It's Been a While

 Hey guys!  It has been a while for me for sure.  I would love to say that I was doing something great, saving the world or something.  Nope.  Just battling this ever-lasting depression.  I feel like there is so much to say and yet nothing at all to say.

I am still working from home and it looks like that will be a permanent thing, or at least in some kind of hybrid mode.  People always say they wish they could work from home.  And let me tell ya, there are perks for sure.  The biggest drawback is the loneliness.  Kayla got her first full time adult job and is gone before I wake up.  Derek is working, which hasn't ever changed during covid.  Kinley is back in school.  I am home alone all day with my work, my thoughts, my messy house, and my dog.

Let me catch you up on Kinley a bit because that girl keeps us busy.  She is now on a travel softball team which we swore would never happen at this age but the love that girl has for the game, it was just unfair to hold her back.  With that comes yearlong practice and of course camps.  So far, I wouldn't change it for the world.  Watching her hit her first homerun (which at an older age, it wouldn't have been one), was so exciting.  She never even got to score a run before this team.  How can you not get caught up in that excitement?  She will also be doing bowling tournaments starting here in a couple weeks.  I am not a bowler folks.  Everyone in my house will tell you I don't really like it and I am horrible at it.  But Kinley...she loves it.  Within a few weeks of her bowling last year, people would stop and randomly watch her.  She was on bumpers and just whipping that ball down there, but these bowlers saw potential in her that I just couldn't see.  She ended up scoring the top game and top scratch series for females in the bumper league.  Derek and her did a parent/child league over the summer and they held their own pretty well.  I believe they came in 10th out of 40 teams but most of these kids were teenagers.  They had fun.  Now she is back in the regular bowling league and again, people stop and watch.  They say she has raw talent and is so coachable that she should be able to score scholarships no problem.  We will see how long she likes this stuff.  If at any point, she wanted to stop playing any sport, we would support her.  If the want to play isn't there, the skill won't be either.  She is also still participating in karate.  She is now a red belt.  It's amazing to watch her skills progress as her little body catches up with itself and her balance improves.

As for me, I just can't get my groove back.  I stay busy because that is what I have to do with my family.  But I want to feel like me again. So, if anyone sees the real "me" out there, please send her my way!