Weekend photos

The girls and I finally got a night up at the trailer this past weekend. Mom and Dad have upgraded to a larger trailer, with less sleeping quarters. We managed to make it work, though.

Shannon learned to mow the yard. Dad's thrilled in hopes that he can give up this duty at home soon. Bex is also ready to learn. Oddly, I have never learned, nor do I want to learn. My grass allergies are just too awful.

Shannon also built us our fire as Dad, Bex and I built the barbecue. It helps to move things along when you know you don't get fed until it's built. Bloody thing actually works too!

Good times.

Toronto FC

The girls and I went to our first Toronto FC game on the weekend. They had a Sony fan of the game crew there who took this picture of us (which includes Bex's friend Mallory and Shannon's friend Erika). This was taken before the game and, fortunately, before my sunburn became too discernable.

I have tickets for another game at BMO Stadium in September. I think I might just leave the girls at home and take some friends. Hmmmm, sadly I don't think I have four friends for my four extra tickets. Here's a goal for me this summer . . . . make friends!

Teens

Well, I've started to come to the realization that I'm a mother of a teenaged daughter. Although there are many perks (such as having more grown up conversation and being able to leave her home alone), there are challenges too. It would seem that although Bex looks like her father (we call her Tim bit) she has an awful lot of me in her. She's brilliant (of course, if she's like me), but LAZY. She's never had to work at school and has been on the honour roll all the way through . . . until now.

Of course, we'll truly see when the report card comes out next month if she's not, but she's not doing so well this semester. She's failed a few tests and has assignments overdue. I was not really aware of her school struggles until a teacher called me at work on Friday. Yes, it was at this moment that I really understood that Bex is a teenager. Of course, it could definitely be worse . . . . much worse . . . but it was bad enough. Bex was given an extension on an assignment. On Friday, when it was a month overdue, the teacher asked Bex for her work. My darling daughter replied with "I don't think I can do that".

Now, I'd love to be able to say that to an employer. David, you want me to run those reports for you? I don't think I can do that. Susan, you want me to set up these new accounts? I don't think I can do that. Definitely not a line that goes very far in real life . . . nor did it at school I might add.

Wrong as Bex was, she is taking her punishment very well. I have volunteered her for detention this week, have denied her computer privileges and she had to write a letter of apology to the teacher. I have also spoken to her principal, so she had a wee little chat with him today.

All in all I think the school understands that we are supportive of them in educating our daughter and our daughter understands that we are supportive of her in her education.

Again, things could be worse and I definitely know that. Do you suppose, however, this could just be the start of something bigger? Worse yet, I have always expected Shannon to be harder to deal with so what will she be like at this age?

Lord, please give me strength and wisdom. I think I'm going to need it . . . and a whole lot of patience would be good too, but I don't really want it tested to see how much of it I've got.

Wellness

It may be well with my soul, but my insides are killing me. I went to a Unite in Worship conference on Saturday with four others from our worship team. What an awesome day! There were times when I was dizzy and blamed it on the euphoria, times when I was cold and blamed it on the fact that I was underdressed, but when the evening came and I was sweltering, dizzy and then cold I realized I might be catching something.

Sunday morning confirmed this for me. I was in the middle of our worship practice before church when I was doubled in pain. I managed to make it through the service . . . .barely, and ran home to climb into bed. Monday morning I was feeling better and got myself to work when I realized the pain was still there. Today. . . still there. I've now been to my doctor (okay, another doctor in the practice . . . my doctor's never available for a same-day appointment) who has sent me for a plethora of tests. I guess it will either get better or I'll have some answers next week.

I do need to go back to work and my family duties, so I could really use prayer right now.