Clearing Off The Shelves

Rick is going to be a Senior in the autumn. Ben is going to be a Junior.

It's that time of year when I clear off the hs'ing shelves and sort thru the junk.  However, this year is different. This year, I have no need to make room for new books for Rick. He's almost done. This final year is mostly reading the classics. He also has Math and Science along with a few reports that I will need for him to complete.  His shelf is almost empty. As for Benny's shelf, everything he needs for his Junior and Senior year are already on his shelf.

I have all the books I need for the next two years. Everything else can go...

I put out an email to several people and thru my tears I explained that I don't need to sell these books in order to buy MORE curriculum. I have all that I need.  Everything is free.  My hs'ing journey is almost over. It was bittersweet to be cleaning off these shelves.  Everything from Algebra and Art to Zaboomafoo and Zoology could go.

Immediately, within minutes, the phone was ringing and the email was telling me, "You've Got Mail".  Everything is gone. Every last book, workbook, student text, Teacher guide, readers, art supplies, paper and folders of a million different types are gone; except for what is on my two tiny shelves. Almost 13 years of my journey gone with the click of a send button on my computer.

It's the beginning of new chapter for all of us.  There are many changes coming our way.  Matt started a new position within the company he works for and in addition to his duties, his shift may also change. Rick started working as a Stable-Boy for a horse farm. Ben has specifically set aside time every day so that he can work on his book - undisturbed.  There are two retirements approaching at my place of employment and there will be some job shifting there as well - which means I could be going to days either full-time or part-time - regardless of when, I will gain a few more working hours during the week.  My Mother-in-Love has cancer and is undergoing chemo treatments. My Father-in-Love has a few things he is dealing with. My brother is going to be a daddy in the fall - and I will be a full-fledged "Skype-Auntie".  Rick wants to take a train out West to visit his uncle.  All sorts of things going on. It can seem overwhelming at times.

The changes seem daunting and at times heartbreaking, but through it all we seem to find time to laugh. It seems, to all of us, that this time is super-duper-uber precious to us. We are taking more time to 'play'. We were a close family anyway, but now it seems almost urgent to keep our family time a priority.

My heart broke a year ago when my Grandmothers died and when my Dad had a heart-attack in the middle of those deaths. My heart was breaking just a few days ago when I was clearing away a huge part of my life.  Hs'ing is everything to me. Everything revolved around making it work financially, so that one of us was always home to home-school the boys. I don't regret the sacrifices we made, however, I am ready for more income.

We are facing different financial times within just our own family unit. 3 sets of wisdom teeth, flight school, Technical College, carpeting and one last BIG family trip. While I will miss the days that have flown passed up, I am looking forward to having the cash flow for some big ticket items --- like wisdom teeth!