Sunday Catch Up

It's important to Michael and me to keep this journal current....but it's been an entire week since I updated.  Obviously, I need to figure out how to add time to blog into our new normal.

Added to our schedule by Dad moving in....a daily "Dad" to do list. This is sure to lighten up as we get "everything set up." This week it meant visiting a couple of medical practices, the DMV, many phone calls, calling a couple of creditors, writing a couple of notes and sending a couple of checks Dad wanted sent, preparing a couple of legal documents, laundry.... Also added to the schedule are leisurely visits, coffee making (I'm getting good - or at least Dad drinks all I make now LOL), one or two coffee dates with Dad and whoever else wants to join us, lots of family games at night, and a family read aloud time on our "at home" nights.  We continue to count ourselves blessed for the richness having Dad in our home brings.

Added to the schedule because it's fall - SCHOOL and ministry start ups.  Our typical week will look like this:

Sunday  - church, company and family
Monday - School
Tuesday - School, Benny, Women's Bible Study (p.m.)
Wednesday - School, Youth (p.m.)
Thursday - School, Brave (with Stacia), Piano lessons, Japanese lessons, Life Group (p.m.)
Friday - School
Saturday - House, yard, family projects, relax... Men's breakfast once a month

We've done it for two weeks now and it is manageable. I cut out a second Bible study - and I can tell it was a good thing for our sanity.

Maintaining a focus on moving naturally will be more of a challenge as the weather gets cold and icy. This fall it comes in the form of  walks, animal care, bit of gardening and yard, outside projects, and wood splitting and hauling. The kids and I add a workout of some sort to the day. I believe they aim for 3 - 4 times a week. I aim for 6.

I've said for decades, "I am not a natural caregiver." God, however, has chosen this role to mature my faith and deepen my dependence on Him. I had thought  the role would go away after the kids left home.  Maybe not so much.... Since this is not a "natural" for me, I am heeding the advice of many not to neglect self-care. I continue to contemplate what self-care will look like in this season.  This week it was reading when possible, grabbing an episode of Heartland with Stacia, working out, catching up with my 4 girl childs, and sitting in my car for 3 hours of glorious silence and solitude after dropping kids at church. I am thinking a quarterly or maybe semi-annual get away to a cabin in the woods may be self-care. LOL

What does self care look like for you?

I've caught a bug of some sort and am home from church. I'm not sitting for long periods and am going back to bed now....but I'll do more daily back posts in the "near" future.  It's been a great week.

One Sunday in Fall

 Proof of our season's change....8:00 a.m. and it is dark and frosty. 

Nolan asked for Sunday's off and was given them off. He now has the weekend off. It is good to have him around on the weekends. The family had a disappointing experience at a local restaurant and ended up coming home. Michael stayed and got all their food to go and brought it home. Wow. 

The afternoon was spent visiting and playing games. Josiah spent time helping Stacia create a business plan for her Micro Business class. It becomes apparent if she wants to make more than $4 an hour she will need to eventually charge more for hats....and/or increase production speed. LOL 

Game time. 

The flu has knocked me flat. Benny came to visit while the others played. 

Bachan and Benny

Ready or not - a new week is about to begin.

Fall Projects

This is the look I get when I come home and Michael is doing something he suspects will make me nervous. ::snort::  I was fine...it used to scare me when Michael would get on ladders - he being a parky and all...BUT I've finally realized he KNOWS when he can and when he can't climb on ladders and such. He doesn't have a death wish. 

Michael and Alex knocked out three projects today....the "Christmas" lights are hung. They'll shine from now until the last dog reaches Nome in the Iditarod. We are not ODD - businesses around town are putting their lights up this week as well. It's dark in the mornings and late afternoons now.

"Papa!" Coco consoles Benny. This is one project on which he cannot shadow Papa. 

Project 2 - painting the spots they missed when they built this house! ODD. We need to rent a big lift to paint the high spots....next spring I am guessing....but Michael painted as he hung lights. LOL 

Project 3 - Alex dug the electrical wires in from the orchard's fence....the moose will be back soon now that there is snow in the mountains. We don't want them to ruin any more of our trees. At this point they only got to one tree. 

Girls Day Out!

Saturday morning and we're gathering at The Art Cafe!

L-R Krista, Benny, Annie (floor), BreAnne, Me, Stacia
Photo by Arielle 

The Art Cafe is a fantastic local business with a great concept. They have all kinds of make and take projects, hot drinks, fudge, free popcorn, and a variety of other sweets one can order. They also have a classroom in the back where various artists lead classes. We've been wanting to to do this for over a year.  It's a great place to create. Pick a project, put on a layer of bling or glaze, relax with a drink, add another layer....visit.* 

Arielle was the push behind us finally making this happen. She has begun using and selling Monat products.  She wanted to do a talk on Monat;  combining it with our elusive fun day at the Art Cafe was a win win.  We got to hear about a new product she and Krista are enjoying, she sold some product, we all got to visit. 

Benny was a great help for "CoCo". She sent it home with
Bre for Gideon and Bella to re-paint. 

 Ready to begin painting a pumpkin

 We chose little squashes to paint. 

Me and Stacia
Photo by Arielle

By this point I knew full well I felt "un-right" - but I wouldn't admit I felt down right sick. I am an extrovert. I was feeling great with the gals - I came home and went to bed. As did Krista. 

It was a fun day - we left our projects to be fired. Since I'm back dating this post - I have a photo of the finished product.  We love the way they turned out.  I also love the memory for future years as I pull out fall decor. 

 *Krista's first job was at Elmendorf AFB  Arts and Crafts shop. She poured slip...and much more. The kids and I had a lovely homeschool class there and a friend and I spent most of a winter making things - which I still have and use.  On base we bought our own brushes and glazes. We paid for the use of a mold or if we purchased a product ready to clean and glaze. We poured our own projects. It was MUCH cheaper.  So.....debating. This way one doesn't collect extra bits of glaze ....and there are no supplies to buy....but the brushes are worn and the prices are higher. BUT THIS IS LOCAL.....5 minute drive as opposed to a 30 minute drive.... Not even sure if there is still an Arts/Crafts on EAFB...... I AM sure Stacia and I need to spend more time creating at the Arts and Crafts. I may even put art on her ILP next year. LOL

Stacia and Dash

Stacia beat me to the chicken yard and let Dash out to run around. He loves these times. She's a good bunny mama. 

Michael has been down all day.....there is a bug in the air.

Thursday - Our Favorite Day?

Wednesday was full of working the "Dad list."  I think we've found a medical practice that is going to work well for Dad.... I've visited three practices in person - and I was glad I did.

Thursday - Ah....Brave with Stacia....always a highlight in the week...though it makes for a busy Thursday.

It was a beautiful view and worked for us. I think we may prefer Sophia's as I can get a sugar free chai latte....and they make food that tastes really yummy. This food was good - but nothing we don't do at home...at least what we ordered was pretty basic.

There is nothing basic about the beautiful colors and the snow crawling down our mountain peak.

Sandy knew I was using Lily's chocolate chips and gave me some sugar-free chocolate chips to sample. YUM.  These are cheaper than Lily's. We tasted them side by side and we like these a bit better....Did I say they are cheaper? I need to get to Walmart to buy more. I'm not 100% sure of their name, I'll have to share that after I go shopping again. ANYWAY - the gift of the chips,  led to baking keto cookies for Life Group. The irony being that NONE of our keto folks showed up this week for Life Group.  Ah well - we had sugar free, almond flour cookies. The taste was good. They were a bit dry. I followed the directions to freeze them and they will make a return at some point.

My family DID ask me why I didn't  use the Stevia or Swerve and the sugar free chips with our favorite recipe....hmmm....I'll have to give it a try.

Thursdays are full - but are fast becoming a favorite day of the week.

*Note after everyone went home from Life Group - Michael began throwing up.

Fall Rainbow

Photo by Michael 

Ah - the pot of gold has always been here at home. LOL