Fall colors and cool temps

My quarterly post seems much overdue.  Today is Scott's birthday.  It seems hard to believe that 21 years have passed since our first date, which happened to fall the day after his birthday in 1990.  It was truly love at first date.  I came back and told my sister I just had a date with the man I was going to marry, and it turned out to be true.  He still takes my breath away and makes my tummy tickle when I see him across the room.  I feel very lucky.  It isn't always easy and I don't feel like I prompt the same response in him, but all things said, we have had an amazing two decades together.  Below is a picture taken two days after that first date when I received roses from my future husband.  How could he have known I had always wanted to get flowers in a box?  

I wish I had his psychic ability to "just know" what would make him feel as overwhelmed as he routinely makes me feel on my birthday.  I am not sure why, but I don't seem to ever figure out the perfect gift for him.  All of my ideas are way too expensive, or require air travel or a babysitter.....  Maybe by the time we have finished raising our children?  We went to Jethro's for dinner last night to celebrate because he has a "firm dinner" tonight.  It was a very manly experience and the boys are going to shop for something to give him after he gets home.  I wish him a very Happy Birthday, none the less.  


I am amazed at the spectrum of weather a Cross Country season brings.  Sam finished his sophomore season last week.  He made some incredible improvements and earned a pair of Oakley's that he was promised if he ran sub-24 minute 5K.  Sadly, Ted the Destroyer found them on the middle of the kitchen table (not exactly a dog-friendly location) and ate them.  YIKES!  We will have to work on replacing them......  

The first meet was originally cancelled because of torrential rains, then rescheduled for two days later, only to cancelled for heat index over 110 degrees.  That Saturday the team ran (last minute) at a meet in Pella at Central College and Sam's race was cancelled in the middle for lightening strikes in the area.  Finally, there was a race the following Tuesday where he ran his "personal record" of 23:59 to qualify for the above Oakley's only to find out that the course was not actually a full 5K.  Agonizing start to the season.  Sam has made some great friends and has developed a solid work ethic when it comes to running and not giving up, even when it is hard.  


The last few meets were very windy and he will not run in the District or State meets this year, but the team continues to cheer on the boys who did qualify just as the team would stay until the end of the meets to cheer on the varsity even though their own races were completed.  


We have set up some sessions with a personal trainer who worked with a really good runner from Southeast Polk last year to foster Sam's competitive side and to work on core strength in the "off season".  It will be interesting to see how it helps his running in future seasons.  


Nick has assimilated to Jr. High fairly well.  I was worried about his ability to have 6 different teachers and changing classes throughout the day etc...., but he has surprised me.  He is well behaved, so that is not a concern, but his ability to pay attention and retain the information from all his classes so he remembers the homework and projects was concerning to me.  He has done remarkably well with all of that and I have high hopes for his 7th grade year.  He has no interest in participating in after school activities.  We are trying to encourage him to run Cross Country, but he is not a fan, nor is he able until next year because there are no longer Jr High sports for 7th graders.  I think he would be a good runner.  He just needs to gain confidence and strength.  


Jake is having a great "last year" at the Downtown School.  I am still amazed that he is in 5th grade already.  The school relocated to Central Campus from their original location at 5th and Grand Ave.  I am not a huge fan of this move, but if I can survive the next few months, we will be finished and I would hate to have Jake miss out on the 5th grade activities he knows his brothers participated in like Springbrook and graduation.  I do love his teachers.  Ms. A and Ms. D have developed each of the boys' love of learning and social skills and I would miss them if we had decided to leave early. 


Jake decided not to play football this year.  He was not the most athletic and after breaking his arm last year, he was apprehensive to go back to the tackle league.  He did run in a "fun run" two weeks ago.  His goal was NOT to walk, but he didn't quite make that, but he did finish and realized that he needs to train before his next race.  I think he would be a good runner, too.  We will see.  

With my working nearly every weekend it is hard to plan family activities, but we were able to go to some Southeast Polk high school football games and decided to get tickets to the Iowa State v. Texas football game.  The boys had never been to a college game and we were able to get "hill" tickets and "tailgate" with good friends Shelby and Tim before the game.  Sadly, the Cyclones did not fare well that night, but Southeast Polk Rams are having an awesome year.  

Lastly, we have started attending Evangelical Covenant Church instead of Valley.  It was a hard decision to make, but in an effort to have our boys make stronger connections to the kids in their youth group and to have some of those kids be school friends, as well, we made the leap.  Sam was at Covenant 45 seconds before a friend from school took him with her to the youth group.  We had been going to Valley for 13 years and even though he had grown up there, he didn't have any good friends and was always fighting the idea of going to church and especially going to Sunday School.  He has really "wanted" to go and is making some really good friends, too.  Nick is a bit slower at making a connection, but is liking the change, none the less.  Jake loves the room he goes to for Sunday School.  It has games and videos before the class time starts.  Scott and I are starting to make some new friends.  It is always hard to leave a place of comfort and good friends, but I am really trying to be open minded and have an open heart to new people.  I do miss many of the people we had deep friendships and connections to.  A smaller church family has been a transition, but we have felt welcomed with open arms by the pastor and other families in the church.  I am continuing to pray that I will not close off people who I don't feel I have anything in common with.  God is working in my heart.  


Change is never easy, but as with the seasons and cooler weather come beautiful colors that show God's handiwork in nature also appear.  I pray that I will continue to be content with where my life is now, but also be open to leading in new directions.