Weekend Happenings

Good Friday morning!

NOTE - If you get a chance this weekend, go the my sidebar and click on Nitty Gritty under the Blog Lists. Read Jody's post on "Wishing." It will give you a whole new outlook on fall.

Well, here it is... A Simple Life's one year anniversary. I've really enjoyed having a blog. I've even made new friends because of the blog. (Code for I AM GOING TO MEET MY CHRISTMAS CARD GOAL THIS YEAR!!!)

It has been a great release for me to be able to talk (and talk and talk) about the things that happen within our little family... good and bad. I have loved sharing ideas (mostly copied) regarding family, family, family.

Let's recap, shall we?

Austin was leading the band as Drum Major this time last year. I don't know if I've ever seen anyone enjoy his Senior year as much as Austin. From the very beginning, to the very end, he savored every minute as a Senior.

Today finds Austin a Freshman at JSU, and once again he is meeting challenges which would leave me in a heap on the bathroom floor. Satan lost no time in attacking him as Mike and I drove off campus in August... tempting him with alcohol, cigarettes, profanity and much more, and it will be a daily struggle for the rest of his time at college... any college. He'll make mistakes as we all do, but our daily prayers and God's guidance in his life, along with our role as his parents, accountability partners, and the two people on earth who love him the "mostest" will hopefully help him over the biggest obstacles. Today, October 16, 2009, he is well.

This time last year, Josh was only going to school partial days (until 1:15) taking honors academic classes. Some days he was unable to go at all, but unlike the three years prior, his bounce back time was greatly improved. Instead of having to miss a week or more at a time, if he had a "bad" day, he was back in school the next day.

He was attending church on a regular basis, but again had "bad" days and was unable to sit through an entire service.

This year, Josh goes to school anywhere from 6:45 to 7:30 each morning for "football stuff," and along with his full honors academic load, he stays until 5:30 to 6:30 five nights a week and works out a couple of hours one day during the weekend. He has played in every JV game that hasn't been cancelled by rain thus far.

He can now sit through an entire church service and is looking forward to things like BLAST Weekend and other youth activities he has never been able to participate in before this year. He is amazing, and we give God the glory for the strides he has made in only 12 short months. Today, October 16, 2009, he is well.

Roxie was in 6th grade last year. Middle school turned out to be a whole new world. Overnight she became a fashionista. Hair, clothes, make-up and accessories became the new "most important thing EVER," and she and her friends enjoyed their more grown-up status as "middle schoolers."

Already this year she has attempted new things... trying out for the school volleyball and basketball teams. And she made both. She is competitive and feisty and fiery all rolled up into a tiny, curly-headed package. Do NOT call her cute when she's on the court (but she really is). She's officially a teenager now (which can be good or bad depending on how her hair does that morning). Today, October 16, 2009, she is well.

Last year, Mikie and I were 47 years-old. Although Mikie is getting a little gray around the temples (I LOVE it), he has probably changed the least this past year. He is the constant and the voice of reason in the Faulkner Five... which with my highs and lows is very, very needed.

For me, this past year has been a year of catching up, keeping up, letting go (some), but not throwing away. I am fighting (and it really feels like a fight at times) to keep our family "together" in spite of college, football, middle school sports, etc. But I also feel (most of the time) like I'm up for the challenge. There are many, many ways to stay close as a family when a child goes away to college. You just have to be creative... and be willing to copy successful families who have done this before as you figure out what will work for your own family.

I think we've already established, I'm not afraid to copy!

Today is October 16, 2009, and Mikie and I are well. (Even though I'm still having panic attacks, and I've got that second tongue thing that WILL NOT go away, but other than that... we are well.)

Thanks to all of you who read the blog. Thanks to all of you who comment now and again. Thanks for helping me meet my goals (1,000+ hits in one month, and 75 Christmas cards this Christmas... I hope). I'm looking forward to another year of A Simple Life.

Weekend Happenings

The weekend looks pretty good. It's going to be cooler, more fallish. We are all hoping and praying in Alabama it will be a little dryer!

Mikie and I will be attending the high school game Friday night, but Saturday is going to be our busy/fun day.

Roxie is heading to Auburn this weekend with a friend (and the friend's mother) for the game. Josh and Brad, Cousin Extraordinaire, are hanging out Saturday evening, and Mikie and I are going on a night date. You know... where it is dark when you get home and not when you leave (unlike our breakfast dates).

The Boy will be arriving Sunday for church, and we'll gather once again to watch The Amazing Race together Sunday evening!

Good weekend... good weekend.

5 Things To Do When Kids Say, "I'm Bored!"

This section is strictly for older children.

21. Start a lunch club for your daughter's friends. Take turns preparing lunch with other moms and rotate houses. Concentrate on manners, menu planning and table setting.

22. Make an appointment to see a newspaper or magazine printing plant.

23. Set up a zoological scavenger hunt. Using encyclopedias (or the Internet), your children can create a list of animal riddles for each other to solve. Then take a trip to the zoo. Have them exchange lists and try to identify the animals by matching the riddle clues with the zoological information on the cages.

24. Build a model plane or car from a kit.

25. Start a coin collection. Check with a coin shop or bank for help.

And like I said... That's just the tip of the iceberg! It's a great little book.

Book

The book for this week changed TODAY. My friend, Melaney, gave me this cookbook, and it is just wonderful, so the original book for this week just got shelved! The new book is anything and everything food-wise you would ever want for fall (October AND November). It is the Taste of Home Halloween Party Favorites and it contains 294 "eerily easy recipes," plus 45 "frightfully fun crafts." I LOVE IT!

Not only does it have wonderful recipes you can use all year long, but it has beef stew served in a real pumpkin. Be still my autumnal heart!

It is divided into three different categories... Halloween Food and Fun; Spirited Shindigs; and Bewitching Bashes.

There are pictures to go with almost each recipe, and the crafts are for all ages.

As I said before, everything has a Halloween/Fall theme, but you can use these recipes all year long. Here are a few examples: Cranberry Cheese Spread, Ginger Squash Soup, Mini Mexican Quiches, Cranberry Sweet Potato Muffins, Apple-Raisin Bundt Cake. See... It's a cookbook which can be used any season.

If you're a cookbook collector, you (and your kids) would really enjoy this one!

Have a magnificent weekend. Check back Monday for a list of the revisions which will be made on A Simple Life. Thanks for the input, and hopefully the changes will make it a better blog.

However, I will go ahead and tell you that the Party/Event section is staying put... so there won't be any major surprises on Monday!

Take care, and I'll talk to you next week.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda

(Oh, and just so you know... the "Enchanting" is staying for a little while longer, too. I had some positive input about the name! YEA!!)