squeezing summer like a sponge

If summer is a sponge, then we have literally wrung out every last drop of it's warm and juicy goodness. I enter September with the same bittersweet emotions that I always have. I can't stand the chaos and disorder of my house one more minute, but the pending schedules and appointments of the school year don't seem very appealing either.

Tonight we had our back to school blessings. Wilson was blessed with an ability to recognize the spirit, be an example for good and have increased patience and self-control. Cooper was blessed to be able to have a long term perspective and to see how little things have affects on big things. He was further blessed to be a peacemaker with his words and his softened heart. Eliza was blessed with an increased ability to pray, to focus and have increased kindness that others would gravitate toward. Max was blessed to face his fears with faith and that like a plant, he would blossom in knowledge and understanding this year. He was also promised an ability to sleep well. Marcos was blessed with health, an ability to recognize the spirt and encouragement to continue bringing happiness to his family and others. All the children will encouraged to read their scriptures and pray with increased diligence, with associated blessings to follow. I was blessed with an ability to find balance, to know when my children need individual time and, get this, encouragement to speak my mind.

Tony has been Bishop for 3 months. He is doing a decent job, but he gets unbelievabley nervous when he is conducting. I like to tease him about it. Today I had to eat my words when he bore his testimony. That is how I know he is speaking with the spirit, because he stops stuttering and speaks articulately and clearly. I am so proud of him in these moments.

Wilson started football a couple of weeks ago. He missed over half the practices, despite all of Tony and my efforts to help him get there. As a result, he does not get to play in the first two football games. I can't figure out if he sabbatoged himself because he was feeling pressure from his teammates and coaches or if this is yet another example of his inability to see how choices in the present affect the future. Today he looked at me in shock and said, "what?-- we start school on Tuesday?!" I hope he can survive high school. I hope I can survive him in high school.

In celebration of school starting up I have hired a house cleaner to come for an afternoon. This is my first time hiring a housecleaner. I'll probably clean like crazy before she gets here so I'm not too embarrassed about my toilets and floors.