First days....

We've had a busy couple of days.... First day of school Monday for the Cody, Hannah, & Lucas. Dropped Rachel off today and her first day is tomorrow.  Sometimes I'm not sure how we got here. Time seems to go by more quickly than I'd like.  This is our 12th year of cyber homeschooling... there are days I think I have this figured out and others I think why am I doing this?

This year I did have it together enough to take pictures:

                               A senior, 7th grader, & 5th grader.

Dropping Rachel off this year was harder and easier at the same time. Last year was fraught with emotions and anxiety (on her and our parts). This 
year she was confident and excited. Me, I was proud! You see we planted with the harvest in mind and I can't wait to see what the Lord does in her life.

I was not on the ball enough to get a picture of Rachel at school. I did however find this picture from nineteen years ago. Nineteen years ago

I never in my wildest dreams thought about the time when I would drop this sweet babe off at college.

Here's to a fantastic new school year! 

Changes

“Two sounds of autumn are unmistakable...the hurrying rustle of crisp leaves blown along the street...by a gusty wind, and the gabble of a flock of migrating geese.” 
― Hal Borland

This morning when I took the dog out I noticed the leaves on the dogwoods are turning and the geese are overhead. We are entering a new season, as well as a new season of life. School is starting for another year and the children are getting older.

No longer do we have the chaos of little ones. Instead we have the growing pains of independence seeking tweens and teens. Getting ready for the start of school is a whole new ball game... less physical and more mental prep so to speak.

Rachel is getting ready to head back to Eastern to start her sophomore year. Less nerves this year and less list frenzy. Cody is starting his senior year. He is trying to discern what God's plan for his life. Hannah is starting 7th grade and Lucas 5th... when we first started this journey Hannah was a wee lass and Luke not even born.

This has been a busy month. Because of the business of getting Cody into the NIH, the plan was quitting my position and substitute teaching. However, I was blessed with the opportunity of a part time TSS (Therapeutic Support Staff) position and we felt that was a better option. So not only are we getting ready for school but getting ready for the change that this will bring to our school schedule. Blessedly we will have the first two weeks of school to get in the swing of things before any big changes occur.

Mike's parents were able to visit from North Carolina for a couple of days which was a huge blessing!

And Cody had his first Actemra infusion. The difference afterwards was amazing. After weeks/months of constant pain he was like a whole new kid. A week later however was disappointing. On Monday he seemed to be coming down with a cold and Tuesday we spent the day at a nearby zoo and caverns. By Wednesday he was having difficulty moving. Another med issue is for awhile he has been on Cymbalta for pain~ he has been concerned of late that his mood swings and agitation are side effects so we stopped the Cymbalta for now. Hopefully this small flare is from the cold and he will recover quickly.

As we move ahead next week into a new season of our lives I am clinging to these verses:

                                   Psalm 27:13&14 
         I remain confident of this, that I will see the goodness of the Lord!

24 days till school starts?? Where did summer go?

I'm not exactly sure where July has gone.  It seems to have came and went far too quickly.

We have 24 days till school starts. Normally at this time of year I am filled with excitement about a fresh new start to school... this year... well I'm having a difficult time.

This calendar year... so far has been such a tumultuous one. Mike's PSA level was 0 on July 2nd~ Praise God! I don't think I'd really taken a breath since his diagnosis February 12th.

Cody is entering his senior year of high school... although it seems like just yesterday he started kindergarten. He has not had the best summer- pain wise- so the goal is to get his pain/flares under control so going away to college next fall (next fall?? really am I old enough to have 2 college students?) is a viable option for him.

It seems his run with Orencia is coming to an end and a new infusion medicine is in his future. Which also means starting infusions at the hospital again instead of home ~ sigh~.

I have been feeling emotionally fragile these days... it seems as if the slightest thing can bring me to tears. But one thing I have been learning this bitter and yet sweet year is that God is gracious, merciful, and patient as He teaches me. I am learning that I don't have to have it all figured out because He can and will redeem my mistakes. And most importantly- a little grace can go a long way.