The First Day of School

Today was the first day of school. I remember when we were attending the county fair on these days of August, but I guess we slowly move closer to year-round school day by day. Today was a special first day of school, because it was Lydi's first day of kindergarten. She had a great time and was more than fired up when she came home. I knew that she would do fine, and she didn't disappoint us. She is such a go-getter once she breaks out of her shell.

It was also a special day because this year Laurel and I are both in third grade. She is, of course, in Judy's room instead of mine, but it is fun to see her when we line up and so forth. It will be really neat to see how she performs from a professional perspective. I am sure she will step up to all of the challenges put before her.

I am already exhausted after just the first day of kids. You forget how much energy it takes to keep them on task. I have to remember that they are essentially 2nd graders more than 3rd at this point. The kids are very sweet, with great dispositions, and it will be very easy to love all of them. I am really excited to have been asked to sit on a committee at school that I have been interested in for several years. I am sure many people would think that I am out of my mind to say that; however, it is a core committee and I like to be at the core of things. I like to know what is going on first hand, not through the grapevine. I am also hoping that maybe if I sit on this core committee, I won't have to put in my time on any others. Maybe this was their way of corralling me! LOL

I already miss the lackadaisical feel of summer, but I know that I am a much better mom and get much more done when I am teaching. It is amazing what one can get accomplished when you have a small window of opportunity to do so. As for the rest of this long day, the girls are in bed, and I am anxiously awaiting Jarod's return so I can ride my bike down to Lori's for a nice glass of Nebraska City wine on the front porch. If he doesn't hurry up, my 9:30pm bedtime is going to come before I get any of that wine!

Summer Gone By

Holy cow! I cannot believe that the summer is over. And what a summer it has been! I can honestly say that it has been an absolutely wonderful summer. Each and every day was filled to the brim. I think that if I had to give this summer a "label," I would call it "friends".

From junior high friends, to high school friends, to college and beyond, we were so blessed to spend time with the wonderful friends that God has given us. I am so glad that the girls and I trekked to Iowa and Illinois to see the Mavins and the Gudemans. We had so much fun, and I am so thankful that so many years can go by and it still seems like we saw each other yesterday. We were also blessed with a trip with Diane to visit Julie Schowalter and her family. We have learned so many things from her over the last 20 years, it is always inspiring to have our spiritual cup refilled with her wisdom.

This summer has brought me an exceptional blessing in the form of a crafting partner. I always say that I am the youngest old person you will ever meet, and it really isn't meant to be a joke. It is true. I am old in spirit, and I feel so blessed to finally have someone my age who understands that. God had a plan when He called us to enroll Lydia at Redeemer for preschool. Not only did she grow in His love, but He intended for me to meet Lori while waiting for the kids. I am so thankful to have a friend who lives 4 blocks away who will share honey for granola, who doesn't ring the doorbell before coming inside, who will treat my children as one of her own (including freaking out when they come in covered in mud), and who is willing to spend countless hours sewing and hashing over the world. We joke that we were born in the wrong generation. We love to sit on our porches and drink wine while dreaming up crazy things to do with the treasures she found at an auction. I am sure many people might think we are a little nuts, but it is just so nice to have someone to be nuts with.

I was really dreading the start of the school year, as it would mean the end of clockless afternoons and evenings, and an end to all of the fun we've had. However, Lori decided to start the school year with us as our school nurse. I am so looking forward to working with her in our professional capacities, and hope she'll be in the building when I need to escape to our creative world for sanity purposes!