WW

WW

Stretching Like Never Before

I've always been pretty flexible throughout my life, both physically and mentally. So, when I take a look around at my family right now and realize how so much has changed- and I don't really see an area that hasn't changed in the last 6 months-I wonder if my flexibility is enough.
An old shoulder injury has been flaring up once again and it has been particularly bad for the last 24 hours or so. Simple things like getting dressed, brushing my hair, or driving are proving to be painful to say the least. This is not the time for such an injury to be rearing its ugly head! The girls are going into tech week for Oz and I have tests this week and next, again, as well as a couple of papers and more than one project due. Also, it's Homecoming Week for the DQ complete with the big football game on Halloween night after a rehearsal (we'll try to squeeze in a few trick-or-treats on our way to the game), and a few last minute minor alterations to a dress for the dance that we purchased this summer (on clearance of course, and boy is it cute=). This is definitely not the time that I would pick, especially since I have been without much of a community physically surrounding me during these tumultuous times, but then again, God's plan is so much greater than mine.
Today I realized something while in the midst of all the rushing to finish one school project today after class, scoop of Mo from school while dropping off the form for Mijo to enter the gifted program, shoot an email to the casting director for the next play to squeeze in the girls' audition between scene rehearsals and costume fittings this evening, go through school papers and dole out snacks, finish making dinner and packing it up for the 3 kiddos and I to go to rehearsals and auditions, making sure everyone had homework and books packed to work on inbetween (I'm stressing out just typing this), as well as making it into the car with everything and everyone ready in order to drive the girls' to rehearsal on time. I realized that in all this everday busyness I haven't been doing my physical therapy exercises for my shoulder! These exercises are designed to SLOWLY stretch the muscles, tendons, and ligaments surrounding my shoulder to strengthen and loosen them so as not to be so tense that they are tightened against my inflamed joint. They are also to train some areas and retrain other areas surrounding the joint to work in unison and to help my shoulder not carry so much of the load.
Over the years due to our life circumstances, I have been left to "shoulder through" most things that come our way. I have even crawled under my husband's car while very pregnant to check for leaking brake fluid! These times left me strong and competent to "shoulder through" a lot of what comes my way, both physically and figuratively. They have also created in me an independence from others and a complete dependence on God for which I am eternally grateful to my Father in Heaven. But lately, with all these changes, I've been wondering if I'm still strong enough for it all and how I'm going to get through it. When I realized today that I hadn't been doing my shoulder stretches, I also suddenly realized the parallel between my shoulder pain and my attitude lately to all the changes in my life right now: I need to be stretched like I've never stretched before!
Much like my physical therapy exercises for my shoulder, this is a slow process of stretching by God to teach me and my family not to be so tense during these changes. We are each being trained and strengthened to support and aid one another and to function in unison-an answer to my prayers of so long. So, while it is painful at times I also know the end result is for the benefit of the whole. What a beautiful picture for God to paint for me in the midst of the chaos and the pain! He has reminded me, once again, that He truly does give us Just Enough Grace for the circumstances of our life when we trust Him (OK, that is a shameless plug for my friend Heather's book but I really wanted to thank her for allowing God's grace, truth, and love for all of us to reflect in and through her life. When I look at her life, it is Jesus that I see) and He has reminded me that His plans are not mine, but are so much greater than my own!

It's Finally Cooling Off

Welcome to OZ?

Piercing screams echoed through our home yesterday at 4:26pm-screams that could only be produced by two very excited sisters over a call hoped for but not completely expected for our new little actress (although she’s been preparing for this role since birth, just like her big sis). This same scream was reproduced exactly 3 minutes later as a second call rang through on our phone line, this time for our original Drama Queen. What was the excitement? Both Mo and DQ had auditioned for The Wizard of Oz on Sunday afternoon and received their callbacks! Mo was called back for the part of a Munchkin and DQ for the Cowardly Lion or the Wicked Witch of the East.
Tonight, I am sitting in the lobby of the local theater, finishing the 4th hour of waiting for the girls at that callback. I have completed 3 Sudoku puzzles, one crossword, studied my A&P, did my reading for micro and played a doodle game with Mo for quite a while. The noise level is intense making conversations nearly impossible and the internet connection is intermittent, so I’m out of things to do. Hmm, I think I might start screaming myself, only not from excitement.
In all my years of dreaming what life with my own kiddos would be like, I never quite pictured it this way. I expected to sit on hard bleachers at ball games or meets or even sweltering in the heat while watching a practice. I knew I would spend a large amount of time in my van chauffeuring the kids from one activity to another. But, I didn’t think it would come in the form of both girls acting. Granted, I know their personalities and know how dramatic they both can be (you only have to tell them to clean their rooms or unload the dishwasher once to see that for yourself), but I don’t think I actually expected them to both make it successfully in a large-scale youth theater, especially with singing parts. I am their mother and singing is not really a natural talent in our family despite our love of music. But my plans are not God’s plans and certainly my ways are not His. Thank you God for exceeding my plans and my ways for them.
Oh, and Girls, go break a leg=)

It's Official, She's a High Schooler

Can she really be old enough to start High School? Where did the time go and how did one haircut and a new outfit age her enough to actually look like a Freshman?!?!?! I think an even more important question is how am I old enough to have a child in high school? Didn't I just graduate?
Questions aside, I am so proud of her and the woman she is becoming. It is with great anticipation and with more than a little trepidation that today I released her to not only go to public school, but to high school. I know she will do well and that she has a strong mind and strong character to handle it. We are both continuing to learn to "Trust in the Lord" in all things, and I am certainly trusting Him with this. I am so excited to to see her grow in this new adventure and especially in His grace as a Child of God! I love you, DQ!

Back to School in a New Way

With my going back to school and a few other changes in our family right now, I'm sure it won't come as much of a surprise that we have enrolled the kids in public school again this year. They are unbelievably excited, although the younger two do have some hesitations about not being at home this year for school. For me it's been a bumpy journey to come to the place where I'm ready to send them. I was hoping to feel more confident about this decision, but I'm not. I know they will be fine and that I can trust God with the results and that He cares for them infinitely more that I could ever. However, I have a passion for their education that makes me more than a little concerned over what they will receive while attending public school. So, prayers are much coveted during this time of transition for us. My prayers for them are that they will take with them the conscience that we have taught them with God's spirit guiding their choices.
Nevertheless, today was a very exciting and happy day for the Hunter clan as Mo began 2nd grade and Mijo started 5th! They love their teachers and have reunited with some old friends as well as started laying down the bridgework for some new ones. I'm looking forward to knowing their teachers and friends better as well as helping in their classrooms, but I'm not sure how to handle all the time at home while they are at school. Do I finish my curtains first, catch up on some reading, finish my quilt, or take a nap?!?!?! LOL=)