Wow .... where to begin. So much has been going on, in our lives and in my heart. There have been ups and downs, craziness and quietness .... and perhaps not even major ones ... just life and my own perceptions.

The older I get I am learning more and more that most people (friends and family) have different perceptions, ideas, notions of how things should be. Sometimes my own thoughts of something are so different, I feel like they look at me like I'm crazy. Am I wrong? Are they wrong? No. The old saying of people growing apart should be people grow different. It doesn't make anyone wrong (for the most part), just different. With differences, we need respect.

If we could now just except other's differences, instead of condemn them, so much drama could be eliminated from all our lives.

We are a drama free family, the four of us at least. I so value and appreciate the mellowness of my husband, and in turn, that of the children as well. I love all of their "it's all good" attitude. This summer there has been drama among friends, family members and even co-workers .... drama where we/I have been inadvertently pulled into. Life is too short for such nonsense. The peace of home is sacred ....

Pie turned 6. It is so exciting to watch her grow and learn. Part of me is a little sad ... she certainly isn't a baby anymore. But she is such a neat person. I love her heart, who she is, who she is becoming.

Such a perfect verse on her special day .....

Then there's Bub. Wow. Watching him grow is amazing. I love our conversations about everything and nothing. He likes to talk, share.

Football season is upon us once again. Practice 5 nights a week, 2 hours a night. Intense. Crazy. But he LOVES it. So our lives are now geared toward football, football, football .... for a season.

Unfortunately though, Bub is working through an injury and is mostly on the sidelines right now. He is disappointed. He pulled his Achilles a few weeks ago (not from football but while goofing off with friends) and now, after visits to his pediatrician, an orthopedic, imaging for x-rays, Bub is spending his mornings in physical therapy.

But even from the sidelines he is intense on watching, learning the plays. Oh, he is so eager to play and play hard ....

Pie loves to spend time at the river feeding the ducks during Bub's practices.

I love watching people, families and how they interact. I am fascinated with aging. I have watched my own father, now 73, age quite a bit lately. Some people age ever so gracefully, others just age.

My dad has always been someone so vital in my life ... always there to support, help .... and so active in his own life ... playing sports, coaching Bub. He still is, yet somehow it is different. His physical limitations and his own attitude. He's aging.

Bub is aging as well .... almost a tween, yet still a little boy. We have a great relationship, yet I can feel him pushing the boundaries at times. I am still mom yet I know he needs a bit more space, the freedom to make certain decisions. But with freedom comes responsibility. He is coming into an awkward age and I pray he stays close to God .... becomes even closer, his walk and faith even stronger.

Two important men in my life, my dad and my son .... one aging and not as strong as he once was, the other growing and finding his own strength ....

I find myself in the middle, in my 40's, and that sounds crazy. How did I get to this age already? By now, I was sure I'd have it all together. But I have nothing together, or at least it feels that way. I have an amazing husband and I'm blessed to have my kiddos I do, and even my own business. Yet I make mistakes all the time and question myself constantly.

The only difference is I now have a different perspective of who I am and a clearer idea of who I want to be.

Life is about enjoying the journey ....