Preparing

Our summer was sweet, savoring every minute.

Every "do-anything-go-wherever-just-relax" moment.  

We spent summer days in pjs, playing games here in the house, 

At the waterpark, the beach, with friends, 

Cooking, visiting grandparents, having out of state family come here, 

Going to Texas to visit friends...

It has been good.  

But as always, too short.

The kids went back to school yesterday, 

None of us excited about it.  

I know there are mothers who can't wait for their kids to be in school, 

And then there is me, who would cocoon us all here in the house if I could.

I have gotten them settled in school, met Joshie's teacher,
Met him for lunch yesterday, on his 1st day of 2nd grade...
Trying to make him and me comfortable.
Went to Jalyns school today to try to get a mistake in her schedule changed.

Trying to settle, shop, stock up, and make ready all before I begin
The Physical Therapy program in a week.

How to be a mom who is used to being mostly home,
To being a full time college student who will be mostly gone?

I have read all the books I could squeeze in this summer,
Attended ladies bible study Tues nights - my last class like that for the
Forseeable future.
Done all the things I find fun and relaxing.
Knowing just a fraction of the hard work before me.

And now is the waiting for the rest to begin.
I feel the list growing smaller - kids settled, summer done, physical and titers done,
CPR class and all other hoops jumped.
For the past week I find myself taking conscious slow deep breaths.

Find myself where God has wanted me all along -
Dependent on Him for even every anxious breath I breathe.
He knows I want to see 10 steps in front of me at all times.
I want my life in this neat little ordered way,
And yearly, I see that controlled life I think I want, slipping away -
Though I try to hold onto it.

God wants me to trust Him and look to Him,
Not trust in the false security of the "control" I try to achieve.

So though it feels so scary, and I wonder who am I to accomplish this,
It may be just the place I am meant to be.
Where I need God to get me through each day, each class, for each grade,
For the hubby and the kids and the house and the dogs...
For Him to calm this worrywart.

And for another week, I prepare...

 Feeling each moment at home as extra sweet...

Today

Scenes of today, in my space on earth :

Rain falling gently, thunder rumbling, a dim and cozy house.

A new bible study, Beth Moore's James. The first one I've been able to do with a group of ladies since I started college. So happy to be doing this :)

A birthday coming soon for our littlest. Lucky number 7.

Flowers picked by Joshua

and his dollar from the tooth fairy for losing that little bottom front tooth.

And him, napping in the middle of this summer day. The night owl nature comes out in our children when school is out, late nights means for some off schedule sleep patterns.

But that's okay. It feels like the rhythm of summer here in this house.

Finals

I had finals this past week.

Oh I just loved writing that :)

I studied so hard...  there is just so much for each of these classes.

(Chemistry and Physics)

More math and formulas than I thought possible.

Not to mention word problems and the periodic table.

So, for the summer - no more studying while I wash dishes, brush teeth,  put on makeup, or while sitting in the carpool line.  And all the other times.

For now, my book back lies there - so happy I don't have to open it again!

 For a good while anyway.

I was ever so happy this morning, to read whatever I wanted....

Bliss I tell you!

 

I have been following a reading plan -

maybe now I will get to catch up - and have time to journal as well.

 

And afterward, I laced up, grabbed the ipod, and went for a morning run.

 

 I am grateful for all I have learned in college, but will so happy when I am done in a year. 

This summer will be my first semester off since I started, 2 years ago.

I am going to cherish it :)

Summer Happenings

Here in Southerly Louisiana, it is surely summertime.  Sweltering heat is already upon us.  And it only gets hotter from here...  Hubby turned on the news this morning as he was getting ready for work, and I hear they are already discussing the latest hurricane (thank God no where around here) and a "disturbance" in the Gulf.  I'm so not ready for Hurricane Season, but none the less - it's here!

Here on the home front - we are surely in a summer pattern.  Kids stay up late, and sleep in late.  Which generally works good for me - since I get hours alone in the mornings.  Which I dearly need to survive.  Or at least to flourish :-)  Now, of course, I too could sleep in late - but like I said, I need this time to myself.

I am taking  one last class this summer...before....nursing school begins in August.  Yes, I say (write) that in the most ominous way...

So far, it's actually been really interesting.  But once again, I am finding it hard to get back into the swing of studying after almost a month break.  I so love my breaks...  But boy is it hard to get back in the groove.

In other news:

We have flown a kite:

We have been to the zoo, the park, swimming, the beach...

We have even gotten season passes with a friend and her kids to a water park in Mississippi.  Fun, fun.  Except... Jalyn and her friend run around to all the water slides...  My friend goes with her son on many of the water slides...  And Joshua plays in this giant kiddie area with water slides and all kinds of activities.  While I sit and bake in the sun.  Now, with my fair skin/eyes/hair, I think I should get a bit of a tan.  Especially when my friend lays next to me, getting more bronze by the moment.

But, I should know better.  The only thing getting more bronze on me is my freckles!

However, my poor legs (the one area I didn't apply sunscreen) were nearly fried under the blistering sun:

For today, I think we'll do some indoor activities!

Looking for Beauty all Around

In the daily-ness of life,

with all the stresses, trials, bills, frustrations and emotions -

We must take time to look for beauty.

It is surely there -

all around.

If we look for it.

In the green pears growing in the sun...

In delicate flowers that catch the eye...



In tiny cucumbers growing on their vine...

In a quail, looking at me...

In squash, not from a store - growing right there on the ground...

In not yet ripe tomatoes, full of orange promise...

In a dandelion puff - blown and wished upon by a child, or me(!)...

In a hummingbird feeder, sweet with nature all around...

"One thing I ask of the Lord

this is what I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

and to seek him in his temple."

Last Days Of Summer

School starts Monday.  Yes, in 2 days....

This last week of summer has been filled with doctor's visits [shots for Jalyn (3) and for Joshua (4)]  :(   and dentist visits for me and Jacob. Eye doctor for Jalyn (since she failed a test at her dr. check up) - glasses will be coming in in about a week!  Last minute school shopping, and Jacob still hasn't found a book bag - gotta do that today.

We have also played with friends, had my niece over for a few days, a visit from my mom, lunch out with friends.  You know that feeling, of trying to cram in everything, as if all time is gone once school starts.  It does feel like that at first.  But then you settle into the groove, and you realize it's okay.  Life still happens, and we are still a family that can do things together.

One place Jalyn has been wanting to go for sooo long, is Olive Garden.  She's a pasta girl!  So, after Joshua's shots, I got him something special that he wanted, and when I asked Jalyn what she wanted (for being so brave!) - she wanted Olive Garden.  So we had a Mom/Daughter date.

And it was good!  Jalyn walked in with a smile on her face, thought the restaurant was "so fancy".  (Poor child, we really must get out more!)

Here she is with her salad and bread sticks!

We ordered Grilled Chicken Alfredo - to share.  And we still had left overs!

Look at these desserts - too pretty.  I had the one with all the dark chocolate, she had the white chocolate one.  They were soooo good, and the perfect size.

This really is a year of firsts.  I will have 3 children in 3 different schools - all new to them this year.  Joshua is moving into kindergarten :(  Jalyn into Jr. High, and Jacob into High school.  WOW...  That just sounds stressful.  I keep thinking that if I can make it through this year, I will be okay.

Kindergarten doesn't start until after Labor Day, so I have a bit more time with Joshua.  He will be going to Kindergarten at a church where Jalyn went to preschool.  It's also where I went to church for 3 years, and became a Christian there.  Lots of good memories :)  Now we will add to those!  His schedule there will not be as long as if he were going to public school - a bit shorter days :)  The best part is that my very best friend will be his teacher!  So, I am not feeling as nervous as I could be, considering all those facts!

Oh, I just want to savor this weekend...  Before schedules, getting up early, buses, homework, grumbling, and all the sorts, begin......

A Break at Last

I took my last final for the summer yesterday!  It was hard, and stressful.  This whole summer has been - with a calculus class on my schedule.  But praise God - it's over!  I also made an A as my final grade. 

Now, I am officially done with all maths, englishs', electives, psychology, and biology.  Now, the fall semester begins in 2 1/2 weeks (not nearly long enough of a rest for me!).  The fall brings Anatomy and Physiology.  Lecture and Lab.  Hard, hard and harder.  That's all I hear about that class.  Each step of this journey seems daunting.  I will up to my eyeballs in nerves, muscles, cells, bones and God knows what else!  I am also signed up for Medical Terminology, I don't need that class, but am told it will greatly help me in future classes.  Keep thinking perhaps I should drop it though - not sure I should add another class on top of A&P.  Will have to think about that one!

But, for now, I shall much enjoy my break.  Aaahhh...  No equations to practice and study, no music appreciation discussion questions.... I can just read my books in peace - the ones I want to read.  And enjoy what little is left to the summer. 

A couple of weeks ago, I took the kids on the spur of the moment - to a beach in Mississippi. 

It was a beautiful day!

Wonderful just to get those feet in the sand!

Joshua drew me a picture in the sand - it was me and him. 

And love.

(Unfortunately, it was SO bright, I couldn't see enough to capture my head!)

But the figure of him is too cute, and of course the heart  : )

Logs, Ln's and Life

Yes, this is what my life is presently consumed with.  Calculus.  Logs, ln's and such.  I don't know why I thought the end of the semester would be easier than the rest of it, but it this log and ln stuff that is proving to elude me.  For now.  Actually, I have a BIG test on it Monday - so I had better get a handle on it quick! (So far, by the grace of God alone, I have made straight A's in this class - yay!!!)   Then the Monday after that is my final exam - and then - I shall be free of all my math classes - free indeed!!

 It seems I am either at school, or studying for school.  I feel bad because I just realized that the kids go back to school in less than a month, and I feel like it has flown by once again.  Only this time (like last summer), I have been so up to my eyeballs in math, that I haven't been able to make it the summer I would want them to have.  As soon as my finals are over, we plan to get away at least for the weekend.

As most all of you know, the beaches down here are... full of oil.  I don't know for sure if all of them are effected or not.  It has been horrible.  Hotel industry and businesses along the coast - restaurants and fisherman, are badly effected by the oil disaster.  It feels so wrong to complain that we have not been able to play at the beach while others are really suffering - but I know it would have been a fun part of our summer, if not for this. 

As usual, when I am not studying, I am reading.  I can't recall where I last left off in my reading list.  I just finished "Eat this book" by Eugene Peterson.  I wouldn't exactly recommend this book - it was good, and there were some good points I took away, but it wasn't what I expected.  I am still reading "Ashamed of the Gospel" by John MacArthur - a hard read - but very interesting.  The print is so tiny - it makes it "less fun" for me to read a book with print that small.  (I know, I am a bit weird) lol.  I am also reading a book that someone got me, called "The Three Battlegrounds" by Francis Fragipane - I am kinda trudging through this one.  It's got good points, but for some reason, I don't like focusing on the enemy - though I know I need to be aware.  Also reading a very old book called "The Open Secret" by Hannah Whitall Smith.  A dear friend just ordered "Radical" by David Platt - and I will be getting it from her tonight - can't wait! 

Once a month, ladies get together from our church (and any lady who wants to join us).  We do everything from devotionals, game nights, dinner, theme nights like "How to have a quiet time",  favorite bible verse, etc.  Oh, and unless we are meeting at a restaurant - we bring food!!!  Anyway, a new restaurant has opened in town that has live Christian music on Thursday nights - so tonight, we are all going!  Sounds so fun! 

On Tuesday nights, we all meet at a coffee house in town for devotionals.  We call it, "A Cup of Encouragement".  One lady reads a devotional, and we discuss it, and pray for one another.  It is a great time for everyone.  As a matter a fact, we have grown so big, I feel like we take over the coffee shop!  We have to move so many tables together!  It's great.

Other than that, it's hot as.....  Well, lets just say that today, as I was outside for a few minutes and sweat began rolling down my back, I began thinking that living here is a bit like going to the moon.  Now I know, without oxygen, we would die.  Not to that extreme, I know, but still - going from air conditioned car to air conditioned house to air conditioned store is a bit like needing a space suit - filled with cool air.  It is unbearable out there - and I feel for anyone who has to work in it. 

Kids are doing well.  Jacob has grown his hair longer than ever - and learning guitar (on his own - and with the help of his Dad).  Jalyn has been helping me with Joshua - and going to her own girls bible study on Tues. nights.  Joshua has turned 5 and has gotten a temper!  Unfortunately, while I have been studying or at school - and because it is too hot to do anything outside - he has discovered the Wii and Nintendo DS.  He loves Mario and Luigi.  What he doesn't love is loosing.  And boy oh boy - he goes a bit overboard when he does.  I think that being the youngest has him a bit spoiled.  He thinks everything should go along as he likes, and when it doesn't - an ugly streak is coming out.  Gotta get that under control.  I think he will be a much happier little boy when Kindergarten begins.  And I might just be a happier mama!

Okay - I think I have caught ya'll up on my summer!  Nice to be able to post - hope everyone is having a great summer!