It's been way too long since I've posted. An entire month of school has come and gone. Elijah and Sawyer both have grown so much in the new school year. I've met and grown to love a whole new batch of kids. We come home every day and play and do homework and cook supper and play some more and take baths and brush teeth and study God's word and say prayers and read books and sing songs and tuck in and clean the kitchen and grade papers...all to start over again the next morning. It's all very routine, but these are the moments in my life that God whispers to me..."Look around you...I've done this just for you." The school year is in full swing for all of us and in the midst of what can sometimes be chaos, God still pours out his blessings on this unworthy vessel.
22. Listening to Elijah read each night. He's becoming such a little reader...which I absolutely love. We got his first progress report home last week, and he's right on track with reading, writing, and spelling. Math is a separate matter. We have to do some extra work to stay caught up in math...but he is my son.
Insert clever math joke here about the 2x not falling far from the quadratic formula or something like that!
23. Sawyer is now going to Meadowdale in Perry. I get to take him to school every day. I love having that time with that sweet boy each morning and afternoon. Our favorite things to do are to sing "Oh Happiness" at the top of our lungs and count how many "big trucks" we see between Bonaire and Perry. He is enamored with the trucks that carry live chickens.
24. A long weekend. I know school has only been going for five weeks, but an extra day this weekend was much needed. We spent the weekend at my parents house surrounded by family. My sister and her family came (those boys sure do love playing together). My aunt Joyce and Uncle Harold and cousin Lynn came to visit on Sunday. Sadly, all too often, I don't get to see my aunts, uncles, and cousins except for Christmastime, so a visit with them this weekend was so much fun.
25. Listening to my babies say their prayers every night at our family prayer time. Elijah is growing out of saying the little "poem" kind of prayers. He actually talks to God, thanks God, praises God...for His goodness and grace, for the cross and the resurrection. I can't wait to see what God does with this sweet, precious little boy who has such a tender heart.
26. Sawyer's new teacher talking about how smart he is. She has been working with her kids on learning a letter of the alphabet each week. How to write the letter and everything. Sawyer already recognizes all of the letters and can tell you what each one "says." He even knows how to write many of them. Ms. Rachel says that by the time the other kids have written one or two of the letters, Sawyer has filled his paper. He's such a bright little stinker!
So no pictures tonight. I just wanted to continue on with my 1000 Gifts list. I've started one at school as well. My students are helping me put it together. This thankfulness project has changed me...well, God has changed me through it. I find myself being made aware of all of the blessings that I do have in my life instead of dwelling on those that I don't. I find myself being kinder and more patient with my husband and boys, which is the whole reason I started the journey (go back to see
this post). And continuously saying to myself...
Praise the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not all his blessings.
Who forgives all your sins,
And heals all your diseases.
Who satisfies your desires with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
