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...