Friday, December 20, 2013

Finals for us all

This past week was final week. All 6 of us got our classes wrapped up and done with. Dalton had a pretty easy final week with very short days. Emery had a few test but not a lot. Bronson (home schooled) took a test that he had taken back in July and he has improved more then a grade in math. This makes me happy as this is one of the areas he is behind in. Carter and Atley's final week was full of concerts and a meeting. My finals included one test and one paper. I was pretty nervous of my final grade and even had a dream that I received a F on my final paper. I was very happy to find that was not the case. I finished the quarter and even made the Deans list. Not to brag but I am very happy about this and want others to know if I can do this, so can you. Next quarter will be a much fuller schedule as I will be going with 13.5 credits. This quarter I only took 9 and my fist quarter was only 4.5 credits. Nervous that it may be to much but excited to keep going with my education. The picture above is the boys on the evening I needed to finish writing my paper. I told the boys it was gaming night so mom could study. Funny there was no complaints. They have been so great in helping when I need the study time and encourage me with my grades. I love setting an example that you can accomplish things even when you doubted yourself. I have to admit I am very ready for this break for all of us. No school, no homework, no spelling, no awanas, no early morning school drop offs. Just time to be a family. I have some fun things planned starting tonight with a drive to look at Christmas lights. I have cookies and hot chocolate with marshmallows ready for a relaxing drive through the town. Looking forward to some time with my 5 guys.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Almost grown




 This year Dalton is a senior. He is 17 years old and a blessing since day one. I think back to those first years we had together. They where so much fun. Dalton was my little side kick. We had almost 3 years before Emery was born so we had lots of time just us. We did everything together. Dalton had some speech trouble so I was his voice. People would always ask me "what did he say". Mommy could always understand though. When I watch videos now of those days I can not understand a word he says. We took bike rides, swam, played games, did puzzles, colored. Dalton was the easiest toddler. He only threw one temper tantrum. We went to a store and I remember watching him as he looked at a child that was on the floor screaming. I could see the wheels turning in his head. Later that night at home, Dalton gave the fit a try. He ended up in trouble and decided it was just not worth it. I figured wow I got this parenting thing down. Well then came the 4 other kids who taught me that most toddlers try the fit thing more then once. They just didn't catch on to that as fast.

As a school age child, he loved to learn. I home schooled him  and had so much fun watching as he  learned. Reading was the love of his life. I couldn't keep enough books in the house. Junior high was spent in public schools, Dalton was an example and picked as the studio of character and featured on the radio. He was loved by all teachers.


 Dalton started High School and seemed overnight to be grown up. He joined cross country and seemed to become organized and dependent. He became more involved at church by choice not just by directed.
Now his high school days are almost over. I can't stand to think very  soon he will be moving on and out of our home. I still feel that he is my side kick. My go to guy. The one who is always there for me when I need a hand. The last year he has had to step up around here. I try to not put to much on him since his dad left, wanting him to still be the child here and not an adult. Some of this is unavoidable though. 

He has been accepted to college and is still figuring out his plans for after high school. He works at the local grocery store, helps at awanas, attends a weekly bible study, and is doing great in school. He is an example to his brothers how to handle himself. He is wise beyond his years. It was decided years ago that the boys would not be dating while young. My rule is not tell 18 but at 16 they can petition this if they want to. Meaning, if there is a girl, they can come discuss the situation with me. At that point it is still my decision but we can discuss it. Dalton has handled this so gracefully, at one point after some girl drama, admitted that I was right in making him wait, (yes I asked for that in writing). We made up a contract about dating years ago. I love the example he sets in this for his brothers. 



 Dalton goes all in when he gets into something. First it was barney, he had barney bedding, shirts, toys, fishing pole, lawn chair, sunglasses, books and more all barney. Then it was telletubbies, then onto blues clues, then to star wars and now of course superman. I think there was some extras in here but these are the biggies.



I  Love Dalton and am so very proud of this young man. I hope him and I always stay close, that he always talks to me and that he keeps his eyes on the Lord, I hope the things that he has seen in his home with his parents, will not be modeled in his household. I hope he realizes how wrong divorce is and picks a wife very carefully and for life. I hope he learns to forgive his dad. I hope he always knows how much he is loved. I hope the woman he marries realizes how great he is. I hope he gives me a granddaughter. I hope he finds joy in little things and knows how to be content. I hope he realizes the mistakes his parents made do not define him in anyway, that it is not his destiny to repeat our mistakes. 






 I hope he realizes in my eyes HE IS SUPERMAN!!!!!!





















Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Still moving forward

Wow its been a long time. We are still here and moving a long strong. I have had some people ask me to please update my blog so here we go. The boys and I are doing great. Life is so busy, my days are filled with church, my school, homeschool, running kids to school, doing daycare, kids to soccer games, bible study, kids to band practices, and the usual homework, dinner, cleaning. I will admit the month of November had me exhausted. My calendar had appointments not only daily but multiple times a day. One week I think the most we where home was 2 hours other then at bed time. I really do not like to keep a full calendar like that. Thankfully the week of Thanksgiving gave me a break from school for the boys and I and gave me a time to refresh. December looks much better and so far is much more manageable. I am loving college. Right now my classes are all online only needing to go to SCC sometimes. I love the freedom this gives me of being able to do school when it works for us. I have two assignments left to finish this quarter and then I am done until January 8. Bronson is doing great with homeschool and I love having a side kick with me all day.

As 2013 gets close to ending, it has been an amazing year for us. I think one of my best yet. I think it has more to do with my attitude and changes in myself then anything. If you looked at it from the outside, we have a smaller house, less money, crazy business, and just well parenting 5 boys alone but there is calmness in our life now. Happy, peaceful, contentment, thankful, these are words I would now describe us. I think I had come to such a dark place with anger and bitterness, learning to appreciate little things really helped me come out of that. I have learned to let little things make me so happy such as the other day going and purchasing our first snow shovel. Such a small, dorky thing but it made me smile. I even enjoyed going out at 5:30 am to use it. The boys didn't find as much happiness in this as I did. go figure. Speaking of the boys, they are healing as well. Atley came home from school yesterday and said "I am so excited!" I asked him why and he said "I don't know"! I know just how he feels, we can look forward and be excited, for nothing, for everything, for life.  I know there will be hard times, we all still cry sometimes, I get overwhelmed sometimes, I still get angry about things sometimes but nothing like it used to be. I can honestly say we are right where God wants us. Again I keep being asked if I am ready to start dating again and the answer is NO WAY!!!! why mess with the happiness here now. The kids don't need that right now. I am loving making new friendship, growing as a person and allowing my kids to have me to themselves. I feel that it would be unhealthy to expose them to me dating and honestly I don't have time. Maybe someday but that's a big MAYBE. wow never thought I would be content alone. ok well there is the update hope to add more soon.