1st day of school

Well, I fought it as long as I could.
School started this week despite my kicking and screaming.

Hannah is a freshman...

Eli is a 7th grader...

(he was not so thrilled for the annual photo op!)

Abi is a 4th grader...



This means Hannah and Eli are both starting new schools and this is Abi's last year in elementary school.
It also means I was up a lot of the night before with anxiety.
I had this crazy dream that my mom snuck into our house to take our Christmas tree down because she was so appalled that it was still up on the first day of school.  Where in the world does a dream like that come from?!

I sure do love this happy crew!

Although this looks a little bit like a line-up, it's actually 4 fabulously fun and adorable friends ready for 4th grade...

Abi may have just been humoring me, but she let me do the kissing hand with her before school.
I know it's time for her to become a little more independent but I'm going to miss my baby.
I need her to need me just a little while longer.

One of our greatest blessings of this school year is Abi's teacher.
I already know she is a life changer for both Abi and me.
Abi loves her and she has made the "favorite teacher" list in just 2 days.
I may be as sad to see 4th grade end as I was to see 2nd grade end.
A good teacher makes all the difference in the world for a kiddo and I'm so thankful for all my teacher friends.
But this year, I'm especially thankful for this special teacher.

Abi is "elated" and wants to spend s'more time with her :)

(our back to school basket for Mrs. Hammond - all the goodies for s'mores!)

I'm pretty sure school is going to be a good idea for us again this year.

At least, we're going to give it our best shot and see how it all turns out.

in training

Wow, it's been a long time since I posted anything.
This summer has been so busy and fun.
I'm not ready for it to end.
But it's going to.  Dang it.

With fall on the horizon, this means Race for the Cure is approaching.
I LOVE the Race for the Cure.
It's the big fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Foundation each year to bring more funding and awareness to breast cancer research.
I'm really, really passionate about breast cancer awareness and research.
Passionate enough to get my lazy tooshy off the couch and start running.
Jogging, really.
It looks a lot like throwing my body in a forward motion.

But it's what I can do right now.

This has been me for several years...

How embarrassing :)

I'm trying to become this...

So my sweet little accountability partner and oldest daughter, Hannah, has started training with me.
I have been an avid walker for years but it's time to turn it up a notch.
My apologies to my friends who have already witnessed this hysteria :)
It truly is amazing how many people we see when we're out jogging and/or walking.

If you're a runner/jogger, please send me any sort of encouragement or tips.
I need a lot of help.
We have 6 weeks to train for the 5k (3.2 miles).
We've done it quite a few times but I really want to run...and finish well.

I'll leave you with this.
This may or may not have been my exercise mantra for quite some time...

see you soon, baboon

Love this couple.
Their family has enriched our lives beyond measure.
You know, the kind of friends who leave heartprints.

This fantastic couple is following God's plan to take them back to the family farm.
That's an hour away from my comfort zone.
But it's right in the middle of God's plan for them.
I'm super excited and happy for them!

But, I'm selfishly sad to lose the closeness of a friend who is just a short mile away...the security of a quick face to face chat every weekday morning...the way we can mother each other's kids...the way we've been able to do life together over the last few years.

But, we didn't say good-bye.
Friends gathered to say "See you later, alligator".

(Please ignore the shiny faces.  We were "glistening" in the heat.)

"After while, crocodile"

(Love it that a super hero showed up for the party!)

(And a sweet little fairy too)

See you soon, baboon

"I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:3-6)

fireworks

The 4th of July is most definitely, without a doubt, my favorite holiday.
This year I got to spend the evening with so many of my favorite people...

I'm not very happy with myself that I didn't get a photo with my mommy :(

These sweet folks know how to throw a party. 
They are so happy and in love which makes me super happy.

Even the drinks and paper products were happy.

My kids know how to choose the most fabulous friends.
The mommies have become some of the best of friends.
God gave us the whole package with this group of friends.

There may be a few arranged marriages...but only the little ones will pose for pics.
I love the look on Corey's face :)

The kids all had a blast shooting off fireworks.
Most of my pics are of their backs. 
I just sat in my chair and soaked up all the fun.
Pure contentment.
I'm not sure I ever got up.  Except to go get more yumminess.

These boys were so much fun to watch.
They were way too brave for their britches.
They were way too brave for this mommy's comfort.
But they had soooo much fun.

Dude, run for your life!!!!!

These sweet girls are moving this weekend.
That makes me sad.
I knew the 4th of July might be our last big hoopla before they move.
I may have taken an excessive amount of pics of the sweet Jonesy kids.
This is one of my favorites from the evening.
Happy.

I really wanted time to stand still for the evening.
So much delicious food.
So many laughs.
So much contentment.
Such wonderful friends and family.
Thank you, God, for this fantastic life.

i'm in love

I might have fallen in love this week.  With a four year old.

This little guy showed up at our house.
His surrogate grandpa was working on Mitch's car.

He comes from a fairly broken home.
His language is way under-developed so we struggled a little to communicate at first.
But we found some universal "boy things" - cheetos, popsicles and the potty dance :)

We've been trying to find ways to teach our kids compassion.
And opportunities to show the love of Jesus to others.
He was the perfect opportunity!

I don't think we'll ever be the same again.
This little guy brought us so much joy in 2 short hours.
We'll be talking about RJ for years.

birthday boy

13 years ago my life was turned upside down and right side up.

(please excuse the quality of this very old photo)

I had no idea how much I needed a little boy in my life.
God knows what we need way before we do.
I would take a whole house full of little boys any day of the week.
He's smart, funny, good lookin', witty, charming, sweet, passionate, independent, ornery (sometimes even a little naughty) and athletic.
Everything I need in my boy.
He's comfortable in his own skin and a very free spirit.
I could watch him play football or baseball every.single.day.  And never tire of it.
I love that he's a snuggly buggly. 
He is comfortable enough with his masculinity to still cuddle with his mommy...even in public.
I love my little guy and wouldn't trade any minute of the last 13 years.

Happy birthday, Eli!

(I couldn't choose just 1 favorite photo from my hundreds of Warrior football and Jr. Railer pics)

hannah's minky

Hannah spotted this wonderfully soft and cuddly minky fabric several months ago.
She begged me to make a quilt for her with the fabric.
Feeling like I could conquer anything on the sewing machine, I naively agreed to tackle it.
I had no idea what I had agreed to.

Although this fabric is wonderful to cuddle with, it's a little tricky to sew.

Thank goodness, I know some incredible sewists!

After lots of guidance and advice (and a month or two), I finally tackled the project.

Hannah's desire has been to take the blanket with her when she goes to Washington, DC this weekend.

It's probably wise she had a goal.  Otherwise, I would have never finished it.

I'm really good at starting projects and then getting overwhelmed or distracted and then not finishing.

Not so easy to let this project slide when she is gently asking when the blanket will be finished and reminding me how many days until she leaves.

I sewed most of the blanket together in April at a little get-together with some of my lovely and fabulous crafty friends.

It took another month to get up the nerve to bind it.

Again, expert sewing friends to the rescue! 

The blanket is finished just 36 hours before Hannah leaves on her trip.  That's pretty good for me.
I still say there is nothing more productive than the last minute :)

(A very heartfelt "thank you" to Jennifer Thomas and Fawn Schmidt for all their help and cheerleading during this project!)

Please don't look too carefully at the finished product.

There are several imperfections.  Just like me.

Hannah will always know her (im)perfect quilt came from her (im)perfect mom.

She's happy and I'm happy.

Love you, Hannah!
Enjoy your trip and feel lots of love from mommy when you cuddle up at night.