Changes....

Just in case you didn't know this about me, I'm NOT so big on CHANGES.

I'm a "wee bit" of a planner. I like things the way I like them, thank you very much, and usually, I am able to make my handy little life work out the way I want it to work out. And I like it that way. It's like my own personal little Burger King.

But sometimes, life throws me a curve ball of sorts.

Like this week, for instance.

You see, last year I made the MONUMENTAL, LIFE-CHANGING decision to go back to work. It wasn't a decision I made lightly, but it's where I felt I needed to be. My children would all be in school this year, and I want to be where they are. (That was sort of the whole reason I was a stay-at-home mom in the first place.)

But, now the state of Texas is having money issues, and our schools are having budget issues. So this week I was informed that my services would no longer be needed next year. As in, "You no longer have a job here."

*SIGH*

I know I am so blessed, because I don't have to work. My not working won't change my family's life financially. I wasn't doing it for the money, though... I was doing it because I love it, and because I love being near my children. And my children love me being there. I know that won't always be true, and I hate to miss the few years when it IS true.

I'm not sure where I am supposed to go from here, but I'm trying to just be still and BE. God will show me, if I just allow him.

Back to Reality

I will say, this whole "going back to work after being off for Spring Break after the Spring forward time change" thing might be kicking my butt. Just a little bit.

We never "adjusted" to the time change, because we didn't have to get up and go anywhere last week! We slept late EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. And loved every minute of it.

This week, we might be dragging JUST A WEE BIT, and it's only Tuesday!!

Lord, help us!!

Spring Break 2011...

... is in full swing at Casa de Killian, and we are loving every minute of doing NOTHING. We have taken several little day trips, but nothing too exciting. Today we dropped my car off to be serviced in Waco and got a "loaner" vehicle for the day, and had big plans to go to the zoo. When we drove up to the parking lot, not only was the ENTIRE parking lot marked "FULL", but the overflow parking lot was also marked "FULL". I bribed the girls with ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WHOLE WORLD YOU CAN THINK OF THAT YOU HAVE EVER WANTED TO DO. ANYTHING ELSE. NAME IT. IT'S YOURS. JUST PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME GO IN THERE WITH THAT MASS OF HUMANITY , INCLUDING 75,000 OTHER SNOTTY NOSED CHILDREN THAT BELONG TO OTHER PEOPLE. (or something like that...)

So, they chose to go and paint pottery. It was nice and rather therapeutic. We enjoyed it. Now would be an EXCELLENT time for a picture, if I had taken one, but.... you know me. I did not.:-) Kate made a picture frame for one of her friends for her birthday, Grace painted a garden gnome (strange choice, I know, but we just saw Gnomio and Juliet yesterday...), and Abby painted a spotted kitty cat. I painted a basketball that Kate REALLY wanted (but she was painting the picture frame...).

After pottery, we went to Lion's Park. It is an old-fashioned park that has a carousel and a train and go carts and mini-golf and all sorts of kiddie-rides. The girls had a blast.

By then, I was pretty much ready to bolt for home, but they still hadn't finished with my car, so we went for ice cream...

Then off for a little shopping....

Then we just gave up and went and tracked down my car. They STILL weren't done, and the guy confessed that they probably were not going to finish today. ARGGGGHHH!!!!! He said to just take the loaner home and come back tomorrow.

This guy obviously does not REALIZE that we've already had all the fun that we can have in Waco!!!!

The Results are In...

... and my little Kate is now a Junior High Cheerleader.

I'm proud of her for going after what she wanted and doing a good job.

I went and watched her today during the try-outs in front of the student body, and she was really good. She didn't look nervous AT ALL. It did her mama's heart good!

So... I'm a cheer mom. Pray for me, internets, 'cause I've got a feeling I'm going to need it!!!!!

Cheer Mom...

It's that time already.

My daughter is in Jr. High, and she has decided that she would like to try out for cheerleader.

Now, if you know me AT ALL, you know that I was a BIG cheerleader in my school girl days. Big. As in "loved it with my whole heart, didn't care about much else, practiced in my bedroom all the time" kind of big. I thought it was GREAT.

But now I'm a mom, and I'm not sure what I think about it anymore. I don't really WANT her to wear a cute skirt and yell for young boys playing sports... I want her to want to go and play her OWN sports. I want her to be strong and confident and independent. And I don't know if cheering teaches that. I guess it COULD - in the right situations, but ...UGH.

I have resigned myself to the fact that she wants to do this, and I will let her, because I remember how I loved it. BUT... at the same time, I'll be preaching about self-importance and independence and growing up to be a strong woman who can take care of herself.

Kinda like her mama...

March, you say?!?!?!

What?!?!

You say it's March 1st?!?!?!

I feel certain that cannot be true.

Why, it was just New Year's Day yesterday, after all, wasn't it?

There is no way possible it could be March ALREADY!

I must check this out...

Grace's Kindergarten Valentine Tea

Each year our local Kindergarten hosts a Valentine Tea Party at our local Rodeo Arena and Restaurant, Circle T. The students learn all about proper etiquette and table manners, and then they eat lunch at their party to show off what they have learned.

Then they also learn how to dance, and they get to show off what they learned there, too, by dancing with their friends. Here is Miss Grace, dancing with a few of her friends.

It was cute, friends, really cute. She was really nervous and didn't want to do it at first, but she finally did it, and it wasn't so bad after all. Then they even got to dance a dance with their parents. It was sweet seeing Miss Grace dancing away with her Daddy... I could see life flashing before my eyes...
Here is Grace with Dad,
... and with Mom at the Tea table.

It was great! Thanks to the Kindergarten teachers for a SUPER experience! (And a huge thank you to Circle T for allowing Kindergarten to use the fabulous facility again!!!!)

WICKED

This week I got my late Valentine's Day present......my sweet hubby took me to see Wicked!

It was THE.BEST.SHOW.EVER.

I mean, REALLY. I loved it so very, very, much. My only regret about the whole thing was that I didn't take my kids to see it! Now I just have to figure out a way to get them to San Antonio before March 6...

Seasons

They always say that if you don't like the current season, or weather, in Texas, just stick around 15 minutes or so. It will change.

Since I last posted, we had ANOTHER day of snow/ice (though we went to school in it) and another round of bitter cold temperatures. We survived a few frozen pipes and one round of flooding through the house that required the purchase of a new shop-vac. MAYBE we have made it through the worst of the winter weather, because yesterday was lovely, and today is BEAUTIFUL. Like it is forecast to be 70 degrees beautiful! I can't wait - I hope to sneak in a run sometime between church, basketball practice, and choir practice... Those kids-o-mine keep me so busy...

This has also been the season of Luke's parents' rapidly declining health... I have now lost count of how many times they have been in and out of the hospital. They are both currently in the hospital again. I need prayers for wise and prudent decision making ability for the entire family, as I think the time is swiftly approaching that we will have to make some important decisions concerning their health and care.

Basketball season is quickly coming to an end, as well. The girls have one more weekend of regular season play, before Kate plans to join a special "tournament" team of all 6th grade girls for extra practice and fun. She is really excited about this. I know it will be a season of fun for her!

I guess it's the "seasonings" in life that make it the most flavorful! ;-)

Happy Sunday!

Snow Day #4

Yes, that's right. You heard correctly. We have been at home for FOUR DAYS because of the weather. The first round was only sleet and ice, but finally last night we got some SNOW!! And, I will admit, it is BEAUTIFUL. The girls are out in it, right now, and they say that they are going to build a snowman... I don't know if that will happen or not, because it is really powdery. But, if they do, I will try and snap a picture of it.It has been BITTERLY cold. It has not been above freezing since Monday, and it is now Friday. It is so hard on the animals! Trixie (our dog), has been in and out of the house, but you can just see it on her face. She was B.O.R.E.D. She was ONE HAPPY DOG when the girls finally came out to play today! She just could not contain her excitement! She rolled around in the snow over and over again with them! If she could have spoken, she would have been saying, "Play with me! Play with me! Play with me!!!!!"

The sun is finally out now, so I know the snow will not last long. Hopefully the girls will enjoy it while it is here, and hopefully that sun will warm us up a little... I am DONE with Winter!!