reflections

I haven't made resolutions for several years now, but do try to keep in mind aspects of my life to keep before God that need some help. ;o)

One of those this year is one that is heard a lot in many lives. My health! Oh boy, have the last two years been a rollercoaster. A couple of Decembers have passed since I found myself with Pneumonia and almost complete adrenal exhaustion. It has been an uphill battle in nutritional changes and spiritual trust. It was more complex than I could have ever imagined, but now I am thinking I am coming over the top of it and am oh so ready to step more fully away from it. God has been such an anchor to me.

I started a new job this past year that I get to help foster youth learn living skills and much mentoring happens. I am going to an interview on Monday for a second job that I would work as an Independent Social Worker helping biological parents of foster parents get the resources they need to get their kids back. I do believe that some people can change and everyone deserves the chance to do that.

I have made new friends and let go of other friends. Transitioning out of a life that was built around a marriage that is no longer there. It hurts at first, but over time I knew it was the right choice. Being true to me.

I have started some fix-it-up stuff at my house. A little here and a little there and it is feeling more like home to me after three years living here.

I am looking forward to the journey that God has me on for 2013!
Lori xo

Transitions

Life seems to lag when we meet head on with transitions. Like my brain is trying to wrap around the changing of seasons, one day we are in a warm green world and it seems like the next brings cold gusts of unrecognizable wind.

Unrecognizable paths ahead of us...children grown and married, another a new adult stretching her wings, and three more stretching, stretching, stretching. For me to be who they need to encourage them, yet caution when needed.

To be the mother who nurtures and the mother who is wise...

Life is such a balance...in every season. This is our last year of homeschooling after fourteen years. Well, my son will be doing a few studies at home for his senior year, but that is considered very low involvement after schooling five at a time for many years.

This is a HUGE transition for me. To have a part of your life over after more than a decade is like a death in a way. Dreams that I thought would always be a part of me, but with life comes transitions.
I teach my kids to ebb and flow with life. I know how to do this too. It's the bigger transitions and the ones that not everyone understands full well that tend to smart a bit.

I trust my girls to have a wonderful time in public school. They have a great gaggle of friends. It's not that aspect....its the family time lost...

What I have found that I will do after being reminded by Ann when she said,
“God doesn’t ask me to be perfect; He asks me to praise.”
is to praise and be thankful. That is will take the sting out of the hurt a bit and soften the blow.

Dealing with the fall-out of another person's decisions is a life-long road to walk. Someone's choices will always affect ours. Sometimes we walk it with more ease than others and sometimes it just plain hurts.

It's our choice as to how we will navigate it. I choose thankfulness and praise.

Boy, there is a lot of decluttering of books from millions of years of schooling at home...and with each tear slipped there will also be words of praise for the years my kids spent right here at home with me.

Lori
xoxo

 

comparing is a naughty word

I have a problem...when I don't check in here for a loooooong time I have too much on my mind to talk about. I could talk about learning more about the ph balance in our bodies and how it is soooo important. OR I could talk about how seriously in LOVE with my kids I am and how they are THE BEST kids on the planet Earth, but you already know that about me. ;o)

I settled on talking about something that I have been walking through much of my past 10 years...comparing. blech.

Even if we don't do it consciously, we do it. We compare ourselves to others. There is more than one way to "keep up with the Joneses". Is our house as clean, our abs as tight, our food as nutritious, our kids as ______(insert your phrase), our bank account as loaded, our marriage as strong, our brain as educated...the list can be endless....oh yeah our garden as bountiful.....um, no. My garden sucked this year with a capital "S".

Even so....I am OKAY with that. Really okay. Because the bounty of my garden or the tightness of my abs DOES NOT dictate who I am...and if it does then I am hanging with the wrong set of people.
I am learning that I am not supposed to be perfect.

I am supposed to be real and try my best. That is all. So are you.

I think that there are two words to totally simplify it all....learn + enjoy.

learning from a moment instead of feeling like a failure because of it. HUGE.
enjoying something for what it is and not what we wanted it to be....equally huge.

That is all. I am reminding myself of these things daily. I do my best and when I have done that I am learning to enjoy it.

I hope the same for you.
Lori xo

water on a hot day

 We finally got some heat here in Southwest Washington. Felt sooooo good! Since my summer has been so busy with working I decided to "take a day".  The kids were appreciative and Daisy our lab was too!

 Between watching the kids, wading in the river and lounging/browsing books it was a relaxing day.

Silly teens! :o)
Lori xo

Popping in!

I'm still here, really I am.

Been a very busy time here as I am sure it has been for you too! Summer is ending and everyone is scrambling to get in that last time away with the family as well as getting ready for Autumn.

School is drawing near for kiddos...that means ordering curriculum which is fun, but is time-consuming. We are really excited about what will be coming in the mail to enlarge the brains of the younger Barre's here :o)

(Aliss' birthday breakfast in bed-yes that is Ramen in the stemware-just what was ordered)

I am now the momma to TWO adult children. That sounds weird!

I lost a good friend to cancer. Went to her celebration of life ...with all of the photos of her and testimonies about her I almost expected to look over and see her sweet smile. She is dancing with Jesus now, it's just us left behind that have to get used to our days without her.

The garden is not a complete waste this summer. I shovel-turned a section (read small-er section) and have some amazing organic tomato plants thriving there. I planted them from seeds too! There coloring is so beautiful and in the morning their leaves actually sparkle. This was the first year that I have started tomato from seed. I usually buy the seedlings, but wanted to see how the organic seed would do. I am so pleased with them! I think the milk jug mini greenhouses helped tremendously.

I bought a volvo stationwagon and we are all really enjoying it. I love the gas savings!!

Getting used to not heading back to college this year after several years. Just finished up the exit loan counseling and feel a huge weight off of my shoulders. I have LOVED (!) the learning and reading books that I normally wouldn't gravitate toward, BUT there are many other areas that have gone neglected (like home organization) that NEED some immediate attention. ;o)

What are your plans as we head into Autumn? Is anyone making cider? We may be given a cider press from our sweet neighbor. I am so excited about that!

Hope your day is GREAT!
Lori

this moment-swimming

~{This Moment}~

A moment I want to pause, cherish and remember.

More "this moments" over at Soulemama

 

 

Missing these two little sweeties as they spend time away with their dad.

Hello!

This chickie has been away from the nest (blog) for quite awhile! I am not even going to try to catch up all of the time lost...a tad overwhelming and could turn into a book. ;o)

This is where my friend the bullet-point list comes in handy:

March 26-my boy turned SIXTEEN
Time flies by I tell ya!
I couldn't be more proud of my son and who he is now and who he is becoming.

Spring soccer for Hannah-

 I graduated with my Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis in Counseling/Psychology/Human Services.

  I have to say that part of me is relieved to not have the pressure of paper due dates, but just as much of me misses the people that I got to know and spent so much time with. During that time my nephew Jeff and niece Brandi came down to celebrate my graduation. While they were here we celebrated Tessa and Jeff both turning 21. BTW Jeff I am so proud of you for graduating with your AA.

Our dear pet Bear is now "sleeping" under the pear tree. We were blessed to have him as part of our family for two years. He will be dearly missed.

 New babies on the farm...two mommas to chicks that aren't theirs biologically...beautiful.

First day out of the nesting box...they are three days old and momma is taking a dust bath.

 

I am sure that I could keep going and going about what has happened in our lives in the past several months, but alas I will stop on account of all of our sanities. ;o)
Be back soon!
Have a GREAT day!
Lori