Saturday, September 24, 2016

A new love

This middle school girl of mine has found a new love.  Volleyball for the win and she is intense about it.

She always wants someone to practice with her at home.  She has not asked me as she knows I have no coordination when it comes to games with balls in the air.  In fact I marvel at the fact of how she loves this so much.  

The transition to middle school has been smooth.  Hoping and praying it stays that way.  She has a connection with these other girls.  We have had some tough conversations about what being on a team really means and discussions about some of the issues team sports have.

This volleyball season is about to close but I have loved watching her.  Not just the game but with who she is starting to become.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Connections and Loss

In these last few months there has been some loss in my life.  There have been different levels of loss for me and with it those times of reconnecting with family and friends. It always makes me think about how at times of grief meeting up with loved ones invariably follows.  A chance to take a photo of my mom and I with our two sisters.  Families of three girls for two generations.
My Dad comes from a large family. A fact that is close to my own personal heart.  I have learned a lot from these Aunts and Uncle about who I am and who I am always striving to be.


Another loss was a person that I was very close to in my early adult years. In some ways it has taken me back in time remembering those days and reconnecting with people that are good for me.  I sometimes wish we would say all those wonderful things about a person during their life that we say at their memorial services.  That is a lesson I need to work on as we get caught up in days that are filled to the brim with busyness.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Simply Amazing at Four

This little man turned four yesterday.  His weekend was filled with lots of cousins and a party.  This sweet little cousin and him are pretty good friends.  I love to listen to them chatter together.  A slumber party sounded like a great idea on the night before the party.  However, it did have to end as they really needed sleep before the next day.

He asked my sister for a Lego cake and his wish came true.  He was so cute on this day.  His first party home.  My heart ached last year as we missed another birthday. This years party made up for that pain. 

Clearly at four he is all boy.  I am sure those boots like all the rest around here don't smell that good?

He is blessed with a big sister that was all into decorating. A skill set that his mother does not own.

Always thoughts on this day of his birth mom.  Wish she could know how happy he is.  We talk about her daily.  I wish I could hug her and she hug him.  I will forever struggle with how my greatest joy come from the pain of another woman.  May she know at four he is simply amazing.

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

The last of Texas

Don’t grow up too quickly, lest you forget how 

much you love the beach. 
Michelle Held

The cure for anything is salt water – sweat, tears, or the sea.
Isak Dinesen

Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after our footprints in the sand are gone.
 Anonymous

My favorite place.  The place I feel most at peace.  The place life stops to really look at my kids as they grow.  A
place to look at me and figure out where I want to be in my life with the sound of waves in my mind and heart!


Monday, September 5, 2016

Texas Reflections Part II

On the verge of high school for this son.  Looking out on an ocean that was relatively quiet this time.  His Dad took him and some of the others deep sea fishing this time.  More than likely the highlight of his trip. This boy loves a fishing pole in his hands.

Our days on the ocean are not complicated.  I run each day and then we all go out for the morning.  Lunch is back in our condo and a little down time out of the sun for bit.  The afternoons are filled with building sandcastles and hanging out in the waves. Time for dinner and then hopefully time for the beach after the sun starts setting.  

It was Mr Luke's first time at the ocean.  He seemed to like it even though he asked me to turn off the waves! We found a baby pool in our condo and it proved to be so much fun for him in the ocean.  

As our kids get older their lives are starting to move in opposite directions.  It feels good to have connection between them during these trips.  I am thankful for these moments.

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Texas Reflections Part One

It has been a month since we were in Texas. Feels like a very long time ago.  So much has happened in the last four weeks.  Thank goodness for photos that bring back all the memories. Trips to Texas start at 4 am. The kids climb in half a sleep in their pajamas.  I love that a lot of our driving is done before anyone is completely awake.  
Thirteen hours of driving the first day and we were all ready to stop.  The kids did really well on this trip and it seemed that audio books saved us this year. As I looked back at the kids it seemed to be a sea of earphones. Both a sign of the times as well as the ages of my kids.

The second day we finally made it to the beach. The first place they asked to go was to the gift shop. With a small amount of money for each of them the fun began. I can only say I used to like to shop but that is clearly not the case anymore!

Clearly the ride and the beach are very tiring.  Not sure how but many ended up in our bed.  I have always wondered who bought those loud colors to paint and now I clearly know:)

 
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