Trying!

Trying to blog more regularly, that is!

Today's randomness:

• This morning I applied for a Case Manager to assist with resources needed should one/any of my kids need them.  (Highly recommended by our current therapist.)
• Since I was going out, I stopped by the local coffee shop and tried a January special (creme brulee latte...excellent...and I have no idea how to add the little marks at the right spots).  I also bought gas for the car...down to $2.06 near the turnpike, so I imagine it's even cheaper a few miles away!
• While near the "city", I did some birthday shopping...and found some shirts for ME on clearance.  :-)
• Today is one of 2 days a month that I am home all by myself.  It is SO strange!  It's almost like I'm paralyzed by all of the options and don't know which to do first (got the laundry started).
• We finally had snow last night!  It's freezing cold here as well.
• We're down to our final month of Family Based Therapy and I'm processing all of that and starting to let go (while trying to maximize my training in this last month).  Perhaps some day I'll blog about FBT...perhaps not...we'll see...
• It's windy too!
• Yesterday was our biweekly "coffee & play" date with other adoptive/foster moms.  So much fun, so refreshing!
• Drinking Twinings English Breakfast Tea currently...and waiting for my oatmeal sandwich cookie to thaw.
• Quizzing starts this weekend!  So exciting!
• Okay...off to try to capitalize on the 2.5 remaining hours of solitude (what that looks like yet I don't know!)  ;-)
• Also waiting on my monthly package from UPS of my Young Living order.  I do so love these products.

Random Weekly Stuff

• This morning I witnessed Autumn winning her school's National Geography Bee!  Very exciting.  I even got a little teary eyed.  :-)  2 years ago I could not go and Josiah won the Bee.  Last year I could not make it and Janae came in 2nd.  So it was exciting to be able to go...and fun that she won!
• Right now some other adoptive moms and I are doing a 30-day study by Pam Parish called "Ready or Not:  For Battle Weary Parents".  We're doing it over 6 weeks (taking weekends off).  Appreciating it so far!
• Yesterday I was blessed to get together with a woman I've been friends/cousin with for longer than I can remember.  She lives a bit over an hour away so it's a pleasure that doesn't happen very often.  And to add to the fun, we skyped with another friend/cousin.  Then another mutual friend stopped by...and then another.  It was fun to see everyone, and fun to surprise my friend with our mutual friends!  :-)
• We're still in constant fundraising mode...Randy for his bike ride to Florida in April (nearly half way to his goal!) to support the Ulman Cancer Fund for young adults and Josiah for his youth group trip to Guatemala (through ORI).  Fundraisers for Randy include:
• Any new member sign-ups for Young Living using our member number, I donate my sponsor bonus to the cause.
• Coffee!  https://www.justlovecoffee.com/Beneficiary/Profile/4641
• Direct donation through the Ulman website:  https://www.z2systems.com/np/clients/ulman/campaign.jsp?campaign=598&fundraiser=857246&
• This morning I got groceries at one of our local discount grocery stores...how blessed am I to have multiple ones around, that whichever direction I need to travel, I can find one without going much out of my way!
• Ordered more blue jeans for boys this afternoon...seems someone always needs some.

Quiet (mostly)

The kids are back in school after the break...while it had it's moments, we had a really good Christmas break...I love my kids!  :-)

Josiah is pegging away at his schoolwork.  I'm trying to get caught up on laundry...and also taking a bit of a break from the Christmas break chaos.  I want to get caught up with grading Josiah's school work this week as well as making sure we're still on track.  As he'd like to graduate a year early, we need to make sure things come together this year to set him up for a nice Senior year next year.  Autumn will be in high school next year and has decided to homeschool next year as well...she'll try it for a year and go from there.

Micah is enjoying playing by himself today (and now watching a bit of PBS).

Mark forgot his lunch so I ran that over to him.

After a 2 week break from the treadmill, I made myself use it again today...

It's cold and windy.  Winter decided to come and visit us after all!

2016

Happy New Year!

Perhaps I'll blog more this year?  Perhaps???  :-)

School Christmas Vacation is going pretty well overall.  It can be a bit more challenging with kids that thrive on a schedule when everything is basically one long weekend...but it really has been pretty good.  (Now I, on the other hand, am starting to crave a bit of space...but I do enjoy having them here with me.)  It's hard to believe it actually is almost over.

The Christmas tree is down.  We have a card table set in it's place and are working on puzzle #2...the first one was finished quickly.  This year I've had a couple of experiences of "this is new/different/workable now."

• Being able to have a puzzle out without to much challenge from little fingers.  The "baby" actually does a great job with them!
• Going to a Family dinner with no diapers/diaper bag, no booster seats
• Playing Monopoly without any meltdowns!

May your 2016 be wonderful!