Quiet

I've been pretty quiet around here lately, I know. We have been busy enjoying all of our Advent activities and I've been doing some homemade Christmas gifts that have taken up quite a bit of my time. Add sicknesses here and there, and you have a period of time that keeps me away from my computer.

Today I was thinking about where we were a year ago. One year ago this week, Kyndal made the decision to move with her dad, out of our home to another state. I was reading some of my posts from December of last year. Boy, was I broken. You could just hear the exhaustion and depression in my words, but at the same time feel my hope for a better season.

Now, a full year later, our lives are completely different than they were then! Kyndal has turned 18 and is a little over four months away from graduating. She is back living with us while still traveling back and forth 40 miles to go to school. Thankfully her boyfriend's parents are gracious enough to allow her to stay with them a few nights a week to cut down on the dangers of all that driving.

Dawson will be taking his driver's test next Thursday. My dad gave him a butter yellow 1978 Cadillac Coupe de Ville. He really wanted it, and it's name is "Smoov". Dawson decided to go back to public school this year, and has a girlfriend. He will soon be running slides at our church on Sunday mornings for some part time employment (and he's going to need that money to fill up that car's tank!!) I was also reading some posts from Journey to Excellence about what we were doing with schooling this time last year. Man, I miss teaching him and spending time with him. But his grades are good and he's doing well, so I am happy for him.

Eli and Brynne feel like that are all but grown up. Eli will turn 9 on Saturday. And Brynne is 7. They are the ages Kyndal and Dawson were when we had Eli. Can I just say that I am thankful that I am not starting over with babies again?? I am happy and content to snuggle with Ashtyn a couple of days a week. Speaking of Ashtyn, she is now five months old. Today she is at a eurology specialist's appointment because they have found a kidney abnormality. Please be praying that it's a minor issue.

I will get to snuggle with my other 8 week old niece, Bell, next month. My mom and dad and I are flying out to Portland to see her (oh, and my brother and sister-in-law, too). I cannot wait! I booked the flights last night so the countdown has begun!

Back to Eli and Brynne. They are my constant companions.  And I love it. Teaching them both at home has turned into such a great thing. They are both learning at warp speed and I see such growth! This week they both started chapter books. Eli has read 90 pages in 3 days. It's a graphic novel, so not pages of words, but he is so proud of how much he has read. Most importantly he has gotten over the fear of a chapter book. Brynne continues to just learn, learn, learn. I don't even have words to describe what an easy student she is!

We have scouts and church and time with grandma and papa. We go to sporting events of my niece, Rylee. We got on walks and bike/scooter rides. We shop together, eat together, play together, read together, and work together.

The hardest part for us is that Rick is still not with us and probably won't be for some time. But, we try to see him as many weekends as we can, and we are looking forward to a 10 day stretch with him starting this Friday.

We are nowhere close to where we were a year ago (well, except for Rick, I guess.) I do not feel the heaviness and brokenness of the posts of a year ago. I'm still exhausted, because I have four kids, two of whom are young adults with significant others. There's always lots of excitement going on. But, it's a fun time of life. It's cool to have adult relationships with Kyndal and Dawson, to let loose of them to make some of their own decisions and start to live their own lives, taking the role of mentor instead of constant disciplinarian. It gives me hope. That's what I was searching for a year ago. And now I have it.

So, excuse me if I am a little quiet these days. I am just soaking in life and enjoying those who are in it.