Thirteen Things aka Brain Dump

Two numbered posts in a row. Its not how I like to do things here on the ole blog but sometimes it just works out that way. When I was a little girl, and especially when I was a teenager, I would sometimes lie in bed at night and worry about things. I know, I know-'pray don't worry' is what we are told, and I would try to follow that advice but sometimes I would still just fill up with worry. My mom would come and sit on my bed and say, "Tell me everything you are worrying about and then it won't feel so heavy." I would tell her all my troubles, which I'm sure were mostly lots of teenage girl angst, but with each worry said aloud and shared I would feel lighter and could eventually drift off to sleep. When I think about this I am so grateful for my mother.

Not sure exactly how I got off on that tangent but I think lately my head has been so full of 'stuff' I feel like I need to put it down somewhere. Hello blog.

I don't know how I pictured this season of life playing out but I'm pretty sure I never imagined going ninety miles an hour week after week. I think I pictured more leisurely conversations over a glass of wine in the backyard, more sitting around pondering what we should do to pass the time. Yeah. That has not been the case around here since early Spring.

Here's some stuff-

1. I'm headed to the airport this morning and cannot wait to see this girl's smiling face-

Daughter2 will be home for her university's October break, really just a long weekend but as you know we take what we can get when it comes to time with our sweet daughters.

2. Tomorrow evening I will trek back to the same general vicinity as the airport, only detour over to the train station where this girl, Daughter1, will be greeted by my smiling face-

The sisters do not get nearly enough time together these days so they are both excited about hanging out together at home.

Home. Daughter2 has not been in the house to sleep in her own bed since May. May! Yes, May. Five months. We have seen her several times since May but we've traveled to her as opposed to her coming here. Daughter1 has been home two or three times more than that but still, this is the reality of the empty nest. I mostly do okay with the separations necessitated by college and working life and growing up girls stepping into the world of adulthood, but every now and then I just need to have my whole little family at home snuggled up on the couch watching The Little Mermaid. The daughters indulge me and the hubs. Truth be told, they need it too.

3. Saturday night the hubs himself will trek out to the airport to catch a long haul flight to Delhi. A long haul flight is... um, long. If you told me I had to make that trip just now I would likely curl up in a ball and suck my thumb. Hubs on the other hand, is a rock star when it comes to traveling. He's made this trip a few times so he knows the drill but I suspect this go round will be a little bit harder. Normally when he travels the girls are not in the house but on Saturday night he'll have to peel himself away from the loves of his life. These girls love their Daddy and he is the best father I know. This picture is one of his favorites and seeing it here today will make him smile. Sometimes it's the little things...

4. Friday night the girls have requested a fire in the firepit so weather permitting we'll roast hotdogs and marshmallows (not together silly) and we'll hang out under blankets and stars sitting right here-

5. We'll make the most of our Saturday and I'm hoping it's a pretty fall day for heading out into the leaves somewhere...maybe an apple orchard or a pumpkin patch or just a walk in the woods with our pup.

She looks raring to go here doesn't she?

6. Saturday night is gonna be a long overdue girls night around here. Although we're sorry hubs has to cut out early I am super excited about a whole evening with my daughters. Giddy might be the word I'm looking for. We may go out to dinner and a movie or we may decide to all cook something together at home and rent movies. We may talk. Ahem.

7. A friend in our little town phoned me mid September in order to try and set a date for a little end of summer backyard cookout she wanted to organize. She is also in the empty nest phase of life and keeps a calendar much like ours. That little end of summer backyard cookout? It has been marked into our calendars as a Christmas party in early December. Crazy!

8. I spent the entire day yesterday in my sweats. I dusted and vacuumed and cleaned every bathroom in the house. It was time. Past time actually and it felt really good.

9. I know I keep talking about the calendar but we have lots of comings and goings happening between now and Christmas that need a little more tweaking. Loose ends. Flights to be booked and hotels in some cases and the kennel. Thank heaven for the kennel...they absolutely love our pup and are so good to her. I think they've seen her almost as much as we have this past month. These loose ends are one of the things I think about when I lie in bed at night.

10. Is my list stressing you out? Actually writing all this down makes it somehow feel more manageable to me. Hey, did I tell you I have both my girls home for the weekend?

11. The holidays. I'm hosting this year. I need to have a game plan because see #9. On the bright side, I thought ahead and we took our Christmas card photo in September. These things need to be planned when you are living in three different states. I'm really happy with the picture and although its a summery photo I got a little creative (thanks Pinterest!) and added a splash of Christmas to the shot.

12. I cannot end this list without mentioning my niece. She is ever and always on our minds and hearts as she deals with leukemia. Cancer is a horrible disease whenever it strikes, but in a child it is truly awful. She is such a brave girl and her wonderful sense of humor remains intact for which we are grateful. She is waiting for a bone marrow donor match to be identified and if you are a person who prays I would be grateful if you would add her to your prayers today.

A few years ago I was in a Beth Moore Bible Study on the Book of Daniel. I keep going back to that study when I think of my niece, particularly the story of the men in the fiery furnace and how God brought the men through the fire. Beth Moore talked alot about how God sometimes stops us before we reach the fire and other times God brings us around the fire. Then there are those times when we must walk through the fire.

A sweet seventeen year old girl with cancer.

There is no way around... only through.

And thankfully, never alone.

13. I saw this when I opened my front door the other day-

A visible reminder that God is good and never fails to keep His promises.