“Mom, you’re the best mom in the world.” says Caleb

“I would have to agree with you,” I tease with a hug.

“You really are the best Mom,” says Seth.

“If you were the worse Mom ever, I would be crying right now.” he further explains.

***

Reason number one (why I haven’t been blogging):

WRESTLING

Wrestling is coming to a close for the season which means all the meets are even more important than usual.  On Friday I drove to the HS meet to watch my husband’s team.

To watch my husband.

The gym was absolutely packed to the gills with people.  Seth, Sarah, and Caleb ran off to the cafeteria to play with other random children and to say hi to the goat which one of the coaches brings to the all meets in a carrier.  Seth borrowed my phone to take a video of the goat.  I sat by Grace and Angelina and chatted with my wrestling mom friends.  All our chats have to be done with yelling voices, so we can hear each other over the din.

Cody was wrestling in this photo.  We had already been in the gym for several hours.  He was the only one on the team to make states, which will be held this weekend.  Rich and Jacob are in the far corner, coaching him.

After Cody had wrestled I decided to head out and go home.  It was after 8 and the drive was 40 minutes.  The kids were getting tired.  And I was getting tired.

We walked out the door and behind the school through the snow to get to my car, which I had parked far away because there was no more room in the main lot.

It was magical to be outside at night with only the lights of the school shining for us.

(not sure what seth is doing, eating snow?)

She thought it was super stylish to wear one of her black socks pulled up on the outside of her pants.

REASON NUMBER 2:  The Stomach Bug

The strange thing is, by the time we got home she was complaining that she felt sick.  I tucked them all into bed and I went promptly to sleep.  The next morning Rich told me, “Sarah’s sick.  She threw up all over her bed and floor.  I gave her a bath last night at 11.”

Grace had helped him clean up the mess and inside I was singing praises that I missed out on the vomit clean up for once in my life.

REASON NUMBER THREE:  Trip to Rhode Island

On Sunday we went to watch the last meet of Ethan’s college season.  He wrestled twice.  The first time was against the number one guy and he was pinned within the first minute of the match.  The second time was a loss by only 2 points.  11-8.  He has improved amazingly over the last few months.  We stayed to watch the whole entire meet so we could bring him home with us afterwards.

REASON number 4:  bird watching, house cleaning, cooking, too much distraction all around me, too tired, writers block, not taking pictures as I usually do and a general feeling of “who cares” anyway.

But all good things.  How thankful I am to be able to be home with the children.  They had Monday and Tuesday off from school for Presidents’ day and they were free and happy.  We still have snow on the ground but the air was mild and sweet so they spent lots of time outside.

sweatshirts, boots, hats, and SHORTS = New England in the early spring.

At the end of the day there was an epic sword fight.

And this morning?  They are back to school, all but David, who now has the stomach bug.

Ethan is away for a day of skiing with his girlfriend and her family.

*****

Put your hope in the Lord, travel steadily along his path.  Psalm 37

Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.  Psalm 37

The winds of grace blow all the time.  All we need to do is set our sails.  Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it.  CS Lewis

Trust in the Lord and do good.  Psalm 37

****

dreaming of…..

cleaning and decorating the porch for springtime

quietness

visiting with Joanna this weekend

going home to help make maple syrup

orchids about to bloom

a slow cooked chicken for dinner tonight, and mashed potatoes

****

happy wednesday, friends
i love you ❤