So What! Wednesday

Linking up with Shannon at Life After "I Dew" for another installment of So What! Wednesday.  This week, I'm saying "so what" to the following things:

• I have completely ignored many of my responsibilities around our house for the past 3 days because I had my niece & nephew with me.  I will pick quality time with them every single time over just about anything.  :)
• Because of the bullet above, I now have quite a lot of work to do around home in order for it to feel like I can be calm there.  {it was absolutely worth it though!}
• I leave for camp with my high school dance team on Saturday for 4 nights and haven't thought about packing yet.
• Dance camp with the girls is one of my favorite parts of summer - I love to watch them grow as individuals and a team!  Plus, I really adore my time with them...they make my heart happy.  It's also a huge bonus that my sister {Kim} and my might-as-well-be-my-sister {Jenny} will be there too...time with them, without kids - don't mind if I do.
• I went into my classroom this week to attempt to get a few things in order.  Took one look around.  Turned right back around and left.  Not ready for that monstrosity quite yet.  It soon won't be a choice.  Not good.
• I am beginning to think of my life in terms of two things: 1. Will this make a decent scrapbook page for Kaitlyn or New Baby K someday?  2. How can I make this a blog post?  Other regular bloggers I've spoken with about this concern of mine have assured me this is somewhat normal and I shouldn't be worried.
• I still get so excited to see my blog followers {right hand side bar} grow.  The other day it went from 11 to 12 and I was so happy!  I see lots of page views each day in my Blog Stats, but I have no idea who is all reading...so when people follow I can put a "face" with a page view.  It's the little things in life, people.  :)
• Going back to school worries me for lots of reasons, but currently I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to keep up with the blog.  I have found so much joy in writing this summer and I really want to find a way to continue during the school year. 
• This post looked more like another brain dump, rather than really being "so what"...but, SO WHAT!  It's my blog and I can do whatever I want.  :)

What are you saying SO WHAT to today?

When I am weak, I am strong.

This Bible verse was used during the last week of the Bible Study I did with Kaitlyn this summer on the book Lies Young Women Believe and the Truth that Sets them Free.  It stood out to me immediately.  What a powerful promise of strength during times of weakness.  I have it highlighted in my Bible and plan to put it on a card for my bathroom mirror so I can have frequent reminders.  

I hope you find some comfort in this verse today.

Much Love -

Monday Morning Musings

This weekend was SO wonderful.  A chance to relax and rejuvenate.      I shudder to even type this, but this week begins the last 4 weeks of summer break.  Sigh.

Here's a picture dump from the weekend.  Good stuff.



As I mentioned, on Thursday night we were able to have dinner with Kevin's Uncle Larry.  This is Kevin's birth mother's brother and Kevin really adores his time with that part of his family.  Uncle Larry was in town for the John Deere Classic Golf Tournament and on his way out of town we were able to meet for dinner.  He brought his camera and was showing Kevin and I pictures of extended family and telling stories.  Precious memories with family we don't see nearly enough.

On Saturday morning, I was able to catch up with a dear friend from school.  Jessica and I have one of the most special bonds I've found in life.  We go months - almost a year sometimes - without talking, but the moment we're together, it's like we were never apart.  My time with her was exactly what I needed in the midst of this roller coaster I'm riding - she feeds my soul.

On Saturday after coffee with Jessica, I walked around the mall aimlessly by myself without a plan.  It was awesome.  I came home and did laundry, took a short nap, then went and floated in my parent's pool for the remainder of the afternoon with my mom and cousin - blissful.

On Sunday, I picked up my niece & nephew because my sister is out of town for a few days and my brother-in-law is in an extremely busy season at work.  I cherish this time with these two love bugs - we always have so much fun!  Sunday afternoon, Maicey had an appearance as Miss Iowa's Outstanding Teen's Princess.  Our dear family friend, Emma Kate Wichman was crowned Miss Iowa's Outstanding Teen in June and she had a Meet & Greet event Sunday afternoon.  Maicey went to greet guests and visit with many people - if it's a reason to put on a crown, she's all about it.  :)

 After the Meet & Greet, we went swimming at my parent's house and then out to dinner with family.  I snapped these sweet pictures of the kids with Kevin and my mom & dad.  Melt my heart.

We went to dinner at the Kangaroo's favorite restaurant.  It was closed when she was here last week, so I made Kevin snap this pic of me to text her.  She was super jealous.  

We came home and sat down to watch a little Duck Dynasty.  We looked down and these two loves were sleeping.  

That was my weekend, friends.  Nothing exciting - but just day-to-day life as I love it.

Have a wonderful week!

Silent Weekend {Throwback Style}

Finally Friday

This week absolutely flew by!  It's crazy to think that the 4th of July was already a week ago!  SLOW DOWN, time!  I'm not ready for summer to be over!

My brain is too tired to organize my thoughts into real paragraphs - so a bulleted brain dump is what you're getting today.

Enjoy :)

• My cousin Sara is in town this week.  I always love spending time with her.  She has always lived far away from us, but Kim and I have always really had a close and special bond with her.  She's not right on a lot of levels, but that's what makes her fun.
• Today is another get together for work friends - I really love those over the summer.
• I made the mistake of stopping into my classroom to drop some things off.  Wow.  It's not good in there, people.  I'll have to take some pictures to show you the hot mess going on in there.  Between the disorganization of furniture, the cleaning crew not putting things back where they found them, and the ceiling tiles/construction dust everywhere from the construction of an addition on our wing of the building - lets just say, an entire day is going to be needed to even feel like I can work in there productively.
• I finished an amazing Bible Study this week on the book of Ruth in the Old Testament.  Maybe I'll post more about that next week?
• I have been surfing Teacher Blogs this week and am beginning to feel just a little excited to begin making projects for my classroom, doing bulletin boards, and organizing my room into my home away from home for the year.  {notice I didn't really mention anything about really going back to school on a regular basis - I'm just interested in the fun things that I want to do!}
• I've mentioned on the blog before {here} that Kevin met his birthmother as an adult.  As an added bonus, we have gained a very large extended family.  Kevin's Uncle Larry came down for a visit yesterday and we were able to join him for dinner and conversation.  Kevin LOVES the opportunity to spend time with this part of his family.
• We have had guests/visitors in town for the past 9 straight days.  While we have loved every moment of spending time with people who have come to visit us, we are slightly glad to get things back to normal around here {whatever that even is anymore!}
• This weekend will be spent getting caught up, cleaning, catching up on my DVR, and possibly laying in the pool.
• My dear friend from high school, Jessica, called yesterday to say she was in town visiting her mom for the weekend and wondered if we could get together to catch up - I am SO EXCITED!  She was in town over Christmas for our annual get-together with our group of friends from high school, but I was really sick so I had to miss out.  I can't wait to see her!  

I think that's it for the brain dump.  I feel better now without that floating around in my brain!

Have a happy weekend, y'all {I'm clearly not from the South, but "y'all" is a really fun word to throw out there}

Pain

I found this image on a site one day as I was surfing the internet in search of comfort, answers, and hope.  When I saw it, I saved it in my "adoption" folder on the computer and figured I would come back to it someday.  The simple sentence on the plain black background struck me.  It's so simple, yet so very powerful.

The journey of infertility is filled with so many different emotions that sometimes it's all I can do to keep it all together.  The most frequent emotion throughout this path for me is difficult to pinpoint, but 'pain' is up there among the top few words that come to mind.

I am not usually someone who cries "it's not fair" or wonders "why me" - but I can't say that those thoughts don't creep into my mind or that I don't have to pray every single day that God will continue to keep those thoughts from my mind and heart.

The other night after everyone in my house was asleep, I was spending some time reading a book a dear friend graciously gave to me called Hannah's Hope by Jennifer Saake when the most beautiful words jumped off the page at me.  These are the words I have worked to put together for the past 3 years and they somehow managed to heal a small piece of the pain I'm carrying from this journey.

"While it is indeed a road less traveled, this winding way of childlessness was one I did not choose to tread.  I often limped along this uphill trail, kicking and fighting my way through the dense underbrush of discouragement.  But through the journey, God provided green pastures where my aching soul could draw comfort from the recognition that my loving heavenly Father approved the course before allowing me to take my first step."  - Hannah's Hope page 15

Here's the deal, it doesn't have to make sense to me now, or ever for that matter.  My human-ness simply cannot see or understand the bigger picture at play here anymore than I would be able to make out the beautiful scene of a 500 piece puzzle by merely looking at one single piece.  I have prayed throughout this uphill trail that God would use me and my story in powerful ways.  I don't know what those are, whether they are big or small is not my concern, when they happen in my lifetime is not something I worry about - I just find immeasurable comfort in knowing that this path that I am fighting my way through is one that was chosen for me by the God of the Universe.  The same God that created the sky and the sand, the same God that created the sun and the moon and the stars - that exact same God has chosen this path for me.  Who am I to change my little piece of this puzzle?  How do I know the big or small ways that my piece might change the bigger puzzle?   

Today, as I look at that image, I am able to say that each day the pain I carry makes a little more sense.

So What! Wednesday

Linking up today with Shannon at Life After "I Dew" for another installment of So What! Wednesday. This week I am saying So What to:

• I have stepped into my classroom a total of 2 times this summer and the place is a HOT MESS.  I am in big trouble when August comes around.
• My summer schedule is completely jacked up.  I stay up way to late and then want to sleep way to late.  I need to get my life back in order ASAP.
• We have next to nothing of substance in our fridge, freezer or pantry.
• My messy bun hairstyle has made an appearance for the past 3 weeks consecutively.
• I am in major need of a trip to Good Will - my closet is out of control
• I need to look back at previous So What Wendesday's to make sure I'm not repeating myself, and even so I'm still not sure if I am or not.
• I am so tired, I cannot think of one more thing to write.

What are you saying SO WHAT to this week?