february in point form

the words below will not be riveting.  i promise you.  get up and walk away if there is anything more pressing to do like cleaning a toilet or washing behind your fridge or feeding your children (definitely feed your children!).  i do want to write it still, because February is and has been a little different around here, for the last five to ten years at least.  as a family, we are especially busy during this month.  i'm fairly certain i'll miss these days in about a decade or so.  much is going on and i want to remember it.  the pace, the feel, the hard challenges and the fun times....i'm choosing point form because it looks more like an orderly list, and i love orderly lists! :) so there!

~highschool wrestling caps off the season with city finals, southwestern Ontario finals and then all Ontario finals if you are fortunate enough to qualify.  Hannah and Adam competed at SWOSSAA last week, and top two finalists then go on to OFSAA next week for a few days.  they both finished with silver, so they move on!  intense competition already faced and much stronger awaits when they meet fellow highschool students competing for their respective regions within our province.  hard work, grittiness, perseverance, grace, perspective~ all attributes i see them developing thanks to this great sport.  

~the younger three have just started their wrestling season and tournament number one is in the books.  last Saturday they took to the mats and we were so pleased to see aspects of their character shine that day.  good stuff...fun with friends and memories made too.  

~school basketball in full swing for Layla (think last year of elementary school, fun with senior girls and her school undefeated so far!).  school and city basketball also happening for Hudson.  (think lots of three point attempts and coaching patience and fancy dribbling and crazy handshakes!)

~on the home front the ice rink is officially melting and in disassemble mode.  it was a short run, but since it was started so early the kids still did enjoy many times of lacing up for speed skating and hockey games and fun.  overall worth it for sure!

~reading week for Joelle.  so nice to have her home.  we all think so.  we tell her.  we like hearing her stories.  she loves cheese (lots!).  she loves life.  it is contagious.  thankful for these days.

~Hudson's birthday came and went, and something about him being twelve brings a mixed bag of emotions.  thankful for how far we've come, and daily trusting his future days (teen years....gulp) to his Maker.  the Creator of this boy's loaded potential and emotion and character is faithful.  He has him in His mighty grip.  i rest in that.  

~Adam enjoying his first year of hockey~ pick up and league play twice a week.  seems to really like this sport.  i love seeing that.  juggling second semester and a part-time job too.  won't be long and he'll be asking for the car keys....help me....

~Hannah caught in the "in-between" place that i remember well with Joelle.  busy with school, wrestling and school work (chemistry and bio~ yuck!).  there are many days when i wish i could lighten the load she carries.  unfortunately, this season of life~ well, it is a means to an end.  a desired end.  and also a realization that the future is way unclear at the moment~ but this period of waiting is also worthwhile.  God has a plan that is as sure as sure can be.  i hope and pray she will trust and feel peace while it unfolds in His timing.

~Jeffrey....he has a birthday this weekend.  where better to spend it than coaching a bunch of great kids at the second tournament of the season?  he will be in his happy place, that i know.  he is a giant gift to me.  a voice of reason and wisdom and steadfast faith.  my best friend.  he makes me laugh and loves me well....what a privilege to share this birthday with him!  

so...a bit about February.  March will slow a bit, i think. :) the fast pace and lack of sleep reminds me of the many lives we've been entrusted to raise.  learning to count it all joy!