Autism Walk

Friday and Saturday was our school’s first Step Up for Autism Fun Run/Walk. On Friday, we had a 1 mile family walk for parents to walk around the track with their children. Saturday, there was a 5K Fun Run/Walk. Saturday started out with lots of rain and lightning, but cleared up before the 5K started. We were so thankful. I think our turnout would have been even bigger had it not started out raining.

I loved being on a committee where we had such a variety of strengths that everything came together because of all the talents the group possessed. Especially those who were able to get businesses to sponsor the cost of all the t-shirts. The event raised over $7,000 that will go toward the purchase of new sensory equipment and items for our students with autism. They will also use some of the money to create a lending library for parents.

Cole kept shying away from the camera, but here he is with his friend and our Superintendent.

Lisa, a fellow Kdg. teacher, me and Betsy our Secretary.

Our wonderful committee after a hot day Friday outside.

Even our mascot isn’t immune to a leg cramp. :

Cole had the important job of holding the finish line sign on Saturday.

I cannot wait for this event next year!

Torn

I am definitely someone that finds myself emotionally torn between the things I’m interested in and the things that I truly value. I find that I like to dive into everything wholeheartedly, but end up giving up on things because I feel like it takes away from my family. I enjoy teaching, couponing, frugality, decorating, reading blogs, scrapbooking, making bows, etc., etc. However, I seem to have to give up on things or put too many things on the back burner because I try to do too much at once and end up spending more time doing things that aren’t as important to my family.

As fall approaches, I have made myself spend less time on the computer, less time on Facebook, less time at school, not making as many bows and practically not couponing at all. Part of me feels a loss for not doing things I enjoy, but the guilt of spending time doing things that my family and friends do not feel they benefit directly from makes me put things into perspective. Yes,  my family benefits from my couponing, frugality and bow-making, but not in the sense that I get the satisfaction of doing it. 

I don’t want to look back on my children’s early years thinking that I was ever not interested enough in what they were doing or that I spent more time doing things I wanted to than spending quality time with them. The same goes for my family. I never use to be the one that people had to call and check on because I was the one trying to stay on top of things. Not so much anymore.

So, if I’m not commenting on your blog posts immediately or not commenting on your FB status often enough, please don’t be offended. I know that I have to balance my time  and other things more evenly. For me, part of balancing means knowing which things weigh more heavily on my heart than on my mind.  For now, I choose to devote myself to my family first.  I also know that I need to spend more time checking in on my friends and feeling more connected to them.  Technology is great in the sense that it gives us the ability to be instantly connected with people, but face-to-face interaction is by far more valuable.

There are so many things in life that come and go easily. I cannot let time slip by that is meant to spent on those who are precious to me.

These two are a huge source of why God put me here and I need to feel like I am serving Him by bringing them up in a way that his pleasing to Him. This is definitely not something I am torn about.

I've been tagged!

I've been tagged by Michelle from Two People Fell In Love. We 'met' through Etsy. :) She has beautiful daughters and one of them is named Audrey. Unfortunately, almost all of my friends have recently been tagged, so I probably won't be tagging anyone myself.

Here are the rules:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

So, here goes.

1. I love thrift store shopping and going to yard sales. I have lots of fun going with my mom and my kiddies. We LOVE finding a great deal! My mom even taught my son how to negotiate prices. He's way better at it than I am.

2. I had viral meningitis when I was in high school. It was not fun! I remember asking my parents to tell Jena that she's my best friend about 30 times before, during and after the spinal tap.

3. I stuck a fork through my finger when I was a child and I now have a division sign looking scar on the outside of my middle left finger. It's cool!

4. If there was one thing about me that I'd want you to know, it's how much I enjoy time with my family and friends and wish that I could see everyone much more than I get to now. I pray for my family and friends to be happy and feel loved. I love to let others know how important they are to me. I feel like I've been blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life and through so many different phases they've helped me become the person that I am.

5. I use to be a candystriper (volunteer) at a local hospital when I was in junior high. When my kids are a little older, I'd love to volunteer again for several different organizations. Helping others is truly dear to my heart.

6. My favorite saying is, "The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time." -Abraham Lincoln. My adapted saying while working on my seminar paper for my Masters degree was, "The best thing about the future is that it isn't today." -Me

7. Sometimes I dream of how things in my life will turn out. Other days, I accept what God has given me and realize the importance of love and life and not how clean my house is or the things that I have or don't have. I wish that I kept this perspective daily, but I truly struggle with it at times.

Bonus: I would secretly like to try homeschooling, but I know that all the teachers and administrators I worked with in the past would probably hate me and never hire me again. I just think the whole thing is so appealing and my son is such an eager learner and so smart that I think he would truly thrive. Of course, I'm his mom and that gives me license to say things like this, right?