More on Swimming Lessons...

(disclaimer: if you're not in the mood to read, scroll down for pictures...this is a long one!)

A typical day for me while I'm in Waco teaching swimming:

Wake up,
go for a run,
get time with God,
feed the baby,
put on my swimsuit,
go teach kids to swim all day,
come back inside in the late afternoon,
feed the baby,
get my kids in swimsuits and sunscreen,
go back outside for them to play til dinner,
bathe them up 

and put them to bed. 

(i left out my 30 min lunch break where i again, feed the baby!)

Wow. Long days.

Swimming lessons are always long, long days outside in the sun with lots and lots of kids.
Some that love to swim and some not so much.  But somehow I love it every year...but not because it's easy, but because... 

• It really is rewarding to see a kid overcome their fear and find something that they actually love and can be good at. 
• For part of the time I get hour after hour with my sister (quantity time at it's best!). 
• My kids get to stay at their grandparents house and play with their cousins who they don't get to see very often.
• I get time with my nieces and nephew...who I adore but are growing up so fast.

I'm not a working Mom the other 11 months of the year but in June, I very much am!!

But I honestly think I have the easier job during that month.  My  mom, on the other hand, has the harder.  She takes care of my three and my sister's three kids (ranging in age from 5 months to 11 yrs).  She helps with all the "traffic" of swim kids, parents, cars, etc coming and going.  People say it all the time about her, but she really is superwoman.  She sacrifices so much for all of us...she is the most selfless person I know.  She serves us tirelessly and asks for nothing in return.  She loves our kids so well...Emily I think knew Grandmommie more than Mommy during that month! 

I heard a sermon at Antioch in Waco by Chris Bennett while I was there about honor and was freshly convicted to do a better job of honoring my mom for who she is and all she does for me.  I take her for granted all to often.  I know she's not perfect, but perfection has nothing to do with honor.  Thank you, Mom for laying down your life for us over and over again.  I feel like these three words describe you--prayer, passion, and purpose.  Thank you for being such a powerful example in my life.

Ok...pics!

Staying occupied while stuck inside...

the itouch...thank you nance kids for sharing!

the ipad...thank you aunt allie for trusting them with it!

papa, we are so proud of how hard you have worked since your stroke.
thanks for reading to the kids, they love it!

pic by claire

pic by claire

And then, once they were free to go outside...they had a blast. The Ogdens were in town for Jayden to take lessons and they came over almost every afternoon.  Oh, that we lived in the same town all the time!!  The kids (and moms!) have so much fun together.

We also got some fun time with my sweet friend Marci Hartsock and her kids.  When they came over with Christy there were 9 kids altogether! 3 of mine, 4 of Marci's, and 2 of Christy's (Campbell was usually home!)

Ellie and Anna in matching swimsuits

Whoa...lots of fun in the sun.

(Jayden Ogden, Jade Hartsock, and Ellie were in the same class in swim lessons and Christy has a cute post of their "parents day".  I, of course, got no pics of that event!)