A year disappears

Yeah, so I suck at blogging. It sounded like a great idea. It is a great idea. And then almost a year goes by...and...no post.

So where does one begin again. Some days I think I have stuff to share. Experience to give others to learn from. And then we have a DAY, and I'm reminded how little I know.

So for now... pictures and an update is going to have to be enough.

We just started soccer. With 3 kids. Soccer + 3 kids = tired parents. We had our first full week. R slept three hours on Sunday afternoon. Because of the schedule, he has to take the kids to practice three days a week at 5:30pm. And then gets cold and wet for over an hour. Because spring soccer isn't a warm and dry sport where we live. And then, because we hate sleeping in on Saturday mornings, Re has 8:30am games. Every. Weekend. We're just lucky that way.

We just got a nice, big, fat tax return. It's how the US Government rolls when you have four kids, and one income. They give you money, thanking you for having an income. Sometimes I just have to shake my head and wonder. Anyways, we went all sorts of crazy with it.

We bought a 98% energy efficient.....furnace....

We rented USDA BLM cabins in the mountains for a week in the summer.

We paid for all the kids activities. Soccer, outdoor school, etc.

We went out to dinner. At a real restaurant, the kind that doesn't have a kids menu.

(We even had an appetizer and dessert- white chocolate creme brulee )

We put money in savings. This parenting thing is expensive.

We are still waiting on the IRS to cut us the check for the adoption refund. Family and Friends think we've made the whole thing up. Funny how we have to respond in 30 days, and they have 3 months to give a 'prompt' response. But they do give out money for being an employed citizen. So then again, logic isn't one of their trademarks. And we aren't waiting on to go on a fancy vacation. The siding and fence aren't going anywhere, or getting any better.

We are trying to figure out next falls school schedule. And drinking schedule. Seriously. Four kids, in four different schools. All three girls in transition years. Ce has applied for an early college high school program. P is hitting Jr. High. She didn't get into the charter school as hoped. We are still deciding on what the fall looks like for her. No simple solutions involved. Re is just going to go to the same school...sigh...Thank God. And Er is 2nd on the waiting list for a charter elementary school. So the fall...a little frightening.

And the big questions. How are Re and Er doing? How is our family doing? What does it look like now?

Most days are really good. Some days aren't. Some days are really hard. And the day can change quickly. Based on many factors. Only some of which we understand.

This does feel normal now. All of it. The four kid load. The grocery bill. The need for a protective cover over the thermostat. The juggling of the schedule.

R and I have worked hard, and figured out how to carve out US in all of this. Which is challenging on a daily basis. We both recognize the ability of our 'family' to rob us of our marriage. Sounds strange to you. You're welcome to a weekend at our house, and see if you've managed to have any sort of conversation that wasn't interrupted.

We are still churching up in Portland. We still love it. We still think it's slightly silly. We haven't been able to make ourselves think about finding one in the same place we live. And since our kids do so well with change, we haven't began to even think of the process. And honestly, we have grown so much in our understanding of the scriptures, church, the kingdom, and our role, we don't want to stop the journey we are on there, to find something more closer.

So there is an update. I'm at point to start processing through writing again. So I'm sure I'll start to post more. But don't hold your breathe...posting more may be 4 post a year. That like 4x more than last year.