A new, but not less busy, chapter - at the troops. . .

Here it is.  Our second week of the school year.  And I'm just now sitting down to write.

Our troops started the year - all eight of them - in 12th, 11th, 9th, 7th, 6th, 5th, 3rd, and Kindergarten - last Monday.

What have I been doing the last 8 days, you ask?  Hmmmm.  I won't go there.  Suffice it to say, that having the kids AT school all day doesn't seem to lessen the amount of laundry to be done and food to be cooked.  Not to mention that I was WAY behind from the last couple weeks of school supply/clothes/shoes shopping and trying to cram every bit of fun in that we could before the freedom of Summer was lost.

Just making lunches x 9 is a bit of an ordeal.  Even though most of the kids make their own.  Just think a whole loaf of bread (plus some), turkey, cheese, pb & j, granola bars, applesauce cups, chips. . . you get the idea.

This morning?  Little Man threw a fit.  He LOVES school.  Happy every afternoon when I walk in to get him.  But sometimes in the morning, he asks just like his mommy.  He'd rather stay in bed.  Or dilly dally over breakfast.  Or skip putting on his belt.  It's a rough life.

I finished my run this morning and realized I hadn't gotten the mail yesterday.  Volleyball tournament.  After a new bootcamp session started in the morning.  Busy busy day.  But in the mail?  Senior pic proofs for Son (#1).  And yes, they've already taken them.  Before school actually started.  Good grief!  Can't a mom get a break?  (sniff)

So between the sweat dripping down my forehead and the piles and PILES of laundry needing to be folded and the FULL rack of shirts hanging above the dryer waiting to be ironed. . .

I'm going to have a hard time making it to Sam's and back before school dismissal.

This is the life of a stay at home mom of eight whose kids are all in school.

Pretty glamorous, right?

Oh, I HAVE been able to sneak away (from the laundry) for coffee with a friend and lunch with my parents one day last week.  Lovely.

And I LOVE having muffins or cookies ready for the kids after school (when we don't go straight to volleyball or football games).

And being able to head out to run *alone* with my ipod and the early morning sunshine really is a delight.  Truly.

If only the work weren't here waiting for me when I get back!  Ha!

Blessed.  Grateful.  Praying for my little guy who wanted to stay home, today.  And thanking the Lord every time I walk by those senior pic proofs for HIS faithfulness.

Happy Monday!

Note to Self. . .

1.  Do not go straight from bootcamp to Wal-mart at 7:45 AM to get chicken for dinner.

2.  When there are police cars outside of Wal-mart, you should probably think twice about shopping right then.


. . . because when you come out?

There may be a news camera recording you.




All sweaty with frizzy hair.


At least it's not smellavision, right?  (you're welcome)

And to those of you who are about to say, "This is why I don't shop at Wal-mart!".  Read the article. He robbed a Target FIRST.

3.  Move "get my concealed/carry permit" to the top of the to-do list.

Happy Tuesday!

He just knows.

Yesterday, in the early afternoon, after a morning of boot camp, caring for a sick girl, errands and my Weight Watchers meeting. . .

I got a text from the Coach.

"Meet me at the 4:20 movie?" it said.

Maybe that doesn't seem like a big deal.  But it's not something we do very often.

And it meant JUST. SO. MUCH.


Sometimes, it's the little things that touch me the most.

The little thoughtful things that make my heart squeeze and remind me that this man I share life with?

He's the best.

He knows when I'm tired and discouraged.  He knows that it's easier to leave the troops for a couple of hours in the afternoon when someone is sick and will want us there in the evening.  He knows I need time with him.  He knows I was up half the night and am lacking patience.  He knows I'm sore from workouts and sitting in a cool theater with a Diet Coke and popcorn was just right.  And even though we usually don't chose seeing a movie for our dates (because we would rather go somewhere quiet to talk), sometimes it's the perfect thing.

I want my kids to know that marriage isn't easy.  That it's a lot of work.  That it takes commitment and patience and lots of forgiveness (especially on the Coach's end).  That it takes time to learn to receive God's grace so you can extend it to your spouse. That some days you don't feel loving or thoughtful or kind.  That some days (particularly when there are kids involved) you have nothing left (or so it seems) for one another.

But I also want them to know THIS.  What this almost 19 years of living life together is like.  That marriage can be amazing and wonderful and having someone know you deeply and still love you is incredible.  That after all of this time, their daddy is still my favorite.  That we still have fun together and love being together and laughing together (like when some guy started snoring in the middle of the movie). I'd rather be with him than anyone else on the planet.

Even for an afternoon movie on a hot Summer Friday.

No.  Especially for an afternoon movie on a hot Summer Friday.