It's Volleyball Time at Trinity-oh...and It's Football Time in Tennessee

It has been....well, let's say, way too long since I have written. I can't say it is because nothing has been going on...because ALOT has been going on. The kids all started back to school. We're in about our 7th week of this homeschool year with the boys, Mae started 7th grade, Kara is a junior and Shelby is a senior! Yes, we are in the midst of trying to figure out where she will land for college next year. I must say she has made some pretty stellar selections so far. University of Tennessee-Go Vols!-would absolutely be her daddy's first choice. She also wants to visit and has already applied to Baylor University in Waco, TX-my girl, a cowgirl?? And, she is also planning to visit (and in the midst of completing an application for) Colorado Christian University! She is much like me, in that, the mountains have always had a spell on her. Nothing much more majestic than the beauty of HIS creation of the mountains, in my opinion! I think the one thing that has her a little scared of CCU is the distance to Lakewood, CO. Mind you, I don't think she'll be missing her mom nearly as much as she will miss her very best little buddy-Leah! So, we will pray, visit, and pray some more about where GOD has her to be. Kara will be traveling with Jim and Shelby to visit CCU, as this has always been one of her top choices also. Can't believe we'll be sending both of these girls off, back to back. That could make a mama cry, if she thinks about it too long. Kara mentioned in her earlier post that she turned 16 last month and Shelby turned 18 this month! Wow! We would almost have an empty nest, if the good LORD hadn't brought these other precious knuckleheads (as Leah calls everyone, now) into our family! Boy, HE knew that I wasn't ready to retire from chasing kids at this precious, very young age of 30...21, okay 30+21! Funny story about all the little ones and Shelby.....last weekend I was at an adoption conference and Jim was on call, so Shelby and Kara had the little ones for the day. Shelby took Mae, Mac, Coop, Ross and Winter to watch a v-ball tournament that the TCA jv team were playing in.....one of her friends told her that one of the friends teammates asked, why Shelby had all those little Asian kids and black kids hanging around with her! The friend explained that those were Shelby's siblings......OH!

Kara and I had a fun night earlier this week. I had built a fire in the firepit out by the pool. I invited Kara to come out and play her guitar and sing for me. Wow! I am so impressed at how much that sweet daughter of mine has taught her self on that guitar! It was such a beautiful evening! KB-we need more of those nights. You sing like an angel, sweet girl!

Jim, Shelby and Kara have gone to Knoxville to watch some ball games. They caught a Lady Vols volleyball game last night, they are at present cheering on the Vols against Florida and then they'll hang around for another volleyball game tomorrow! What fun! The little ones and I are holding down the fort, here at home. Leah has had some seizures today, so we're laying low and I am enjoying not cooking! It will be a junk food weekend for them and salads for me! we may even do a little school work later today. Crazy as it is, they ask to do school. Even on the weekends! Isn't that how learning should be! I do admire their excitement about learning. I want to be that excited about learning about my Creator, Master, Savior!!

Okay...this was likely a little boring. I really did this only for me. The boys are asking to go swimming, so I'll run and try to write sooner next time. Amy

Well Then

So it's been a really long time since I have posted anything. I would say that it's only because I've been busy with school and volleyball (which is part of the reason), but it's mostly just because I've been lazy. Lazy and uninspired. That's pretty sad. Anyway, nothing really exciting has happened in the Crenshaw house lately. Shelby's 18th birthday was yesterday though. That's really weird to think about. She's going to college next year. How odd. I remember when I was 4 and she was 6 and I had just started gymnastics. She had already been doing it for a little bit, so I had to start off in a different class from her, but I was too shy (Kara? Shy?) to be in a class with people I didn't know so I begged to be in her class. I can't remember if I ended up staying in my class or what. But yeah, it's weird to think that next year she won't be around all the time. I've already been through this with Nat, but it feels different this time for some reason. Or maybe I'm just in a weird mood...

Oh yeah, I started driving a few weeks ago too. I got my license. I'm sixteen. That's weird too. Also, Coop turned 10 a few days ago. He's getting so big. Well, not physically big, since he's still a shrimp, but you get what I mean. Whose birthday is next? hmmm... Mae's. But that's a while from now.

The weather outside is... Indescribably beautiful. I love when it feels like this. It's still warm enough to wear short sleeves during the daytime, but it's not scorching hot and ridiculously humid anymore. And nighttime, oh my goodness. It gets almost cold. It's amazing. It reminds me of camp at night. Except for the stars. The stars here don't compare to the nighttime sky in Durango. But it's okay.

I'm feeling really restless lately. I feel like I just need to go. My guitar is the only thing that is keeping me sane.