August 8, 2017

I got up early to run.  But everything felt kind of out of sorts and I didn't really get up early enough.  So I got on the treadmill and did sprints and jogs and sprints again, back and forth for two miles.  That would have to be good enough.

Julia and I spent most of the day at the school.  We were there from 8:45-2:00.  And we didn't know we would be there that long.  And we didn't have a lunch!  And I had only had time for a go-gurt for breakfast.  We were STARVING by the time we left.  Tomorrow we are packing a lunch.  Julia said she ate 15 mints.  But she was SO helpful.  She's so smart.  A boy she knows who's a little mentally challenged walked in and said, "Oh Hi Julia!  I didn't know you worked here!"  It was so funny.  So Julia and I ran the show.  We handed out schedules and answered questions and directed traffic and took payments and took money for PTA and sorted out problems and worked ALL DAY! When the secretaries told me that they couldn't have done it without us, they weren't kidding.

Julia--my little PTA president!

Rindi -- the big PTA president! Ha!

During the whole time I was helping, only four or five families asked me for fee waivers forms for low-income families.  We live in a pretty affluent area so most students seemed fine.  But when I looked into these moms and dads faces and saw the embarrassment, I tried to be so nice and normal.  I showed them what to fill out and where to take the forms.  I gave them their schedules and told them some things about their lockers and schedules.  Quite a few of them came back to me when they had questions.  Then there were the few Mexican dads who came in and said they needed to sign their child up for school.  They were unsure of what to do and probably sent because the mom doesn't speak English (I am totally stereotyping!) but I watched them pay their hard-earned money in school fees.  The whole process seemed to be a little scary to them.  I thought of all of the forms and fees I've dealt with this past month, and the school emails and the tryouts and the schools supplies and everything else.  I remember reading the Hillbilly Memoir recently and how he and his grandma sat at the kitchen table and were so overwhelmed by the applications and financial aid forms for college that they couldn't even figure them out.  Ever.

Some people come even though they have a lot stacked up against them.  It is impressive.  And I'm so blessed to be in my life situation.  I literally had to hold back from whipping out my own checkbook for a few moms.  They looked like they were trying so hard, but life was so hard!  I did come up with one idea though.  Our PTA was selling a Thunder Card which gets the kids into all of the parties during the year for ten dollars.  It's our only fundraiser and almost every kid seemed to get one.  Except these fee waiver people.  So for the first time ever at our school, I am going to propose we give those kids a card too.  Secretly.  Just hand them out with the rest of them.  I don't know.  I've been thinking about it.

Emma went to volleyball and Julia went to basketball and I fed the boys pancakes and took them out to the pool.  Oh boy they swam so hard and wildly.  Austin did forty laps tonight!  Lance just swam his heart out.  It was a splashy good time.  Pretty soon Emma came running out to the pool to tell me that she found out she made the team! We all screamed!  But the best part was that she did so well.  She felt like she was standing out--blocking and hitting and serving her amazing jump serves.  She was feeling so good about herself.  They did a sprint measurement and a vertical measurement and she felt so good about those.  She was so excited!!

I forgot to say, but Lance stayed asleep from six p.m. last night until seven a.m. this morning.  It was awesome!!

It's late now and I need to go to bed.  I'm meeting my group for a run in the morning before a big day of PTA stuff.  :)  It's busy but it's making me feel good about myself.  I'm using my talents.  I'm meeting people.  I'm serving.  I got this!!

We are rocking and rolling at our house.  We are still thinking and praying for Dad and Mom.  While I was out at the pool, watching my boys with their tanned skin and the water splashing everywhere, I felt so grateful for their youth.  They have so much to look forward to.  They are so blessed.  As the boys were brushing their teeth, I overheard Owen yell out, "Don't forget to pray for Grandpa!"  And my heart swelled with love.  Up and down, I love my family.