Random Pictures

I am backed up a bit with posting stuff in this space. I have a couple of adventures to write up, but just seem to be lacking the time lately. I will get to them as soon as I can. In the meantime, here are some random pictures I have been meaning to post.

Moose decided to help me as I prepped for my day this past weekend by eating my flowers. 

Seriously, can this cat be any cuter? 

Very much like Sammy, Moose is always trying to be close to Lily. Also very much like with Sammy, Lily has no desire to be friends with Moose. She fell asleep and he came over and joined her and tried to get as close to her as he could without her getting up. 

Yes. I did this. I became one of those truly crazy animal people who dresses up their pet. I couldn't help myself. That''s all I have to say about that. 

I love, love, love this pic (even though it is blurry) because of the joy on Elizabeth's face. 

This is how this cat sometimes sleeps. On his back, front legs spread out over his head...what a weirdo. 

I have been meaning to post this pic for a while. It was taken over the summer. These are my nieces (and nephew) with Sarah. Of all of the people in our lives, my oldest nephew and my oldest two nieces have always been amazing with Sarah. I don't know if it is because they don't remember her as a sighted person, or what, but they are amazing with Sarah. In fact, they are Sarah's favorite people to hang out with because they are so sweet and thoughtful with her. They always include her in what they are doing. My niece Lucy, is especially incredible with Sarah. She insists on walking with her whenever they are together and is so good at giving Sarah directions on things to avoid (i.e, a low branch, a curb, etc...).  I love watching them with Sarah. They truly are a gift. 

This old girl has been showing her age lately. Just trying to cherish the time we have left with her. 

Sarah had a guest speaker come to her school and had the opportunity to meet her. As always happens when people meet Sarah, he walked away amazed and inspired. (See his comments below.)

Senior night soccer banquet. 

One of, if not my number one, all time favorite pictures of Joshua playing soccer. 

Those Midwest sunsets can be pretty spectacular. 

Always a Choice

Food prep for the day: apple pie, garden burgers, and jo-jos. 

With three hospitalizations this year between two kiddos (two for Andy and one for Sarah) my eyes are wide open to bounty of goodness in my life. It is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, I falter and make mistakes constantly.  Despite these imperfections, I cannot help but marvel at the beauty of what I have been bestowed - a kind, hardworking, gentle, loving husband and four amazingly unique, wonderful souls I get to call my children.

I often feel so unworthy of what I have been given; I don't know how I was chosen to be the wife and mama of the people who reside in my house. All I know is that I am so thankful that I was. 

Chosen.

 How cool is it to be chosen for such luxuries as a good husband and four sweet children?  

Choice. 

The universe made a choice that I was to be the wife and mama to these people who make up my heart.

Every day I have a choice too. Actually, I have more choices than I can count to be precise. My attitude, my level of patience, the words that come out of my mouth, how much I pay attention, my gratitude, the way I keep my home, the foods I prepare, the traditions I keep, the routines I practice daily...on and on this list could go, all of these things are choices to be made daily. 

Life is so precious and fragile. Here one minute, gone the next. I just want to make sure that I am living mine to the best of my abilities through the choices I make; the silver lining of the kids' hospitalizations this year is that their illness are true reminders to appreciate what I have because in one moment's time it could all be taken away.  

My favorite room in the house. 

11/11/19

We waited with baited breath for the snow that was forecast yesterday. Elizabeth was especially excited as it doesn't snow much here at all and the weather was predicting 2-3 inches (which is a lot in these parts). As soon as it was possible she began going outside and grabbing bowlfuls of snow; when Sarah came home from school she joined Elizabeth in their quest for snow bowls. 

Besides homeschooling, I got caught up on some chores. I had one of the worst migraines that I can recall last Thursday and it took two days to fully recover from it. I didn't do much in the way of chores over the weekend and instead chose to rest. Monday I hit the ground running and got caught up with what I had missed at the end of last week. 

Andy was supposed to have a follow up appointment with his lung surgeon yesterday, but that got pushed back to next week as the doctor ended up having a surgery scheduled during our appointment time. He is having a bit of trouble sleeping still as his "stab" wounds (as the nurses/doctors referred to his three incisions as equivalent to) are still healing. I am hoping that he can get a clean bill of health and head back to work as he needs to keep busy. Otherwise, he spends too much time plugged in. 

We haven't had much of a fall here and for that I am so disappointed. Fall is my most favorite season, but this year it seems like the temps are so much colder than they were last year at this time. The trees' leaves went from green to brown to on the ground with few exceptions. Even the beautiful bushes outside my living room and school room don't seem to be faring as well this year as they did last year; although they are providing me with some brilliance of red they are a bit lackluster as compared with last year's display.

Since Andy's hospitalization I have really been focusing on seeing the beauty of my life and gifts I have been given. I look at our four children each day and pause giving thanks to some higher power for the blessings they are. I give thanks for their health and for their lives. I have been shown time and time again that nothing is guaranteed in this life. 

A day's worth of living

The first flakes

Brother/sister time.

It's Too Important Not To

The day before Andy was hospitalized for another lung collapse I was working on his and Josh's high school transcripts. I couldn't remember all of the classes they had taken and I was scrolling through previous homeschooling blog posts in hopes of filling in the gaps based on what I had written about those previous years; in going through all of those old posts I realized just how grateful I was for all of the years that I had been committed to this space because I was able to capture so many memories and thoughts that would have otherwise been lost forever. It also made me feel a little sad because I realize that there are so many things over the course of these last couple of years that I haven't documented; so many tiny moments that should have been savored in this space, but weren't. 

I cannot change the past, but I can change what I am doing in the present. I miss having my camera as my constant companion. It is broken, but still usable in an annoying kind of way. I miss capturing all the moments of our lives - the little ones as well as the big ones - and sharing them in this space along with my thoughts. From what I gather, you do as well; I have had multiple people reach out to me to let me know what this space is something they miss receiving updates on. 

So, with camera in hand and annoyed looks on my kids faces, I plan on picking up where I left off. Life is too fast and to important to me not to. These memories are too important not to document. 

We are having an infestation of lady bugs - I wonder if they know the cold spell that is about to hit is coming and are trying to get inside the house for some warmth. Honestly, I don't care what their reasons are. I love lady bugs and am happy to see them anywhere. 

This week's fresh flowers. Flowers bring me joy. 

Sarah made bagels for the family. Yum!

Bob, Andy, and I took a walk through a park about 20 minutes from our house. The park winds along the White River. It was a beautiful day and enjoyed being out in nature very much. By the looks of things, so did Lily.

Growing Greggs

These months seem to be flying by. I cannot believe that it is November already. As my kids get older and older instead of slowing down, like I thought would happen, time seems to be slipping by more and more quickly.

Life has been busy in these parts. Elizabeth just finished up a soccer season as well as Joshua. Andy just got out of the hospital a few days ago after having lung surgery to repair a week right lung that had collapsed for the second time in 5 months. Sarah is doing really well adjusting to public school. She is making friends and seems to be thriving in her new environment.

Bobby and I are doing our best to keep up with this life we have built. After having two kids in the hospital this year I am trying more than ever to focus on creating a good home environment and to also be present in as many moments as I can. I am trying to refocus on what is important to me and finding joy in the little moments.

Joshua's high school soccer team had the opportunity to play a game at Lucas Oil Stadium. It was a pretty cool experience. 

The boys definitely didn't draw a Colts crowd. 

Homecoming 2019. Both Josh and Sarah went. 

Senior night.

Elizabeth played in her last tournament this weekend. The girls are terrible, to be honest with you, and haven't won a game in the 9+ months that she has been with this team. They have definitely improved a bit, but still have a long way to go before they will actually be competitive. Thankfully, Elizabeth is just playing for fun and isn't serious about soccer like Joshua is.