Hooray For Second Days!

I think it's great that I can't talk my six year old boy into leaving the top button of his shirt unbuttoned. Got to love their individuality.

We made it to the second day with flying colors! Robby loved kindergarten. Like I said yesterday, I did well, too, sending him off. However, there is something about that bus that stirred a little emotion in me. I drove him to school but let him take the bus home with kindergärtner's only, as we will continue to do. So when I saw that big yellow bus entering our subdivision and approaching our house yesterday, out of the blue, my eyes welled up with tears followed by a deep exhale.

It was a feeling kind of like when you observe an air craft approaching it's landing and you know someone very special will be getting off that plane. It's the anticipation and excitement of re-connecting with that person. It's recognizing that you have them there for a time but, not forever.

He's growing up and I am aware of how quickly time will go from here. It's hard to let go as a mom. But rather than dreading, "not enough time," I'm reminded to celebrate the person he is becoming, cherish the snuggles I still get; not to sweat the small stuff; and have fun.

I am so grateful for the privilege of mothering this young man!

New Beginnings

Robby just walked into his kindergarten class this morning, first day of school, secure and ready for a new beginning. He was actually pushing me out the classroom door before I could get in! I had my pangs over the summer so, I felt okay this morning, too. We also had an extra year to prepare. I am so glad we waited to send him to school at six! It has made all the difference in the world letting him go this morning. He is so sure of himself, more mature, and on the ball. Last night he read two books to me and his siblings before bed. I love that I can say that I taught him to read. That is so cool! Although he was ready to do it, that is still part of the beauty of us waiting a year. There will be enough demands on him with eighteen other students in the classroom so, it is good to know he has a bit of a head start.

I'm excited for Drew and Alexa to hang out at home and be pals...with Madeline, too, as she grows. Alexa was excited for Robby starting school and senses the change, as she is already paling around with her little brother.

We are definitely structuring our mornings with a mourning routine (devotion, breakfast, dressed, make bed, brush teeth and hair, and wash face); learning that is fun; and lots of play, where we can incorporate character building skills. Thursday mornings we'll go to the library and Friday morning we'll combine learning with her cousin, Lucy.

I will continue to coordinate the evening MOPS group and do a weekly WOW (Women of the Word) bible study for me, which offers an excellent structured program for Alexa and loving ladies for the littlest ones on that morning.

I'm excited about being better about planning my menus, baking homemade bread and goodies, and smelling crock pot meals by 10:00am. I'm excited to start thinking and planning for the holidays. I'm not so excited about trying to keep up with the daily tasks of house-cleaning but, I am committed to keeping up on it and maybe even learning to enjoy it a little.

I am excited to set some goals for myself, never forgetting those other dreams that are on the back burner...or what ever more exciting plan God has for me! I'm not really committed enough yet, however, to share what those goals may be. Time continues to be the biggest challenge. Given a little time to get this schedule underway, so my priorities are straight, I'll start working out some short-term goals (like more regular blogging!).

It's good. Change is good. Renewal is good. God is good.

End of Summer

This very well may have been our last park day before school starts. So, once again, I'm capturing those precious faces.

It's hard to believe the summer is over and Robby starts kindergarten on Monday. We had a good summer and I think we are as ready as we can be for the transition. Robby visited his classroom today. He is excited!

I had a brief conversation with him the other day about starting kindergarten in a big school. I told him if kids are unkind, you can show them God's love by being kind anyway. His response was, "Yes, treat others the way I would want to be treated; and do not overcome good with evil but, overcome evil with good." Whoa...conversation over. What more could I say. I'm proud of him.

I'm ready for routines to begin at home, as well. I'll be doing some preschool with Alexa at home - a combined effort once a week with her cousin Lucy and aunt Jeannette; and Children of the Word once a week. The rest of the time? Morning routine, lots of play, and learning to be a helper to Drew and Madeline.

Fall cleaning - in the works!

I'll try to catch up on some highlights of our summer over the next couple of weeks. For now, I'll close with the scripture verse that I have recently claimed. Above all, in the end, this matters:

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." 3 John 4