So, How Did Your Week Go?

How did my week go?

Thanks for asking...

Well, that's an interesting question... 

Normally I kind of prefer a pass/fail kind of evaluation.

But I really don't know if I my heart can take that kind of rejection right now.

However, there is a glass half full/glass half empty scenario I could easily apply here. 

For example, if emails were an indication of my success or failure in my week it would scream fail to most.

I currently have 316 unread emails in my inbox.. oh wait, 317. Please, no one else email me until I finish this blog! 

And that is just the unread ones, I am too ashamed to tell you how many "read" emails I have that still need some sort of "action" on my behalf. {sigh}

Yeah, I don't even want to hear from any of you who have like 5 whole emails in your inbox, alphabetized and starred accordingly. Or those who say, I never go to bed with anything in my inbox. 

I know you are out there. 

Back to my cup half full scenario. At some point in the week - can't tell you which day because it is really all one giant blurrrrrrr - but there were over 500 emails just sitting their patiently waiting to be read. So, I think I battled back quite nicely because I get at least 100 emails a day - usually more. (Glass half full!!! ;-)

Wait, you don't get 100 emails a day? 

How do you get on that list?

How did I get on this email tangent?

Don't answer that. 

Back to my week...

First, homeschooling a whatever-grade-my-oldest-son-is-in. 

(This is homeschool language for when your child is like doing 6 different grade levels or when your child is smarter than you - not going to reveal which one this situation applies to.)

My first grader. 

My pre-kindergarten/kindergartner (more homeschool talk for when a mom isn't quite ready to accept that her 4 year old [to be 5 in 3 weeks] is doing kindergarten schoolwork). 

All with a precious two year old - who constantly loves to explore her boundaries right now -little girl. (Translation - she constantly tries to test her mother and quickly throws a temper tantrum any time her boundaries and mommies boundaries don't get along.) 

And that was just the first day....

My oldest is playing volleyball and I am also coaching - which I love - don't get me wrong. 

I truly love having that special time with him.  

But it always amazes me how much energy it takes to coach. 

One plus - I don't have to work out on volleyball days because I totally get my work out in while I am there. (Glass half full!!! ;-)

God has also decided to bless me with some work right now. Awesome! I think...

No, in all seriousness... Things are good. 

However, it is a new season. 

One of adjustment.

Change.

Adaptation.

And. Joy.

The joy of the new milestones we are accomplishing as a family.

The joy of me being here to witness and be apart of these milestones. 

The joy of just being alive...

So what if I have 317 emails, err 320 emails. 

So what if I don't do everything perfectly.

Or don't get everything crossed of my checklist. 

I know in my life those aren't the things that matters most....

This is...

And I wouldn't trade {THIS} for anything.
Thank.You.God.

As a lady once told me - relationships are the only thing you can take with you.

Where ever you are in life and however the week for you... I hope that it was half full for you too.

Blessings.

Hello August - You Have Some Big Shoes to Fill!

Yesterday I blogged about July and what a great month it was for our family. 

It was the first month that I would say that I felt halfway normal in a long, long time and I loved every minute of it. 

It is so wonderful not having to struggle to just get out of bed every morning. 

That was my reality for so long...

And if you know me, if you know me at all, you know that COMPLETELY goes against my personality. 

I have always done a million things. One person said it well when he said that I am a "high achiever". That makes me laugh but he was certainly right.

So, when everything is stripped away from you and you struggle day after day, week after week, and month after month - well, it can take its toll. 

But, there is another way of looking at it. If I wouldn't have experienced that depth of fatigue I would not appreciate the energy I have today as much as I do. 

Anyway, back to August...

August, you have some big shoes to fill my friend. However, I think you have a chance. For August represents two of the most precious days in my life. 

The first one to come up is a day I am grateful for and celebrate to the deepest depth of my heart. 

It happened 13 years ago. 

13.

Can you believe it? 

My oldest son will turn [13] in 8 days. 

It is like a dagger in my heart in so many way. The time has flown by and I am counting down the years, months, weeks, days, and minutes I have left with him. Then he will be off to explore the world on his own. 

I am praying it is enough. That we have taught him enough. That we have prepared him enough. But I know it won't be and that is where God comes in. That is where my faith is enough. 

For now, all I can do is cherish. 

Cherish the time. 

Cherish the relationship. 

Cherish the young man that God so graciously blessed our lives with. 

Just cherish him. 

Awe, the emotion of just thinking and writing about it are almost too much! 

The 2nd big day is a day of pure joy. 

August also means an anniversary for J and I. 

So blessed that he chose me. :-) 

I am excited to live life with this man everyday. 

I would choose no other. 

As a homeschool family, we will be back to it at the end of this month. I am truly so excited for this school year. The last two years have been tough with treatment and my low energy level. I am so excited for this year, the curriculum, classes, and other activities. Even though I will be teaching 3 this year with a two year old in tow. :-) 

For now, we are going to soak up what is left of summer. I have to get enough to sustain me through the winter. :-) I may be a Colorado girl but I don't love the cold. 

This means....

More trips to the lake.

More carload drive-in runs.

More BBQ's. 

Really, anything where we can all be together is good with me. And maybe we will see you there too. If so, stop by and say hi. We would love to catch up. 

Wishing you the very best August ever. 

Blessings,

Andrea

Favorite September Moments.... {part 1}

It seems like September has just flown by! I cannot believe that it is almost over. I did not do much blogging in this month. We really just tried to take some time to hunker down and enjoy the calm before the storm so-to-speak.

There have been some wonderfully amazing moments throughout this month and I just wanted to share a few of them with you...

1.{School}

As some of you know we homeschool our children. I prayed about this decision more this year than ever before for obvious reasons. But each time I really started to try to think about another option I just felt God saying It's going to be okay.... 

I was nervous for a couple of reasons.... 1.) I have cancer. Okay, so there isn't a lot of discussion needed there. 2.) I have a Kindergartner again. 3.) This Kindergartner has a very different learning style than my first Kindergartner. 4.) My first Kindergartner hasn't been in Kindergarten for many years now. 

But I have really tried to do everything I can do throughout my cancer to keep things as normal as possible and doing school at home is normal for us. I also found myself some awesome new curriculum (thanks to Mrs. B., Cale's writing class teacher) and this program has a nice, tidy little schedule so I didn't have to worry about doing that this year and I also have a rockin' husband who really does a wonderful job teaching the kids as well. I am blessed.

So, we started school and soon my nervousness melted away and I realized all over again why I do this, how much I love it, how much the kids love it, and once again.... I am blessed. I just feel so blessed that God has graciously given me the strength to do this only 2 months post chemo. It really is a miracle. And I just wanted to share our first completed project of Kindergarten 2011. 

A is for......

Thank you Ky for being such a wonderful student. It has already been such a joy to be your teacher. No only 25 more letters to go.