I saw a quote on someone’s instagram this week and I can’t even begin to remember what it said, but the gist of it was this: “Life is not going to be perfect. Don’t expect it to be.” My comment was, “Embrace the drama.” And you know… I’ve had to learn this as a skill. I used to say I was the no drama mama. Those are fighting words, apparently, though… and God can teach a lot of good lessons to you when you think you are somehow immune to the drama. Trust me. I’ve learned first hand. Saying you don’t attract drama is like praying for patience. You first. I’ve already been to that rodeo.
So, in honor of my drama… here’s the latest few scoops on the ice cream cone of life for us this summer (in list form, because – you know me, right?):
1. I had an oncology appointment last week. All clear on the bloodwork. I celebrated with carrot juice… which has been in short supply these past few months because my juicer is missing a part.
She forgot to test my D levels since they were low last time. She didn’t do an A-1 C, either, which she probably should have. I’ve had a few moments where I’ve felt like maybe my blood sugars were off. My grandma was hypoglycemic and my mother was juvenile diabetic… so I always try to pay extra close attention to my blood sugar. Even if I had never gotten cancer, I would be eating a low sugar diet for the most part. I’ve already seen what sugar can do to you if left unchecked… and I want no part of it.
2. We had a water bill surprise on the farm house. Apparently, there’s a leak somewhere we have to find. It flooded the field behind the house, so it’s not just your tiny little toilet run. Oy!
3. I started working for someone else on Instagram. Yes, that’s right – I’m a social media businesswoman now. Send me all your tired, huddled masses of ugly IG accounts and I shall make them beautiful. If you pay me, that is. It was either take on another job, or starve. I am praying God gives me more hours in the day than there are hours in the day (or just makes me as efficient as the ant colony I keep washing out of my potted Plumeria on the porch).
4. I rocked the menu last week. Seriously. I cooked almost everything I had planned or something just as good instead. My reward? I get to try and do it again this week – out of a COOLER! Yes, we are on the road again to THSC (Texas Homeschool Coalition Called To Teach Convention) Woodlands (near Houston) this week… me and those tiny boys that aren’t so tiny any more. I’m taking applications for a camera assistant! I pay with mulberry compote and hugs.
5. Have you ever had someone laugh at you for your decisions regarding your health? Well, that happened to me this week. “Good luck.” And what I didn’t say is, “I don’t need luck. I’m a believer.” I don’t know about you, but God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow… and He can still do miracles. He doesn’t need modern medicine or pharmacy to pull anything out of his hat. Sorry. Ruffled my feathers a bit… because I would never dream of trying to make anyone feel bad for their decision to rely on chemo or doctor’s advice if they believed it would help them. Pray for people, but don’t just wish them “Good luck.” Especially if your trying to hold back an eye roll.
6. Someone at THSC made my week and told me they loved my pictures from the Arlington convention. I’m no different than anyone else – I love a genuine compliment.
7. We had game night this week with Papa John and Lolita. Man, that woman can cook. Filipino food is so different. Casava cake (NOT on my diet, very sweet!) and chicken noodles (I’m sure those aren’t the real names)… and I’m eventually going to learn to cook them. She’s promised to teach me.
8. Someone in my neighborhood hates cats. Two cats in two months have come up with pellet gun wounds that have abscessed and are now healing. It can’t be a coincidence. I hate mean people. I am wondering now if the tail incident that poor Loki went through was due to animal cruelty. Our neighborhood has always been a safe place for animals, so this recent chain of events must be someone who has just moved here. Can’t wait to get moved out to the country.
9. Speaking of house selling… it hasn’t yet. What is up with these people? It’s a steal – and my yard is the best in the neighborhood, y’all. The mulberry tree has provided me with all the yum for the past month and a half! There are still berries on it… albeit few. We showed it this weekend, but so far, no dice. Picky people that don’t like one thing or the other about the floor plan, I suppose. Prayers appreciated. I’m so over the stress and waiting. Pray also that my big kids get their living arrangement situation straight ASAP since neither of them want to move to the country and be “hillbillies” (their words). I think the consensus right now is that my 21 year old is going to move in to an apartment in town with my 19 year old and her good guy friend. Between the three of them, they have to figure out where and how to pull this off. They are just waiting for everyone to have proof of income. My 21 year old starts his new job next week… and his sister is training him. Yep: Starbucks. It seems to be where all the cool kids want to work (despite the pay).
10. My boys got a robot this week for review. They now think I’m the coolest homeschool mom blogger on the planet. You can get a sneak peek on my Instagram account. Be sure to follow me there… since I’ll be gone most of this week and will be checking in there. I may get a few things scheduled for you in here if I somehow manage supermom status this week, but there’s no promising anything!
11. I spent the morning torturing fire ants on my back porch. I’ve done everything but pull out the poison. I hate poison. I figure if I wash them away three times a day, maybe they will move to dryer ground. Today I got the shovel out after them, too. In all these “years of evolution” you would have thought they would be resistant to shovels by now! Ha! You just can’t have fun if you can’t have it at the expense of an ant colony. The last straw for these guys was them making my 9 year old cry yesterday as they devoured a living worm on the porch in view of the back door. They are going down.
I’m about to embark on a day of cooking and prepping and packing for THSC with the rest of my “holiday”… right after I schedule all these instagram posts. Have a super Memorial Day and a fantastic week! Deep breaths. You can do this (especially speaking to myself here…).
PS. for those of you who have a summer break from homeschooling: SO JELLY