Its late and I am tired. It has been another long day. This past week has simply been long. Not in a bad way ... just in a long way.

We had family in town and a cousin sleep over this past weekend and the kiddos had a blast ... all seven of them. Four girls, three boys. We had fashion shows, dart wars, movies and popcorn and our own "talk show" over a pancake breakfast.

I've had several shoots. The ones I actually got to shoot were awesome. I love working with families, locations, light. Others had to be rescheduled because of rain. This time of year always proves to be tricky for scheduling shoots. The weather is so "iffy" (for lack of a better word) in our small corner of the country. It's cold, and rain is always a chance ... always in the forecast. So simply scheduling a shoot, whether it be a family, kiddos or a high school senior, doesn't always mean it will take place at the chosen time. Flexibility is key ...

For the shoots I have been able to complete, I am now behind on the editing process. My sweet girl came down with a fever, so most of my time has been with her. Tending to her during the day, editing at night, until I'm too tired to do any more.

She simply has not been herself the last few days. The fever has broke but she is ever so tired. While I thought we were done with naps, we have revisited them each afternoon. And so very moody and her mood changes on a dime. Emotional! Laughing, crying, within just moments of each other. We have spent time just snuggling, reading, coloring, watching movies.

Days at home, especially during cold, rainy weather, resting for the most part ... very much needed right now.

(making play dough ... one of our favorites!)

Whether its a stage or still a recovery of not feeling well, I can't wait for her to get back to her sweet easy-going self.

And this too shall pass ....

As for my son, he has remained healthy thus far. And I pray it stays that way.

If there is any type of struggle going on with him right now, it's school. He is an awesome student, academics have never been an issue. He is well adjusted socially and is known as the "fair kid," when it comes to recess sports, or the boy that shares whatever he has if someone needs something. And I am so very proud that he is known for his good character.

The problem then ... he's bored. He's bored with the work, the lack of a challenge. he wants a challenge, to be able to dive deep into a subject, discover, explore .... and he's simply not getting that.

My fear ... that his boredom will become lack of motivation ... the "why bother?"

It is frustrating for me as a parent, because I have talked to his teacher numerous times, and here we are in November and nothing has been done about it. There has been promises, yet none have come to light.

We're not sure what to so. I would love to put him into a local private school and give him the chance to soar. Unfortunately, lack of funds may make that an impossibility right now. I have very mixed emotions about home schooling and after lengthy conversations with my husband, simply don't feel that is an option for us. I know he can stay where he is and do just fine.

But as a mom I want more than "just fine" for my sonny boy, as we all do. I want to give him every chance possible ...

It tears at my heart ... he is such a good, sweet, boy. I truly just want to do the right thing for him. He is at such an impressionable age, that I want to make sure we are doing all we can.

The best thing I can do is pray ... constantly pray for him .... and her.

Challenges come in and out of all our lives. Sometimes it feels like they are more present than others .... individually and as a family. Thankfully they have been small challenges, in the grand scheme of things, yet I can see they are present.

I struggle at times with myself ... my own insecurities. My mind gets fogged when I don't make my own daily devotion a priority. I know that, yet, at times I slip into bad habits.

The closer I am to the Lord, the freer I am. Free to live, to be at peace, to pray ...