Ever Wondered...

I just got the "Buddy Mail" for this week.  For those of you readers who don't go to Grace then you should know that it's the message our pastor sends out each week to let us know what the sermon is going to be on and where his heart is.  This week is especially intriguing to me considering the week I have had.  It starts out...

Ever find yourself in unfamilar territory? 

Sometimes things do not turn out the way we thought they would. 

Sometimes things take a turn that we did not anticipate. 

Those kinds of turns tend to disorientate us. 

Have you ever felt disorientated?  I can tell you that right now... I'm feeling it.  Things I thought to be true have been proven false.  Walls I thought I could lean on turned out to be curtains.  Yet, through it all I'm not shaken!  I have learned this year 3 things.  One:  I love my husband more than words can express. (Even if I can't always show that)  Two:  Good friends are there no matter the cost.(even if it is REALLY expensive popcorn)  Three:  God has a plan for this life of mine that I am not even aware of (yes hopefully it will involve more kids in this house in some fashion!)  Even without numbers 1 & 2, number 3 makes it possible for me to walk when I can't see the path.

So regardless of the twists and turns in my life, I know that everything is going to be ok.  God has blessed me in this life more than I can even imagine.  I have a great husband, great kids, great friends and a great job.  Remember the important things in life as you head into your weekend.  Love others and never take them for granted.

April First Update

APRIL FIRST!

April First was a big day... not only was it the Oratory Recital... but it was Emma's birthday!

SIX YEARS OLD!!!
I can't believe I have gone from this...

to this...

AHHHHHH!

Before school on this particular morning, Mr. Lussi (see article here) asked to have breakfast with Emma for her birthday. So we got to go to Chick-fil-a and eat with him. What a special treat!

Then, Emma did wonderful... er uh.... got through... her poem. We were so proud of her though. She was so nervous and they made the Kindergartners go first!! I was so nervous for her, and although I have seen her recite it better, she got up there on stage and went through it flawlessly. So proud!

(Please note the blackbird in the nest on her head)

After that I got to stay for lunch and have cupcakes with her and her class!

(Please Note the Birthday Hat on her head)

Can I just say how much I love PCA? Before they ate lunch Mrs. Carter had Emma come to the front of the room and had her pick two students to pray for her. They came up and said a little prayer for Emma on her special day.

Then it was on to the party!
We had a spa party!

(if interested go to www.pamperedprincessparties.biz)

We also had some of the girls spent the night!

It was a fun...er uh... interesting... uh... exhausting day!

Spring Break.... a month later

I haven't had a time to reflect on Spring Break yet so I shall do that now. We had a great time in Hilton Head with our cousins and good friends. It was great to reconnect with Jamie and spend time with my two most favorite Meek sister-in-laws! I didn't want to leave and I can't wait to go back in 4 weeks! WOOHOO!
When we got back we had the staph infection debacle, strep throat, antibiotic allergies and a excema flare up that still hasn't subsided... so yes, I would rather be at the beach. Having great kids at school this semester has definitely made it easier to come back though! Seriously, I don't want this bunch to leave. I love them. I'll post pictures soon, but if you want to follow the class then head to www.danleylanguagearts.blogspot.com.

Ok Spring Break.

Garrett was very excited to get to the beach.
He reveled in finally getting there!

Emma had to kick the waves for Grammie and Poppa

We got our picture on our favorite tree!

I still remember our first one...

(technically Payton was in this too since I was pregnant with her)

We swung!

and we swam!

I found out what a great little man my Aidan is turning into....

And how much we have missed our good friends...

Despite the mishaps...



and the tears...

We had a great time!

Oratory Recital

Many of you may recall how I told you about Emma's Oratory Recital. I'm not sure whether I told you that the winner of the class would have to preform in front of the K-4th grades and their parents. I didn't mention it because I was sure it wouldn't matter. I just wanted Emma to be able to say her poem without freezing or getting upset. I didn't even send in a prop or give her a costume... I know... bad mom!
I received a call from her teacher this morning stating that Emma had been chosen (along with her friend Carson) to go forward and say her poem in front of the bigger crowd! How exciting... and nerve racking (is that supposed to be spelled with a 'w'?)! She said Emma did great at reciting her poem. I was so proud of her! Now we get to go see her recite it on April 1st! Yay Emma!!
(I was told to get her a costume and a prop... any ideas?)

Edit: The poem is titled "Seven Blackbirds in a Tree"

Golf Lessons

Well... it has been a busy two days! YEsterday the girls had their second golf lesson and were excited to keep practicing when we got home. Afterdinner we headed back out and the girls practiced their driving and chipping towards the cul-de-sac. They had to run to the street to get the balls before they went down the drain. I too got the itch to hit so I grabbed some of the wiffle type golf balls and started driving using my mom's old clubs. I however was not as careful as my children and ended up wacking Emma in the eye at close range with one of the wiffle balls on the best shot I had all day! IT wasn't pretty, but there wasn't any blood; just a very puffy and red eye. THis morning we woke up and although it was still a little swollen we sent her off to school for her "Boosterthon Fun Run" day. (This was a PCA fundraiser. Emma got pledges of dollar amounts per lap and today was the run) At about 8:30 I received a phone call from the school nurse and they said that Emma told her she was seeing spots. I called the ophthalmologist and finally got her an appointment for this afternoon. (She was able to run the fun run and ran 35 laps! The most you can run! WOOHOO!) The Eye technician asked Emma to read the eye chart. She started it about halfway down and Emma didn't respond so she moved it all the way up. Emma then told her that was an 'E'. She then moved it down a few and again Emma didn't respond. By now, I was starting to panic about the possibility that she really wasn't able to see. But then we moved it back up a line and singled out one letter and she was able to see it. We moved it back down and again. Silence. At this point I asked her if she could see it. "yes, I can see it!" "Well, what does it say then!" "Well, I'm trying to sound it out but I can't figure out the word!" Oh wow. I have never breathed a sigh of relief and laughed so hard at the same time. Poor girl has never had her eyes checked before! She didn't know she wasn't supposed to make words out of all those letters! Ahhh parenthood is so funny at times. Emma's eye is fine. She just needs some steroid drops for the next few days. Hope the school nurse is ready for that!!!

GREAT NEWS!!

We received Emma's report card in the mail this week, and she has DRAMATICALLY improved! I see so much change in her at home too. I am so excited about her growth, yet I also know that it is all God. Lessons learned in parenting are all about being willing to listen and admit mistakes.
She is still a drama queen! So if you have any tips on how to handle extreme sensitivity in 5 year old girls let me know!

Payton on the other hand LOVES to learn. I know that it is because she is wanting to keep up with Emma, but the other day in the car she started reciting the pledge to the American flag, which she has memorized at school! I was floored, and immediately felt guilty because I rarely ask he what she is learning at school. So, I asked her what else she knew. She started reciting the pledge to the Bible and the Christian Flag. I was now just laughing at her abilities. Second Child Syndrome at its finest! She asks all the time to read and go over numbers and letters. She is going to be hard to hold back.

Emma has an Oratory Recital at school where she has had to learn a poem to recite to her class and a panel of judges. She does great with me and Eric but freezes in front of others. Payton has also learned the poem due to Emma reciting it so much and does fabulously in front of others. She will have no problem at her first Oratory Recital... but please keep Emma in your prayers on March 22!

Love my girls!!

Switching Gears

Well, since Eric isn't here... I guess I'll just talk to the keyboard. Wow, my life is sad these days. I wonder sometimes if my mom ever felt this way when my dad worked late, and then of course I realize...NO! How could she? I mean I was at home with her right!? Thank goodness for my own kids. Otherwise, the nights would be super lonely.
Ok... so it seems I'm wallowing in self-pity tonight. I need to snap out of that!

So, we had Emma's 3rd Quarter conference the other day and it was less than stellar. It was disappointing. I guess I knew that Emma was struggling at home, but I didn't realize it had transferred to school. The sad thing is, I take the blame on myself. I have pushed her so hard that she doesn't want to do anything! Who can blame her... In case you don't know me... I'm a wee bit aggressive. All in all the whole thing has been a wake up to me as a mom. I have learned that all people aren't me. (shocker right!) Emma has a different learning style and motivation than I have and I need to learn to meet that. I can say that since I have had this little enlightenment and changed my way of addressing her there has already been a turn around even in the short few days since the conference. Example: Tonight she took the book out of my hands and told me to stop reading because she wanted to do it. That is HUGE! Woohoo!

All in all, I was crushed, but not defeated. I think that I needed it for the sake of my relationship with Emma. As parents I think we are called to be their cheerleaders. Who else is going to do it if we don't? So, I'm switching gears. We shall see if she reaps the rewards.