I am my Fathers' daughter. . .

My dad has always been an early riser.  I guess he threw that on me too or it might be the kids.  Ever since I had my kids I cannot sleep very long.  At first I thought it was because I was worrying about stuff and then I thought it was because I had too much caffeine to drink too close to bedtime.  I figured it out this morning at 5 am, I am my fathers' daughter.
My dad, for as long as I can remember, has always gotten up early and either gone to the gym or gone for a run on the street.  Before there were gyms on every corner my dad would jog out our street for at least a couple of miles.  Now he goes to the gym and walks on the treadmill and lifts weights.  I always thought he got up early because he wanted to do his run and then he had to go to the barn and feed the horses and then come home to take me to school.  I think he gets up early because he can't sleep any longer than what he does.  I admire my dad because he does do all these things in the morning before he goes to work.  Now he is at home and in his easy chair by 9 ish and usually asleep.  I do give him a break on that one because he starts his day at 4 in the morning that and he is 83.  As I said he has been doing this since I can remember.
I cannot sleep past 6 and I am lucky if I sleep past 5 these days.  I decided today, when I woke up at 5, that I would do what dad did.  I went for a brisk walk.  I usually walk my sweet B after I take Sprat to school but this walk was just for me.  It was still dark, nice, and quiet.  I prayed and I took in the fresh morning air and enjoyed my walk this morning.  This walk was just for me, I think I may try it tomorrow too.          Thank you dad.

Today. . .

I had to go for my annual mammogram today, and I encourage all ladies to have those done as soon as you turn 40 or earlier if you insurance will pay for it.  Early detection is the key to saving your life.  I have a history of breast cancer in our family so I do mine just like I have my physicals every year.  I hate having them done but I know it could save my life.  It went pretty quick today, of course you have to wait a week to get your results.
On my way to the grocery store after the mashing of the boobs, the best song came on the radio.  I must apologize to all of those that were around me.  I was jamming to Markie Mark and the Funky Bunch with Good Vibrations.  There is nothing like a good song from the 80's to turn up loud and sing and dance along with  it.  That is a great song!!

A little frustrated today. . .

School seems to be going ok.  Big T has a substitute, his teacher is still employed by another county so she cannot come to her position here until that is filled.  I think that is a load of garbage.  Let them get the sub till they find a teacher.  We have had to deal with long term subs before and he does not do well with them.  He is a little boy that needs routine, when he does not get that routine he does not do well.  I am very concerned since this is his 5th grade year and this is a very important year for him.  He will go to middle school next year.  We have been assured that his teacher will be in place no later than a few weeks.  Well, that is a nice vague  answer.  I am working with him at home with his multiplication tables because I know those are going to be a big deal this year.  Please keep us in your prayers as we battle this change and lack of consideration from our school system.

We survived the first day. . .

We each survived the first day of school, now it's all down hill from here.  Big T came home happy and said he may need to brush up on his multiplication tables.  He did his reading and then we worked on math.  Went to pick Sprat up at football tryouts, he did make the Middle School team.  Yipeeeee!!!!!  He was a little nervous and I was a lot nervous for him.  He and two of his best buds made it also.   I am looking forward to football season, both my guys playing and dear hubby coaching.
Dear hubby and I went out this morning for our traditional back to school date.  He takes the first day of school off every year and we spend the day to together.  We don't do anything fancy just spend the day together.  We usually go somewhere for breakfast and go do some shopping.    We had to do it today because he had his boss working with him yesterday.    It is nice just to spend the day without the kids constantly interrupting with some complaint of the other not doing something or do something too long.  Ahhhh!!  the sound of silence. . . .   But, I cannot wait to hear about the kids day at school and football practice.

Family. . . .Kids growing up. . . .

So my nieces are now both in college, one in graduate school and one in undergrad.  I am very proud of them both, I know they are going to do great things.  My sister is now an empty nester.  I know the girls will come home some on the weekends, holidays, and maybe summer, but for the most part they have flown the coop.   I tell you all of this to unload my fears of my children leaving the nest.  I know I complain and poke fun about not getting any privacy or time to myself but, the truth is I love being a mom and I love having my kids around.  They do drive me nuts on most days but I wouldn't want it any other way.   I guess I am afraid of when they will no longer need me.  What then?   I am sure this is what all mothers go through, I may be going through it a little early since my kiddos are still in middle school.   I am never late to worry over things.  Dear hubby and I started our family later than most these days.  We were married six years before we had our first little one and we were not young when we married.   Some days I worry if we will have anything in common once our kids have flown the coop.  We do almost everything together right now with the kids and we both like sports.  I could be just worrying over nothing.  Maybe I am worrying about not knowing what to do with myself when my kids don't need me anymore.  I am so proud of them both though, they are strong boys and I think they are growing in their relationship with Christ.  We talk about that a lot so I hope it is becoming more a part of them.  Today was their first day of school and they both asked me to pray with them before they left, and that made me very happy.   I have spent these moments of quiet at home praying for all of those going back to school, young and old. Here is my picture they let me take grudgingly so.

What makes a man, a Father? ? ? ?

I don't usually write gushy stuff about my husband but, sometimes he just brings that out in me.  The other night I was trying to get the kids up for devotions and Bible reading and that is a HUGE task.  Some nights they just don't want to go to bed, go figure, they're boys.  I had a pretty tiresome day and was sitting on the couch and dear hubby had his Ipad out and I asked him to pull up Keys for Kids.  That is the online site we get our devotions from.  I was feeling too lazy to get up and get the hamster running in my computer and pull it up.  I have told you about my husband praying over our garden in other posts.  You know he is a spiritual man.  I expected him to pull up the site and hand me the ipad to read it for the kids.  Instead, he read the devotion that night.  I was a little shocked, since he normally lets me do all the reading unless I have a sore throat or something.  I was so excited, some days I feel like what I do does not matter and then he does something like this and it makes me realize he does appreciate what I am trying to do and it does matter.  When both Mom and Dad work together to build that spiritual bond in their relationship it bleeds over into the family relationship too.   I feel so blessed.   It is a real man and Father that will read devotions and the Bible to his kids.  I know that God is working in our lives and I am so thankful for all of his blessings.

New Bible Study. . . .

I have joined a new Bible study based on a book, "What Happens When Women Say Yes to God."  We read and do work in the book and post online our thoughts and such.  As you know we do nightly devotions as a family.  We read a devotion "Keys for Kids" it is an online site that does great devotions for kids and we read the Bible.  We have read all of Proverbs and are almost through with Psalms.  I was not in a good mood last night and feeling kinda blah and I was only going to read out of the Bible and not do the online devotion.  Big T came up first and sat beside me on the couch and while we were waiting for hubby and Sprat, Big T said can we please do the online devotion.  I reluctantly agreed, I was just really tired.  I pulled my computer out, got my hamsters running and finally got to the website.  The devotion was about how Satan can goad you into doing things that go against God's commandments.  The little boy was getting bullied on the bus from school.  His mom told him he needed to try and find a way to deal with his frustration with this bully without fighting.  The next day he came home and was very happy.  He had sat at the front of the bus and avoided the bully all together.  His mom got to thinking about how her son had changed his circumstances and avoided the bully by moving closer to someone in authority.  His mom said maybe she should move closer to Jesus and try to have a closer relationship with him to keep Satan away from her.
I felt like this mom in the devotion.  Big T made me read this devotion and it just reinforces my need to be in my new Bible study.  I always laugh when God just comes right out and says this is where you are supposed to be.  Last night I thanked my sweet Big T for getting me to read the devotion, it was Gods' plan all along.  I said yes, and got  a lesson for myself.   So thankful!!!!!