Update

I am aware that my blog posts have been rare and infrequent. Life continues to spin at an all time record pace in our world. I have come to realize it will not slow down, but only continue to speed up as Blaine and Suzanna grow older. I look at them now and can not believe that they are 9, almost Fourth Graders, and really getting big! I truly believe Suzanna as she grows older with her organizational skills could pretty much run the Borchgardt Bunch unlike her global free spirited mother =)! It is amazing how time passes. Many times I just want to hit pause and soak it all in before this season passes as well. I can see the tween years approaching which will mean time spent with their peers is more precious than time spent with us. I am not ready.

Tonight Doyle was headed to the river property to burn brush piles, move cattle and possibly hunt the hundreds of wild hogs which dig up the fields where the cattle graze. Doyle was all ready for Blaine to load up and head out with him as Blaine never misses a trip to the river. Blaine's answer was , " No!" to Doyle. I think it was shocking for all of us. Blaine selected to stay home in order to make a stop by the park with two of his best friends and then hang out with the neighborhood boys on our block!!!!Right now as I type this Blaine is outside on some Huffy Green Machine crashing into trashcans with the neighbor boys laughing , shooting basketball hoops and playing Wall Ball. All too rough for me. I used to be the Mother who would go outside and try to tame the behavior, but have learned to just let it go wild as clearly me "wimping" the adventure down takes all the fun out of it. When God made Blaine he certainly made 150% ALL ADVENTUROUS Boy! Never a dull moment.

I am grateful for the childhood memories being made. I am beyond blessed. I just wish time would slow down and that life could be at an easier more manageable pace as I want to cherish these childhood days before they begin the transformation into teenagers. I know it will be here before a blink of an eye just like I thought Kindergarten would never get here and now it has come and gone. Soaking up the joy and savoring every morsel is what I am attempting to even if it means watching Blaine throw caution to the wind to ride The Green Machine as if he was at Demolition Derby!

Flu A and Flu B

I was almost sure we had escaped the flu season for once until today. I returned from the ranch with Suzanna this morning earlier than I had anticipated to take her to Urgent Care since it was Saturday. Sure enough, after the flu test, the doctor returns to tell me that Suzanna is positive for BOTH strains of the flu, A & B. The doctor then scares me with all the precautions and things to watch out for in Suzanna due to her past respiratory history. Suzanna has had RSV which almost landed her in life flight and intubated at age 2 and pneumonia more times than I can count. With both strains of the flu attacking her at once, then she will need to be monitored closely. She is on two antiviral meds, one each for both strains, which is TORTUROUS to get down her. Suzanna gags and says they taste awful. When speaking to one of my friends tonight she tells me one of the antiviral can cause night terrors and seeing things that are not real. No one shared that with me at the clinic. The boys stayed in the country since I did not want two down for the count so it is just me with Suzanna. Now I am monitoring for crazy behavior too. She has pretty much slept the day away or awaken crying since she feels so bad. So far no panic screaming or seeing pink elephants dancing in the room, so I am super hopeful we will make it through tonight. Prayers for healing and protection so the rest of us do not get it would be greatly appreciated. As a school teacher in Texas, TAKS is 7 school days away. The pressure to be with the classrooms as a Master Teacher is tremendous at this time of the year. Why testing and flu season both have to be at the same time I do not know. Off to sleep. Praying for Suzanna to have sweet dreams! The night terrors side effect scares me worse than the Flu A and B combined.

Missing In Action

I thought I would hop on just to tell anyone who may ever try to catch up on The Borchgardt Bunch that we are not MIA, although since my last post was on Snow Day, it would appear as if we have. Life's pace just never slows down as it is a constant whirlwind. I keep thinking one day the pace will slow but I am beginning to think this is just the pace we travel at 101 miles an hour. The boys are off camping this weekend with YMCA Adventures Guides, so it has been a girl weekend for Suzanna and I. My mother came in town today to spend Valentines with us.

Mother is still adjusting to life without my father. Grieving Dad has been a life changing experience for me as I truly never knew how much his daily phone calls or shared wisdom meant to me until it was gone. I can still hear his resounding boom of a voice many days as if he was sitting right beside me. I live those long 8 weeks of him in ICU over and over in my head. I am grateful for an eternal perspective.

My new school is truly right where God sent me. I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am serving faithfully in a place where God's LIGHT needs to SHINE ever brightly. Many days I am exhausted but it gives me great peace knowing I am where God purposefully placed me. Doyle is busy with work , the cattle and now Dad's cattle as well. Suzanna and Blaine both are horseback riding. Suzanna got a horse from Santa named Buttermilk with Blaine getting a horse this January named Ginger. Blaine starts baseball soon. In fact, I think this is the season Blaine has to try out to make a team. YIKES! Nothing like entering the Little League pressure =)! It's all about character building though. I tell Blaine all the time it is his actions and behavior on the field that matter most not a win or a loss. One day I am thinking it will sink in. Hopefully???

I'll post more soon. Just thought I would let whoever ever might read this The Borchgardt's are still around...just not blogging lately.

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

We had snow on Wednesday! What a winter wonderland College Station became. The children played and played and played until we finally brought them in at 9 pm from all the winter excitement. It was such a fun treat for us. We had an incredible time enjoying every moment!

Blaine & The Deer! Suzanna into the JUNGLE!

Blaine can become hyper focused. This weekend was one of Blaine's hyper focused moments. He was determined that this would be the weekend he shot his first deer. Surprisingly, it was! Doyle had only taken Blaine to practice with a deer rifle once. They had shot into a feed sack using a the deer rifle with Blaine getting used to the kick. Blaine was close to the bulls eye every time he shot though. This past Monday morning before school, Blaine had already packed for the upcoming weekend hunt. Anything he had camo was placed into his duffle bag as well as all hunting equipment. Countdown was excruciatingly painful for Blaine as the anticipation was driving him hog wild. The weekend came and off went Blaine to spend the weekend at Nana's and Papa's in Brenham hunting. Papa and Blaine were up before 5 and in the blind at 5:30 and there they stayed. Only does entertained them Saturday in the blind. Sunday morning a spike buck appeared. Blaine's Papa said Blaine lined the rifle up and fired one shot. I would have paid money to have seen Blaine's face when he saw the deer go down. Papa said Blaine was thrilled and could not believe he actually hit the buck! We could not wipe the smile off Blaine's face all day. It truly was a rite of passage for Blaine with all the Borchgardt men. Uncle Jimmie drove over to see Blaine's first deer. Congratulations were offered. The great thing was that Uncle Jimmie had let Blaine borrow his deer rifle a 22-250. Of course, Doyle drove in once he got the call Blaine had killed his first deer. Hand shakes, cheers, excitement and pride surrounded the day as everyone was delighted for Blaine. Blaine walked in from the hunt I think taller, more confidant and ready to tell the tale of his hunt. We were all so excited for him. He had to clean the deer which Blaine took plenty of photos , 55 in fact , but I will spare you the gore! That just must be something only men understand.

Here is Blaine with his first dove. This hunting season has been all about firsts. Doyle thinks the practice on the small gun helped Blaine get ready for the deer rifle. Blaine so far has hit everything he has shot at which makes him a little boastful and proud of his hunting ability. Doyle and I talked tonight that we would have loved for my Dad to have seen this since he was such the hunter. Then I thought for a moment and realized Dad probably was helping Blaine pull the trigger =)! today in the deer blind smiling. For now Dad can hunt again! His last 5 years here on earth Dad was too sick and too tired to hunt. If Dad can see down from heaven, I now he was smiling from ear to ear with Blaine. Dad loved Blaine dearly for the son he never had.

While Blaine was hunting the weekend away Suzanna cooked up her own fun with Jungle in My Pocket creatures. She spent all weekend playing elaborate make believe stories with one of her best friends and the Jungle in My Pocket animals. She quickly changes her passions from Barbies, Webkinz, Polly Pockets, Littlest Pet Shop and now the "In my Pocket" series. She is our joy! Suzanna is super creative and takes after her Aunt Catherine and Mimi with that talent. She was all smiles this weekend as well delighting in having the house to herself.

God's Purpose

Today on my way to work, I struggled with even going to work. I had a conversation with God which I begged him to call me home. Call me to my home where I could go exercise, cook a healthy meal for my family, play with the dogs and do a Bible Study. Call me to my home which could be my refuge. I wanted desperately just to regroup. I wanted Him to do that for me. All would be perfect and right if I just did not have to go to work. I think often times the grass always looks greener on the other side. Today, I wanted to go to greener pastures.

And So, I enter the building and encounter a student filled with so much rage, so much anger and so much hurt, the pain spilled forth , spilling out down the hallway right smack dab where he raced by me ready to attack like an out of control animal . This student then began kicking a glass door. I think the thrill of knowing glass could shatter at any moment was an adrenaline rush which in this student's mind, shattering glass just might shatter the pain, the hurt and the torture bottled up inside his heart as well. His eyes spoke of the hurt, the pain and the ANGER, red hot explosive anger, he was feeling. So I looked at him and it was then his eyes met my eyes and it was if God spoke right through our eyes. He knew he could trust me. He knew he could calm down with me only because of the God given kid connectivity God gave me at that moment. I took his hand and gently lead him outside where he could began to release his frustration. Tears began streaming down his broken-hearted face. He finally felt safe and began to allow himself to leave the flight or fight part of his brain and began reasoning with me.

And so I prayed, " God what do I give this child of yours? What can I give him in his hurt ?" I leaned in and listened and then I offered him all I could at that moment ...hope! I gave him hope and belief in himself despite the fact that the odds are stacked so high against this kid to dig his way out of generational poverty, violence, and gang neighborhoods. HOPE is exactly what he needed. I told him I believed in him despite it all. Despite the reputation. Despite the grades. Despite the fights. Despite the foul language. I believe in him. Hope! You must have hope.

When you see lives so opposite yours each day you began to question and wonder. Why the extreme injustice? Why the haves and the have nots? Why do some have so much opportunity afforded them and then so many have nothing offered, but despair and oppression. I watch faces of our little ones each day who live in situations many of us could only imagine or have only seen on the television screen. For those little ones though it is their reality. It is their world and to many it is a place of hurting.

And so , the day continues with one crisis to another. It is like being a fire fighter running, rushing in to the flames to put the fires out. Each fire surrounding a hurting child or a hurting teacher. Sprinkled in comes waves of joy as I see student success and celebration happening. Students and teachers rejoicing at accomplishment and growth that is happening. Finding joy with a child or teacher warms you from the inside out. Fires still need tending and so the day marches forward.

As I get into my car, I hear God loudly give me the verse from Ephesians 1:9-12. (I replace the pronouns always for my name or the name of the person I am praying for, to make the Bible come alive to me. )

Ephesians 1:10-12 (The Message)
He thought of everything, provided for everything you, Sara could possibly need, letting you, Sara in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before you, Sara in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.
It's in Christ that you, Sara find out who Sara is and what you, Sara are living for. Long before you, first heard of Christ and got your hopes up, he had his eye on you, had designs on you for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone ( including you, Sara!).

And so God reminded me today. He reminded me that he has this purpose for me. Guess what, he had it before I was even born! I know what my calling is , but yet I fight it. I sometimes want someone elses call. God reminds me today on the way home from work of this verse. He whispers in my ear, "It is in Chirst Sara that you will do this work. This is what you are living for. This is part of my overall purpose I am working out in everything and everyone. And so, you Sara are right where you need to be for my purpose which I had my eye on YOU before you even knew it. "

Temptation, Horseback Riding, Treasures

Tonight Blaine decided to take a bath in Doyle and I's large tub in order to soak while the jets were on to help him feel better. The Borchgardt House has been down for an entire week with the stomach bug , so Blaine felt a hot soak in our jacuzzi would ease his pain. After about 20 minutes, out comes Blaine with blood running down his leg looking a bit confused. Doyle doctors him up as Blaine proceeds to tell of his unfortunate accident in slipping right out of the tub, scraping his leg and now which is now left injured and bleeding. Doyle can't seem to see how the type of cut matches the wild story of slipping, sliding , falling and now bleeding on the way out of the bath, but places the band aid on without much thought.

In comes Blaine to see me. As he shares his story he says, " And Mom, it also took all my hair off!" And so, I now put two and two together to discover Blaine saw my pink razor on the edge of the tub and decided to see exactly how the razor worked by experimenting on his own leg. I said, " Blaine, you used my razor?" He denied it. He denied it again. And again. Then he said, " Mom, okay, I was curious. I wanted to see. You should not leave your razor on the tub. It is too tempting!" First I thought, "With words such as curious and tempting, Wow,! We are getting quite an extensive vocabulary for a Third Grader, but then I saw the spiritual lesson illustrated beautifully for Blaine.

I shared with Blaine how he was curious and tempted, but what had he been instructed regarding the use of a razor? He knew all the right things to say, fully aware that razors cut, but that not enough for Blaine. I shared with Blaine how God in his word has shared with us many cautions to keep us from hurting ourselves. God knows the consequences of being tempted can lead to hurtful situations. Each day we can either choose to be tempted or curious and ultimately end up hurt ....just like he did tonight by the use of the razor or we can chose to trust God and then avoid the consequences., but always knowing we have grace.
He looked at me and said, " Mom , just hide the razors!"

Blaine is my little one who will have to see, touch, feel, experience and live life fully for himself. Evidenced by his inappropriate use of the razor. Blaine is IN every moment. And with that comes a many of life lessons along the way. I pray daily for the Holy Spirit to prompt his heart with things that are of God knowing God has created Blaine for such a great purpose.

Sister Sue =) has taken up horseback riding. She rode bareback last week and is a complete natural on a horse. Suzanna almost becomes one with the horse which reminds me of rides with our horse Katy at the ranch when I was growing up. Well, Doyle took her tonight to buy her a pair of riding boots, helmet and riding jeans. HE was SO proud of Suzanna for her gift of riding. Doyle used to team rope with his horses and rodeo with the horses. He told me tonight, ' Well, if Suzanna is going to ride, I better get back in the saddle as well!" Here we go..............

We have been sick for a week, but I think almost I needed a week just to recenter and regroup.Work has been 12 - 14 hour days. I feel like we are almost all back on solid footing after the 9 weeks with Dad's illness and then death. There is not a day I do not think of him. Wisdom he offered or shared. Memories from childhood with Dad. Things he would say to me regarding the children. Now that he is gone, those memories are treasures. True treasures. What I have learned is while we were making those memories I had not idea that they would become treasures tucked in my heart for the rest of my life here on this earth. I can not make more memories with dad. That opportunity is gone. What a lesson to love completely and fully and to cherish. Cherish, cherish, cherish.