Well, Monday is almost over but I still wanted to get a post in over here. I know my blogging has been very spotty. Just a lot going on lately. Still processing quite a bit of it. Most of it concerns J’s school choices, it’s not all bad but very different from what I thought this year might be…a post of itself eventually. Essentially, we’re looking into him not finishing his senior year and simply taking the high school equivalency test.
Didn’t want to miss a second week of joining in with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom for the weekly link up. Hoping to catch up with everyone tomorrow.
The Weather 
We had a fall preview over the weekend (and rain!!) with temperatures cool enough to have the air off and the attic fan running. It was even dare I say cold on Sunday morning. However, it’s back to the a/c and high 80’s for the rest of this week. One last hoorah for summer weather.
As I Look Outside My Window
Dark now but this was one morning last week. It turns out praying mantis are predators of the hummingbird so this fellow was swiftly relocated elsewhere. 
Right Now I Am
Working on this post, thinking it feels like midnight though it’s only 8:30.
Thinking And Pondering
How different this fall will look from the image I had in my head. The battle of what’s best for my son vs. the grief of missing all the lasts of the senior year from a parent perspective. Also, wondering what I hit my hand on earlier, I vaguely recall bumping it on something while running errands but it has a bump and is a bit sore so I must have hit it harder than I remember.
How I Am Feeling
A bit sad and uncertain about things. Gee, I’m a pocket of happiness tonight. SIGH. That said I think sometimes I tend to only post when it’s all happy and this is real life right now.
On The Breakfast Plate 
A crappy grocery store donut and a Starbucks caramel macchiato (not ready for pumpkin spice quite yet). Did take my vitamins though.
On The Lunch Plate
Ham sandwich, chips, and another crappy grocery store donut, this one had no sprinkles and was some sort of spice flavor so a bit better.
On The Dinner Plate
The rest of them had roast and potatoes, I had a flip yogurt. Just wasn’t super hungry.
What I’m Wearing Today
Started out with the band tee-shirt from J’s freshman year and olive green capris, switched into jeans (it was chilly this morning!), then switched into a striped shirt (got the tee-shirt dirty while working in the garden) with the jeans.
On The Reading Pile
Right now I’m reading a Danielle Steel novel that I’m struggling to get through called Suspects. I just finished a book called No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood that was an interesting satirical view of the Internet meshed with her real life experience of grieving a loss. It’s pretty choppy between the first and second parts but also quite poignant.
On My TV 
How about them Chiefs!!!? I did watch the new Thor last week, it was okay. And because I came across a few references to it but had never seen it, I watched Sliding Doors over the weekend as well. Enjoyed that more than Thor.
On The Menu
Thankfully, no more donuts. They just weren’t that great.
MONDAY: Roast in the crockpot *J had a baritone lesson at 6:30*
TUESDAY: Korean meatballs and rice (one of my I don’t need to think meals, frozen meatballs, jar of sauce, crockpot, add rice, and then green onions for color. Bonus: everyone likes it)
WEDNESDAY: Maybe chicken strips?
THURSDAY: Tacos
FRIDAY: I work either all day or 1-3:45. OUT
Looking Around The House
We can say it’s either a disaster or looking very lived in…G is building a computer on the kitchen table, the couch is covered with a couple boxes plus a blanket from the cold morning, shoes on floor, bathrooms need cleaned.
On My To Do List 
- Grocery Store *DONE*
- Pay bills *DONE*
- Talk to J about things *DONE*
- Plant cabbage, carrots, and broccoli starts in garden *mostly DONE*
- Laundry *2 loads to go until DONE*
- Return to grocery store because they forgot to give me my gas discount *DONE*
- Go to different store for potting soil and bird seed *DONE*
- Clean the house
- Clean out pantry (can’t do this until G finishes his computer project)
- More yardwork
From The Camera
Just a few from around the yard today. Time to transition from summer flowers to fall flowers as well as bring some plants back inside. 
Quote For The Week 
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)
I’m so glad you posted – I was a bit concerned. Hope things work out with J and school. LOVE your photos, especially the Praying Mantis – so cute! And your flowers all look so vibrant! The Chief’s game was great, but I really liked the Steeler’s game – did you see it? I hope you have a WONDERFUL week.
Thank you. I think it will work out but it’s just going to be different and different is hard to accept sometimes. We did see most of the Steeler’s game until they had to break away due to “NFL contract rules” or something. Still not sure why they couldn’t have shown us the OT on a split screen. Was a wild game though! Hope you have a wonderful week as well!
Praying things work out and you’ll find some piece. It’s so hard when our plans don’t always line up with what our children’s plans are. I went through something very similar last year with my high school senior. Being a mama is not easy. We’ve been seeing a few more praying mantis around here and I love the yellow and red daisy-looking flower. I actually added them to my garden this year. The deer don’t eat them..so they are a yes!
Praying you find peace this week
Thank you. It is hard, glad to know everything worked out for you in the end. Those flowers are called blanket flowers (gaillardia), perennials though I’ve never had luck with them returning in a container. Maybe I’ll throw them in the yard some where at the end of the season and see what happens. Hope you have a great week!
Hello my Lovely,
I’m so sorry about all the school things with J. It’s so hard as Momma’s to see their pain…and also just to be a bit wiser and know the after effects of any given choice, but trying to give them the space and grace to make their decisions and path. Prayers for healing and direction for you all. And lots of hugs too! 🤗
I love all of you flower pics! I didn’t know that about praying mantis? We don’t have them around here though. I love the moving sliding doors. I thought the new Thor was cute – but the Russel Crowe cameo is what makes that whole movie. Lol
Blessings Jean xoxo
Thank you. I had a long chat with a friend who had similar issues with her son (he’s a friend of J’s, they are so alike…) and feel a lot more at peace about it all. Wish I’d talked to her sooner as we both could have used the support in the last 2 years but had no idea. It’s hard sometimes to reach out. I remembered reading something about the praying mantis briefly last year so looked it up again when I saw that little insect out there. Wonder why you don’t have them there? Too cold, I guess. Did you watch to 2 extra trailers of Thor? Another Russel Crowe cameo in the first one. Hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday and the rest of your week is great as well!
Is there anyway that his school would let him finish his year doing visual learning? Or something of that sort. It might be worth Checking into.
We’re checking into all our options. Hope you’ve had a great week!