INTRODUCING...

BIG NEWS!

BIG

BIG

BIG

NEWS!

I know it was quick...

I know we had talked about a rescue...

BUT...

We are pleased to introduce you to...

Pilot Kipling

Jake named him Pilot after his favorite band, 21 Pilots

Annie named him Kipling because she thought it was cute

He's a 9 week old mini labradoodle.

lab / poodle

He weights about 4 pounds.

They expect him to weigh about 18 pounds when he's full grown.

His birthday is January 20, 2015.

He loves belly rubs.

And we've only heard him bark once.

We are ALL in love.

I'm working on our trip post.  You can expect it soon - although not tonight.  I'm busy playing with our puppy.

xo

teaching life skills

It's 6:23 a.m. as I begin this. The room is dark and everyone is asleep. We didn't bring a computer this trip so I'm writing on my Kindle.  It likes to anticipate my text and I'm using the swipe typing method so it's messing me up a bit.

Our drive down was uneventful.  We hit rain south of Pryor, Oklahoma and it was steady. We had the wipers on most if the way to Houston. Our car was quiet. Someone was usually sleeping. When I drove I always had the radio on and would quietly sing along. Old or new, rock, country, Christian or whatever else was coming in clear.  I drove through a stretch of hard rain when we got into Texas and was a nervous wreck by the time it was Jack's turn to drive. The rain made no difference, crazy fast Texas drivers were out in force. I'm usually calm under pressure when I drive but I was white knuckling it. Jack tried to talk to me at one point and I snapped something back at him. I don't even recall what exactly.  Let me just say my shoulders were much closer to my ears when I got out of the car. And this morning every muscle in my body hurts.

We ate dinner at Torchy"s Tacos. Jack didn't want to spoil it and resisted snacks all afternoon. He'd been thinking about this meal since our trip to San Antonio. We had stopped in Austin for dinner on Halloween night. I wish I'd taken a picture as he ate... he loves their Baja Shrimp tacos and he"d found a little piece of heaven while he ate. It's entertaining to watch. Annie had them as well and her favorite Fuzzys Tacos have been dethroned. She also had an order of beans that looked enough like a brownie (with caramel and marshmallow sauce... actually taco sauce and sour cream) we were all confused when they were placed on the table.

The drive to our hotel was a short 30 minutes but finding the hotel was tricky. Darkness, poor signage and construction we all against us... even equipped with our GPS.  BUT we made it and we were all exhausted.

This trip I took a different approach to packing. Everyone did their own thing and I didn't micromanage anyone. I didn't double check. I only touched some of Annie's clothes because we are sharing a bag. I was good with that. (Did you notice I said WAS!?)  Jack and Jake are sharing an overnight bag. Jack likes to "move in" and places his clothes in a drawer. As I was walking by said bag on my way to brush my teeth I noticed something... "Jake were are your other clothes?"  All I could see in the bag were a pair of pajama pants, a t-shirt and a pile of socks. !?  Upon closer inspection there was one pair of underwear.  My first thought?  Thank goodness he brought the underwear.  My second thought was panic but I stuffed it back down.  Jake shrugged and said he must have forgotten. Panic would have won but I was too tired. I said, "fold your clothes you'll have to wear them again tomorrow. And the next day."

So, now here I am. Laying in the darkness. Wondering... what else did he forget to pack?  I'm resisting the urge to run outside in my pajamas and retrieve the suitcase. And inspect each chosen item. I'm also fighting it. It's a teaching moment.  Cause and effect.  An action and reaction. He's 17. There are worst things than wearing dirty clothes or teaching him to handwash his underwear in the sink and hanging it on the shower rod to dry.

Here I lay.

Listening to soft breathing.

It's peaceful.

How often do I get so wrapped up in details that I miss these moments?

I am embracing this peace.

I will remember this moment later this morning if/when Jake asks to go shopping for clothes.

I will smile, take a deep breath and tell him I will happily teach him to a life skill...

Sink laundry.

And next time I will only check to make sure everyone has 1) a packing list and 2) all items on said list has been checked off.

XO

Progress!

BIG News!

BIG!

Jake

got

a haircut!

Isn't he handsome!?

 I think so!

In other news...

we finished the closet!

my side

Jack's side

YAY!

I still want to find a large mirror,
but other than that,
this project is complete!

Double yay!

It feels great to have a project done.

My next project is doing a big purge in the basement.
Jack is already on board with that one.
And I'm hoping for the kids to join us, too.

I want to create an art space for Annie.

Something to look forward to after our vacation.

xo

Wild Hair

Before I start - here is a quick update in the closet.  The floors are in and look AMAZING! Jack and I worked together and got it installed on Sunday night.  

---

I noticed it a while back... maybe a year ago.  Who knows, maybe longer.  

I have one, crazy, wild, kinda long, ugly hair that is growing out of my neck.  It's halfway between my chin and collar bone, right smack dab in the middle.  

IT    IS    A BOTHER!

I pull out that sucker every time I get a glimpse of it.  

Jack calls it my 'Billy Goat Gruff.'  

A term of endearment?  I don't think so.  

Whether it's a real hair or a personality trait, a pet peeve or personal imperfection, we all have "wild hairs" that we aren't particularly fond or proud of.  To tell you the truth I can't believe I'm writing about this, but I'm going with what's on my mind.  And today's this is it.

Hopefully, you will never actually see it, but if you do, please, please, please tell me!  Great, now everyone's going to be looking at my neck... just don't make it obvious, ok?  

This crazy, wild, sometimes long, really nasty hair does not define who I am.  

THANK goodness!  

---

Today, I had a tough day at work.  The worst since I started.  I got pinched, scratched, hit, kicked and almost bitten (twice).  I had to use my Crisis Prevention Intervention training, which I am very thankful I have.  This kid is making amazing progress but then we have days like today.  From what I'm told these kind of days were much more frequent before I started. I couldn't help but think, the honeymoon is over, since his wild hair truly got the best of him.  Even on this tough day.  This horrible day.  I have to admit I love this kid.  And I'm so very glad I get to tell him I do and that God does, too.  It's my favorite thing about my new job.  I get to sing about God and talk about God and once a month, we go to Chapel.  (Chapel wasn't today.  It was last Thursday.)  On this day, amid the stress, I felt God working through me.   Maybe it's wasn't as bad a day as I thought.

---

Sometimes one of my own children gets a wild hair.  Yep, they are normal like that.  They do something that gets themselves in trouble.  And we ground them.  Yes, people still do that. And grounding means losing car privileges.  

Ya know, I would really like to meet the person that came up with this whole cockamamie idea.  Why?  Because while losing privileges is punishment for the teenagers with cars, it's much more painful for the parent that has to get up extra early and take the teenagers to school early in the morning.  And pick them up after school because they have this or that... 

deep breath.      

The worst part is, I can't remember exactly how long it was decided the car would be off limits.  I'm pretty sure it was more than three days... ugh!   Jack and I will have to discuss that later.   It will not be long enough to get my Mom taxi bumper stick back out.  (No, I don't really  have one of those.)

---

I'm getting a little rambly and tired but before I close I have a couple requests.  

Please continue to pray for Peggy.  There will be some tough days ahead for her and her family.  Prayers for peace and comfort would be appreciated.

Also, please pray for my dear friend Katie.  She's going to see a neurologist next week.  They don't know what's going on but she had a scary event this weekend and prayers for heal, healing and answers would be great.

xo

Progress at a snails pace

A few weeks ago we decided the time had come to renovate our closet.  Top to bottom.  Ok, not the ceiling be everything else.  Even the floor!  Goodbye twisted, janky shelves. Goodbye nasty carpet.  

I think I wrote about my first attempt at preparing for the renovation... I walked into the closet, quickly became overwhelmed, turned around, shut the door and pretended it wasn't THAT bad.  

Last weekend, Jack and I did a huge purge.  HUGE!  We got rid of 75% of the clothes that were hanging.  A decade and a half worth of ugly shoes.  T-shirts galore.  I had a jacket from the 80's.  I had maternity clothes - that none of my pregnant friends would be caught dead in.  Those were easy to get rid of.  I found myself thinking:

'Oh My Goodness!  THIS is hideous!'  

'WHY did I keep this or that?'  

'Will this come back into style?'  No.  

'Even if it did, would I dare?'  Never!  

'Let's be honest, would they even fit?'  No words, just laughter.  (the answer was no, by the way.)  

You'll be happy to hear the hideous things are gone.  Jack might argue I snuck a few in, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right?    

I found baby clothes.  

I found pictures of our house, before we moved in.  

I found LOTS of things.  

Lots of treasures. 

It was like stepping back through time.  Sarah called it a time capsule. What a perfect description!

It was liberating.  

That lasted until Jack got a little judgmental.  I said, "this is a no judgement project.  Please stop."  

If he continued his comments at least they were kept in his head and I appreciated that but I could feel it.  (I'm weird that way.)

We picked out a great paint color.  It's called Icy Teal.  It's a muted blue or green, depending on the light.  It looks amazing compared to the builder beige.  I like it so much I would love to paint the bathroom the same color.  Jack thinks it might look too beachy, but I disagree.  Who know, I might change my mind by the time I'm ready to tackle that project.

Here are a few pictures of the project so far:

Progress!

(don't judge me)

  

Painting is more than half done...

And the carpet is gone!

I know one thing for certain.  Our closet is huge!  It really had gotten smaller and smaller over the years.  I am very excited about what Jack and I have designed.

Even at a snails pace, progress is progress and I can't complain about that!

xo

Sar Bear all grown up!

Yesterday was Sarah's birthday.  She turned 36 years old.  She is now a grown up.  Ha ha. That's what she informed me when we chatted.  It's always good to hear her voice.  Matt got her a vanity table.  She has sat on he floor in front of her full length mirror and applied her makeup for most for her life.  She has stood in front of the bathroom mirror from time to time, but not anymore.  Now, she has a place to sit... like a grown up.  (I have to admit, I kind of want a vanity now.  I stand in front of the mirror...)  

Many years ago I got her a Care Bear for her birthday.  I don't remember which bear... but whichever it was the name stuck and she's been my Bear or Sar Bear.  Even in my phone her name is simply, Bear.  If I leave her a voice mail message I don't call her Sarah.  It's always "Hi Bear, it's me."      (I have no idea why this paragraph is larger... it's not intentional.)

It's kind of crazy to think of Sarah as a grown up.  She will always be 20 something to me. I'm not sure why, maybe because that's when we became close friends.  Our relationship isn't simply aunt and niece.  It's so much more than that.  We can go weeks without speaking and pick up right where we left off.  When we are together we can be chatty or sit in comfortable silence. We can talk honestly.  No judgment.  No topic off limits.  

Going back through pictures several weeks ago it was so fun to see all the trips I have taken to Colorado to see her.  She moved out West when Annie was a little baby - maybe 5 months old. Once, twice, sometimes three times each year I have made the journey.  Annie is 15 years old.  That's 30+ trips!  Wow!  I am so lucky, fortunately, thankful, add whatever adjective you'd like... I AM!  WE are!  Jake and Annie have grown up making that trek to Breckenridge, Golden, Centennial, and Castle Rock.  (I never made it to her apartment in Highlands Ranch.)  The drive doesn't seem quite so long with familiar landmarks.  Every rest stop has a memory.  I remember potty training stops along the highway.  The first time the kids decided they wanted to "KEEP DRIVING" instead of taking a break and running around in a play-place jungle gym when given the option.  Wow.       

My birthday wishes for Sarah haven't changed much over the years, I wish the moon for her. Whatever her heart desires.  She continues to be one of my favorite people on the planet.  I can't think of her without smiling.  And I can't hear a song on the Dixie Chicks, Wide Open Spaces CD without singing along at the top of my lungs.  That is OUR music.  Goodness I love that girl so much!  All grown up.  I am so incredibly proud of that girl woman!

XO       

Goodness for My Kids

One week ago today I enrolled the kids in school- for next year.  

I enrolled a High School Junior.  

AND I enrolled a High School Senior.  

?!  

HOW could that be?  

I have no idea.  

It doesn't seem possible.

Yet it does.  

And it is.

Fast forward one week...

Today, Jake was notified that he was accepted into the Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) program in Filmmaking next year!  He will take four classes at school, then spend the other three blocks either at CAPS or an area business.  We are so proud of Jake for taking advantage of this opportunity.  Whether or not it's something he wants to study in college, it will give him some direction and great experience.

If you are interested in knowing more about his course: Filmmaking (click on it, Dad).

Jake in his new specs

"Wow, I can see!"

kinda nerdy, but he loves them.

---

This evening Annie got her first taste of having her work in an Art Show.  She donated several pieces for the Relay for Life Art Show and Auction.  I went with her and Jordan.  

I can't even put into words all the emotions that were swirling within me... it was overwhelming but I felt so proud.

Annie had 4 pieces in the show and 1 up for auction.  I asked her if I could bid on it, she said "NO!"  

(shrug)  

Oh well, I tried.

 Two of her pieces...

 

 Annie's abstract unfinished 

her teacher loved it just the way it is...

Annie never signed it.

(If you don't understand abstract art you're not alone.)

"Mishap"

she spilled tea for this one.

It's artsy and people love it.

I love it, too.

---

I'm really starting to get excited about what the future holds for both kids!  

I have a feeling the next two years will be a roller coaster ride.  Ups and downs.  Twists and turns.  And undoubtedly a few loopty loos thrown in.  Am I ready for this ride?  Probably not.  But ready or not, here it comes.  We will crest the top of the hill in August.  I am so grateful for friends and family to take this journey with us.

And most importantly, it's a good thing I love roller coasters.

xo