The Taming of the End of School Year Schedule

pixie shan familybringsjoy.comIt’s just me…with shorter hair.  Yep, I finally got up the nerve to try the pixie cut.  This is plenty short and don’t plan to go shorter.  But, I love it!  If you had as thick hair as I do you would too.  I’m grateful for people telling me I have the perfect face for short hair instead of exclaiming, “what did you do to your hair!?” lol ;)

first graduation card familybringsjoy.com

Her first graduation card

There’s only 23 days until the last day of school which is also graduation for our high school senior.  Her school prom is this Saturday.  We’ll be hosting 4 youth for a pre prom dinner in our home.  I’m happy to do this…even though in my mind I’m thinking of all the stuff I’d like to do in my dining room before Saturday and realistically know it’s not going to happen.  Between now and the last day of school we will also be attending graduations of our 8th grader and 4th grader too.  The schools here have 1st grade through 4th grade in one school, so when they finish 4th grade they have a “graduation” for them.  Our junior high is 7th and 8th grade so they also hold a “graduation” for those students.  This means 3 graduations for our family this year.  Geesh!  It’s not like one is not enough!  I can’t begin to list all the events we’ll be attending because I think the overwhelming monster might take up residence and I don’t have time for his visit.

new LG washer familybringsjoy.com

Our new red washer

Yesterday started out well, until the washer repairman shared the ill fated news {cost me $60 too} of our washer needing a new part, which would set us back a few hundred dollars.  We already had this part replaced once on this washer.  I didn’t want to sink more money into it.  This required me to shop for a new washer in hopes it could be delivered ASAP.  If I go too many days without doing laundry it begins to pile up.  Fortunately, Sears had the washer I chose on hand and they delivered it this morning.  I’m loving the red.  It has a sweet little chime when the load is finished washing.

baseball familybringsjoy.com

score!

Baseball is now over until the summer so I guess that will free up a little time.  Unfortunately, not enough but I’m trying to stay positive.

prom chaperones

chaperoning

A few weeks back we chaperoned our 2 oldest kids to church prom.  I was excited to meet my daughter’s new boyfriend.  He lives about an hour away.  He is very nice and polite.  It took a little getting used to him calling me mam.  I was grateful he decided to wear the boutonniere I made him even though it was somewhat embarrassing to my daughter.  She was a little timid with me taking formal pictures of them together. She’s regretting that decision now.  I sneaked a photo of them, yet he saw me and smiled:

new bf familybringsjoy.com

Aren’t they cute! Son is pictured to the right of her

sheet music boutonniere familybringsjoy.com

Boutonniere I made for her BF

My church prom dress familybringsjoy.com

My prom dress for chaperoning

Hubby and I danced to exactly 4 slow songs.  According to our son that was 4 too many.  He told us we weren’t allowed to chaperone any more dances because we embarrass him.  Whatever!  We enjoyed watching him dance to the YMCA…which reminds me…I have video of that!  Hmmmm…maybe I should share that?  I’m such a bad mom, huh?

Church Prom our princess familybringsjoy.com

Our princess

5k family

A family that runs together stays together

me at finish line

Finish line!

I’m still running.  In fact, our whole family just ran a 5K.  It was my first 5K in a couple of years.  I was grateful to finish 5th in my age group.  I haven’t been timing myself while running.  This is a strategy I use as to not sike myself out when I see how slow I’m running compared to how fast I used to run.  I am just trying to get where I run 3 miles without feeling as though I’m finishing the last 3 miles of a marathon.  I think it’s getting there.  Just a lot slower than I’d like.  Our 2 oldest kids and hubby received trophies for placing 3rd in their age groups.  I’m happy we all ran and feel it was a great family activity.

I’m very happy to report I lost 6 pounds while participating in a 21 day cleanse/detox made by Standard Process!  One habit I developed while on the cleanse I am keeping…I only drink water.  Except for the too frequent visits to the restroom I think it helps to lose weight and is much healthier than drinking diet drinks.

I’ll be teaching my second adult craft class this Saturday and my first kid’s craft class.  So happy my supplies just arrived via FedEx.  I can’t wait to share the tutorials for the crafts with you next week.

Well, glad I could catch up a bit with you.  I hope this finds you and your family doing well.  I truly mean that. :)

Enjoy the journey,

Dancing Bones

 

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Hope you laughed,

“Are You In There?”

Tonight I have been preparing a lesson I will teach for our women’s Sunday School class tomorrow.  I am so grateful for this calling.  I learn so much from my studies/research and while teaching {or rather leading the discussion} I am taught by the students.

Being the visual person that I am, sometimes I like to involve media in the lessons I teach.  I finally found the perfect video to share that goes along with the lesson.  After it ended, another video began.  I was very touched by this video I happened {definitely not coincidence} upon.  It’s not related to the lesson I’m teaching, however it is indeed applicable to what I’m going through as a parent.  I’ve mentioned my struggles on here lately…I worry, maybe too much.  It’s been really rough.  So rough, I haven’t been blogging on a regular basis.  Even though it’s been rocky, my faith keeps me afloat.

I know Heavenly Father wanted me to see this video and it was a gift from Him to me.  He loves us so much…Oh and how grateful I am to know this…to FEEL this.

I believe we can all benefit from this precious counsel:

Be present for your family,

I Feel So Less Lonely

Last Friday I posted this photo on Instagram…

A new Instagram friend read my caption with this photo:

“It’s Going to be one of those days. Grrrrrr!”

Awhile after posting the photo I laughed and flippantly added a comment under the photo:

“lol…guess it shouldn’t surprise me that no one likes this photo!  Definitely keeping things real.  Ugh.”

 

beesbutterfly {her Instagram user name} responded:

This sweet girl has no idea of what she did for me that day.  As a matter of fact, she and many of you don’t realize how your small acts of kindness make an impression on me.

Sharing that photo Friday morning was a little difficult for me.  I was opening up and being transparent.

I didn’t post it because it was a great photo, far from it.  I posted it to share my frustration, to share me being real and somewhat raw.  I mean, if you look at the photo of my laundry room on the sidebar to the right of this post, you wouldn’t have a clue that the room ever looks like the one above.  {Which I’m not proud or happy about in the least.}

Anyway, I was pondering beesbutterfly’s words and a song came on that expressed what I was feeling.  I decided to put together a little video with the music and lyrics. I dedicate this song to beesbutterfly and all of YOU who comment, reply and say things with EMPATHY.


Thank you for seeing me,

A Mom Makes A Home

I’m continuing my list of one thousand gifts…not of gifts I want, but gifts I have.

I am writing them down, one to one thousand.

22. Grateful my internet was repaired!

23. New music!  Loving the group Tanlines.  Listening to their album Mixed Emotions right now.  I heart their All Of Me song…great beat and makes me feel happy.

24. Time spent with my Mom & oldest Daughter on Saturday.

25. The beautiful handmade quilted bed runner my Mom gave me as an early {3 weeks} Birthday gift.

26. Time doing crafty stuff in my craft room. It’s been neglected lately and craft therapy is wonderful.  The creative side of me was having withdrawals.

27. Kids back in school brings some much needed uninterrupted time for me.  Let’s face it, who likes to listen to their kids quarrel all the time? Not me!

{good thing they’re so cute! ;) }

28. Opportunity to learn & grow spiritually by giving a talk and teaching a lesson at church yesterday.  With that being said, glad it is over…double duty is exhausting. ;)

29. Youngest saw this new art plaque I bought and said out loud, “This is true.”  The little things like this make my heart melt.

Check out that awesome price!

30. When my husband calls me beautiful.

31. Having far away friends come for a weekend visit.

32. Listened to another awesome fantasy book: The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead.  It’s part of the Bloodlines series.  Just finished it & can’t wait for the next one!

Joining:

 

 

 

 

Gifts Bring Joy,

We Are A Symphony

I don’t normally post on Sundays.

Today I’m making an exception.

I shared what I like to call a goose bump song with my class at church today.  You know, one of those songs that brings goose bumps every time you listen to it.

Glorious

Written by Stephanie Mabey, Performed by Russ Dixon

 

There are times when you might feel aimless

And can’t see the places where you belong

But you will find that there is a purpose

It’s been there within you all along

And when you’re near it

You can almost hear it

 

It’s like a symphony just keep listening
And pretty soon you’ll start to figure out your part
Everyone plays a piece and there are melodies
In each one of us, oh, it’s glorious
You will know how to let it ring out

As you discover who you are

Others around you will start to wake up

To the sounds that are in their hearts

It’s so amazing

What we’re all creating

 

It’s like a symphony just keep listening
And pretty soon you’ll start to figure out your part
Everyone plays a piece and there are melodies
In each one of us, oh, it’s glorious

And as you feel, the notes build, you will see

 

It’s like a symphony just keep listening
And pretty soon you’ll start to figure out your part
Everyone plays a piece and there are melodies
In each one of us, oh, it’s glorious

Thank you TigerLilly4495 for this well done video. :)

Oh, It’s GLORIOUS,