My New Normal

So, here I am after a whole year!  Since we just uprooted our whole family (we had some long roots, people!), I thought it might be a good time to post my thoughts here.  Since I don't have to worry about sharing my innermost feelings with the entire world, I can use this like a jourmal!

I really had no idea what it would be like to leave the town that's been my home for 19 years.  Even after we moved, we had loads of family coming to visit so that delayed my realization.  But, one evening, after the kids were finally asleep (takes longer in a new house in a new town) it hit me kind of hard.  First I want to say that I have a great husband!  He is the best and I am so undeserving.  However, God created me to enjoy female friendships!  I am not a complete extrovert but I am kind of social.  I don't want to be by myself all the time or every day!  And, as much as I would like to keep as close to all of my friends in B/CS, I don't think that is going to work out for me.  Honestly, I know that is not what God desires for me.  That's like moving to the Promised Land and commuting back to Egypt all the time! 

So, one quiet evening, when it's just me....I discover what friend-less feels like.  I'm not saying that people haven't been friendly.  Everywhere I go, people will chat with you all day.  But it's just chatting.  I know I could ask someone for their phone number but I really want some outreach here! I did ask a woman for her phone number the other day. She acted so surprised that I wasn't sure I should call her after all. I tell everyone "We just moved here" in the hopes that someone will show me some kindness.  Before you get ahead of me, I need to say that I don't blame them at all.  I'm positive I was that person not too long ago-just so busy I can't make a new person feel welcomed. 

And now we are getting to the heart of my problem!  I have been in a spiritual desert of my own making for a while now.  I have struggled to connect with God on a regular basis (again-my own fault)!  And He has continued to be constant, and gracious, and loving in response to my indifference!  Without connection to the Father, our human nature grows more and more selfish and sinful.  Except we don't notice the sin...  Ok, I'm not calling the people I've met selfish-just want to clarify!  I am referring to my own heart!  I am completely able to trust Him and depend on Him when life is tough or when it comes to the BIG things in life.  But relying on the Holy Spirit all day when parenting or trying to be a better wife, etc.-nope! 

Thankfully, I went to a Mom's group at a church we are going to join soon, and heard a great message.  This woman challenged us to get up before our children (unless you have an infant) and spend time reading the Bible and praying.  Normally, I have zero interest in doing that.  I like my sleep!  I need my sleep!  But I've also already given it MY best shot and failed completely....  And the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results!  So I feel inspired to try daily life a different way!  I woke up at 5:45AM today!  And I wasn't even very tired!  Guess what, folks?  Instant results!  Isn't that so amazing?  Spend some time with the Bible and humbling yourself before God and your heart changes immediately!  Why wait?!  And what took me so long?  I already knew it would happen but I put it off!  Of course, one day is not enough!  I hope I will persevere and keep it going.  I am so blessed.  But I also hope to make a new friend.  Soon.

What Happened to Summer?

So I've proven that I'm not very good at this blog thing!  But here we are at the end of August and my oldest child just started Kindergarten!  She was very excited and could barely wait until August 22nd!  I'm sure some of is that all of her 7 younger cousins are already in school.  The youngest one is in 1st grade this year.  And now that it's Friday, I can still say that she is enjoying K.  I have to wake her up each morning but she likes to sleep in!  But she is going to bed much better these days!  So she is definitely excited about sleeping in tomorrow.  Finally, she will understand the meaning of the weekend! 

Sunday evening I wanted to eat out because we had not left the house all day since church.  So I mentioned it to JD and the kids.  Audrey loves to eat out so she said YES!  Paxton however informed us he did NOT want to eat out!  So JD made him some frozen dino nuggets and he was happy to stay home!  I know, right?  Audrey and I ate dinner at Carino's and kicked off the school year.

We received a bunch of bows and headbands from a local high school student who also babysits for us!  A loves them.  She has worn a different one to school each day this week! 

I'm not sure where she gets the poses because I never stand like that!!  But here she is on the first day of school!  Her brother has been struggling to adjust by sometimes acting out!  He threw a 30 minute screaming fit at HEB and the HEB parking lot.  THAT was fun!  Hopefully once his preschool starts we will all be happier. 

What We've Been Doing...

So I know it has been a while!  We are really enjoying our summer so far! I'll share more on that later. 

We went to the circus at Reed Arena.  I was a bit nervous because it has been so long, but we had a great time.  The only time A had to cover her eyes was during the motorcycles in the cage!  Unfortunately, my son did not share her feelings!  He spent close to half of the show wandering the foyer!  We all loved it except for him!

We went to our niece's graduation in Three Rivers, Texas.  She was Salutatorian!  We are so proud of her! Former Texas A&M president Murano spoke at the ceremony.  Sadly, we didn't get to hear the speech due to technical difficulties.

That same weekend we spent some time in San Antonio.  We took a riverboat tour.  Ate at a restaurant on the riverwalk.  Listened to Mariachi bands. 

My son loved the sharks!  He took about 59 pictures of them on my phone!  We had a great time at Sea World even if it felt like 105 degrees outside!  I don't recommend going on a holiday weekend.  There must have been 500,000 people there on Sunday of Memorial Day weekend.  But we still had so much fun!  There is a great kids' area with rides and a water play area and a regular playground! 

I just want to say that I don't intentionally take more pictures of my daughter than my son but he often refuses to be photographed and she often asks!!

After a popsicle, what color is my tongue??  This is his kind of picture!

So this is just thru the end of May and with several things left out! Whew!

Oh Trampoline, How We Love Thee!

One day, before Spring Break, it was a beautiful afternoon.  The kids were playing in the backyard by themselves (for the most part).  It was so nice I went out back also!  I even got on the trampoline and played with them (until I got dizzy and ran out of breath)!  My children love for Mommy or Daddy to 'chase' them around the outer edge of the tramoline.  I'm so glad it's enclosed!  Anyway, I got my camera to capture the joy on the kids' faces and the beautiful Texas sky!  Hello Spring/Summer....it's already here!  I hope my children continue to enjoy the outdoors because I know I spent most of my childhood outside and not in front of the TV!!

Snow, snow, where have you gone?

I'm sure my children think that it snows in Texas every winter!  How sad they will be to discover this is not always true!  However, we have had snow once or twice each year for the past 3 years!  So maybe the weather is changing....  We had a good friend over the morning of the snow and boy! do children love playing outside in snow.  Probably because it is so rare! 

My daughter was licking every surface covered in snow.  I tried to tell her the snow layer was very thin and the car was very dirty but she wasn't listening!! 

And today, March 23rd, it is about 85 degrees outside!  But I feel a little cooler just looking at these pictures!!

Plum worn out

Since I never got around to sharing all my Christmas pictures, I want to at least share this photo with an explanation.

On Christmas day, the kids got up a little earlier than usual and were tired from all the excitement that having company brings.  So after opening some gifts and playing, I noticed Paxton was MIA.  I looked in his room and found him asleep on his bed!  Nice to get a little rest in the middle of such intense fun!!  It didn't last as long as a regular nap but it helped him through the day!!

Getting Back to Health

Whew!  It's been a long month!  I am so thankful to say that we went through a sales tax audit at work and it went better than we could have imagined!  God just blessed us in undeserving ways! 

Unfortunately, I got sick not too long after that.  I had a terrible cough that I got lots of drugs for.  I began feeling much better.  But then, Audrey's cough got worse.  So we took her to the doctor, who told us she had early stages of pneumonia.  She started some drugs and breathing treatments.  But 3 days later, her cough was worse and she still had fever.  This time she had developed an ear infection while on antibiotics!  So she had to get a painful antibiotic shot in her leg.  But 4 days later she had a rash that started out on her torso and spread all the way to her feet and scalp!  Most likely a reaction to her antibiotics.  So back to the dr.  This time she took blood and an xray.  Still has pneumonia but blood count looks good.  Finally tested for flu.  Oh,  positive for flu.  Start tamiflu and switch antibiotics.  Now rash is gone and fever is finally gone!  Still trying to get rid of pneumonia but dr will check her again later this week.

In the midst of this, the day of the xray and blood test, Mommy (me) started feeling terrible.  I was worried I might pass out while I was standing for an hour at the pharmacy for my daughter's meds.  On Friday, my head was pounding all day long.  I never got out of my pjs!  (or brushed my teeth)  That's how bad I felt!!  Finally, I called my dr on Saturday and he got me some tamiflu.  Did you know that stuff is magical??  All of sudden my headache disappeared. 

Thankfully, the boys seem fine!  We have really had our fill of sickness and I'll be praying for a while that we might be spared/protected from anymore!  And we will be disinfecting our house now!