You Think You Work? My Tribute to a Wonderful Working Mom...

Good Morning Everyone;
I received this beautiful letter in my email last week.
In my book this family is Family of the Year! Any year. Every year.

Read this.  Then tell me your definition of work...

May Kristin forgive me...

***** Here is the letter I received, -edited for personal content-

Good Morning!
6:45am-
Kids in bean bags chairs, drinking chocolate milk, watching Little Einstein's.
I have a few minutes to touch base with you all.

Hard to believe summer is almost gone! Not sure where it all went?  
We had a productive summer-  And I have been busy doing mom "stuff"-
Just trying to keep it all controlled chaos.

Kids start school Wednesday -the 1st of September. (My G-A-K squad had 4 weeks of prep for 4-year-old kindergarten).
It will be odd as it has been a LOOOONG time since I have not had "my" kids home for a few hours during the day.

Sean took Drivers Ed, & now has his temps! He will be able to get licensed in December. Hard for me to believe he will be 16 next week, & a Junior in HS this year! Of course he is bigger than mom, & looks manly. Not a little boy anymore.
I remember him, my little towhead, tagging the big kids around.  2 more years & he will be an adult  WOW! 
HS soccer has started already- One tourney done & regulation games have started.
I will be driver till Seth gets his license as his ride graduated; & so will be a bit of running for me this year.
We love Ashwaubenon school so far & don't regret our decision to school-choice the kids.

We did plant a garden-
Each child got to pick one variety of seed & watch it grow- 
BUT the pumpkins kind of took over the entire garden.
We have 2 large, already orange, pumpkins!

Our favorite is our BUTT pumpkin! (See top picture).
It grew through the chain link fence, & it looks like it is someone bending over!

We have not picked much- a few cukes & tomatoes, beans and carrots too. My raspberries didn't fare so hot. But it was fun to see a garden through little ones eyes again. 

Gabe's room got a new floor; & he chose blue for his wall color. Did a hard flooring in there too, wood look, (couldn't afford the real stuff), but 200% better than the old carpet!
Only one problem with that. Steve left (brown) trim paint in there; & Gabe decided to paint the walls with it. So we still have a bit of "finish" work in there. 

We replaced our dinosaur fridge (at least 20 years old)! It gave off more heat than the AC could compensate for! LOL  

And our couches looked nice, but went to the curb. You couldn't get out of them. (Felt like Tim Conway on the old Carol Burnett show)!  You would either have to have someone pull you out, or make numerous attempts.

We had our mini-vacation; including one to one the many soccer tourneys we had for summer league.

We did our family camp and had a great time, in spite of a wicked storm one night.

10 kids in & out for foster care. [We] let one go after 8 months. It's odd, him not being here, but I do not miss the dissension he created.
I am a much calmer "mom" now. Just an incredible amount of stress removed! 

If all goes as planned an adoption will take place the 22 of Sept & we will have our little girl too. It has been a long year but our God has seen us through.
It is a "Good" battle to fight.

Cassie had another bout of rejection but seems alright for now. She spent a week in UW~Madison hospital.

Maria finished her teaching degree, and just needs a job. (Milwaukee let 600 teachers go, so it could be tough to find one).

Shane & Toni! (I am getting excited at becoming a granny in Oct). Her baby shower is this coming weekend.

I am a lead teacher for our Pre-K Children's Church program- And we are revamping the program, so a bit of extra work in my spare time.

Steve's knee is doing well after his replacement in April.
No pain. It still needs to strengthen as it feels tired if he pushes it. 

I have been seeing the chiropractor, as the reg doc just gives me meds, & I am not a fan of that.
I am doing exercises, -NOT MY STRONG SUIT, but I am regaining my strength in my legs. Balance too. I just think it is getting old, and my knees are wearing out with arthritis.

We are still half-done with our laundry room/bath on the main floor that Steve started. We have the walls done but no floor and are walking on concrete. Hope to get it in before winter as it is pretty cold already - & its still hot outside.

Hope this finds you all content in your life full of love, laughter, and the challenges that we all face as a part of our refining process.
Know I continue to remember you all in my prayers & thoughts throughout my day  

Love, Kristin

***** My reply- Now. Very overdue and belated...

My Dearest Kristin;
First of all, forgive me for replying to you this way, but I needed to show you off a little. For all you do, - and for knowing that at times it is thankless work... You persevere and are so very happy!

You are a goddess my dear! 
I don't know how you do it?!?  I couldn't, that's for sure.
My 'semi-educated' guess, (from raising only 4 children), is that 99% of the population couldn't keep up with the 2 of you either. (By keeping up, I mean physically, mentally and emotionally)!
I cannot believe the only problem you have is your knees with arthritis! I would be insane, and sequestered in a quiet, warm, dark room -with lots of Kleenex! hehehe

I am happy that Steve's knee is doing so well. Many many people have that same surgery and only regret it.   He is very fortunate.
As you both are, to have each other!

*  Allow me to recap...

• You have a garden
• You cook 3 square meals a day
  
• 3  Four-year-olds that start kindergarten today
• 1  Sixteen-year-old in Drivers Ed that must to be taken out for driving lessons
• 1 that was at Madison for her potential kidney rejection
• 1 that has graduated college
• You are remodeling the bath and laundry
  
  • You must do a zillion loads of wash every day?
• Repainting Gabe's room-  hehehe 
  
  • (I can laugh, it didn't happen to me).
• You have traveled to many soccer tournaments throughout the state
• You have also had 10 extra children in and out of your home all summer long
  
• You have taken your vacation with all of the above children and hubby-
• You are in the process of yet another adotion
  
• Shortly, you will be Grandma too!
• And, you are volunteering to revamp the Pre K Church Programs, in your "spare time"

To you both- Thank you for being so wonderful- and happy- and loving! 
The example you set for all of the children is a legacy to be so very proud of!  (But you sure raise the bar for the rest of the world).

Know how proud I am to have you all as part of my family. I could not have handpicked any better!

Please give my love to everyone, and kiss those triplets for me too!





Know too that you are all always in my own heart and prayers.

All my love. Always.

XOXO
Me

PS 
You wrote, "we are revamping the program, so a bit of extra work in my spare time."
How in the world is it possible that you even have any "spare time" ???

*****


And now, to all of my friends on here- Are you fortunate enough to have such inspiration and love around yourselves? It is my most sincere hope that you do!

I thought I knew how to work and be busy.  Now?  I beg to differ with myself.

XOXO
Me

Have a 'wunnaful' Wednesday!

XOXO
Me