The Four BUSY Campers

Noah - is doing well on his own at the "old" school - doesn't seem the least bit phased that Jack isn't around. He's adjusting to a MUCH heavier workload this year - homework every night and "real" tests. He aced his very first test - Science - and was so proud. Just finished a big project on the state of Alaska. He's back in piano lessons and shows a gift for it - I hope he continues to enjoy it, he's so fun to listen to - and is also taking a drawing class. Playing soccer and flag football, but is having a bout with some form of tendonitis in his feet, so we're having to watch it and take it easy until that heals.

Jack - is doing VERY well at his new school - he truly amazes me. He's so independent!! I'm so impressed with the kids in his class - they are so friendly and nice to him, which is a huge relief to me. He's got a much bigger workload this year too - amazing the difference between 2nd and 3rd grade. He had FOUR tests today - the poor dude was so tired at bedtime tonight he had a good old-fashioned meltdown I'll post about later. :) He got braces a month ago and is so stinking cute, but I totally hate all this orthodontic stuff. It's a pain in the neck. I don't recommend it at this age. He's in soccer and flag football too, but quit piano, which is fine with us since he wasn't enjoying it all that much.

Mark - blew out his knee again a few weeks ago. :( Probably will never run on it again, but is currently in physical therapy to gain enough strength and mobility to stay active. For those of you who know how competitive and athletic he is, you know what a big deal this has been for him - really hard for him to accept! The boy is getting old. :) Work is going well, though, and for that we are so incredibly thankful. Every night the boys pray and thank God for daddy's job. Amen.

Murphy - is now 1 year old and disabled. Found out a month ago he's got two bad knees - they pop out of joint. :( Vet says it's hereditary, and no more fetch, no more running, no more stairs. Very difficult news for our very active family and we're still trying to decide what to do. It's so hard for him to not roughhouse with the boys, so we're debating finding him a quieter home (older couple, no stairs?) but that's easier said than done. Meanwhile, he's getting fat from no excercise. Uggh!

Me - Have become so crazy busy my head spins. It always amuses me that some people think us stay-at-home moms have nothing to do all day. Ha. Monday mornings I'm doing a Beth Moore study at church - Esther - which I love love love but it involves a fair amount of homework. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are filled with BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) where I'm a group leader again - and actually involves another 10+ hours of work each week aside from Tues. and Wed. Then Thurs. and Fri. are my days in which I feebly attempt to do everything else (housework, laundry, bills, grocery shopping, church projects, etc.). After entering our fall schedule kicking and screaming, I've found peace with it and am so grateful to God that I have been blessed with normalcy in my life - raising a family I adore and learning and growing in Jesus. I can't ask for anything more.

Now you're up to speed. Kindof. But that's all I got in me at the moment - my comfy bed is calling . . . .

This is AWESOME. Read it.

"Live. And Live Well. BREATHE. Breathe in and Breathe deeply. Be PRESENT. Do not be past. Do not be future. Be now. On a crystal clear, breezy 70 degree day, roll down the windows and FEEL the wind against your skin. Feel the warmth of the sun. If you run, then allow those first few breaths on a cool Autumn day to FREEZE your lungs and do not just be alarmed, be ALIVE. Get knee-deep in a novel and LOSE track of time. If you bike, pedal HARD… and if you crash then crash well. Feel the SATISFACTION of a job well done—a paper well-written, a project thoroughly completed, a play well-performed. If you must wipe the snot from your 3-year old’s nose, don’t be disgusted if the Kleenex didn’t catch it all… because soon he’ll be wiping his own. If you’ve recently experienced loss, then GRIEVE. And grieve well. At the table with friends and family, LAUGH. If you’re eating and laughing at the same time, then might as well laugh until you puke. And if you eat, then SMELL. The aromas are not impediments to your day. Steak on the grill, coffee beans freshly ground, cookies in the oven. And TASTE. Taste every ounce of flavor. Taste every ounce of friendship. Taste every ounce of Life. Because-it-is-most-definitely-a-Gift.”

Be PRESENT.


Kyle Lake (1972-2005)
University Baptist Church
Waco, TX

Yes we do have another child and yes he DID start school.

Good grief. I can't believe we are already so busy I haven't even had time to put a post up about JACK'S first day of school. Uggh.

Anyway, he ventured off into a new world a little over a week ago. He's so brave. So determined. And yet so calm.

And his mama is totally inspired by him.

It's like he just KNOWS this new school is where he's supposed to be. I totally believe I am watching the hand of God at work in his life. The whole situation is too far-out to NOT believe that. I mean, really - when you think about it, how many 9 year old kids ASK to go to a new school? It still blows me away.

At bedtime after the first day he expressed some concern that no one would ever get to know him but that was IT in terms of fears or concerns. The next morning when I dropped him off, he ran right out onto the playground into the group of boys in his class. And, thanks be to God, they are accepting him. Now a week into it, he now has some new buddies. :)

I'm 29 years older than him and I wish so much I could be as fearless and independent. What lessons you can learn from your children . . . .