Another year flies by...

New Years Eve, just hours away from 2013. How did we get here so quick. It just seems such a short time ago we were ringing in the millennium. Alan and I were still living in Ireland, we spent the evening at his parents place on the seafront in Blackrock. It was a perfect spot to see in a such a milestone in the passing of the years. So much has happened since, so much has happened in 2012.
Where were we this time a year ago?
Our two older daughters and Grandson were in Austin and they still are. Abate and Fantu are still here and are another year older and even more grown up. Elmer stayed over frequently but was still mostly just Abate's best friend. Elmer has now pretty much moved in. He does stay at his Mother's if he has to get up early for work as he doesn't want to wake us a 6 am on the weekends. Elmer though has become a part of our family. He is expected here for meals, we look out for him, we include him in family celebrations and are as proud of his accomplishments as if he were our own son. We have recently added his own storage in Abate's bedroom for his clothes. He is often referred to now as our son. He considers us his family. Elmer and Abate's friendship is one of those rare friendships that withstand all disagreements, frustrations and girlfriends. They cannot imagine ever being apart. They share a love of sports, x-box and eating everything in the house. I love the fact that Abate a Ethiopian, came to the USA and became best friends with the son of Mexican immigrants. That they formed such a unique friendship and bond.

Fantu had her challenges this year. She began the year with a major knee injury that led to knee surgery  at the end of January, she was on crutches for nearly two months. It also led to a diagnoses that showed the same condition in her other knee that ended up requiring surgery in September. Both surgeries were successful and she is now playing soccer with the Hornet girls JV squad. Fantu also started High School and is loving it. She does struggle in a few of her classes, but is passing them all so far. I have been so proud of all she has accomplished in her short time here. She struggled to speak english three years ago yet she has been able to be successful in school. She grows more beautiful each day and I'm sure has all the guys at school totally distracted from their schoolwork.

Abate has seen success and failure this year in competition from his many sports. He continues to improve and often amaze with his talent. He also has had struggles and disappointments that have taught him at times some hard lessons. He is a strong person and learns from them and becomes even more determined to improve. Abate is popular with both his fellow classmates and his teachers. When he puts his mind to it he can make  all A's and a few B's. He as let a few classes slip this year where he saw a few C's on his report card, this was during the Autumn when football and cross country took up so much of his time. IF you were to ask Abate what his biggest milestone was this year it would be that he turned 16, got his driving license and a car (Alan's old Toyota). He loves the freedom he has now and I swear he should just set himself up as Abate's taxi service as he is the on;y one in his group with a car. He will often get calls asking him to pick a friend up and drop them somewhere. I just love it as my driving around town here has been slashed to just the odd trip to the store. I must say though that I am almost always on edge though when he is out in his car. I don't expect I will ever not worry about him.

As for me it has been a year of ups and downs. Most of the year was much the same as always. I have tried to just take each day as it comes. There always seems to be so much going on that I just try to focus on the present and try to prepare for the next day. I know that some day that life will be quiet again. For now I will just do my best to take each day as it comes and take and savour the joy that these days bring.
July saw the passing of my Mom. She lived many years more than we ever imagined. Her passing has led to new challenges and responsibilities, it is something that most of us will eventually face (or have already faced) as we ourselves grow older. I do fell much older now, I did of course turn 54 yesterday - AUGH! Wasn't I just 35, 40, 45, how is it time speeds up with each passing year?

So as this year ends and a new one begins I think that is what has impacted my life the most. Time... how quickly it passes. The sadness and sorrow pass quickly as do the happy  times and busy times. Our vacation seemed brief, but the memories are timeless. I think what I feel most is that Abate and Fantu grew up too fast. I know they will be off to college independent adults before I can blink my eyes. I have today though. I have my family around me. A husband I love immensely, children that are adults and teenagers  that bring so much pride and happiness to me. While my life may not be perfect I wouldn't trade it for anything. I just wish the clock would slow down so it wouldn't pass by so quickly.
2013, I feel your presence bearing down ready to bring new challenges. I hope that this will be a year of joy and success. Before I know it I will be here again reflecting back on you and looking ahead to 2014.
Happy New Year!

What's so important...

I know what's important to me, and who is important to me. I think though that I sometimes forget to show them just how much they mean to me and instead I take them for granted. It is so easy to make excuses. Work, kids, school, sports,and the holidays all easily come to mind as being the big distractions, but they really shouldn't be. Maybe it's just laziness or that I think that they would know how much they mean to me, but I know that's just not the case. Now I've just got to do better. I can't create more time, you know that whole 24 hours in a day thing just can't be manipulated to suit little ol' me, so I've got to do more with what I have.

I think this is a problem faced by many parents. We get so caught up in our kids and their lives that they take over. Once you throw in work and home our spouses suffer. Kids demand a lot of attention. Demand? That can be an understatement at times, but my mind fails me to find a word that would reflect the amount of attention that they will at times require.

My kids,I love them all deeply. I love spending time with them. I love visiting my two older girls and watching them grow into beautiful confident women. The two still at home I love going to their games, meets, performances or often just sitting together at home watching telly or helping with homework. I am so proud of all they accomplish and the talent that they both possess. I also realize I put so much effort into my role as mother to Abate and Fantu as I don't want to let them down.

Kids grow up, they leave home and go off to college. Soon they will have careers and then form their own families. It is my job to teach them and prepare them to be successful adults. One of the best ways I can do that is to show them how to have a loving happy and successful relationship. If I neglect to show my husband that he matters the most to me in life, then soon he will feel as though he doesn't matter. So not only did I fail him, I failed my children. He will drift away, my kids will grow up and leave, and I would be all alone. I don't want to be alone. I cannot imagine being alone. I only see a future that includes growing old with Alan by my side. I love him.

Alan, I love you.

The joy of the season

November has come and gone, Thanksgiving dinner was devoured in minutes with very few leftovers, (teenage boys will do that). Football season which usually finishes up in November has bees extended into December... the stuff high school coaches and players dream of- to still be playing in December. We have had three nail biters and have finished on top to take us to the quarterfinals next Friday. Last nights game was one of the most stressful games to ever have watched. The Hornets never had the lead. We were tied or down by 6 or more points til the final minutes of the 4th quarter when we closed in and tied the game sending it to overtime. Monahans had the ball first and ended their drive going for a field goal - way to the right. The hornets turn, we carried the ball to the 20 yard line, 4th down and onto the field comes Sabastian (an outstanding kicker and great soccer player too) easy distance for him and yes he scored! 37-34 in OT and we were the 3a Div.1 Region 1 Champions. This next Friday we play Graham in Stephenville. I'm sure a tougher game that will probably bring on a heart attack or stroke.
Football dominating our weekends, our conversations, our lives. I love it. I went to a high school that was a football powerhouse, there was nothing like going all the way to the state playoff. TO go that far in the playoffs dominates everything right up to Christmas. The State Championship game is scheduled for December 21. But first we must beat Graham.
Soccer season is about to start. The first scrimmage game is December 28. Abate and Fantu are both playing this year, it will be a real juggling act to see both of them play. I haven't figured that one out yet and will probably just see how it goes from week to week. The Varsity boys should be amazing this year. Some great players returning and some good talent new to the team this year. I am so excited about it. We are still waiting for Fantu to hear if she will make Varsity or JV team. I'm thinking JV because of her knee surgery, but she has some real talent.
So in between football playoffs, soccer practices, work (which is fixing to go mad crazy busy for the next three weeks) I have manged to nearly complete the bedroom remodel. I've a few things to do in there tomorrow and then just finish moving all the finishing touches and stuff that still needs a place back into the room. I've still baseboards to complete but I've a feeling I will probably procrastinate until the winter doldrums set in and I get frustrated enough to do them. I hate trim outs. It is amazing the difference in there. So much storage, bright, clean yet cozy. I promise to post pictures soon.
Christmas shopping, decorating, and all the other things that make this such a joyful time of year have not been overlooked. Alan decorated the outside last week, I am waiting to decorate and put the tree up next weekend. Too many people and animals in the space for decorations to be up for weeks and weeks.Shopping is nearly complete, all I can say - thank god for the Internet and Amazon. I would never get anything bought if it weren't for this technological wonder.
So many joys this football season, upcoming soccer season, and of course this Christmas season.