It is what it is

Well here it is a week after my last blog and I am playing catch up again. The way my life is I have determined "It is what it is". That actually has became my motto lately. "It is what it is". The laundry always needs done, bills always need paid, a diaper always needs changed. I would love for our house in Idaho to sell. I would love for Jeff to find a job that he truly loves and enjoys getting up for in the morning. I would love for us to be in our own house with lots of room to play and entertain... maybe even an animal or two. I wish.... I want..... I would love if..... but in all reality "It is what it is". Please don't misunderstand me though. I love my live and I am very thankful for what I have. I am thankful for my true friends who never leave my side. I am thankful for my amazing kids who never cease to teach and amaze me. I am thankful for my loving husband who is willing (and I think loves) to ride this wild rollercoaster with me. and I am thankful for family who (as my father in-law so eliquently put) would like to kick me and love me at the same time. :-) ... but it is what it is.

So now for a little bit of catch up.

Friday before Thanksgiving Corrie and Austin went to Ocean City for a youth retreat. There were about 20 middle schoolers from our church for a total of about 3000 kids invading Ocean City. Austin is on the middle left, Corrie is bottom right. Our youth pastor is beside Corrie.

They left late afternoon on Friday. Made it to Ocean City around 9 that evening. Saturday morning they had a general session with everyone in the Convention Center. I am not sure of everything they did, but Corrie told me about this cross that they left their burdens on. Jeff and I have done this before and it is very powerful. I am glad Corrie and Austin got to experience it.

That afternoon they had about 7 hours of free time. The kids in our church stayed together as groups. The boys going one direction and the girls in another but they both ultimately made it to the boardwalk. The day was a lot nicer than the week prior when Jeff, the kids and I went. That evening they went to a concert of Big Daddy Weave. They really loved it. In fact that has now became Corrie's favorite Christian group.

(Corrie on the Atlantic Coast in Ocean City)

On Sunday they made it home around 5. They were both very exhausted but had a great time.

Back on the homefront.... Ashlie had her audition for the All State band. When she first signed up for this a couple of months ago she was all excited. As she got into marching band and friends, practicing for this audition became the least of her priorities. Her friend Carrie and her did practice a couple of times together. The auditon was pretty much like Corries. Everyone congregates into this big room and warms up. When it is your time you go to your room where the judges are. This time though I couldn't go with Ashlie. (or maybe she didn't want me too). What seemed like an eternity for me Ashlie and her friend, Carrie, finally came back. Neither of them made the final cut. Ashlie has no regrets though. It was a great experience and she learned a lot. I always thought I was a pretty good clarinet player and I knew alot about music. NOT EVEN!!! I probably played as well as Ashlie but her knowledge of music is sooo much more than I ever knew there was.

Carrie and Ashlie warming up