Time Flies

The last month has gone by quickly.  I feel like the year always picks up as you get ready for the start of school and getting back into a routine.  And then school keeps you busy with kids activities and homework and earlier bedtime.  Then the holidays hit, and it’s just a big whirlwind until Christmas break and you get a little bit of time to breath again.

This year, the start of school has been extra hard for us.  A new school, new teachers, new students, new hallways, new lunchroom, new drop off.  Everything.  And doing it all without any friends or family.  

We are adjusting, but it is taking time. And sometimes time doesn’t fly.

Here’s our latest updates!

Lily

Lily is in 8th grade and has had the opportunity to join the middle school cheer squad.  The school is so small here, there aren’t really tryouts for most things.  And so even though we moved here in the summer, she has still been able to participate.  It has been a huge help for her and getting to know some other girls.  She is having so much fun with it!  Which makes this mamma proud!  (I did cheer in high school) :)). She has her first game this week.  I’ll post pics!

Ethan

Ethan just doesn’t like school.  Which is funny because he is actually diligent and dedicated and does quite well, but he just doesn’t like it.  He is in 6th grade and at this new school, 6th grade is more transitional to middle school.  Ethan rotates between several different classes and even has his own locker.  So it seems to be a bit of a step up for him.  And making friends is coming slow.  But he sure loves to come home and run around with Sadie and build legos!

Sadie

Sadie is our 2nd grader and loves everything about school, except the getting up early.  School here starts a whole hour earlier than our old school in Utah.  It has been so hard for Sadie to get up in the mornings and be ready on time.  But once she gets to school, she loves her teacher and her new little friends she is making.

Family

With school in, we have a lot less time to do family things.  So we are grateful for evenings and weekends!  We have enjoyed fishing and swimming in the pond, playing kickball in the big grassy field, doing archery, and walking through the freshly cut hay fields.  One of my favorite things is sitting on the front porch and watching the hummingbirds fight over the feeder.  

We are loving the peace and the excitement of living in the country.  Despite some of the difficult adjustments, it has been such a positive change for our family.

Home

We are trying to move forward with the addition to our house.  It has been hard finding a builder who is willing to take on such a big project that is so far away.  We have a 60×40 outbuilding next the house.  We haven’t been using it for anything up to this point because it had a gravel floor, lots of spider, and evidence of mice.  But we were able to get concrete poured in it a few weeks ago and that has made a huge difference.  Our plan is to move the boxes and junk that we have piled up in our shop area into the outbuilding so that we can begin building out the shop area into useable living space.  

The Right Focus

I am trying to be patient.  That is very hard sometimes when the kids are sleeping in the trailer, there are still unpacked boxes piled everywhere and spiders are finding there way into everything.  

The scripture in Philippians 4:13 has been my motto lately. 

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” 

I am trying to believe that 🙂  So I am trying to focus on the many positives going on around me and not get frustrated by the things that are moving slower than I want them to!  I am so very blessed!  

I hope you can look at your life and situation and feel the same!  While there will always be hardships and frustrations, we really are so blessed.  We just have to keep our focus in the right place!  

~ Rachel