Wonder Woman??

It's been awhile since I've blogged...mainly because I don't have any pictures.  I hope to get some tonight and hopefully will have them for my next post.  I feel like I'm suffering from the mid-January blues.  It's been a crazy week.  Jacob and Jenna have had normal weeks, but Josh has been SLAMMED with mid terms.  This is the first year he has had to encounter them.  Science was of course the worse.  I helped him on his study guide which took us over 3 hours to complete!!  That was over the weekend.  Monday night he had bball practice and then had to hit the books for studying for the test.  I didn't stress over this one because I knew how deep these chapters are.  Now try studying for 8 chapters.....ugh!!  Tuesday he had a game and came home to study for Literature and History.  I must say he handled all the games/practice/studying quite well although I am too afraid to log on to Jupiter grades to see the results.  I don't want to get discouraged or down so I am waiting until next week.


On top of that I have had extended family drama.  That is never fun.  I also had someone I know but not well take me off guard and ask if her daughter could come over Saturday night while she went out to a friends party.  First of all, I'm not that close to this person (not from church) and she told me about 2 months ago that her and her husband were getting a divorce.  I didn't feel good about the situation.  I mean why not ask your x to watch his daughter so you can go out?  I felt like I was getting in the middle of something. I have a very hard time telling people "no".  I received a text first thing in the morning asking me again if she could come and I just had to tell her we had plans (I guess Josh going to a bday party counts as plans)  I don't think she was happy with me, and it was hard for me to tell her no.  I heard a broadcast on Focus on the Family the other day where Lisa Tyrkest (not sure what her last name is) spoke and was talking about saying no to things.  She said something like "sometimes I try to be Wonder Woman and I end up being a Worn Out Woman!!".  With the drama of family and this situation and running the basketball team (or several players) to and from practice I guess I am a Worn Out Woman"


After the "storm" (even though this was not a storm) comes the calm!!  I'm looking forward to watching Josh play a basketball game tonight and the weekend.  We even have Monday off (except for another basketball game Monday night).  Maybe after a weekend of rest I can become Wonder Woman once again!!

New Years Goals

It's hard to believe that it is 2015.  It's hard to believe that this is the last day of our vacation. It's also the time of year to set our yearly goals. Jack and I have set a lot of "mini goals".  Our pastor gave us a list of questions to go through that went through different categories....finances, marriage, health books to read etc.  Jack and I both did that and have discussed them.  I do have two books and one devotion book I am reading.  Most of the categories we already do so there weren't a lot of changes for us to make.  One of my biggest goals for this year is to work on my bucket list.  Since we went to the Grand Canyon already, the only other thing on my bucket list is the half marathon. I have my eye set on one and even though I do the run/walk plan, I am really set on getting this accomplished.

Christmas Break

We've enjoyed our first week of Christmas break.  The kids have been so relaxed, and this slow pace is exactly what we have needed.  We enjoyed going to see the lights at Valley Creek and then watching the place we visited on TV.  It was pretty cool that they won. This week we have off and will enjoy some more down time.  Jack has to work and I have to work on Tuesday.  We are also working on our science fair experiments. (the science fair is in February, but we have had deadlines starting back in October and continuing on).  I hope you all had a great Christmas with family and friends.

I Choose and Misc

Wednesday Jenna's class went to an outreach project.  We went to I Choose Pregnancy center and cleaned.  I enjoyed watching them.  We enjoyed going to a classmate's house and enjoying a class party afterward.

A couple of months ago Josh and I went to a race and I won a sign.  It said "Refuse to Sink" and had an anchor on it.  I really didn't like the saying so Jacob sanded down the sign.  I've never done a sign and was going to give it to someone to do for me, but since it was so small, I decided to try my hand at it.  This is what I ended up with.

Keeping Busy

December has been an on the go month and we are only on day 9!!  Monday of last week started with bball practice.  Tuesday and Wednesday we had basketball games to attend (both away).  Thursday Josh was sick but that night Jacob still performed in the MS Christmas program.  Friday was the ladies ornament exchange and Saturday we started the day with Golden Corral's company dinner at the Angus Barn Pavilion and then I had another "party" on Saturday night.  Sunday was the kids program at church.  This week picked right off....last night another basketball game and tonight basketball practice.  We have Wednesday to "breathe" and then head for another game on Thursday.  We can breathe again until Saturday night as Josh has a youth activity and I have our Southside dinner.  I love December, but I must admit it gets a little crazy around here!!

Basketball season

We are almost done with November and that means our house is busy again with basketball.  Seems like we are either at a game or running to practice.  This year the school has 9th and 10th grades so they were able to add a JV team.  Unfortunately since the school is small, they had to take two of the 8th grade players and let them play with them.  Although this didn't seem like something we wanted, it actually worked out for us.  Joshua is team captain of the middle school team.  He doesn't think it is a honor, but I keep telling him it is an honor.  I am constantly having this as a teaching experience telling him that God has put him in a leadership position and he needs to step up to be the leader. He is learning and has a way to go, but I have seen so much improvement in him.  I've seen him pass the ball more and encourage his teammates.  I am still trying to teach him how to stay positive and keep his team "up" even when down by 20-30 points.  I know that is hard.  Who wants to play when things are that bad....but hopefully that is something he will try to learn and pass on to his teammates.

As a mom, he is always teaching me new things.  That child is an over-comer.  Things don't come easy for him, but he just keeps fighting and always seems to find a way.  I am so proud of him.  I love to watch my kids in sports or any activities they choose.  Along that note though I would ask my fellow readers to please pray for him.  I want to keep him eligible.  He is struggling in something he has never struggled with before.....science.  The teacher is good and knows her stuff....but maybe knows it too well and has taken them deeper than ever before.  I know that a lot of students are finding this class (and teacher) more difficult than before, so of course this makes it even harder for Josh.  Just pray that he can maintain his grade so that he can continue to play and of course, pass the class.

Goodbye October

October was a fun month.  Not only was there the Grand Canyon trip but I also went with Jenna and her class (and the other 5th grade class) to Hill Ridge Farms on a field trip.  We also went to the state fair.  Josh loved going to the Army booth and doing pullups for them.  He was able to do 10 of them!!  Impressive, especially since I can't do one!  We also saw the News Boys that night in concert.  That's what we've done.  November will just be just as busy I am sure.