Ponderings

I have been muddling about this year. Feeling my age. Oldest child moved out. Hannah eager to head out on her own for good. I have certainly done my fair share of introspection. My friend of many years - dare I say how many? wrote this on her blog back during the the first week of school, and I have thought it lovely - the way she worded our breakfast out and our discussions of the day.

Thought I'd share it with you.

"I guess I am now a "middlish-mom", rather than a youngish mom. Yesterday was our first day of school, and I was standing on the playground of the elementary school with some of my 'middlish' friends after we had just dropped off our youngest children. In this particular group, we had combined mothering experience totalling 91 years. We were noticing all the young, cute moms (we've termed them the 'snowboarding moms' for some reason) who were dropping off their first children. They were eager, some looked stressed -- we collectively were . . . neither. Just peaceful, maybe a little tired (we had to get up with our Seminary kids, after all), with a different perspective than we used to have. We were chuckling about how we used to be so much better at being involved in all the school stuff than we are now. And we realized, somewhat wistfully, that none of these younger, eager moms had any idea how much we've contributed in the past. We've made many phone calls, volunteered at school events, attended countless meetings, balanced many things, and managed the chaos. Now we kiss our kids and say, "see you after school!" and politely decline when asked to be the PTSA Treasurer for the year or organize the clean-up crew for the school barbecue. Don't get me wrong, we still volunteer in our kids' classrooms, go on field trips, etc. but we have somewhat lower expectations of ourselves now. Sometimes in commercials or movies there will be someone who is standing still or moving slowly while everything around them moves in super-fast motion. That's sorta what we felt like, and in some way we felt rather sorry for the anxious fast-movers. And also very grateful for them! Somebody's got to keep up the enthusiasm and clean up after the barbecue!

The five of us decided to go out for a spontaneous breakfast at Mom & Pop's Diner where we sat, laughed, reminisced and marveled at the passage of time. One of us just married off her oldest child this summer (I taught her in what used to be Achievement Days). Another one has her oldest serving a mission (I used to drive him to Cub Scouts). My oldest is a senior in high school and counting down the minutes until he can launch, while in the meantime figuring out the ups and downs of having a steady girlfriend. The other two moms have oldest daughters who are Kristi's age, so we were discussing hormones, messy bedrooms and AP classes. Three hours later we thought we'd better go home and clean up the before-school dishes before our kids started coming home and wondered what we'd done all day!

I am not fortunate to live close to any of my family, immediate or extended. But I am fortunate to have friends who I have known since we were young moms, and who I hope to have until we are old grandmothers. When I sheepishly admitted to Keith last night about how I spent my morning, his comment was, "You guys deserved it." I would agree." - Karen Shaffer

It's about darn time...Really.

I cannot believe that I have let this large amount of time lapse. It is absurd. I have no excuse. Other than lacking in focus and not lacking in other things to do. And really, much of the words I will put here will be of no interest to just about anybody!

But I digress. Let us Recap.

We have had summer = fun

We started school = fatigue

We had Hallowe'en = sugar high

We have had a missionary for nearly 6 months = proud and happy mom

Would you like a pictorial review? Here we go!

Tahoe - can't be beat. We spend as many days as we can up there. We were thrilled when Hannah got back from D.C. and headed up there often. We also discovered a new place of fun and went kayaking at Fallen Leaf Lake. Beautiful tiny lake right off Hwy 89. There are some waterfalls up there and we had some good fun scrambling on the boulders.

Next: A little hiking fun for Hannah and Tom.

Little? A bit of an understatement. They did about a 50 mile hike along the John Muir trail. They were gone for 5 days and were tired and dirty and covered in mosquito bites, but what a feat. Quite an amazing accomplishment and pretty beautiful pictures, as well.

What else - oh yes, my summer tradition...

GIRLS CAMP at Bucks Lake

The theme this year was Musicals. We had a revolution - thanks to Hannah and Camilla's camp group - Les Miserables. But other than that and a little payback, everything went off without a hitch. Abbey had a great first year in her Beauty and the Beast group.

And I had a little run as a nun. A singing nun, no less!

That is me - 2nd from the left. These are the ladies who helped me plan camp. We had a little too much fun and got a little punchy by the end. But I love them and camp is good.

Are you weary? Should I give you a break from all the visual pleasure.

Nah - Let's just fast forward to...

HALLOWE'EN

We had a Jack in the Box:

We had a 70's basketball player:

Afro Abbey:

She is missing her cape and crest in this photo- but she looked darling and had a great day. A Canadian teacher thought she was some sort of Canadian superhero from the 80's? Anyone? I had never heard of one, but he printed a picture, and she sort of looked like him.

A couple of Thugs (Camilla and her pal, Kylie):

Nice.

And a Pac Man her friend , Ghost (aka: Hannah & Haydn):

So fun and adventures had by all. We've done a million other things. Waterskiing at Lake Almanor, tennis season for Camilla and Hannah, basketball for Abbey. Danny and Jack are looking forward to hockey season.

Probably everyone who will read this is on the email list for Tommy's mission letters. He is doing so great. He sends pictures once in a while and emails every Wednesday - so that is my new favourite day.

On the back of this photo he wrote, "Crying repentance unto the people." Hahaha - as he would say. Below is a picture of the family that he and his companion taught and baptized.

The Perez Family

So that should bring us up to date.

Next I'll add a post about our new addition.

No, I'm not pregnant.