School is going well, and there were some people sick

 L threw up on the first day of my classes so we got to experiment real fast on how it would go if I had to leave him home.  Class has been not too challenging and sometimes even fun.  The women in my classes are really fun.  On Friday I had asynchronous class and didn't have to go to campus.  I did have to write a 2-3 page paper though using citations.  

I got to volunteer at the kids schools a lot.  Monday and Wednesday I worked with the beginning tubas.  Tuesday I shelved books at the elementary school.  Thursday I volunteered with the HS band for a football game.  They have middle school kids come and help out.  This is brilliant recruiting.  I was supervising the middle school kids and enjoying the event with all the band moms.

P got sick on Wednesday but felt well enough Friday to be a 2nd staff member to accompany the band to the football game.  He's still recovering.  

I'm really looking forward to going to class this week.  I have a study method figured out for Anatomy and Physiology.  I use the end of chapter quiz to make flash cards.  After I have chewed on these new words and ideas a little I watch the Anaquest chapters and videos.  Finally I read as much of the chapter as I can.  It is a lot to absorb.

It has been hot and dry for a few weeks.  The coming week is forecast to be even hotter.  I watered the lawn today to give the grass a little sustenance to beat the heat.

Your mom goes to college

 I started classes on Thursday and Friday.  Each class had an intro and read the syllabus class.  I'm encouraged that I'll do ok in this cohort of students.  I know so much more about how to study and make flash cards.  

I bought books over the summer and read several chapters and read all the chapter summaries.  I'm surprised at how much I learned so far.

independant bike rider

 L started riding his bike to school alone this week.  It's hard to let him do that but it is also awesome that he wants to and can.  I will be leaving for school tomorrow morning.  Knowing L can get himself to school makes it easier for me to leave when I need to for classes.  I'm grateful for his big heart.

Grief and relief

 I saw on FB a post about someone sending groceries instead of flowers.  It reminded me of Sister Harrell who filled up our freezer when G was sick.  That reminded me of Kathy M who came to the hospital and force P and I to go home for a few hours.  When my sister has a baby I send snacks in bulk.

Last night for FHE I gave a lesson on behalf of G.  I told the family about Tracie S who is amazing.  We all know she is amazing.  I told them about how she has a sister with severe disabilities and how that impacted who Tracie became.  She became a helper.  Another siblings response have been to disconnect from the family.  “We always have choices, so I’ll choose Him.”

fall 2024 when we all went to school

The 4 younger kids started school on August 1st.  L is alone at the elementary school.  B and lP are at the middle school together.  It's nice to see B growing as the little brother.  He's been looking out for L for the past 10 years!  The next time they will be in school together will be B's senior year when L will be a freshman.  M is a senior.  Amazing.

P started at a new school on the 2nd.  This school has a much higher achieving population.  It is also just 12 minutes from our house in the opposite direction from usual rush hour traffic.  He's had a great first week of classes.  Even though he is having to write his classes from scratch, he has such an easy population to teach.  He is loving it.

P is driving G to Gtowne today.  He'll start classes on the 19th.   We have worked with G to get the FAFSA paperwork and have left a lot of details up to him.  He hopefully will be able to find a place to stay.  It's so hard to let kids go and do things themselves.

I'm starting a graduate degree program for Speech Therapy on Thursday!  I'm really excited about this field and the potential to have a career from age 50-65.  I'd enjoy doing home health.  I'd enjoy working with kids.  I'd like to do telehealth as I age and hope to be available to visit my kids and their future families.

We've had a really crazy year.  Things were really horrible in February and then they stayed not good for many months.  In July we finally got some movement toward a positive family future.  Here we are in August and so much has been resolved.  I'm so grateful for our strong marriage and how we've been able to be kind and loving to each other in these adverse times.  God did not lead us here to "abandon us in the wilderness."  We have been so blessed.

family fun

 G got the kids set up with 4 player mariokart.  I love it when they are all doing something together.

G also taught L how to make PB candy. 

G will go to Gtowne in a week to start college.  This has been a hard season for him but I hope he has a good start in Gtowne.

Broken desserts

 I made a dessert to celebrate P’s first day at his new school.  L, M and I didn’t eat any.  It is weird that we’re a family of 7 and can’t/don’t finish a small pan of  brownies.

Also, M asked for a haircut not done by a family member.  The stylist did a lovely job.