Picture of the Week - 6/27/2019

Some weeks it feels like nothing much happens.  Other weeks it feels like A MILLION things are going on.  This week was the latter.

Newsy updates...

Last Friday was the Wolverine Round-up wrestling tournament.  It was really fun!  We hosted 15 teams in a fast-moving wrestling scramble.  The club made some money and the team had a great showing.  Spencer wrestled very well - at 220 lbs - and is very pumped up for the season.  Couple of pictures of him doing his thing...

Quinn didn't wrestle because he's sidelined waiting on some tests.  I've not said much about what's going on with him because Quinn didn't want to talk about it and it wasn't really my story to tell.  Short story is that he's had 3 episodes of seizure-like activity - all while wrestling.  The last happened on their trip to New Orleans.  Since then he's seen his pediatrician and a neurologist.  They both agree this this is mostly likely vasovagal syncope.  It's a stress/pain/anxiety reaction that essentially causes his body to shut down to protect itself - basically he passes out and then the body realizes the threat is over and he's fine.  In some cases, the limbs spasm, like a seizure.  It's scary as heck to watch!  But the neurologist told us that it's not a true seizure and leaves no evidence in the brain waves.  He had an MRI today to rule out other bad things, but given his physical exam this is likely just a precaution.  And what the heck, our deductible is already gone anyway, so why not.  Quinn's handling the downtime well, but is disappointed that he didn't get to wrestle in the Wolverine round-up and also sad that he's got to skip the team trip up to the OSU intensive camp.  (More on the camp in a couple of weeks.  It's the week after vacation.)

Luckily for Quinn, he was distracted by The Walk this past week.  This is a camp our church hosts.  They took over 900 high school kids and around 250 small group leaders to Panama City for 4 nights.  I have enjoyed hearing his stories since he got back SO much.  It was a week full of fun and fellowship and worship.  I think it was a life-changing kind of week for him.  I know that sounds cliche, but to hear him talk.  Goodness, I'm glad he got to have that experience!  That kids deserves some fun and frivolous!  Check out the adorable picture of Quinn and his girlfriend Lily.  I died of cuteness.  

While Quinn was gone, Spencer sold the project truck.  I think it's REALLY fascinating that he "lost" so much money on this project and NO ONE is upset about it.  I'm not.  Bob's not.  And most importantly, Spencer's not.  When you are 16 and only have a couple thousand dollars to your name, losing the vast majority of it on a project that didn't quite work out could be seen as a failure.  It could squash dreams or make you shy to try another wild idea.  I'm really proud that none of those things are true for Spencer.  He considers the lost money "tuition" because he learned so much about how to work on cars while this was going on over the last nearly 2 years.  I consider it tuition because of the life lessons he learned.  Yes, he now knows how to do a LOT of things to a car that I don't know (Bob doesn't know, my dad doesn't know, etc.), but he also learned how hard it is to budget time, how irritating it is to try to deal with unreliable businesses/people, how expensive shipping is, how to sell things on the internet, that even a grandparent's tolerance of a weird situation runs out after a while, and it's OK to mess up and not quite make it to the end of your goals.  There are actually probably a hundred more little things he's learned along the way.  I'm proud of him for trying.  I'm relieved it's over.  And I can't wait to see what he attempts next.  So long rusty red truck.

Oh - and I almost forgot - we got TP'd for the first time ever.  I don't imagine it'll be the last time with a house full of boys...  

We have 1 more day of work left before we head on vacation for a MUCH needed week away.  I can't wait to sit on that porch listening to the waves and watching for dolphins, adult beverage in hand and all my favorite people with me.  SO close!

Picture of the Week - 6/20/2019

Feels a little weird to be all tied up with wrestling stuff in June, but we are definitely knee deep in wrestling stuff this week.  

Bob took Spencer and Quinn down to New Orleans last weekend to compete with the rest of their summer team in a Dual.  The team went last year too.  It's tough competition and a really great learning experience.  Spencer went undefeated with a couple of pins and a major decision.  He had a great time and is really pumped up for the rest of the summer season - and getting ready for the "real" season this winter.  Quinn had kind of a rough time.  He wrestled great, but saw some really good opposition.  And he's dealing with some health stuff that has him sidelined for a bit now.  He'll get back on the mat soon.

Tomorrow West is hosting a tournament - which means we get to go play in the gym all day instead of working.  Woot!

Here's a couple of pictures of the boys from last weekend doing their thing.  Quinn's the one up on his knees and Spencer's the one shoving his opponents head into the mat with his forearm - ouch.  

Zane and Beck tried out a new camp this week.  This one is run by a local parks & rec group, but is pretty small.  They only take 20 kids/week, so I've never gotten them in before.  They start each day doing some kind of sport or activity.  They played kickball, soccer, baseball, hiked Sawnee Mt, basketball, etc.  All kinds of stuff.  Then they eat lunch and watch a movie before heading to Cumming Aquatic Center where they get to swim and go on the slides for nearly 3 hours.  They come home exhausted, slightly sunburned, and very very happy.  They had a blast - and I'm so glad I signed them up for the same camp next week.  It's always a little nerve wracking to do a camp for multiple weeks in a row, because if they don't like it, we hear about it often!!!  LOL

5 more days of work before vacation too!  I'm SO excited for the beach - and some down time - and some GOOD family time.  Can't wait!

Have a great, hot June week everyone!

Picture of the Week - 6/13/2019

While I was away last week, I had several conversations with people who I either don't talk to often or whom I'd never really talked to about my kids.  A few times I pulled out my phone to show off pictures of my family - something that I'm sure LOTS of people who are kinda homesick and like talking about their kids like to do.  Unfortunately, I didn't really have many pictures of all 4 boys together - and none that were very recent.  This made me kinda sad...

So today, noticing that they were all home at the same time (which is kind of rare these days) - I asked them to oblige me in getting an updated "brother picture".  They are good kids and made their way to the back porch - aka our picture place.  Someday we will move and have to find another backdrop and somehow that makes me kind of sad...

Anyway - here's the result.  This is what my kids look like right now.  A couple of them have fresh haircuts.  None of them are particularly clean.  2 are wearing wrestling t shirts and 2 are wearing lacrosse t shirts.  They are mostly happy, but maybe not really super thrilled about being asked to stand so close together.  This is them.  And I love every bit of it!

Tomorrow Spencer and Quinn (and Bob) are heading to New Orleans for a wrestling tournament.  I've got Zane and Beck to myself this weekend.  I'm not sure what all we will get into, but I've already promised a trip for IHOP pancakes - and I'm kind of a pushover...  so I'm sure there will be pool time and ice cream involved at some point.  I can't wait to see how the team does against some good wrestlers at this tournament.  Spencer is wrestling the 220 weight class and Quinn's got the 120.  I think they both will have a great time - and learn a LOT!

Picture of the Week - 6/6/2019

This week’s picture is to remind you to find the Beauty wherever you are - aka – find a way to be grateful every day!

I’ve just spent the better part of a week working in a foreign country, away from my family and friends, forced to walk to work and back home (in the rain) every day, working through tasks that are both difficult and highly visible, while being questioned at every turn, and being constantly behind on deliverables because my team is all out on leave this week.  It’s been a really long, emotionally and mentally exhausting week.

OR

I’ve just spent the better part of a week working for a company that has given me the opportunity to travel to places I never would have visited otherwise. 

I’ve been away from my family and friends, which has made me realize how much I love and appreciate them. 

I’ve gotten to walk to work, which has given me a really great opportunity to clear my head, think through problems, and get some exercise at the same time.  I never would have stopped to recognize the cobblestone streets from a car.  I never would have heard the birdsong along the way. 

I’ve been given the responsibility to work on problems and projects that are very important to my company.  The work I am doing is important. 

I have been presented with challenges that are forcing me to grow, both professionally and personally. 

I’m getting lots of practice at prioritization and making sure I’m using good time management practices to ensure everything that has to get done is done.  (If you want something done, give it to a busy person.)

I’ve learned that I married a man who selflessly and easily shifts into full-time management of our entire household – and does so better than I would.  He has my gratitude, respect, and love, no matter where on earth I am at any given moment.

My boys have been given a real life role model of so many things I find important – hard work pays off, but it’s hard.  Marriage is teamwork.  Division of labor has no gender.  The world is bigger than you can imagine, but smaller than you can believe.

I’ve learned that my limits, as previously defined, weren’t really limits at all – and that stretching is growing in so many ways.

I’ve learned that I can focus on the challenge or focus on the gratitude.  Guess which I prefer.

This little flower, growing out the side of an otherwise boring wall, doesn’t care that the surroundings are hard, grey, and overlooked.  He just sees the sun and enjoys the Scottish rain.  Tomorrow I head back home.  I can’t wait to get there.  I miss my people and my stuff and I need some hugs.  But I refuse to be discouraged by all the stuff that life throws this way.  There are just too many reasons to be grateful.

PS – If you wonder why I am sharing this “self-help” drivel all the time, the answer is two-fold.  1) I really believe that this stuff works.  You can change your outlook – and therefore your outcome – just by changing the way you think.  2) It’s hard and I need regular reminding…  and my hope is that I can create a whole network of people who think this way and help prop each other up when we fall off the proverbial wagon.