Pumpkins make me happy

Saturday brought beautiful weather and a couple of unexpected free hours for apple and pumpkin picking!!!  Hands down my favorite activity of the fall, a trip to the orchard with the kids  is an annual tradition.  Spike had a bad cough and stayed home to watch football - a real sacrifice😉.  

So far, we’ve enjoyed two rounds of gluten-free apple crisp made from our haul of Jonathons.  

I’m dreaming of tilling a big section of our yard for a pumpkin patch.  In my dream, this garden would weed itself and attract zero squash bugs.  

 

I'm back

So, blogging.  I thought you were a thing of my past.  But after nearly a year of separation, I'm ready to come back to you.

Having readers is nice.  It's fun to connect with people and receive feedback from near and far.  However, the reality is that this space serves as a family journal of sorts.  Posts on F*cebook and Insta fade into cyber-oblivion with no hope of retrieval.  Here, we can look back, even print a hard copy of the moments I happened to deem noteworthy.  It's a valuable endeavor even if the only readers live in the very house from which I currently type.

And, creative outlet is a healthy, necessary part of life.  This is mine.

So, here and now I recommit to writing a little bit each week, maybe more often, about thoughts on our family life, hopes and dreams, funny stories and basic news from our homestead.

For starters, let me just say that certain realities are hitting us full force at the moment:  Life and death, for instance, as our parents age (and we, too) and health fails.

Our oldest child is now a senior in high school.  St. Therese is one of her patrons, and I realized today that this could be the last time she celebrates this occasion with us at home.  (Let me note for the record that our feast day parties are not elaborate - usually a special dessert and an extra prayer.  No one need assume that over-achievement is happening.)

I sat in a preschool event last spring with our youngest and noticed all the young moms sans makeup and sporting sweats and ponytails while jugging babies, toddlers, preschoolers, strollers, sippy cups.  I noticed myself, relatively put together (as much as is possible for me) with my 13-year-old son as my sidekick along with my (at the time) 5-year-old.  My hands were free.  I realized I had crossed a bridge.  I had become the mother of big kids.

So, life marches on, and this little space on the world wide web allows me to capture glimpses for posterity.

Feel free to read along.

Some things to Remember...

...today, Yo-yo said the funniest thing: Mom, you should be really proud of me because I was vegetarian for one whole day!  And you thought I would give up...

...all my kids (except possibly Crash who hasn't learned to appreciate them yet) were thrilled to receive new Adventures in Odyssey CD's for Christmas.  Ages 16 - 10, and theiy're not too cool to enjoy these family favorites.  

...My dad ventured out for a walk with just himself, Spike and Crash from our hotel in Chicago this past weekend.  Had I known about it, I would have been nervous, but they did great.

...since Christmas break, Crash has been going to school without a helper.  He's doing really well.  I'm so grateful for this lovely, play-centered program and his patient teachers.  

...at the CCD Christmas program at church, Crash sang with his class in front of all the parents.  He stood where he was supposed to. He sang the songs.  He didn't run off.  It was awesome!!  

...the 3 serious ballet dancers in the house went to Chicago for auditions this weekend, 2 for the first time.  It is hard to go into these places with such major competition.  They all did it and came out smiling.  Who cares what the results might be.  

...A couple weeks ago, Yoyo took it upon herself to make minestrone and salad for dinner.  She did the whole thing start to finish, and even added just enough of her own ingredient (hot sauce) to add flare.  It was delicious.  So proud.

...Joy has really stepped up her time management skills this year.  She is juggling a bunch of difficult courses, preparing for the SAT, staying involved at church, choreographing a piece in the Student Choreography Showcase, and by and large, holding it all together.  I think she might be about ready for college.  *sniff*

...we have mice living in our van.  They destroyed a computer in one of the seats. It's been all cleaned out now, but gross!  We are never eating in there ever again.  Mark my words.  

...Best mis-pronunciation to date:  Instead of 'Swiss tuna grill,' Crash says, 'Twist Cinna-girl.'  ❤️

... And, lest I forget, another classic is 'skip-daddy' for 'spaghetti.'

June-July

So it seems that once per month posts is about all I can manage... and now I've slipped to every other month...  But, give up on blogging I will not!!  So, here's a summary of June and July, which I can hardly believe are already in the past.  It's been a full summer.  Most of the season's bucket list items have been checked off - vacation, camps, 4H fair, swimming, garden (fail) - and now it's time to get in gear for the school year.  The goal is to begin on Monday.  Joy has one more week of ballet intensive, and we're sneaking in one more week at the beach, but school books are traveling with us.  Grades 11, 8, 7, 5 and pre-K, we're ready for you! 

Swimming Lessons

Playing in the sprinkler



basketball every day, everywhere

grateful for our hot tub

crash loves to swing. 

trips to our local zoo, which we LOVE

at home on the 4th of July

cousin sleepovers and the world's largest slushies.  we're on our way to the dentist office here, I kid you not.

Amazing youth conference at Franciscan U. 

Same conference, different day.  Joy and my godson Josh

Canoe camp!  This is a photo of a slideshow... 

our favorite county park. 

crash is over his annoyance with pond water.

outdoor concert featuring our babysitter's band!

4H fair with our buddy Frankie

at the completion of another ballet intensive.  these kids work HARD.

Spike turned 15 (what!??) and threw out the first pitch at our local minor league game to commemorate the occasion.

Receiving trophies for reserve champion projects at the 4H fair. Yo-yo is particularly enthralled with her first ever trophy. 

posing with her projects

Zoo trip with our little cousin who spent a week with us for the first time!  Yay, Sam!!

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

July 1, 1967, my mom and dad tied the knot.  They are not big fans of parties, so we opted instead for a week with our family in the mountains of Tennessee.  We also sent them to see Hamilton (the musical) in Chicago in January.  50 years...  what a wonderful occasion to celebrate.  3 kids and 10 grandkids later, they are going strong and setting a continued example of love and sacrifice to all of us.  Love to you, Mom and Dad!! 

Grandma, Pada, and grandkids minus 1

We 'climbed mountains'

bad picture... but we were able to goof around on the golf course every evening!  the kids were in heaven.

More hikers.

The waterparks!! 

Best of all - QT with cousins

Shopping in the artist colony

And a major highlight - the Dixie Stampede!! 

May

My baby turned 5.

Joy and 2 of her sweet friends attended the homeschool prom.  They opted to stop for coffee in lieu of 20 extra minutes of fixing their hair. ❤️

Our ballet school's Spring Concert featured Snow White.  It was stunningly beautiful.

One of our favorite field trips is a local bison ranch.  This year there were 40 babies in the herd.  So much fun.

After 7 previous attempts, the kids finally earned a people's choice award in our annual Homeschool World Geography Fair.

Our sweet goddaughter made her first Holy Communion.  Beautiful day.

Kid118 earned a merit award in a statewide art contest.   Here he is with our dear art teacher who faithfully teaches her lovely classes for homeschoolers.

Crash loves being outside in the warmer weather.  Photo cred: Joy.

May is the month for field trips!  This time... Conner Prairie!

My niece's dance recital!

Sisters and dance moms forever

And...  we had an unexpected visit with cousins!!!   Doesn't get any better than that.

Perspective

After sending one son off to school this morning, I sat in a chair by the living room window.  As I took in the view, I realized I hardly ever sit in that particular spot.  Everyone else was still asleep after a long, busy weekend.  My husband and I needed a date night, so we stayed up late watching a movie in our room.  Sometimes those are the best kind of 'outings.'  So, the day is slow to get started on this Monday.

In the morning stillness, I sat for a moment in a chair I rarely use.  I took in the scenery of our home.  From that new angle, I could see clearly the kids' and our family's pictures on the shelves.  I realized that most of the artwork in our home is our kids' originals.  There are books and games scattered around.  A few balloons remain taped here and there from last week's birthday party.  Laundry is waiting in baskets to be carried upstairs.  An unfinished art project covers the dining room table. 

We talk about re-decorating our living room.  The couch is old and stain-covered.  The chairs, except our favorite double-recliner, were purchased at garage sales and are slip-covered.  Everything is a little dated. 

But it's comfortable.  There are signs of life all around. 

I have a friend from childhood, college, and beyond.  We were in each other's weddings.  We have kept in touch as much as possible over the years, living in different cities, having busy lives.  A few years ago, her husband was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. 

I called immediately when I found out (through the grapevine, because my friend is private and stoic).  Her response was amazing.  She and her husband had decided to maintain the attitude that he was no more 'terminal' than anyone else living on the planet.  How true.  No one knows the day nor the hour we will be called to the Lord.  So, they kept plugging along. 

He did remarkable well for years! Then, earlier this calendar year, the cancer spread to his brain.  I stopped by with Crash for an impromptu visit, and Joe held him on his lap.  I am guessing it was painful to do so.  He patiently and  lovingly allowed him to crawl around in his chair, getting into everything within reach.  There were smiles and tears. 

 I learned last week that they had turned to hospice care for help.  This morning, he sent a text message to my husband and several others with a picture of his family and a message of gratitude for their friendship.  He said, "it's been a pleasure to know you," and signed it "your shipmate." 

This kind soul has for years sent handwritten Christmas cards.  Hand-written!!!  Who does that anymore?  And approaching a surgery for a broken hip, he sends a message of gratitude and farewell in a gesture so beautiful I can't even find words. 

This messy, cluttered, busy life is a gift.  The sun shining through the window this morning is a gift.  My dear friend and her sweet husband are gifts to those blessed to know them.  My prayers are with them today.  Joe's seemingly clear mental status as he approaches this surgery and possibly his final days is a gift. 

We know not the day nor the hour.  We only have what's before us in the current moment.  May we use it wisely.  Thank you, dear Joe, for this reminder.  Our love and prayers are with you.