Lake Time

Summer has officially begun for the Krull family.  We spent Memorial Day weekend at the lake with my parents, my brother and his new bride.  It was a wonderful time and we all left wanting more.  I've said it so many times before but the lake is my happy place.  It's where I am most at peace.  Every time I leave I feel a little peace of my heart behind.

Lucy came home with another eye infection and we made an unexpected trip to St. Jude yesterday.  We are so blessed to have "our" hospital so close.  I sure didn't expect to be there yesterday and needless to say we weren't thrilled to spend our first official day of summer vacation stuck inside the walls of a doctors clinic.  I hope we have caught the infection early enough this time and maybe we will avoid the horrible time she had last go round.

My heart is heavy today for some friends who we have met along this horrible cancer journey.  Ava is having surgery today for a tumor recurrence.  As this brave little girl and her family begin to start this battle again I beg you to pray for them.  Pray for strength and understanding for Ava, pray for peace and perseverance for her parents but most of all, please pray for complete healing for Ava.

Welcome Summer

                                         

Dear Today.  I am so glad you are over.  I left the house at 8:30 this morning and didn't come back home until 6:15 tonight.  Seriously.  It was like I entered the Twilight Zone this week.  The chaos of the last week of school is worse than the week before Christmas to me.  Only 1/2 day left.  We can do this!

The girls both got their report cards and SAT-10 scores back today.  I have been smiling and praising God all day, thanking Him for His blessings.  Ella, well she is just really, really smart, and Lucy---she's probably the hardest working, determined child I have ever known.  Her test scores---take that cancer!

It's hard to believe that we have made it through another school year.  I look back on the year and think about how much all the hard work, tears and prayers have paid off.  We have definitely earned our summer vacation!  We are ready for lake trips, swimming in the pool, movie nights and our annual trip to the beach!  Most of all, I am ready for 8 weeks with my babies and no obligations!

In other news….

Pictures from our school's recent St. Jude Trike-a-Thon.  I'm so proud of all the money our little school raises for a hospital that is obviously very near and dear to our hearts.  Go Eagles!

Under the Sea!

This video does a number on me.  I smile, I laugh, I cry..but mostly I just stare at it amazed at God's miracle.  This is a video of Lucy and Ella in their church musical last night.  You might not understand what a big deal this is but Lucy!  She was in a musical!  She stood up, she sang and she danced.  She never missed a beat.  

Last year at this time she could not even stand for the duration of a song, much less have learned the music and the motions.  I am just absolutely amazed and extremely grateful.  God has answered so many prayers for healing in Lucy's life.  While she still has a long way to go, she is making strides every day.

As if I didn't need any more emotion in my life today, I found this picture in my Instagram feed.  I think my mind instantly came up with at least 15 titles for this picture and about 10 blog posts that I could write regarding what this picture means to me.  I was moved beyond words and into tears.  Emotions welled up in my soul from way down deep.  You know, that deep place that you don't like to go very often at all. 

In happier news, Ella has started swim team again.  Yes, they did swim in 65 degree weather today…in an unheated pool.  No, they didn't last very long.  Only 30 minutes and she was purple!  Her blue teeth are her medal of honor for being so brave and dedicated.  Blue raspberry ring pops were the gold medal today!

Being a Mom

My friend, Emily, has recently run a series on Moms and I am honored that she asked me to participate. Being in front of the camera is an awkward place for me, so I was obviously uncomfortable having my picture made.  I never know how to smile correctly…I always look as if I am sniffing a rotten egg!

Bad picture aside, I feel very unworthy to be a part of the wonderful group of ladies that were chosen for this project.  Being a mother is the hardest, most challenging job I have ever had.  Most days I feel as if I fail miserably.  I yell too much, my house is usually a wreck and most mornings I'm digging uniforms out of the dirty laundry!

But some days….some days….I get it right.  I wake up a few minutes early, make breakfast, actually find clean clothes and make it out of the door for school without yelling.  But most importantly, I never, ever, forget to tell my children I love them.  I am so blessed to be a mother.  It is my greatest accomplishment.  ds

Mother's Day

What an interesting Mother's Day it was this year.  We seem to be on a rather unfortunate streak these dates.  Mother's Day will always be a little bittersweet for me, as last year's Mother's Day marked the last time my Grandfather was ever at his home.

This year, we tried our best to celebrate as he would want us to.  We had a fish fry in his shed, soaking in the smell of memories and catfish.  Even my sweet Ella went to bed with tears in her eyes as she remembered her great-grandfather and the fun times they had together.  Ella loved his fish but loved watching him in his element even more.  He was a master fisherman and an even better "catfish and hushpuppy chef."

The picture above is the only picture I took all day.  I didn't even get one with me and my girls.  I felt like poo most of the day and just didn't care to remember through pictures how dreadful I looked and felt.  I managed to make it through lunch and then slept off and on around the pool.  Luckily there were lots of eyes on the kiddos!  When we got home I managed to do a load of laundry so that the kids would have uniforms today and then I hit the couch.  Literally, I fell onto the couch and then slept for about 13 hours straight.

My husband gave me the best gift yesterday, and that was his willingness to take over the house and kids while I slept.  I just couldn't put one foot in front of the other.  Today I have felt a little better, but my darn allergies are getting the best of me this year.  Even still, I had a nice Mother's Day and I am so grateful for my children.  It is an honor and privilege to be called Mother.

Happy Mother's Day Mom and Judy.  I have been blessed with an incredible mother and mother-in-law.  I'm not sure why I am such a lucky woman, but I count my blessings daily.

On Mothers

Look at these pictures of Lucy.  Don't you just want to laugh out loud?  It's been over the past few months that Lucy's personality has really started to return.  Erik and I have loved watching her spring back to life recently.  What a reminder of how good God is and what a miracle Lucy's life is.

Today we spent our afternoon swimming and playing with friends.  It is days like today that I am reminded how blessed I am and what a wonderful family I have.  My children, my friends and especially my husband.  I am so grateful for his role in allowing me to become a mother and for how hard he works to provide of our family.

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there.  I praise you for the job you are doing….the hardest job in the entire world.  I am also saying a prayer for those of you who are without your moms this weekend.  Having come so close to losing my mom, I can't imagine spending tomorrow without her.

Being a mom.  The most rewarding and challenging job on earth.  There is nothing else I want to do.  This is the job I was called to do.

The Plan

8 weeks in the making. 

This could be the future for the Go Lucy Go Foundation. This 100 page document  was just handed to us and I can't wait to lose myself in it. 

The Capstone project for the graduating MBA students at Christian Brothers University was a marketing plan for GLG. These students poured their hearts and souls into the project and I am so grateful and honored. 

As I think about the dream that I wrote

about earlier this week I can't help but to be excited about the future. God has worked amazing miracles in the life of Lucy and our family and it is my fervent prayer that we will be able to minister to many more families for years and years to come. 

The State of Us

It's funny how I had nothing written on my calendar last week except for a couple of items and somehow I managed to keep myself quite busy!    Thursday and Friday was Muffins for Mom at the kid's school.  They always do a craft item for the moms and I just love seeing what they come up with each year.  I love the smile my children wear when I'm there even more!

Thursday I had the privilege of speaking at the National Day of Prayer event in our community.  It was such an honor to share the platform with some amazing people in our town.

The weather decided to cooperate this weekend and we spent every waking minute outside!  Saturday we finished mulching all the beds and then we cut down 2 cedar trees that had been badly damaged during the last ice storm.  I've moved a lot of limbs in my life but I have never been so beat up by a tree as I was this weekend.  My legs look like I fought a bear and lost!  Our garden is planted, the yard is mulched and the flowers are blooming.  I love my yard this time of year.

Lucy spent her Saturday afternoon at Sweet and Sassy getting her hair, makeup and nails done.  Happy Birthday Taylor!

Saturday night we had a Sunday School social at my parents' house and the kiddos got to swim for the first time this year.  They were so excited and swam until they were exhausted.  All three of them slept so hard Saturday night!

Sunday we had lunch at my parents' and then the kiddos swam for the afternoon.  Last night we had a church picnic that we so fun!  It was probably the best picnic we have ever had.  There was a huge crowd and lots of visitors.  I just love how our church is growing!

It was a busy week and weekend but it was a great week none-the-less.  I am excited about this week as it's Teacher Appreciation Week.  We have some really fun things planned for our teachers and I am having fun being sneaky and delivering surprises.

Thank you to all you teachers out there.  Your job is one of the hardest in all the world.