Is it over yet?

This has been a week for the books.  We finally got a stretch of good weather and have had all of soccer games so far!  On top of that I have had work and Naomi has had gymnastics...

Here is how it has gone so far:

Monday: me (and Naomi)-work from 9:30-11:30 am, Beth-work 11-3, high school soccer training from 2-4, jr high game from 3:30-6:15, Sarah-work 5-10:30, me-work 6:30-8:30, Naomi gymnastics 6:30-8:30.

Tuesday: me(and Naomi)-work from 8:30-11:45am, Hannah dr apt 10:40, prom dress shopping 12:30-1:30, soccer games from 2:30-6:30, me-work 7:00-8:30, Naomi gymnastics 7:00-8:30,

Wednesday: me-work 9:30-11:30 am, trip to the mall-12:00-1:00, soccer training 2:00-4:00, Beth work-5:00-10:30, Sarah shopping w/friend-5:00-?, date night-5:00-6:00, Steven rehearsal 6:30-?, Renita catch up on life at home-6:30-until she falls asleep!

Thursday-me(and Naomi) work 9:30-11:15am, high school soccer game 4:00-6:45, junior high soccer game 5:00-7:30

Friday-Good Friday...and rest.

Saturday-catch up on house work, soccer paper work, get ready for tournaments, do laundry, spend time with family, take a nap

Sunday-church, family time, Easter, lesson plan for the week of gymnastics

This week may just kill me and it isn't going to ease up next week either.  But, soccer season is only about three more weeks...I can do it!

On an up note, our teams are doing very well.  Junior High played a tough game on Monday against a very good team and came away with a 1-2 loss.  Tuesday both teams played and Junior High won 5-0 and High School won 2-0!!  Our teams were complimented by the refs on the integrity with which they played last night.  The other team was, shall we say violent, and the refs were impressed that our girls did not retaliate or play dirty as well.  I love our girls!!

This is a season of busyness and it is making me stronger, right?  oy vey but it just might kill me first!

It's in her blood

Naomi loves theater.  She was able to perform with a group for nursing homes and care homes.  They got together once a month to perform.  She was so awesome!  I love watching her do theater. 

Here is her song from Honk!  She was the Cat.

A Week in the life

Last week we were supposed to have a full week of soccer.  Games on Monday, two on Tuesday, two on Thursday, and one on Friday.  Well, we had our game on Monday for Junior High and ended with a 0-0 draw.  They did a great job and learned a lot.  Tuesday they played again and ended up winning 2-0!  They didn't get the full game because of weather.

The High School game was cancelled by the ref because of weather.  Thursday both games were called because of rain and soggy fields.  Fridays game was cancelled, who knows why.  It was a frustrating week.

This week looks to be about the same.  We had training on Monday and it was gorgeous outside.  Today, Tuesday, it has been raining ALL day.  We are supposed to have games tonight...but I am not holding my breath.  I hope we can have them.  Thursday and Friday we are supposed to have games as well, but the weather forecast is not giving me warm fuzzy feelings.

Here's hoping we can play some soccer!

Taking Time

Sometimes in the busyness of life you lose sight of anything and everything.  The focus shifts to the 'have-to's' and 'right now's' and the 'just need to breathe's' get pushed by the wayside.  It is almost impossible to stay the course and not let it rule you.  I know this about myself and yet I can's seem to change it.  I see it coming and it still happens.

Here is where I am.  I am there-too busy and letting the calendar dictate what I focus on.  I hate that.  I need some down time and time to just be alone.  Time to be quiet.  Not time to nap, per se, but time to sit and be relaxed and still.

With my schedule, that doesn't happen very often if at all. 

I work Monday-Thursday 8:45-11:30 am.  Then I come home and try and answer any questions for school I can.  Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons we have soccer training from 2-4.  Then I work Monday, Tuesday, Thursday evenings from 4:45-8:30 pm-when we don't have soccer games.  Wednesday is date night but that only lasts until 8:15 when we have to pick up the first kid from small groups, the last being picked up at 9pm.  Friday nights we can have soccer games, kids working, church activities, checking the AYSO fields, etc. taking up the evenings.  Saturdays we have to be at the AYSO fields since we are on the board and then any number of activities from any of the kids after we have spent several hours walking around.  Sundays are church, board meetings, small group, kids activities, shopping, getting ready for the week...

Do you see what I mean?  I haven't gone grocery shopping in ages because-when?  I am at a loss as to when to do many things that are important but just not the 'have-to' right now that something else is. 

One thing that gets pushed aside regularly is time for me to just sit with no obligations or constraints.  It simply doesn't happen.  I know it is becoming a problem when my moods are continually sour and I can't seem to snap out of my bad mood.  That is when I need to stop and pull-back a little. 

I am there today.  I woke up knowing that I was headed for a melt down if I didn't stop today.  My choices were go to church and do all that entails or stay home, do my Bible study and breathe.  I chose to stay home.

Steven wasn't happy about it-he doesn't really get the whole thing but here I am.  I have finished my Bible study, spent a little time being still, and now I can focus on what else needs done today.  I will make my lists so I don't forget something and start marching to the calendar's beat again.

If you need me, check my calendar to see where I am next!

I only thought...

August of 2016...oh my.  I can not believe it has been that long since I have posted.  Well, yes I actually can.  Life seems to have gotten busier as the kids got older and I lost any semblance of control I ever had. 

I am just holding on. 

Barely.

What has changed since August of 2016?  Well, we got a new dog.  I started working again.  Sarah is a Senior in high school.  Hannah is a freshman.  Naomi started gymnastics.  And so many more things.  I wish I would have kept up and then we could look back on it and remember; as it is I have to use my oh so faulty memory to try and re-create the memories.  Looks like the girls will be missing a chunk of their lives to my brain fade!

The new dog.  Beau.  Bethany adopted him from a place in Kansas City that sold him to us sick.  We got past that and then he ate a lava rock.  I am not kidding.  He ended up needing emergency surgery or he was going to die.  We chose to have the surgery.  Many people have scoffed at us for that and even downright questioned our decision making abilities; but they are not in our shoes and have no say in what we do.  We did it and I don't regret it.  He survived the surgery and is recovering nicely.  And by that I mean he is huge and into everything!  He is a cutie patootie and I am sad to think about Beth moving out and taking him with her!!! 

My job...I started coaching gymnastics at the Y.  again.  It started out as a few morning classes and morphed into every morning but Friday and every evening except Wednesday.  I soon stopped working on Friday nights because soccer started and time evaporated from the schedule.  I actually love my job, the people, and especially the kids.  I love teaching them new skills and watching as they accomplish what they didn't think they could.  I am now teaching a competitive team and love watching them grow and get better as gymnasts.

On that note, Naomi started gymnastics in August and has since moved up the ladder and is getting ready to start on Team!  She works so hard and is determined to compete.  She also helps me teach in the mornings and is loved by all the kids. 

Sarah is graduating next month.  oy vey  She just recently got back from a missions trip to Canada and is planning on one to Peru this summer.  God called her to missions way back when she was a pixie girl with white curls and He has kept that plan for her.  She is excited to start this next phase of her life but I would be lying if I said I was just as excited.  I mean, I am, but I am also thinking of my momma's heart and how empty it will be without my Sarah in the house every day.  Why do they have to grow and follow God's path for them instead of staying with us forever?!  She is an amazing young woman that I am proud to call mine.

Hannah is a freshman and we are starting to look at college classes next year.  She is killing me with math and science!  I am glad that she loves them but I will be even more glad to have her ask the hard questions of someone else!  Oh yeah, she just broke her arm during soccer practice!  It is a minor break and will heal quickly but does make taking care of her extremely long hair a challenge.

Steven is still at his job.  Praise God he has stability and is doing something he enjoys.  We celebrate 25 years this May and it really only feels like 10 most days.  What a blessing to have someone willing to put up with me for this long. 

Speaking of my love, he bought me a new laptop to replace my ipad!  So now I can really keep up with the blog and not jump through stupid hoops to make it work on the ipad.  I love my ipad but blogging on it was infuriating.  We'll see how I do!

My girls and my man for Father Daughter Banquet.

My love and I. 

New Seasons

I am lousy at keeping this blog up! Life is slowing down...kind of...so maybe?

Beth GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL LAST MAY. Yes, I needed to shout that at you. I am still freaking out a little bit over it even still. She even got into several colleges!! She had multiple offers to play soccer but decided against it. But, you know what? She GOT INTO COLLEGE! I didn't screw her up too badly!!

My first is grown.

Yikes. I am old!

She is such an amazing young woman and I am so blessed to be her mother. She started college last week for Pre-Vet and that has me gasping for air. Life is moving too quickly. Sarah is a Senior and is planning her life after high school. Missions work, here she comes!

In June of 2017 I will only have two kids at home (technically), they of course can stay as long as they need to. I will only have two to homeschool. My time is so short.

I love this phase of seeing their personalities blossom and their independence grow. They are going to be fantastic adults!

 

Sarah's Senior Pics will be coming in a few months. Aaagghh!! I don't want them to happen and I am crazy excited all at the same time.