Faith Filled Friday ~ Time, Space, and Prayer

Anna has always had a strong walk with God; a real thirst for Him in her heart. I'm not sure if it's because of her early childhood experiences but one thing I know is that I foster that thirst as much as I can. "God Time" as we call it in our house takes just that... time. And whenever Anna needs that time she is given that time. It doesn't matter what is swirling around in this house or what homework needs to get done. If it's time with God that she needs it's time with God that she gets.

 Every child is different. Abigail loves to dance and shout with praise music on (usually in the kitchen while I'm working... oh and she likes to be as close to naked as she can.. don't know what that has to do with it but we let that go)  Anna simply needs a pen, her notebook and some time alone.



She writes to God and really pours her heart out to him. I love that. Her notebook is filled with prayers really. A growing girl wanting and knowing she needs God close by her side every day. I pray for her too. That her time strengthens her relationship with the Lord and that God meets her in her time. But that I know is already true.

I don't have all of the answers but I do have a lot of resources that have helped us along the way.  One day soon... we I have a few minutes I will share a favorite devotional that Anna uses...

Friends

Before the last day of school and our schedule was already feeling a bit summerish the girls had some fun with friends.  Abigail had this sweet friend over from her Kindergarten class.  Oh the giggles... I adored every minute of the two hours, and vowed to have more 6 year old play dates here this summer!





Abigail has such an easy time with friends. She's open, and kind of foot loose and fancy free so play dates are easy for her. And then there's Anna. She has a special friend at school who often rings the door bell asking Anna to bike ride with her. It took a lot of asking and then me to tell Anna that one day her friend will stop coming to ask for a bike ride if the answer is always no. So one day just before the last day of school Anna said yes when the doorbell rang. Even though they weren't going far in the neighborhood I was nervous letting her go off on her own. I made Abigail stop what she was doing and pray with me. And then there was even a call to Scott with a "did I do the right thing?" question.



But she did great... for a wobbly, not so sure of herself bike rider that she is.



But the best friends of all are hands down these sisters.



Here's to many long summer days with lots of friends and lots more family time!

Lucky

His first Father's Day


This song of course... 

I know I'm behind.  ( I wrote a little bit about Father's Day back here) We sure had a lot going on in June but I don't want to forget our memories of Fathers Day.  So here goes.  It was a really low key day since we had this big party the day before and we were still knee high in end of the year activities.  We relaxed at home.  And played in the backyard. 











A daddy bike ride was in order too.



And then my parents came over for a simple cookout. 



Scott said it was the perfect day.  Thank goodness he likes low key!

I sure am lucky to call this man the father to my daughters.  He sure is the perfect daddy for them. 



And husband for me. 

A way blurry picture Anna took but I love it anyway


Going out to one of Scott's work things... never happens so we had to take a picture


I love my tennis playing (since 15), in awesome shape, boyish face, takes care of everything man I married.  In my eyes he'll always be 15 since that's when the magic all started with us.  (oh my word... Anna's only 5 years away from that age!)  I can't wait to spend this weekend away with him! 

The Last Day of School

It all started with...

Anna: mommy, grab your camera! There's a heart in my orange juice!

You just know it's going to be a great day with a start like that!



And with approximately one and a half minutes to take a few photos we got these... Oh I love these girls!





Still so little



Twirling



And with a lump in my throat I took this one of my oldest girl on her last day of fourth grade. Where did the time go?



Last day presents.



And the last walk in that back Kindergarten door with the sweetest teacher in the world. 



Here we are at dismissal.. And introducing my pint sized first grader!



And walking out the front door is my fifth grader!



Comforting hugs



And a summer together has begun!



From my first day of school (August 2012) photo shoot







Boy, have we grown, changed, and learned so much in one school year! 

"But Mommy... Why Would We Celebrate?" ~ Abigail tonight

I know you've been waiting for me to be over -the - moon with it's here... the last day of school tomorrow but tonight, our last Monday night, I find myself weepy. For those of you knee deep into summer, you are wondering, what's wrong with that girl? All she ever wanted was for the school year to end for summer to begin. I've been reading about that for months! Now she's sad? 

I know it makes no sense. It's just that I'm not good at transitions. On our honeymoon I begged, begged I tell you Scott to take me home. HOME to Connecticut from HAWAII... crazy I tell you. But that's how I am. It was oh so hard to leave my parents on my wedding night. No matter how much I adored my newly married husband, I wanted to be home. That switch from home being my mom and dad to home becoming mine; mine and Scott's that was a rough switch.

So here I am... on the cusp of that I've been longing for... long summer days. Sunscreen, pool days, sticky popsicle finger days. It's here and I'm excited but I hate saying goodbye to the best Kindergarten teacher in the world. I hate the idea that Abigail doesn't belong to her anymore and she doesn't belong to Abigail after Tuesday at 3:20. They'll be new "baby Kindergarteners" (as Abigail calls them) and it won't be my daughter.

And then Anna. Fourth grade was such a transition year for her. And she was with an angel of a teacher too. She carefully helped Anna navigate though the rough waters of rocky friendships. She applauded her academically and made Anna strive to not only be top of her class but top of the grade level. That little girl who was once a behind first grade reader now top of her class. I'm so proud of her achievements this year.

It's hard friends to let go of such a magical year. The year I spent more time volunteering in the classroom than working at home. Wonderful, happy memories tucked away forever. Like these:

Kindergarten Walking Field Trip to the Park


















Fourth Grade "beach day" at the school






Beach Day picnic friends... thank you God for sending these girls into Anna's life!


Two more principals sharing awards... wow!




Mexican Fiesta






And so tonight while I was giving Abigail her last Kindergarten bath (yes, I'm a sap that way) I told her we would be going to Flat Bread for dinner to celebrate the last day of school tomorrow night. And she said, "but why would we celebrate mommy?" With a puzzled look on her face and her heart not too far from my 23 year old one that wanted to come home from her honeymoon I held her and said instead, "well, maybe it'll be a cheer up dinner.  I could use one too.  Do you love Mrs. Mulready?  (she nodded) I do too." 

So I washed the bubbles off of her, put her powder and jammies on and tucked my little kindergartener in bed.  Off to sleep she went.  And then Anna reading in bed.  I went to tuck her in and turn off her light.  All I said was, "say thank you tomorrow."  And her eyes, they filled up with tears. 

So it's not in the genes.  I've just raised girls to be grateful for teachers.  Sad when it's over, and to realize how much God blesses their lives. 

And tonight as I typed, Anna walked downstairs with silent tears.  She told me she was sorry but that after I turned off her light she stayed up and wrote a letter to Miss Kearns.  I said it was okay and that "it would be okay."  I knew she needed more.  So I held her right here at my desk.  We prayed and listened to this song.  She let out some more tears and then went up to bed again with a grateful to God heart.  So will I.  

I'm grateful for these happy, sappy feelings.  I'm grateful that my girls adore school and their teachers. I'm grateful that I was home this year to be in that class over and over. 

My last time Kinder volunteering... be still my heart... thank you God for letting me be there! 


The greatest Kinder teacher in the world...


Tonight, the big sap in me doesn't want to say goodbye to kinderland and fourth grade.  I guess part of me will still always be that 23 year old newly married girl who could have skipped her honeymoon and stayed at home.  And possibly that will be my girls too.  "Mommy, why would we celebrate?"