Saturday, September 24, 2011

Ready or Not

Life has resumed, ready or not. The kids have settled into a routine here. Like I mentioned in a previous post, there are a TON of children in this neighborhood. Not a day has gone by that the kids haven't spent time outside playing with the neighbor children. They are all great kids so this new habit is sitting very well with me. I used to have to force my children to play outside! Now I have to beg them to come in. It has proved to be a useful tool to get the basement cleaned each evenig as well!
Work is work for both Tim and I. It will be nice when both of us settle into a routine as far as work goes. Between my three jobs it really feels like I am working full time. This is nice, for obvious reasons, we have some pretty ambitious goals, but figuring out how to keep the house clean and the clothes cleaned and kids cleaned has been a bit of a challenge. We are working on this...

School has started, ready or not. So far we are... surviving. I have a lot of ideas of how to run "my school". I look forward to the day that all of these ideas are put into practice and I can say we are thriving. That day is not today. We are still doing okay. Like I said, we are surviving. The kids have their different strong suits, and it has been really interesting seeing how they differ. They both love it when we do art, nature walks and singing, however Peyton is going to be a little reader where Veronica would much rather do ten math lessons in place of one reading lesson. She is just not motivated in that area. But her penmanship is excellent, where getting peyton to write a straight line is a struggle. Like I said, they are two very different kids, and I am thankful for the opportunity to get to know them this intimately. Now not wanting to bop their heads together when they are challenging me that is another story... (don't worry thus far their heads are bop free!)

Church responsibilities are abounding, ready or not. It never really felt like they took a break so this isn't all that different. The part that is new is that the children have started their classes again. When I told the kids that we were going to be going to "church school" the first day the results were a little unexpected. They literally got up from their chairs, started jumping up and down, hugging each other and screaming. I was ecstatic to see this response, to say the least.
I am teaching again this year, 3 different sessions, which is a bit much. I really enjoy sharing this time with the children though, so whatever hardship three sessions may be it is made up for by the children and joy I receive from them. I am also very involved with the Respect Life Group both at our church and in the diocese. This is definitely where my passion lies and I am excited to be a part of this life saving movement.
Tim is Grand Knight at our parish, and the responsibilities this includes are many. WAY more than when he was just deputy. I am not sure he was expecting this, but I think he is handling his new role admirably. In just a couple of weeks he will be going through his Fourth Degree, the highest level as a Knight of Columbus. He just bought his tux and is very excited for this ceremony. I am delighted for him. Between all of these activities we have meetings or sessions nearly every night. This makes for a busy schedule, but ulitmately we are glad to offer this to our Lord.
Children are growing fast, ready or not. Veronica will be seven in just one short week, Felicity will be three. These girls are getting so big, so fast. Felicity is close to being potty trained, and in light of three other children, a move and working full time, I am pleased with this development. Sure the other ones were done with diapers (even overnight) by the time they were three or there abouts, but life changes and so do our expectations. The fact that she is even a little bit potty trained is a source of happiness for me! Her language has also grown leaps and bounds in the last few weeks. I am sure there are only a precious few that understand what she is saying, but at least she is talking! As for Veronica it seems sometimes that she is a grownup in a seven year old's body. She is so helpful with Justice and around the house. The things she says and the way she acts makes me want to just stop time and keep her like this forever. Other times she acts like a 5 year old in a seven year old's body and I am reminded that she is indeed seven and I look forward to her growing up. Peyton and Justice are doing great right now too. Peyton is a typical five year old. Whatever that means. Justice is a sweet baby, he is teething right now, so it is really important for us to remember he is a sweet baby.

Well ready or not, life goes on. And as you can tell, there is a lot going on right now. We continue to count our blessings and just know that this (craziness) too shall pass. Either that or we will adapt and crazy will become our new normal. Whatever the case may be, right now is our time to thrive, ready or not.