Last day of September

Just a quick check in (for you sweet folks who requested one). Let me tell you, I would love to write in detail about all that has gone on since my last post....but, I fear I'm becoming a lot more wise private in my old age. Days of wearing my heart on my sleeve may be behind me. What's that saying- burned once shame on you, burned twice shame on me? Something like that. I wasn't really "burned", but couldn't think of a saying for what it was. Greg tells me I get my sayings mixed up. Just yesterday I told him about how someone (we know) runs to the beat of their own drum. I continued on with my profound statement(and respect & awe of this person), but he got stuck on the visual of a guy running to the beat of a drum. Makes perfect sense to me--drum beats + running. Running, walking? We are still debating which it should be. Anyway.....I feel like I've learned much these past few months.

My friend, Jess, just wrote (on her blog) what have been my thoughts for some time, but words I have not figured out how to put on paper. I love that. When you read someone's {a friend's} words {thoughts}and you think ...yes, yes I totally agree. Or, simply, wow, that is just what I have been thinking, going through. Truly, it's comforting, and empowering all in one.

I would love to go into detail about the dinner with Greg's old gal pal ( a dinner where we were meeting her new fiance) and upon first handshake with her beau I realized that I had "sorta dated and definitely kissed" him (back during college days). He either did not remember me, or pretended not to...not sure...but for various reasons, I had to keep this little fact to myself until Greg & I got in the car for our ride home(5 hrs later). I felt awkward sharing that tiny bit of ancient history at this special meeting and didn't want anyone to feel uncomfortable.  Of all the people....regardless, the evening was fun.

So, you are welcome. I just shared a sort of detailed event.

And here are some little facts....
~Our new favorite place is the zoo....especially on one of these beautiful fall days.
~The movie Babe (about Babe Ruth) has been watched a lot lately-brings me to weepy tears every time.
~I think Greg is addicted to Lowe's. He seems to find any excuse to go there, and most always comes home with some sort of garage organizing device.
~My 79 yr old mom was scammed by a concrete contractor. He took her $1800 and ran. She's feisty and wise, and is suing him.
~I'm addicted to full fat Greek yogurt drenched in maple syrup and covered with walnuts.

That's all I've got for now. But, I feel some more blogging coming on....especially because the boys just announced yesterday was the "best day ever".

Rhino Friday

 For as long as I can remember my dad has been a big fan of soccer. He's had season tickets to the Rhino's {and the Lancer's before them} forever. He also has a brick in the new stadium with his name on it. As he grew closer to his 80's my brother started taking him to all the games. This past Friday we decided to join the.

 There were no goals.....the last several minutes were very intense(Rhino's scored in the final minutes)

 

As the sun was setting the sky turned a beautiful red. 

                                 A beautiful end to a fun evening.

Grey

Or is it...gray? The grammar experts tell me it's either.

It was while shopping for towels that I first realized I have a new obsession with the color grey. We were long overdue for some new master bath towels so I decided to stop into my favorite Homegoods store. For several minutes, I stood in the grey towel section choosing a small variety of towels...excited to get them home. As I was walking away I realized....my bathroom is not grey. It's tan and blue!

I blame it on feeling overly tired, all the time lately. That moment in Homegoods is when I realized I have a grey obsession, and I also have an obvious mental block as to which colors are actually in my home. And so I walked around our house taking a true inventory of my grey obsession.....

 The same day I towel shopped I also completed a couple of quick projects. One was purchasing {grey}scrapbook paper and putting them in white frames(no clue where we will hang them).

 I used the same {grey} paper to cover the letters above. After I applied the letters to the wall I stood back and once again realized....our kitchen is mostly tan/beige.

 The tiles sort of look grey, but in person they are all beige or tan.

 

 Most of the accents I have around are grey....bags, containers, etc.

 That same shopping day I found these {grey}rolls of wrapping paper. I had the idea that I will line the back of our china hutch with the paper. Thankfully, we had just painted our dining room grey.

Does grey match tan? It wouldn't be my first choice of colors to combine, but it's growing on me. Maybe grey is the new white?

Neighbors

 Over the weekend.....

Sometimes something happens in the course of my day and I think.....what in the world was that? {In a good way}. I just had one of those experiences and I can't stop thinking about it.

 

(a nest of baby rabbits live in here)

The details of finding and purchasing our current house....actually, the details of Greg being offered his current job.....were somewhat bizarre. And when I say bizarre I mean when I look back the details make me squint my eyes a little and say "hmmmm" to myself. On the days that I start questioning why we moved back home, or if we made the right decision I'm usually able to let those thoughts quickly go because of how it all happened. In my mind, the Lord guided us on a path and timed things in a way that I can only point back to Him.

So, with that in mind.....on one side of our home we have some lovely empty nesters. They are clearly in love, act younger than their age, and are friendly. Because Greg travels I am thankful that we are surrounded by neighbors who seem to be around a lot. Remember how I shared that our neighbors gazebo was ripped to shreds? Well, when I saw their grandkids playing on our swingset I ran out to chat with them(her) about the storm. Before I knew it, we were chatting about all sorts of things and she invited me to come look at her home.

Our conversation probably only lasted about 10 minutes....and, by the way, if your neighbor asks you to come inside and look at her house be sure to tell your family where you are going. I sort of disappeared which caused Greg and the boys to get a bit worried. Nice to know I was missed.
So, our conversation.... in the short time we chatted my dear neighbor shared things about her life, and brought up other specific random things that made my jaw drop. Why? Because they were words of encouragement about things she wouldn't have a clue I was struggling with could relate to. I don't want to say struggling because that really doesn't define it. It's too heavy of a word. Maybe heavily pondering is a better description.

 The things she shared about her life sounded so similar to some things I have been experiencing...or have experienced, or have thought about. It was like a 10 minute hug and an it's going to be ok. Definitely something I don't want to forget. It felt so intentional...as if the Lord orchestrated the whole thing.

Wow.

Just, wow. Oh, and her husband has a passion for Harley's. Just like Greg. Umm, that could mean trouble, but I'm not too worried.

Whole Lotta

 This is a post that may seem like a whole lotta nothing, but to me it's something.....

 What I've been thinking about lately.... Things I have a hard time putting into words. Ha. So why am I mentioning it? Because it's been all consuming these past few weeks and I feel like God has been showing me many things. {Does that sound like Christianese?} Anyway....He is pushing me through some hard stuff. I say pushing because I have to believe that He literally is pushing me and moving me forward. I've not shared what's been going on with anybody (but Greg) because it's been hard. Woah Nellie. Plus, I'm determined to not let it weigh me down or weaken me. That's when I realized that things feel different...I feel different. It's one of those deep and raw things.So I've been thinking about deep and raw things. :)

 What I have NOT been thinking about lately.......School stuff. For the first time ever-we have not done any schoolin' over the summer. We've just been reading fun books. I have no desire to organize our school stuff, and I don't want to research, purchase, or look at curriculum. I'm tired. I love having the boys home with me, I like homeschooling. I used to love it. I'm sort of blah about it at this moment. I'm sure I will get my mojo back...maybe. What I have realized more than ever is that I want homeschooling to be how we school...but not necessarily how we are defined. I feel like I've maybe kept myself in a homeschool box for awhile.

 Do we miss NJ?.......Yes. We miss so much about NJ....our friends, summer rugby, the things the boys were able to experience, living 17 miles from NYC....Every few days, the boys ask if we can go back to visit. Maybe what I'm missing is the adventure. Being in a fresh, new city with all it's new places, spaces, and faces. Don't get me wrong, I love our hometown and being near family & friends. I have a feeling if we still lived in NJ, I would be feeling homesick to move home. In fact, I know I would be homesick. It's just one of those things. 

(there was a quick and crazy wind storm last evening. See our neighbors gazebo in the background?....it was ripped to shreds in 5 minutes. I felt so bad for them)

What have I been reading?.....Hold Onto Your Kids by Gordon Neufeld. Such.a.good.book. I originally read it years ago. I picked it up the other day and opened it up to just the right paragraph. I'm now going to start over with highlighter in hand.
What have I been eating?.....ice cream-all kinds. Bowl next to me right now. Potato chips dipped in Greek yogurt. Pizza dipped in Blue Cheese and hot sauce. Those are all my go to yummies when Greg and the boys take off for some boy time.
What am I listening to right now?.....the neighbor mowing the lawn, the clink of a baseball bat.
What fun thing did I find this week?...Ulta's grey eye shadow and purple nail polish. I'm a mix of tom boy and girly girl. 
What was my scripture of the week?....psalm 94:18-19
   "When I said, “My foot is slipping", your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy."