Sunday, March 25, 2012

Little man, Big man

Well, it's been a long time coming, but the time is near for my first little man to graduate from high school. Cap and gown is being purchased, FAFSA is filled out, future plans are discussed. And in the nearer future, tuxes are being rented, prom plans are set...the end of senior year is closer than ever. This journey for Timothy hasn't always been smooth. I remember when we sold our house to move overseas, and the moving truck came. He went and sat in the truck with his things, arms folded, tears rolling down his face, silently sending us the message, "I'm staying. It was heart breaking. But our adventures were not lost on him. Living overseas tapped into his adventurous spirit, which lended itself to eating strange foods, hiking in Tibet with his dad, and fishing on the Gulf of Thailand. And he opened himself up to the friendships that resulted, so that he made good, solid friendships wherever we went. It seems anti-climactic to end his childhood years in a small town in Texas, but that hasn't stopped him. His passion for God and for living out his Life as a true testimony (not just lip-service) to those he comes in contact with has sustained him, and has given him a strong, solid reputation to those who know him. He managed to find a refugee center and fulfilled his passion for internationals by going and playing soccer ("It's so cool, mom, you just go there and hold up a soccer ball, and they come running!). He's gone on mission trips, all paid for with his own money. And it's a path that he seems to be on for now. Medical missions is something he wants to pursue. There was a song that was popular back when we were first moving. It was called, "Live Out Loud." I do believe that has been his life's motto. He's taken all life has had to offer, and accepted it with arms open wide, and has lived it out loud. The little man, Toolman as we used to call him, is all grown up. Toolman has his choice of tools to offer up for service. It will be exciting to see where it all leads.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Spring Break


Well, this is a Spring Break I've truly needed.  Lots of reasons to be tired this year!  Handling testing for two schools is proving a little difficult, and I haven't even started grading the tests yet.  There will be close to 100 kids that will go through testing, each taking three tests.  Luckily, this year, the district is paying to have one of the tests graded through the company, but that still leaves the other two to grade, and all of the conversions that go with them.  It will be time consuming, but I really hope to be finished with them by the end of the month.

That said, I'm enjoying my time off.  Me and three of the kids are home, and we're just chilling.  Slowing down and enjoying the awesome weather going on outside!  A little bit of rain, cool enough to need a long sleeve shirt, but warm enough to open the windows.  It's nice.

I've decided to do a bit of decluttering.  I bought some tubs and I'm moving through the closets and storage areas and tossing what I can, storing what I can, and getting rid of what I can. We will have be in this house three years this July.  It's time! ha!

Enjoy the Spring.  It's the only one we get this year!