While my sisters and I did not grow up with a dad who hunted, all 4 of us married (or will marry) a hunter. This boggles my mom. How did we 4 girls from a non-hunting family all find hunters to marry? God had that all planned out. Because, now every January, the 4 guys get together to go hunting. And that means a week vacation in Iowa with my family. :)
Unfortunately, my regular laptop has died. Or rather, the cord has. Again. So pictures will have to wait and I guarantee you that I am just as disappointed as you are, if not more.
We started the trip north on Thursday and arrived at my older sister's house just after midnight. My kids worked hard in school so that they wouldn't have to do any school while we were in Iowa. That was fine by me! Of course, my sister's kids attened school which was practically right across the street. It's the same school all my sisters and I attended.
My kids were up early to greet their cousins before they left for school. Seth and Andy, my youngest sister's husband, took off to prepare for their hunting week. All of the Iowa clan continued with their normal lives as best they could.
For the next week, us Kansas sisters and our families invaded our Iowa family. The guys hunted, very successfully, I might add. We sisters did some painting, wedding planning, and keeping our kids entertained and not fighting. The grandparents enjoyed having us all home - mostly. ;) Having 8 kids together for an entire week can get wearisome. They enjoyed the snow while it lasted, played Grandpa's Wii, and found other toys and games to play with.
My younger sister, who has had a headache for almost 9 years, was not doing well. Her headache had gotten worse since New Years and was experiencing dizzy spells. She had an MRI on the Saturday that my youngest sister left to come back home to Kansas. Her fiance got some hunting in but he really helped out with my sister as she should had little balance to walk.
We had planned on leaving on Saturday as well, but we needed to change those plans. Since December, we had been talking to a guy in middle-of-nowhere Kansas about getting a puppy. He couldn't meet us on Saturday, so we had to wait until Sunday.
We went to the first meeting at church and left around 11:30. We were making great time until we turned off our normal route to pick up our puppy. We finally arrived in the small town and called the guy with our puppy. I think it was close to 4:00. The kids were excited as were Seth and myself. After losing our rabbit, Sally, we needed a pet we could all call ours - not a specific person's pet. This puppy belongs to all of us.
I will write more about the puppy when I can post pics. We arrived home around 9:30. A trip that normally takes about 6 hours took us a long exhausting 10 hours. We held the puppy, tried to make him comfortable, unloaded the van, and soon, we all went to bed. It was a long week, especially for Seth who got up early almost every morning to go hunting. And we finally had our puppy - who still does not have a name.
Yesterday, we got some things for our puppy and took care of other business. Today, we try to get back into normal routine. Although, I still slept in and the kids slept in. We're learning how to do school with the added responsibility of a puppy. But we're doing well, I think. And now it's time for lunch.
I hope to post pics soon so you can see the fun we had in Iowa as well as our newest little family member.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
Birthdays
I didn't want to grow up. As a kid, I wanted to stay a kid. I wanted to play as a kid. I didn't want to grow up and have responsibilities. And then, I did. I grew up - well, in some ways.
Sometimes I just sit and am amazed at how my life turned out. It happened so fast. I remember looking out the window as a kid wondering what my life would be like when I was in my 20s. The 30s seemed so far away, I don't think I got that far in my thinking. Just yesterday, it seems, I was playing Barbies with my sisters.
Or I was cruising the square with my friends in high school. Or I was hanging out at my friends' house several miles away from home, hoping to find an excuse to break curfew - like losing my keys. Which did happen. Only because as we were leaving, we were attacked by the guys in the snow and my keys got buried. Fun times!
And now, I am the mother of 3 children. I've been married for 13 1/2 years. I live in a city. A CITY! This small town girl never expected that. Ever. And today I turn 34 years old. That's right. I said it. I didn't even lie about my age. I'm in my mid-30s! Where has the time gone?
I didn't used to think it was a big deal to get older. I didn't understand why people complained about getting older and having another birthday. I always said, "You're only as old as you feel." And to me, I thought I would always feel 20. Then I turned 25. That number really changes your perspective on getting older. I was no longer in my early 20s. I was right up there knocking on 30. I was somewhere between a young adult and a regular adult. 25 meant that staying up late and functioning the next day was probably not an option. 25 meant I was no longer considered "fun" and "cool" and "young" by the younger crowd - AKA teens. 25 meant that not only was I old enough to drink, I now LOOKED old enough to drink. I was quite appalled the first time I was offered alcohol at a restaurant on my birthday. The only thing that ran through my head was, "You mean I LOOK like I'm at least 21?!?" Of course, I was older but to actually look old enough just about killed me.
So what. I'm getting old. Everybody does. I have definitely aged in my looks.
And it really hits me when I see someone from way back when and I notice how they have aged. It makes me realize that we all are getting old! Funny thing, though. As much as I hated it between the ages of 25 and 31, I don't mind now. I am learning to enjoy my life as it is right now. I am learning to enjoy my kids in the stages they are in. I am learning to just love life. Because this is how God has blessed me. I may not have wanted children, but God blessed me with 3 absolutely amazing kids. I may have thought I would have been fine being single, but God blessed me with the absolutely best husband in the world. I may not have ever seen myself as a stay-at-home mom, let alone a homeschooling mom, but God blessed me with the ability and desire to do so.
34 and still going. I may be a little slower. I may be turning into my mother. I may have my days when I wonder "what if." But all in all, I am enjoying my life. And so far, I am enjoying being 34. Although this minute, right now, 10:01am, is the exact time I was born so I've only been 34 for a few seconds. I know it will be a great year. God's blessings are endless.
(That's me in the blue with my 3 sisters)
I went to high school.
Went to prom.
Went to college.
Fell in love.
Got engaged.
Got married.
Had 3 children of my own.
Whoa! I have kids?
Sometimes I just sit and am amazed at how my life turned out. It happened so fast. I remember looking out the window as a kid wondering what my life would be like when I was in my 20s. The 30s seemed so far away, I don't think I got that far in my thinking. Just yesterday, it seems, I was playing Barbies with my sisters.
Or I was cruising the square with my friends in high school. Or I was hanging out at my friends' house several miles away from home, hoping to find an excuse to break curfew - like losing my keys. Which did happen. Only because as we were leaving, we were attacked by the guys in the snow and my keys got buried. Fun times!
And now, I am the mother of 3 children. I've been married for 13 1/2 years. I live in a city. A CITY! This small town girl never expected that. Ever. And today I turn 34 years old. That's right. I said it. I didn't even lie about my age. I'm in my mid-30s! Where has the time gone?
I didn't used to think it was a big deal to get older. I didn't understand why people complained about getting older and having another birthday. I always said, "You're only as old as you feel." And to me, I thought I would always feel 20. Then I turned 25. That number really changes your perspective on getting older. I was no longer in my early 20s. I was right up there knocking on 30. I was somewhere between a young adult and a regular adult. 25 meant that staying up late and functioning the next day was probably not an option. 25 meant I was no longer considered "fun" and "cool" and "young" by the younger crowd - AKA teens. 25 meant that not only was I old enough to drink, I now LOOKED old enough to drink. I was quite appalled the first time I was offered alcohol at a restaurant on my birthday. The only thing that ran through my head was, "You mean I LOOK like I'm at least 21?!?" Of course, I was older but to actually look old enough just about killed me.
So what. I'm getting old. Everybody does. I have definitely aged in my looks.
And it really hits me when I see someone from way back when and I notice how they have aged. It makes me realize that we all are getting old! Funny thing, though. As much as I hated it between the ages of 25 and 31, I don't mind now. I am learning to enjoy my life as it is right now. I am learning to enjoy my kids in the stages they are in. I am learning to just love life. Because this is how God has blessed me. I may not have wanted children, but God blessed me with 3 absolutely amazing kids. I may have thought I would have been fine being single, but God blessed me with the absolutely best husband in the world. I may not have ever seen myself as a stay-at-home mom, let alone a homeschooling mom, but God blessed me with the ability and desire to do so.
34 and still going. I may be a little slower. I may be turning into my mother. I may have my days when I wonder "what if." But all in all, I am enjoying my life. And so far, I am enjoying being 34. Although this minute, right now, 10:01am, is the exact time I was born so I've only been 34 for a few seconds. I know it will be a great year. God's blessings are endless.
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