Much Change

Oh my....life has been moving at full throttle around here.  I have much to say, many more pictures to upload, and very little time.

For the sake of sparing my few quiet minutes to myself, I'm going to keep this brief.  But here's a glimpse into our life these past few weeks (man-style!)

*  Thomas turned 6 on February 22nd.  Hard to believe and yet, he seems like a miniature adult so often.  He's like 6 going on 36.  Funny kid!

*  February 22nd also marked Thomas's first full school day at home.  We're now homeschooling him for the remainder of the year.  Obviously, a lot of backstory needed here.  For now....he hasn't been getting what he needed from school for, well, all of the year.  He'd finally had enough quite abruptly on that Wednesday morning.  So we're just getting rolling with online school this week.  I never saw myself as a homeschooler.  I'm still not sure I do.  It's a lot to juggle with the girls at their attention-needing (and deserving) ages.  I'm trying to make one small positive stride a day.  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't stressing about it more often.

*  My mom left on Monday after coming out for the "Tim Tebow weekend" as it's affectionately been called around here.  It was good.  He's a remarkable guy.  Great role model for the boys.  I love that.  And really good visit with Grandma too.  Her grandkids sure love her.

*  On a new medication to try to stop the migraines.  Side effect is sleepiness.  Um.  Not now!!  It has gotten better.  The first few days were horrible.  So.dang.tired.  It's better now, but it's not really helping with the ocular migraines.  I am only taking half a dose.  Too scared to try to up it, especially while I'm flying solo for a few days.  Good part is I'm mostly sleeping better at night.  I sleep horribly normally.  No one's ever been able to diagnose me with anything, but I know my sleep is not normal.  I never feel rested in the morning.  Never, seriously.  I don't ever remember a time that I did.  I might feel a little rested now after I get going, but it is hard to get going.

*  Taking a family vacation to Disneyland next week.  So excited!  We haven't been there in four years.  Thomas was just two (oh my gosh!)  And we haven't even done a family vacation in long time sans traveling "home" to see family.  Thinking on it now....I think our Disney trip four years ago was our last true family getaway.  That's sad.  Pathetic maybe.  I'll admit I prefer that my babes sleep well at home than we travel the world, but still....I need to loosen up a bit.  Um.....maybe a lot.  Really, really excited.

OK--that was much longer than I was planning and I'm now hearing a slight cry from the floor above.  I shall rest and write later.

Hear Jesus' Voice....

I am calling you to a life of constant communion with Me.  Basic training includes learning to live above your circumstances even while interacting on that cluttered plane of life.  You yearn for a simplified lifestyle, so that your communion with Me can be uninterrupted.  But I challenge you to relinquish the fantasy of an uncluttered world.  Accept each day just as it comes, and find Me in the midst of it all.


Talk with Me about every aspect of your day, including your feelings.  Remember that your ultimate goal is not to control or fix everything around you; it is to keep communicating with Me.  A successful day is one in which you have stayed in touch with Me, even if many things remain undone at the end of the day.  Do not let your to-do list (written or mental) become an idol directing your life.  Instead, ask My Spirit to guide you moment by moment.  He will keep you close to Me.


From 40 Days with Jesus: Celebrating His Presence by Sarah Young

My Loves

and their Daddy too.

Winner, Winner!

This goofball won first place in the school science fair again this year.  He did a GREAT job!  I actually learned a lot from his project.  It was funny....he won first place last year, so I was trying to prep him for not having the expectation of winning again.  And then he won....again!  And this year, he not only won first place in his class, he won for all of third grade, and his project is moving on to the regional science fair.  Quite an accomplishment.  We are very proud of you, Clay-man!

Brothers

Love these handsome guys.

A Full Mind and Heart

I have a desire to blog.  I want to capture these days.  I so admire those of you who are able to engage with your family and document it.  I can't seem to do both.  I had a beautiful time with the girls outside in the backyard last Wednesday.  It was crazy warm, 70 degrees, and they were just having a ball.  I didn't have my camera (like usual) and thought about stepping in to grab it, but I knew my little separation anxiety girl would be crawling after me crying and the simple beauty of the moment would be gone.  So I remember the day, but it sure would have been lovely to have some photos.

Anyway, so many things are consuming my heart and mind these days.  I'll admit, most of it is making me more sad than happy.

*  My baby growing up.  I know she's only almost 10 months.  If you know me, you know I love tiny ones.  Grieving that I won't experience the newness again.  Putting/giving some of the baby things away is hard.
*  Ronnie finishing up his Master's while working a very demanding job.  Over it.  Only a few more months, but that doesn't really help right now.  I don't feel like we're managing our scarce family time well.
*  A possible move this summer.  We were only supposed to be here three years....that was up almost four years ago.  Is it really going to happen?  Ready for a change for a lot of reasons, but after living here for nearly seven years, it's hard to think of leaving our church, friends, and even our home (though we've outgrown it).  We've brought three babes home to this place.  Heard last week at a seminar about "grieving the good."  We will need to do that....if we really get orders.  I have trouble too living in this "tweener" spot.  Starting to feel just a slight bit disconnected from here, but also, without orders, hard to plan for "tomorrow".
*  Navigating rest/recovery time for myself.  I really struggle with caring for myself.

What I am grateful for:

*  My baby who's waving and saying three sweet words--hi, Mama, and Dada
*  Gaby--just a ridiculously fun two year-old
*  Thomas--just beating to his own drum.  He reminds me to be patient and that it's okay to be different.
*  Clay--great, great, great big brother and son
*  Ronnie--he loves me no matter what, even after seeing the worst in me

This Seems Like Forever Ago