Tori's Thoughts

Another Birthday

Shawn and Tori — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:41:32 +0000

Yep, 31 today. Wow… I don’t think I feel 31. I am not really sure how 31 should feel…mmm

Last year was hard, turning 30 really freaked me out. I am not freaked out by 31, just unsettled.

I have spent this last year really trying to LIVE… What does this mean??? Well, I really wanted to start being and living in the right here and now. I want to be truly present and intentional about living. I don’t want to stress and worry about the small and insignificant. I want to be truly happy with and in what I have. I want to be enjoying and experiencing things as much as possible.

This was a totally new way of thinking for me. I think so many times we get caught up in things and don’t take time to slow down and really LIVE. I have not put this into every day as much as I wish to. I still get caught up in things. I hope to at least have more of an awareness now, so I can slow down and focus on what really matters.

So, another birthday, and another year to have the opportunity to enjoy and edure, to grow in our struggles and our accomplishments. To be inspired and to inspire. To aspire to truly LIVE.

This is what is new

Shawn and Tori — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:25:49 +0000

Well, it has been a whirlwind of a week. We had been waiting, and hoping to hear good news about the job Shawn applied for. He has applied for a ton over the last little bit, but this is the one we really wanted… Well the answer was no. Yes, even as adults we sometimes face the answer being no. Ok, so I was really mad, disappointed, and a little freaked out. We have stretched our budget and were doing fine through the end of the month, but for this to work Shawn needed to be working by Monday. We got the no on Friday. Shawn pulled things together and made some calls.. thinking even if he could get some day by day work, he called a friend who owns an electrician company. He said he would hire him and give him a job as long as he wanted….. So although unexpected, and for the time being a substantial cut in pay, this is a job on Monday. This job has opportunity for moving up if we choose to pursue it, it provides evenings and weekends off….. Something Shawn has not had in over eight years. So although this is not the path we thought, this is the one we are on.

On a different note, my boys left for Summer Camp on Saturday. They were both sooo excited. I am sure they will have many adventures to tell of. They will be gone a week, they just left Yesterday and I already miss them.:( Ellie and I will have to find things to keep ourselves busy this week!

The Sword

Shawn and Tori — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:43:11 +0000

As most of you know, our time at our church and job for the last 8 years is over. This has been a process and a decision made a while back. Recently, Shawn received a present from an anonymous source… A Sword. A big, real, medieval, sword. It took me aback at how symbolic this really was. Our last 8 years have been a time of great growth and accomplishment, and with this I am finding most of the time comes great struggle, and down times, (The Battle). We are now moving on to the next phase in our lives. We have decided it is time for Shawn to go back to school and finish his degree. In our reality, he will also be working full time, and be a full time father and husband.(Our future Battle) I believe life has great things in store for our family. I am very aware it will be hard work and we will face some struggles. That is what will make the victories so sweet.

Just a thought…..

Shawn and Tori — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 19:19:30 +0000

FORERUNNERS

Long I followed happy guides,

I could never reach their sides;

Their step is forth, and, ere the day

Breaks up their leaguer, and away.

Keen my sense, my heart was young,

Right good-will my sinews strung,

But no speed of mine avails

To hunt upon their shining trails.

On and away, their hasting feet

Make the morning proud and sweet;

Flowers they strew -I catch the scent;

Or tone of silver instrument

Leaves on the wind melodious trace;

Yet I could never see their face.

On eastern hills I see their smokes,

Mixed with mist by distant lochs.

I met many travellers

Who the road had surely kept;

They saw not my fine revellers,

These had crossed them while they slept.

Some had heard their fair report,

In the country or the court.

Fleetest couriers alive

Never yet could once arrive,

As they went or they returned,

At the house where these sojourned.

Sometimes their strong speed they slacken,

Though they are not overtaken;

In sleep their jubilant troop is near,

I tuneful voices overhear;

It may be in wood or waste,

At unawares ‘t is come and past.

Their near camp my spirit knows

By signs gracious as rainbows.

I thenceforward and long after

Listen for their harp-like laughter,

And carry in my heart, for days,

Peace that hallows rudest ways.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Elisabeth is reading!!

Shawn and Tori — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 05:10:14 +0000

Yes, it is true I am one of those moms. I make my kids do schoolwork during the summer. Not a lot, but a little every day, so they don’t forget everything over the summer. The other night I heard Ellie in her bed trying to sound out words to a story. Up until now I have just been going over flash cards with sight words on them, no actual books. So, after I heard her, I got this novel idea.(no pun intended ) Maybe we should try books. We did and she is really reading. First grade will be great! This process always amazes me. I remember this with the boys. One day they are these little people who aren’t reading and then all of a sudden they are reading everything.

They are growing so fast. Can’t stay on this thought too long, or I will get weepy. Right now I am just marveling in the fact my baby is reading.

Summer is officially here.

Shawn and Tori — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:02:50 +0000

oh yes, Summer is here. I just spent 3 hrs in the emergency room. The kids and I were over at some friends house, they have a man made pond. Caleb knelt down to look into the pond and put his knee on a piece of a broken jar. Of course we did not know the jar was there, or where it came from. Nevertheless, Caleb came into the house his whole leg covered in blood. OOFTA! So, all is well now. We had a few problems getting his leg numb, but four stitches later we are done. He is feeling fine…. He thinks this gives him a free pass for unlimited playstation time now.

These are the joys of being a mother of boys……….

Life is good!

Shawn and Tori — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 04:04:14 +0000

Mmmmmmmmm!!!!

Fathers Day

Shawn and Tori — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:31:30 +0000

Fathers day is coming right up. That great day in June where we get to say thanks to all the great men in our lives. I am very fortunate to have had a lot to be thankful for. My dad has always been a very wise man. I of course did not always thinks so. I too went through the teenage years when I thought I knew everything and my parents knew nothing. I now still find myself , after being married to a pefectly capable man for ten years, thinking mmmm I wander if we should call dad and see what he thinks. My dad is great. At first glance he looks a little intimidating, but it is true he is kind of a teddy bear… especially with the grandkids… now that is something to see. I have also been blessed with Grandfathers. From as far back as I can remember, my Grandpa Ruggles told the best stories. I loved the summers I was able to spend with he and Grandma. Since my preteen years my Grandpa Schwertfeger has always been willing to do whatever was needed to help. I even lived with him and Grandma for a short time after graduation.

Now I am married and have three kids who think they know everything! They are smart enough still to think they have the best dad ever. I see in him everything I am thankful for in my life and more. I see him being wise, he is always willing to help people who need it, he is loving, gentle, and I am sure he will have some great stories to tell to our grandchildren.

This Fathers Day lets not forget to remember what truly matters. Thank all those great Fathers in your life.
Happy Fathers Day!

Summer Days

Shawn and Tori — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:55:14 +0000

I am so happy summer break is here. My kids got out of school on June 2nd. I am really ready to have them home by June. And of course by September, I am really ready to have them back in school. I was sick today with a summer cold I guess, but the kids had a great day. They spent a lazy morning in front of the TV with a bag of cold cereal. My kids love cereal in a baggie, weird huh? They then went outside to help Dad with yard work. The first step was to get all the green plastic army figures out of the yard… What an adventure. So, they went on with several miscellaneous yard chores. Then we came to the marvelous revelation that Brendan was old enough to help mow the lawn. He tried last year, but wasn’t strong enough to push it. This was great fun. Daddy mows the front and Brendan the side and the back. He feels so big now. So, after an afternoon in the yard, the kids + dad went to the YMCA for some swim time. Elisabeth thinks she is a mermaid and I have been informed that she can do somersaults underwater now. She is not afraid of the water at all. The boys spent their time being chased by dad and going down the slide.

I wonder what great adventures tomorrow holds…………..

Hello!

Shawn and Tori — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 16:08:16 +0000

Tori blogging, mmm we will see how this goes. I have been wanting to get a myspace account for awhile. The more and more I look at it I just don’t think it is for me. Am I too old??? Surely not, even my grandpa has one. So, I looked at the reasons people said they had one. Networking - I have nothing to network, Meet new friends – nah, and I definitely don’t need a new love interest. So, no offense to those of you that have myspace, I think they are awesome, I just don’t have the energy. I think this will be a better fit for me. I wanted something so I could post family pictures and share what is going on in my life. I am sure sometimes I will ramble, but I am kind of excited. So we will see where this leads. Until next time………