For This Season

{turning the corner}

This morning I am having the first bouts of relief with my back since Sunday.  Thank God!  I feel like such a wimp, but this has been very painful and trying.  I know that I still have some recovery to go, but, am so thankful that it's improving, albeit slowly.  And, I know to be careful from here on out!  Thanks to everyone for their prayers!  

{cultivating}

I knew this would likely be the biggest challenge - although, I somehow, incorrectly felt like we would escape it.  After all, speaking of God, saying our prayers, using life examples to explain spiritual things...those occur in our home on a daily basis.  But, I've been slacking tremendously in truly cultivating, particularly with Noah.  It's shameful on my part.  There is no doubt that he "got it" when he got it.  But, that was the easy part.  It's now the "growing him" that needs to be at the top of the list. 

Tonight, I decided to "check in" with Noah on heart matters.  I clearly felt the urge to do this and am so thankful I listened and did not brush it under the rug.  The past two months have been more chaotic than usual around here. And, it's chaotic on a normal basis, but, has been greatly intensified.  My work hours increased, but had to be squeezed in on weekends due to Scott having so many appointments lately.  Four hours 2-3 times a week has to be made up either at night or weekends or a combination of both.  Add an overbooked photography schedule ( I have so learned from that lack of planning/inexperience) and just bouts of sicknesses - both little and some fairly large and our schedule has been thrown out the window, including consistent church.  My daily quiet times have been sporadic.  I have been reminding the boys of their bedtime prayers, but not saying them with them as I am usually at my computer at bedtime.  No books of real substance have been read to them.  Noah's favorite devotional time has fallen by the wayside.  I have totally failed of late.  

Noah and I had a long discussion tonight.  He is okay where the big things are concerned, but even he has felt pulled away.  I was livid with myself.  He is so eager to start back at Awana's where he attended locally (not at our home church) over the past year.  However, tonight we made a commitment to start back with the new program at our church together.  I shuddered as I was terrified to look at my session schedule as I am booked well into November.  Miraculously (and I don't say that lightly) between now and next summer, I only had 2 conflicting dates.  And, I'm certain that on those dates, he can go with a friend.  So, he is currently doing his devotional with Scott.  I am closing down this computer to say bedtime prayers with him & then snuggle for a bit.  Tomorrow, we will be reading a "good book" instead of one to get fluency down.  

I am ashamed and again had to ask for forgiveness from my child.  I never claim to be perfect, but, there is no room for mistakes in this department.  I may not get them their quota of Vit C during the day, but, I have to fill their heart.  No rewind button.  I have to make every day count.  It's okay that we let flossing occasionally slip, but, not prayer time.  I need to let them SEE me do my devotional or read my Bible, not try to cram it in whenever I can.  *although, I don't plan on giving up my quiet time any time soon. :)  I love these guys more than life itself.  Life does not appear to be on the radar to calm down anytime soon for us. The long MD appointments are still on the schedule, the inability to plan from Scott's situation, the extreme fatigue.......doesn't matter.  His heart does.  

So, now that I've aired my dirty laundry for all (2 of you who read my blog) to see...this was completely self-directed.  My boys will clearly know that I was never perfect, although I would have loved to have been.....but, even more, I know that I was never perfect.  And, thankfully, I have God's Grace on my side for all of my mistakes.  And, I trust that with a pure heart from me and God's Grace, the boys will be okay despite my failures. 

See ya!  I'm off to say prayers!  

{summer activities}

I still try to set aside time every day, even though it's summer break, to either have Noah read or be read to.  A library trip is in order as we have read pretty much everything we have here.  This one will never be finished.......according to N. 

His Thomas chapter book.  Thankfully, it keeps him entertained.  He's almost half way finished, but was 'studying' the Island of Sodor here. 

Here is what little man is spending much of his time doing..........

He and "the corner" rarely have a long period of time in between visits.  poor guy!  & poor wall - it has his tear smudges all over it!!!  His most dreaded form of punishment by far!! :)

{thank you}

Thanks to everyone for their sweet emails and calls since I did whatever it is to my back.  A sprain.  It has to be a sprain.  (& Aunt Joann, I am fine, really, I am - so don't worry)

But, Ang brought the boys and I lunch today - which was sweet and thoughtful and so out of her way as she is in THE remodel of a lifetime.  Evan dove straight into the green beans (of course!) and Noah had a little chicken with his ketchup.  Thank you so much!  Sorry we didn't get to visit.  I did resort to more meds and a cozy heating pad after you left.  

I have become TERRIBLE in the department of thank you cards.  Very unlike me as I keep about 274 on hand at all times.  And, for one particular friend have written out about 6 over the past six months.  Does she have one single one of them?  Nada.  They usually get wrinkled, crinkled or just plain too late to mail.  Is my appreciation any less - absolutely not, but, my manners have crumbled.  And, if you read this, you know exactly who you are!  My behind the scenes a million times friend.  My boys had rather live with her I think than me.  Actually, that's not that far of a stretch.  She's THAT kind of mom :)  that makes the rest of us pale.  :)   

So, in the middle of a painful experience - that I am still in shock over......I am very, very blessed!   

{name change}

Jack Black is now........Elvis. Of course!

{negated}

So much for my savings at the grocery store today.....had to buy a $200+ office chair with LUMBAR SUPPORT.  And, it's not even cute; quite ugly in fact, but necessary.  No more perching at the end of my seat anymore.  What was I thinking?  Obviously, I wasn't.   

{bad hair morning}

This is what we woke up to this morning.....be prepared, rather frightful......

I promise, I did not touch this hair! 

Nor did I have him pose like this..........

I think he got confused and thought he worked for Ralph Lauren!   

You know, they say a pet starts looking like its owner or vice versa.....see the resemblance?

{loot}

Today, after taking Scott to the MD, I made a bee line, or actually hobbled and drug my left leg to the pharmacy for scour for additional treatments, OTC meds, whatever I could find in the area of pain relief for the back injury I gave myself from lifting a car off of a small child  standing up out of a chair Sunday evening.  No grandiose story to tell.  I simply stood up.  That's it.  Advanced Aging.

Well, as I was loading up my basket of hot packs, antiinflammatories to go along with my muscle relaxers and pain meds, I decided that since it would likely be my only outing for the week, I picked up milk, bread, etc along with a few things close by that I had coupons for.  Yes, I LOVE to coupon, but rarely have the time.....so, I threw this in my basket..........

However, to the above, add two additional Clean Team packets and 8 one pound packages of bacon for a grand total of $27.43.  With my coupons - all of the bath buddies were FREE, the Clean Teams were .14 cents ea (there are two stacks there - 10 packages in all), DW detergent .25 cents,  pasta & rice .50 cents each, bacon .98 cents ea and kids shampoo .98 cents each.  Not too bad!  As much as I loved saving the $$, the challenge is even more rewarding.  Strange I know, but fun!!   

{update: the list}

We are moving rather slowly, here is the list with some adjustments:

1.  go to the "theaters eight times"  per Evan.  We scaled it down to three.  Including at least one trip to the Drive-In. 

2.  Chuck E. Cheese twice. (one will occur next Saturday for E's b/d)

3.  swimming at Uncle Shawn's and Aunt Angie's

4. parks

5.  E & E's house

6.  zoo  (see number 7)

7.  train ride

8.  Oklahoma City (we are REALLY going to try to get this one it - high priority) rescheduled this for first weekend of October - to allow things to cool a bit.  

9. Gentry

10.  Hot Springs instead of Branson

11.  Alma H20 park  (plan: next week)

12.  summer party

13.  Trip:  middle of nowhere per Evan.  **priority

14.  sleepovers

15.  Little Rock - McClungs lock your doors now!  We're coming to see "de tousins!"  will try to reschedule when things calm down for Christy. :(  Remember to please pray for her situation. 

16.  watch fireworks

This list is subject to modification and revisions daily.  :)  Stay tuned!  

{struggle}

I am feeling that pit in my stomach again - the one that returns when school is about to resume.  I LOVE having the boys home - fights and all.  Twenty-three days, but who's counting?  It's this time of year (well, really, anytime of year) that I am so envious of home school moms.  I'm so not ready. :(