Elena 
We are now a 3-drivers license family! Calvin took his driving test and passed it the first time. He also passed his written test at the driving school with 100%. Which only goes to show me I guess, that if this kid is REALLY motivated to accomplish something he can use his reading skills just fine to accomplish it!
I’m having a bit of a struggle being the mother of a 6 foot 1, 185 pound 17 year old male. He so wants to be an adult and I so want to let him… but I know that at this age he can make some pretty stupid, terrible mistakes that will affect him for the rest of his life. So I continue to pull rank on him and he pretty much vents his frustration at me. The latest thing was a week after he got his license, he wanted to drive 30 minutes from home to visit a young lady. I like this girl just fine. However, I have a lot of issues over whether there will be proper supervision, and the temptation of being alone with a member of the opposite sex that you’re attracted to. He says I’m over protective and don’t trust him. I say he’s only human.
There was also the issue of him driving so far away as a solo on unfamiliar streets. I told him no, and then encouraged (insisted) that Mr. Pete back me on on that one.
It turns out that what Calvin really wanted was just a taste of freedom of being alone in the car and driving like an adult. So this morning we let him drive himself to his 6:00 a.m. swim practice. This evening I let him take his 7-year-old sister to her soccer practice and bring her home. And although those seem like small petty things, he loved it. He even bought his sister a treat on the way home! I’ll try to give him more opportunities as time goes by.
He’s starting to think about the future after high school. He is interested in becoming a skilled laborer, like an electrician. He is also a very gifted artist. I want him to take the ACT and SAT just to have those options open to him as well. Who knows what the future holds for him.
I have to make the same sorts of decisions for my second son Sam who is finishing 8th grade. He wants to homeschool in high school and I want them for him too, but there are so many opportunities that just are not available to you when you don’t attend school, particularly sports. We’re praying about that too.
The rest of the kids are doing pretty well with homeschool. I’m trying to take a more relaxed approach this year with that “Real Learning” feel to it. We are enjoying “Farmer Boy” by Laura Ingals Wilder very much. Sam and I are also reading the Philadephia Catholic in St. James’ Court which is really getting exciting.
The baby has become quite opinionated and has decided that she alone deserves all the mommy love in the house. If one of the other kids is sitting on my lap or holding my hand, or sitting next to me, she charges like a little bull dog and moans and growls and complains until I pick her up and get rid of the usuper! Then she sits contentedly or about 2 minutes before she is off again only to return when another object of my affection should move into her territory. It’s kind of funny and cute to watch right now but I hope she grows out if it soon.
Mr. Pete and I had our most interesting eBay adventures yet. People actually bought those sousaphones we were selling, which we had to box up and then ship. I totally underestimated the shipping costs and we ended up looking for a cheaper way to go than UPS! Turns out Greyhound will ship your stuff but someone has to be there to pick it up. They had the best rates, but none of our customers wanted to do the pick up. We ended up going with Fed Ex which shipped them all west of the Mississippi for $90 each! That was pretty goood.
I think my computer and I are finally learning to get along. I was having a lot of trouble with it when I logged in in the morning, but I think it is fine now. I haven’t lost any programs and I think we’ll be okay. I really miss my old computer though… sigh… I didn’t realize how attached I was to that old machine.
I received some jarring news a few weeks ago. A girl that I went to high school with passed away from brain cancer. She and I didn’t move in the same circles, and she was kind of in a popular clique, but she was gorgeous, and funny and I was sorry to hear that she passed away. It’s sort of a theme with me this year that life is so short. At night sometimes I go to bed and think, “this is my 47th September 27. How many more September 27ths will I live to see?” To put a number on that like 40 (hopefully) or less just makes me feel all the more humble and yet pressured to make the most out of my time here.
I’ve been thinking about my best friend a lot. I need to give her a call. I met her in high school too but she wasn’t Catholic. She is a bible believing Gospel Christian and her services are as much about the wonderful music as they are the sermon. We have been the closest of friends since high school, in each other’s weddings and she also is Gabriel’s Godmother.
And the thing is, we never fight over our religious differences. Ever. She has asked me questions. I have attended her church a few times. She was wonderful taking care of her elderly mother and her children and husband. I have been a better person for knowing her. What I never had from her was remark about “being under the thumb of Rome” or being a robot for Rome or being an “unthinking” Catholic. The friendship would have ended long ago if she had, which would have been terrible because her Godliness and Christian life have truly inspired me. She is what a Christian woman is called to me and I respect her for that.
She is on my to do list to call this weekend!
And in the spirit of “life is too short” I am adding a new rule to my blogging habits. Fellas you’re on your own. I will no longer step in as a mother hen to try and defend you against ad hominem attacks. In the past six months I have done that twice. The first time the priest I was defending totally dropped out of the picture. The second time my defendent popped in with a “thanks but no thanks,” and “can’t we all get along type of speech”. It feels very similar to something that happened to me when I was a kid. I was in about 6th grade a little friend of mine ran up to me screaming because a big boy was picking on her. I stood up to the bully and got squarely socked in the stomach. My little friend laughed at me as I was doubled over in pain and I was left alone in the snow to catch my breath. Apparently my learning curve in this area doesn’t climb too steeply. I don’t know if it’s a male/female thing. It might not be. I’m just saying my most recent experiences have been with guys.
Tomorrow is my busiest day of the week and then we have our Archangels Party! Much to do and lots to celebrate! Life is short and I intend to make the most of it.
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