New beginnings, new babies

A new school year.  I've never not been in school; I've always been either a student or a teacher.  I refer to a year in terms of August to May.  I've ALWAYS loved the start of a new school year...even as a student.  And...really...even though I may complain about going back to work tomorrow, I am so very excited about the possibilities of the new year that lies ahead of me.

My mind has been turning all day long; running through ideas for the first few days of school.  This is the beginning of my seventh year of teaching, and I'll admit to having butterflies in my stomach tonight.  Questions swirl in my head.  What will my new students be like?  How big will my classes be?  And the ever important...What am I going to wear tomorrow?

As I prepare my heart and mind and my classroom for a new batch of babies (because even in high school, they're still babies), I'm reminded of all new beginnings in life.  We always prepare ourselves for new beginnings.  I mean, we wouldn't bring a new baby home from the hospital without at least some preparations of our homes.  Most of us don't even begin a new day without strengthening our bodies the night before with a good night's sleep.  I have not gone without preparing my classroom for those precious students that will walk through my door tomorrow.  So my question (to myself) is; is my heart prepared for what God wants to do in and through me this year (August to May and beyond)? 

Father, I pray, as this new year begins...please use me.  Make me a minister within the walls of my classroom.  A minister of encouragement, peace, healing...that we may all say at the end of the year, "To God be the glory, great things he has done."

Multitudes on Monday 18-21

18.  Shopping for school supplies.  I always loved this as a kid.  A new lunchbox with a thermos.  A new box of crayons.  These little purple and pink pencils with the individual lead cartridges (they smelled like grapes and strawberries)

 Now I'm getting to take Elijah shopping for school supplies.  He is so excited to start first grade.  I love seeing these moments through the eyes of my own children. 

19.  A weekend visit to my grandmother's house in North Carolina.  I'm so thankful to have been able to grow up visting these mountains during the summer, and now I'm thankful to have been able to take my own children to visit this place that is so vivid in my memory.

20.  A few date nights with my husband before school starts.  Momma and Daddy have the boys, so we don't have to pay daycare for them this week.  God bless my parents...they are the BEST grandparents in the world.  I know how exhausting my two kids can be...read the post called "War Zone" for a picture of what a day with my kids looks like.  It is quite an adventure.  I sure do miss those little boogers when they're not with me.

21.  A new school year.  It makes me sad to see the summer come to an end; all that time with the boys now behind me until next year.  But I am excited to see what God has in store for this new school year.  Having lunch at the Swanson with all of the ladies was the perfect way to start the school year.  Now I just pray that I can get everything done before next Monday.  And I pray for a blessing on this new year.  New students.  Clean slates.  Lord, use me in the lives of my students.  Help me to be a blessing in the lives of the people I come across every day.  Be glorified in my classroom, Father.  Allow it to be a place of peace in the lives of my students.  Help me impart wisdom to these young ones that you are trusting me with. 

Multitude on Mondays #11-17

11.  The boys were up early this morning.  Jason came to the bedroom and shut the door so I could stay in bed for a few extra minutes...My word, how  I love that man.

12.  The smell of freshly perc-ed coffee when I got out of bed this morning.  Made by Jason...did I mention that he's the best husband...EVER?

13.  Watching the news in bed this morning with a cup of that coffee.  I'm enjoying all of these little moments in my last week of summer...next week, it'll be a cup of coffee while I'm driving to work.

14.  A bright, sunshiny day.  I am thankful for the rain and reprieve from the heat we got this weekend, but I'm glad to see the sun again.

15.  A pool and a float.  Again...not too many days left for this!

16.  Angry Birds on the iPod.  It keeps Sawyer busy while I take a shower. 

17.  Have you heard the song "Oh Happiness" by David Crowder?  It is ah-mazing.  Download it to your iPod immediately.  It really makes me happy.  It's about God's grace being big enough to take care of me...yet there's still enough to go around for you, too.  It's a funky little upbeat song.

I'm feeling a bit misty-eyed today...

Here's why...

Where are you going, little one, my little one...

7/17/2005...my sick little boy

Going home...8/5/2005

Where are you going, baby, my own...

On oxygen...

Finally off oxygen...

Turn around, and you're one...

Happy 1st birthday!

Turn around, and you're four...

1st day of Pre-K

Turn around, you're a young man going out of the door.

My big 6 year old man...

Happy 6th birthday to my precious Elijah.  "I'll love you forever.  I'll like you for always.  As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be."

Love,
Momma

My War Zone

6:45 am-Saturday morning.  I wake to the sounds of their feet on the floor-something that sounds like choppers flying through the house...tat tat tat tat tat tat...I'm glad they don't know how to be quieter.  I can brace myself against the coming attack and shake off the fog of my early morning dreams (Oh how I wish I could hang on to those dreams).  When I hear those feet on the floor, I always ask, "Why so early?"  But there is no sleeping late when there's a war on.

                They climb on the bed (not IN...ON...IN would imply that they were getting under the covers to go back to sleep.  Oh no...they climb ON...to jump) and immediately start firing.  "I want (JUMP) french  toast sticks...I want (JUMP) a banana...I want (JUMP) yogurt."  I make my escape while they are attacking—they are attacking my comrade.  But they follow me...still firing..."I want to watch a movie...No!  It's MY TURN...I want to watch Spiderman...Momma, is Spidey a good guy or a bad guy?  Momma, is Spidey a good guy or a bad guy?  Momma is Spidey a good guy or a bad guy?”  I usually dodge this one every time with "I don't know, baby, you tell me."  Then the volley continues with, "Momma is Black Spidey a good guy or a bad guy?  He's got my Spiderman mask...I want some juice...Momma, he hit me...Wahaahha...Shriek, cry, scream, cry, scream, shriek...tat tat tat tat tat...It's now only 7:00 am... 

                My arsenal usually consists of "STOP THAT!  SIT DOWN!  DON'T CLIMB!  YOU'RE GOING TO GET HURT! DON'T HIT YOUR BROTHER! GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN! BABE!  CAN YOU HELP ME!!!  DO YOU NEED TO GO TO YOUR ROOM?  DO YOU NEED A SPANKIN'?  NO!  DON'T!  QUIT!  STOP!"  My stores are much more limited than theirs...and I know they're bored with it, because I am, too.  It's 7:15...

                The living room looks like the train table hit a land mine.  Thomas and Percy, James and Gordon all laying exposed and vulnerable where they were tossed the night before, casualties of these destructive little whirlwinds who reside here.  We were entirely too tired last night to survey the damage and account for our fallen...they lay where they fell, waiting for someone to come and claim them.  No sooner than the casualties are accounted for and reported, the war front changes and the battles start all over again. 

                The day continues in much the same way-with "gun-fire" and running for cover.  They turn ham and cheese into grenades at lunch-but if I can make it through this battle, I know a TEMPORARY cease fire is coming.  Naptime.  A two hour break in the madness is a welcome reprieve; but it is not completely peaceful.  Naptime is a chance to clean up messes, reconfigure, and re-strategize...all while walking softly and keeping vigilant for the attack I know is coming.

                The war resumes, but we move to a new battlefield.  Outdoors.  At least now they turn on each other to wage war instead of coming after us.  They argue over bikes, swings, and rights to the slide.  They bomb each other with pea gravel and dirt clods.  The noise they make is not so deafening out here.  As dinner time approaches, I know the truce is coming. 

                Bellies full, bath, books, and bed.  These sleepy terrors, for a few brief moments, grant us sanctuary.  They now attack with hugs, kisses, and the sweet scent of their lavender soap.  They snuggle into our laps and eagerly listen to books about sharks and dinosaurs and trains and tractors.  We hear the sweet sounds of prayers instead of shrieks and cries.  We quiet our voices for lullabies instead of yelling for them to cease and desist.  As I tuck them into bed, kissing and saying "I love you, little man," I realize that, even though I am weary, and I know that the truce is only temporary, I would not trade this war for the peace I'd have without them.

Godspeed, little man

Sweet dreams, little man

Oh my love will fly to you each night

On angels’ wings

Godspeed

Sweet dreams

                                                                                --The Dixie Chicks

Twenty years gone and back again...

Ok...so unlike Odysseus, I haven't been gone for twenty years.  I did, however, go off a-roaming for a while.  My little family spent a week in the mountains of Tennessee "camping."  I use quotation marks because our "camping" trip was spent in my parents RV with beds, a refridgerator, stove, and most importantly...AC!  So while we weren't without some luxuries, we did go for a week without the things that so distract us in our modern world.  No cable television.  No internet.  We did take a few movies with us to fill the time between the boys bath and their bedtime.  But aside from those movies, we spent our time busy as a family with trips to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, days at the campground pool and waterslide, by the creek and trout pond, s'mores and coffee by the campfire.  When the day came for us to leave, Elijah, my oldest, cried.  And it sort of made my heart hurt.  Made me long for days spent tossing rocks into the creek and making simple memories with these boys.  That week did my heart good for a few reasons...

Look at God showing off...

Brothers actually loving each other

We got to do things like this...

...and this...

We got back from our trip just in time to celebrate America's birthday with some friends.  And then one week later, Jason and I celebrated 7 years of marriage.  July 10, 2004, Jason and I made the committment to love, honor, and cherish each other for as long as we both shall live.  And it's been 7 good years...blessed years.

Be patient while my heart skips a beat!  Oh how I love this man...

This past Saturday, we celebrated Elijah's 6th birthday.  He won't be 6 until July 17...but our friend Mindy and her kids are leaving for Texas that weekend (leaving Shawn behind...we'll feed you Shawn!), so we decided to have the party a week early so they could be there.  I'm going to do a whole post on Elijah and his birth story on Sunday.  I'll finish today with my "Thankful Thursday" # 6-10.

6.  America!  To quote Lee Greenwood...I'm proud to be an American.  Thank You, Father, that you blessed me by letting me be a part of this great nation.  Lord, I pray for this country.  Turn the hearts of the people back to you.  Hold off your judgment.  Stay your hand just a bit longer.  I'm praying for revival.  Send your Holy Spirit fire, Lord God.  Let us stand with Israel.  Let us live within our means.  Let us learn the value of hard work and simple faith once again.  I beg of You, Father, start with me.

7.  My parents...I love you Momma and Daddy.  Thank you for everything you do for us. 

8.  Reconciliation...with people here on earth and with the Heavenly Father through the blood of Jesus Christ.

9.Friends...Shawn and Mindy, Ian and Owen.  I'm so thankful that God brought this family into our lives.  We are truly blessed to know them and to love them!

10. Time away from the bustle of my crazy life. Time away from the computer, television, running here and there. Time to witness God's handiwork. Time to see that boys really do love each other (even if they don't act like it most days). Time to fill them up with sugar because there hasn't been time for a nap.  7 years of time that have gone by in a blink, but 7 years of time that have been blessed beyond my wildest dreams.  Simply...time. Precious Lord, may the time be long...amen.

The beginnings of our "Thankful Stars"