I've fallen off on my blogging this week. I have been intending to blog every day, but computer troubles and busy schedules have kept me from it. 

Margaret and Sam worked quite a bit this week. Most parents I know choose to not let their kids work during the week, but we've chosen to let them decide what they can handle. I'd rather them carry a heavier load now and learn from it, than have it easy now and not be prepared for real life when they must carry a heavy load and there's no safety net. 

Brian, Margaret, Samuel, and I walked over to William's track meet at Canyon Ridge Thursday night. The four of us cheered him on in the 100m. He seemed pleased with his third place ribbon. As I was leaving I ran into an old Redeemer friend and his son. They attend our rival school. It was nice to see an old familiar face. It's funny, we haven't been to Redeemer since August, and yet almost no one has asked where we've been. I guess we haven't been missed. You'd think after being members for 16 years our absence would be noticed. 

We took William and John out of school early on Friday and raced down to Canyon HS in New Braunfels trying to make it to see Margaret run the 3200 at the Canyon Relays. She'd accidentally grabbed Sam's track jersey and hers was hanging in his closet. I ran up waving her jersey just as the start gun went off. She seemed to race just fine in his jersey. She ran a 12:30, earning her 3rd place in the JV race. Vandegrift has such a deep team that our JV track girls are all cross country state qualifiers. It's disappointing that Margaret most likely won't get to run in the varsity races, but it is what it is. We have two of the fastest freshman in the state, and since track only allow two and sometimes three runners per school per race, she's just gotta take what she can get. The heat and humidity was brutal and that black track didn't help anything. She was happy with how she did, but disappointed that Coach Sully didn't have her signed up for any other races. Brian's parents were there, and we hung around watching and waiting for Sam to run the 800m. It was an exciting race, mostly because we got a chance to see one of the fastest, if not the fastest high school runners in the country race three times. Sam raced against Sam Worley in the 800m and the 1600m. Worley won both, as well as being on the winning 4x400 relay team at the end of the meet. He was something to see! He'll be running for UT next year, so this isn't the last we'll see of him. He qualified to run in the Olympic Trails last year as a junior in high school, so I wouldn't doubt that we'll see him in the Olympics in 2020. 

Our Sam had a phenomenal race as well. He PR'd in the 800m with a times of 2 minutes, and ran a 4:30 in the 1600. He was a hair away from getting third place in the 800m, and got an easy 2nd in the 1600m. He was very happy, and so were we. 

We spent the night at the inlaws house in New Braunfels with the younger four, but Margaret and Sam had to ride the bust back home because both were scheduled to work the nest morning. It was a nice little getaway, even if just one night away. My father in law retires at the end of this week, and he and my mother in law were in a jolly, relaxed mood. 

Brian and I were supposed to get up and go for a nine mile run to the lake and back, but we got to bed so late that we put it off until this evening. We slept in instead and then made a mad dash to get to the early service at church. Margaret and Sam missed the memo that we were going to the earl service and went out on their long run early and then went to the second service. At least they made it to church. 

I don't have much of substance to write about. Right now my life consists of trying to keep my kids alive, maintaining sanity by running, falling in love with my husband and making him fall in love with me, desperate prayers, lots of audio books, and stressing about the gray hairs. 

Saturday, March 18, 2017

It really is Saturday today! I've been thinking it was Saturday for the past four days. Spring Break, and having Brian and the kids with me all week has messed me up. In a good way.

Brian's sister and her husband and their daughter came yesterday. We sat and visited, went hiking on the trails behind our house, and made homemade pizza. Last night after Margaret got off work, the four of us adults went over to the Oasis Brewery on Lake Travis and had some beers out on the deck until Sam texted to say he was done with work. Jana, Michael, and Abigail left this morning to head back down to the Houston area. It was a short, but sweet visit, and we've already discussed plans for them to come back in the summer.

Brian and I went for a five mile run together. I extended it by walking another two miles. I've been getting little more than five hours of sleep every night since the time change and I feel lie I'm having to drag my body around. Our pastor preached recently on the importance of observing a sabbath rest. Tomorrow is a busy day for us, so I'm thinking today is going to be my sabbath.

I've been following the She Reads Truth daily readings and devotional for Lent. They're going through Isaiah. Sometimes it's kinds hard to focus on Isaiah at 5:30 am., before the coffee really kicks in. I try to pay close attention, but my eyes get real heavy at times. Some of Isaiah is just hard to grasp. That said, I've been so blessed by the different studies I've done with She Reads Truth the last few months. I'm late discovering this tool, but sure am grateful for it!

Today is my grandmother's 87th birthday. I'm so glad we've had her with us this long!

Monday, March 20, 2017

I feel like I've been run over and left for dead. So glad that spring break is over! It wasn't that we did all that much, I just have trouble when I get out of my routine and things are too loose. It wears me down.

We've been staying up way too late since the time change. Early risers just don't fare well during daylight savings time. I would gladly go back to regular time! I got in a rare nap on Saturday afternoon. Then Brian took me out that evening. Every place we tried to go was so packed. We drove around forever attempting to get into places all over town, finally ending up at the Domain. We settled for splitting a lasagna at the bar at Maggiano's.

I got up and ran the nine mile run to Lake Austin and back. It's such a hard run, but I love it. Hills don't scare me; long, monotonous straightaways do though. Hill Country had a special service to discuss moving forward with building plans. They've purchased the last remaining piece of available land here in Steiner for the site of a church. It will be the only church building in the neighborhood. Two men talked about their prior experiences with building campaigns and sacrificial giving to the Church to see God's kingdom grow. I felt a real conviction that I should not be asking how much I should give,  but how much I should keep. I want to love open-handed. It's all His anyways.

After church we caravanned with Margaret to go pick up the Winn cousins at church and drive out to Burnet for a birthday party for my grandmother and her brother. Their birthdays are in February and March, and we've a;ways celebrated them together with a big family party. It was a whirlwind get together, not much more than a Hi & Bye. Still great to see everyone, especially the old folks.  Sam had to work last night, and the cousins needed to get back to town because they all started back to school the next day. It's strange to think that the next time we all get together will be for Margaret's graduation party.

My house is such a wreck today. I don't even know where to start to get it back to decency.

Brian and I just got back from a seven mile run. I'm on a quest to become a runner again. He and I stayed up until midnight painting the study and putting it back in order. This morning we were out of coffee, so I went grocery shopping at 6:30. This may be a long day.

While out running, he and I spent a long time talking about school and the impact it could potentially have on our family. Brian is so supportive of me and thinks that nursing is the better or the two options I've considered. I am so thankful to have a husband that believes in me even when I doubt my own abilities. He's a good man.

I've got some sewing projects I've been putting off for some time: lining the drapes in the office, and sewing some pillows for the Adirondack chairs in the front yard. Today will be the day I check those off my list. I miss sewing. When I have a reliable machine, sewing is one of the most pleasurable activities I can do. It's up there with mowing the yard.

We bought Olive a sandbox for her birthday last month, and it has been used so much more than we imagined it would be, not just by Hazel and Olive, but also by William and John. It's both sweet and comical to see these two teenagers out there setting up toy soldiers in the sand while their sisters make sand castles next to them. We've spent more time with the younger four this week than with the older two. It's wonderful when we're all together, but in some ways I think that William an John feel anxious and more competitive when Margaret and Sam are around. They're caught between boyhood and manhood. I think there's a big part of them that still wants to be boys, but when they're with the older two, they're afraid they'll be ridiculed and teased for their boyish ways. I will be sad when my children one by one fly the coop, but I also look forward to the changing family dynamics, and how we'll get to know those left behind in a more intimate way. There's always something to look forward to. There's no denying I'm the eternal optimist! ha!

I'm getting a mole looked at today at Westlake Dermatology. I noticed that it has changed shape a bit and seems more raised. It's on my chest near below my collar bone, and not in a place that's regularly exposed to sunlight. I've always thought of it as my special mole because the first time Brian saw it was when I was in my wedding dress, and it's actually kind of pretty, like a beauty mark, if I can say so without sounding vain. Brian said he'll be disappointed if I have to have it removed. Of course the alternative is worse.

I'm reading this book right now, and it makes me with Brian and I had had nine children. I love reading about large families, at least large families that are fun. I so admire women that can love each of their little ones uniquely as they need.

We're back from a couple of days with Brian's family in New Braunfels. Margaret and Samuel stayed behind since both had to work. They enjoyed keeping house and playing grown-ups for a few days. I take it for granted that they're such responsible young people that can get themselves to work on time, will take care of the house and all that entails, and be safe. They even made a long list of cleaning chores from themselves and had the whole place in tip top shape when we got home. Proud mama.

Our time in New Braunfels was fun, but we didn't get to do many of the things we'd hoped to do. Enchanted Rock was full, so we couldn't get in, as was our Plan B, Pedernales State Park. We did get to walk around Fredericksburg and have lunch there, but the town was packed like I'd never seen it before! We did some pretty drives in the hill country, including the Willow City Loop, which was every bit as beautiful as the Texas Parks and Wildlife articles make it out to be. We lounged around visiting and drinking cup after cup of coffee. Brian and I got out and ran this morning. I'm trying to cut back on my exercise. I tend to get obsessive with walking or running, so I consider it a little victory if I skip a day. Yesterday I hardly did anything, other than a little walking around Fred'burg. Yay!

Brian's sister and her family are coming to stay with us later on this week. They've never stayed with us, so it will be a nice treat to have them. Ever since they got married nearly 12 years ago, they've lived out of state, either in Nashville or Starkville, MS. Last year they moved to Baytown, near Houston, and we're so enjoying having them a regular part of our lives. They have a little girl that is between Hazel and Olive's age, the only first cousin my kids have on the Wells side.

Well, I'm off to get started painting the study.

This is spring break for the kids. Margaret worked Friday night, but the rest of us were home. Some watched a movie, some went walking, and some went to sleep. I got up early Saturday morning and made oraange cinnamon rolls for the family before we went our separate ways, Samuel to Vandegrift to leave for an overnight track meet trip, Margaret to babysit, and the rest of us out to the rodeo. 

After the rodeo and petting zoo, we stopped in for brunch at Donn's BBQ, one of our old favorite places. The serve one of the best Mexican breakfasts you'll find in Austin, and then some of the best BBQ after that (their potato salad will make anyone a potato salad lover). Long ago, when it was just Brian and I, and then Margaret and Samuel, we lived down the road from Donn's, out in the country. We'd stop in on a regular basis. It was good to see that it hadn't changed. 

We spent the rest of Saturday rearranging furniture. Brian has been wanting the big desk in our room for a long time, and we finally did it. It's so heavy and difficult to move that you don't just move it. We had to discuss it for half an hour, argue about it, and shout each other down, before William, John, Brian, and I finally took it apart and carefully moved it from the office into our bedroom. I love this desk! It was my great grandfather's, and I feel honored that we ended up with it. It has so many cubbies and drawers and slots. I already feel so much more organized. 

We ordered a sleeper sofa to put in the office. This room has been under utilized in our house. The big desk took up so much room in there that there wasn't much room for anything else. We want to make it a combination study and guest room. I plan to repaint it. When we remodeled nearly two years ago I chose to have this room painted Sherwin Williams' unusual gray. It looked nice the way we had it arranged with the big oak desk and the tall book shelves, but now that we've rearranged, I want to try to make the style and color more cohesive with the rest of the house. I intend to paint the walls Eider White like the majority of the rest of the house, and the bookshelves and small wooden desk black. 

Yesterday I got up and went for a run to Lake Austin and back, something like 8 and a half miles. It was cold and drizzly, but I'm glad I pushed through. Margaret and Brian were running the other direction; to Lake Travis, but I wanted some time to myself. 

We went to church at Hill Country Bible SR. They meet at our elementary. I'm not sure if I've mentioned the church move, but we've been attending there since August. It has been such a blessing to us. It's a satellite campus, so we get the sermons on telecast, but I don't mind that. The different style of worship has been the biggest adjustment, but I think the kids are getting used to it. Both Brian and I have got involved in studies and small groups, but the kids haven't yet joined the youth group or participated outside of Sunday morning. But they never participated in youthgroup at Redeemer either. I love going to church with people we also see at the grocery store, the park, football games, and other school functions, and even when I'm out running. There's a real sense of accountability. 

I've changed my major already. I have decided to go into nursing. Long ago, when I was a kid and later as a teen, I wanted to go into the medical field. But the "Christian" cult I grew up in forbid women from getting a real education and working outside the home. I looked into colleges, thought about leaving and going to school without the blessing of m parents, but eventually abandoned the idea. The cult taught that parents are always right and that if you went against their wishes, even as an adult, you'd received condemnation from God. So I didn't go to college, and I let the dream die. 

I haven't considered the medical field again until recently. A little spark of a thought began in my head that maybe I should become a nurse. I casually mentioned this to Brian, and he was very excited about it, as he could see nursing as a better fit for me than being a teacher. I'm even more anxious to meet with an advisor now. I wonder if this is God awakening a long dead dream of mine??

Well, I'm about to head out on a five mile run. Trying to become a runner again. 

I'm tired and grumpy this morning. I took some Nyquil so I would sleep and not scratch my itchy skin all night, and I'm still groggy. Even so, I woke up at 5, or a little before, and began my day as usual. I did my best to focus on my Bible study lesson, then got out and walked five miles. I'm thinking an extra pot of coffee will be happening shortly.

Brian and I sat in traffic for nearly an hour yesterday trying to make it to Margaret's track meet. We missed her running the 3200, but sat around waiting for her other event, the 1600. We didn't even attempt to make it over to Vista Ridge to see William run. The traffic had been so bad, and Margaret's meet was a small one and moving fast, or faster than a typical track meet, so we were afraid we'd miss her second event. Our neighbor, Wendy, sat with us and we visited while we waited. Her son is also a runner and has carpooled with us the last two years. A big storm blew in, and just as one of the girls' relay teams was about to start, the announcer said the meet had been canceled and for everyone to clear the field and stands because of lightning. We'd have to wait until next week to see Margaret run. Later we found out that William didn't get to run either as his meet was canceled before he had his chance.

Today is the last school day before spring break. I suppose I'm looking forward to it, but really I'm just tired, and vacations and breaks for school are normally more exhausting than our regular schedule.

Brian has to go to San Diego to present a paper on sidewalk masterplanning at an engineering conference later this year. I'm proud of him and happy that he'll get away for a while. He never has any time away, unless you could when he's commuting to and from work. We had initially thought that he'd take me along and we'd make a getaway out of it, but decided not to.

My house is moderately messy right now, and I've allowed the girls to watch Disney Jr. way longer than I should've. I'm off to repent of laziness and take this day by the horns.

I'm making pancakes right now, so every few minutes I have to hop up and go flip them, therefore this my be a disjointed blog post. I'm fixing breakfast-for-dinner as a treat for those who aren't going to be at track meets. Tonight it's Margaret and William running. Is going to an out of town meet this weekend at Love Joy high school (yes, that's really the name!), so won't be running tonight. I'm looking forward to another "date" with Brian cheering on our favorite people. 

This morning I got out for my five mile walk. I didn't run as my back has been hurting the last couple of mornings. The morning walks are like gold to me! I feel so much more on top of the day when I get out and clear my head first thing. 

I took the girls in and dropped them at Brian's office so I could run over to ACC and finish a couple of loose ends with my registration. I had intended to meet with an academic advisor, but the walk-up wait time too long, so I made an appointment for after spring break. I'm anxious to get this ball rolling.

I've two issues that are getting my mommy ire up. 

First is the homeschooling neighbor who seems to think my boys will molest her daughter, so said daughter always checks to make sure Hazel's brothers aren't home before she comes to play. The three year old boy of same family came over last week and pushed over and broke to pieces the chimenea I had given Brian as an anniversary gift several years ago. The six year old boy of the same family finds great pleasure in kicking Frances in the head even when told not to. Just now, as Hazel was heading over to play with them she was told she couldn't as their cousins were over. It's not like time with the cousins is something special as all three of their sets of cousins like here in Steiner and they all homeschool and do co-op together! Furthermore these same kids invade our house for hours when my nieces and nephews are over. 

The other thing that has my mommy heart upset is that Sam has had his heart broken for the first time by a girl. His girlfriend informed him this week that she only likes him as a friend. He sat crying on the couch last night and I didn't know how to comfort him. I knew it probably wouldn't last, but it's still hard. He's such a sensitive guy. And of course as his mom I'm thinking "who wouldn't like this guy???"

I took the girls down the Zilker yesterday. We rode the Zephyr, played at the park, and walked the three mile loop. And as happens every spring, I got poison ivy. I'm so careful not to touch it, but it's all over the place down there, on both sides of the trail. I'm convinced I react just from being near it. It's on my hands, legs, and one arm. I'm oping to keep things under control and keep it from spreading to my face, but I'm not sure I have much control over it. from what I've heard, it gets in my blood stream and causes the whole boys to react, so there's no telling where I'll break out. 

My front flower bed is looking so sweet! I had it so pretty in the fall, and even part of the winter as the weather had been so mild. Then a hard freeze happened when we were in Burnet the weekend before Christmas. I lost everything. We hosted Christmas Eve here, and I wanted something out there besides all the awful brown stalks, so I uprooted the huge agave from the back yard and plopped it in the bed to the right of the front door. It sufficed. Since then I've gone with the theme of cactus and succulents, and got a big batch of "hen and chicks" succulent and put several on either side of the front door beds. I have red yucca, some native grasses that haven't come back yet, some bluebonnet clusters, asparagus fern, and some other things. My hyacinths and tulips are just now going away. 

Oh my, but I love gardening and yard work!

I'm off to find my CRMS eagles shirt and my VHS viper shirt. I'll be switching back and forth between them as Brian and I race back and forth between two district high schools to watch Margaret and William race.