Changing the World

A couple of weeks ago I was in TJ Maxx - just looking around. I was looking in the girl's section and I pulled out a shirt that had a picture of a kid and it said in large letters "I'm Gonna Change the World". My girl has somewhat eclectic taste in clothes and I was honestly trying to decide if she would like it. My biggest hesitation was that it was not pink. Anyway, this lady beside me - she was probably mid-50s - said "I despise shirts like that." Me, quite perplexed reply "yes, I try to be very conscientious of the wording on clothing - some of it can be quite rude. I don't really find this one offensive." The lady gives me a glare and humpfs turns her head and says "you must be one of THOSE moms" and walks away. I very much wanted to chase her down and give my side of the story. If she assumes I am one of those moms that enjoys seeing her children succeed - she would be correct. If she assumed I were one of those parents that be sure my kid wins at any cost - would be sadly mistaken. I do believe each of my children have the ability to change the world - that's how I have raised them. I don't necessarily mean for them to end world hunger or achieve world peace but I do mean for them to have an impact on the world and those around them for the cause of Christ. Each time they share their testimony, each time they do a kind deed in His name, each time they choose to be set apart - they are changing the world. By this time, I had wandered away from the rack - I marched my little 'ole self over and was going to get that shirt - pink or not and I was going find that lady and explain why yes, apparently, I am one of "THOSE" moms! Unfortunately, not only was the shirt the wrong color - it was also the wrong size. And apparently, lots of other people weren't offended by it because it was the only one. So I guess my girl will have to change the world without broadcasting it to others! :)

The ending of an era

Tonight I made the final decision to end our involvement in our beloved co-op. We are finishing out the year, of course, but will not be returning next year. While part of me is relieved, part of me is incredibly sad. Six years ago, another mom and myself hatched a plan at our annual homeschool conference. We decided our upcoming high schoolers needed a bit more - more social interaction, more peer interaction, more accountability. As it turned out, several other people shared our conviction. For four years, we came together every Friday to learn geography, history, Bible and Literature. It was hard but it was fabulous. It met a great need for all four of my children. It was our circle, it was our constant. Then came graduation. Along with losing our oldest group - many cornerstone families moved away (or were in the process of moving away). Things shifted, my second born became my oldest student, a student very different from my first student. For the first time in six years, the benefit doesn't outweigh cost - not for my remaining three children. And it makes me incredibly sad. After the meeting tonight, I decided to do something "fun" tomorrow. This week is our half spring break. We took half a few weeks ago when Emily was home and we are taking the other half this week. I have just realized that school is not nearly as fun for my younger two as it was for my older two. Not that they would tell you it was fun, per se, but I was forever coming up with something to throw a change into the mix. I haven't done that in I cannot remember when. Somewhere along the way, just keeping up got hard. My once spotless house got filled with junk, clutter. I became a slave to my schedule, my calendar. I got tired. On top of that, I followed the testing schedule I have kept for the past several years and I have tests coming out my ears this week. While I am grateful to have the appointments and the extra income, I am overwhelmed and it is like trying to "schedule fun". The two words just don't go together. However, this evening, I was determined. As soon as my tests were over tomorrow, we were going to do something fabulous. I had a few thoughts running through my mind. I looked around at a few Pinterest ides, I looked up Family fun. Then, I remembered my two tests, then I remembered someone has guitar, then a remembered someone has drama, then I remember I was supposed to go pick up a pair of pants in Smithfield. Then, I just gave up. Fun is overrated.

A new experience

So, Owen had been looking forward to going to the DMV today all year. I'm just going to be honest, I have LOTS of issues- taking a child to the DMV to get their license is one of them. I am pretty sure you almost have to be a spawn of Satan to work at our local branch. (Hopefully, they are all really nice people and just put on their mad, angry, mean faces at work.) We go to that branch for permits, id cards, etc but NOT for driver's license. This mama bear does not appreciate mean without just cause. So, hubby was on DMV detail with oldest daughter, it worked so well we thought we would attempt a repeat performance today with child #2. Well, first of all, it's tax season and my dear hubby is a CPA - problem #1. Second of all, when they got there at 8:00 am this morning - there was already a very long line. After waiting a half hour or so, the man told the line that they were having computer issues and there would be a considerable wait. Well, due to problem #1, I got called on the scene. I arrived only to discover that the entire building had lost power. You could be locked in and stay to wait, or you could leave and come back another time. We decided to stick it out. After about an hour, the power came back on. Due to so many people leaving, we were about the 5th person to be called. We go over and tell the lady what we need - she goes and gives our ticket to another lady that I am pretty sure was transferred from our local office. She ignores the lady trying to hand her our ticket. She begins to mumble something about "it's not her turn", "it's raining outside" etc. The woman points out that we are standing next to her. My child's eyes are as big as saucers. She begrudgingly takes his information and stomps over to get on a rain slicker. She asks if our information is still current. She leans over the table and says "When I give a direction or instruction, you do it. This is how it works." Owen responded with very quickly with a "yes ma'am". I am trying to be patient, I am trying to be kind, I am trying to hold my tongue. All the while reflecting on exactly why I don't do the DMV! They were gone about 10 minutes. They come back in, she asks for his driving log and very quietly says "he passed". I wish I had a video of the relief on Owen's face and the large intake of air. She said "normally the people I take out in the rain fail - so many that I think we shouldn't even do them in the rain." With a shaking hand, Owen signed his form, paid his money, got his picture made and we got out of dodge. I have no idea of the new policies and procedures regarding his new "provisional license". I figure that's why they have the internet or I'll take my chances and call one day to get the information- hopefully, on a day they haven't spent half of it in the dark! I am thankful there is a four year break before the possibility of having to do THAT again!

Happy Birthday, Owen!

My oldest son is turning 16 today. I can remember the blur of bringing him home from the hospital. He was born March 12 (obviously Ryan and I didn't plan that real well). Ryan brought us home from the hospital and then we saw him again a month later. Owen and I bonded during those late nights together. I have said since his birth that God gave us Owen to prove that we weren't good parents. Parenting Owen has been an adventure since the get-go; an adventure I wouldn't trade for all the tea in China. The other kids tease that he is my favorite child. And like I tell them, he is - my very favorite second-born, oldest son. Don't tell the other kids, but it is true. He is one of my very favorite people on the planet. Owen is what they call a square peg. He is never going to fit into a round mold. He has is own way of doing things. When he was younger, that nearly drove me to insanity. Now, (most of the time) it is one of the things I love most about him. When he was younger, I was forever telling him to "use his own brain" now - sometimes, he uses his own brain a little too well. When he was younger, I would tell him "please use some self-control". Now, he is a self-disciplined young man that often has many irons in the fire and often comes out the champ on top. If I said I were not struggling with the fact of him growing up - I would be telling a lie. I have already had one fly the coop. I have discovered that once the driver's license is obtained - it is like hyper drive to graduation. However, as sad as I am to see him growing and preparing to leave my house - I have confidence that he has the tools he needs to succeed in life. He has a hard work ethic (outside of the house), he is kind, smart and intelligent and he has the saving knowledge of Christ. I know that whatever path God puts him on, he will become a great man. I love you, buddy!

Nearly a year

To say I have been in a blog funk would be quite the understatement. Several times in the past month, I would think "maybe I could blog about that" but I never did. My blog doesn't really have a plan / a purpose. I LOVE reading blogs; adoption blogs, missionary blogs, cooking blogs, marriage blogs. However, they all seem to have a purpose. Lately life has been overwhelming. I don't want my blog to be a place to vent (aka whine) about my frustrations. And lately, so it seems, would be what I have to share. Yet, I don't want to delete the blog so I must think eventually I'll have something useful to say, right? Maybe. I have decided that I'm just going to attempt it again. No labels, no pressure, no setting out to save the world with my knowledge opinions. We'll see how it goes - maybe if I prove myself, I'll get 5 followers instead of 4! ;)