travel Archives - as Jules is going

Recovery?

March 27, 2012 by Jules 4 Comments

This past week Matt and I took some of our Relentless students to St Louis on a
Spring Break trip while our children had a 5 day sleepover at their Nanna's house.

Limbo doesn't even begin to explain where I'm at right now. Our family is not playing a simple game of see who can keep their balance while crawling under a pole. No, we have been on a full-blown roller coaster with an end beyond the horizon filled with flips, tight turns, giant loops, and hills that take your stomach away and force out feelings you didn't know you had. All this since October of 2011. Going and going and going...

Preparing to travel. Traveling. Preparing kids to be away from home. Readjusting to being home. Preparing to travel again. And the cycle starts over.

Where is the recovery in this cycle?

We're all running in circles.

Where is the rest?

We're all tired and sick.

Where is the peace?

We're all on edge; our bodies sore with stress.

Our poor home has felt the wake of this coaster. It's winds blowing through reeking havoc in every corner of clutter. Filling trash cans with debris. Tearing our home to pieces, literally.

We need time to stretch the aches out of our inner most muscles. Time to rest our eyes not just in sleep but from the hustle and bustle of looking for what's next. Time to regroup, reorganize, clear out, clean up, settle down, have a seat, Enjoy one another.

I'm ready for a smaller house. A smaller yard. Less maintenance. Less responsibility. I want a to-do list diet: fewer things on my plate that are making me chubby with anxiety.

I'm ready for routine. I'm ready for predictable. Not just knowing about the millions of things that are filling up our calendar but a standard. I'm ready for almost dull, monotonous, SLOW way of life.

I'm trying to find peace and enjoy this stage. I don't wanna miss life as we are traveling through it. I'm so glad I have my camera back so I can remember to stop and capture each moment. Not only to remember it later but to notice it now.

I know God did not build us to run as fast as the machines we've created. I want to get back to the pace of the garden. Walking in the cool of the evening! Chatting with our maker. awe...

Filed Under: Being a Help-Meet, Homemaker, Parenting, The Ones about Jules Life {Randomness}, The ones about the Rothacher Home Tagged With: house keeping, life in limbo, organization, peace, roller coaster, travel

Where ya been?

November 15, 2011 by Jules 2 Comments

It's been almost a week since I've posted...you're not missing much ;o)

This past week has been kinds crazy. Last Tuesday me and my girls took a flying road trip several hours north to hang out with my 'forever friend' who lost her daddy. My girls had a blast having their 1st "Grammy day(s)! Jamin hung out with a friend from church during the day and his daddy in the mornings and at night. He also had his 1st Nanna day!
I got to see many friends while in my home town. My girls traveled well! We ran lots of errands and hung out with family and friends. My girls and I got to go to my home church and see the awesome ministry they have to their community!

Had safe travel home on Thursday! Made it home just in time for dinner with the other side of the family. Got to see extended family before she jumped on a plane the next day.

Friday we attempted another Rothacher marathon day which included but wasn't limited to a cardiologist appointment, SAMs club run, lunch at Chick-fil-a, and a failed pediatrician (shot follow-up) visit, and Jamin's pictures.

God's rocked through our week! It's amazing the endlessness of what He has for us...exhausting as it maybe some weeks...always GOOD.

Although it doesn't feel like Thanksgiving it next week it is! We are Thankful! Thankful for the list above (what we see as good and bad!). Thankful for always joyous holiday season approaching us! Thankful for the different way we're doing Christmas this year {promise to share soon!} Thankful for this little nook of cyber air I get to call my own!

~~~

How have you been? Have any "Rothacher Marathon" stories of your own? What do your holidays look like this year?

Filed Under: The ones about the Rothacher Home Tagged With: Children and Youth, Christmas, exhaustion, fun, God, holiday, road tip, Thanksgiving, travel

Awe, the memories they made

June 13, 2011 by Jules Leave a Comment

Memories...good, bad, awkward, fun, silly, painful, deep- all have a special place in God's perfect, absolute, complete, flawless plan!
This past weekend, my family and I took a trek up to Fayetteville to hang out with my parents, niece and nephew for a couple of days. After the tasking of simply (hehe) getting packed and out-of-town the adventure began! Traveling with a potty training (almost) 3-year-old, a napping 1.5-year-old and nursing 5 month old while was a task; attempting to keep everyone from melting down by stopping for 3 potty breaks, grab a snack which was then tossed with happy meal toy (that had been collecting in a bucket) to the back of the van over our bags, stroller, and stuff- 4 hours later we arrived right on time for their bed time. But we still needed to eat dinner and get in some Much needed play time with the cousins! We all met the chicken's and ducks the grandparents bought at Easter time in honor of all the grandkids. The girls played with naked barbies and chased remote control trucks. We attempted to set up camp with our three little ones who are very set in a routine. Maggie's sharing a bed with someone for the 1st time. Izzie was scared to sleep in a room with her cousin in a strange new place. Jamin passed smooth out from exhaustion never to be heard from again until 6:30 a.m. Poppie ran to get a pillow to lay with Izzie until she went to sleep. And night 1 was over.

After a long night of trying to keep everyone in their beds we woke up EARLY. The day was packed with tons more playing, grocery shopping, lunch at Chick-fil-A (AMAZING every time!) and my mom and I got ready for the party (that's what we call any gathering with food and friends).