Nearer the End than the Beginning

All things have a beginning and an end. Several things in my life right now are nearer the end than the beginning. My time in Tennessee/Alabama (at least, this time) is nearer the end than the beginning. My (and the kids!) summer is nearer the end than the beginning. My midwifery training is nearer the end than the beginning (though it might not seem so to some, as I have three more years to go, I still feel nearer the end than the beginning...I have learned so much already). Now that my oldest son has turned that magical age of 9 years old I am now nearer the end than the beginning of his childhood and my role as supervising parent for him. Yes he and I still have 8 years and 11 months where he is still the "child" and I am still supervising him...but I can't believe half of my work with him is almost over :(

This summer I accomplished some things that I wanted to. First, I took my children to meet their great-grandma McGovern and see New Jersey, where their grandpa McGovern is from. While there we spent a lot of time with their aunts, uncles, and cousins that they wouldn't have known otherwise. We also had a special treat....we went to see the statue of Liberty!! Well, we saw her from afar...but it was better than not at all!! My father in law says if we come up to New Jersey again to see family that perhaps we will try to spend the better part of a day and go into the Statue of Liberty. I know that *I* will love that, and I think my kiddos will too!!

We also came to Ohio to spend time with my grandparents and cousins here. This is always a special time for everyone and I am so glad that I was able to do it again this year for and with my children. Next year will probably be a little less likely as I will have school all summer, but we will see.

The move back to Florida is proving to be very stressful for me, and I am trying to spend the least amount of time as possible thinking about it. While we were in New Jersey it was hard for me *not* to think about Tom, and everything that has happened in my life the last 9 years, because his family (though all very apologetic - as if his behavior is somehow their fault...which it isn't) either brought it up frequently, or just reminded me of him by simply being around them. Tom definitely has some physical features in common with the McGovern side of his family.

We're leaving Ohio soon, and I have a feeling my stress level will decrease once I get settled into new routines in Florida. Once the kids are registered for school (and me too for that matter!) and we're settled into our temporary living space (until I find something else).

I am also spending some time looking for a part time job. I am hoping to pick something up that will help me pay bills while I am in school. I have a goal to get rid of the van by July of 2011, and would love to see that actually happen. I am thinking about maybe getting a station wagon style car instead. Something that is better on gas, has a lower car payment, and isn't going to break down on me (hopefully!) every 10000 miles like this P.O.S. van has.

So, that is an update on me and the kids!

Fireflies, butterflies, fireworks, fairy lands, ice cream cones, cook outs, and all things summer

This summer I have been trying to soak it all in with my children. As I don't anticipate having this much time off again for a very long time, reveling in the time that I do have has become my number one priority. Though I had grande plans of learning Spanish and relearning french this summer, I have done neither. Instead my summer has been filled with spending time with my best friend, helping care for my paternal grandparents, then driving to Ohio so that my children could have a fun and relaxing summer playing with all of their cousins and visiting with all of my family.

In a few days the children and I leave to drive to New Jersey, a state I have never been to, to visit my father-in-law as well as his mother and other family. My children have never met their Great-Grandma McGovern, and I think they are really looking forward to it. They will see their cousin Matt this trip too, which they are excited about. They are also excited about seeing their Grandpa McGovern, whom they haven't seen in over a year now.

After our weekend trip to NJ we will come back here to Ohio and spend a few more days with family here. Once we leave here we will head to the Carolina's where we'll stop over night and then head back to Florida. Wow, that's a lot of travel time!!

I know I haven't been blogging as much as I normally do, but I promise once we get into new routines in Florida, the blogs will follow!!