I also started back to school. I actually started this Summer, but I'm really feeling it this Fall. You know why? Because of this. . . . "Go back to school, she (me) said. It'll be fun, she said. Take TWELVE credit hours while working 40+ hours and being the taxi for all things football & cheer, she said. Do all of this while your husband is in his capstone course, she said." For the love of all things that are holy and just and pure. . . "she" is an idiot and "she" may or may not dream of being rocked to sleep some nights.
Just before starting school, the kids spent their last week of Summer in Arkansas. They always have so much fun with grandparents. They may not understand now, but will sometime, that they are unbelievably blessed to still be able to do this! The weekend that I picked them up, we enjoyed Old-fashioned Days in my hometown and it was tons of fun. The kids got to be IN the dunk tank, and I got to sit with my daddy and stepmom for hours listening to hometown bands play music that always reminds me of home. The weather was PERFECT, especially for early August in Arkansas; it was pretty much the best day ever.
We went from there to my mom & dad's house for a couple of days. The first part of the visit was amazing - as always - but the second half involved what could only be described as the verge of death. I got something - a stomach bug, food poisoning, I have no idea. . . it was terrible. I remember at one point laying on the bathroom floor, face on the vent, praying that God would just take me then. The pain was indescribable. But then there was this. .
In August, Matt replaced a few light fixtures in our home. The one above the entryway "had to go" the very first time we saw the house. It may have taken almost 9 months to get rid of it, but it's GONE! The other was our back porch light. We have a lovely screened in porch and the gold ugliness that was - was just horrible. (Ignore the blue light; it's supposed to promote tranquility. It does, but it also looks strange)
Speaking to temperatures, let's talk about October.
AND - I will add that, if I had known that last Friday was my last evening that didn't require me to be somewhere or do something until at least November 6, I would've held on to it with a little more vigor! When did my children become social?! Why are we suddenly so popular? HA! I don't know, but as tired as I am, I LOVE it!
Finally - in between all of the fun and exciting things about the past couple of months, I've recently found myself on a personal journey that's titled "But, what if I get hurt". I'll likely share more about that later, but I will leave you with this thought - something that came to me one night as if it were thrown directly at me from across the room. "What if you do?!? Will it kill you? I think not. And what if you DON'T get hurt? Won't the reward of risking your heart be worth it? What if Jesus decided not to forgive us just because we might some day break his heart?!? We all have enough regrets in our lives; don't make unforgiveness and heart barriers another one of them."
Whatever you are going through, know that our Heavenly Father knows. He sees it - and even if we do get hurt, even if we wind up scarred from the emotional pain, He's never leaving! And for that, I couldn't be more grateful!
Matt is GRADUATING in just over a week, so I may disappear again, but I don't plan to be gone forever!
Happy Fall, Ya'll!
