Conferences

I was kind of dreading school conferences this year. First of all, Management is out of town so I would be going alone. I've done this many years before but this time I was anticipating some issues I would have to discuss with WeeklyAd's teacher, a whole new set-up with HomeAudio being in Middle School now and our first conference with little H&G's teacher.

Things actually were just fine. WeeklyAd's teacher had nothing but good things to say and when I brought up a social issue that WeeklyAd was concerned about, it wasn't awkward and the teacher said that she was already on top of it. Ugh, girls! I was, once again, so incredibly thankful for WeeklyAd's teacher and the fact that my kids get to go to such a great school!

HomeAudio's conferences went well also and the red ribbon quote through the 5 teachers I spoke with was "academically, he's doing great! Socially, he is a leader, very whitty, extremely intelligent, and could be a stand up comedian. He has high energy and just needs to learn to focus and once things are gone, bring them back in." Seriously, every single one of them said the exact same thing. Really, I've been hearing this same thing his whole life! He is hilarious! His teachers really do appreciate his humor but he needs to know when to be funny and when not to be. I'm thankful that he has a lot of friends and is well liked but we will be working on focusing on schoolwork during school hours! :)

H&G is doing wonderfully in pre-school. She is about 5 months younger than most kids in her class but her teacher said that she is right there with them academically and socially. She also is a leader, very funny, and extremely articulate. The best quote from her teacher was "she is a leader, but not bossy." I'm thankful for that because she sure can be bossy at home. haha. I'm so thankful for her teachers as well and am thankful that she is at a daycare/school where they preach God's word and she is hearing His truth daily.

Overall, a great year so far!

Prayer Requests:
~Focus for HomeAudio!
~Great friends for WeeklyAd - one girl in particular is SO mean. :(
~H&G to continue to feel secure and loved!

Time

Wow, I guess I've been away so long that they've changed a few things. At least this Draft Screen looks different. I can't believe it's been months and months since I've updated. I'm happy to say that in those months, life is pretty much the same, and yet so different. But good.

I've been pondering things lately as our family grows into the "Teen Years" and yet still has a very demanding, lovely toddler. Throw in a traveling husband and a ten year old and yes, there is a lot to ponder.

I feel like this was the summer of re-grouping and re-prioritizing. We purposely kept the kids at home A LOT. I kind of felt bad as they were getting messages from friends that were either at other friend's homes or out doing activities while my kids were home, being bored and doing chores. However, Management and I have set some goals and whenever I start to feel bad, I remember the goals and stick to the plan. We have started Project: Solidify Relationships - this focuses on their relationships with Management and I, relationships with each other, and above all else, their relationship with the Lord. It includes us providing AMPLE time for these relationships to really develop and solidify.

I have lots of plans in my head and need to get them on paper and into reality! As you all know, life takes over and time travels on so I feel pretty passionate and rushed with getting things going. However, the biggest plan of all is just simply being together and regrouping here at home. Having time to spend together, to spend with the Lord, and to really grow as a family.

The Lord really led me to cut back on our schedule this Fall and I fought it for a short bit. It's so hard to really give up things that you love! But in the end, after some tears and anger and wondering if this was really the right decision, I came to the conclusion that I always come to (but never come to fast enough!)...His ways are always best!

Let me just tell you that for me and my family, time has truly been a gift!

I'm not making any promises to myself but hopefully having more time also means getting back to blogging. Like I said, I have a teen, ten year old, and toddler and I want these years to be treasured in real life and documented for life ahead when they are grown and gone so we can all look back on our life together. Time just goes so fast!

A First for Our Family

Today I did something that I have never ever done before and really never thought I ever would!

I enrolled my baby in daycare.

I've never been anti-daycare, I just didn't think we would ever need it. We've had family around to watch the kids when needed and really I just haven't worked outside of the home for about 10 years.

I have, however, been very anti-"school" for 2 year olds. It drove me CUH-RAZY when people would tell me that their baby was in school. Really, it isn't school, it's daycare people!!!! Just call a spade a spade.

But as usual, my judgements come back to bite me and here I am prepping my 2 year old for a few days a week away from me by getting her all excited for S.C.H.O.O.L.

Really, they do offer a variety of school activities so I guess all these years it wasn't just people trying to make themselves feel better, it really is, school.

So, I repent.

But stepping into this new phase did not come easily.

There is guilt. And doubt. And trying to seperate our emotions from her emotions. And trying to really figure out what is best for H&G.

And after talking and processing and especially PRAYING...

She's enrolled. Two days a week.

And I am really really excited for her.

It's a school. It's a farm. And it's right around the corner from us.

I know she's going to love learning and playing and talking with others and will especially love playing outside and seeing all the animals. And talking, did I mention talking?

I took her in last week for a visit and while 15 kids ran around the room playing, H&G sat at the table with the teacher and talked a mile a minute.

So this will be good for her. And will help her learn some good social skills with kids her own age too.

But there is always a seed of guilt and doubt. I think it's always there for parents.

And I hate it.

Blogging

I've been reading back through my Myspace posts and am so thankful that I was able to blog about that time in our lives. While those years were so incredibly hard for Management and I both financially and spiritually, they were some of the best years of our lives as well. I'm so thankful for the beautiful pictures, the numerous updates, and the relationship that I had with my precious Savior during those years. What a gift that blog is to our family!

I've been trying to figure out how to get it printed since I don't post there anymore. I've seen sites for making blogs into books but it seems to just be for blogspot? I may just have to bite the bullet and cut and paste the entries myself?

Looking through those entries though sure does inspire me to blog more. I know, I've said it a hundred times, I don't want to miss these years and I really do want them documented!!

Ugh, I need to quit "saying" and start "doing"!

Anyway, I was originally looking through my posts trying to find the exact date that WeeklyAd asked Jesus into her heart.

July 9, 2008.

With her daddy helping her.

Again, I'm so thankful that I blogged and recorded such meaningful (and sometimes trivial, just silly things as well) times in our lives.

One Month of Home

When Management comes home on Friday we will mark the end of another busy season of traveling. He will be home for one month before he leaves again for his next trip. In some ways, having older kids makes his traveling easier and in some ways, much harder. I've often lost track of what city he's in or what day he is leaving or coming home but I'm always thankful that he does come home. His life is here with us and not out there on the road. It's the moments in-between the trips, our tedious days at home, that we have learned to cherish and I'm happy to say that after 15 years of marriage and navigating this crazy schedule, we are finally settling into it with greater ease.