So, I'm a little late....

My 8th grader on his first day of school.  Yes.  The shirt says "Loser"

No worries.  This is what the back of his shirt says.

My 2nd Grader on his first day of School

Showing off the new backpack....Star Wars, of course

And they are off!

School is back in full swing.  Football practice has started, soccer won't be too far behind.  Homework is already causing me stress and the temps are a little cooler today.  I can almost smell fall. 

I always have a hard time getting back into the swing of things.  Summer is always so good and so busy.  It is nice that we are back on "schedule" a little.  But I miss having them home with me every day.  

Praying for a year of learning and growing for my babes.  Praying for health and no broken bones. Praying for easy mornings and not too many tears during homework time in the evenings.

Perspective

Me:  (Stroking The Boys hair)

The Boy:  WHAT are you doing?

Me:  (nostalgic sigh)  Just looking at you...you're so handsome

The Boy:  (clearly annoyed) 

Me:  You're not the little babe in my arms anymore.  You've grown up so fast. 

The Boy:  Not to me.

Me:  13 years really isn't that long....

The Boy:  13 YEARS!?!?!?!  THAT'S my whole life!!!

Multi-Tasking Momma...FAILURE!!!!

Me:  (sitting on computer working on a talk for a women's retreat weekend)  BuhBuh, what is Little Dude doing?

Me:  (continuing to stare at computer screen, so intently that I missed his respones)

My Sweetie:  Hun, did you hear him???

Me:  What???  Huh???

My Sweetie:  Did you hear what BuhBuh said??? 

Me:  Um, no, sorry.....What did you say BuhBuh??  What is Little Dude doing....

BuhBuh:  He's mowing.....the lawn.....with the mower.....(mischievous grin)

The Boy

"By the time your children leave the nest, you have either basked in the essence of their lives or missed it."

                                                                                        ~Charlene Ann Baumbich

WHERE did my little boy go??

I went to wake The Boy today and it hit me.   

He is growing so fast.  

He is currently 4 inches taller than me. 

His voice is deepening.  

His legs are getting hairy.  

He NEEDS a daily shower.  

He needs to wash his face every day.  

He is learning what it feels like to have a crush and to be crushed.  

He is hungry for independence.  

He desires to fit in someplace.  

He has a love and knowledge of God's love and grace for him that I am sometimes envious of. 

He feels sheltered by his parents. 

Isn't as open to hugs from mom.  

Will be begining 8th grade in less than 2 weeks.  

Will be 14 in a little over 3 months.  

WHEN did this all happen???

Sadly, it all happened right before my eyes.

I wish I could hold on to him tighter because he feels like he is slipping away faster and faster every year.

But I can't.

I can only bask in the essence of him, give him the foundation that he needs to build his life on, be his number one supporter and take comfort in the fact that God is really in control not me.  **sigh**  

Serving in St Paul

In August of 2008 I found myself tearfully saying goodbye to My Sweetie, BuhBuh and Little Dude and setting off to serve on a youth mission trip with The Boy. I was going along for both the experience and as just one of the adult chaperons. I remember how affected I was by after the experience from both being with the youth and reaching out to helping someone in need of help.

The youth pastor at the time use to joke (well, maybe she WAS serious) that I was going to take over for her when she left. I would laugh, thinking she'd be around for awhile longer so that I could learn from her some more.

I remember when the announcement came that her and her husband, also a pastor, were being re-appointed. I choked back tears as I sat consoling one of the youth who had decided to come to church for the first time. I kept saying, "God, I'm not ready to take over"

Last Sunday I again found myself saying goodbye to my Sweetie, BuhBuh and Little Dude to head off to serve on another mission trip with The Boy. But this time, I climbed into the drivers seat of a 15-passenger van, this time as the leader not just a parent chaperon.

During our time in St Paul our group served in a variety of ways. Some of us helped serve at the Salvation Army Preschool and in Nursing Homes. Some of us helped our host church for the week prepare to hand out 400 backpacks of school supplies and organize 200+bags of groceries to send home with the kids who came to the church every afternoon so they'd be sure to have some food over the weekend.

We also helped with some yard work of some women who were no longer able to care for their yards themselves. We also spent our afternoons hanging out playing and reading with kids of the Boys and Girls Club East.

We all had to assist in meal prep and building clean-up a couple of times during the week.


In the evening there were activities unique to the St Paul area like a visit to the Cathedral,

and History Museum.
We listened to a speaker on poverty and did some eye opening activities. We had a community cook-out

and watched break dance and popping competition, in a church which removes the pews from the sanctuary to make it a dance floor once a week.

We also had a pizza picnic at Indian Mounds Park.


After our evening activities we had worship and sharing and heard a message.

We ended our evenings with small group time with our youth groups.

It was an exhausting schedule. Coffee was essential....


But, the work was rewarding and I saw God working through each one of my kids throughout the week.

I saw bonding between my kids and I saw new friendships with other youth who were on the trip from other churches as well.


I really looked forward to morning devotions where the only thing I needed to do was sit and be with God. I know, I can do that at home, but often times I don't make time for that....I'm working on that.

My favorite time during the trip was during the Thursday night foot-washing ceremony. The staff came out and washed each of the adult leaders feet and prayed over them. Then as adult leaders we washed our youth's feet and prayed over them. What a blessing it was to do that one-on-one with my kids. The kids were all pretty emotional after that so when we went into small group time I decided to literally throw the "pre-written" list of questions over my shoulder and just let them share whatever they wanted about their week.

As we got back in the van Friday morning to come back home, all of those kids expressed their sincere appreciation and gratitude for bringing them on this trip.


I may not have been ready to take over a year ago, but God has sure provided me with everything I've needed in order to do so.

Wordless Wednesday: Lego Creation

Moments

There are moments in life in which you wish time would freeze and stand still.

Moments in which you wish you could bottle up and save for another day.

Moments in which nothing else in the entire world matters other than the very second in which you stand.

You soak them in. You burn the images into your mind. You take photographs. But the moment always passes.


I love to escape with my family.

It doesn't matter where we go as long as we go. Life at home is full of work, school, sports, church, chores, that it's hard to enjoy the precious moments because life moves too fast.


But for me, when we get away from it all, it is refreshing.

It is peaceful.

It is relaxing.

It is re-energizing.

It's just perfect.

The only thing that matters in those moments is that we are together.


When we are able to get away from it all I feel connection between us as a family.

I feel connection between My Sweetie and I.

I feel at peace and calm and in those moments I am able to hear God's voice because life, for that moment, has slowed down.


It is in these moments that I hope and pray that we are creating memories for our children.

That we are setting an example of the importance of family.


Although I wish that I could string together an entire lifetime of moments like these I know it's not possible. For "if life were full of moments, you'd never know you'd had one" (Into the Woods)


I certainly appreciated, enjoyed and cherished every single moment we had together this past week. I hope to practice the fine art of slowing down just a little at home so that I don't miss the ones that are here also.

June Highlights....

Evenings at the ball park watching BuhBuh (Why didn't I take any pictures???? UGH!)

The Boy's bedroom updated

Vacation Bible School....Walking With Jesus....just shy of $150 raised for No More Malaria....40-50 kids every day......Youth aged kids hung out in the afternoon after helping with VBS....great week. Go God!!!

The Boy attended a Leadership Camp within our United Methodist Conference. He learned a lot and had a GREAT time. Go God!!!


Took BuhBuh and Little Dude to the zoo and the spray park while big brother was at camp.


Had two major storms in one day.....after the first our power was off an on into the evening and left our little town a little broken....


The second left us without power for 29 consecutive hours.



Father's Day


Swim lessons


Fresh Black Raspberry Pie with homemade crust......made with love by My Sweetie....

with occasional assistance.....

26 times....delivered to family, friends, co-workers and clients.

The Boy volunteered several days at a lunch program ministry....lead the kids one day in the "Banana Song" and they loved it!!!

Technology Fast.....went FAST!!!!