June - December 2018 Social Media Posts

June 13, 2018:

Wrapping up a four hour appointment at the allergist. The verdict: He is highly allergic to just about every tree and grass on the planet. And cats. He was such a trooper though. He had every nurse and doctor bragging on his bravery and patience!

June 20, 2018:

She's nine today. Nine. Halfway through her at-home years. My only solace to this heartbreaking fact is seeing what an incredibly strong, hilarious, smart, and kind young woman she is becoming. Nothing has driven me to my knees and drawn me closer to God more than parenting, especially with this one. As I've said before, it's rarely easy, but it's always worth it. I am so very grateful that this sweet girl gave me my favorite title of "Mommy".

Happy Birthday, Sugar. I love you more than you will ever know!

July 25, 2018:

I think we've found ourselves a new tradition: Christmas in July! Highly recommend it if you're running low on ideas/energy/money to entertain the kids during these final dog days of summer. It can be as simple (music and movies) or as complex (crafts, games, baking, making homemade gifts) as you want to make it. (Just stay off Pinterest!)

August 6, 2018

Welp, I was doing fine holding it together this morning until I saw all the mamas running errands with their little ones. I bit my tongue and tightened my grip on the shopping cart to avoid being the weirdo patting the babies and telling the mamas to "enjoy every moment. It goes so fast." I well remember how long and hard those days were. Every moment does not need to be enjoyed. The demands and the noise and the needs seem endless.

But the truth is, they aren't. There WILL come an end to the nonstop "whys" and the sticky hand holding and the rushing home for nap time because it is your one shot at a moment's peace (or a solo bathroom break) during the day.

There will come a day in the not-too-distant future when you check your watch every twenty minutes trying to remember where they are in their schedule. You'll pray that they are showing God's love to others and doing their best. You'll desperately ask Him to put teachers and kids in their path that will be kind and will notice them and their needs (which they get a lot less vocal about). You'll worry about whether this child is going to be teased for this or that child is going to feel left out for that.

The independence is exciting for them and it's terrifying for you, but it's inevitable for everyone.

So do me a favor, those of you with littles still at home. Bemoan the diaper changing and the tantrums, yes, but when the chance comes, snuggle them a few extra minutes today. You won't regret it. Because I hate to say it almost as much as I hated hearing it back then, but it's absolutely true: it goes so fast.

August 6, 2018:

We're an hour and thirty minutes into the recap of his day. He had to get paper to draw me a diagram of the path he takes to get his water bottle. May he always share so much with his Mama.

September 22, 2018

I don't enjoy the fundraising side of it. And I feel bad nagging people to sign up. The checklists get overwhelming sometimes. But rallying people together for a fun event? Raising support for an organization that shows others the love of Christ? Seeing the community that gets built, the personal fitness goals that are achieved, and the servant leadership lessons that the kids learn? I'm here for that. All the livelong day. (And getting to use a megaphone to boss people around ain't too bad either.) Thank you to every participant, volunteer, and sponsor that made today possible. Y'all are the best and I am so grateful for you!

October 2, 2018:

Belated pic from Luke's Farm Day last week and two recent gems from him that I have to share:

- "(Girl's name in his class) says she's my girlfriend, but I don't want to be her boyfriend. Any tips on how to separate myself from that situation?"

- (We've been working on taking my first "no" as a final answer and not repeatedly asking) Luke: "Soooo, just to clarify...because you know how my memory is...did you say we could have some gum or not?"

Oh that boy. He definitely keeps us laughing!

October 7, 2018

Packing and delivering meals with our small group this afternoon at Meals by Grace as part of Live Sent Sunday.

November 11, 2018

Veteran’s Day Lunch with Grandpa (my dad) today. So thankful for his service and that of both of my grandfathers (WWII) and my cousin (currently serving). Take a minute to thank a vet and pray for our servicemen and women today.

December 13, 2017

PTA groups often get a bad rap. So many television shows and movies depict the women involved in them as overdramatic helicopter moms who have nothing better to do with their time than hand down allergy policies and make other parents miserable. EYE ROLL.

I can’t speak for all groups everywhere, but I can speak for this one. This Board, along with the administration pictured with them, work their tails off. Many of these ladies used to have big careers in industries like banking, hospitality, healthcare, and education that they put on hold to give of their time and talents…for free. Many are still holding down such jobs while also serving the school in major capacities.

Whether currently working outside of the home or not, ALL of them have their hands in about a million different roles in their neighborhoods, churches, and other non-profit organizations. And there are so many volunteers not on this Board that do the same thing week after week. Along with the teachers, they are the backbone of the communities they serve.

Day in and day out, they are helping kids by enhancing classroom experiences, boosting morale by encouraging and pampering the staff, and raising money to buy needed equipment and fund programs that educate the whole child in ways that would not otherwise be possible.

I can’t speak for all PTA moms everywhere, but this group? It is full of hardworking, off-the-chart talented volunteers that I am better for knowing and proud to serve with. (And I promise you there’s not a bored housewife among us.)

December 14, 2018:

Family room campout complete with a candy buffet and a Christmas movie marathon. My kind of camping. (We’ll see if Mom and Dad make it without caving and going upstairs to a real bed.)

January - May 2018 Social Media Posts

 February 7, 2018:

Luke lost his first tooth tonight. Oh my heart. Where has my baby gone?!

February 22, 2018:

Happy 6th Birthday to my sweet baby boy! You have taught this family so very much about generosity, fun, and savoring the good things in life and we are so grateful for you.

Since it IS his birthday, I get to share an eye-rolling braggy story that exemplifies his heart of gold:

After volunteering in his class last week, I stayed to eat lunch with him. We had just sat down when he got a very concerned look on his face. I asked him what was wrong and after some prodding, he answered, "Well, Matthew isn't here today and he and Austin are best, best friends. I'm worried about Austin sitting over there alone." I looked over and assured him that Austin had other friends around that would talk to him. "No, Mommy. They won't talk to him like Matthew would. He'll be so lonely."

Since they are not allowed to invite friends to eat with their parents and I'm not allowed to sit at the class's table, I said, "Okay, then let's do this. How about you eat lunch with Mommy for another minute, and then I'll walk you over and you can finish your lunchtime with your class so you can talk to Austin." He perked up and ate quickly (no small feat for him, I assure you). When he finished, we went over to his class. When we got to the table, Austin broke into the biggest grin and started clapping and cheering, "Yay! Lukey is here, Lukey is here!" Oh my heart, y'all.

May you always be so kind, Buddy, and learn to know and follow God's best for you. And may you never stop teaching me to do the same. We love you, Lukey!

February 28, 2018:

Very proud of these 4th graders who stayed after today to work on Project Linus blankets and make cards for kids at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. And thank you to the awesome volunteers who helped me pull this off!

March 23, 2018:

Audrey is missing her last day of negotiations in Focus because of an ortho appointment. She made a few notes for her teammate.

March 24, 2018:

Easter Bunny Hightail this morning. I think I found a new running buddy. She did awesome!

April 11, 2018:

Luke was so very excited about his cool new light-up shoes we got him last week. The past few days, though, I noticed that he wasn't thrilled with and was trying to walk carefully to avoid making them light up. This morning he confessed sadly: "Mama? [Name omitted to protect the guilty] said that light-up shoes are for babies." Before I could even open my mouth to respond, Audrey swooped in and pounced. "Well you just tell him that I wore light-up shoes in second grade and that there are three...THREE...kids in my third grade class that wear them now. You just tell him that is HIS opinion and you do not agree with it. That is ridiculous. I think they are very, very cool, Buddy." Oh his smile and oh my heart. Big sisters can mess with you all they want, but no one else better if they know what's good for them!

April 25, 2018:

Luke has been working on persuasive writing in his kindergarten class. Today their assignment was to write a persuasive letter. He chose to draft one to the principal: "Dear Mr. Pope, I think that kids should have cake because it would make them work hard and do good at school. Thank you friend. Love Luke."

May 2, 2018:

Field Trip with Audrey's class to the Sawnee Mountain Preserve. They learned about bear habitats, dissecting "bear scat", did soil tests, identified various plants, and studied fossils. (But of course she said the bus ride was the most fun.

May 23, 2018;

And that's a wrap on kindergarten and third grades. What a great year it's been! And now, bring on summer BREAK!

2017 Social Media Posts

What's posted below is not an exhaustive list of my social media posts for 2017 and doesn't include many photos, but it's a little snapshot of the year. Certainly captures it on this blog better than I managed to in real-time!

January 2, 2017:

Luke: "Audrey asked me what it was like to be a little brother. I told her there were different parts. There's the part where you get ignored, there's the part where you act annoying, there's the part where none of your dreams come true..."

January 27, 2017

Luke was fit to be tied when he got in the van today. I asked him what was wrong. He explained, "There was a three year old girl across the hall in the carpool line and I was NOT AT ALL impressed with her behavior. She kept pulling on a boy's arm and covering his face with her book bag. The boy told her to stop and I told her to stop, but she didn't. I got up to go over and tell her to come sit by me so that I could watch her, but Mrs. Natalie walked by just then so I asked her to please handle the situation." Oh my stars, this boy. He is either going to grow up to do big things to fight injustice or he will be a pain in someone's behind. (Probably both.)

March 30, 2017

There are a lot of childhood milestones that the parenting books don't cover. First non-family sleepover, for example. We have reviewed manners, safe GF food, tips for including everyone, and homesickness coping techniques. (I know, I know...you'd think I was sending her across the ocean instead of across the street.) She's super pumped and a little nervous. I'm just over here trying to play it cool, which judging by my mint Oreo consumption, isn't going great. Let's see which of us gets less sleep tonight.

August 8, 2017

Kindergarten is EXHAUSTING, y'all. He literally crawled in the door this afternoon. "Mommy, my brain has been working ALL day, even when I was just sitting there."

August 17, 2017:

5 years and still going strong as room mom for both kids. I'm on my 6th round for Audrey and the 3rd for Luke. This memory prompted me to dispel some common Room Mom myths:

1. MYTH: We are bored stay-at-home moms with too much time on our hands. REALITY: Every room mom I've ever met has a million other balls in the air just like you. Many also work part or full time jobs and are involved in multiple other organizations/charities. NONE of us are bored or have too much time on our hands. We just choose to make this one of our commitments.

2. MYTH: We get a budget to work with from the teacher or school. REALITY: Nope. At least not for our school. If the class doesn't contribute enough money to parties/gifts/etc., any extra needed comes out of our own pocket. Doing this job is doubly expensive...we don't get paid plus we shell out serious dough throughout the year!

3. MYTH: We are there to serve you. REALITY: While we do like to help parents navigate the world of all things school-related, our first priority is to make life easier for the teacher. After him/her comes the PTA, administration, and students. So we'll assist you where and when we can, but just know there are a lot of others that get first dibs.

4. MYTH: We are nagging Pinterest-o-holic perfectionists. REALITY: If we "remind" too often, it's just because you haven't sent in what we asked for three weeks ago. But seriously, we've learned there is rarely such a thing as too much communication. As for the perfectionist: I am a firm believer in store-bought treats and a dollar store banner. I step it up if I have time, but I don't stress if I can't and I think most other room moms do the same. We've learned that the teacher and the kids have a blast either way.

5. MYTH: It's an awful job. REALITY: It's one of the best, most rewarding jobs out there. I get to support and love on the teacher and students in big and small ways. I get a unique peek into the classroom and learn about my children's friends and teachers on a deeper level. I get to create what I hope are fun celebrations that will be remembered long after they're way too cool to run up and say "Hey Mrs. Sinyard!" while giving me a hug.

Now please remember to read those emails carefully this year! It may just cut down on all that nagging.

August 17, 2017

I have always told my kids that they can use me as their excuse any time they need to when it comes to peer pressure...that I'll gladly be the "bad guy". (i.e. "Oh, I could never do that. My mom would be SO MAD at me and I'd get in big trouble.") Tonight when I was putting Luke to bed, this conversation happened:

Luke: "Mama? I used that 'bad guy excuse' thing about you today."

Me: "You did? What were you trying to get out of?"

Luke: "Nothing. I just told Austin you were weird."

So not the point, kid.

August 21, 2017

Galaxy slime, cereal box viewers, and a sight we'll never forget. 98.67% was still pretty awesome.

September 18, 2017

I did not write the post below...just reposted it. But man, do I remember feeling it to my core (still do, to some extent) and wanted to capture it here:

I am the keeper.

I am the keeper of schedules. Of practices, games, and lessons. Of projects, parties, and dinners. Of appointments and homework assignments.

I am the keeper of information. Who needs food 5 minutes before a meltdown occurs and who needs space when he gets angry. Whether there are clean clothes, whether bills are paid, and whether we are out of milk.

I am the keeper of solutions. Of bandaids and sewing kits and snacks in my purse. But also of emotional balms and metaphorical security blankets.

I am the keeper of preferences. Of likes and dislikes. Of nightly rituals and food aversions.

I am the keeper of reminders. To be kind, to pick up their trash, to do their dishes, to do their homework, to hold open doors and write thank you notes.

I am the keeper of rituals and memories. Of pumpkin patches and Easter egg hunts. I am the taker of pictures, the collector of special ornaments, and the writer of letters.

I am the keeper of emotional security. The repository of comfort, the navigator of bad moods, the holder of secrets and the soother of fears.

I am the keeper of the peace. The mediator of fights, the arbiter of disputes, the facilitator of language, the handler of differing personalities.

I am the keeper of worry. Theirs and my own.

I am the keeper of the good and the bad, the big and the small, the beautiful and the hard.

Most of the time, the weight of these things I keep resembles the upper elements on the periodic table - lighter than air, buoying me with a sense of purpose.

But sometimes the weight of the things I keep pulls me down below the surface until I am kicking and struggling to break the surface and gasp for breath.

Because these things I keep are constantly flickering in the back of my brain, waiting to be forgotten. They scatter my thoughts and keep me awake long past my bedtime.

Because all these things I keep are invisible, intangible. They go unnoticed and unacknowledged until they are missed. They are not graded or peer reviewed or ruled on by a court. And sometimes they are taken for granted.

My husband and my boys are kind and generous and they love me hard. And this is by far the greatest job I have ever had. But sometimes being the Keeper is exhausting. Because you feel like you're doing it alone.

So to all of you who are keepers, I see you.

I know the weight of the things you keep.

I know the invisible work you do, which doesn't come with a pay check or sick leave, is what makes the world go round.

I see you.

And I salute you.

September 25, 2017:

It's taken me a couple of days to process the Timber Trek (and it will take a few more to break the habit of waking up in a sweaty panic thinking through what needs to be done for it!) We had great weather and the positive community vibe was almost palpable. What's even better was that we blew last year's amount raised out of the water! There's no way I could've done it without the support of my family, friends, and the race sponsors and participants. As I said on Saturday, they never cease to show up and I never cease to be amazed and grateful. You made an impact on the families that Path Projects helps and in this community. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

October 28, 2017:

No turning back now. Bathroom to laundry room conversion is underway. David is handling demo and electrical phase one. Me: "But what if we leave and you electrocute yourself and we don't find you until three hours later?!" D: "Then I'll be really, really dead."

November 11, 2017:
So grateful for all of our men and women in the armed forces, and especially for the veterans in my family. My dad (left), my paternal grandfather (top), my maternal grandfather (bottom), and my cousin Duane (not pictured.) "May we think of freedom not as the right to do what we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right."

December 6, 2017:

A funny it's-been-a-day tale to lighten your mood: After volunteering in Luke's kindergarten classroom (where I dealt with one kid writing a story about her mom singing in the shower complete with illustrations and another kid swallowing his tooth ), I dragged myself to the grocery store in the freezing rain. I desperately didn't want to go, but I was supposed to make a corn pudding for David's potluck lunch at work tomorrow and needed the ingredients. I stood there trying to recall the recipe and went home feeling pretty confident that I'd remembered everything. I arrived just in time to meet the plumber who was going to make a small hole in the soon-to-be mudroom wall to cap off some plumbing. Got out the ingredients and recipe only to discover I'd forgotten something kind of important. Can you guess what? Yup. The corn. I forgot the corn for the corn pudding. And oh...that "small hole" the plumber was going to make? See pic below. But I'll get to work on it tomorrow since I'll be here dealing with our second HVAC system replacement this year. Lawdy, y'all. Sometimes you just gotta laugh at the crazy!

December 8, 2017:

It is ridiculous how happy the snow has made me today. I don't ever remember a pre-Christmas snow, but I am a big fan. The lights and decorations are gorgeous in it and the holiday spirit is through the snowy roof. Enjoy and stay safe, y'all!

December 18, 2017:

5 Signs it's December for a Room Mom:

1. You find yourself at Hobby Lobby (for the third time in four days, no less), yelling "WHERE ARE THE GOOGLY EYES?! I NEED GOOGLY EYES, PEOPLE!"

2. In attempt to stretch every last party contribution penny, you calculate the unit price of everything: per candy cane, per hot chocolate packet, per previously mentioned googly eye.

3. Despite being at Costco, Kroger, and Publix all morning, you still have nothing for dinner for your own family.

4. Your multitasking game is at an all time high. You're up making sample crafts at 5:30am, piecing together teacher gifts during a hair appointment, and sending those nagging email reminders from the insufferable checkout lines. (Seriously, y'all. Just read your emails.)

5. Every room in your house looks like the picture below. EVERY room.

Three more days, Gwinnett friends! We can do it! (We still aren't finished with our home reno projects yet either.) (We are insane.) (The kids are totally worth it.)

December 23, 2017:

Meeting the newest member of our extended family.

Well, It's Been a Minute

Nary a word in over two years...woah.  It would be impossible to recap the time since my last post with any detail.  Perhaps the easiest is to include the Christmas card from each year, since we write an annual wrap-up on those.

2019:

2020:

2021:

What we didn't include on the cards:

We lost David's Pawpaw (maternal grandfather) in March of 2020 and his Grandmother (paternal grandmother) in May of 2020.  And, sadly, those two heartbreaks weren't even close to being the only ones we faced that year and the next.  

The Covid-19 worldwide pandemic began in March 2020 and, as I write this in January of 2022, is still going on.  The struggles and experiences we've endured surrounding that could alone fill a book.  We lived through digital school, nearly homeschooled, then sent them in face masks for all of one school year and most of another.  We missed out on a lot, including Audrey's end of elementary school and all of the fanfare it was going to hold.  (But we recognize and are thankful that it was not her high school chapter closing!)  There were cancelled plans and quarantines and many, many modifications, take-out meals, and adaptations before the vaccines rolled out in spring of 2021 for adults, summer of 2021 for older kids, and fall of 2021 for 5-11 year olds.  We are all four fully vaccinated, which became a surprisingly political and divisive decision in our country and in our extended families.  We did our research and ultimately concluded it was the right thing to do for us, but understand and respect that others felt differently for themselves. What I can't abide is the conspiracy theorists and/or the idea that one cannot believe in both God and science simultaneously. While life is about 75% back to normal, we desperately hope to see the virus turn "endemic" this year and allow everything to fully resume.  Though I fear the division and damage it caused will leave scars on our country for quite some time.  

Adding to the list of losses, David's Grandma (maternal grandmother) suffered a massive stroke in September 2021.  After lengthy hospital then rehab facility stays, she is now back at her home with her three adult children and their spouses rotate shifts caring for her full time.  She cannot walk or use the bathroom on her own and is showing early signs of dementia.  It is as impossible as it sounds.  

Of course it hasn't all been doom and gloom for the past few years.  There have been many, MANY amazing blessings and adventures.  But between the lack of time and the kids being at ages where they don't enjoy me sharing their lives online, I've failed to capture those here. One of my goals this year is to go back and pull out social media posts from the last few years that highlight some important milestones and memories.  Maybe even some occasional opinion pieces I wrote about the state of things, because what is social media without opinion pieces?  

And then I've decided that it's going to be time to close up shop on this corner of the internet.  It's been a wonderful, albeit incredibly inconsistent, run.  Perhaps one day I'll have more time and perspective to look back, reflect, and log, but I imagine by the time my kids grant me the permission, I'll be a very busy grandmother.  And/or traveling the world with my newly retired husband.  At least I sure do hope so.