Recovery Week

It feels like we should be recovering from our build up to the wedding, I wanted to sleep in at least Saturday morning. And on Monday, I was super tired. Richard was out of town from Sunday - Wednesday so we just tried to stay cool and keep busy enough to not drive each other crazy. I have a huge personal goal to not have the tv on until at least after 4pm, so even if everyone asks...I usually say no. The kids all have Bible studies workbooks. Two of them do them with me, and some we throw some math in too.

This week has had it's own adventures:

- Tuesday: Jordan had a friend over for the night.
- I taught Cameron to play Guess Who, my favorite kids game.
- Jordan thought she had a splinter...from a pineapple.
- I let the girls make a main dish and a dessert from internet directions. - Wednesday: Sheridan had a friend over from Clarksville for the night.

- Apparently someone ran over my computer cord with the vacuum. :(
- Thursday: Sheridan spent the night with a friend that is moving out of state at the end of the month.
-Richard offered to clean out the fridge and apparently you shouldn't put large quantities of rice (or noodles) in the sink. Precious husband, saving me from this job...spent hours trying to get it unclogged and still had to call the guy with the BIG SNAKE to quickly clear that clog.- I was helping move something off our trailer and stepped off crazy with my right foot, hit the ground with my left knee and suffered from yet another episode of extreme vertigo for a few minutes in the extreme heat.
- On the Hill: I had to request a paint change in the house...too blue for me in two small rooms.
- On the Hill: the kitchen island has been delivered, the tiles are being put up in the master shower, and the flooring has been delivered.

- Worship Night was awesome on Wednesday, and I wish it was every night!
- I ordered all my RL products for my next event and put WEST on my billboard and yard signs instead of EAST in my directions. :(

- Richard upgraded my phone...and I dropped it before I had a protective box on it. :(

What to do First?

I may be stalling, or maybe just sorting my thoughts. I have a lot on my mind lately and a lot to do.

Sheridan's last two basketball games are this week. It's been fun watching her play and enjoy her team.

We are starting our new LIFE GROUP this week at our house. We have 19 people signed up. I'm making dinner. I want everyone to be comfortable, I may have to move the furniture to make room!

Jordan is still playing Upward basketball and sometimes plays with a travel team. They're almost over but Richard found a soccer team for her to try out next week.

It's 4 weeks until my event and I'm working on it everyday.

The slab should be poured at our House on the Hill this week, and the frame will be next!

My little boy is struggling with obedience the last couple weeks. Precious boy is sometimes Mr Challenge My Mom boy. It's much more time consuming to raise good children than bad. It's taking energy and emotions to correct attitude and actions.

BSF is quite challenging this year, it's like a college class on Revelation. It's somewhat surprising how the lessons of God's ultimate sovereignty are absolutely as relevant today as they are in the message of Revelation.

And there's the Year of the Bible reading that I'm behind on. I can't quite get it worked into the same time each day and as much as our church is as encouraging and not pressuring us to read, I can't help but lay the guilt on myself.

On Thursdays, Lauren and I are planning her wedding. I'd like to give my daughter the day of her dreams, but I fear its' unchartered territory for me.

Richard is in his busy season with 4-5 days a week on the road. I miss my best friend and the only person who will listen to all the details of all my days of all my stuff.

...This morning at 1am a group of squirrels were having a gathering above our bedroom. I was home by myself and was a little crazed with the thought of a squirrel falling through the vent. In my sleepy, panicked state, I got the kitchen broom and tapped on the ceiling. Fortunately, it worked and they went away. Unfortunately, our landlord didn't send anyone today to check on how they got in.

Christmas Week

We did something this year that we've never done. We celebrated Christmas a whole week...and had fun every single day! I've asked Sheridan to write a guest post on the blog and I'll post it with pictures as soon as she has it done.

Highlights of each day:
Sunday: Singing in the worship team, helping host the Christmas Mall for single moms and their kids for Christmas

Monday: Our first full-fledged WHOBILATION!

Tuesday:  Love notes for the season.
Wednesday: Christmas Candlelight service at church and family gifts.

Thursday: Christmas Eve with the Rogers family in Conway.

Friday: Christmas day with the Boogaarts in Mountain Home.

Saturday: Post Christmas Chinese lunch and game day in Mountain Home.

Sunday - Wednesday: Family Vacation, complete with snow, in Kansas City.

As if that week wasn't full enough, we reflected on 2015 with our annual TOP TEN LISTS and almost ALL of us had more than 10 items on our lists. I mean, when you consider we moved, Ryan got married, Lauren got engaged, Erin graduated and went to college...I mean, that just scratches the surface of 2015. What will 2016 bring?

Week at a Glance

It's MAY! OH MY! We've got 3 graduations (middle school, high school and college), 2 field days, and a birthday at the end of the month! It's never boring here!

Monday: Richard in Nashville, TN
Volleyball tryouts in Russellville, Sheridan
Erin spend the night with Lauren at ATU

Tuesday: Richard in Nashville, TN
Volunteer at Primary School with teacher appreciation 7:30-noon, Mom
Soccer in Maumelle, Erin
Soccer practice in Russellville, Sheridan

Wednesday:
Richard home!
Senior Night, last Soccer Game, Erin

Thursday:
Field Day at Elementary School, Jordan
Volunteer at Field Day, Mom & Dad
Lunch with new roommates, Erin
Volleyball tryouts in Russellville, Sheridan
Soccer practice in Russellville, Sheridan

Friday:
Field Day at Middle School, Sheridan
Volunteer at Field Day, Mom & Dad
Hair appointment, Jordan
Senior Choir Concert, Erin

Saturday:
Graduation at U of A, Katelyn
Powder Puff game, Erin

Sunday:
Lauren moves home!
Richard and Erin leave for her SENIOR TRIP! (Sunday - Wednesday)

Monday:
Tryouts for 7th grade basketball, Sheridan (7am!, Monday-Wednesday)

Wednesday:
Orthodontic appointment, Sheridan

Thursday:
Graduation Practice, Erin
End of Year Awards Assembly, Erin

Friday:
Graduation Day! ERIN
Project Graduation, 11pm, Erin & Mom
Wiffle Ball and Fat Bat at Project Graduation, Dad!

Week at a Glance

Ummm.
Not sure what to think about this, considering there is a big snow storm hovering to the west and I can hear sleet on the roof now.

Monday: Richard is in Miami, OK. Erin's Honor's College interview at UCA. Sheridan is staying with a friend here. I'm leaving Cam and Jordan in Atkins with a friend. The kids are out of school for their Mid-Winter break. If the UCA campus is closed, the interview will be postponed. We won't know until the morning.

Tuesday: Richard to Houston. Erin has a Skyped interview for a summer job at Falls Creek.

Wednesday: I'm scheduled to look at houses in Russellville with our realtor. Erin swims at her last meet, at the Jones Center in Springdale. Richard will meet us in Springdale.

Thursday: Richard will drive Erin to All State Choir clinic in Hot Springs. She needs to be there around 9am. They'll leave here by 6am. I have a leader dinner with my Leadership team in the evening.

Friday: Richard goes to Boulder, CO. I read to Cam's class. 5 days until MOVE IN.

Saturday: Richard in Boulder. Erin will have her final All State Choir Performance in Hot Springs. I'll take the kids. 4 days until MOVE IN.

Sunday: Our 4th and final Connect Class. Richard will go to Miami, OK, in the afternoon. Dinner at NLC in Conway for me. 3 days until MOVE IN.

Busy Week

This week we're all over the place, and I'm so thankful God has his eye on all of us.

"For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth

to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him."

II Chronicles 16:9

TUESDAY: Richard flies to Houston for an interview.

WEDNESDAY: Richard flies from Houston to Dallas.
Lauren leaves for camp at 7:30am. (Davis, Oklahoma, 10 weeks)
Erin works 4-9pm.

THURSDAY: Ryan comes home from Flower Mound, Texas.
Richard returns from Dallas.
Erin has open house at the Aquatic Center from 4-10.

FRIDAY: I work for Mom in Mountain Home.
Ryan is home for the day.
Cameron has water day at the Kindergarten.

SATURDAY: I work for Mom in Mountain Home.
Ryan flies to Burundi, Africa, for the month.

SUNDAY: Erin is going to Girls State in Searcy for the week.

The most WONDERFUL time of the year

I have not been invited to one Christmas party or extra holiday event. And it's OK. The next 9 days are pretty much eaten up with stuff that has to be done, AND there's still the possibility (nothing's been done since last week) that we'll have new family to go see. I don't mind the busy...it's the not-knowing that's hard. When everyone does get home...I'm praying for lots of laughter, late night game time, teenagers in the house, and smiling faces. Yeah, it's a Christmas kind of miracle we're wishing for around here.

Someone just told me I had the patience of a saint, referring to the adoption process we're in. It's NOT TRUE. Somewhere along the way, I have had to put expectations away and just wait. With my personality it seems like such a waste of time to wait things out...but we have NO CHOICE. So, we've given the entire thing up to Him. I've said it before...but I can't wait to SEE the miracle of what ONLY GOD could orchestrate for us.

Next 2 weeks:

Wednesday: Erin doctor appt in Russellville, Richard to Dallas, Children's Choir practice

Thursday: Richard back home at noonish, TobyMac concert in Tulsa with all our kids (including Katelyn!)

Friday: Richard meeting in LR all day/Horizon’s Christmas Party, help set up Madrigal at CHS

Saturday: Dress Rehearsal for musical at church 10-12, Little Rock (meet kiddos!?) 3-4:30, Madrigal Dinner 6:30

Sunday: Family Christmas Celebration 10:30am, Richard to Broken Arrow, Christmas Musical 5:00

Monday: Richard in Springdale, Hair appointment for Mom (priority)

Tuesday: Erin tonsillectomy in Clarksville (8am), Richard in Springdale (evening)

Friday: Ryan surgery in Fayetteville (8am)

Sunday: nursery duty

Monday-Thursday:  Christmas celebration...Conway, then Mountain Home

While juggling all of that (and it looks like a lot of nursing on my part), we'll have to work hard to get our hearts prepared to celebrate God's greatest gift. We will keep chipping away at our countdown chain with the names of Jesus on it, we will all write love notes for our stockings, and we'll keep the Christmas music piped in as much as possible. Hopefully, it will keep our minds at peace and our hearts tuned toward what is right.