Friday Night Wordless Wednesday
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Category Archives: Kendall
Did I Get the Date Wrong?
Today is definitely September 5th, but after my day yesterday, it really should have been a Friday the 13th. This is going to be a real and raw blog and I will go ahead and say if I offend you sorry I don’t mean to point fingers but rather just recorded the events so that in the future I can look back and laugh and say I survived.
E was scheduled a visit with both of his parents, which historically cause a lot of disruptions for us. He was awake around 5:30am with his heart racing and hungry. I decided there was no reason to even attempt to go back to sleep so after calming him I was up for the day. He was moving very slowly and required ALOT of extra prompts just to make it to school.
Kendall is completing an internship at Cooleemee on Friday so she is riding with me and planned to hang out at my office for the afternoon. We went out to eat in Downtown Mocksville. Imagine my surprise when the car would not crank right after lunch. I also had an emergency light that said CVT. This is the same part that was replaced in June. I called the dealership and was not that I was outside the area they can tow in so I could pay an additional amount to them, attempt to drive the car or call for Nissan roadside assistance. I decided to take my chance and drive the 30 minutes to the dealership. When I arrived, I was told they only had one technician and he had just went to lunch. The expected time was 2 hours. I looked at my watch and decided I should still have enough time to make Zach’s game. I was waiting patiently until about an hour and half in. I was told that I could not get a loaner car until they decided what was wrong. A little after two hours I was told that it was the battery but they were not sure what the cost was? And it would be at least another 45 minutes. I lost it. I started asking for management, luckily about 15 minutes later we were out the door.
Kendall and I got home with just enough time for me to use the bathroom and head to Zach’s game. Kendall was staying at home to get E after the visit. The game was over an hour away. We got to the game and realized that E still was not home and no one had contacted me at all. An hour and half after his visit was scheduled to end, I started texting and calling the four different numbers I had for the DSS office. No answer to either text or calls and not one single line had the after hours on call Social worker number. Kendall was concerned and I was as well. E arrived an hour and forty-five minutes after his visit. I did receive a text an hour after he was dropped off. I also received a call 2 and half hours after he was dropped off.
We were actually surprised the game started on time because of lightening in the area When it started to rain we moved mom into a slighty covered area. Unfortunately, her scooter decided that it was not going to work either, Thank goodness we safely made it to the car and waited out the storm. Matt and I did not get home till almost 11pm and it was right at midnight when Zach came home. E ended the night crying himself awake x 3.
Yeap it should have been a Friday the 13th.
5 Things Friday – Family Update
- We have officially survived the first week of school! And in bigger news we managed an entire first week without eating out for dinner! The kids have all started new things so this is the perfect way to do an update!
- Zach (turns 17 next week) has been struggling all week to get his class situation straighten out. He is currently a dual enrollment student. He is taking a welding class at Davidson Davie Community College. He attends this from 8am to 11 am daily. When his schedule first came out he was not placed in any high school classes. This required several phone calls to be added to classes. He was told he was not allowed to take any online classes which meant he would not be placed in honor class due to scheduling. In addition, he was placed in a 3rd period class which gave him exactly 10 minutes to get from the college to school. Obviously this would not work. He ended up talking to the principal and finally on Thursday, things worked out. He is currently enrolled in two honors online classes. This will allow him to come home shower and eat lunch prior to doing his school work.
- Kendall (18) is absolutely loving her classes at Catawba! She is officially considered a junior but has to take one additional class that is required for all student during the first year. She is doing an observation every Friday at Cooleemee Elementary and is excited to even participate in a trip to California next Spring. She is working diligently to pay off her car by adding two mornings a week at the YMCA.
- Lily (20) is settling in her apartment in Florida. She has been offered and accepted a entry level position at a law firm! She plans to continue working at Disney part time because that is her dream but is super excited to be able to actually start a job in her field to determine if she wants to go to law school.
- I am going to combine the final updates because I want to stick to five and with six kids that is hard to do! Amanda has moved to a house closer to Braxton school and they have started decorating it! She is super excited to be switching to a first shift job that will allow her to be at all of Braxton’s events and be home every evening. Haley just graduated from nursing school, has been offered a position in a local to her hospital and will be taking her licensure exam next week!
Wordless Wednesday- First Day of College
Wordless Wednesday- Room Changes
Kendall’s is all but finished… she still needs to hang some ears.
Zach’s new room is in progress
E’s new room has not even been started!
Who likes change? Not many people can say the truly enjoy when things change. As I have gotten older, I do realize that I tolerate change a little better than some but I still don’t like change. Here is where the problem arises, over the next few weeks, the last few weeks of summer, lots of changes are happening!
- Lily is moving to Orlando Florida, where she is employed full time by Disney World to be a photographer. This is by no means a sudden change but it is a HUGE one. Both Lily and E are struggling with this change and all it means. First here is the background. When Lily completed her DCP (Disney College Program) in January 2025, she wanted to stay and continue. However, it just was not possible with her financial expenses of school. So she came home to finish college and began for searching for jobs that would allow her to return to Orlando either at Disney or as a para legal. In September 2025, Lily completed an interview for a photo pass photographer and was “placed on the bench”. What this means is that for six months if someone quits then she can be offered a job. In March 2026, instead of being removed from the bench she was offered to remain on the bench for another six months. After prayer, she decided to stay on the bench. At the same time she was offered and accepted a summer internship with Egger. This is the same company Matt works for. In mid June Lily was contacted and offered a full time position. She accepted the position, raced to Orlando found an apartment and even managed to work out her schedule to be with us for Easton’s birthday. And completed the 10 week internship in good standing. Matt and I will be pulling a u haul trailer with her stuff to her the first of August. The biggest adjustment for everyone but E is that Paul is Lily’s dog and has moved with her.
- Lily was occupying the ‘old” master bedroom which has a walk in closet and a half bath attached. Kendall jumped at the chance to move in this bigger room. Zach originally did not want to move rooms because he thought was it would be less than five years before he was moving out on his own. BUT the bigger bed was calling his name. He will be painting and moving as well.
- This left us (Matt and I) to decide what to do with Zach’s (3rd) bedroom. After some discussion, we decided to purchase a set of bunk beds and put in Zach’s old room. This will be for both Braxton and E to sleep in. E will be able to have his own room with space to build Lego’s as well as a closet for his clothes.
- Next question, what do we do with nursery/office that E is currently sleeping in? I actually like having my desk in the bedroom closer to the rest of the house as I am not isolated unless I want to be. We have decided to make the nursery into an closet/ exercise room.
The bright side of all this change is that we are not forced to complete it all at once in just a couple of days. Kendall will move into Lily’s room first including moving her ears and tv. Then Zach will have to paint and patch the walls of Kendall’s old bedroom. He also is request a new fan. Finally we will need to purchase install and arrange the furniture the final bedroom for E. This will also gain ALOT of our privacy back because we will have a master bedroom suite again!
My current plan is to show you as the changes happen! But change will be slow as E and I will be out of town for 13 days in August!
Wordless Wednesday Family Pictures
Wordless Wednesday Then and Now
Thursday Plans
::Matt and I choice Jeremiah 29:11 as our verse at wedding… For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”
My plans for this summer has significantly changed and are total different than what I thought they would be even five months ago. I am excited to see all the things that happen and all the memories made this summer. Today I thought I would give you an update on just about everything!
Today is my last day before Summer Break! Kindergarten promotion is tomorrow. And due to our childcare situation, I am using parental leave for next week of workdays and the first three workdays in August!
Lily is really enjoying her legal internship with Egger. She was informed right before starting that the attorney was leaving the company. This made for a very stressful weekend. However, she is two weeks in with more experience that she had even hoped for. She also has several opportunities to consider! I also think this has confirmed that she really does want to be in the law field.
Kendall is looking forward to Catawba College in the fall. She will be entering as a junior with two years planned to finish her degree. She has received enough scholarships to cover her tuition and books until she completes her degree.
.Zach is super excited for football and is already attempting to gain weight! He has decided to attend classes for welding along with high school.
Haley will finish her nursing degree in August and we plan to join her to celebrate!
I am looking for a busy and fun filled adventure this summer!
5 Things Friday
1. For the first time in 22 years, Matt and I have made plans to go away for the weekend without any children! I need a break and this worked out to be just at the prefect time. I am not going to give any more details till we are home safe but I am super excited!
2. The garden is looking really good! One big change is the amount of watering we are doing. With that in mind, the current plan is to get one more tote to fill with water. So that even in drought we should be able to not use water that cost money!
The up front cost should be around $50. We are hopeful to get this put in place this weekend as we have a solid week of rain chances and have already filled most of the 2 tanks we have.
3. Foster care is stressful. I have a ton more stress in relationship to the agency and it’s policies, procedures and expectations than actual dealing with every day kid stuff.
4. Kendall has to attend graduation practice next week otherwise she is completely finished with High School. Zach took an exam today and he is also finished. Davie County has 9 official days with the last one being an early release day. The count down to summer is really really close. I have less than that due to Kendall’s graduation!
5. Since this is Memorial Day weekend and we don’t have school on Monday, I want to finish the book I am reading. And do small repairs on both the Tahoe and Rogue. Added stress of the Honda has stopped again!