First Game of the Season

This is such a fun tradition for us...we typically watch the first Gamecock game of the season with our sweet friends Lia and Stacey and their girls.  Our Gamecocks won, it wasn't pretty but it was certainly a win!

 

I guess the Lord knew what we needed...

 Today my sweet neighbor Megan called to tell me that my Sam's order had been delivered and that I had some items she was scared was going to melt...I knew I hadn't ordered anything that needed to be taken in or refrigeratedI thought it was odd but she has a key to our house and moved the items inside...can you guess which item I didn't order but I assume the Lord thought we needed????

Isn't she lovely????

 We just received the most beautiful 5th grade picture of our sweet girl!  How in the world is she in 5th grade.  Thank you Lord that our elementary schools now go to 5th grade because I truly can't imagine her in middle school...I don't know how Caroline did it...maybe she just had to but she seemed older...Maggie still looks like my baby!  So thankful for another year of elementary school!  Love this sweet little, sometimes grumpy and always opinionated, 5th grader!

Football nights and swim mornings!

 Friday night was our first home football game of the season!  A large group of us gathered to tailgate before the game.  It was a huge rivalry game and also senior night.  There were SO many people!  I signed up to work in the concession stand and it was non stop for 3 hours.  Like I didn't even get to take a bathroom break busy.  The game got over around 11 and we were back up at 5:30 AM to feed cats (Caroline is pet sitting for a family on vacation in Greece!!!!) and get on the road by 6:30 for a swim meet at the beach.  She had a great day of swimming and leading her team as their captain!

First Friday Treat!!!

 One of my school families started this tradition the year we came back from COVID...it was a "we don't know how you did it but we sure do appreciate you!"  Every year since that sweet momma brings this delicious pizza dip and a bag of chips on the first Friday of school.  It is such a nice treat to enjoy after a long week of school.  I am so grateful for the sweet families the Lord has blessed me with.

First High School Swim Meet

Nothing says "happy first day of school" like having a swim meet!!  It was also Charissa's birthday so that was fun, even if she didn't give me a fancy ring like she gave Maggie...I digress...it was a beautiful night!  The weather felt amazing!  Caroline had a great night!  She is so excited to have enough girls for a relay team this year.  So if you need us for the next 8 weeks, you'll find us at a pool somewhere!

 

Here's to year 21!

 Today officially starts year 21 in education!!  It also begins year 9 as director at Calvary Kindergarten.  I truly love my job and I am so thankful for my work family!  Let's go!

Swim practice nights

 This year these sweet girls get to alternate driving to swim practice.  This is such a sweet time for them to share together.  I love that they get to enjoy this together!

Happy birthday Catherine!

 Our other favorite curly hair CC turned 17!  They celebrated with a gorgeous pool party on an amazing day in August!!  So thankful for these girls and thankful Catherine has a fun celebration!

COVID stuck...

 Mags is home this week with COVID.  Thankfully her only symptom is a fever, otherwise she feels great.  The weather has been really nice so we've been sitting outside as much as possible.  Today she was grumpy and complaining about the work.  

Me:  "I sure hope you don't ask like this with Mrs. S or Ms. J."

Here: Of course I don't, they aren't my mother!"

Sleep tight little one...

Maggie went to bed tonight reading, trying to catch up from not reading this weekend.  When I went to check on her about 10 minutes in, she was OUT!  I guess she had way more fun this weekend than I realized...
 

Family Fun

Tropical Storm Debbie ruined our chances of spending all day in the river but she didn't ruin our fun of being together!  I am always thankful for time with my family!  You can be assured that we will laugh a lot and eat really well!  It was exactly what we needed after a really hard week!

Mammogram

 Not the most flattening picture at 7 AM.  However, this is an example of what it means to follow up even when you don't want to...this brings up so much anxiety yet I know I have to do it...so here I am waiting and praying for good results!

UPDATE: My mammogram came back clear, no reason for concern! Thank you Lord!

A colonoscopy in the midst of a Tropical Storm

 We're currently under a Tropical Storm Warning and Andy has a 7 AM colonoscopy!  Thankfully the weather isn't as bad they predicted and the roads weren't bad at all.  Sitting here waiting, I couldn't help but think of all the times Mom and I sat in a waiting room while Daddy was having a procedure.  I couldn't help but worry even though this was just a routine procedure, nothing caused this other than as a precaution.  

Thankfully everything went well!  Nothing to cause concern, everything was clear, no polyps, no masses.  Praise the Lord!

I guess they are both false!

Due to the Tropical Storm brewing and heading our way, the girls are home for 2 days for eLearning.  While working on math, she came to the true/false section.  It said "If false, explain why."  Without hesitation Maggie said "well I guess they are both true!" Bless it!
 

Sister Help!

 Maggie was struggling with one of her assignments earlier.  I tried to help and of course, I knew nothing.  So Caroline graciously offered to help her and wouldn't you know, Caroline was absolutely write even though she was saying the very same thing I was...strange how that happens!  Whatever the reason, I am extremely grateful.  They might fight like cats and dogs but when it counts, they are there for each other!!

You can't wear that in public!

 For the first time in more than probably 10 years, I had to purchase lipstick at Ulta vs. ordering from Mary Kay.  We tried to match the color as close to my regular color as possible.  Well once we got home and I put it on, it was a little brighter than what we thought.  I picked Maggie up and she looked at my lipstick.  She said "Ummm, that's a no...you aren't wearing that in public are you?"  Nothing like your 10 year old building your confidence with her bluntness! :-)

A difficult phone call...

Around 12:55 AM, we received a phone call from Andy's sister that his mom had passed away.  She had a great day, enjoyed getting her hair done and completed all of her therapy.  She was a little off before bed but nothing out of the ordinary.  When the nurse went in a little before midnight, she was gone.  Our prayer is that is was peaceful and she just went to sleep.  

We didn't get much sleep but we tried to have a very normal morning for the girls sake.  We didn't mentioned anything to the girls as we wanted them to have a good first day.  Sadly, we share an Apple ID with Caroline and she got a voicemail from one of my friends.  So while she found out at school, we waited for her to come home and talked with she and Maggie together.  

Thankful for the many pictures we have with Ms. Susan and the memories each photograph holds.

 

First Day of School!!

Somehow, someway, we now have a 10th grader and a 5th grader!  Both girls are super excited for a new year.  We're trying to take it in slow motion and enjoy every single minute!  Go be a light sweet girls!  Remember who you are, remember whose you are!