An Unexpected Home Day

One of our babies had a family visit today in Magnolia.  That's 4 1/2 hours away!!  That meant Baby would be picked up at 8am, ride in the car a LONG time, visit, ride in the car another long time, and come back home in time for a bath before bed.  I hated it for him.  He's not even 2 yet and that's a long day no matter how old you are.

I tried to talk the case worker out of it.  I offered another solution.  No go.
So I just prayed for him.  And I bought him special snacks and juices and packed a bulging diaper bag to try to make his day as good as it could be.

But this morning he woke up not feeling great.  Of all mornings!!
CWs will rarely cancel or reschedule a visit because they don't want to get in trouble at court; and since this one was particularly adamant about this visit I didn't even ask for him to be excused.
Looking back, I should have.  Because that's kinda my job right?  To help stand up and fight for this guy that can't really speak for himself right now.

The transporter assigned today is my favorite.  I was immediately happy about that knowing she'd take good care of him and be attentive during the visit.  And when she picked him up I told her he was under the weather and might need to make a few stops along the way.  She said, "Do you think he should stay home?"

REALLY??  YES!!  Yes I do.
She was perfectly fine with that.  And I imagine it only made her day easier to not have a cranky baby for 10 hours in the car.

And so just like that, he not only got out of a very unpleasant day but also got to be home when he didn't feel good.  I'm so thankful that she was sensitive to his needs today.  And praising God for the extra care of our boy.

"Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you."  1 Peter 5:7

He sure does.

What I'm Reading

Reading is such a luxury.  There is nothing like snuggling in your bed after a big day with an awesome new read.  It's my favorite part of the whole day and I start looking forward to it around 7:30 in the morning.

Sad thing is that I just finished my favorite book.

Giddy Up Eunice by Sophie Hudson
I heart Sophie Hudson and I'm sure we would be besties in real life if only we could meet in person.
This one is little different from her other books and is less about family and more about cross generational relationships of all sort.  We all need that older wiser voice that we admire to speak into our lives with wisdom and experience.  We also need to turn around and invest in those lives that are coming right up behind us.  Using women of the Bible...Ruth and Naomi, Mary and Elizabeth, Lois and (of course) Eunice...Sophie demonstrates not only how well they modeled a cross generational relationship, but also how we can do it in our own lives.

I loved this book.  And now I kinda wanna go back and re-read my other Sophie books.

One of our favorite ways to start the new school year is by reading the book of John.

I'll usually read a few chapters out loud and then we pop in The Gospel Of John dvd and watch those chapters of the movie.

Have you ever seen it? It is the whole book of John acted out without any embellishments.  The words are straight from John and nothing else.  

The Armor Of God by Priscilla Shirer

Have we talked about my Bible study group?  It's a group of friends (from all different churches) that meet together every week at my neighbor's house to study, visit, and share our lives with each other.  

I had no idea how much I needed this and how they would fill an empty spot in my life that I didn't even know I had.  I love them. 

This is the study we are doing now.  There is SO MUCH here.  I like Priscilla's boldness and confidence in delivering God's Word.  I am woefully behind but the videos are good even if you aren't caught up.  

Quieting Your Heart Bible study journal 

This fills my need to doodle and color while I think out whatever God has given me lately.  It's a fun way to end the day and to write out my thoughts.  

The Stories Of The Pilgrims by Margaret Pumphrey  

This is the same book I've read to my kids at Thanksgiving for nearly 20 years.  My scratchy trying-to-get-sick throat is causing me to have to read a LOT next week to catch up.  I do NOT want to take this beyond Thanksgiving and cut into my Christmas reading!

And one more....

The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

I spent the better part of this year working my way through this very hard book knowing full well it had all kinds of greatness between the covers yet trying to figure out just how to put it into practice in my own life.  I've been finished with it for awhile, but since I'm done with Eunice (hello reading hole) I'm going to re-read the chapter on Proactivity to get me through until December when my Christmas reading list starts.  

So that's it!  What are you reading? 

When A Fishing Trip Even Involves A New Chapstick

So I had reached the point of fullness where I was on the verge of tears over EVERYTHING. 

And the fact that I couldn't see an end in sight only made the matter worse.   I could easily compile a lineup of events responsible for the waterworks but I'll just sum it up with LIFE.

A lot of life.

But then Honey texted me and reminded me that he had a 3 day weekend coming up and did I want to take the boat out on Friday.  Well YES, yes I believe I do.

The boat motor had recently been in the shop and we wanted to see if it worked.  So we dropped off babies, settled the kids, and loaded the fishing poles.  On the way out, we ran into the Super Stop to get me a fishing license and you won't believe it..... right there at the cash register was a new chapstick I'd never even heard of!  Not only that, but it was full of the natural ingredients that are my favorites in a good chapstick.

Well now.

Not only did I have a 3 day weekend AND a fishing trip, but now I had a new chapstick too.  I tell you sometimes life just does a complete about-face when you least expect it.

Selfie on the water.  And the motor worked perfectly.

It was so quiet on the water.  Hardly anybody was there.  I had all the time to talk, or not.  And just think.  And unravel all the thoughts.   And I only cried a little bit....which was a big surprise to us both I think.

And to make it even better I caught this MONSTER fish on my blue swimmy lure.   He was the icing on the cake.

Next week we have another 3 day weekend.  Hopefully the weather will hold out and I can put Blue Swimmy into service again.

Because Jeremy Wade has nothing on me.  

And Here It Is Almost A Whole Month Later

You guys.

I had the greatest intentions of blogging about our new school year with each kiddo.  I even took extra pictures and all.  But then the days turned into weeks and here we are.  And who even cares about a new school year when most people just finished mid terms for crying out loud!  So there went that.

Then there were those times when something funny/sweet/cute/exciting would happen and I'd be like, "Hey, I want to blog about that!"  But then it was bedtime.  And while that is usually my best time to blog, it seems like lately (read: 18 months) I just have no words left by the end of the day.

And just like that it is October.  But guess what DID happen?
I decorated my mantle for fall.  It's nothing you'll see on Pinterest but it just makes me all kinds of happy.  Especially since I actually did it .... Oh I don't know...before Fall was actually OVER!
It seriously made me feel like one of those crafty moms that seem to be all over my Facebook.

The end of October also meant the end of 8th grade football.  I won't lie.  I'm THRILLED to be done.  This will clear up a good 3 1/2 hours a week that I won't be sitting on a bleacher watching everybody else's kid play.  Because for whatever reason Jes barely touched the field.  So yeah, I'm good to skip it.  Plus this is also the last week of soccer.  Whatever will we do with all our free time ya'll?

I am so looking forward to some winter.  Cold weather, warm soups, more time for cooking,  hot chocolate, and snow.  Please let there be some snow!  As a matter of fact I just bought the babies a new snow suit and new boots that are adorable.

Babies.....did I mention we have three?  One of our babies that went home in February came back into care.  And though it took some juggling, we were able to make it work so we could take him back.   I tell you, I do think my family members are rock stars.  Because 3 little boys that are all under 3 years old can take a huge toll on everyone in so many ways.  But they always adjust, always love, and always make room.

Anyhow, here we are in November and I just had a very needed 3 day weekend that included some time to THINK.  And I can't even describe how that makes me feel a little bit more human and normal than I have in awhile.  And one of the oh-so-many things I got to think about was how I really hope to step up my blogging game this month.

And you know what else?  Joshua just got a new camera for his video editing crush and he is all set to help me satisfy my new craving for a YouTube channel of my very own!  It's a happy thing.