Long Week

Aww, tomorrow is Friday and with brings my husband back to town - for at least a week! How exciting! Can't wait - I know he is more nervous about "bread winning" and the economy status in our town but we both have a lot of Faith and know that He will provide for us. It will be great to have the family together. Lots happening here in Lampasas, our superintendent has resigned and will be leaving us soon (date was discussed tonight in a closed door session so we don't know anything), parents are not happy about what they hear about school assignments for students and things here get blown out of proportion and no one really knows what the truth is until it actually happens! Frustrating!! took some pics of my nephew Aaron who plays for Jeffco - a small college in St Louis, Mo. I also got pics of 2 of my neices and our granddaughter Addy. Go to my photography page and check it out!!

We are in Oklahoma City this weekend visiting Chris. Have taken the kids to see the OKC Federal Building Memorial as well as across the way to this amazing neighborhood that held lots of photo opps. Our cousins, the Cummings Have been gracious enough to open their homes for us to use as Hotel De Cummings. Its great. Lots of room, great company and a chance to know the cousins better. Chris and his brother Rick have been using it as their home away from home during the time they are working in OKC. I can't even imagine how loud it most get when Tim, Chris and Rick are all at home. This picture is of the kids with our cousin Alex. Alex took us to the neighborhood across the way and we explored all over and managed to get some great shots.
It is very cold here - 39 was the official temp according to the car. We didn't stay long at the Memorial as we were all cold and only wearing hoodies. Silly us! We are looking for a packed weekend of ballgames, extended family, hopefully some old friends and catching up with each other. I'm sure there will be lots more pics!

Gratefulness

In watching the newest updates on the economy of our country, as well as watching the President speak last night, I am becoming very grateful that my husband has work. In a time when families are losing their homes, I am eternally grateful that we have ours.
I know I complain alot about Chris having to work out of state - basically I am a big baby without him - so I have decided to change my whining into a new mantra. "I am grateful he is able to work".
We realize that if we stay focused and work hard towards our goals during this time, then maybe we will actually be able to get ahead of the game and do better than just survive this time. We focus on what we have, the time we have together (when he can come home, or when we can go there)and the grace that has been extended to us from above.
It is funny how you begin to take each other for granted. Especially after close to 20 years. The little things that drive you batty about your spouse, suddenly becomes insignificant. You realize that it is about just being with one another, in whatever form that takes. He was able to come home this past weekend, after 19 days away, and it was so nice to just to have him around. It was almost as if I couldn't do enough for him - making sure he had enough clothes for the next time away, making sure he had some of his favorite foods to take, enough rest, etc. Things that once I would have suggested he take care of on his own. It is true that distance makes the heart grow fonder.
This time apart also makes me appreciate our military families so much more. I have always had a special place in my heart for our service men and women and have always admired the spouses and families left behind as they serve. Now, I have an appreciation for what they must go through on a daily basis. And yet, I realize that I can't fully have that understanding of what they go through. After all, my husband is not overseas, and he is definately not a life/death situation. But it does allow me to cheer a little bit louder when the military come home. And that is nice.
All this boils down to the same point I made earlier - when I want to whine this week - I will instead chant "I am so grateful that he gets to work". What are you grateful?

4th graders

Okay - so I subbed today for my friend who teaches 4th grade and this is not the first time I've subbed for her. But it was a lot harder today than it was last time. It is almost as if, after the 1st time, they figure out that your the "cool sub" and decide to see if you do have a push button. And that would be the push button to insanity. Literally. 3:25 did not come way to soon! Amazing how 4th graders can make you question everything about yourself and begin to doubt which one of you is in charge.

Hard Decisions

Today we had to make a decision about whether or not to have our upcoming scheduled weekend retreat. We have 6 of these in a row - that's right - 6 weekends in a row - with about 200 kids at each of them. I only have to direct one and mine is, er was, scheduled for this weekend.
We added two weekend plus retreats (a weekend plus a day) to our schedule and booked the favorite band and speaker for those, at the favorite location. So those are booked - leaving this upcoming weekend, not. My conference director has never had to cancel one before and neither have I. And we are not the kind of people who look at money as a major issue in such a decision - instead, we have to look at how it will work with what staff, and how to best manage groups, how to give campers the best experience, etc. But, eventually money does have to play a factor. Especially if as christians we are to be good stewards of finances - which we are called to do.
We ended up having about 48 people signed up - 4 of those our family members, 24 of those JCs and other staff, band and speaker, leaving about 20 campers. It was time to make a decision.
And so we let other big wigs make it - neither one of us like to use the word no.
So I have spent the day calling campers and parents to tell them the news and moving campers to another camp if they could. I started at 8 and when I stopped with calls, it was 1!
I took a break, ran to the gym, got kids, ran to a friends house to take pictures for my latest photography assignment and managed to even catch up on email!
Phew! I hate cancelling things - but I know that God must have a bigger plan than I can see.
And last but not least - I am counting the days till Chris gets home. I think all three of us are getting to that desperately lost with Dad phase. 3!!!

Weekend Events

It's been more than a busy weekend! Basketball game, cub scout skate party at the same time of the birthday skate party, followed by trip to Kerrville (2 hour drive), time at Midwinter 3, time with mewaw. Then Sunday was back to camp, drive home, do laundry, get kids ready for bed and school, then upload and edit pics, post, blog, blahblahblah! But it was a nice weekend overall. Only nice, it would have been better if Chris was home.

I think we are all in meltdown mode - aka "stick a fork in me, i'm done". Between fits, cries, and just moodiness, everyone broke down today to just exclaim "I just want Dad home". Me too. So the countdown has begun. Joshua says we can't count tonight because it is already here. I'm still counting tonight.

And to top it all of - I haven't done either of my photo assignments from last week! I'm off to get those done tomorrow - unless I have to work and then I'm not sure when those will get done! The picture is of Joshua explaining a skit to James and Spencer - which they let him be in!! Too cool!! I love my camp crew!!