Summer happened. That's my
excuse reason for lack of blogging. I missed it. I tried to keep up with reading other people's blogs and commenting but even that took a hike. Then school started and our schedules, which I thought might lessen, did not, they just changed. Speaking of change, here are some of the changes took place this summer.
1. Katie moved in with us June 25th...and she brought all of her stuff! She has more clothes than I ever thought possible, but as fast as she is growing it makes sense.
Going from one kid to two is always interesting. The two being 12 and 2...all the more so. The moments they snuggle and read or chase each other wildly through the house are so precious and I wouldn't trade them for anything. Katie is a 7th grader and attends a middle school near our house. It was a rough go at first but things have gotten better. She is in student council and dance and excited about all the upcoming events with those groups. October 16 is the schools big Texas History Fair so the crafting of a covered wagon is taking place at our house. Will be posting pictures of the finished product.
2. We finally got family pictures done by the fabulous Chriselda. Click here for a look-
3. I lost my camera card. Between taking it back and forth to work and home it got lost. So other than the pics above I have no other pictures of the kids from this summer. I recently commandeered a card from my mom's camera. So until she takes it back I'll be taking pictures!
4. My sweet dog Romeo, who I had since the spring of 1997 had to be put to sleep. It was the first of the summer when this occurred and was a sad day at our house. He had gotten worse health-wise and I didn't want him to suffer through another hot summer. He was obsessed with fetching a ball so I thought this last picture of him was rather appropriate.
Makes me wonder how different # 6 and #7 would have been if he was still around
5. July 13th we headed to the mountains with some of Brancent's family. (This was before the lost camera card so I have lots of pictures to post later.) It was fun and the kids had a blast 4 wheeling and playing in the stream. For me and my stiff neck it reaffirmed though I love the outdoors I am a hotel type person and am getting old.
6. July 17th after getting home late the night before from the mountains we got up and discovered someone had broken into our shed and stole Brancent's mower, edger, weedeater, table saw, air compressor and hoses, and Gene's Mitar saw. Yeah. (This was after we had already dealt with 2 break-ins at the church) I think the worst part was they took the things Brancent had been using to earn money this summer. So that was an unpleasant change.
7. Along those same lines....my purse (Hub of my life) was stolen out of my car a few weeks ago. I had several important papers in my purse along with church charge cards, all my ID's...wasn't fun. Included a long trip to the DMV where I was the only female in line and the middle age computer nerd in front of me dropped the "you look familiar, have we meet before?" line. No. No we haven't. After a swift page to my hubby that if my wedding ring didn't get re-sized soon...the awkwardness dragged on. Needless to say I have a bit of anger towards those who thieve. But it was a good reminder on what my actual treasures are and the 3 of them are safe and sound.
8. Our friends Jesse and Krystal are getting married in January! YAAAAAY! Brancent and Katie will both be in the wedding and we are all so excited. Jesse and Krystal were in the mountains with us for a few days so this is the most recent picture I have of them and it's not even of them together!
9. Jacob is now 29 months and his verbal side has taken off. He talks all the time. He has become fascinated with firetrucks, backhoes, police cars, ambulances, rollers, excavators, trains...typical boy stuff. One of the things that has not changed is his love for vacuums. In fact we are going to work that into his Fall Festival costume this year. He now is just as obsessed with kitchen mixers and coffee pots. He loves to help make tea or anything that involves a mixer or stirring and actually has become quite a little helper. He is getting closer to potty training and does well if he's commando. We haven't pushed it because I already know he will be one to push back. He still finds the washer a great source of entertainment.
10. Brancent has been staying busy mowing with a friend's co and chasing the kids. I hate to admit this but Jacob and Brancent are more of domestic divas than I am. I love that he gets to spend extra time with the kids that most father's don't. He will be tagging along with Jesse to Colorado this month while Jesse does some hunting. He will attend a Deaf Men's conference in November and hopefully get to see his Ark family for Thanksgiving. So much for things slowing down in the Fall!
11. As for me....I am unsure with how much I can share via the blogger world and how honest I can be here. Let me say this, I struggle. This summer/intro to fall was incredibly hard. I have felt like I fail in so many areas of my life. As I think about this I know any success that I experience is from God and all glory goes to Him. I have begin to re-evaluate where my standards of a woman/wife/mother have come from. My life is not perfect. I struggle to be the wife and mother my husband and children deserve, but find myself getting caught up in things and busyness that is really not important. Through it all I have been humbled, and I imagine I can use more of it. My hope is that God continues to show me how small, and blessed I am, and continue to use me....in spite of me. All in all...it's all good.
Thanks for reading the mammoth size post.
PS Pray for my parents who will both undergo surgery in the coming weeks. Dad-gallstones, Mom-torn meniscus
.
