Life Lately – 25% Battery

I have 25% battery. Sometimes I feel like that applies to my life. The end of summer is tiring. Am I right? The kids need to go back to school shopping, there’s school registration which takes forrrrever, one thousand five hundred and ninety-two forms to fill out, and let’s not even talk about the Texas heat that zaps every ounce of energy from you as you walk out the door.

I now have 23% battery according to my laptop but according to my life, it’s so much less. I need a nap and a vacation to Iceland or somewhere that’s really cold.

Last week we spent the week watching my daughter’s own personal fashion show as she had to try on every single outfit in the store to purchase ONE pair of jeans.

This week though? It’s been super quiet. Why? The kids are back in school.

Monday morning I fought 30 minutes of traffic for the two-mile drive to our local high school. Yes, I said high school. If you’ve been reading this blog for a long time then you probably remember a little girl who looked like this:

Hold me as I tell you that this week, she started high school.

I’m not crying. Yes, I am.

Not only did she start high school but the very first day she had swim team try-outs. We were hoping and praying that she would make the junior varsity team. But then she got in the car that afternoon, beaming, and announced, “Mom! I made varsity!”.

I think the mom in the next car over could see my heart thumping with pride and joy. Don’t worry, it didn’t last that long because immediately after that she said, “practice is at 5:30am and I need you to drive me.”

I’m still proud of her but that 5:15 wake-up call to pound back caffeine before having to drive is going to be painful for the next year of school.

That same day I also dropped off our middle child for her 8th-grade year. This is the first time she’s attended public school without her older sister. The first day of school she went to the wrong history class and then doubled over in laughter later that day as she told me about it. I love her laugh, it’s the saddest part of her being gone each day – that she takes her laugh with her.

Friday she has her first pep rally as the middle school mascot. She won’t let me come but I might put on a mask and sneak in anyway.

Finally, there’s our youngest, who is still being homeschooled. Her best friend is also homeschooled and I think they have a lot of trouble planned for this year. There will be a lot of afternoons filled with giggles and Minecraft in her future. And every now and then we’ll pack up in the car and head to watch the mascot at a volleyball game or watch her older sister swim in a meet.

It’s going to be a good year. I believe that. As my computer now holds onto 17% battery and as I still fight depression and anxiety, I’m holding onto hope. Three beautiful and amazing girls that have a lot planned for this year and who knows what God has in store for me. But I know that whatever it is, it’s going to be good in His way, which is better than my way.