littlepieceofheaven

Saturday, August 5, 2017

To move or not to move

That is the question of the day, week, hour around here. Kate begins high school, 30 minutes away, in less than two weeks, but we are already quite familiar with Bishop Kelley as we have been there and back and there and back - ALL SUMMER LONG! Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled for her that she made the volleyball team, is enjoying her summer workouts, loves her team practices, embraces her role as a coach at volleyball camp. I am. Thrilled. What isn't thrilling is the amount of time I spend in our minivan we lovingly refer to as: LOIS. Let's get real. It's an hour, round trip. And we do that hour drive multiple times a day in the summer. Oh - and there's Will. This kid spends more time in the car than anywhere else. And I can't help but look ahead, to a couple of years down the road. As I drive her to and from Kelley, I'm secretly envisioning HER behind the wheel, navigating all the highways to get there and the crazy drivers behind, beside and in front of her, all going at 70+ miles per hour! It makes me a little nauseous. And by the way - there are two more behind her. Both are involved in more sports than just volleyball and both will be driving eventually. So, I get on my computer at night and start to pour through real estate on the market in Tulsa. I look, look, look to see if we can find a house that we all love, that Bill can stomach paying for, and that gets us back to the center of our activities.

Then, a day like this comes along. The light is just right out here. I am outside, alone, in the QUIET. I look around. I love it. I do. My head tells me it's best to go. My heart tells me it's best to stay. I think we'll just table this until one of them gets louder or my nausea is too much to handle.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Halloween 2016

Happy Halloween from my Delta Commader, my Dunkin Donut, and my sorority girl! Ah, Halloween. A tough "holiday" for those of us without a neighborhood to trick or treat in, but someone always manages to save the day for us! This year was a little different with Kate off at a party with friends (this will likely be the case from now on) and Claire soon to follow with plans of her own. In any case - this was my first year NOT to have a picture of all three together. We still managed to carve pumpkins. I'm not sure I'll ever let them off the hook for that one!

Fall Break 2016

I've always kind of dismissed fall break. Fall break?? For what? We just started school a mere month and a half ago! Until this year. Haven't we been in school for 6 months already?! I think this may be our busiest fall ever. Maybe I've said that before. I don't know. All I know is we needed it this year. It was a quick drive, beautiful weather, and fun time spent with my favorite people. We hit Eureka Springs, Table Rock lake area, Branson, Silver Dollar City (of course). I would like to say that Will hung in there with us on our 6 mile bike ride through Dogwood Canyon, but it was more like I hung in there with him. I'm not sure if he was trying to see just how fast he could do those 6 miles or what, but I know this: Mom struggled to keep up. Leisurely bike ride for me, it was not!

What a nice getaway. Any getaway these days is a gift. I'll take whatever we can get!

Friday, October 7, 2016

Mystery Reader, my very last one

One of the big treats, for both parents and kids, during the 1st grade year at Monte Cassino is MYSTERY reader day! Parents sign up with the teacher for a specific day, send her five clues about themselves and then show up to surprise the kids after they've tried incredibly hard to guess who is coming based on the clues...so fun! I couldn't wait to do it for Will. This would be my last "mystery reader" day EVER. Ever. Maybe I'd bring a fun snack that coordinated with the book, read TWO books instead of just one if Mrs. Schloss allowed it. I was making big plans. Until....the request.

"I want Claire to come be my mystery reader".

Me, "Okay." Just a tad heartbroken and just a tad touched that he wanted his sister to come. Kate even tried to get in the game. "I'll come be your mystery reader!" "NO. I want Claire".

I relented (as did Kate) and gave up my spot as mystery reader. I helped her come up with some clues about herself and that's how this very last MYSTERY READER day of mine went down.

Truth be told, it was worth it. The smile on his face when he saw her appear from behind the door - so worth it. Not the way I envisioned my very last mystery reader day, but absolutely perfect.

That's kind of how life goes, right?

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

I'm a Christian

A few nights ago, Bill was putting Will to bed and I popped my head in to give him a hug and say goodnight. He was holding his rosary that he made in art class. It had just been blessed by Father Brian O'Brien earlier that week. He was pleading with Bill to pray the rosary, pretty adamantly. Now, it's after 9:00 p.m. already and praying the entire rosary takes some time. I asked if he'd be happy to just say Our Father with us. No. He wouldn't be happy to do that. He'd like to pray the rosary. I asked if he'd just like to pray Hail Mary. Yes. He would accept that. Great.

EXCEPT THAT...no judging please....I'm not completely certain I can say Hail Mary from memory. I'm a cradle Episcopalian. It's the only church I've ever been a part of. I am an Episcopalian. We do not typically pray Hail Mary, at least within the walls of the two churches I have attended my entire life.  I am married to a Methodist, turned Catholic. Whew, at least Dad can pray Hail Mary with him without stumbling! Almost. My Methodist, turned Catholic, now attends the Episcopal church with us and doesn't get to the Catholic services as often as he used to. Anyway - we make it through Hail Mary in a manner that is sufficiently pleasing to my 6 year old even though he throws me a look here and there for not knowing it flawlessly. This begins a conversation about how I am Episcopalian. What's that? That's the denomination of our church, St. Patrick's. Dad is Catholic. Why? He chose to become Catholic in his early 20's and connects strongly with the Catholic faith. What church does he go to?
He goes with us to St. Patrick's because he loves our church too and we all enjoy going as a family.   Is Kate Catholic? She went through First Communion and she's exploring Catholicism and she also attends St. Patrick's with us so she is learning about what it means to be an Episcopalian too. Is Claire Catholic? Same for Claire, she went through First Communion classes and is learning about the Catholic faith but attends St. Patrick's with us.

                                                  *******LONG PAUSE********

Well, I am a Christian.

Wow. Yes, Will, you are. Brought a little tear to my eye - not gonna lie. All the Methodist, Catholic, Episcopal talk can be confusing and tiring for a little one or even a big one. Loved that he processed the whole conversation and arrived at that one meaningful thing.

Nice job, Monte Cassino. You are teaching Christianity.
Nice job, St. Patrick's. You are teaching Christianity.

Many of the rules and rituals divide us, the big picture is what does and should bring us together. We enjoyed a Pentecost service this past weekend with a sermon delivered by the Bishop, discussing this very thing. I love that Will just might already get this.

Will, holding up his rosary.

Monday, June 23, 2014

Summer Camp!

This year, both of my girls went off to summer camp - sleep away camp - for the first time. St. Crispin's Episcopal Camp in Wewoka, OK is where they spent their week last week. This camp is not unfamiliar to me. I lost my favorite babysitters every summer to this camp, for more weeks than I would have liked! And just when I thought camp was over for them, I lost them again when they decided to become counselors and serve on staff there. The stories I would hear from them and many others sealed the deal that this would be the place for my girls when they decided they were ready for camp. These "babysitters" of mine are now in their mid twenties with real jobs and live in other cities. What are the chances they would end up at St. Crispin's with my girls last week?? Apparently, not bad, because as luck would have it, they were called in to help with this extra large group of 3rd-5th graders!! How awesome is that? They were my secret link into camp - posting little notes and updates for me on FaceBook. They know firsthand what a helicopter parent I can be! It was more than fun and so reassuring to hear almost immediately what was going on with them. Cannot thank them enough.

So last weekend, we prepared, packed, talked about my summers at Camp Bratton Green Episcopal camp with my buddies (more stories than they were probably interested in), drove a quick 2 hours over to Wewoka, found their cabin, made up beds, unpacked and left them there. For the entire week. Kate seemed just fine, but Claire was very tearful. Man, that was hard but I am so glad I stayed strong and let them go. They had a wonderful time, met lots of new friends, had some time to be on their own and know "hey, I can do this and do it well"! Claire is begging for a second week over there in late July. Kate can't wait to go back next year. I hope this is the beginning of a long relationship with St. Crispin's. I'm a fan. All in all - it was great.

Will? Well, he missed them. There's no doubt about it. And I realized this week that letting go can be a good thing. Maybe I can turn my propellers off more often and relax. I also realize that these girls spend a great deal of time with their little brother. I should be more thankful for that. I think we all appreciate each other a little more having spent a week apart.

Now, off to do all that laundry. This week was an eye opener regarding the laundry too. I had almost none while they were gone. How many outfits do they wear every day?!?

See ya next summer, St. Crispin's (unless Claire talks her Dad into another week!)