First Day of School!

Yesterday, Emily started the 1st grade. She was so excited (which made mommy happy). This year, we decided that I was going to teach her instead of doing videos like we did last year, and boy, is it better! She's happier, I'm happier, and it's a lot faster! We started around 9:30 (there's a reason why we got such a late start) and we were done by 11:00! I know that later in the year, it will take longer, but we're easing our way in. Here are some pictures from her first day.

She had a weird start to her year. I loaded her up and carted her off to Sarah's house at 8 in the morning. Sarah, being the great friend and ingenious homeschooler that she is, had a desk all ready for her and plans to include her in her school day. Thanks, Sarah!! Savannah had a Dr's appointment yesterday morning, so that's why we got such a late start. I can't give the details about Savannah's appointment here, because that post title needs to be something like, "Nurses at pediatrics that don't know what they're doing" or something like that....it's for another time. :)

My Heavenly Father

Emily has a flair for the dramatic. I have no idea where she gets it. Ok, ok, now that my closest friends are laughing, maybe I do know where she gets it. Just like I know where I get it. Ahem. Anyway. Everything is "the end of the world" to her. If she asks for a friend to spend the night, or if someone to come over, and is told 'no', she melts down like it's the end of the world as she knows it (please don't embellish me with the fact that this is a disciplinary issue...I get it). She asks "Why?" and "I've been good!" and all other sorts of 6 year old type of questions. But you know what? I'm her mother. I'm (a little) wiser than she is, and I can handle it. I know my reasons, and even if she doesn't agree, they are better for her in the long run. So, I listen to her questions and cries, and just assure her that I know what's best.
It's really hit me in the last couple weeks that our Heavenly Father does this with us! When something doesn't happen the way we think it should or in the timing that we think it should have happened, don't we ask all the irrational "Why's" and "I've been trying to live for You!" question? No? Well, I do. Case in point: Wait...I have several to choose from...Hmmm....Ok. ok...got one

Last year, Brian didn't make Tech....again. It was the year that we thought, "He has to make it. There's no way he can't make it." Well, there was a way, because he didn't. I'll never forget the day he got the results. I did the "ugly cry" (thanks, Shan). I'll admit, I asked God why. I reasoned with Him that I was trying to live for Him, and I was doing better than "some" people. ha ha It sounds stupid now, but at the time, I was so angry and hurt! But, you know what? He can handle it. Psalm 22:24 reads,

For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him, He heard.

He heard me...He listened to my questions and cries, and then, through His word, He assured me that He knew best. Over a year later, I see it. Not that He knew best, because He has shown me that in His Word over and over. But, He graciously (because He doesn't have to, and doesn't always) showed me the evidence that He knew best. We recently got orders to our #1 choice of places to go. Langley AFB, VA. We are so super excited that it's hard to wait for the time to go. We have been told that if Brian had made Tech last year, that he would more than likely have gotten orders to Korea....for a year....by himself. God knows what is best for me. Is there a day coming where I don't have the ugly cries and questions, but just accept that He knows best and praise Him for His way? I hope so. (please don't embellish with the fact that this is a disciplinary issue...I get it).

On another note of praise to the Lord. Seven months ago, I wrote a post about how when our hearts were so overwhelmed with grief, we could go to God's Word, and rest in the fact that He has a plan, and He knows best. I was overwhelmed with grief about Savannah's skin issues. She was so covered in eczema that I worried that she would lose even her sight due to infections on her eyelids. I cried the ugly cry....again. I turned it over to the Lord, and trusted in Him to heal her. I can't tell you how Ephesians 3:20 has been revealed in our lives.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Last Tuesday, we went to a flag football game and Savannah wore shoes without socks. Whoopty-do, you say? You have no idea how huge this is for me. Savannah has to wear socks....every day, all the time. If not, she scratches her ankles open. Yes, open. However, her skin is doing so great, that she didn't have to wear socks that day. Why her skin is doing so well is the topic for another post, but this post is just to praise the Lord for His goodness. Her skin is so clear, and she is almost completely itch free. Has she outgrown the severity? have I found the problem? I don't know. I do know that the Lord has granted me a 2 month reprieve of the grief I feel for her, and I Praise His Name!!!

This was all very random, and I don't usually blog about things like this, but I felt led to do this. I don't want to ever fall short of offering praise to my Heavenly Father for His plan in my life.

Exciting News!!!

Remember in this post I mentioned something about a new assignment and a trip to Washington?? Well, both of those things have come to fruition in the past couple weeks.
The girls and I are going to Washington (state) to visit my BFF and Emily's BFF and Savannah's soon to be BFF and....Noah. :) Matthew will be coming home from Iraq in October, and we are going to help those last weeks go a little faster. We're so excited and already planning fun things to do. I, for one, can't WAIT to visit the first ever Starbucks that is located in Seattle.
And, in even BIGGER news, we got orders!!!! We have been wanting orders for several weeks now, and Brian called me last Friday very excited that his assignment page (I'm sure there is a more official name for it than that) had changed and we finally got orders. Not only did we get orders, but we got orders to our number 1 pick!!!! We are going to Langley AFB, in Hampton, VA!!!! It is only 3 and a half hours from home, and after January, only 3 and a half hours from the aforementioned BFF!!! We are super excited, but a little bummed that our report date isn't until August 2010. That seems so far away, but I know it will go fast.
School starts in 6 days!! I'm excited and dread it all at the same time. Sorry no pictures this time. I'm sure I'll have some next week.

Milestone

Emily had a major milestone in her life yesterday. She finally lost a tooth. She will be 7 in 4 months and she thought she'd never lost her first tooth. She and Savannah were playing and Emily had a rope of some sort in her mouth, and Savannah gave a firm yank and out it popped!! She was very excited! More so excited this morning she woke up this morning and the tooth fairy had left her $5!! Really, daddy?? Anyway...inflation, I guess.

More Summer Happenings

I was looking through my camera yesterday and noticed that I hadn't posted pics of Brian's 33 birthday. Yes, 33....I know...he's old. :) We had an ice cream cake that was horrible...very long story...you don't want to know. Anyway, we had a good time with him!

Also, here are a couple pictures from our Backyard Bible Club that we had that same week. It was crazy busy, but an absolute blessing.

We averaged about 21 kids each day.

They got to decorate cookies on the last day.

Even Savannah joined the fun.

Savannah has been enjoying some one on one time with mommy and daddy since Emily has been gone. Her favorite game to play with daddy is hide and seek. She seeks him and he scares her to death! It's so cute.

Notice the cat...he got scared, too. Also notice Van's pink nose...mommy forgot face sunscreen. Oops

Jill and Axie came over the other day and Emily got to talk to them on the computer. Gotta love Skype.

Summer....Please Don't Go!!!

Can you believe today is August 1st? I can not believe that summer is almost over! It's crazy!! We have had an incredible summer. It started with Brian coming home and our fabulous beach vacation. Then, the water park every day (I still need to post pictures of that). July 4th was so much fun, and then Emily's last minute trip to Meme and Papa's. I can't believe I'm making lesson plans and buying school supplies. Ugh....ok...enough complaining. Here are some pictures of Emily's good time at my mom and dad's.


They stopped at my grandpa's on the way home. He'll be 93 this November (he's the one on the right. ha ha).


Mmm..Krispy Kreme


Yeah...we won't talk about this one.

She loves it there. I have a lot of people tell me, "What are you going to DO while she's gone?" or "You're so brave to let her go!" or my personal favorite, "I could never do that!" Not sure if that indicates that I'm a bad mom, or a super cool mom. Anyway...a lot of people don't understand the dynamic that abides between my parents and us and my girls. My parents aren't the Generation X grandparents that so many kids have these days. You know, the grandparents that are still career driven and have the "My kids are gone, this is ME time." mindset. They are the typical Cosby Show Grandparents. Remember how the grandparents would come over and the minute they walked in the door, they were gushing, "Where's my babies?" and the kids were getting quarters from Grandad? That's my parents. I thank God every day that my girls have real grandparents. I want both of them to look back at their childhood and say, "I remember summers with my Grandparents..." and launch into stories of beach trips, and getting all their favorite meals, and eating cupcakes at 9:00 at night. Thanks, mom and dad, for being the BEST grandparents two little girls could ask for. Maybe next year, you can have them both.... :)

So, off that soapbox. To address the "What will you DO while she's gone?" question. Savannah is almost (I would say 99.5%) potty trained!! I didn't do anything different to make her do it, it just finally clicked. She gets SO excited when she "goes", and I am SO excited that we aren't using as many diapers. She still wears them at night, but one a day will last for a long time.

Enjoy what's left of your summer. I know I am! School will be upon us too soon. Stay tuned for exciting news about trip to Washington to see Melanie and the kids....AND stay tuned for news about a new assignment....I'm not holding out on either of those, it's just we don't know yet.