Bits Of Random

I can't seem to shake the zero ambition for writing. I tried to trick myself into the mood yesterday by saying if I got my cleaning done early enough, I could write a blog post... but it didn't really work. I thought of copying a fellow blogger who pretended to sit down with her readers for a cup of coffee but that idea kinda fell flat for me too. Maybe, the best thing to do is just to sit down and write. Or maybe I will discover the best thing is actually to just shut up; we'll see.

Today is the third day of sunshine in a row; I nearly forgot such a thing was possible! The breeze is still pretty chilly but that sunshine does wonders for the soul.

It's a busy time of the year, (Wait. Is there even a time of year that isn't?) with the last couple months of school ahead and a myriad of activities, especially for the high school students. The younger ones have had all kinds of special days at school including dress up ones.

 

And the high school spent a night and day going to REACH; which it sounds like everyone else and their neighbor also attended. Next week they reap the fruits of all their fundraising and take a trip to Washington D.C.  And then there is Choirfest and track and field to prepare for, not to mention graduation coming up and this year we are one of the parents...

Yeah. My head feels like it's spinning too. I have a feeling we're only beginning to get a taste of this stage of parenting.

It's a good thing we still have a healthy dose of a different stage of parenting to keep us amused most days.

What? You don't all have your bookshelves labeled by in house librarians?

We even have a library sign prominently displayed on our living room wall. You should come check out the great service!

I'll never get tired of this little voice sounding out new words. He loves bringing home new "books" to read. You know he has a good kindergarten teacher when every sentence with an exclamation point has to be carefully sounded out and then repeated in a loud, excited voice because he's been taught what those marks mean! It is also very amusing.

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At the same time as I am making my way through Deuteronomy and now Joshua as I read the Bible chronologically, I've also joined my girls as they begin working on their quiz passage for next year. Much to my shame, it's been years since I've memorized Bible verses! It's a little shocking to realize how hard I have to work at it compared to brains that are so much younger than mine. With 7 chapters in their passage this year, I am not making any bold promises about keeping up with them but I have really actually enjoyed the challenge of working on the first chapter.

Reading through the Bible in a year means reading chunks at a time rather rapidly. I've been enjoying that. Listening to it in the NLT version makes it feel more like listening to a good story book. At the same time, repeatedly going over the same words time and time again as I memorize has been therapuetic, like a gentle, soothing cadence.

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I know I have not updated you on our foster care story lately. It is complicated. We are right at a year since taking classes and still have no license in hand. I have no doubt that God has a reason for every odd detail in this process but I confess that I have no idea what all those reasons are. I'll also confess to tears and frustration but ultimately, it's pretty clear that He is in control, not me. I only ask that He makes the way very clear that He wants us to take. Maybe you could put in a few petitions for me to that end?

I hate being vague but the subject is too personal and a blog is too public...

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I should be in the kitchen right this minute, working on food for a fundraiser supper tonight. Someday, in another life, I'd like to actually enjoy being in the kitchen. At present, let's just say the words 'enjoy' and 'kitchen' don't belong in the same sentence in my mind.

How people can be so different from each other is a never failing amazement. I told Jasmine how I actually made myself breakfast the other morning and even took a picture so she could see it.

She said something like, "Oh, wasn't it just fun to create something different and delicious?!" Ummmmm. Not really. I mean, it tasted good...

I'm not sure if one can change that perspective? Maybe. Or is it like our 2+ hour conversation after a Sunday lunch where we hashed all the sides of how two members of our household think, compared to two other members. All we could really conclude was that we believed the other side but we sure couldn't imagine being that way.

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This is now getting beyond bits of random. High time I shut it down before I hit delete and decide it really would be better to remain silent.

I am going to go listen to an audio book, cut up salad stuff and, as *Susan would say, "If I can't look pleasant, I'll look as pleasant as I can."

A happy day to you, and twice on Thursday!

*Susan, in 'Rilla of Ingleside'

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PS. Sometimes I really wonder what I'll be like at sixty. Totally forgot that the first thing I needed to do when I got home from school was mix up a batch of sourdough bread. Then, when I was mixing it, I dutifully get the bread flour out and when I get ready to put in flour, I promptly pull out the regular flour and measure it in!

That's not all. I needed to get gas after dropping school children off at school this morning. I grab my credit card and keys and hop out of the van. As the door closes I hear this beep and the sound of the doors locking and I have this moment of sheer you've-got-to-be-kidding-me panic.... until I realize -- Oh. Yeah. I'm holding my keys.

If this is forty, send help.