I really have no idea where time is flying to these days...none at all! I really can't believe that tomorrow is the beginning of May, but I'll be honest, I'm pretty excited about it! Four weeks from today will be the last day of school. I am tremendously looking forward to that. I seem to find myself more and more frustrated with school this time each year.
We made our summer "vacation" reservations last evening. We are taking just two nights and going to an indoor water park that is less than an hour away. The kids have been wanting to go for years since my sister told them at Christmas of 2013 that would be their gift for the year. It never happened, and while I'm sure she will be somewhat irritated that we are "stepping" on her gift, I figure if she can't get around to it in 17 months than we are going to step in. Our family agreed that since we are taking a "minication" this year, we are putting the savings from what we would spend on a larger vacation towards a trip to Florida next year. That is going to be our last big family vacation most likely, and we want to be able to really enjoy it.
My mom has surgery tomorrow to repair her rotator cuff from her fall right after Easter. Thankfully, my sister is able to get her to the hospital in the morning, but most likely will not stay for the entire procedure and certainly not through recovery. I am grateful beyond words that a friend of Mom's is arriving tomorrow evening from Illinois and staying until next Thursday, which will be getting her through the worst of the recovery. By the time Karen leaves, Mom should have some better mobility and strength.
There are other things I want to write, but I'll save them for other posts. After being gone most days this week either helping Mom or catching up on my own errands, and then being gone tomorrow for the surgery, this house isn't going to clean itself!
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Honoring Dad
Today would've been my dad's birthday. To be honest, this is the toughest day of the year without him. Christmas is still Christmas no matter what, but with Dad gone his day to celebrate is just hard to get through.
I've had a really busy weekend with some volunteer obligations and helping my mom with some things, and while I'm beyond exhausted, I'm grateful it doesn't leave me much time to think. We are definitely taking time to remember him though. Today we stopped for ice cream after shopping...my dad absolutely LOVED having ice cream around. In fact, his dad LOVED ice cream too and I think Dad got it from Grandpa. Dad always had ice cream up at his cottage, and he loved taking us out for cones when we were up there hanging out. We also are having fried chicken for dinner this evening since it was his favorite meal. The weather has been gorgeous today, and I know Dad sends his love down to us just as we send our love to him!
I've had a really busy weekend with some volunteer obligations and helping my mom with some things, and while I'm beyond exhausted, I'm grateful it doesn't leave me much time to think. We are definitely taking time to remember him though. Today we stopped for ice cream after shopping...my dad absolutely LOVED having ice cream around. In fact, his dad LOVED ice cream too and I think Dad got it from Grandpa. Dad always had ice cream up at his cottage, and he loved taking us out for cones when we were up there hanging out. We also are having fried chicken for dinner this evening since it was his favorite meal. The weather has been gorgeous today, and I know Dad sends his love down to us just as we send our love to him!
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Our family fund
When my father passed away, a family fund was established with his life insurance policy and memorial donations. It was established that the fund was to be used primarily for my hometown's dog park and library as well as STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education. It was also established such that my sister and I are to be the advisers for the fund until our passing, when it reverts into the larger community fund. I am so pleased that we have just awarded our first grant, and it has a personal connection.
My sister let me know that one of my hometown's Destination Imagination teams has qualified for national competition. They need funds in order to be able to afford the trip, and it is an honor to be able to contribute to their fundraising. In addition, the granddaughter of my dad's best friend (who passed away just weeks before Dad) is a member of the team. I can't imagine a better way to award our first grant!
My sister let me know that one of my hometown's Destination Imagination teams has qualified for national competition. They need funds in order to be able to afford the trip, and it is an honor to be able to contribute to their fundraising. In addition, the granddaughter of my dad's best friend (who passed away just weeks before Dad) is a member of the team. I can't imagine a better way to award our first grant!
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
An emotional response
Yesterday morning when I took the food out to the neighborhood cats, I kept looking out the window waiting for any of them to arrive. About an hour passed and I had yet to see any of them. I decided that perhaps someone in the neighborhood had just decided to take them in, or perhaps they had been gathered up and taken to a shelter. I decided it was for the best, and then I began to cry. How could I possibly be crying over something that shouldn't really matter to me?
But of course, I wasn't just crying about the cats. I was crying about my dad's birthday being this weekend and how much I miss him every day. I was crying about my mother needing surgery next week and the lengthy recovery process that is going to take me away from my kids more than I'd like. I was crying about how big and grown up my kids are getting and the passage of time. I was crying about Robert's unbelievably poor choices and the fear and hopelessness I sometimes feel when it comes to being a parent of a teenager. I was crying over the meanness and disrespect that seems to be so prevalent in society today (especially in the younger generation). I was crying over the fact that we left such a fabulous group of friends behind to move here, and can't seem to find any new friends here. I was crying over the atrocities that are happening in our world every day. I was crying over the extreme generosity of individuals who give so much when they themselves have so very little. I was crying with anger that those that have more don't give more. And of course, I was crying for the sweet little creatures that are living in our woods and now face an uncertain existence.
As you can see, I'm a little high strung right now. I'm tired, but I hang on every day to how amazingly blessed my life is. I am so very grateful to live this life, and know that things will start to feel better! Oh, and the cats did come out and eat throughout the day and two of them enjoyed scampering and playing in our yard last evening!
But of course, I wasn't just crying about the cats. I was crying about my dad's birthday being this weekend and how much I miss him every day. I was crying about my mother needing surgery next week and the lengthy recovery process that is going to take me away from my kids more than I'd like. I was crying about how big and grown up my kids are getting and the passage of time. I was crying about Robert's unbelievably poor choices and the fear and hopelessness I sometimes feel when it comes to being a parent of a teenager. I was crying over the meanness and disrespect that seems to be so prevalent in society today (especially in the younger generation). I was crying over the fact that we left such a fabulous group of friends behind to move here, and can't seem to find any new friends here. I was crying over the atrocities that are happening in our world every day. I was crying over the extreme generosity of individuals who give so much when they themselves have so very little. I was crying with anger that those that have more don't give more. And of course, I was crying for the sweet little creatures that are living in our woods and now face an uncertain existence.
As you can see, I'm a little high strung right now. I'm tired, but I hang on every day to how amazingly blessed my life is. I am so very grateful to live this life, and know that things will start to feel better! Oh, and the cats did come out and eat throughout the day and two of them enjoyed scampering and playing in our yard last evening!
Neighborhood cats
When we moved into our house nearly two years ago, we were aware of the cats that lived in our woods. Apparently when the house on the corner next to us had gone into foreclosure 18 mos prior to our move, the resident had nearly 20 cats that were left behind. They were rounded up by neighborhood residents and taken to a vet who helped to spay/neuter them. Homes were found for as many as possible and the rest remained living in the woods. At the time we moved in, I believe there were six or seven. A resident of our neighborhood would traipse through our back yard everyday without fail, regardless of weather conditions to feed the cats, and she even had cat carriers in the woods so that the cats had shelter. Our family loved when the cats came out of the woods to sun themselves on our woodpile or just hang out for a bit.
Unfortunately, the lady feeding the cats sent us a copy of the letter she received from our homeowner's association stating that she was no longer allowed to provide shelter or have feeding stations for the cats. She let us know that she would no longer be in our yard, and from the tone, I suspect that she thought we were the ones that had complained since we were the newest residents. The woods are common property owned by the association, and they were within their legal rights to do what they did. I was absolutely heartbroken. I could not bear the thought that the four (those are the only ones left) could be going without food. When we saw them appear at the edge of the woods on Sunday evening, I took a big container of food out to them. All four spent a good deal of time chowing down. Andrew and I talked, and agreed that we would do that each day. The container remains on our property and I bring it in each evening so that critters, etc. are not drawn to it (one of the complaints mentioned by the association). We aren't sure what we will do about putting the food out on rainy days, and we aren't sure how we'll feel about the shelter situation as fall and winter come, but for right now we have a routine going. The kids and I are really enjoying seeing the cats coming into our yard more frequently!
Unfortunately, the lady feeding the cats sent us a copy of the letter she received from our homeowner's association stating that she was no longer allowed to provide shelter or have feeding stations for the cats. She let us know that she would no longer be in our yard, and from the tone, I suspect that she thought we were the ones that had complained since we were the newest residents. The woods are common property owned by the association, and they were within their legal rights to do what they did. I was absolutely heartbroken. I could not bear the thought that the four (those are the only ones left) could be going without food. When we saw them appear at the edge of the woods on Sunday evening, I took a big container of food out to them. All four spent a good deal of time chowing down. Andrew and I talked, and agreed that we would do that each day. The container remains on our property and I bring it in each evening so that critters, etc. are not drawn to it (one of the complaints mentioned by the association). We aren't sure what we will do about putting the food out on rainy days, and we aren't sure how we'll feel about the shelter situation as fall and winter come, but for right now we have a routine going. The kids and I are really enjoying seeing the cats coming into our yard more frequently!
Monday, April 20, 2015
Feeling the weight of the world
There is something about mid-April that I find tough...although to be honest, parenting teens makes any day/date feel tough. It can be an emotionally draining experience that can truly zap you to the core. Sound dramatic? Welcome to life with teens.
The reminders that American history can bring to this week are also tough. On April 15th is the anniversary of the bombing at the Boston Marathon. The 16th is the anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre, the 19th is the anniversary of BOTH the Oklahoma City bombing and the end of the Waco siege, and today is the anniversary of the Columbine High School shootings. While there are so many amazing examples of humanity and goodness in these tragedies, sometimes it is tough not to feel completely overwhelmed at the evil in the world. This only exacerbates the worry and fear of my teens' poor choices.
This is something of a melancholy post...probably aided a great deal by the steady and dreary rain falling on this Monday morning. I still choose to live every day grateful for life, and even rain might mean a little extra time at home together as a family!
The reminders that American history can bring to this week are also tough. On April 15th is the anniversary of the bombing at the Boston Marathon. The 16th is the anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre, the 19th is the anniversary of BOTH the Oklahoma City bombing and the end of the Waco siege, and today is the anniversary of the Columbine High School shootings. While there are so many amazing examples of humanity and goodness in these tragedies, sometimes it is tough not to feel completely overwhelmed at the evil in the world. This only exacerbates the worry and fear of my teens' poor choices.
This is something of a melancholy post...probably aided a great deal by the steady and dreary rain falling on this Monday morning. I still choose to live every day grateful for life, and even rain might mean a little extra time at home together as a family!
Sunday, April 19, 2015
It was the perfect amount of time away
Yesterday, early afternoon, I left home for Indy. Due to a previous commitment of one of my friends, I was back home mid-morning today. It was absolutely the perfect amount of time away.
It had been over a year since I'd been able to visit with our friend in Chicago. As we get older, we find that we make more of an effort to spend time together. He understand the challenges of my schedule, not to mention my fear/intense dislike of big cities, and since his family is nearby it's usually a matter of visiting for a couple of hours here. This conference in Indy provided us hours upon hour of uninterrupted visiting time, and it could not have been more perfect. We stayed at a fabulous downtown hotel where we didn't need to leave the premises if we didn't want to. We did walk next door for dinner, but that was as far away as we strayed. We spent our time hanging out at the hotel bar/restaurant and pool, and could have taken advantage of the wine bar or spa had we chosen to do so. It was a perfect way to relax after last week!
It had been over a year since I'd been able to visit with our friend in Chicago. As we get older, we find that we make more of an effort to spend time together. He understand the challenges of my schedule, not to mention my fear/intense dislike of big cities, and since his family is nearby it's usually a matter of visiting for a couple of hours here. This conference in Indy provided us hours upon hour of uninterrupted visiting time, and it could not have been more perfect. We stayed at a fabulous downtown hotel where we didn't need to leave the premises if we didn't want to. We did walk next door for dinner, but that was as far away as we strayed. We spent our time hanging out at the hotel bar/restaurant and pool, and could have taken advantage of the wine bar or spa had we chosen to do so. It was a perfect way to relax after last week!
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