Seven Quick Takes

It's time for 7 Quick Takes over at Conversion Diary.  If you would like to participate, just click on this link.

1)  Today we are going to visit grandma in West Virginia.  My mom is the sweetest person I've ever known.  I rarely get to see her and I worry about her.  She fell and hit her arm on the coffee table and had to where a cast for a little while.  She is eighty years old and it is getting harder for her to get around.  My brother lives with her and tries to take care of her but he is sometimes not too dependable.  If we do not head over to see her today, I'm afraid that we will not have time once the school year starts.  I haven't seen her since last spring at my daughters Confirmation.  I wish I could spend more time with her.  Our family gets so busy and my mom no longer likes to drive much as she has some difficulty with her vision.  I am looking forward to spending some time with her and the kids today.

2)  My daughter is going to be a senior this year and it's that time to start preparing things for colleges.  I can't believe my baby girl is growing up.  I am so proud of her.  She is more than I ever was or could be in life.  She volunteers at a local hospital, helps coach children on the swim team, life guards as her summer job, ushers at Sunday Masses, , enjoys membership in the National Honor Society, and chooses swim team as an activity year round.  When I was her age, I was working full time and going to a local community college part time.  I was not involved in my community and helping families the way my daughter is today.  She is doing the right things and has a commitment to customer service that is heart warming to see.  Just the other night, I went to pick my daughter up from work at the pool.  There were two groups having parties and they were taking their time packing up their items to leave the pool because it was closing.  All those life guards rallied together to clean up and help the families out of the pool to leave at a reasonable time.  It was great to see her work hard with others to achieve a common goal.  She continues to amaze me.  I am so proud of her.

3)  My children are my life.  That is why I talk about them so much.  My oldest son recently broke up with his girlfriend of two years.  I know it was difficult for him.  It is very interesting though as he is more approachable and friendly now without her.  She was a very nice person but there was something in their relationship that was blocking him from being the person he is today.  He does not talk about the situation and is very private and respectful toward others.  Therefore, I often ponder about this.  It is so hard to grow up sometimes as my other son was the one who got dumped by his girlfriend and he is heart broken.  He knows she needs more space and independence and it is hard to see him struggle with honoring her with this request.  He has come a long way and is doing much better now.  I wish there was a way to help them avoid becoming too serious with someone while they are away at college.  They are both at a very challenging and important time in their lives.  I am always praying for them...please offer a prayer for my two oldest sons with me!

4)  It is so important to be clean and sanitary.  For the second time in our 26 years of marriage, yesterday I hired a sweet couple to come clean my kitchen and bathrooms.  I am so glad I took the plunge to do this.  To be honest, I get so busy picking up clutter, washing dishes, and homeschooling that I have no time and energy to do it right.  It is so hard to get those stains out of the toilets.  It so cute the way this husband and wife team work together to help families clean.  Some people have a talent for this.  They are so much better and quicker at it than I am.  I am so appreciative of their work and efforts.

5)  It is a busy time of year getting the kids ready to go back to school.  There are so many errands to run and books and supplies to buy for the school year.  I often wonder how I am going to fit it all in.  We're making progress though.  We are ordering books, getting hair cuts, getting supplies, attending some pre-school events, and (God Willing) setting up a small learning center in our basement.  I have to order a large dry erase board for the wall.  I remember teaching in classrooms at a local Church and I utilized the blackboard constantly.  It will be a big benefit for our homeschooling endeavors.

6)  Here is a picture of our family on the vacation we just had in Ocean City, Maryland.  It was so nice to get away before the year starts.

7)  I am excited this year to participate in a local homeschool co-op once a week.  I have found in homeschooling both genders that boys need socialization more than girls do.  There is something in the male species that thrives when they can be around friends.  My girls were more content just being.  Boys have to get out and experience life more at an earlier age.  The homeschool group will also be able to attend Mass every week.  This is a great asset...to keep their faith at the center of their educational experiences.