9/23-9/30

...it's that time of year. 

I LOVE fall. I do. But by this point, being back to school full time for well over a month...I get TIRED. 

A day away with my sister this past weekend definitely helped. I'm still tired, but feel so happy!

9/22

Fall '07

9/21

source

9/20

I love a good parade. 

9/19

We live in this really great town. It's small enough, but not too small. Homecoming weekend at the university we both attended and Fall Ball at the high school means a parade over the weekend and a lot of family fun! Now that we are in our 5th year here, things that we do each year are starting to feel like traditions. I like that.

9/18

Source : lifeovercs.com

When the parents both work in schools, and the kids both go to school, parent-teacher conference time can be a bit stressful a couple of times a year. It's part of the job, but requires some careful planning and a lot of patience!

9/17

From our day at the races last spring

On days when it all starts to feel like a race, I have to sit myself down and remember what is important. On days when I feel so tired that I don't want to do anything, I just take it one task at a time. I pray. I breathe. I smile.

This life can be a lot, but I just repeat, "All good things". Really, every little issue that pops up can be made good. I just have to slow down and see it from the right direction.

9/16

A Mama's Prayer

I was remembering this prayer, as I marked another inch he had grown on the wall.

9/15

I purchased some fall clothes for the kids over the past week and am taken aback at how BIG the clothes look to me hanging on the hanger. How can those fit my kids?! How did I get to be a mom with kids that size? I can still remember purchasing tiny things...I did enjoy the tiny things.

9/14

source

Church, teaching Sunday  School, lunch with friends, neighborhood picnic, and then home with my loves. It's an embarrassment of riches. My heart is so grateful.

9/13







It was this great day. Filled with family and friends, spending time doing FUN things that were purely recreational. We spend a lot of time with school and work, the four of us. It was really nice to have a Saturday that felt like a Saturday!!!







9/12

Hey, Sky - quit bragging!!

9/11

Remembering ~ Reflecting ~ Respecting

9/10

We all can remember where we were and what we did on 9/11/01.

I remember sitting in shock with my new husband, we'd only been married a couple of months. We finally shut off the t.v. and played Scrabble because we were 23 years old and 1700 miles away from the terror and had no idea what to do with ourselves and all of that terrible news.

What I wish I could remember was Sept. 10th, 2001. What it felt like not to have that in my heart. The war. The fear. The sadness. I wish I could remember what it was like for my husband and me, newlyweds in a tiny apartment without much to worry about but making rent and who was doing the next load of laundry.

I realize that everyone's lives were changed that day and that the effect 9/11 had on my life was minimal compared to so many others. That being said, I really wish that I could remember 9/10/01. I'll bet it was a pretty good day.

source

9/9

In 3rd grade at our kids' school, they do a timeline of their first 8 years. It's so much fun to look back through the photos. I want to share the photo that got the biggest laugh at our house tonight:

9/8

Hate to brag...but I will. Kind of nailed it with my lunch today. Knocked it out of the park, actually. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

9/7

When our praise team at church sings this song, it sets up the whole week to be HAPPY. Everyone should get to feel that kind of happy. The head-to-foot, joy joy joy joy down in your heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

9/6

Wondering what to read next...I LOVE a great story. 

9/5

Friday nights in fall now mean Friday night lights. Football is not my favorite sport, but it's fun to go out to see a community enjoying something together in a positive way!

9/4

Just got Sister Day 4.0 on the calendar. Yippee!!

9/3

I'm going through old pictures for a third grade project...as if I needed any help with lingering nostalgia!

Buddy's first Easter popped up...there are such good memories there. We've got two really capable kids now, it's a little hard to remember what it was like when we were so needed as parents. There's a tiny part of me that really misses the constant care and keeping of babies and toddlers. And another part that really enjoys being able to say "get dressed" in the morning and then going about my business!

9/2

When I look at this picture, my heart aches with immense joy and sadness.
How that is even possible, I have no idea.

This, a picture of two of my favorite guys.
My Grandpa Harold, who is now in heaven.
My Buddy, who is now so heavy I can barely lift him.

Sadness because Grandpa is gone and my baby is grown.
Joy because how lucky am I, to have so much love in my life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

9/1

The school year for us is a bit of a balancing act. Everyone is busy with their own stuff, everyone has to pitch in around the house to keep things going...

Today is a bonus day. Labor Day. For me, it means a day to get my ducks in a row. Laundry, dishes, vacuum, mop...getting ready for the next week of work. Housework. School work. Work work.