midterms

I have a paper to write.

A puppy to be walked.

Dishes are pilling. Laundry is wrinkled. Errands are striking. To-do list is retreating.

All coming to a head, otherwise known as midterm. When survival mode meets "get by"and when all seems like it will be lost. Otherwise known as "I'm losing my mind!" Except I'm not. Because I have a paper to write...

In all seriousness, it may seem like a lot, but we are doing well. Taking it one day at a time...

Caleb is killing it on the soccer field...

look at that face!! goalie mode 

Katelynn is finding her sassy side...we've had a fire ant go immune reaction that she's recovering from. But seems like she's back to herself these days...

I am sure every one of my faithful blog readers can tell you that once a year (about this time) I start my 30 day photo challenge. Why should this year be any different, right? This time around I will be doing weekly posts on the blog, and my daily posts are on Instagram under #ahainphotochallenge
Just a little way to cut down on the daily posting, because well... the dishes are pilling, laundry is wrinkled....... you get the picture.

Day 1 "words": Sometimes I get overwhelmed with the weekly cycle of laundry, grocery carts,
work, appointments, and kids' activities...the moments when I can just breathe feel few
and far between. The word "perseverance" first came to into my conscienceless when
I was working for a doctor and getting ready to start nursing school. I asked him: with two kids and a husband working nights how I was ever going to make it through the challenging road path ahead. "Perseverance," he said. And it stuck. Soon that handwritten motivational reminder was hanging above my desk. And it took one day at a time and the finish line was before me. The same motivation comes to me with the word "perseverance" in this mad cycle of life. Perhaps we don't always have those moments to breath and take in, but I hope I will always remember to put one foot in front of the other and keep going forward... (See also synonymous words: persistence, tenacity, steadfast) How about you? What words inspire you?

Day 2 "technology": you have no idea, nor would I ever want you to find out, what I am without this fantastic piece of technology. Some very unfortunate people (and a pup) almost found out today when I didn't drink my first cup until almost 11 this morning. No worries, we're good now. I know people go through stages saying "I'm cutting back," or "I'll drink tea." Not me, I wave my coffee-holic freak flag proudly.

Day 3 "nature": I love this picture we took on a hike about a year ago. I really do call nature our sanctuary. HD Thoreau had a valid point when he said, "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."

Day 4 "clothing": my favorite "camp/cabin" shirt.
LL Bean fully lined soft and warm for those fires under the starry night...

Day 5 "knowledge": "Every part of the earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every meadow, every humming insect. All are holy in the memory and experience of my people. We know the sap which courses through trees as we know the blood that courses through our veins. We are part of the earth and it is a part of us." -Chief Seattle

Day 6 "memories": I think of my childhood as another life. Where super heroes lived down the hall, riding bikes passed the time, and getting muddy was always worth it. I remember TGIF, pet rocks and tadpole fishing. But what I appreciate the most about my former life, are the two people who showed me what love can be.

Day 7 "innovation": I don't think it's a surprise to anyone how much I love to go antiquing....
but looking at old print ads....priceless

Tune in next week for "post midterm" thoughts...otherwise known as "brain is mush" :)