Category — change

Some days there’s so much to talk about that I end up saying nothing because I just don’t know where to start. I was just going to walk away from the computer without saying a word for that very reason. But really, there’s just so much these days!

I’m facing the fact that I’m getting older. This means that all the people I’ve grown up with are also getting older which, in turn, means that all of our parents are getting older. This means that many of them are facing health concerns, ailments, illness and even death. It feels like it’s happening all at once. On the one hand, it’s scary and sad and on the other hand, it’s bringing people closer together. I know that 20 years ago when we were all meeting at friend’s houses for movies, games and visiting that we didn’t think of this time. But here it is and it’s bringing us back into each other’s lives. It’s also giving me a reminder of how important friendship and love are and all the people we bring into our lives who we treasure and cherish. We are all born into families, but we also end up building another family around ourselves that’s made up of all those people who touch our life. I had 3 really nice phone calls tonight that refreshed my memory of all of this.

It’s a shame that our days get so filled with daily life, worry and work that we forget to truly live each one. And that we get so complacent that we forget to tell those around us that we appreciate and love them.

Here’s to another day full of life and loved ones!

Good night~

Tuesday…not too exciting.

This morning my head is full of wondering about sick kids. Mariah’s been home from school since last Friday and isn’t sure if she is going to go back to school today. No one else has gotten sick, but I’m starting to wonder what would happen if they did. If any of the 4 youngest kiddos gets ill, I’ve got to stay home with them. I haven’t had this worry before. So…I’m keeping things clean and sanitized. I’ll keep giving everyone their vitamins and I’ll keep Mariah confined to her room (wish me luck).

Have a great day~

Yesterday was the very last day of school for this 08-09 school year.  

What a year!  

Seriously, it’s been a year of schooling unlike any other for our family. Last summer I made the decision to pull my 4 kids from the private school that we had been in for 8 years.  The decision was HARD but had many reasons behind it.  One of the kids wasn’t going to be able to go back because of some math challenges, so I pulled everyone.  What a whirlwind path that set us on!  I started the year by enrolling the two 7th grade girls in a homeschool program that had them on campus a couple of days a week for spanish, computers and science.  I enrolled the 2 boys in the local public school.  By November we had one of the 7th graders back at the Catholic school and the other enrolled in the local middle school.  After Christmas break both boys went back to the Catholic school.  And finally, after Easter break, the other 7th grader went back to the Catholic school.  The child with math challenges worked REALLY hard and ended the year with a C. With all the changes and challenges, I’m so proud of how well all of the kids did this year.  It was all crazy, but it was a “live and learn” situation.  I learned that you get what you pay for and that we can not match the level of education that the kids were used to at the Catholic school.  I also saw, very quickly, that there was so much more that they were getting from that environment.  There’s a sense of self-respect and accountability that is maintained by learning in a faith-based school.  

Lesson learned! ( I supposed I should add this to the Learning Lessons Series) Next year I will have 6 kiddos at the school, 2 8th graders, a 4th grader, a 1st grader and 2 preschoolers.  I will also be there everyday as an aide in the 4 yr. old preschool class that Gabi is not in.  Wow!  7 of us in one place everyday!  

Well, here’s to the end of a crazy, but successful school year and to the beginning of summer! 

Have a great day~

And so it begins.  After some changes to the original plan of Clay leaving on the 17th, he has now officially boarded a plane.  He gave the kids his best “Dad” talk, grabbed his sea bag and began his deployment.  The kids are remarkably good with his coming and going.  I’m the constant in the house and always have been and they know that everything’s “ok” as long as I’m around.  People have asked, over the years, how they do with the deployments and other than a few bumps here and there, they just keep rollin’.

So, now it’s all me.  My head has been so crammed with all that needed to happen to get him out the door successfully that I left the airport realizing I didn’t know what my next move was.  I headed to Target to retrieve the bag of stuff I bought last night, but had forgotten to actually pick up and take with me (a good example of my scattered head) and realized that it’s time to get my routine going.  It’s the end of the school year, so that means lots of kid stuff and then summer is on us.  Judging from last summer (when Clay was also deployed), the summer will be jam packed and move quickly.  JJ will come home and the kids and I will get into a good routine of searching out the fun things around us in this beautiful place.

Alright, off the computer and onto the day! Day 1……..

Since I returned from my, VERY FUN, trip it’s been all business!  The younger kids were SO happy to have me come home and had a million things to show-and-tell me.  It made me realize the wisdom of a friend’s words when he pointed out that I should think about staying a few days away from the house.  I hadn’t thought about how the little kids are really on me.  I’m always picking them up and they climb into my bed in the middle of the night.  Luke-Xavier can be physically demanding (in a very sweet way….of course!).  So, I’ve arranged to stay with friends for the first 2 days after surgery.  We’ll see how it goes after that.  I’ve been so fortunate to have many people offer to help out.  This means that I can go in today without worrying how my kids are getting to or from school, what they will be eating or who they will be with.  I think that this has all been a beautiful example of how important community really is!  It’s also a wonderful example of how life as a military family can work.  

Thank you for all the good thoughts and prayers and to everyone who has offered a meal or a hand with the kids.  My family and I are truly grateful and thankful!

Have a great day~

There are times in life when everything just seems to fall into place.  This trip to Washington is one of those.  My friend, Pilar, and I planned this trip a couple of months ago.  When I found out I would be having surgery next week, I thought I should probably cancel the trip.  After giving it a little more thought, I realized it was the PERFECT time to get away, have some fun and take some time out for thought and reflection.  Yesterday was our FUN time!  We went to Seattle and had THE BEST day!  It was full of laughter, good food and beautiful scenery.  I couldn’t have asked for a better day!  Here are a few pics to share-

we had a great lunch at Max’s at the Marketplace

We enjoyed the fish market

We were silly enough to have our picture taken on a big, brass pig

One of the things I really wanted to do in Seattle was to go to the original Starbucks.  Heck, I’m at my local Starbucks at least once a day and I felt like I’d be making a pilgrimage.

Today has been a relaxing day with time built in for thought and reflection.  I need a little time to make sure I have thought out all the things I wanted to question before I go in for this surgery.  I feel very fortunate to have people in my life to make that possible!  A thank you to Clay for keeping the kiddos while I got away and a thank you to Pilar for offering me her “sanctuary” as a place to unwind and be a little bit pampered.  I’m not so sure how I feel about her making me leave my phone downstairs, though.  She was serious when she said I was to relax and reflect!

Tomorrow, I will wrap up my vacation and head home.

Thank you for all the words of encouragement and the kind thoughts and prayers!  They are all so appreciated!

Have a great day~

It’s always amazing to me how things fall together!  

About 2 months ago, I made plans to go to Washington state to visit my friend, Pilar.  When all of my surgery news fell in my lap I thought that I should cancel my trip.  But, I now see that it’s the perfect time for me to have a few days away to gather my thoughts and tie up any loose ends.  

So, today I am trying to get things in order for my family, pack and go to my pre-op apt.  Busy day, but it’s a blessing in disguise because it keeps me from over-thinking.  Then, I’ll board the plane and have a few days to really get my head around everything and to make any plans for the kids that haven’t been made.  The trip ends up coming at the PERFECT time!  

I really appreciate everyone who’s sent messages about their own experiences with hysterectomy.  What a great network!  

Have a great day~

Finally!  

I’m so excited to have a new show up!  There have been some hurdles that have kept me from getting a show done, but it’s finally here.  Thank you for visiting the site and for listening to the show.  Your comments and feedback are always appreciated.  Have a show idea?  Let me know!  You can use the contact link to email me.  

Click HERE to leave a review for Mommy of Many at iTunes

 

 MOM 55 [7:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (79)

Here it is, the last day before we hit the grind again.  I’ve enjoyed the time off and have even had the opportunity to follow the wind a little.  The day after Christmas, I got in my little car and drove the few hours to my sister’s house.  I spent the night, visited with my nieces and nephew and then headed to Sacramento and the Sierra Nevada foothills.  I haven’t made that drive in years and I’ve never made it completely on my own before.  Talk about climbing out of my box!  It was an easy drive full of great music (Elvis and I had a moment) and lots of quiet thought.  I discovered that I enjoy driving in the wee hours of the morning before the sun comes up.  But given my normal wake-up routine, I suppose it’s no surprise.  I was able to spend a little alone time with my dad, who I hardly ever get to visit with and I even had one night where I got 11 hours of sleep.  After a few days, I answered the phone to a tearful call from Max and I knew it was time to go home.  The drive home was just as easy.  It felt good to get back.  Of course, I walked in to a mountain of laundry and a note on the fridge that said, “we need food and lots of it”.  I looked through the cupboards and freezer and concocted a meal.  Then it was back to the Dance.  

Now, Clay, JJ and Kateri are on a trip.  The older kids haven’t seen their grandparents in quiet some time, so they are all enjoying a little family time.  

The other kids all start back to school tomorrow.  Tristan and Max are going back to the Catholic school and I’ve been busy getting them outfitted with their uniforms and school supplies.  Today it’s time for haircuts!  I’m really happy to think of the kids back together at that school.  We have had kids there for 8 years and it feels like going home.  Next year, Gabi and Lex will both be in preschool there and I may even be working there.  Talk about change!  But for now, I will just enjoy going back to a routine that I’m used to with people who know us well.  

Kateri and JJ head back to school at the end of this week.  We will see them again at Easter.  I know the time will go quickly.  However, that also means that the rest of the time that Clay has at home will pass quickly.  He will be deploying again in May.  It’s good that the kids will be able to see him again before he goes.  

I hope each of you had a nice time off, that your holidays were peaceful and that this new year is full of opportunities that are realized and taken!

To life~

I’ve done a little talking about some changes that will be taking place as this year unfolds.  One of those changes has to do with my show and site.  I have changed servers which means that some of the old stuff on my site isn’t going to work right now.  It’s going to take some time and some work, but I will get everything running smoothly.  You will still be able to find the show here and you can still subscribe in iTunes.  

Other changes will be talked about another time.  :-)

Have a great day~