Sunday, October 29, 2017

And so on and so forth and what have you...

Not being a fan of whining or rushing time, this is a bit hard for me to write...although I'm not so sure this is whining. But I am done with October. Give me some Halloween chocolate and let's move to November. This has not been the best of times at our house(nor has it been the worst). When a friend of mine posted this picture of Cruella a few weeks ago, I laughed. It is funny, but then the laugh also turned into a pit in my stomach, because how many of us can relate? 
Raise your hands. You know you want to.


This October we have repaired a major appliance and replaced our hot water heater. But what tore at my momma heart most was having an unexpected health issue with our middle kiddo, which ended up with surgery and now a lot of follow up tests and appointments. She IS the social butterfly of the family, but didn't even care if she saw anyone while she was home for two entire weeks. God bless the girl as she's making up two weeks of high school assignments.  
And now Chad has been so kind to invite the flu to our house and his immune system that hates him is being kinda lazy in helping him get over it. For real, he kinda looks like that pic of Cruella, 
bless his heart.


And for the love, anyone who is currently raising or has raised teenagers knows that even the best of kids can be...um...challenging at times. Why did they have to pull that out this October? Have they not learned life is easier for everyone if you just say "yes, mommy" and comply? That worked when y'all were toddlers and preschoolers. We could try that again. But no, I have to let them grow up and make decisions on their own, within boundaries. 
Add in moodiness and messy rooms...and I may just give that eye roll back to them sometime soon.


Now I do know blessings abound. I mean, Blue Bell brought back Christmas cookies ice cream and it's already in our freezer! And we do have incredible kids. But man, it is so easy to allow all of these other things to leave me feeling overwhelmed. Then as the day winds down and I am feeling wrung out, weary and tired, God sends that amazing autumn Texas sunset. That comforting blanket of orange comes and settles in. Like God's grace...if we allow it...will come in and comfort. As big as my self-made list of my own deficiencies grows, I'm reminded that He is sovereign, 
He made me, and I am His.
I've got to take up all of this stuff...health issues, house issues, inadequate mom issues, and so on and so forth and what have you (thank you, Sue Heck), and lay it at His feet every single day.



But really, peace out, October. See you next year.

"Just remember God is a blessing - now and tomorrow and always. From east to west, 
from dawn to dusk, keep lifting all your praises to God!" - Psalm 113




Wednesday, October 11, 2017

I see you, football moms

Six weeks into the school year. As I see and feel myself getting older, time seems to speed up. The fact that one of my kids is in his last year of public school provides all sorts of emotions in regards to time. Pretty much every emoji face could be inserted here and it would be appropriate. Part of me is so excited to see what choices he will make in regards to the next few years of his life...where he will go to college, what he will study...

Now, if you have a kid in high school, you've heard about "Junior year." Junior year has incredibly intense classes, SAT and ACT prep and test taking, more responsibilities. The late nights of studying and increased homework were more frequent compared to the two years prior. By the time May came, even I was done with Junior year.

But then Senior year arrived. Not as heavy as a course load for the boy...the first test scores in...college list narrowed...and it seems now that time has been put on the button on your DirectTV remote that skips ahead 30 seconds. Yes, he's had cap and gown pictures. He has college acceptance letters. We smile! We're happy!  But man, I cannot deny that I have a little girl inside of me whining and saying "Slow down! I don't want it to be here yet!"

Last Friday night was Mom's night at the football game. Moms get to wear their son's jersey and hang out on the field during warm ups and take photos. We can stay on the track all first half if we want to, although most of us prefer to watch from the stands. For the last three years this has been one of my favorite nights of varsity football season, no matter the outcome of the game. As I was looking at photos from this night, it hit me. I was looking at the picture of the Senior moms. These ladies...many of them are moms I have sat with under the fall Central Texas skies on many Thursday and Friday nights for the last six years. All of us have boys on the team who are playing their senior year of football.


I see you, football moms. You are cheering, loving, hoping, yelling, getting upset, jumping for joy after a great play, praying, trying to keep the knot in your stomach from making you sick, wishing the best for all of our boys out there, and finally...wondering how that baby boy of yours is out there in pads and a helmet playing that game. And I see you, senior moms, as the number of games we have left to watch our boys play together is getting smaller. We will enjoy every one. 

In my mind I still have the inner little girl whining and throwing that fit for the fact I don't want things to end. But I have be able to let go enough to enjoy the incredible journey we're on.  And know that I'd do it again!  Again and again.  Enjoy every day.