Tears, Smiles, High Fives and Laughter!

A MOTHER'S 1ST DAY OF SCHOOL PRAYER
I wonder what you're doing now,
and if everyone is treating you kind. 
I hope there is a special person, a nice friend that you can find.

I wonder if the teacher knows
Just how special you are to me.
And if the brightness of your heart
Is something she can see.

I wonder if you are thinking about me,
And if you need a hug.
I already miss the sound of your voice
And how you give my leg a tug.

I wonder if you could possibly understand
How hard it is for me to let you grow
On this day know that my heart breaks
For this is the first step in letting you go.

The last few weeks at our house have been filled with the hustle and bustle of the closing days of Summer.  We have had so many exciting moments filled with laughter and high fives and days where tears tried to creep in, but were quickly filled with a grin.

Jasper started his first day of preschool on Tuesday, August 20 and Danica followed up with Kindergarten on the 21st.  They both were perfect at drop off and had superb days! 

Danica has also learned how to ride her bike, without training wheels (in one day) and is now mastering the art of starting herself and not needing a push from mom or dad!

We often take for granted the time we have with our children and try to hustle through the day, our moments with them slip through our fingers why rush them when we have them.  We are excited  for Danica and Jasper and the new experiences they have in front of them!

Prayer...What are your thoughts

Truthfully, how do you feel about prayer?  Just four days ago my opinion on prayer was very different than it is now.  I pray, my children pray, my family prays, but I have never, NEVER seen first hand the power of prayer, so I was somewhat cynical about prayer.  Yes, I said it, I was cynical about prayer, I did it but wasn't really sure it did any good at all.
Well last weekend, our little community and a family very close to my family was facing the unbelievable, there daughter disappeared, she was taken "in broad daylight" and was at the hands of a very dangerous, unpredictable young man.  A young man she once trusted, but in recent years and months, has only feared.  Kelly and I received word of her disappearance and it simply made our world stand still, we ate dinner at one of our favorite restaurants and I told Kelly later, "I don't even remember how the food tasted."  We returned home shortly before midnight and I got ready for bed and just began to pray, as I prayed tears filled my eyes.  I couldn't comprehend what the family was facing, what the victim was facing and I wasn't sure my prayers were enough.  I logged into facebook and so many were active online, I simply posted "No one is going to sleep, we need candlelight and prayer together."  The time and place was set, after determining tonight is when it had to happen, tomorrow could be too late.  At 12:30, what would become about 22 people would begin to congregate, we stood quietly waiting for others to show and around 12:45 I broke the silence with simply the words "she is strong..." I am not one to share openly about my faith or even speak up in situations such as this, but I felt it on my heart, and so did many others.  We prayed, we sang, we cried, we hoped for a joyous reunion.  People came, people left, we prayed some more, we prayed for her strength and intelligence to figure out a way to get away, we prayed for her captor to have compassion and set her free.  After nearly 14 hours of being held captive, while we held vigil, an extremely faithful young woman was able to convince her capture to take her to an Emergency Room.  We started praying at 12:45, she was dropped off at 1:15 at the ER, called home to give her parents the greatest gift, her voice and while still holding vigil we were informed of her safety.  Prayers are powerful.  Our God is an Awesome God, he reigns from heaven above, with wisdom power and love.

God put it on my heart to pray with friends that night, I don't know why he picked my heart, but I know he saved a precious soul in this young woman and she will go on to do great things.  I admire her and hope that I can raise a daughter with her grace, strength and faith in something much greater than us.

I witnessed something many people never get the chance to witness, they just have to have faith in.  This young ladies story has forever changed my life and I know that it will be a testimony that will "save" many others lives too.

Never underestimate the power of prayer!

She's 5, He's 3....Tell me again where does time go?

Interestingly enough, I could have become pregnant and given birth since the last time I posted on our blog.  It has been an insanely busy Fall, Winter and Spring.  I finally feel like we are catching up with ourselves, just in time for it to start all over again.

Danica has finished her 2nd year of preschool, she graduated Memorial Day Weekend, and is into her 2nd week of "Kindergarten Camp" (I refuse to call it Summer School).  She loves it!  Kelly and I don't particularly enjoy the attitude that accompanies with it due to her lack of sleep, however.  She had her 5th birthday party over the weekend, a Willy Wonka party.  We had alot of fun and it was officially her first "friend" party.  However, I found myself quite sad on Sunday when I was entering her 5th birthday information and her Preschool information into her baby book and realized that her baby book is complete.  How could her baby book be complete?  I feel a little selfish being so sad about a time in her life that she is beaming....so I guess I will jump on her bandwagon and just enjoy!

Jasper celebrated his 3rd birthday with a Scooby Doo extravaganza and is gearing up for his first year of preschool!  He is enjoying his one on one time with Daddy while Sis is at Kindergarten and has a true love of the golf course...Daddy is in heaven!

We are preparing for a family vacation to Florida, getting some projects done around the house, taking swim lessons, going to gymnastics, hitting the links, and just trying to soak in all of the family time we can before school starts and football is in full swing.

"Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is within him."  Jeremiah 17:7

I came across this scripture tonight while scanning Pinterest and it really screamed at me, it wasn't subtle at all, it nearly jumped off the page.  I think it really set itself apart because I am and always have been on a journey with the Lord.  Faith is easy for some and so much more difficult for others and I believe it is not something that comes naturally for me but a little nugget of life that I have to continually work at.  It is not that I don't believe or have any doubt in a being much greater than you or I, it is simply things just aren't how I envisioned them.  Are they for anyone?  However, as this scripture so clearly states, blessed are those who trust and have confidence.  Everyone is given faith at birth, a mustard seed if you will, but we all take it and make it our own.  I need to take my faith, trust it (and the people around me) and have confidence that even if I am not doing what I want to be doing, the Lord is blessing me.

Change...

I am not known for my eloquence and often find myself thinking grand things but never able to turn those thoughts into literary works. Take for instance my blog posts, I usually have much more impressive posts than what end up on the www. But, I sit down to write and....block.  It is this way with my communication with family and friends as well.  I am working on it but often find when the time comes to open my mouth, nothing comes out.  So, if the next few sentences sound like a ramble or don't really mesh, I have set the preface and hopefully you will understand.
Kelly and I moved "home" 8 years ago in anticipation, if that is the right word, of my Dad retiring.  We made this decision not in haste but with conversations amongst ourselves and with my siblings.  The past 8 years have been a constant change for us; We bought our first home, Kelly has changed careers, our family of 2 became a family of 4, we have struggled with family crisis', made new friends, started our first child in preschool (see her 1st day pic below) and now we are on the heals of the reason why we are "home" and have endured all this change.  My Dad retires next week.  My Dad retires next week....next week.  Eventhough it means little to my day to day operations at work.  I am scared to death.  I have always felt out of my element in the banking business and becoming a mom has not made that any better.  It is something I have come to realize I may always struggle with simply because it doesn't come naturally. 
This next change in our lives is bittersweet.  I am excited about the new chapter in my parent's life and am trying to make it a stepping stone to make me better in mine. 

From Monkeys To Motors!

Danica has been in Tennessee with her Mimi and Papa for almost a week now and so Jasper has mommy and daddy all to himself. Therefore, we thought what better time to transform his nursery into a big boy room. So out came the zoo animal theme and in came the cars, trucks and tractors and a twin bed of course! He slept like a champ the first night too! Danica was excited to here about the transformation, she wanted a picture of his bookcase to be sent to her : )
It has been strange without her and we all miss her like crazy but Jasper has been a joy! We are looking forward to meeting her at the airport in Wednesday and hear all about her trip: horseback riding, swimming, shopping, and Dollywood!

JUNE...Where did it go?

I would really like to get better at this blogging, I wish I had more time.  Speaking of time, does anyone know what happened to the month of June?  We have had a great month at our house.  Danica and I got to spend our birthdays at the Lake and then were home for about a week before I started my official 2 week vacation.  We began with a long weekend at Bull Sholls Lake with some friends of ours and then we drove home and simply enjoyed some R & R at 302 Burdick and a few day trips here and there! 
I did manage to give my kitchen cabinets a much needed face lift but as we all know one project morphs into another, and yet another.  So eventhough I accomplished one Summer goal I still have a couple more to tackle! 
Danica had her 4 year old check up last week and was over  95% in height and weight.  She is 44 inches tall and weighs 46 lbs.  All was good with her, we seem to battle allergies a bit so we are experimenting with trying some allergy medication for a month and then taking her off for a month to see if that gives her any relief. 
Jasper is potty trained!  And, I may be the minority but he was easier than Danica : )  However, I am not sure prying the binky from him will be quite as easy.

  Sea Life Aquarium

  Sibling love--and this is on the way home from the Lake--I hope it is always this way.

  Potty Treat!  No accidents all weekend, including the car trip!

  4 years old!