Thursday, May 15, 2025

Things That Are Saving My Life Right Now - Spring 2025

 ***I have done a couple of these posts, 
so if you are new to this concept make sure you click HERE to 
go back and see where the idea originated.***

Sometimes just the act of listing things that fill you up or bring life are just what a weary soul needs. And May can tend to make one weary as we crawl to the finish line of school and sports and crazy schedules. I thought it was time to share a few of the things saving my life right now on my quest to remain grounded in the crazy.  These are by no means in any kind of order and some of them may seem trivial to you, but to me they are worth noting and acknowledging.

1 - Staying Home - I am acutely aware of the blessing and privilege that I have had to be able to stay home since becoming a mom over 20 years ago. I never imagined being a homeschool mom but here I am teaching Algebra, relearning how to diagram sentences, reading History and implementing life-skills on the daily. I can't say it's all been sunshine and roses (can next May get here already?!), but I am SO grateful for the opportunity. I have found how to hold space for gratitude while simultaneously being completely over it, lol!  I think I've been thinking about it so much because my homeschooling season is coming to a close so soon with Jude tying a bow on this era next year after he completes eighth grade with me. I've caught myself daydreaming about what I want to dedicate my time to after all my kids are either graduated or in public school. Where do I want to work? What does God have next for me? These questions don't bring panic or overwhelm, but excitement about what lays ahead for me. 

2 - Block Out Times - Speaking of homeschool...I found myself getting so frustrated at Jude on mornings that I felt like my attention was divided. Whether it was because I had an early morning appointment with a kid or just a ton of things piling up on my to-do-list. I would be scurrying around doing all the things while Jude, the student I was supposed to be teaching, was left with unanswered questions and an inattentive teacher with her mind elsewhere. As I evaluated the situation I decided first of all that I owed Jude an apology. It wasn't his fault that I had to take Alethia to the orthodontist, or Zeke to the DMV or scheduled too many things in my day. Yes, the orthodontist needed to be a priority, the DMV unfortunately has to happen (I think I will celebrate the last time I have to enter the nightmare called the NC DMV due to teen driving protocols), and the things on my to-do list still need to get done, but NOT during school. I decided that I am going to treat school time as an item on my calendar and I'm not allowed to overbook. That's it. Now, life sometimes doesn't work like that, but overall, for what I can control, I say no to all appointments and outside responsibilities until school is done for the day and it has made a world of difference on our school days.

3 - Off The Socials - I gave up social media for Lent this year and have hardly had a desire to go back. Besides the occasional need to look something or someone up or just to check in I haven't signed on. I find it so freeing not to have to know everything and respond to it all. I talk to my people and stay connected through word of mouth (or text) and that has been so great! No, I haven't deleted my accounts but don't get offended if I don't respond back to a message in any timely manner. If you know my number or address you know where to find me.

4 - Six Month Rule - I am a get-rid-of-stuff kind of girl. I periodically go through bins, drawers, cabinets, dressers and baskets throughout the year, which alone has ALWAYS been something that saves me life, but sometimes it's hard to know whether to get rid of something or not. Years ago I heard about this one hack that truly saves my life, with clothes (or smaller items) especially. If I'm going through my closet or a bin, I for sure have some obvious things for the "keep" pile or "get-rid-of-it" pile. But what about those things that you are on the fence about? What I do is grab a trash bag from the kitchen and unashamedly fill it with those questionable items and stick it in my attic for 6 months. During those six months, if I have wondered where the thing went or I actually wanted to wear or use it I'll take it back out and and keep it. And the rest of the stuff in the bag? It no longer gets to take up precious realty in my home and it finds a new home. 

5 - Garden Door - All I asked for for Mother's Day was a door for my garden. Josh made me one several years about but it grew weary over time and needed to be replaced. So this year, he got me a new one! He went to the antique store up the road and found me an old door and sized it for the garden and it literally makes me smile EVERY time I look out at it. I love it so much!


6 - Tuesday Miles - Tuesdays have become one of my favorite days. We typically go to my parent's house for school and they live in a great neighborhood for walking/jogging. I don't put any expectations on myself except to just move. Some days I fill my head with the latest podcasts in my feed and other days I will walk or jog in silence, with only my own thoughts keeping me company. I will get anywhere from 3-5 miles in. Then Cai has soccer practice near the greenway in the evening. Instead of just dropping him off I'll stick around and walk or jog some more. Last week I tracked a half marathon between the two and I felt so accomplished. It has been slow going to working my way back up to distance since I was sick in 2020, so this has been a great way to stretch myself. Plus I sleep great on Tuesday nights!

7 - 1825 - Josh and I took over our college ministry a few months ago and I have really loved getting to know these young adults. They are eager to dig deep and not afraid to ask questions. I just remember those years in my own life and the people God placed in my life to help me navigate life as I began adulting and I am so honored to be able to fill that gap for these kids.

8 - Save For Later - A few years ago I started taking advantage of the "save for later" Amazon feature. Actually, I used to just have a paper titled "Want But Not Yet" before Amazon's save for later. Instead of just thinking I need something right when I hear about it I can find it and stick it in the "save for later" cart. Not only does it help me not spend so much money, it is an automatic, ongoing Christmas or birthday list. It specifically makes my "saving my life" list because once I find it and put it on the list I can mentally release it. I don't have to feel like I need to keep it in the front of my mind anymore, especially if it is something I need after we get paid again or budget for it. Once I've put it on that list I know it will just sit there waiting for me if and when the time is appropriate to get it.

Thursday, December 19, 2024

Merry Christmas From The Via Colony

 


What a year! We aren't doing a Christmas card this year so I decided I'd do a little recap of our year, our kids and a few highlights of this past year with links to some of the memories I actually posted about throughout the year.

Our oldest was in her element this year, flying high as an aerial instructor (among other things) at a circus arts studio downtown. She has since shifted her employment this past month but continues her connection with her relationships and classes at the studio. I have seen this girl mature and grow and go through some really tough things as a 19-year-old. I've learned a lot from her as I've watched her navigate her waltz into adulthood. She dove in head-first and isn't stopping. She has so many hopes and dreams for this next season of her life. 

Our next kiddo is still plugging along in his pursuit of a career in cinematography and videography. He has had some really cool opportunities this year and I've really seen him take initiative as he tries to figure out how his own tip-toe into adulting. He is also an avid gym bro and takes his fitness seriously.

Our middle kid began public high school this year and is LOVING it! I know she was nervous but she is rocking life right now. She works hard in school, she works hard to foster healthy relationships and she is really maturing into such a fun girl to be around. 

Next up is our other high schooler. He is always on the go with soccer, cross country, friends, practical jokes and whatever else he can find to keep himself busy. He does have a sensitive side, but man he's funny.

Last but not least is our youngest. He is still at home with me plugging away at middle school. He has a little side hustle around our small town helping mostly elderly people and widows with some small tasks they need assistance with. He has used his money to pursue his love of hockey. He just passed his learn to skate prerequisite and is signed up for his learn to play class. It is the next step of his dream of actually being able to play on some kind of rec hockey team soon. 

Josh and I are hanging in there with (nearly) 5 teenagers. We are trying to adjust to the unpredictability of life with kids who have their own plans and vehicles and agendas. Life looks SO different, but when we get those glimpses of our kids, truly happy, embracing their relationships as their greatest wealth, those moments when they aren't too afraid to fail forward and try new things or go in different directions, we feel so full.

Wow, we did a lot this year.

Josh and Jude went to Guatemala

Josh and I got to help lead worship at United

Our church, Seven Marks Church, released a couple new songs this year The Greatest Victory and No Shadow of Turning

Josh ran a trail marathon and Cai CUT HIS HAIR!

Rainy competed in her first aerial competition

Twenty Two years of marriage celebrated 

A trip to visit our Global Partners in Honduras

Spartan Super with my boo

Cai and all his sports

Alethia's Sweet 16

But the biggest memory of the year was our roadtrip to Colorado! You can follow this link and work your way through our trip. It was a BLAST!

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From our family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope this season brings you closer to the peace and joy of our great God and the sacrifice of his son, Jesus Christ.


December - It's All About Christmas Festivities

 Well, we began December the way we always do around here in this part of Raleigh, NC with our small town Christmas Parade!


And then JINGLE JAM! I only took a picture of Rainy's hair because I was pretty proud of myself for how it turned out. She was performing on her silk as part of Jingle Jam so she needed to get that hair done up.







The rest of the month was full of friends in and out of our home for game nights, movie nights, sleepovers and eating up everything in our pantry. These are my favorite moments.


Josh has wanted a nativity scene in our front yard for YEARS. So this year I gave him one as an early Christmas present. You should have seen him getting the yard all decorated. He was actually frolicking around. I'm pretty sure one of the kids has a video;)


I caught a rare sighting of Cai...not moving, talking, joking around...but sleeping! He fell asleep on the way to my parents house after a long week.



Here is Cai's creativity at its best. He made a Christmas countdown for Jude. Every day when Cai walks in from school he and Jude collectively shout out what day Jude gets to open to get his daily prize. It's super cute.


We are closing out the year with some very important life lessons. Josh taught Zeke how to change his own oil! 




Alethia's Sweet 16

 Our sweet Alethia turned 16 this year! She decided she wanted a fun party kind of like Rainy's. She created a beautiful invite, sent it to some of her favorite people and we had the best time dancing and celebrating. Of course I don't have many pictures, but I snapped a few of Josh and the grandmas sharing sweet words, Rainy's cake for Alethia, and a couple others.












November

 I wanted to get a couple of quick monthly recaps up before the end of the year!

The kids began their November with the student fall retreat. I love the sweet relationships they have been able to cultivate in our student ministry.


Josh officiated his cousin's wedding up near Richmond, VA so we got to spend a couple some quality time with his parents and mom's siblings which has NEVER happened! I wish I had more pictures. But these will have to do. It was a beautiful ceremony. COLD, but so beautiful.



Josh has officially been blessed with enough freebie tickets to take each of his kids to Cameron Stadium to watch a Duke Men's Basketball game. Jude has been waiting patiently and his time finally came!


Alethia had a fun birthday party for a friend and I'm so glad the mama shared this photo!


And we can't forget Thanksgiving! It was the Via's year so we drove up to Josh's parents house, with two extra little loves in tow. Evie LOVED helping Meme get ready for our Thanksgiving feast. And then the next day our kids got to help begin Christmas decorating, along with some other cousins.





Tuesday, November 5, 2024

October - Homecoming and Life

 Fall has been BEAUTIFUL this year! The colors, the coming and going (Josh was gone the majority of this month on retreats and a mission trip to Argentina), the fun happenings at school like HOMECOMING...it was a great, FULL month. 

Alethia has really thrived at public high school. She's even gotten Cai to come out of his shell a little bit with football games and other fun activities. I started logging some hours behind the wheel with Cai, the Northern lights came through our region and Halloween is still a thing around here. And finally, Jude and I began a couch to 5k program for PE this year which has been really fun to do together.















A New Song In The Queue

 Josh, Krysteah and the team created yet another song that I CANNOT wait for you to hear. We took another trip to the music magician's studio, AKA Diamond Studios with our buddy Travis and laid down the vocals and violin tracks, then came back and gathered the troops for gang vocals. I'll let you know when it drops.