the Rock eternal

Since my post on Wed about our Fall routine, the Lord has been quick to answer. He put these verses in my path. Sad, but true, how quick I am to doubt that He will lead me. I have already begun to get ideas about our afternoon time. I am still in process but hope to share soon.

Trust in the LORD forever,
   for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.
Isaiah 26:4

Those who know your name trust in you,
   for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:10


Show me your ways, LORD,
   teach me your paths.
 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
   for you are God my Savior,
   and my hope is in you all day long.
Psalm 25:4-5

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
   and lean not on your own understanding;
 in all your ways submit to him,
   and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6

While talking on the phone with a dear friend today, I was finally able to articulate what I have been "grieving" since school started. I will really miss the time Owen, Mason and I had doing our summer word study. I have been racking my brain trying to figure out where that would fit. Not because there isn't time, but b/c the last thing my 2nd grader wants to do when he gets home from 6 hrs of school plus homework, is listen to another lesson.

God is clearing the fog a little. And He is reminding me, He is here ALL year long.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

17 months

Look at me GO!

 

and GO

 and GO

 I do NOT stop!

I GO up

 I GO down

 and then I am off again

 somebody is slowing me down

That about sums him up :)

Oh, I almost forgot his whopping list of 3 words, Mom, Dadda and cracker.

School Talk

On Tuesday, Owen received a special phone call. His best bud, Joshua called to see how his 1st day of school went. Owen had called him a week earlier and was hoping Joshua would call him ;) Thanks Courtney. He was thrilled. Oh how I wish we were closer. Their calls gave us a great excuse to chat. I wish we could do that every tues ;)

 

Owen's week has continued to go well. I helped today during his lunch shift. The cafeteria is always so very interesting. One of his classmates from last year talked on and on about his "expander" on the roof of his mouth helping his mouth get ready for braces. Hilarious the details he shared. Owen on the other hand, said all of 5 words to me ;)

FALLing Back into the Routine

Fall is here whether I am ready or not.

Labor day was gorgeous and we made a final trip to the pool. Grateful for a working washing machine, I washed the bathing suits and beach towels one last time. The laundry room has shifted from pool mode to school & soccer mode. The school bags & rain jackets have made a reappearance, the flip flops have disappeared.

Tuesday we awoke to a major drop in temperature and there was no mistaking the change in season.

I am dragging my heals a bit. Not sure why. Maybe b/c I don't feel as prepared for the fall as I did for the summer. Maybe it's b/c during the school year I have so much less control over my days. Ha! There lies my problem. I am not really in control (oh, how I love to think I am).

There is a lot going on this week and next week. Our transition will not be a slow one.

I have not felt sad to see Owen go off to school. I have missed him a lot and Mason has too, but it has actually felt completely normal. I am dreading the changes in him that we will most likely see. I don't like not knowing every part of his day. I am praying for him, but don't feel as though I am trusting God with his well-being. I need to give that over.

Soccer has already started. Owen will have practice every Thurs and games on Saturdays. Mason will have games on Saturdays too. We have switched leagues and it's going to be a lot more complicated. Their games are occasionally at different locations and overlapping times. I don't feel ready for this. It feels like the start of the rest of my life: being the chauffeur and cheerleader.

Mason will start preschool on Monday. He will be gone 3 mornings a week. He is excited.

Ryan is no longer taking a morning nap and has made it his daily goal to climb anything and all things taller than himself including the kitchen island and dining room table. (Jill, I keep thinking of Ethan)

So, I am trying to figure out my routine, our routine. I want God to be in every part of my Fall. I don't want to get so crazy busy that I miss the moments to see His grace and share His grace with others. I want to be the wife, the mom, the chauffeur and the cheerleader He is calling me to be. Right now it feels foggy.

I think I need to remember I am serving Him. If I am serving Him, my family will be well served. If His love is my motivation I can't go wrong. It hasn't felt that way this week, but at least I am recognizing it right now. His mercies are new every morning.

1st day of 2nd grade

The weather was LOUSY! No annual outdoor pictures this year.

He was a little nervous but not too bad.

And did not mind getting his picture taken.

 

The neighbor in the blue sweatshirt and making a silly face is in Owen's class this year.  I know this brought a lot of comfort to Owen as they stepped off the bus together and made their way to their classroom. They sat next to each other at lunch too. He has 5 other kids from his 1st grade class.

 

I can't believe Mason will be wearing a backpack and boarding the bus next year!

 

He had a great day. We celebrated with root beer floats (his newly discovered favorite treat). 

I didn't account for the 65 degree weather. Yesterday was hot and sunny. They didn't seem to mind ;)