doesn't get any better.  A cold front came through last evening, and the temps dropped significantly.  Today's high was in the 60's, but still bright and sunny...an absolutely gorgeous day.  And of course, today is SATURDAY, the best day of the week!  And since it is in September, it means there is college football on TV.  It's literally an ideal day.  Andrew had to work this morning, but was home by mid-afternoon and has already completed his lesson plans.  The kids are both at their apartments, so it's just us and the pets.  Oh, we are loving this day!  I'm soaking up the entire day.  Tomorrow will also be lovely, and there will be NFL, but we have tons of things to accomplish.  The kids will be here for dinner though, so overall it's a wonderful weekend! 

I love Labor Day weekend

I have always loved Labor Day weekend.  Who can be sad about a weekend that has an extra day?  And of course, always very happy that college football has begun, and both our Irish and the Buckeyes won.  Great start to the season!

We spent 18 hours at my mother-in-law's house and took her to dinner last night.  She kept telling us how much it meant to her that we made this trip to celebrate her 85th year.  We went to the same restaurant where we go every time there is a family celebration and we eat out.  I realized it had been five years since we had eaten there.  We had gone over for her 80th birthday.  The one I really kept thinking about though, was ten years ago and her 75th birthday.  Last evening we were sitting near where we had sat for that dinner.  That time though, we had reservations for a large table of eight.  This time though, we had a small table of three in a small corner.  It made me a little sad.  Both Andrew's dad and his brother have passed away, and Robert is not around.  Catherine and Thomas both had things going on (they did call their grandmother today).  It felt so symbolic of the changes of life.  I know that not all change is bad, but it just kind of felt stuffed in our faces.

One change I appreciate...the weather!  I'm sitting here in our family room and I'm actually chilly.  It's going to get warm again for a few days, but for today and tomorrow I'll take this! 

Always happy to be finished with August

I always mentally cheer when we reach September 1.  Even this morning, I woke up and thought, "Yay!" It's September."  While it is the beginning of meteorological fall, I know better than to get that excited about the weather.  But, it does mean that we made it through another August, and I'm always grateful for that.  This year, the last week of August was HOT.  The entire week had heat indices in the upper 90's.  We even canceled an event at school.  While we could have done it, by the time it was to occur it was going to be day four of the wretched temps, and we just decided there was no need.

There's been a lot going on around here.  Some of it good, some of it not-so-good.  We are getting through though, and I'm grateful my kids know we are always here for them.  I'm also very grateful that college football has returned...another good thing that September brings!

Today, Andrew and I are headed to his mom's house because she turns 85 tomorrow.  We'll be back tomorrow afternoon.  Catherine is coming to stay here with the cats, but our sweet pup is going with us.  This is the first time we've gone over without any of our kids (to stay over) since before we became parents.  Lots of "lasts" and new "firsts" happening around here.  This is the phase of our lives!

A new phase

Tonight, Thomas is sleeping in his new apartment for the very first time.  Last evening he FaceTimed us after he had gotten the keys and gave us a quick tour.  I think he is sleeping on an air mattress and living out of his suitcase, but still he's sleeping there tonight.  I'm excited him, but it still made my heart happy to hear him say he'd be "home" this weekend to spend some more time packing things in his room.  I know we will see him lots, and he's already been off to college for a year, but this is certainly more permanent.

Yesterday was also the day that Joey Votto retired.  I won't lie, it made me a little sad, but I'm glad he went out on his own terms.  We were at his last home game last year, and it was so very special.  I didn't realize it was also the game where he had his last Major League hit.  I am so, so grateful for all of the memories he helped to create for my family, including last year's game.  He was a great role model for kids, and I hope that his days in the public eye aren't yet over.

Life brings changes, but I'm grateful to be a part of them!

The last one for a very long time

I didn't sleep well at all Sunday night.  However, the weather turned very fall-like beginning yesterday, and the weather for sleeping last night could not have been more perfect.  It was chilly but not cold, and I was exhausted and looking forward to a great night of sleeping.

As I crawled into bed, I couldn't help but think to myself how happy I was to have all four of us sleeping at home under my roof.  Neither of the kids had to work today and it all just felt so peaceful.  And suddenly it dawned on my, how very, very few of those nights are left.  In fact, tonight might very well be the last one.  Although Thomas will still be here tomorrow, Catherine will be heading back to her apartment in the evening.  I can't deny that that I am looking forward to some very quiet evenings in the future with just Andrew and myself, but I also can't deny that I have loved, absolutely loved, all the evenings our little family has shared.  We have made great memories together, and I'm so thankful.  I know there are still so many fun times ahead, but I also know that things are changing, and things will be different.

Sunday evening we had a lovely dinner together as a family, and Thomas brought along his girlfriend.  We ate at the lodge out at the state park and then we took some pictures in front of the lake.  I knew someone else there, and they kindly helped us out with the pictures.  We even went for ice cream after, and we had fun sharing the evening with our adult kiddos.

I'm so grateful for these days!