First Day of School 2014

Our kiddos headed back to the classroom today!  This week is always a week bit emotional for me  because  I am forced to realize that time is marching on.  I was up at 3:45 this morning and I was so excited and nervous for my kids that I had a hard time going back to sleep.  I finally just gave up and started my day. 

David insisted to wear a shirt and tie like Daddy and to "be hot for the ladies." 

My loves heading out the door for the day-Kyle (7th grade), David (4th), and Hope (kindergarten).  We took Kyle to the middle school and then headed to Oak Point where Mike was meeting us to drop off Hope and David. 

 

When we were walking up to the school, Hope saw Payton and Dalton who are preschool friends who are also in her class this year.  David insisted that Hope tell him goodbye and hug.  Precious! 

Quick Mommy/daughter picture! 

This is the moment I aboslutely lost it. I had to leave the school before I embarrassed myself.  Sweet Ms. Surber took Hope, Payton, and Dalton by the hand and led them to their class in the gym.  She walked away and my heart broke.  I was not prepared for this outburst and I barely made it to the car before  snot and tears were flying.  It was a big ole ugly cry.  Blessedly my girl never saw my tears and had a fabulous day!  All three of mine had a wonderful day!

Tonight we headed to church for a wonderful event called Blessing of the Backpacks.  It was awesome.  Simply awesome.  The church members have been donating school supplies and tonight we invited anyone and everyone to a pizza dinner, a short time of woship and prayer, and then to those that needed it distribution of school supplies.  What a wonderful way to end the day! 

It was a great night to check in with friends and see how their day at school went-I love Olivia's expression!  I helped serve pizza tonight and what a blessing not to have to cook!  After my 3:45 wakeup a pizza meal at church with friends was a blessing. 

A nice crowd turned out to give and to receive school supplies. 

Our new pastor, David first called the school teachers and administratos up to pray for them.  Mike was up there with several other teachers and staff.  Then he had all the children come up with them and then they were prayed for. 

Everybody that attended tonight received this backpack/work bag tag to take home from the event.  On the back side there is a bible verse on there.  Coming together with friends, praying for our kids, and eating yummy pizza and desserts was a wonderful way to celebrate the first day of school.  My heart was touched.  If folks needed supplies they could come up afterwards and get the supplies they needed for school.  It was an honor to help kids stuff their backpacks with much needed supplies. 

 

Pastor David's final prayer was for the families and he had the families come together and pray together.  I love that Hope is grabbing her DAddy's shirt and I love that David is holding onto me.  My heart is thankful for a wonderful first day of school for my kiddos.  My heart is full from a wonderful meal and fellowship with dear friends new and old, and my heart is overwhelmed to God fo blessing us.  This Momma is super tired from my early morning but I am going to sleep feeling blessed.  To God be the Glory today and everyday.  Amen.

Back to School

I have been so excited about my baby starting kindergarten because she is so excited.  After our fun years together at FUMC preschool, my little sidekick is now in the big school.  I have been beaming with joy over her going because she is so ready and so excited. 

Today we went to visit her classroom and meet her teacher and I got teary over jitter glitter.  A little bag of glitter and a cute little poem about getting all the first day jitters out did me in and I had to wipe away a few tears.  My baby is no longer a baby. 

 

Here is the bag of glitter that made me tear up:)

Ms. Powers also gave them this little capsule to put in water with these directions on it...

Wow-seriously, how creative is this?! 

 

Hope was so excited today that she put on her new dress to go meet Ms. Powers.  Here they are unpacking all those school supplies that she was so excited about.  Her cubbie is right next to her friend Brady, and she is in class with four other friends from preschool. 

My sweet, sweet Kindergartener.  You are going to have a wonderful year with Ms. Powers-your older brother David certainly did!

 

After visiting Hope's class, we went upstairs and visited David's. David will have Mrs. Storie this year for fourth grade!  I cannot believe this child is in fourth grade.  Not only did David move onto fourth grade, but so did his Monkey in his  Chair, Rocky Duke.  Rocky Duke is also ready for fourth grade.  We hope and pray that he spends all of his year in his bag and not in David's seat.  If David misses a day due to a trip to UVA, a scan, treatment or anything medical, Rocky Duke will sit in his seat until he returns. 

 

This time of year is when I struggle with wanting to control every facet of my children's lives.  I love them so much and I want to pick their teacher, who they sit beside, what they eat for  lunch, who they play with at recess, and basically everything!  My tendency is to be a control freak about my kiddos, but cancer has taught me to let go, and let God.  Seriously, he is way more capable than me of handling my kids:)

 

I am over the moon excited about a new service we are having at church this Wednesday at 6:00 in the fellowship hall of First United Methodist Church! We are having pizza and other yummy goodies and then we are having a short worship time/prayer time over the teachers, administrators, students of all ages, and just generally anyone who loves someone in a school system.  It is a great way to start the year off right-by coming together and praying for our children!  After an awesome first day of school come to church for a meal and a worship service.  EVERYONE is invited to this awesome event!  I will be helping serve pizzas and would love to see you.  No cooking on the first day of school and a time to pray for our children returning to school-sounds like a great plan to me!  Each child/teacher/administrator/staff person/aide may bring their backpack or work bag to receive a special tag to place on it.  Please join us!

 

 

Soccer, Queen Esther, and Baseball

It has been a full but great family weekend.  School starts this upcoming week, so we are trying to squeeze in as much fun and family time as we can. 

This little girl is so excited about life!  Her first ever soccer practice is this Tuesday and she cannot wait.  It was finally her turn to buy something at the sports store and she bought cleats, shin guards, and soccer socks.  Between kindergarten starting this week and soccer this girl is pumped.

We also had a wonderful morning of worship at church.  Hope learned about Queen Esther in Rotational Sunday School and here she is modeling her crown.  We started a new sermon series at church called Me to We, teaching us to focus on others before ourselves.  David our new pastor said something so profound and true- often we feel more welcome going into Walmart than a church.  Ouch!  Several points from his sermon today are still spinning around in my head.  He preached on the parable of the wheat and weeds and my new prayer is to be a wheat at all times.  Good stuff going on at church for sure. 

Yesterday and again this afternoon after church we spent many hours at the ballfield watching Kyle's Riverdogs team play fall ball.  They are now playing 13U which means that the field is now much bigger.  My baby is growing up.  David spent all four games inside the dugout being a cheerleader and team encourager all in one.  He may have even harrassed a pitcher or two in that dugout!  Ha!

 

Y'all know I am not a big baseball fan, but I love to cheer on my #2.  We are blessed with a great group of boys to play and great coaches who encourage our boys.  It is a fun team!

David thinks he is on the team and here are both teams praying the Lord's Prayer after the game.  I looked over and not only was David in the middle of both teams, but he had his arm around Kyle during the prayer.  I know that David annoys Kyle to no end, but they do love each other so much.  Every single time Kyle came up to bat David yelled in his loudest voice "lets go Big Poppy!"  Kyle just smiled. 

 

After four undefeated games, our team won the championship!  The first trophy they presented to the team was to their honorary teammate and cheerleader David!  We all about cried and it was so sweet to see him kiss his trophy and then hold it up in the air. Kyle has a bazillion trophies, but because of David's kidney and Down Syndrome he does not have the opportunity to earn trophies like Kyle does.  This was a sweet moment for sure. 

 

My favorite number 2 getting his championship trophy!  Kyle got hit by a pitch today in his elbow/arm.  You can actually see the laces from the ball on his arm.  Ouch!

 

I know our days are crazy running from sport to sport and it is only going to get worse as Hope's soccer begins, but I do love every.single. moment of it all. I love the time together as a family, I love our baseball family friends, and I love the lessons that come from sports.  It was a great weekend cheering on our Riverdogs!

 

My two favorite players.:)