Catching up

Wow...where does the time go?

I think the last time I blogged was in the spring.   Our summer and fall in a nutshell:

• boys finished school in early June
• Eldest went to Super Summer in Abilene
• Eldest started Karen Dillard SAT Prep courses
• Eldest had wisdom teeth extracted.  Awesome dr. and staff.  Eldest did great!
• We spent week of 4th of July at home (our only opportunity for vacation)
• July was mainly spent with eldest attending classes at KD
• VBS was in July.  Youngest attended; eldest and I worked
• Two more Chinese boys arrived in late July for an 18 day stay
• Eldest started high school band camp before the Chinese boys left
• Chinese boys left for home and we had 3 weeks before school started here
• Eldest also took on lawn mowing duties here and at my parents' house.  It was rough to fit that in with all the other stuff he has going on.

Since school has started, we've been trying to get the eldest to find a minute or two to finish up driver's ed, but that's hard when you're in marching band and you are taking almost all AP classes.  So, he's still not driving, but we do have a car.  His paternal grandparents gave up their keys and we've inherited teh 1998 land yatch!

I did sign up to be a uniform mom for the marching band at high school.  That entailed 3 workdays this summer, the last of which was 8-5 and we outfitted the entire 230 member marching band.  I'm also needed to ride along with th band to football games, just in case something happens to a uniform.  Last week was my first time to ride along.  This past week we had a marching contest to attend, but it was rained out.

We have UIL marching contest this weekend.  Hubby has traveled a couple of times in the last few weeks.  Once was to Baltimore, MD the same week as the Navy Yard shootings.  The next week he was in Boulder, CO, about 2 wks after the flood.

You'd think that as kids get older the single parenting stints wouldn't be so hard, but with the eldest so busy and still not driving, I think those were two of the hardest parenting weeks I've had in a long time.

I don't think I wrote a post about this either....our church has called a new pastor and he is just wonderful.  I am enjoying learning from him.  A good friend of mine goes to a different church, different denomination and our new pastors started on the same day.  When she and I go to lunch, we need more than an hour so we can report on all the new great sermns we've heard.

The fall appears to be slowing down (if only incrementally).  After UIL marching contest this coming weekend, and the PSAT in mid-October, life should slow down.  Fingers crossed that it will actually turn out that way!

I took leave of my senses..

and volunteered to be the Jr. parent in charge of marching band uniforms next year at my son's High school.

I think it will be fun to meet more of the band kids and parents and to see the halftime performaces all year long.

probably lots of work, but still fun along the way!

New Pastor?

If you've followed my blog, you are aware that the pastor at my church died in October of 2011.  Our church is one of those that does not have a governing board at a regional level that can just shift pastors around.

Our church put together a pastor search committee a hair over a year ago.

They came to use a few weeks back and said they believe they have found the man that is to be our next sr. pastor.

That man will come preach on June 2nd and then the congregation will vote on whether to accept him or not.  I'm so ready for this next step in my church's life.

His Jr year is going to be "awesome"

My eldest has completed the audition process for the bands at his 11th and 12th grade campus for next year.

He made it into the Jazz Band AND made the TOP band at his school.

His quote was "My Jr year is going to be AWESOME!"

yes, I do believe it is!

Happy Mama

I'm a very sporadic blogger

Seems January was the last time I stopped by.

Since then I've been on a weight loss journey.  I've lost about 20 pounds and am feeling better.  I also changed my hair color and have enjoyed the reactions to that.

The scanner I got in December is still being used.  I'm trying (still) to reduce the paper clutter that's in my life.

Laundry is still my nemesis...and probably always will be!

Kids are doing great in school.  We're in the home stretch for the end of the year.  Eldest has some state-wide exams to take this week.  Youngest has already done his.

Band performances, contests, enrolling for classes for next year....it's all being taken care of.

I'm teaching another parenting class for parents of gifted kiddos.  We're in our 2nd week.  Must get that knocked out before the school year ends.

I was involved in two Spring Bible Studies.  One through the Women's ministry at church.  The other I got started for the ladies in my Sunday School class.  We are really enjoying the time together and getting to know one another on a deeper level over the Word of God.

That's about all for now.

January

Life is continuing at its crazy pace.

Kiddos are in school.  Eldest is already deciding on classes for his Jr. yr.  I cannot believe time as flow so quickly.  It feels like just last year we were sitting around reading books together all day long with no one else in the house.

Youngest is working on 6th grade. Doing an admirable job of it too!  Great grades and good attitude (most of the time).

Hubby's travel was minimal last year, so lots of time as an entire family.  No major health issues to speak of for us.  Both sets of parents has issues last year.  My mom had medication issues (too much), his dad had accident w/ hand in elevator door + blood thinner.  Not pretty.

Ended last year on a Christmas cruise (Royal Carribean) Fun!

This is the year of taking control:

* of paper (I am drowning in piles of paper.  I now own a scanner and am working on reducing the piles).

* of my health (weight, fitness, better eating)

* of the house (painting projects await)

That is about all for now.

September update

We are staying very busy around here.

Ladies' Bible Study has started for me.  I am not leading this year, but am enjoying participating.  I know many of the ladies in my group and that is always nice -- to be with friends.  I'm giving a friend a ride to study and she is recovering from her knee surgery very well.

I am not leading this study, as I said, but I will probably be leading another Bible Study starting later in the fall.

In addition to that, I'll be facilitating another SENG Model Parenting Group.  This is a book study group for parents of gifted students.  I found this group through my local school district and was so excited about the information I received, I signed up to become a faciliator myself.  This will probably be my 4th group to work with.  It's so gratifying to see these parents come in, all with questions about how to help their gifted kids fit in, or how to understand them better and by the end of the seminar, the parents have made friends with one another and support one another.  That starts the last week of the month.

My boys are both doing well in school.  We should get progress reports this week.  I have been keeping an eye on grades already, so I don't expect any big surprises.   That being said, they are both starting the year off great.

I had the opportunity to go to my eldest's school for open house.  It took the better part of an evening, but I was able to meet all of his teachers and see where he is every day.  I don't know if I could keep up with his schedule...but if I were 15, I probaby could.

He is still working on his driver's ed. stuff, so no new driver on the road yet.

Hubby is on a business trip this week.  This is the first one in about a year.  I have really gotten used to him being home!  The boys and I are managing, but I've had to ask friends to transport the boys to various activities, as I've been at open house and other things.

My grandmother, 104, had a stroke about 2 weeks ago.  She is not doing well.  Hospice has been called in and my dad's sister is with her most days.

Church is keeping us busy and all of us are involved in something extra.  That's about all it from here.