Living on the Edge

It's almost summer. The rain is here and everything is in bloom which means weeds in the yard and grass to mow. Victoria is prepping to go to France this year as part of an exchange program between Fredericksburg and Frejus, France. She will be gone about 2.5 weeks and spend most of her time in Frejus and three days in Paris. She is also getting ready to get her driver's permit and is almost done with 10th grade.

Temperance is prepping to go back to summer camp with 4-H again this year and she has had a busy year with STEM, Band, and Chorus. It is hard to keep that one still. She would like to participate in cheerleading this fall so that leaves me looking for the sign-up sheet constantly so I don't accidentally miss it again this year... yes, I missed it last year. Oops.

Work is very busy for both Larry and myself right now which leaves me running out of the office to get the girls where they need to go, asking neighbors to help out when needed, and working the weekends to just try to keep up with my workload and be a mom. The house is in dire need of a good cleaning and there is just no time to get it all done.

That's the update for now. Busy like bees and living on the edge with one foot in sanity and the other... well, it's best to not discuss that one.

My Girls

I’ve spent a majority of my girls’ lives playing the role of both parents. I thought this would end when Larry retired but he took a job where he travels and here we are again. The questions used to be harder like, “What happens if Daddy doesn’t come home” but the new questions are still heart wrenching like, “Do you think Daddy goes on trips because he likes to?”... So the answers are different. If he doesn’t come home someone will let us know and while he might enjoy going on work trips it is a part of his job. One thing I’ve always done is try to do special things with the girls when Larry is gone. This time we went to the movies and did some shopping and last night we went out to dinner. They still miss him and ask about him but at least they can have fun while he is away. 

Christmas Decorating

I love getting ready for Christmas! The decorating, the tree, the buying of presents, and baking cookies!!! So far I've only bought two presents and the cookies won't be made until next week, but the decorating has commenced! Larry and I went to get a tree this evening and we all helped to decorate it. Let the Christmas celebrations commence!

Almost 2019

Somehow it is almost 2019. We are down to a little over a month. It has been years since I posted to this blog. Times changed and I found myself using more of Facebook to post quick status updates but have recently realized how much of a time suck FB is and such a waste of time. Those who know us well and care will have access to the blog to see what our family has been up to. We’ve got Victoria in tenth grade and Temperance in fifth. It doesn’t seem possible that they should be this big already. Like somewhere after moving from Hawaii they’ve grown up without me realizing it. They are both amazing kids and are a real blessing in our lives.  So here we are... the Phillips family. Still on a journey together in this crazy world of ours. ❤️

Comfort Zone

Seriously... How many people get stuck in a place of comfort and just stay? Not because you're happy or content but because it's easy and comfy and safe. Well today I said screw safety and went head first into a job interview where I'm not 100% qualified. Want to know what sets me apart? I don't like to be content. I want to be better. I want to be a better version of me today than I was yesterday. I want to try something new, learn something different and expand my horizons every single day. I repeated "Through God all things are possible." I said it over and over and over. Maybe I'm not the most qualified but I know God can move mountains and can make impossible dreams come true. 

Do something unexpected. Take a stand. Be more than you were yesterday. Be the best you that you can be. Better yet, be the you that God designed you to be. 

Bam!

Victoria the Soccer Champ

Victoria and Temperance both play soccer but Victoria has really grown into a great player this past year. She is aggressive and loves playing defense and against boys! It's hard to catch her with phone on the field, but I got a few yesterday. She is the one in bright pink socks (of course)! 

The Word

After posting the blog about friendship I had some doubts. Wondering if I would offend people or if I was even on the right track. I had to leave work early today in order to take our cat Pumpkin to get her shots so we can get her fixed eventually.

As I started my car and the radio turned on, I realized it was still on the Joel Osteen XM channel from this morning. Immediately Joel says, "There are some relationships you just outgrow". Immediately I am listening, going um... what's that you say Joel?

While driving home and listening to the broadcast, I realize the message is about letting go of toxic relationships and allowing room for new, better ones to grow. The season of one relationship can end and in its place a new one will bloom to help you become the you God wants you to be. Um... wow.

So as that message ends and we pray, I am still driving home and some smaller segments come on and I am letting my mind run thinking about the job I just applied for last Thursday. I'm not sure it's the right position for me and I am not certain I am qualified to do the job. The next Joel Osteen message starts and it's titled "Just Do It". So I listen.

I listen to that broadcast and it magically ends right as I pull into the driveway. Bottom line of the message is to do what God is asking you to do even though it might be uncomfortable and even though you might not think you can. Joel even says in the message to apply for the job you think you don't have enough skill for if God is leading you there He will provide the knowledge you need for the way forward.

I don't know about you, but I think maybe I was immersed in The Word of God today driving home and maybe it was just the messages I needed to hear. :)

Friendship

I realize the revival of the blog has been an epic fail. Hopefully I can rectify that, but if not... well I guess you will get what you get.

I've been thinking a lot about friendship lately. Larry & I move every few years and we have made some really great friends along the way, but we have lost touch with a few also. This really got me thinking when Temperance was talking about hoping to go to college someday with her bff from school. I gently reminded her that odds are that she will move from KG and not see that little girl again. She looked at me like I was insane and said, "I know" and then continued talking about how they were going to the same college.

I get that some people start off as friends and are able to always stay that, but I do think the reality is that we grow and change and sometimes in our growing we outgrow some friendships and grow into new ones.

There are also the friendships where you can go months without talking and then pick it back up like you never left off. Those are my favorites and I have a lot of those.

In the end, Larry really is my ultimate best friend. I tell him everything. He's the first person I want to tell important, awesome, sad, and seriously any kind of news and I don't think that's a bad thing either. Like if I sneeze and pee my pants, OMG I'm running to tell that guy! :) I still have my girl friends that I can go to when needed, but I'm really not a "let me sob on your shoulder" type of person. I'm more of a "let's hang out and have some fun" type of person.

I guess in the end, I'm not really sure where I was going with this post... other than... here's to all the old friends, the friends we've made along the way, and the new friends yet to come. :)

Harley Heritage Softail - MINE!!!!!

So this happened earlier this week.... We are picking it up tonight & I will post new pictures of me on it then. :) YAY!!!!!

2 Years? Really?

       It's been 2 years since I update our blog. This makes me so very sad. I had not realized how long it had been. My life is overcome with work, kids, dogs and Larry. There just never seems to be time. But, there is time. There is the time we each waste daily going on all of the various social media sites. I've deactivated my FB account. I feel as though I have nothing left to say on there and nothing I want to read.
        My truest friends know how to find me and that's really all that matters.  I don't need updates of random people I barely talk too or posts about how awesome government  decisions are that are in fact serious problems.
         So back to the blog! We are still in Virgina. We have 3 dogs now and our niece, Alyssa is here with us for the summer. So far it's been a whirlwind of fun. We have Victoria starting 7th grade and moving to Middle School in the fall. Temperance will be a 2nd grader and is so full of personality that I often am left wondering where this spunky little girl came from.
         We have been here for 3 years now which is a little odd because it is our first tour anywhere to last over 3 years.  So this is where God has placed us. The real question might be..... What are we doing to make it worth His time?

Spring Yard Work 2013

Yard work for Spring 2013 started with us wanting to get some weed killer and seed for the lawn. It transformed into us redoing the mulch, plating two rose bushes, and laying some stone in front of the bushes. We also purchased a stone bench to put in the front yard and some solar panel lights. 

It looks awesome and we are super happy with the results!!!!

Easter 2013

Easter 2013 was AWESOME! We celebrated Easter with church and then an egg hunt and baskets at home with a great dinner. Then on the 1st of April we attended the White House Easter Egg Roll! It was a lot of waiting in line and there were so many people there but we had a great time. The girls loved it!