One Year Ago Today...

The kids and I packed our bags and headed to the BWI airport after a week of visiting friends and family in Lancaster.  We boarded a Southwest jet and headed to Utah.  Andy met us at the airport and drove us to his temporary housing in American Fork.  I remember Riley asking where the snow was when we arrived!  Here we are 365 days later and so much has happened.  We built a house, Riley started school #2, Kendall has hair and speaks in full sentences, and I'm finally feeling at home here...I hesitate to even say that because every time I start to get comfortable some place, I usually get uprooted and moved somewhere else!

Here are a few pics of what has happened over the past year:

What a blessed year we've had!

Day One

Well, yesterday's dry run was beneficial for today's first day of school.  Last night we read "The Night Before First Grade" and thankfully it was all about making new friends while still keeping your old friends.  What a great story for someone going to a new school knowing only one other person!

Riley came downstairs dressed in his uniform and ready for breakfast a little after 7 am today!  He was happy to find that the Back To School Fairy found him at our new house.  I think he forgot all about it from last year which made it all the more special this morning! 

The Back To School Fairy brought Riley some cool pencils, highlighters and a calendar whiteboard to keep track of his assignments, projects and field trips. Since he needed so many supplies for school this year, the Fairy decided to keep it simple...and what would a fairy visit be without fairy dust?

Here he is in all his uniform glory!  What a handsome little man we have!  Thankfully all of us could go along to drop him off for his first day of first grade at his new school.  Just before we pulled into the church parking lot, he told us that he was "a little nervous."  How sweet.  I explained to him that even when I was a teacher, I use to be nervous on the first day of school too.  He didn't realize that teachers could be nervous just like students.  I didn't want him to know that as a mom, I was more nervous than I ever was as a teacher!  Some things you just gotta keep to yourself!

All four of us walked into his school together.  His teacher greeted us at the classroom door and ushered us in to find his seat and unload all of his supplies.

Check out the look of anxiety on his face!  As we were getting all of his stuff out, we turned around to find...

his buddy Anthony sits right behind him!  How fortunate for Riley!  You could see the anxiety roll off of him as he turned to talk to his friend.  I am so thankful for my friend Vanessa to guide me on the walk through a new school.  She's such a positive force and great friend to count on...I really feel like this is where God wants us to be at this point in our lives.  He brought us to this point and is honoring His promise to take care of us and dear Riley at his new school.  I love the fact that Riley's teacher started the day with prayer.  What a calming way to start his school day (and my day too!)  I am so excited to hear how the first day of school went...Hopefully when I ask "What did you do at school today?" I get an answer better than "Nothing Mom."  

Tonight is the Family Back To School Picnic.  Can't wait to meet some of the other parents and become a part of the Grace family!

We Are So FORTUNATE

Being a former teacher for 11 years, I know how hectic and absolutely crazy the first day and first week of school can be.  So we like to do something for Riley's teachers to let them know how special they are and how important they are in the life of our child.

Last year we gave Riley's teacher a poem, apple cake mix and some apples on the first day of school, an idea borrowed from my dear friend Kerri.  This year I am trying something different.  As I've mentioned numerous times before, I LOVE to blog stalk during naptime.  I have a number of favorite craft blogs that I pull ideas from.  This one is from How Does She via Eighteen25.

I bought some fortune cookies at the grocery store along with some Ghiradelli white chocolate chips and non-pareils.  I melted the chocolate and then dipped the fortune cookie in it and sprinkled on the colors.  I let them harden on wax paper then put them into these cute Chinese Take Out boxes.

Then I used the download from the link above and printed out these cute signs for the front.  I also used a little scrapbooking paper to make them stand out more.

I tied a black ribbon around the handle and violia!  A cute, easy, fun Back To School teacher gift!

Here is a poem I came across in my search for the perfect gift idea...It really sums up how I feel about the decision to send Riley to Grace this year.

“WHOSE CHILD IS THIS?”

"Whose child is this?" I asked one day

Seeing a little one out at play

"Mine", said the parent with a tender smile

"Mine to keep a little while

To bathe his hands and comb his hair

To tell him what he is to wear

To prepare him that he may always be good

And each day do the things he should"

"Whose child is this?" I asked again

As the door opened and someone came in

"Mine", said the teacher with the same tender smile

"Mine, to keep just for a little while

To teach him how to be gentle and kind

To train and direct his dear little mind

To help him live by every rule

And get the best he can from school"

"Whose child is this?" I ask once more

Just as the little one entered the door

"Ours" said the parent and the teacher as they smiled

And each took the hand of the little child

"Ours to love and train together

Ours this blessed task forever."

Tomorrow is Riley's first day of school at his new school...I don't know who's more nervous, him or me...Well, let me take that back.  I know that it's me!  Thankfully he's more excited than nervous.  I can't wait to see him in his little uniform tomorrow morning!

It's A Bird, It's a Plane, It's...

Have you ever felt like you are expected to do it all?  Wife, mom, cook, dish washer, laundry service, cleaning lady, dog walker, chauffeur, tutor, fashion expert, hair stylist, dental hygienist, story teller, nutritionist, t.v./movie/computer monitor, referee, and comforter...

Every time I read Proverbs 31, I find myself more and more frustrated that I just can't do it all.  Some times I feel like a failure because there is no way I can be "Super Mom."  

Proverbs  31:10-31

A good woman is hard to find,

   and worth far more than diamonds.

(You got that right Solomon!)

Her husband trusts her without reserve,

   and never has reason to regret it.

Never spiteful, she treats him generously

   all her life long.

(Oh geez, my whole life long…NEVER spiteful?  I’ve got work to do!)

She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,

   and enjoys knitting and sewing.

(I like to shop for a bargain and don’t mind simple sewing projects)

She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places

   and brings back exotic surprises.

(I wish I could sail away some days…)

She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast

   for her family and organizing her day.

(I need to get better at this one…If I would get up just 15 min. before the kids, I’d have more time to get it all done.)

She looks over a field and buys it,

   then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden.

(I actually did this one!)

First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,

   rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.

(Some days I’m not as eager as others, and there has been a time or two where I stayed in my jammies)

She senses the worth of her work,

   is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.

(Does a mom EVER get to call it quits for the day?)

She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,

   diligent in homemaking.

(I dig the craft part, but need to focus on the homemaking part…cleaning can be worship…just need to refocus)

She's quick to assist anyone in need,

   reaches out to help the poor.

(Sometimes I could stand to be a little quicker and could probably reach out a little further)

She doesn't worry about her family when it snows;

their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.

(I'm not too far off on this one.)

She makes her own clothing,

   and dresses in colorful linens and silks.

(This was written before malls and industrialization, right?)

Her husband is greatly respected

   when he deliberates with the city fathers.

(Well, at least with the rail road fathers)

She designs gowns and sells them,

   brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.

(Maybe I could start selling some of the stuff I make…I’ve been told to sell my jewelry, but I usually do it for fun and gifts)

Her clothes are well-made and elegant,

   and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.

(Got to work on ALWAYS part)

When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,

   and she always says it kindly.

(Boy do I have a lot to improve upon here!)

She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,

   and keeps them all busy and productive.

(I can keep them busy for sure!)

Her children respect and bless her;

   her husband joins in with words of praise:

"Many women have done wonderful things,

   but you've outclassed them all!"

Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.

   The woman to be admired and praised

   is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.

(This is what I'm trying to be aware of when dealing with Kendall and her love of all things Princesses)

Give her everything she deserves!

   Festoon her life with praises!

Well, there you have God's idea of the "perfect woman."  Thankfully He doesn't expect that I'll be perfect, but has given me the model to strive for in my daily living.  There are just some days that I wonder if I can take any more. I carry all of the stress of the family on my shoulders...well, that's partially true.  Andy stresses over work because he's financially taking care of the family now that I no longer work.   But there are times when I just feel like I can't do it all.  

I wish this picture was of me.  Look at the calm on her face.  She knows she can handle all of it...and it looks like her life is more hectic than mine...she's got a TEENAGER!  

I guess when it comes down to it, all that REALLY matters is that I put God first in my life.  It only matters if He thinks I'm doing my best...I think these next few weeks I'm going to have to lean on His strength more and less of my own.  That's the only way I'm going to shake the feeling of just barely being able to keep my head above water.  

You'd think after all that I've been through in my married life, I'd have this all figured out by now?!?!?!