Bible Study and update

Once again, I am participating in a Bible Study. This year we are exploring the "One True God of the Bible". And it is fascinating. I've finally gotten an explanation around why the Bible provides validation for so many types of justification (thanks for trying, Tom!) as well as how they are all true, yet grace remains the foundation -- truly a gift from God. Whew! I knew I'd never be capable of doing it, even with His help.....

We've had lessons so far on God the Creator, God the Communicator, Worship, God's Holiness, and Grace. I'm constantly amazed as what I don't yet know. And fascinated to learn more. For me, a big reason I love the church I belong to is that it motivates me to go further into the information we hear on Sunday mornings. This study also does that for me. I am not too much a "give me more information person", so this is different for me. I was surprised when I first realized that I was receiving this gift at church (hadn't found that at other churches I'd attended or visited) -- the desire to go further -- which prepared me for the same desire as the result of this study. Fascinating to me how God's working to bring these parts of my life together right now. Definitely a blessing.

On the more trivial parts of our lives -- Abby's survived her first quarter of school, complete with her first "real" finals' week (during which regular classes are not attended, just exams are taken). No school for her today, so two friends spent the night. Interesting to listen to 10 year old girls interacting! They're on that verge between still being little girls but moving toward young ladyhood. Sigh. Maggie has exams next week. She's continuing to improve her cross country times and getting involved more at school. She wasn't home until 8 last night -- after cross country they headed back to school to watch the volleyball team (unfortunately) suffer their first defeat (required sudden death overtime!). I'm amazed at how well she's made the transition.....

Last week we enjoyed visits from my parents and Tom's dad and Kay. Maggie had grandparent's day on Friday with a performance and reception at school. I was most thrilled at how excited the girls all seemed to be to host their grandparents. The gym was truly packed with people. Maggie also had her "induction" last week where the new students are officially welcomed into the school. She was part of the processional (yikes!) where the senior big-sisters came in in cap and gown followed by the new students in their uniforms. Can't believe she's that old! Abby was in the championship game for intramural volleyball at school -- they made the finals, but lost in the 3rd, sudden death game. Abby really enjoyed it and improved over the year. Next week she's trying out for the 5-6 grade basketball team that will compete against other schools.

On Sunday we took Tom for his birthday show to see Cirque Dreams Illumination which we all enjoyed. Amazing talent as well as ability of the people -- I consider myself pretty physically flexible, but am nowhere near what these acrobats and contortionists are! The only problem we experienced was that where we were sitting we couldn't hear the vocalist over the background music very well. So while there was an underlying "story", we didn't really get too much of it.......

Quite a week -- family, school activities, birthday celebrations. When's the next holiday? I'm thankful for a day to sleep in tomorrow.......(no cross country meet!)

Looking forward to a great week!

Yes, it'll be busy, but it'll also be a fun week.

This afternoon I get to go to Abby's volleyball game and later we'll go to her violin lesson.

Tomorrow, mom and dad are driving down for a short visit. They'll be greeted with an empty house as it's "my" day to drive the cross country girls. AND mom will be put in charge of expediting supper (ok, so it'll just be steaming the veggies and re-heating the rice!). We'll get home a bit after 6.

Wednesday morning I've got Bible study. Then mom and dad and I will get lunch somewhere. In the afternoon we'll go to the volleyball championship for Abby. Maggie is out of school early and expressed an interest in coming as well. Wednesday evening is Maggie's induction to her high school. Not sure exactly what this means, but we'll see.....

Thursday (I assume!) Kay and Ray are arriving from Houston. Abby and I actually will be home directly from school, Maggie has cross country practice.

Friday is Maggie's grandparent's day. She'll be hosting 4 of them, along with mom (unless they don't allow me in in which case I'll go somewhere else -- sob sob). After school is my turn to drive cross country again, so we'll see that as well. Mom will get to heat up supper/start the spaghetti noodles.

Doesn't sound like too much, except also consider the extra people in the house, the fact Abby has exams next week, and Maggie's Saturday cross country meet is in Baton Rouge. OK, so your week is busier.........

for mom

Mom wants an update, so mom will get an update! All is fairly well here. The girls have both made GREAT returns to school this year. Abby's adjusted to changing teachers/classrooms for all her subjects and looks so old, graduated from the jumper to the plaid skirt! She's playing intramural volleyball with the girls in the 5-8th grades. She's the only 5th grader on her team. Some of Maggie's friends are also on the team (the grammar school goes thru eighth grade, so some of Maggie's friends are still there. Others, like Maggie, chose to move up to high school for 8th grade. Trust me, this is the STRANGEST place I've ever lived!). She is REALLY excited and enjoying it. Tom's been able to make as many of her games so far as I have. And she really enjoys having him there as well.

Maggie has made quite the adjustment to high school, not only in terms of her grades, but also socially. She's maintaining friendships she's made throughout the years, but also making new friends. She's joined a couple clubs and is running with the cross country team. And she's really getting used to being part of a MUCH bigger school -- her class in grammar school was about 42 students, 13 of whom were girls. Now she's got about 150 eighth graders around her, ALL of whom are female. Quite a change!

Maggie finished her first cross country race this past Saturday. I took a photo but she says it's HORRIBLE and that I should delete it (I think that while it's not the most flattering picture of her, it's NOT horrible!). At this particular meet the kids from her grammar school also participated, so we both got to visit with a bunch of people we know from many places. After the meet I took her and two friends to cafe du monde for beignets. Interesting to be with 3 young teenagers! I am so thankful that she has kind friends (and they let me sit with them!).

Tom is back to travelling again. He spent this past week in Washington DC with various people at a conference with the US Energy Department. This week he's in Houston for training. He's back taking karate again as well. Never a dull moment.

Today I am suffering from a cold, but maintaining a positive outlook. While life hasn't "settled down" by any means, I am more comfortable with the new routine (that constantly shifts!). I enjoy the extra time alone with Abby when Maggie's carpool takes her to/from school/cross country. And I enjoy the time with Maggie like yesterday when we spent most of the day together. And I sneak in time with Tom whenever I can......

Ready for fall weather, but I think I'll have to wait a couple more months for that to happen. Sigh.

friday september 3

Another busy week is sort of coming to an end. Maggie has survived Cross Country practice -- time trials early Saturday morning, practice after school (in the rain) every day this week. Today they'll be getting their uniforms after school and the first meet is EARLY tomorrow morning. I'm so thankful for Labor Day when I can (perhaps!) sleep past 7am.....we'll see how that one works out!

Abby started intramural volleyball on Wednesday. Tom was able to get there for the beginning and saw her score 3 points while serving. I had carpool duty to take the girls to City Park after school, so was late to the game and saw about 1 1/2 practice games. I drove Abby home afterwards (Tom headed to karate) and she was just so excited about both volleyball and school in general. Fun to see/hear her enthusiasm!

As for me, it was another pretty busy week. Drove morning carpool Monday an Wednesday (normal schedule -- AND for the first time I actually had ALL the girls in the car on Wednesday -- one is on swim team and has practice Monday mornings). Managed to fit 6 girls plus all their bags in my mom-car. Tuesday I had double-duty after school -- taking the girls to/from UNO for practice. Abby and I went and had coffee/snacks at a coffee shop which was nice. She was able to do most of her homework. Reminds me a bit of when they were younger and we'd go to Starbucks during ballet rehearsals! Wednesday was Bible Study plus morning and afternoon driving. And I managed to see some of Abby's volleyball. Yesterday was pretty restful. Tom got the b-day cake he'd ask for -- pineapple upside down -- and it's ALL HIS as none of the rest of us like it. Today I'll pick up the girls after school/getting uniforms and later take Maggie to a b-day party for one of her friends. EARLY in the morning is the cross country meet, so I'll be picking her up for that in the morning. I am thankful that early mornings are generally my friend, whereas evening are my crash time.

Life is busy but good and for that, as always, I am thankful.

slow down!

I thought I was busy from about mid-2000 thru mid-2001. During that time I had a 3 year old and a baby. I was working full time. And I had (still have!) a wonderful husband whose job at that time required him to be overseas for 28 weeks out of that year (including weekends). I made it thru and lived to tell the tale.

However, this first week of school is about killing me! I am so thankful that I DON'T have to go into an office every day. Here is goes:

Monday: cook dinner (yes, that was the first thing I did). drive AM carpool to high school. drive Abby to grammar school. go to yoga (OK, that was fun!). go to the grocery. put away groceries, shower, have lunch, relax for about an hour. go pick up Abby. go pick up Maggie (who stayed after school for a cross-country meeting). go home. take Abby to violin lesson. collapse.

Tuesday: Tuesday actually wasn't so bad! take Abby to school. go to the gym. come home, finish laundry, and relax for a bit. get Abby from school. go pick up Maggie and another girl from cross country practice (at UNO campus, not exactly convenient!). come home thru rush hour traffic. collapse.

Wednesday: drive AM carpool to high school. drive Abby to school. come home for a quick work-out. shower and go to Bible study (first session of the year!). go to the post office. go order new shoe inserts. go to the mall to pick up something. grab some lunch. go pick up Maggie and her friend (2pm dismissal for staff meeting). go to pick up Abby and allow Maggie and her friend to visit with their friends who stayed at grammar school for 8th grade. drop Maggie's friend off. pick up Chinese food. go home. (note -- we were actually scheduled for an orthodontist appointment which got cancelled. rescheduling that was involved as well!).

Thursday: get up extremely early to fit in some exercise. drive Abby to school. go to car dealership -- AC not working when car's not moving, brakes are making squealing sound. get shuttle back home. finish laundry. iron. take Tom's car to the grocery and drug store (thanks to Tom for working from home that morning!). get call from dealership -- problem is with the fan for the AC (or radiator or something, although the car never was overheating) which needs to be ordered and renders the car undriveable. also needs new brakes. call Enterprise and order rental. hitch ride from Tom to get car. get home, have lunch. chill for 45 minutes. go pick up Abby. chill for an hour. go to cross-country parent's meeting. go to high school parent's club meeting. go to high school open house. visit each of Maggie's teachers/classrooms. come home, collapse.

Today (so far and what's coming next!): take Abby to school. go to yoga. come home, make dinner (well, I'll eat it for lunch!), shower, and relax. then I'll go pick up Abby, drive to pick up Maggie and another girl and take them to City Park for cross country practice. Abby and I will stay and then bring everyone home about 5:30. about 7:45 out again to pick up at least one of Maggie's friends and take them to the back-to-school dance. thankfully she's got a ride home!

Tomorrow morning cross-country has time trials, so we'll be at UNO for 7:45am. Piano in the afternoon.

Sigh. I'm so thankful for carpooling, Tom being in-town and able to work from home Thursday morning, yoga class, Bible study, and God who's in control when everything else is falling apart.

Have a great (busy/relaxing?) weekend!

previous first days.....

1st and 4th grade:


2nd and 5th grade:


4th and 7th grade (can't seem to find 3rd and 6th!):

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

Maggie's made 8th grade (at high school), Abby's in 5th grade (upper school at her grammar school). EEKS!