Busy Day

Today started out with Melissa throwing up as I was walking out the door to work.  Thankfully, I just had to go and wake up Drew and let him deal with it.  She went back to bed, slept for a few hours then woke up feeling fine. After she ate some toast and still felt fine, Drew took her to school. She had a few tests that she didn't want to miss. I was shocked to come home to no-Melissa because even though I talked to the ladies in the front office as I was leaving at noon neither mentioned to me that she was in school.

The teacher I was subbing for teaches four classes at our school then one long class at a high school thirty minutes away. Thankfully, that school found someone there to cover the class so I did not have to do that drive. Overall, his classes were good. Although, I did have to tell one girl to quit smelling the markers! You would think by 7th grade they would know NOT to, but apparently she did not.

Another reason Melissa wanted to get back into life today is that today is a babysitting day for her.  She did not want to hand over a day to William - and let him get the money!  She did bring the twins down to our house to meet all of us - especially William: the back-up. As she and the little girl were walking out of their garage, they got stung by a wasp. Yikes! Nasty bites! But both seem to take it like a pro. I didn't see any tears.

Drew is working on dinner, laundry is going, a headache is slowly making its way away from my head,  Ben has soccer (unless it continues to rain), and William has youth Bible study. Mondays evenings have been busy!

School Time = Busy Time

Yep. It's that time of the year....school starts and life get busy!   I set down on Monday and put everything (that I know of!) going on onto a calendar. Took a sweet forever!

William is doing soccer. While it doesn't start for a few more weeks, we do have the practice schedule and games already. This year there will be a formal try-out for varsity and junior varsity.  Last year William made varsity as a freshman (it was just a coaching decision - no formal system that the parents knew of), but didnt' play unless we were ahead  - by a lot. He did play a good bit at the junior varsity games. He felt like there were more people at the informational meeting that there were at the work-outs this summer.  So...we'll see how it goes.  I'm also trying to get him to join one or two clubs  - SADD or the community service or Interact. Not sure if he will or not.  He, also, plans to try-out for the school play in the spring. He really enjoyed that last year. He will continue doing gifted music. I'm hoping that we'll add guitar this year....we'll see.....might be sort of hard since we have yet to buy one.....

Melissa is doing art again this year.  The cross country teacher tried to talk her into running again this year - and almost had Melissa committed to it until Melissa found out her younger brother wants to do cross country.  Then it was "NOT IF HE'S GOING TO BE THERE!!!" I tried to work something out....even got  Benjamin to agree to quit trying to embarrassing her in front of her friends, but all to no avail. She doesn't want to be anywhere he is. (Wonder how that's going to work next year when he's old enough to be in the youth program at church.....) But Melissa is on the ambassador team at school - so she does have something that no other family has. She's happy about that!  And she will, as well, continue the gifted music program.  She has a weekly babysitting job that will keep her busy - and money in her pocket!!  Right now she says she is saving up to buy some 'Miss Me' jeans. (They are well - WELL - over my budget for her clothing needs!!)

So, yeah - Benjamin is going to try to do cross country.  Today is the first practice, so, we'll see how he does. He may find it harder than he thinks!! His elective this year is robotics, so there will be competitions he'll be involved with that. Also, he is trying out for the gifted music program. The testing is different than last year's, so I'm not sure what it will  entail or how Benjamin will do. It's suppose to happen by the end of the month...we'll see. If he doesn't get into the program...not sure if he'll take private piano lessons or not....I'm just about tired of the whining and complaining that I get from him over it! Not that he complains to his dad - just to me....urgg.  He is, also, doing soccer this fall. His first practice is  Monday - he's excited! He loves it like his big brother.

Add to that church programs and family stuff - we'll be busy! But in a good kind of way. I'm very thankful that Drew will be around (no deploying!!) to help drive the taxi.

ALL THREE???!!???

Thursday I sent the day in Jackson with my parents.  My father wanted to see his aunt that is in a nursing home, an uncle, as well as a few other stops. The day went really well.  While I doubt that his aunt knew who we were - well, who anyone is, it was a nice visit. (Even if the nursing home was depressing - not horrible....just sad, I guess.)

At one point during the morning the thought danced through my mind wondering if any of my children had a key to the house as they would be coming home to an empty house, but I  just set it aside.  After all I was sure that at least one of the three would have a key. I know I had a discussion with Benjamin before school started a few weeks ago that his key belonged in his backpack.

At thee o'clock I get a frantic phone call form Melissa that none of them had a key to the house. I think she was expecting a little more understanding from me.....instead of the yelling she got in her ear (REALLY!!!?? ALL THREE OF YOU????)

Thankfully, we are close to several neighbors. But seriously?? 

But I think they have learned their lesson. Or at least one of them.

Dreaming...

I had an interesting dream the other night... I was at a football game with my parental grandfather. Being at a football game was not the interesting part...growing up I was always at a football game.  Nor the fact that several people in my dream told me my team was losing or that my team would lose when their favorite team played mine.

That's all normal.

What was interesting - odd - was my grandfather was skinny - I never saw him skinny - he was always a big man.  He was also dressed in his deputy sheriff uniform.

Quite handsome he looked.

Made me miss him and my grandmother.

So comforting and glad to know that in my next life I will see them both...what a hope we have in Jesus.

Names

Over the years I have noticed that people generally introduce themselves as they wished to be called. If a person introduced themselves in their full name - no nickname or shorten name then, please, call them that until they correct you. Or if they introduce themselves by a nickname, then call them that!

William says William - Benjamin says Benjamin. My mother-in-law has a double name and introduces herself that way. A friend in Guam introduced herself as Kimberly - not Kim as Drew would call her until I pointed out this. A California friend introduced herself as Cindy - not Cynthia.

The reason this is on my mind is the other night at the school orientation, Benjamin introduced himself by his full name - not Ben. To me that told me that's how he thinks of himself.

I have been amazed at how many people here shorten names here in Louisiana. I introduce William as William. When talking about his I refer to him as William. So, why do people shorten his name??!!!

Just a small pet peeved of mine.....

First Day of School

It's the first day of school here in the Deep South. Oh, what a glorious day!  I've been singing the Christmas song that Staples used in a back-to-school ad a few years ago: "It's the most wonderful time of the years..." Of course, my kids disagree.

All woke up on their own (yea for alarm clocks that work!), dressed, and ate breakfast without too much grumbling.  I think all are a little excited - even if they didn't show it!  I think they all were ready to see friends and get out of the house.

After waving good-bye to all on the bus, I enjoyed breakfast with several of my friends.  This is my first-day-of-school tradition - lunch or breakfast out.  It was a nice and relaxing time. Then I made a small trip through Walmart grabbing a few items that were forgotten or not in stock at the BX &  commissary earlier this week.  I even bought a few flowers for my front pots.  They are now looking a little better - now so dead.

I came home to a nice and quiet house. Love that sound - or lack there of.

I finished one book (The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon - about a lady who supported her family by sewing during the Taliban years in Afghanistan - very good!) and read some in another book (A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm by Phillip Keller - my 2nd time to read this book - love it!!). 

Now I plan to clean up around the house, get dinner started....and enjoy the quiet.  But yes. I will, also, enjoy it when all my little duckies come home from their day full of stories.

But mainly, today I'm also praying for those little duckies of mine to have a wonderful school year. Benjamin is  in 6th grade - starting middle school. Melissa is in 8th grade - ending middle school. William is in his sophomore year of high school.  I think it's going to be a great year!

Another Book

I finished another book last night - Little Night by Luanne Rice. Overall, I would say it was a good read. I could have done without some of the cussing, but it was "in character" and not just everywhere. It was about two sisters falling out of favorite with one another due to one being in an abusive relationship.

Luanne Rice tells a good story - I have read her off and on throughout the years. At some places it was hard to put down! Even though most of my family went to bed around nine last night (getting ready for school to start in a few days), I stayed up reading - and finished the book.

I was happy with how most of the story ended....I wish for an epilogue, but  I guess I'll just have to use my imagination!

Dang It! Another One Bites the Dust!

I broke another coffee pot today.  This time I get to add glass-cut fingers to go along with it. The first one I broke was not too long ago - since we've moved in this house in fact.  Apparently, I'm not too good with these granite counter-tops.  The last time I hit the edge of the sink - and CRACK! Since I was not able to find a new pot, I had to throw it all out. I hated to throw out that coffee maker b/c I loved it so much - and had had for twenty years - it was a wedding gift.

The new one I have had a love-hate relationship since I bought it. Love my coffee, but hate grounds in it. My old one had a cone-shaped filter, but the new one has a flat bottom. This new one spills coffee grounds into my coffee if I don't wet the filter before I add coffee.

Very annoying.....

Now I will be on the look out for a new pot.....or a new maker that has a cone shaped filter...which ever I find first will be the winner!