Much overdue

I think I've been ready to tackle the toy room for some time now, so now that the kids are in school, I've spent the last 2 days going through that room as well as the 2 drawers that have accumulated stuff over the last few years. From what was an overwhelming, overflowing toy area, it has now been reduced to something that's manageable and more inviting to play in.

I hauled out 2 large bags of garbage, 4 bags of toys (one being just stuffed animals) and a diaper box full of paper to recycle. Not to mention I found lots of missing pieces to several toys and the fact that I don't think I'll have to buy pens, pencils, crayons or markers for quite a time. I can't believe all of those school boxes full of stuff!

It feels great to have it done...at least mentally...my back firmly disagrees to feel good right now. Time for some R & R and prep for the weekend with everyone at home again. It won't stay clean for long, but at least I know I got rid of some stuff.

First day of school!

Well it's the first day of school for A.J., Laney & Faith. First day of all-day, every day school for Faith and Jason's first day of school as the new principal.

To say I was excited for school to start might be an understatement. What comes to mind is the scene from "The Rookie" with Dennis Quaid when their team wins a very important game and they are all celebrating in the locker room with this song blasting...if you check it out, you can imagine how I am feeling on the inside, but this pregnant body will not allow me to participate in such an activity, so for now I'll just go about my day (a little more relaxed for now) and embrace the time to absorb some books and catch up on some more nesting activities.

Ian saying "good-bye" and watching everyone leave.

I wasn't the only excited one...they couldn't wait for the clock to get to the time when they could leave & then waiting to cross the street seemed like a lifetime!

The good news...

The good news is that we got bunk beds for the kids and arranged them all in one room and the baby will go in the other room...and it didn't take the entire weekend. I am somewhat hoping for a girl at this point so I don't have to paint the room a boyish color, plus the carpet is pink. Yes, you could say I'm having a bout of nesting going on.

The bad news is that the living room, dining room & toy room reflect that the upstairs has been getting all of the attention. Guess that's where the rest of the weekend will go.

The kids start school on Monday, so Ian and I will have a chance to weed through the toy room and do some much needed toss-donate-keep so it's not so overflowing. I don't know if that's nesting or just being sick of chaos. Jason's brother's family is moving into a bigger house next week, so they are happily taking some stuff off of our hands. I am more than happy to pass it on!

Retreat time!

So last week and weekend, Jason and I had our annual diaconate retreat. This year was a little different, though...we had to be apart. He actually left on Tuesday night and I started Friday night and we didn't see each other until Sunday morning. It was different and difficult but I know the retreat for me what much needed.

On Saturday, I took the time to enjoy the silence of the campus of St. Ben's in St. Joseph. (The men were at St. John's just a few miles away.) During that time, I went on a walk in a small labyrinth that the Sisters had mowed into a space in their yard/garden. Anticipating a spiritual openness to God, I learned much more about life and how I approach it, just by taking this short winding walk.

First of all, I struggled to find the beginning of the path, only to find out that it was easily marked by two giant pots of flowers. How many times in life do we try on our own to get on the path to God, wandering around, and come to realize He's set it right before us so simply but we tend to walk right past it trying to jump ahead?

As I walked, I found myself trying to center my thoughts around being open to hearing God but I also realized that I focused somewhat heavily on the path, for I did not know how it was going to wind about, and how long this was going to take me. Not to mention, I was distracted by an "obstacle" of an overhanging tree branch...should I go under it or step off the path to go around it? Again, a lesson on life and how my attention focused on the condition of the path and the obstacles in my way rather than focusing on the Lord and allowing Him to be the center of my journey. "How am I going to do this and how quickly can I do it to reach my goal?" is the thought of how I sometimes approach these trials in my life.

Upon nearing what I thought was the center, which I envisioned as growing closer to God, the path weaved back towards the outside rather than toward the center. I found myself stopping to re-evaluate the path wondering if I had done something wrong or if it actually went to the center. Here's where the life lesson of trusting God comes in. Do I trust Him enough to keep walking the path towards Him, or do I doubt and stop to look for a way that gets me there quicker or doubt that it even leads there at all? Rather than continue on in life, do I let myself get frustrated that it's not "going my way"?

When I realized that I was being silly for not trusting that the path would lead me in, I continued and meditated on what I had learned about myself and life in such a short, winding walk. When I reached the bench in the center, I set my focus on the Heavenly Father, thanking Him for the lesson and for being there with me and allowed myself to take it all in. I slowed down and opened my heart and mind with what He wanted to tell me, but aware that He had already told me so much.

As I meandered my way back out of the labyrinth, I allowed myself to enjoy the stroll back around the path & I smiled at all I had learned without really trying. All I had to do was to be open to what God had to say to me that day. I just had to take the time to take the walk along the path to Him and He was there with me. A great peace came over me & I was able to look at my decisions in life and how they mirrored my trip around the maze. What I learned most is that I need to take the time to seek His path, take the walk and listen, trust where it leads and take joy in what it has in store for me. (Also, that it really helps to be on a retreat for me to figure that out.)

Is this what it takes?

After almost 3 months of summer, I witnessed something I had yet to see since the kids have been all home together. This morning I decided I was going to take the kids into Marshall to get new school shoes. So as I'm getting ready, they all come in whining and asking to play over at the neighbor's house (which is where they try to be most of the time anyway). Even though the weather is absolutely beautiful, they choose to want to be inside, so I have to keep kicking them out and reminding them to stay out of the poor neighbor's house. Give her a break!

So, back to the story...as they all come in, I tell them we're going to go shoe shopping. The girls immediately turn to each other and squeal, "Shoe shopping?!" and then go on to hug one another and jump around in each other's arms in spontaneous excitement of the news of getting new shoes. After all of these months, I guess those are the magic words to get the kids to show some love. It was an entertaining moment. I can only imagine what it will be like when they get older.

Grow your own butterflies!

One of our highlights this summer was a gift from Grandma Johnson that came in the mail...a package containing all you need to grow and care for butterflies. We received 4 containers with 5 tiny caterpillars in each & all they needed was time and a nice steady temperature to grow in. And they did! It took about 10-14 days in each stage - caterpillar and then chrysalis to witness the beautiful Painted Lady butterflies emerge.

We had 16 out of 20 make it to live butterfly stage & just before we left for vacation, we set them free in Grandma Myhre's garden where there are more than enough flowers to keep butterflies happy. One of the kids' biggest hopes was that they would be able to hold them & they finally had their chance when we set them free. (I didn't dare try it in the house just for the fact that SuzyCat went crazy trying to get at them just while they fluttered in their cages! Imagine the casulties if they were free in the house!) Ian wasn't able to get one onto his finger, but he enjoyed watching them fly away.

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday (yesterday) to my wonderful, fun-loving hubby! Here are some pictures of him this summer.

This dunk tank was at our school fundraiser, the Summer Sizzler. Jason had just been hired as the new principal and the Board thought it would be a good idea to get him in the tank.

The line did get pretty long...

The teachers and Fr. Jeremy enjoyed "posing" for this one.

He always serves well as a back rest!



It's always fun to dress like someone you love & look up to so much!