{June 1st - June 7th, 2025}
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| {Sharing with my declutter group how I store some of our winter gear} |
Flipping... the calendar to a new month. I cannot believe we are here. The school year is wrapping up, and summer's on its way!
Celebrating... Grady's sixth birthday. We love our sweet boy so much and are so lucky to have found him.
Unexpectedly... opening the door to my friend Christi's kids bringing my family treats! Katie and Porter brought us rice krispie treats and chocolate chip cookies, which was so sweet!
Attending... my first sound bath with my sister-in-law Julie and loving it. It was so peaceful and beautiful and healing. I absolutely loved it. Afterward we had the opportunity to draw a spirit animal card from her deck. I drew from it at random, and got the Raven card, which felt really significant after my run-in last week trying to capture a picture of a crow at the school I was subbing at, and after I spent some time talking to a crow in the tree in our front yard and left it a Ritz cracker to snack on. (I'm secretly trying to befriend the crow so that I can officially call myself a witch in old age. Haha!)
The Raven card said: "You are the creator and magician. Use your gifts for good. There is power in your wisdom and words. Connect with the elemental spirits and glide through the world. Claim your place as Keeper of the Mysteries."
Grateful... that Josh is such an awesome dad. He bought Carly some fossil eggs that she was able to crack open and chip away at. She enjoyed it so much while I was at the sound bath.
Subbing... in kindergarten, fourth grade and in Carly's class for her teacher on Thursday and Friday. Thursday we had field day, which was so hot, but also super fun. Wyatt also had field day this week, which he thought he wasn't allowed to attend because he has a few tardies, but his friend Kaeden's mom works at the school and double checked, and Wyatt's on the approved list. Hooray! (So grateful for good friends who look out for my kids!) Friday in Carly's class, it was one of her classmates' birthdays, and his dad brought in pizza & soda for the kids. It was so much fun! I always love subbing in Carly's class. It's so much fun to get to see her in that setting and to have so much special time with her.
Deciding... that for next school year, I will continue substitute teaching and not pursue a full time position. My goal will be to get the twins through their senior year and graduation, and be around more for our younger two for at least one more year. It's a hard decision, but I feel like it's what's right for our family.
Hitting... my first milestone in Jazzercise. 25 classes! My friend Amy is my teacher and was so happy for me and proud of me. It means so much to have her support. I love this quote about moving our bodies. "Exercise is a celebration of what your body can do." Amen!
Rejoicing... that the twins' friend Ainsley can spend the night again. It's been far too long and we've missed him.
Excited... for Logan having an interview for a summer job setting up rentals (think bounce houses, tents and chairs). I will be so happy for him if he gets the position. I think a job with lots of moving parts and different schedules each day will be right up his alley.
Parenting... and saying the words you hear in every after school movie. "We're not mad. Just disappointed." It's so cliche for a reason. Sometimes you really aren't mad... just wishing that your child stayed true to themselves and followed your rules more willingly. Sigh.
Listening... to one of my favorite Facebook follows (Jade Beall Photography) talk about physical pain. She said that in recent years she has started to focus all her love on the pain when it comes, and leans into it. So I've been trying that this week, and it's actually kind of surprising how well it works.
Starting... my diet change (focusing on more protein and less than 2000 calories per day) as well as my Phentermine (a Rx from my gynecologist for weight loss). I am starting at 270 pounds. Here's hoping this works!
Taking... Wyatt to the endodontist to ask him the questions we had about the potential jaw surgery we think Wyatt needs. He needs it because he has a super narrow esophagus, and the orthdontist thinks he needs this surgery to breathe better. The surgery (which would also include removing his wisdom teeth) is a beast to recover from, though, so we're not sure yet what (if anything) we're going to do.
Taking... Jack to the doctor to discuss sleeping meds, increasing his anti-depressants and getting his blood drawn. We got his meds increased (in hopes it will help his depression); got a rx for a sleep med for him to try; and had his blood taken to check his vitamin D levels & thyroid levels.
Joining... Dawn Madsen's Minimal Mom Membership Group for decluttering. I joined when membership was on sale for $22/month, and it has me so excited and motivated to get my house back under control. The cool thing about the Phentermine I'm taking for weight loss is that it can also increase your energy, which is great for my fibromyalgia. Knowing that I'm going to be on that medication for the next three months (you take it for three months, then take five months off to keep from getting addicted) I want to use that excess of energy to declutter the majority of my house this summer. Dawn is an identical twin who also has four kids and she is just full of wisdom, tips and tricks for decluttering. I love her. I follow her on Facebook, but she also has an Instagram and a website.
Reading... Carly's school journal that she brought home this week, and I cannot even with how cute she is and the details that don't escape her notice.
Loving... Logan's fresh haircut. He doesn't get haircuts from me anymore (which I totally understand and respect... but it feels like the end of an era), so he comes home and just looks all fresh. This months' cut is a mullet of sorts, and I'm not sure how I feel about that... but he does look cute!
Letting... Jack go to a detail job for some friends of his cars even though he's grounded because hard work and earning money are a good exception. I also let him go with his friend to therapy over in Wenatchee because they both needed the company, and if they were together, I knew he was safe. Sigh. At one point this week he made a post and the caption read, "The urge to be done with life. #imtired" Having a suicidal, depressed teenager is the hardest thing I have ever experienced. (And that's saying something- I had a kid with epilepsy and a kid with untreatable asthma.) We're doing everything that I know to do, and it's just not enough.
Trying... both Jack's sleep med (NOT a winner- he woke up so incredibly groggy, nearly hungover) as well as a portable CPAP I ordered online for him to try. He said that didn't work either as it just fell out of his nose when he was sleeping. I'm telling you, I'm so desperate for this kid to get some good sleep. I feel awful that he's so miserable.
Learning... that Josh got the job!!!!! A while back he applied for two administrative positions in his district. One as assistant principal at the elementary school he's been teaching at for nine years, and another as assistant principal at the middle school that his elementary school feeds into. He had felt his interview went well, but that's happened and the past and not amounted to anything, so we weren't holding our breath. Well, this time, it happened! He will be the assistant principal at his elementary school next year, working with a new principal who is moving from another school in their district. (He doesn't work in the same district that our kids attend and where I sub. He works in the next town over, about 25 miles away.) This new job comes with a significant pay raise, as well as more days per year that he has to work. I am beyond grateful that he'll be paid more since we decided it's best that I not pursue my own classroom this year. I am also grateful that all his hard work and dedication are finally paying off. This has been a long time coming.
Taking... Carly to gymnastics on Friday afternoon and enjoying the friendships I have developed there.
Celebrating... the twins' seventeenth birthday in typical teenage fashion, with neither one of them home. Hah! This was the first birthday that they've had that we haven't spent together, and it was a stark reminder that they aren't mine. They are their own. And I just got them on loan for a few years. (wipes nose and dabs at eyes) It's true what they say, friends. The days are long but the years are short. (So short!)
Noticing... that the Phentermine is giving me a headache everyday, which is NOT my favorite. But I want to give it a fair go, and many times side effects are only temporary. So I just take tylenol and ibuprofen, alternating, throughout the day, and that seems to curb the headache.
Finding... egg shells in my bedroom. What?!? All I can figure is that one of us threw them in the sink, and the cats, curious about them, carried them upstairs in their mouths. I know it wasn't the dogs because they aren't allowed upstairs. And it wasn't the kids- I asked. How strange!
Learning... that the three sisters who went missing in Wenatchee when they went on visitation with their dad have been found dead in a nearby campground. I read this quote: "When one mother cries, we all cry," in an online article, and I think it puts into words what we are all collectively feeling. Paityn, Evelyn & Olivia went to my sisters' daughter's school. Her neighbor girl was best friends with Evelyn. It's really hitting their community and is such a devastating loss. If you feel inclined to donate to this incredible mother who lost everything, here is her gofundme.
"If you must look back, do so forgivingly.
-Maya Angelou
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| Decluttering mood. hah! |
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| I want this cake! |
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The twins through the years:
1 comment:
Shelly....I know Jack has sleep problems. Has he ever tried Magnesium Glycinate? I take it an hour before I want to be asleep. It helps me fall asleep and stay asleep. There are no side effects. It is a supplement, not a script. Maybe it will help Jack. Take care...Laurie
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