Almost Back To Blogging

Our trip to Israel was AMAZING but exhausting. We flew to Philadelphia and New Jersey to visit family and decompress. As soon as we got home to California, I had to purchase school supplies, lunch box snacks and Brady was back in school. We've been adjusting to the new schedule and I'll be back to offering up more book excerpts. I've been self-editing and made some needed changes to the manuscript. Hope summer was good for everyone. It's been way too hot here!

Is Someone Listening?

 A few weeks ago, I took Brady and cousin, Aidan, to a show put on by Israeli teens touring the country. The teens sang and danced while colorful slides of Israel lit up the screen behind them. I saw people smiling in the marketplace, praying at the Western Wall, children happily running into the Mediterranean, soldiers holding the Israeli flag, photographs of Holocaust victims at Yad Vashem and a video about the "Lone Soldiers" -volunteers who travel to Israel alone to fight in the army.

The boys enjoyed it as only 8 year olds can but I was so touched that I couldn't control the tears constantly running down the side of my face throughout the presentation. All I could think about was how much I wanted to experience Israel and the thought stayed with me.

Last week I received a call from a newfound friend that took me by surprise. He said there was an opening for one more family to go to Israel this summer for "Family Israel Experience". What? Was someone listening? He said he thought of us and if we could make it happen, he would make it happen. It was an offer we couldn't refuse.

So, not only are we going to Israel in 3 weeks but one of the evenings is scheduled for us to have dinner with some "Lone Soldiers".

Someone HAD to be listening.....

BUT I MUST WASH MY HAIR!

So, it's Day 8 of summer vacation. I've planned something every day for Brady for do. But, today I MUST make a couple store returns and we're out of things like milk and eggs so MUST go shopping. Brady only wants to ride his bike or go swimming. Like I'll really get him to do errands with me. Now, he's nagging me for a snack. But, he just had breakfast and I MUST take a shower! Then he asks if he can have a friend over. I tell him I'll answer that AFTER I'm out of the shower. WHAT??!!! It can't be noon! I've only made the beds and just gotten out of the shower!!! I'm being paged, AGAIN, by my relentless 8-year old. NOW what??!!!

Okay, I surrender. I put the returns off until tomorrow, will pick up groceries while he's at Tae Kwon Do later today, I'll blow-dry my hair and take him to the pool.

And The Playing Continues....And I'm Pooped!

I'm exhausted but Brady's the one playing!

Every day since school let out, our house has been full of kids. Along with arranged play dates, our house is also filled with the neighborhood kids. I think I've run out of peanut butter and jelly! Boys can really eat and drink! Every time I turned around, the refrigerator door was opening and closing.

This is such a different life than when my kids were young. I've had more kids here for Brady in four days then all four of my kids had over their entire childhood!!!!! I pat myself on the back for today but wish I knew "this" Mom in the 70's. I'm sure my grown kids wish so, too. At least I've been given the opportunity to do it better. Although, at times, I question whether we're giving him too much.

So Much for Plans -The Playing is Awesome!

We were so surprised to sell our home in 2 days at full price along with a back-up offer! Of course, we still lost money but could move on. We had 45 days to find a place to live.

Our plan was to put our home on the market and wait 6 months or so for it to sell and then rent for a few months until the new planned community was completed in the area we wanted to live. We had to act quickly and were lucky to find a home for rent a couple blocks from where the new homes are set to be ready in spring of 2013 (we wanted Brady to be in the same neighborhood). Another strike of luck was that we had to sign a year's lease, so selling when we did aligned us perfectly with our plan. The house fits most of our needs but what is amazing is that we're in a jewel of a location. Our back gate empties onto a huge green belt, which is like a park! It has benches and walkways, flanked by 2 pools, a play area, tennis courts and a sand volleyball court, not to mention all the built-in kids. Brady's in heaven!!!! "Mom," he said. Can you believe it? I can just get on my bike and go out by myself." He feels so free and independent. After school, he meets his friends and they ride round and round the walkway, switching from bikes to scooters to big wheels. I've had kids in our house almost daily, which I didn't do when my kids were young. My grown children would hardly recognize that I've become the Kool-Aid Mom! I'm just sorry I was too overwhelmed when I was younger to do the same for them.

This has been a wonderful move for all of us. We have wonderful neighbors (whom we know from Brady's school) and even OUR social life is bustling. The new neighborhood is only a couple blocks away but will be fairly normal with streets and homes. Who has a park in their backyard???!!!! It's going to be quite a challenge moving from this sweet location!

The other day, Brady (our little old soul) said, "You are really good parents. You're always trying to make my life better."

That's what it's all about!

Here We Go, Again!

Again, I haven't been writing because another change is taking place. Because we're raising a child, we need to move to a more kid-friendly neighborhood. We thought, because Brady always did play dates, we could get away with living in a more adult community. WRONG! Guess who gets to be his play mates when not on play dates? He needs kids around him. So, we're moving on Monday. Needless to say, it's been hectic, crazy and stressful but all in a good way. After we're settled, I'll be back to the blog. Thank you to anyone who's been reading it, especially for your patience. Have a great weekend!

Reminders Of Her...

It's that moment when I hear a song we sang together or I see someone on the street whose mannerisms or  looks are so much like hers that I gasp, or when Brady does something so phenomenal that I wish she was here to enjoy it, that brings me to tears. With all the hell she put me through, I only think of her in the most loving terms -I miss her. It's never easy losing a child and the emotion hits me when I least expect it...like now.