Still Here....

 Well, I haven't posted in over two months but I am still here and at least once a week I intend to blog and then the time just gets away from me.  I don't think I have ever been busier in my life but my days are satisfying and exhausting and I am thankful for the energy and good health that allows me to do all that I do.  Interspersed in this post are pictures from our trip to the city last week while visiting our Chicago family.  Gabi took all of them and I love them all.  He is a great photographer and has an amazing eye for pictures.  I hope you enjoy them as you read my rambling thoughts about my life these days. 

 I have two teenagers and one almost teenager.  They all homeschool and although they do much of their work independently, I am on hand to help when needed and to help them manage their days.  I've also added a friend's teen to our little homeschool.  She is here for about 3 to 5 hours every day and I usually spend at least a couple of hours a week working individually with her.  The rest of the time she is doing virtual school with lots of nagging and guidance from me.  I am also helping another teen girl navigate her senior year and college applications and whatever else comes up.  Her mom passed away suddenly a couple of months ago and I offered to help her with college applications.  I've learned a lot about applying to college and have grown very close to her as we sort through some issues at her school and getting her final classes sorted out so she can graduate in May.  Starting tomorrow I become her personal math tutor as I help her get through a year's worth of math in half a year.  Of course, I don't only homeschool my kids...I try to be very present in their lives and stay close to them and build our relationships.  This is very important to me.  Too soon they will be out of the house and on their own, the time is fleeting and I want to soak up this time.  Of course, many nights find me with my nose in a book desperate for some "me" time and then I often feel guilty--I should play a game with one of them, or watch a show, or go for a walk--but I'm human and getting old and tired and reading is the way I unwind. 

 Anyway, all of this to say...as I've taken on these extra "ducks" (my kids are my chicks...my extra kids are my ducks), I've found myself with much less mental energy or time.  I deactivated my FB account because I just had to turn off some of the voices in my head...I had to hear less of everyone else's business and just focus on the lives in front of me.  This may seem cold but honestly, my mental health was taking a hit.  I have been blessed/cursed with the gift of empathy, over-empathy and hearing everyone's problems aired out on FB was taking its toll on me.  After a morning spent in prayer, I felt strongly lead to take FB out of my life and honestly, the freedom I have felt (it was a huge addiction for me) was worth it.  Some other things in my life not getting done...

 Every year for the past 20 years I have done shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.  It didn't happen this year.  I haven't done any of the usual giving that I like to do this time of year (angel trees, etc).   I just keep forgetting, there just isn't time in my head to remember to do it all.  I am only really getting done what is right in front of me right now.  I am okay with it though.  I know this is a season and the time I'm investing in my chicks and ducks is priceless and there is only this short window of time that I have with them.  I pray for them all daily, to know Jesus.  I am praying that in the gift of time that I am giving each of them (chicks and ducks) they will know that it comes from a place of love for Jesus and His people. 

 I used to be so good at keeping up with photo books.  As of right now I am a full year behind.  I'm about 3 shows behind with my theatre scrapbook.  I keep thinking I'll get to it...someday I will.  Probably not anytime in the next few months though.  My house isn't very clean.  It's presentable, but just barely.  Someday I will have a clean house.  I am overweight and need to exercise...Lots of things not getting done but I hope and pray that my priorities are in the right place. 

 I really do want to get back to this blog though...here's to good intentions!  :0)

Insert Catchy Title Here

 One day a couple of weeks ago, Grace and Joe and I took Hannah to school and then hung out at the library and later learned to use the 3-D printer there.  We designed and printed a little plastic cup.  Amazing technology.

 Grace met up with a friend that she met on the cruise this past summer at Downtown Disney and H and B rode down there with me and we all went to lunch at Raglan Road, the Irish pub.  The food and entertainment were great!  Then we went shopping and surprised Grace with a new iPod case with Belle on it since she will be playing Belle in Beauty and the Beast in just a few weeks.  ;0)

 I bought two new books--I read the top one and really liked it, I've stared the one below but I think I may read it as a read aloud with the kids so I put it down for now.  I love Levi Lusko's teaching and often listen to his sermons and his book reads like he talks.  He is truly gifted.

 I haven't made it down to the dock to see a sunset in almost two weeks.  We have entered into our crazy busy stage of fall and I am often on the road at sunset picking up kids.  I did get to enjoy a beautiful sunset from the soccer field tonight though.

 Devin spends a couple of evenings a week at our house and often silliness ensues.  Hannah and Grace made these awful shirts on the cruise this summer and we were enjoying laughing about how awful they are.

 Happy 14th birthday to Anabel, these beautiful girls went downtown and walked around to celebrate Anabel's birthday.  I love that we live in a place that the kids can go and be safe and have fun too.

 Above and below are the twins, they are about 18 months old now!  I think Kenleigh looks so much like Hannah did at that age, especially the hair.

 LOVED the Royal We.  If you want a mindless, fun read, then read it!

 I'm tutoring Tatum in Geometry and we got to spend a glorious two hours together building a bookcase out of popsicle sticks and measuring and constructing and proving.  It was so not fun.  I had to do the same project with Hannah last year and in a couple of weeks I think I get to do it again with Tatum's brother.  Oh the joys of being a math tutor.

 Last Saturday was "Talk Like a Pirate Day" downtown and Hannah dressed appropriately.  :0)  While we were walking around down there I saw these napkins and thought they had a great message.

 Joe is a helper at church now and in the picture above he is helping to put on a puppet show.  Taking him out of his comfort zone but I think he had fun.

 Hannah and I met up with Devin and his mom in the Villages Sunday night to go to the movie.  His mom and I saw War Room and it was a GREAT movie!!  Not cheesy at all, great acting and a great message!  We enjoyed the live music in the town square while waiting for Devin and his mom.  My favorite moment was when the village people starting line dancing to Love Shack by the B-52s.  Who does that??

 Joe has started soccer and my tutoring is in full swing.  I am back to Tuesday mornings at Tarbucks but I'm enjoying a new drink.  A London Fog--it's Earl Grey tea with steamed milk and vanilla syrup.  YUM!

 Now that Hannah is driving, she and I both have an app called "Mama Bear."  I can track her whereabouts and it even gives me an alert if she is speeding.  Haha.

 Joe and I made our annual trip to Mickey's Not So Scary with Amanda and her boys.  We were the Batman family and had a great time!