September Snapshots

The start of school is a blur.  Every year.  You'd think I'd get more efficient as the years pass with teaching, but I have 4 new classes to prepare for this year (3 of which do not follow a textbook), plus the library duties, plus a garden full of tomatoes, plus all 5 kids' sports schedules, plus laundry and meals and a little bit of sleep. Plus Sunday School started today with the Siegerts organizing games day! Oh, and 2 new groups at school to advise!

It's all good.

But it's all. so. BIZZY!!!!!!!!!!

Every once in a while, we take a break to take it in.  Like the fact that our freshman son plays a little varsity once in a while.  #99!

A solo tackle!!

Listening to his dad.  So natural to see, and yet rather surreal.

Cy's JV squad won the last 2 games, but I don't get to see every one of them because--guess what?--sometimes they play at the same time as his sister on varsity volleyball.  She's #1 the libero!

Last Saturday the girls went 5-0 to win the Lancaster tournament.  Best of all, they had SO MUCH FUN!! They were playing so well together; it was fun to watch!  Way to go, girls!!

Paige and Shae are 7th graders, old pros at middle school...but they still manage to "let their hair down" at home once in a while...like with Rudiger! The poor neglected dog during football season...he deserves his own jersey!

I had to take a picture of this brief, precious moment in time when all four of my daughters played dolls together on Labor Day weekend.  American Girls are so much fun!  Finally, big sisters gave Wynne some attention!

Not to be outdone, Wynne keeps pretty busy, too.  When she's not cheering on her older brother and sisters at their sports events, she's playing flag football (and learning stations)....

...and practicing gymnastics at the Dubuque Y!

Football update: Mark's team is 3-2 going into Homecoming this week.  We face a tough Benton-Scales Mound team with the same record and a big running back.  Will be a challenge!  Ally's class is building their float here, and I must leave this post now to prepare for her volleyball team meal we're hosting here in a few hours.  Make that 1.5 hours. Yikes!  (Football team meal at school on Wednesday; I got smart and started having the brunt of that catered;)

Never a dull moment!  Next time I'll try to talk about our new FCA group that Mark and I help lead with 5 other staff members...Ally and Cy are in it, too!

God is good!  Even in the midst of the blur!

I know some day I'll look back and miss this.  Maybe catch up on some sleep in about 10 years... but I know how fast 10 years goes now.  

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.--Proverbs 16:9