It's going to be alright...

As Chase readied for college I worried about so many things. How will he do with new responsibilities? What will it be like for him in a strange town with no one he knows? How will he handle school, athletics, a job or two along with being in a strange town with no one he knows? You see I am a mom first and myself second. That's the way I like it. For the past 18 years Chase has been my purpose, my reason for everything. So now I worry did I do enough to prepare him? Had I done my job?

Every time we talk to Chase, he sounds so happy, so connected, so ok. We went to watch him run this past weekend and from the moment I saw him I had a feeling of "this is exactly where Chase is suppose to be". He's perfect. Through the work of God we found this school, this place, these people and in the few weeks he has been here I can tell Chase shouldn't be any where else on earth.

So have I done enough? Have I done my job? I think I've done alright. I am not done, although my purpose has new purpose, God gave me the assurance I needed. You see after Chase ran he was gathering his things and he handed me his shoes and asked if I'd mind taking them he'd get them later he didn't want to put them in his bag as they were wet. At first I kind of thought really, you are in college and you need me to take your shoes? But ok, whatever give me the shoes. We go our separate ways and will meet up later. I arrive at the hotel and go to unload our bags, and there are the wet, smelly shoes. I drop one and see some writing on it, now I am thinking you are in college and you write on your shoes? But ok, whatever pick up the stupid shoe. I pick it up and I read it, I look at the other shoe, and of course being the crier I am I tear up. This is what I found....one shoe reads "run for God" the other "run for yourself" with his and his brothers birth dates. Chase didn't give me the shoes so I would see that, God did. God knew I needed something. He always provides exactly what I need. Thank you God for blessing me immensley.

Pickle Pete

The mammoth grid called for pickle making this week. I had this naive idea that with Chase gone to college and not having cross country meets 2-3 times a week that we might have some free spaces on the mammoth grid calender that we live by. WRONG! Don't know exactly what it is we are doing, but those free spaces I was thinking would happen - not happening! Carson is the picky eater out of our crew. He's been asking to try making some pickles. We have had cucumbers picked for this pickle making several times, needless to say the process never happened. So this week we bought some cucumbers and with time running out on these pickle prospects we had to get this done. Carson cut the cucumbers and followed the recipe all by himself. He did a grand job. Carson is our quiet little man. He is so easy going and eager to please. He is quite responsible and I sometimes listen to him talk and have to remind myself he is only 9. His teacher asked me at the beginning of the year how we taught him such a great vocabulary. Truth is we didn't. It's self taught. She is trying to stump I think and hasn't been able to yet! I can tell Carson's mood and feelings by looking at his eyes. May sound funny but I can tell how he's feeling by looking the boy in the eye, he has a sparkle, a shine. I don't think I can explain it. All kids do I know. His is identifiable. I mentioned that he is our picky eater. Even this he does politely. He would never tell us he doesn't like something, never ask for something else. He will not eat vegetables. (Except potato soup and french fries if those count!) But he LOVES pickles! So, hence the nick name Pickle Pete. And how were Pickle Pete's pickles? Well, here at Cafe Le Gregory, they were best pickles we've ever had!  Thank you God for blessing me immensely.