Reflections...

Hi everyone--

I don't like to post out of order, but I can't seem to get photos to upload tonight... Wow... it's been some summer thus far... I try not to complain on the internet, and I guess that I'm not really wanting to complain, but life has been challenging of late.

Yes, 4-H season is kicking in full steam, and we've already had two deaths in the family-- one duck and one baby bunny. Ellie-Kate took the death of the duck harder than the rabbit, but we welcomed it into our family when it was only two days old, and it died at six weeks. The rabbit was only in our house for about 30 hours before it died so not at all the same thing. Yet, I can't even describe the stress that these animals introduce into our lives-- the feeding and watering and bedding and ventilation and, with the rabbits, the weighing and praying for a particular weight. It's a lot, and the girls do want to be successful, and I want for them to do as well as they can. Yeah, it's a lot... Our house is literally a zoo... well, a petting zoo...

With Emmy, we then add in all of the sports commitments for basketball and soccer as well as her food project and the dog projects and the video that she's making for her self-determined project. She's been home for two weeks, and she's yet to unpack from camp. Time slips away every day...

Yet, as I get overwhelmed when I think about the girls' obligations, coupled with the things that I need (online classes) and want (scrapbooking, cleaning, organizing) to do, God send reminders about priorities. A few days ago, on June 28, I heard about a little girl, Teresa, who had been adopted from China. Teresa was in the hospital after undergoing a heart transplant. The transplant failed, and, sadly, on July 1, she passed away... or, as her mom wrote on her blog, she "rode her princess bike into Heaven." Like Ellie-Kate, Teresa had these cute princess, pink, glittery shoes. Ellie-Kate had those shoes until we couldn't find a size to fit her. Like Ellie-Kate, Teresa loved princesses and Disney. Like Ellie-Kate, she had a family in the United States who absolutely adored her. Like Emmy, Teresa had been picked to get a rose in the Beauty and the Beast show at Hollywood Studios. Reading about Teresa, I felt such a connection... So many people did. According to her mom's blog and facebook page, people around the world were praying and rooting for her.

I have my four beautiful, amazing princesses, and yet, I feel that I don't do a nearly good enough job of creating an environment where they are just, well, happy-- especially this summer. Chelsea wanted (and begged for) her ducks... but she complains when we ask her to deal with them. Emmy wanted (and begged for) the chance to do all of these 4-H projects, but, with judging week almost upon us, we get heavy sighs and moans when we remind her that she needs to work. "No" is starting to sound like a very good word as I think about the future...

I'd love for Emmy to be much more involved in our church youth group, and I'd love to get involved in a Bible study, and neither of those things can happen at our current pace-- and that's not factoring in anything about our jobs. The girls' sports, academic, scout, and 4-H commitments completely bind our schedules. For years, we've talked about how they just can't keep doing it all... Yet, somehow, we've managed. However, this summer's grumpy faces and snapping tones (especially with the middle girls) has proven that we aren't managing as well as well as we have before... or, perhaps, the straw has just snapped, and the girls simply crave time in front of the television.

I want for our girls to enjoy a happy, relaxed summer with memories of laughter, play, and joy, not stress. 4-H is a big part of our lives, and I know that the girls can't imagine their summers without it, but... I can't quite figure out the mind puzzle that is our summer schedule, complete with expectations, traditions, and desires for free time... It's all "good," but, as my grandfather used to say, all things are good when in moderation.

Hoping that your summer is going well!

Christie