The middle of the week in the middle of the month

I had to make a drive to Thomas's house today.  The leaves are starting to change, and I enjoyed the scenery.  It was cloudy and overcast, but I could still appreciate the view.  Unfortunately, I am sitting in my house with the air conditioner on.  Yesterday the area broke the 98-year record high.  Fortunately, the humidity wasn't awful, but that changed later in the evening, and although it was more moderate today, the humidity was horrific.  I am not interested in feeling this sticky this late in the season!  By this weekend though, the highs will be in the 50's.  Woohoo!  I just mentioned to Andrew that we could even have potato soup this weekend.  My kind of weather is almost here!  And on top of the weather, there are BIG football games on this weekend and they involve my teams.  Fun weekend coming up.  Andrew even has Friday off, so his weekend is even better.

I'm really looking forward some quiet evenings as the fall sports season is coming to an end.  We'll have about five weeks or so before he'll have to start working events again.  Things are good!

 

An almost perfect Saturday

Today was very close to a perfect Saturday.  It started with sleeping in, which is always the best start to any day.  I had a quiet morning before I drove to my hometown.  It was senior day for my cousin's daughter.  I hadn't seen her play since her freshman year.  Altogether, there were ten family members there to cheer for Paige.  I left at half-time and they were up a goal.  It was a really nice afternoon and I enjoyed spending it with family.

It was a really lovely drive as well.  The leaves are beginning to change a bit, and fall has arrived!!  It is definitely my kind of weather.  Notre Dame and OSU both had big wins today.  It would be an absolutely perfect Saturday, except for one thing...Andrew is at his mom's house.  I don't mind, but that is the only thing that is keeping it from being an absolutely perfect Saturday.  I'm so grateful for today!

My weekend has officially begun

If I'm being totally honest, a Monday off is always much better than a Friday off work, but a day off is still a day off!  The university in town has a break tomorrow, so we do as well.  So many years it feels like we just limp along to this break, but school is going so well this year, and we are so grateful.

It's definitely looking like fall outside.  I'm not loving the earlier sunsets, but that is part of the season.  AND, it gets worse (much worse) before it better!  But I love everything else about fall, and we are headed in that direction.

I'm already feeling a bit melancholy about the holidays this year.  Grandma hasn't been a part of our holidays in years (her choices), but the memories feel front and center this year.  I know I'm supposed to not "cry because it's over, but smile because it happened," but losing my last grandparent has hit me hard.

Andrew is heading to his mom's house this weekend, and I've got plenty to accomplish here at the house.  I'm so grateful for the downtime I'll have this weekend.  And I'm excited that our weekend has an extra day!

Another amazing weekend

Our weekend consisted of a trip to Illinois with our friends to meet up with Julie, who moved into the middle of the country 16 years ago.  We will probably make this trip twice year, with a July trip to see her and a December trip where she comes to Ohio.  I'm so grateful we are able to keep these connections.  We went over Friday after work, which gave us all day yesterday, although we spent the bulk of the day watching football.  The weekend weather has been beyond gorgeous.  The timing was a bit rough in that I am absolutely exhausted from the last month, but spending time with these dear friends is never a bad thing.  This will definitely go down as one of our favorite weekends!

October

I am so happy that October has arrived.  I'm also happy to report that situation involving the student at our school has a mostly happy resolution.  A bunch of us are pitching in to make things work out, and it is truly an honor and a privilege to be part of the village for this family.  I am looking forward to a wonderful month.

Today seemed an appropriate ending for this month

I awoke this morning with a migraine.  One dose of medication didn't do the trick, and even the second one was rough.  I suspect it was related to the lack of protein from yesterday.  Regardless, it was a rough morning.  I went in about 90 minutes late, and to be honest, I still didn't feel great even when I went in.  And then our afternoon hit.  I got a phone call from a parent at the school.  She was crying, I was crying, my coworkers were crying.  I will not break confidentiality, but this family does not deserve anything that is happening to them and we are all heartbroken.  Our day also started with our Early Care worker needing to be out, and since I'm normally the one who handles it and I couldn't, it was all a crazy day.  It was emotional, it was heavy, and it felt inline with how my month had gone.  But tomorrow is October, we have a really fun weekend planned, and I'm optimistic it will be spectacular!

Another trip to my hometown for another funeral

I made another trip to my hometown this evening for yet another funeral.  This man was my high school math teacher, but he and Georgia also became good friends with my mom and were there for her so many times after my dad died.  My mom has taken this very hard, which I completely understand.  I was prepared to be emotional about his passing and seeing Georgia.  I was not prepared for so many of my high school teachers and administrators to also be present (although I certainly should have been...it's a small town!!) and it was just a bit overwhelming, especially being back in the same funeral home 17 days after my grandmother's funeral.

Today was also verdict day in the trial of a murder in my hometown.  It's made national news, and it has been so, so awful.  The jury was out for two hours and 15 minutes before returning with guilty verdicts on all nine counts.  I was listening live, and at first I wanted to cheer, but no amount of guilty verdicts or jail time served is going to bring Ashley back.  Nothing will give Todd & Jill their daughter back, and most importantly, nothing will give Ava & Alyssa their mother back, and they've lost their father as well.  My heart is broken for the family, but grateful that justice has been served.

It is safe to say this September has not been my most favorite.  I am physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted, but also so, so grateful.  I've really learned a lot about myself over the last month, and more than anything, I've reaffirmed how amazing my husband is and what a great team we make together.  The stress of this month, while a lot, has also allowed me to see so very many blessings that are a part of my life every day!