Oh, to stay at home...

And that is just what I am going to do. I have resigned from my position as the Early Childhood Director at church. I am going to really be a "stay-at-home-mom" again. I have struggled with it for some time now... being torn between wanting to be with my kids and having to go to work to get things done there. Always feeling behind with the house, the kids, the job, the husband, the laundry, the errands, etc...... No Saturdays with the family because it is a good time to go in when I don't have to worry about who will take care of the kids. I have felt God prompting me to quit and stay home. I didn't think it made sense because we do use the money I make. However, God reminded me that His ways don't always make sense to me. I can't see the whole picture that He sees. I can't get inside His mind and know why He does the things He does or why He asks us to do the things He asks us to do. All I can do is be obedient and follow Him. So I am. I am really excited about it. I am trusting Him to provide for us with our little deduction in pay. I am trusting that He will bring along the right person for the job too. And for Jil's sake, I hope that is soon. :-)
Anyway, I have until Nov. 1 and I am done. I am looking forward to the time with Anna. I had that with Emma, and I don't want to miss out on that time with Anna. They are only this small once, and for such a short time! I want to fully enjoy it!

Let your light shine...

Last night at church it was family night of worship. Jil was singing a couple of kids songs and asked the kids in SPLASH to come help her. There were actually only 3 kids in the service at the time. Emma was feeling shy because of that. I told her to go up and she hesitated. When I told her again to go to she said first said, "Ok, I'll go, but I will cover my mouth." Then she asked me, "Do I need to let my light shine for everybody?" I was surprised by her profound question, but I simply told her, "Yes, that would be a great idea." So, she went up on stage with Jil and the other 2 girls, sang her heart out, did the motions with enthusiasm, and made her mother proud.
In the car on the way home we were talking about the singing. I told how proud I was that she let her light shine for everyone. She made me proud and more importantly, she made God proud. She said, "My heart was nervous, but I didn't let it show on the outside." Again, I was a proud mother! Along with feeling proud, I thought, "I have a lot to learn from that 5 1/2 year girl!"

A Day At the Pumpkin Patch...

Emma's class went on a field trip yesterday. It was the first field trip they have taken. All four Kindergarten classes went to the Pumpkin Patch. Five parents from each classroom were allowed to chaperone the event. Emma begged me to go, which of course I wanted to do anyway. So I spent my day with her kindergarten class. What a wild bunch! Her teacher definitely has her hands full! The kids were not bad or mean, just full of energy. They had to pair up with a partner for the day. When Emma was asked if she wanted to pair up with a certain student, Emma said, "I am not sure if she will be a good example". Yea, that would be my daughter... not wanting to pair up with a student that wasn't strictly obeying the rules. At the time the teacher asked, the student was laying on the floor - when they were supposed to be sitting. Emma was paired up with her anyway. They did fine.
At the pumpkin patch, the children got to do all kinds of activities. They played in a miniature straw maze with a slide in it, hunted for pumpkins, went on a hay ride, chased balloons inside a giant pumpkin, ate pumpkin bars, played pin the nose on the pumpkin, went on a scavenger hunt, and more. I think the most exciting part though for some, was the bus ride. As we were getting off the bus back at school, Emma told the bus driver, "My mom won't let me ride the bus". Gotta love how she'll say exactly what she thinks and feels. :-)
It was fun to spend the day with her. Her excitement to have me there was priceless! I am sure the day will come when it won't be "cool" to have mom chaperone and event. I will enjoy it while it lasts! Of course, I will always be a "cool" mom, so maybe it will last... ha ha ha.

I got this idea from my cousin. I thought I would try it out just for fun. I have another cousin that has said I look like Reese Witherspoon. I don't see it, but apparently this website saw it as the most likely match. Of course, they also said Brendan Frasier could be a match...

The websited was free, so I thought, hey, why not...

Clouds...




The other day I was at church and as I came out, I looked up to the sky. What I saw was amazing! I have never seen anything like it before. I wished I had my camera, but I didn't. I got these photos from a friend who got them from a college student that took them. Just thought I would share them with all of you...

I need help...

We let our kids dress up for Halloween -so long as it is not a creepy costume. Emma decides Nov. 1 what she will be the next year. Last year she decided that this Halloween she wants to be a "My Little Pony". I didn't push it, hoping she would change her mind. But, of course, she hasn't. I have looked everywhere I can think to look... any ideas on how to come up with such a costume? I can't find one in local stores or on the internet. I would have no idea how to make one. Any suggestions?

Pain in the rear...

Literally. I have a pain in my backside. It is my souvenir from my weekend away to the MOPS Convention. It was a rainy Saturday night. I decided I really wanted to buy a CD of Mark Schultz. Everyone else was getting ready for bed, and Jaena and I went back to the Opryland Hotel to the MOPS Shop to get the CD. It was a rainy Sat. night... did I mention that part? I was wearing my good ole flip-flops... yes, in the rain... not smart, I know. As we were crossing the parking lot, there was a brick crosswalk. Cars were stopped and we proceeded to cross. Jaena crossed. I fell flat on my bum! My feet went out from under me and I went straight down, right on my tailbone. I got up as quickly as I could. Jaena came to help me up and asked if I was ok. I just wanted to hide. A few passers by just looked at me, but no one said anything. I felt humiliated. Jaena, being the helpful person she is, was trying to think of a way to help me. "I can pick you up", she said to me. I looked at her kind of funny. I was wondering just how she planned on carrying me. She realized what I was thinking and quickly explained herself... "I can get the car and come pick you up... not carry you." We were both laughing pretty hard at that point.
But I still wanted the CD, so we went inside. I was walking like an old lady all the way to the MOPS shop only to find out that most everyone had cleared out their booths and there no CD's to be bought. All that and I went back empty handed. The only thing I have to show for that whole adventure is a bruised tailbone.
When I got back to the hotel, I was in quite a bit of pain. The real fun part was that the next morning we headed home and I had to sit in a van for 6 hours. When we stopped for lunch, I ate standing up... it hurt too much to sit.
It has been over a week now, I still feel the pain. A big pain in the rear... :-)