Back to School

 What a week it has been. Monday I was up at 5:45 am , which was rough. I don't know why I dislike getting up early but I really, really do. I got Curtis up and then Lily and he was off by 6:05 and she left at 6:40. It is going to be a long year. Then I waited around for my friend's daughter to arrive. She came every morning this week for the hour and a half between work and school and my kids loved playing with her. 

 

At 7:45 am Josh called to tell me our friend Carolee had passed away a few hours earlier. It made me so sad but I held it in until I got the kids off on the bus and then I just sat around for an hour processing. Then I decided to help my friend figure out a car situation and it felt good to be wrapped up in helping someone for a few hours. I literally read most of the day and just felt lethargic and sad but I did make myself go for a bike ride and then I went and picked up my friend and with the help of some really great people, got her what she needed and to where she needed to be. It felt good.

The kids all had a good first day of school, though Lily was the least enthusiastic. 8th grade is no joke and she has had a pretty easy couple of years so she is going to have to adjust to having homework and more responsibility. I know she will though. Everyone else loved it and was so happy to be back in (mostly) regular school. I took Curtis to baseball that night and then we had dinner and family night when I got back.

Tuesday I still felt sad even though I really wanted to be happy that my dreams of having alone time every day were finally coming true. I made myself run a bunch of errands but I did still read some and then that evening I took Brandon to baseball and Lily made dinner while I was gone. It was super nice and she did a great job. I love her willingness to help and try new things. 

Wednesday was another day of school. I can't remember what I did but it was nice because it rained so baseball was cancelled and then they cancelled church activities because of a tornado warning so instead of being in three different places, we were able to have a nice family dinner and start a new season of Full House. 

Thursday I went and had brunch with my high school friend, Michelle. It has been two years since I've seen her and it was wonderful to catch up and remember why we've been friends since 8th grade. My food was so good and it was a lovely day and we sat outside and it was so fun to talk with her. Then when my kids got home we had good talks and then when the younger two got home I read them Harry Potter 7. Then I took Brandon to baseball and my friend, Noreen, lives close by so she came to practice and we chatted the whole time. It was great to catch up with her too. 

Friday Josh was off and it was so wonderful to finally have day time alone together. We went for a long bike ride and he made me breakfast while we watched House Hunters and then he did go into work for the afternoon while I paid bills and cleaned up. Curtis came home from school with a hurt wrist so we didn't end up going to his baseball scrimmage and I tried taking him to urgent care but they didn't have an x ray tech there. I hope he's okay and can keep playing baseball. 

Saturday was the funeral for Carolee and it was kind of a long day. Josh was so nervous about it that he went to church at 7am and practiced his talk and conducting the funeral three times to an empty chapel. I played the organ and made sure to play Carolee's two favorite hymns. I played I Know that My Redeemer Lives right when they brought in her body and the family came in and then I played The Spirit of God as a postlude song for her. It was a beautiful service and it was great to see some friends that I haven't seen in a long time. My friend, Kristin, who moved away 8 years ago, came to visit from Oklahoma and she came over around 4:30pm and we talked until midnight. It was so great to see her and again, remember why we are such good friends. 

Yesterday was a wonderful morning at church. A sister I minister to hasn't been to church in a long time so I went ahead and was bold and invited her back and to share her testimony. When she didn't show I was disappointed so I texted her and just let her know I missed her. She said she had tuned into the broadcast and that she enjoyed Lily's testimony (which was so sweet and unprompted and I just love that girl), which made me happy. It was a really uplifting meeting and I'm so grateful for the spirit I feel in church. We spent the rest of the day reading and I talked to my sister for a long time and Josh went and visited all the new families. We had dinner and then watched Full House and put everyone in bed. Then Josh and I watched Cruella, which I don't think sets up the animated movie very well but was an interesting movie nonetheless. 

Today I had hoped to do something fun but Josh was so wiped from the weekend and we need to get Curtis's injury figured out so I am doing laundry and made a grocery list and Josh is at urgent care. I think we'll go to the pool this afternoon for one last hurrah. I would love to have gone up to D.C. or Six Flags but my family does enjoy down time too. It is always hard for me to decide when to push a fun family activity because we have so few days when we have nothing planned or when just to enjoy that we have nothing planned. Piano lessons and dance start this week on top of school and baseball so it will be a busy couple of days. I really enjoy having the kids engaged in good, healthy activities that push them and make them work hard and since I have down time during the day, I'm relaxed and ready for our busy evenings. Life is good and I'm grateful because so much has been happening lately that makes me sad and angry and disappointed and focusing on my family and our blessings and helping those around us has made it feel better.