All Day

All day kindergarten started today.

Might have been harder than the first day.
For both of us.

7 hours without this face.

 I miss my time with him already.

I remember looking forward to these days.
And I know I will like them some day.
Hopefully soon.
But today I miss him like crazy.

Moms with young kids at home:
Love them tons.
Try not to get too frustrated.
Read a book with them.
Play a game.
Do a puzzle.
Hold their little hand.

Before your ready,
they're out the door.
Off to school.
Experiencing new things.
Without you.

About the time Ezzie snapped this picture
on the way to school Thursday,
Jobie was saying:
I just miss you so much.

The feeling is mutual, baby.

Choose to Find the Pretty

My emotions are whacked.
I have cried more in the last couple of months
than in my entire life, I think.

Too many changes and decisions.
My kids growing up.
Friends moving away.
Church difficulties.

It's all seemed to come at once.
And I don't like it.

But...
I know God's timing is perfect.

And...
I know He is in control.

That's what I'm holding on to.

I tell my kids all the time that their behavior,
or how they respond to something or someone,
is a choice.
THEIR choice.

So I'm trying to choose joy, peace.
I'm trying not to let all of these yucky things
make me yucky to others.

It's hard.
But when I'm intentional about it
and seek the Lord's guidance,
I feel so much better.
And hopefully I'm a nicer person to be around.

So, yah, that's where I'm at right now.
Life is just hard sometimes.

I'm choosing to find the pretty in things.

Real Life

Well, here you have it.
Life at our house.

Brookie and Jakie dancing.
To Dancing with the Stars.
It was hilarious.
Ezzie the innocent watcher.
Jobie in his own little world.
And Ryan taking it all in.
If you look beyond the kids and hubby.
You see a couch whose upholstery is in sad shape.
We are looking for a sectional.
But we have a problem.
We have expensive tastes.
Without a budget to match that.
We're wanting:
Modern and comfy.
Not poofy and round.
Streamlined and square.
Hard to come by.
At our price.

A school back pack.
Brookie...

A play hard hat.
Don't ever recall the boys wearing it.
But it somehow always manages
to make it into the family room.

A dart gun.
Whose little suction darts are lost.
All over the house.

An air pump.
Kept in the garage.
But finds its way inside on a daily basis.

My poor computer propped up.
It needs to be put out of its misery.

A box of Ryan's old stuff.
I found it the other day.
While looking for other old stuff.
Which I never found.
It will sit there until I put away again.
Where it will be forgotten for another 3 years.
Do you think I could just toss the whole thing?
The minute I do he will NEED something from it.
Guaranteed.

The little black thing next to the box is tools.
Which I also found.
While looking for the thing I never found.
There they still sit.
I will eventually put them away.
Somewhere.
He wonders
why he can never find his tools when he needs them.
Hmmm...

Jobie's little shoes.
Shoes are part of the decor in this room.
As I post this there are 6 pairs of shoes.
In the family room.
Ridiculous.
Here's what I choose to see:
A family.
Having fun.
Content in spite of it all.
Blessed beyond measure.

I'll also say:
If someone would have rang my doorbell that evening.
I would have quickly grabbed some of this junk
and thrown it into the other room
before I answered the door.
Just so you know...

What We've Been Up To

We have been crazy busy.
Insanely busy.
Soccer tourney.
Soccer practices.
Potty training...unsuccessfully...still.
Refereeing fights between the little boys.
Kindergarten pre-enrollment...can you hear my sobs?
Last Bible study until fall.
Getting clothes ready for consignment sale.
Getting toys ready for same sale...can you hear Jobie's sobs?

In keeping with our lives right now,
my computer is acting insane also.
I am typing this with one hand
while my other hand holds the back of the screen.
If I let go for a second my screen goes plaid.
And I have to turn it off.
And start all over.
Fun.

But that's an improvement over the last two days.
Where I couldn't do anything.
No facebook.
No blogging.
Sad.

But, on the positive side,
we have been enjoying some yummy food.

A new treat.
Ryan and I ate these after the kids went to bed.
Bwahahaha!
Oh, so yummy!A longtime favorite.
Salty and sweet.
Nothing better.
And, yes.
Those are Valentine m&m's.
Bought them on clearance.
Stuck them in a cupboard.
Forgot about them.
Oh, the joy when I discovered them yesterday!ChocolateWaffleCookies
I took 4 dozen to Brookie's soccer practice.
They were gone within ten minutes. Veggie Pizza.
Brookie and I are the only ones in our family who like it.
More for us! Strawberries.
We all like these.
So pretty. Had to throw a little bit of healthy in there.

Now back to my crazy life.
I'm off to the grocery store.
And then...
More potty training.
More cooking.
More refereeing.
And on...
And on...
And on.