Marie is a decade old!!!

 Marie, you are 10!!!!  I was trying to remember my life 10 years ago right now. . .and wondering if I ever thought what it would be like when you were 10?!?  I know I could never have imagined all of this.  Never, in a 1000 years.  God has blessed our family abundantly.

 This was you exactly one year ago.  Hard to believe, huh?  You have grown so much and really matured at lot this year.

 Remember the Red team last fall?  The only thing that hasn't changed is your coach -- you're still with Coach Thad!!!

 But now your team is green and you are wearing size large shorts instead of size medium :)  This was you while you were a goalie a couple of weeks ago.

Last fall was so busy for you . . .

 There was the Lego League competition that you participated in with Thomas and your team did really well! (The team didn't re-group again this year or I'm sure you would have been the team captain!)

 You were a snowflake in your school's Christmas production. . .

And a judge (a main character!) in one of the local church's after-school music program.  You did a GREAT job!

 And then, of course, you got your braces.  Those come off November 16th!!!!!


Marie, I hate to keep saying "I don't have time" and "I have to work on schoolwork" but it's the sad truth right now.  I've been working on this post for two days now and am simply not going to get it done to my "standards" in the next week because I just don't have the time.  You had a wonderful birthday. . .and I didn't do *any* schoolwork on Saturday -- ha!  Let me leave you with a picture to remind you of the night out you chose instead of a party this year:

And your pile of gifts. . .

And your family that loves you unconditionally :)

Buried

Buried under responsibilities. . .some in my head, some concrete.  No time to blog, read blogs, read books, keep up with the news (I didn't know about the miners?!?), finish any projects, play games with the kids at the drop of a hat, watch television (not that that is ever on top of my list) but also am finding that there isn't time to keep up with laundry, plan/make meals, or, as in the case today, even change our sheets and make beds.  My wonderful, caring, incredible, supportive husband is picking up more than his share of my "slack".  True, I substitute teach.  And work at the YMCA.  And am taking 9 graduate hours.  And am a mother to 4.  And a daughter.  Sister.  Friend.  Aunt.  This semester at school is really baring down on me.  I have 3 book reports to write -- I've only read 1.5 books so far.  A 10-pg research project.  I just figured out my topic today.  A weekly 4-7 page assignment due to an instructor whose only feedback has been (after submitting 5 papers) a one-line e-mail this week saying I have an "A" and to "keep up the good work".  Oh, and the first three chapters of my thesis.  I had class tonight and our instructor said that if we aren't "well on our way" with Chapter 2 we should be getting "nervous".  Oops.  Not there yet.  So. . .I need to bury myself for the next several weeks.  I hate to miss family things.  And kids' things.  And spending time with Tom.  But this is just a season, right?  Everything is over the first week in December.  So. . .until then. . .I'm still taking pictures, still journaling in my head.  The kids' wardrobes are turned over from summer to fall/winter.  I think most major clothing items have been purchased including Thanksgiving outfits for the kids.  Dentist appts. were marked off the list yesterday.  Everything else will have to wait.  Marie's birthday is in 10 days.  Thomas's birthday is mid-November.  Marie has invited Grandpa Foster and Mammaw down for the weekend.  Tom's parents are here this weekend.  Thomas has a birthday party booked on 11/20.  And tomorrow is the last day of the kids' Fall Break.
I am determined.  I have been given a wonderful opportunity to get my Master's Degree, I just didn't anticipate the cost of family time.  But I have to graduate in May to fall under "old" standards, which is important to me.  Then it will be done.  And I can fill up the next chapter of my life, Lord willing :)