Up in the Air and Down

Looking back in my picture files I found this one of Youngest and Only and it Reminded me of a poem I had to memorize as a 2nd grader. Do you have a favorite poem from your childhood?

The Swing

Robert Louis Stevenson

How do you like to go up in a swing, Up in the air so blue? Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing Ever a child can do! Up in the air and over the wall, Till I can see so wide, River and trees and cattle and all Over the countryside-- Till I look down on the garden green, Down on the roof so brown-- Up in the air I go flying again, Up in the air and down!

Sanity Day

Today I took a day off, kinda. I've been feeling run down - burning the candle at both ends eventually makes the candle go out! Waving to my family as they drove off to church, I felt no elation, as I would miss worship and the message. I fully intended to get a much desired shower and fix lunch, Braised Beef Short Ribs and Root Veggies over Egg Noodles, but alas, I spent my whole time cooking. You can find the recipe for the stew by clicking on the recipe title. I was thrilled yesterday when Only and I went resale shopping and found 8 items for just $30. After returning home we began constructing the skirt for her costume she will wear in the upcoming production of The Christmas Carol. I'm so thankful to have a serger that makes this so much quicker! Only and I had a great time watching Riverdance on Friday and were so thankful for the opportunity to see the Irish dancers. One thing I love about Fall are the beautiful colors we see in the River Valley, but also the chance for the kids to play in the leaves. Last week when we were having a difficult school day, I sent the boys outside to rake leaves and jump in them. They had such a good time, I'm starting to think that was a conspiracy against me! William had not raked leaves before, but found out it's a lot like sweeping the floor - but more fun. Well I need to get some papers graded and enter grades in the grade book... maybe I'll just grab some M&M's on my way...

Just another day in paradise

I think I have a theme song for our family. In fact, it is actually my husband's ringtone - something that we can relate to on a daily basis. The kids and I know exactly who is calling when this song plays. Granted we don't have kids screaming - they're teenagers now... But when I hear this song, it puts a smile on my face because somehow Phil Vassar's Just Another Day in Paradise makes it seem so much more normal and okay.

The kids screamin', phone ringin' Dog barkin' at the mailman bringin' That stack of bills, overdue Good morning, baby, how are you Got a half hour, a quick shower Take a drink of milk, but the milk's gone sour My funny face makes you laugh Twist the top on, and I put it back There goes the washin' machine Baby, don't kick it I promise I'll fix it 'Long about a million other things Well, it's okay, it's so nice (It's) just another day in paradise Where there's no place that I'd rather be Well, it's two hearts And one dream I wouldn't trade it for anything And I ask the Lord every night, ooh For just another day in paradise Friday, you're late Guess we'll never make our dinner date At the restaurant you start to cry Baby, we'll just improvise Well, Plan B looks like Dominoes' pizza in the candlelight Then we'll tippy toe to our room Make a little love that's overdue But somebody had a bad dream Mama and daddy (Can) me and my teddy Come in and sleep in between For just another day in paradise, oh yeah Well, it's the kids screamin', the phone ringin' Just another day Well, it's Friday, you're late Oh, yeah

Well, this week I've lived this song - the washing machine did break. I can't tell you the last time I visited a laundry mat, but a sweet friend helped me find the ONLY one we have in our town! Yep, just one and thankfully it was pretty empty for my 8 loads in those tiny washers and I would have rather not spent close to $20 on this adventure... Yes, I'm so thankful that there was a laundry mat and I didn't have to drive to the next town. Through this little break down in our daily lives, God reminded me of how well he has provided for me... No we didn't win the lottery, but rather He gave me a husband that isn't afraid to tackle the job himself - and I must say he succeeds most all the time. Life doesn't always go smoothly, dr. bills, boy scouts, algebra, and - oh yeah, what's for dinner, I can't find any clean jeans... I'm trying to figure out how to get it to all gel together, but we're two hearts, one dream... Just another day in paradise!

Hello Again, Hello

Wow! I can't believe it has been so long since I last wrote. I must say I've missed being here. I have had so many thoughts that I've written in my mind - they never made it to the page. At the moment, I should be grading papers and doing lesson plans... but I was drawn back here to a place I long to return to . So many things have happened..

• We lost our 10 yr. old Golden Retriever, Buddy,  in May and our 1 1/2 yr old German, in deep mourning, became an indoor dog... She's a terrific indoor dog, but absolutely terrified of loud noises and thunder storms! We spend many nights sleeping on the couch - she's not the snugly type!
• Honey and I celebrated 19 years of marriage with a trip away that Honey planned on his own... a cabin in the Ozarks!
• Oldest traveled to Belize for an intense 10 day trip to help a friend with his Eagle Scout Project - it was amazing to hear about all they accomplished to build a church.
• We joined the texting community... how can a teen text so much and say so little?????
• I was released from the Pulmonologist after a 1 1/2 year journey that cleared me of cancer we initially thought I had.
• In August, we began a journey that frightened us as we witnessed Oldest journey though sorrow and question life as he knew it. Two separate students each lost a parent and one student took his life. Through much prayer and our youth minister, Oldest worked through this and we are thrilled to have him back. Just this morning, our youth minister told me he received a text say "Caleb is back!" from his best friend. We are so thankful to have our loving, goofy, and fun-loving son back!
• Youngest has joined the Boy Scouts - what an exciting journey this will be!
• We are continuing to home school our youngest two, now in 6th grade and 10th grade, and Oldest is at our local high school in 11th grade. I'm feeling a sense of time spinning quickly away... band, college classes, play practice, boy scouts, church, family, I think ya'll are right there with me on this one.

• The baby I started watching back in February is almost one - Princess Izzy we fondly call her. God has provided this little one at a time when I'm really missing having a small one around.
• I continue to tutor/teach another child. This year has been so much better as we continue to discover new ways to help him be successful in school in life. We still have a long journey ahead as he continues OT, PT, and speech therapy and hopefully will get a formal diagnosis - we suspect Aspergers.
• Only and I are attempting to make it through Beth Moore's Bible Study on Ester. I honestly don't have the brain cells for this like I used to!

I've missed ya'll so much and can't promise that I will be able to make it here like I did before... but I'll try my best!