It's Been A LONG while....

So long, in fact, that I just about forgot how to actually post.  I had to look around for the "post" button.  LOL.

I have been horrible about journaling, and so much has gone on since my last post, that it is pretty much impossible to recount it all, but I was thinking perhaps some of those lower times might not have been so low had I been following the counsel to journal. 

Today, Cecily said to me, "Mom, I think you should start blogging again. Get off of facebook, and blog."  As the scriptures say, "a small child shall lead them" (I'm not a scriptorian so forgive me when I take things out of context or misquote, but I think I'm close enough that you know what I'm trying to say.

So, I heeded her words and decided to start blogging. I remember when I was blogging before, I really enjoyed it, and I felt like the more I wrote, the better I got and the easier it was to actually write.  I hope that happens again. 

I'll try to sum up some of our main points in the past week.

1) Hurricane Issac---came and went.  A mandatory evacuation was sent out by Gov. Riley last Sunday, so the girls were off of school Monday-Wednesday.  The odd thing about the entire event was that the worst weather we experienced was on THURSDAY--the day they went back to school!  We were totally blessed in that we had no damage and just a few limbs and lots of leaves in the yard.  So grateful.  I know some people live for Hurricane parties (yes, I say live.  I actually heard several people say they were praying for the Hurricane to come! I say...C-R-A-Z-Y)!  I hate Hurricane season, seriously!

2) The girls started back at school on Aug. 20.  Can I just say how sad this makes me on so many levels.  Ariel started high school at Davidson, and Cecily started middle school Phillips.  My babies are seriously growing up and it has made me stop to evaluate my role as a mother and if I have done enough, and also that in a few years time, they will be moving on with their lives...and here I sit.....wondering what to do and go from there.  But then a friend sent me a message the other day reminding me that I am doing what I need to be doing NOW--that Heavenly Father has blessed me to be able to be a MOM full time, and that I should stop worrying about what may be tomorrow and live and enjoy today....that is HARD for me, but I am praying that I can do that! I just hope that I can be the best mom and wife to my girls and Mike. 

3) SEMINARY!!! Call me a NERD, but I have been so looking forward to Ariel starting seminary! She has always LOVED the scriptures, and shamefully for me, she understands them much better than me too.  As excited as I have been, it has not been an easy transition to wake up at 4am each morning along with Ariel to make sure she is there on time at 5:40am! Yes, that is early, but so worth it!  I sit on the couch outside of the seminary room and I can't tell you how my heart is full each morning when I hear those dedicated kids (and their dedicated awesome seminary teacher) discuss the scriptures.  It really is something special.  I have taken this time to do my own scripture study each morning.  I think it will be as helpful for me as it is for Ariel....once we get use to our new schedule. :) 
Ariel actually has a friend that she made in band that has been asking her about it. Ariel invited her to come and I did too.    She LOVES the whole idea of seminary.  I just love this girl, seriously.  She is a gem, and really a role model for all youth.  I have never seen a youth that lives the FTSOY like this girl who is not even a member.  It's amazing.  I hope she takes us up on the offer and decides to come to seminary. 

4) Friday Night Lights!  Okay, I'm just now starting to get the meaning of all this!  I know I have lived more of my life in the south than in the north now, but I guess when it comes to FOOTBALL, I will just never fully get it....although, I'm understanding a little more.   My family has never been into football, and I have honestly counted that as a blessing! LOL. 

BUT, that is all about to change! This year, Ariel is in the marching band at her high school.  It has pretty much taken over our lives this summer and continues to as school has started!  This past Friday night, I did something CRAZY (yes, crazy for me), I signed up to be a band parent chaperone for the game.  I actually enjoyed it...not for the game, mind you!  I still don't understand, anything really more than a touch down (but don't ask me how many points you get when one does get one b/c I still have no clue...lol).  I loved it b/c I was able to get to meet some really great parents who work hard and are trying to be the best parent they can be.  They each have different stories to tell..some are single working moms, some are working moms with husbands, and then there are some like me who have dedicated their lives solely to the raising of their children, but we all have a common ground...we LOVE our kids and want the best for them.  I saw some of the best kids that night...hard working, kind, uplifting and respectful.  It was GREAT.  I think I might actually become a football game fan...but not for the football, lol (although hats off to those kids playing...it is HOT, and they are working HARD to win).  Ariel actually came home and said, "I actually enjoyed football more than I thought I would, now that I know what is going on!" Please don't become to converted dear child...I've managed for 38 years to keep football off of TV at home and I would like that tradition to continue. :)

Funny story...at band camp, each of the freshman are given an assignment they are responsible for.  The first week in the morning, Ariel had the assignment of drawing the chalk lines on the football field.  She said she was like, "WHAT?? I don't even know what a 50 yard line is?"  I think she may be the only one in marching band clueless about football...not sure that anyone in the south thought that could ever be possible! HA!  Luckily, she had some friends to help her out.

5) Bedtime Stories....Last night was the best night ever.  Ariel was tired, and decided to go to bed early, and I just felt prompted to go in her room and lay on her bed with her like I did when she was little.  We talked, we laughed, we cried...well, not really...well, maybe only me b/c I was caught up in the sweetness of the moment lying there with my sweet, not so little girl, and having real conversation about things that matter, and a few things that are just silly.  Cecily came in and joined us at the end, and it was the BEST time I've had in a LONG time with my girls.  I will always hold that night dear to my heart! Life is partially about making memories that last even long after kiddos have grown, and that memory will be with me forever.  Thankful for special moments in time like that.

Yes, it's been a while, but I've realized life goes on whether we journal it or not...but journaling will allow for these memories to continue on even long after I'm gone and the memories have faded from our lives so that our future loved ones can enjoy it and see a little of who we were.  So thanks to Cecily for urging her mom to start writing again.  The words did not come as easy or flow as quick across the keyboard, but hopefully it will get better and not be so long until next time....

***Ha! I guess it has been a long time...I just kept hitting the ABC button with a line through it thinking that it was spell check!  Then I realized it was strike through...DUH! lol  Now off to find spell check!