Time Flies

Where did September go? I'm having a hard time processing that tomorrow is October 1. Seems like the kids just started school last week! At this rate Christmas will be the day after tomrrow! haha

We've had a busy month, on the go during the week and most weekends. My daughter and I have gone to her first Ohio State football game, we bought a membership to the Ohio Historical Center and spent an afternoon there (and didn't see everything so will be going back soon), and oh yeah, my son has a girlfriend (DSGF) and Homecoming is tomorrow! And that's just the highlights of the month! :-)

October doesn't look like it's going to be slowing down much, by the looks of the calendar, so it's time to get intentional again and plan out the next few months of activities with the kids and also get back to posting. I feel like I'm so far behind on everything. How far? I've been making a to-do list at the beginning of each week, and nothing, NOTHING, is crossed off yet this week. I've been lucky to get dinner on the table on clean plates :-) and to get my Bible studies done each night. And I now have a ton of stuff to get done before DSGF comes over for dinner before the dance tomorrow. Time to prioritize and get moving. :-)

Growing Up Boys and Girls

My kids are definitely growing up. Not only are they *upperclassmen* in school and driving, but now they are planning college visits, babysitting, and, gulp!, DS has a girlfriend! My kids might be twins, but they have very different ideas on how and when to date. DD has a few guy friends but has specifically stated she does not want to date until college because she wants to focus on her classes in high school and doesn't want to be "that girl" who can only think about her boyfriend.

DS, on the other hand, has tried to get to know girls in the past and has been rebuffed...until the first day of school this year. DSGF (DS' girlfriend) is in his culinary class, and they hit it off right away. He could not have found someone more like him, mannerisms and all, if he had intentionally tried. They text each other and talk on the phone for hours every day after school. He has been to her house twice and went to a local fair with her and her parents last weekend, and she has been here twice and went to the local festival parade with us the other night. DSGF got to meet the kids' uncle and 10-year-old cousin, and she really hit it off with the cousin, which isn't easy to do! She has also come to youth group at church the last couple weeks, and she and her parents have been in church several times, too. Unfortunately I have been in the nursery both times they were there and have not met them yet, but I understand they are coming again Sunday, so hopefully we will meet then.

I knew this time would come, when one of the twins would begin a relationship with someone. Am I a little scared? Sure! You never know if this will be a lifelong high school sweetheart thing or if hearts will be broken in a few weeks. I've always been open with my kids about dating and what is expected of them to do and NOT to do, but at some point, you have to let them go and experience things and the consequences (good or bad) on their own. Thankfully we have several "protective services" in place, at least for a while. I'm glad DSGF feels comfortable here and doing things with us and vice versa for DS and her family. I hope they will continue to want to spend time here. One of the benefits of twins is that there is a built-in chaperone! haha DD isn't afraid to call him out on something she has seen or heard. And DSGF isn't allowed to ride with him solo in the car yet until he has had his license for 6 months, so we have a while yet of family activities before they are on their own. But most importantly, both have been raised in the church and have been taught what God expects of them in a relationship.

I'm happy that DS has found a girl with whom he has so much in common. I truly believe God has had a hand in this. Will they be together 10 years from now? Only God knows that, but I pray that He will use this relationship to show these 2 very young people that He is in control and that they will see His hand and listen to His wisdom as they go forward.

Tuesday Blessings

1. Clean carpets
2. Freshly mowed yards
3. The local joint vocational school fixing the door of our car for no charge
4. A clean and freshly organized pantry
5. DD gaining confidence with night driving

Goals Update

I haven't been real good about posting goals the last few months because, well, basically I feel like I'm not going to accomplish the ones that were really important to me, namely the financial goals. My Visa is definitely not going to be paid off this year (thanks to some auto repair bills), and I highly doubt I will get my savings goal met. I've been doing a lot of thinking and praying on those 2 issues and am going to have to re-do what I have been doing. More on that later.

My other goals, reading the Bible, reading books and finishing projects are going so-so. I'm behind on my Bible-in-a-year reading but am working hard to catch up. I need to take a new inventory of what projects need to be done and get back into that. My book reading is really the only thing I have kept up on, having finished 8 books. Reducing clutter is also going okay. I don't think I've done a bag a month, but a bag is continually being filled, and I'm working on weeding out stuff from the basement now, so there will be several bags going at once. DS is more interested in helping in the kitchen and DD is getting a little tired of her pasta-only diet, so there is hope yet in the "teaching meals" category.

I'm just discouraged by what I haven't accomplished, and the financial goals - all 2 of them! - seem overwhelming and like they will NEVER get crossed off. I'm reading a little financial book by the late Larry Burkett and will re-read at least the beginning of Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover to hopefully re-jump start my motivation. Can't hurt, that's for sure!