A New Season

Advent began today, what a perfect day to start again, to prepare for tomorrow today without letting fear stop me. I'm not even sure where I'm going this year with my work or my life as the kids grow I'm needed just as much if not more, but I also find hours of down time that I'm needing to fill preferable with a job that brings us a little extra income.
Life has been rushing at me this last eighteen  months, I feel like I've been just making it from one day to the next. We took a fabulous four days away from home and hiked into waterfalls along with many other fun activities. But this picture of the waterfall is my source of inspiration this advent. From the top it pours down, its overwhelming, its loud, that's how life has been, but if you walk to the bottom it is a calm cool pool of relaxing waters, and that's where I'm choosing to focus my attention this Advent. Stop and sit in the cool waters, take the time to pray to focus, to not let everything rushing down from the top hinder my time in finding God's will in my life. To move forward but calmly and with hope and peace in all my decisions. I pray the same for you this Advent.

Playing Catch Up

I never blogged Anna's 11th birthday. I wasn't even with her that day, she was in Michigan and I was not. My little girl is growing into a young woman before my eyes. She went to a week of summer camp, she made new friends and overcame fears that were major obstacles for her.

Anna started middle school, I was way more worried about her than I was Beau, but she has rolled into it like it's no big thing. Her grades aren't perfect, but she's happy, she's making friends and she's having fun. She's found a new confidence this year in just being herself. She has joined a travel softball team and her drive and motivation impress me.

She never lets anybody tell her she can't she just figures out how to make it her own way in everything she does. 

She's kind and generous all the time. Owen loves her because she makes time for him. Anna's greatest trait is her ability to find goodness in everyone. She never says a negative word about anyone, she will point to a positive in the person even when they are hard to find she inspires me to look deeper into everyone I meet and find their good. I hope she holds onto that part of her forever, her heart is so full of love and she brings a smile to all she meets.

Pumpkin Carving

We struggled to fit in this year, but we managed Sunday evening to carve our pumpkins. Owen wanted his to be a dead guy, so strange. Anna made a cat and Luke carved the bat, he is studying them in school, he is slightly bat crazy right now. Beau doesn't enjoy carving anymore so he didn't make one but he was around giving unwanted input.

Middle School Dance

The lighting isn't great but the oldest two were all dressed up for their first dance, last year sixth grade wasn't invited but this year they were. Hope they are having fun.

Best Laid Plans

We intended to take a family outing to Georgia Tech bookstore, it was closed. Ben had a meeting so the kids and I went to The Varsity, the kids had never been. It was busy it was fun and disappointment turned into smiles. Weekend is over back to school but memories were made by just making every moment count. 

The kids sitting on the step waiting for Ben at his meeting place.

Baseball

Hot sun beating down

Little boys putting on gear

The fun of baseball

Fears his first season

Tears when mom is not right there

But he takes the field

First time up to bat

Confidence soars, bat meets ball

Slides over home plate

Still learning the game

Overcoming his worries

Learning through baseball

Owen's in Preschool

Owen had a fantastic first day of preschool. His teacher only had extremely positive things to say about his day. His favorite was playing in the ball room at recess. He has become a big boy so fast. It will be fun watching him grow and learn this year but I'm still glad it is only three days a week.