This summer has been filled with some pretty good and trying times but like I always say and will continue to say, I am blessed.
The summer started out good, my boys got their summer jobs back and I only had to help my youngest get a job. After a while when it didn't look like any thing was working out for her she started to get down about it. I know she had plans on things she wanted to do but a lot of it depended on her earning money. This was heartbreaking to a parent because you can't 'make' someone hire her. We began working out in the morning. Up at 5, at the gym by 5:30 and home by 8. I worked until 4:30 and then we would try and leave the house and for the most of the summer for me it was schoolwork. Extremely routine, but by June I noticed that she was getting healthier, the medicine her doctor had her on was no longer needed and all her labs came back normal. This was a blessing for me and her. We realized the road to health was exercise. For us, there is no way around it. Other than the job situation she was pretty happy about her outcome. Now that school is back in session, I have pretty much had to buy her all new clothes because nothing fits.
AJ has truly impressed me this summer. He prides himself on sleeping late in the summer but once he started working in order for him to get the "good rides" he would have to be at work early so that sleep late thing was out the window for most of the summer. In July, he was working on his Capstone project and he chose Choir Director as a profession and it was suggested that he mentor with the Chattanooga Boys Choir summer camp. Well, this was great because he was a member in the Mozart and Schubert Choirs and he was pretty sure he could get the opportunity to do this. He started on a Tuesday and by the time he got home that evening, he said he wished he had stayed in the boys choir. I took that as he had a good day. Wednesday, I called to see if he was on the road (this was the furthest he's driven since he started driving so I was nervous) and he said he needed to talk to me when he got home. I knew what it was about and sure enough Mr. Oakes had asked him to return to the choir. I was estatic. What a way to end your final year in high school! Of course you can. That wasn't the only thing that impressed me about AJ this summer. He seemed to mature right in front of my eyes. Getting up for work on time and if I ask him to do something it didn't seem like I was pulling teeth. It was a transformation that was so obvious it was shocking.
Andre' tried my patience this summer. I think he turned twenty (20) and decided that he wanted to act grown. I have a saying in my house, "grown people pay rent". Plain and simple. I am firm when it comes to grown children. I don't tolerate my children being defiant and still having to remain financially dependent on me. Sorry to those who are offended but that's just my way. I love my son but I think he took me to places I don't like to go with my children. I had to share my time with his father so I would not come close to committing a felony and honestly, I think he tried his patience as well. Actually, I know he did because he said it. Andre' is back at school and he has returned to the son I love and adore. The one that I have great conversations with and the one that I know he is. He is entering his 3rd year at MTSU and through all the triumphs, I am so glad that he is sticking with school. He needs a fire lit under him at times but he is staying on the path he has set out for himself.
All in all, I am truly blessed to have 3 wonderful people in my life. They have added so much to my life and when I think of where they could be and what they could be doing I have to say, thank you, Lord for blessing me.
Peace.
