So fast

I have here in front of me an application to the preschool that my youngest son, M will attend this fall.  I have enjoyed these past 3 1/2 years with him so much and I can't believe he's going to preschool! M has actually been asking to go to school and he wants to go to school a lot he's told me.  We are going to enroll him for 3 1/2 days a week.  I know in my heart he's  ready but am I?  M is at the stage now where he get bored easily and finds trouble when he's bored.  He loves his time with me but I can't always entertain him every second.  He needs school.  He's very smart and knows all his letters, some of his numbers, he can count and his vocabulary is great.  I'm going to miss my boy.  But this time will be good for us and I'll still have 2 other mornings a week just him and I for one more year.  My hubby pointed out that March, April, and May are the last full months of just him and I every day during the week.  *sad face*  I am going seize these 3 months and fully enjoy every moment with my baby.

Love him

I am thankful for the beautiful sunrise this morning.  The sky was streaked with pinks and purples.  Absolutely gorgeous!   I'm grateful from my husband.  He faithfully prepares my coffee each night so the next morning all I have to do is push the brew button and it's ready to go.  I'm thankful that he lets me sit and craft pretty much whenever the mood strikes.  He loves to do that for me.  He will take care of the kids and clean, and finish all the laundry while I just sit and scrapbook.  Love him!

This morning my oldest son, T, came up to me and asked, "Mom can you put these undershirts in the dryer and grow them?  They are getting kinda small."  I smiled, and explained that it doesn't work that way and that, 1.) undershirts are supposed to be a little smaller and not bulkier since they go under the clothes.  and 2.) that dryers usually shrink stuff and they don't grow them for sure!  Love that boy's heart and sense of humor!

friendship

I had a conversation with my daughter about second chances and if she forgives a certain friend, that doesn't mean she will ever be best friends again.  Maybe one day - maybe never.  My journey with forgiveness has really come in handy for such a time as this.  

So we talked and H said that, if she forgives this girl, she will "tolerate" her.  Those were her words.  H doesn't ever want to go over to her house to play or for sleepovers but she wouldn't mind if they sat together with their mutual friends over lunch at school.  

Last night at chuch H went up to this girl and said that she has decided to tolerate her.  The girl said that she's wanted to say something but she was afaid H wouldn't agree and she said her parents were pushing her to never be friends with our daughter again.  They hugged and talked stuff over a little bit.  Hannah is being very cautious because she doesn't want to be hurt again.  

It's sad and I mourn their friendship and what it used to be but I rejoice in seeing H strengthening new friendships.  As her parents, we want her to make healthy choices in friends.  Middle school is a tough time.  Hormones, changes, friends change etc.  I think this is a great time for middle schoolers to learn about  making friends, choosing friends, standing up for yourself, and taking "no crap from nobody!"  (Cool Runnings is such a great movie!)

I'm proud of our daughter for having such a kind and gentle heart.  She is so genuine and caring.  H told me that her devotions have all been on friendship "for some reason".  I said that maybe God is trying to show her or teach her something and when you're hearing similar messages and themes it's good to listen up and see if it's of God or not.  For a girl who's struggled with the bigness and greatness of God, she is hearing and seeing God work in her heart and life!  It's amazing!  Praise God!  

My daughter

I cherish my daughter.  I am thankful for the beautiful young woman she is becoming!  She is so kind and caring.  She is so wise and a wonderful friend.  I am amazed each day at how she carries herself in the midst of struggles.  I am proud of how she can take a stand for herself and I love that she is genuine. She is honest and we trust her immensely.

Friendship is a huge theme in her life right now.  Some of that goes with the territory of middle school and some of that goes with realizing that some people may not be the best for you to be around.  H is learning that and sometimes it hurts and sometimes it's very frustrating.  In the face of an old friend hurting her, picking on her and saying unkind things about her, H continues to take the high road, of which I am so proud of her for doing.  I am overjoyed at seeing her existing friendships blossom and how she is learning to make new friends.  H is learning that when you are genuine and truely yourself it shines through.

I love spending time with her.  She tells me everything that is going on in her life and I am so thankful for that!  I didn't have that model growing up.  My mom and I never talked about anything deep.  But from that I have learned that, though I didn't have the greatest example of what to do, I know what not to do with my daughter.

One of the things we like doing lately is watching a show called "Say Yes to the Dress"  It's a show about brides shopping for their wedding dresses.  We love seeing the dresses, hearing the stories, and critiquing the consultants, and the dresses, as well as commenting on the stories of each bride to be.

I continue to pray that our relationship would flourish as mother and daughter.  That she would continue to be open, honest, and comfortable with me so that she will tell me anything that is on her mind.  I pray that God would help guide me in protecting our mother/daughter moments together and that we would find much laughter together.

Tonight as I sit here thinking of things that I'm grateful for, the first thing that comes to mind is my heating pad.  Oh joy!  I woke up this morning with the stiffest neck.  I try not to favor it but then I tense up because it hurts so bad.  I turn my head to the right and youch!  Pain shoots down my neck to the middle of my back, but not my spine.  It's like there's a not in a muscle or something.  When my alarm went off this morning, I knew it was 6:45, but in my dream it was 9:00 at night and I was discussing with someone that I should really wake up by 10:30 am.  I was all tense and I think the fact that I had 3 different times in my brain at once had a little something to do with it.  Anyway, my neck hurts, I made it through the day and now I'm relaxing on the couch with my wonderful heating pad.  Okay enough about that.

Actually what I really am grateful for is my husband.  He is such a caring and generous man.  He just left (at 10:15 pm) to his former boss' house to help him with a leaky radiator.  What a guy.  I know that if it was urgent and we needed someone in a certain area of expertise, we'd want them to head over and help if they could and it's so great the he went to help a friend out.

I trust my hubby with my whole heart.  He helps me stay strong when I am weak, he lifts me up when I fall, he cheers me up when I am sad, he encourages me when I am discouraged.  He is my soulmate and I love him!

To the moon and back

My sweet boy M.  He is 3 1/2 and is SUCH a mama's boy!  He is the only one home with me during the day and love love loves it!  I do too.  In fact I really try hard not to dwell on the fact that he will go to preschool next fall.  I know it won't be every day but I will miss him.

 I enjoy my days with him and it's so different than my days at home with my older three, yet there is so much that is the same.  We don't do anything terribly different than what I've done over the years with my other children.  We still run errands, go to the library (need to do that soon) and go to the zoo and other fun places.  We have many lazy days where we hang at home, watch movies, do puzzles, color and play games.  It's different because he's my only one home.  It's so nice to give him my undivided attention.  He has such a cooperative and content personality which is a blessing.  He loves to help me in everything I do.  "Me hewpin' mama!"  is what he usually says to me.  He is a snuggler too, so I get to still enjoy that.

Since he's the baby I don't want him to grow up.  I actually really love this age with him and wish he could stay this age forever.  I know he can't so I take in every moment that I can.  He still has those moments where he lets you know he's 3, but that's okay.  I still love him to the moon and back.

M also has this thing lately where he likes to wipe my kisses off.  He doesn't like sloppy kisses.  Sometimes he does it though just to get me to smile.  What a funny boy he is!

The other day we went over to my sister's house and M wanted his sunglasses on since it was bright out. He looked so cool I just had to take a picture!  Here it is finally:

Such a cool dude!