Spring time means "busy" at our house! Taking care of the yard (almost 3 1/2 acres) after a long winter means there is a lot to do! Spring means school is almost out and there are many end of the year projects due. Spring means a wedding is just over a month away!!!
Lacrosse is just finishing up for Thomas. His team had a rough season this year. They had trouble finding a coach so they ended up putting our local boys with boys from other towns. In the middle of the season, we had a boy on his team, take his own life. There are no words to describe the pain and heartache you feel as a parent when you hear something like that. He was also in Thomas' class at school, so it was someone that he knew quite well. That has been a very hard thing for Thomas to work through. Years ago, when we lived in Oregon, a father took his two little children out for a walk and ended up shooting both of them and then himself. The little boy was also in Thomas' class at the time. Hard things for a child to understand and work through. Losing his little brother a little over a year ago has weighed heavy on his heart as well.
As a child, I never knew anyone who died. It wasn't until I was married and we were expecting our first child that Scott's grandmother passed away. Now all of our grandparents have passed on but I was an adult when I first experienced death of a loved one. These are hard times our children are facing. The world is such a different place than it was. More and more killings, school shootings, etc. are all things our children have to worry about on a daily basis. We try to help them live without fear. We do our best to talk with them and try and alleviate unnecessary worry. It's tough.
We have a couple of children who suffer with mental illness. What a learning experience that has been!! You never understand it, unless you live it 24/7. My heart hurts for them and the trials that they go through. How much easier their life would be if they suffered from a noticeable physical disability!! People could see it and understand but when you look completely 'normal', it's hard for people to imagine what you are going through on a daily basis. We sometimes wonder what our life would be like without the many challenges we experience as parents. I definitely would not have the compassion and love that I do for those with mental illness. The life lessons we have learned, helping care for someone with these challenges, are a blessing. I tend to look at the world a lot different than I used to.
Sorry, got a little off track there but just something I have been thinking about lately......
Levi and Tanner are wrapping up the track season! It was the first year for both of them and they really enjoyed it! Tanner is our long distance runner and Levi does sprints and relays. They have both done very well and we are proud of them for trying something new!
Vanessa is involved in the RAD (race against drugs) program at the school. The older kids have all had something similar in 6th grade but the program at this school is intense!!! They have songs, skits and dances that they have been working on for several weeks/months(?)!! We are excited to see the final performance at the end of May!!!
All the Little's are doing well!! Life is pretty easy for them right now! School, church, playing outside!! I love looking out the window to the backyard and watching the 4 of them playing together!!! They have some great adventures!!
Olivia is doing well!!! She is 11 months!!!! She has two teeth on the bottom and two teeth on the top!! She is almost sitting!!!! She is enjoying tummy time much more than in the past and she especially loves going outside!!! She is full of giggles and smiles!!
