School Time Has Arrived!

Ok....I've reached a sad milestone day.  I sent my 4 yr old off to preschool today.  He was SOOOOO excited and could not quit talking once we got there.  (Poor teacher!) We went to his room, hung up his back pack, and then he went to the table.  Noah had to hang up his back pack too.  I snuck it back to the car.  That's the point when little brother realized that Nathan was staying and he was not.  He cried from Nathan's classroom all the way to the car and out onto the highway.  I finally got him to hear me say that we would be going for ice cream.  That helped.....a LOT.  We had a mommy and Noah date at Culvers.  All seemed better until we got home.  I started to get out of the car when he began asking where brother is.  He teared up a little and we made a hasty entrance into the house.  All Nathan said when I left was...."Bye Mom".  He was truly upset to see me leave...not.  He was already busy with his school work at the table and I was not needed at that point.  I'm glad he is so independent, but a little frown or tear would be nice occassionally.  Nah!  I'm glad he can stand on his own.  I hope Noah can adjust.  Daddy will be taking him from now on when he goes back to work from lunch.  Hopefully that will save on Noah's freaking out.
Nathan looked so sweet with his little back pack.  Thanks to my Mom, they both have one just alike. 
I'm waiting to see how his day went.  It will be rushed because we have church tonight, but I can't wait to hear about his afternoon.


Waiting for them to unlock the door.




Noah doesn't leave Nathan's side very often.




Cheese!  (He always turns his head when I snap a picture.)





Noah playing with buttercups.....waiting.



We're finally here!!


 

His teacher and classroom.





Already getting to work.




Noah's special date with Mommy at Culvers.




He's loving the ice cream!




Can I get a bigger spoon?




He fell asleep holding his puppies......feeling kinda lonely, I think.



God's Wonderful Surprises!

I was sitting at the kitchen table working on our next budget with Chris. When I looked up and out the sliding glass doors, a hot air balloon looked like it was coming right towards me. It was really low! I hollered at the boys to come onto the deck and see it. When we went out, there was another one to the right. They were so close that we could wave at the people in the baskets. :o) My boys were soooo excited.

This was the closest one. It's floating over our house.

This one's on my phone screen now.

                               This one is over our neighbor's house across the street.

It was moving pretty fast. As I was working on a (semi) stressful task of trying to stretch the budget....God gave me something to relieve that stress. It only lasted for a few minutes, but it was so cool! We also got to visit with our neighbors across the street for a while. See.....many blessings!

I can go online to see how much my paycheck will be. So while I was doing that….what do you know….another blessing. I got a bonus. It wasn’t a lot, but every little bit helps. I know you know what I’m talking about. I’ve worked for Wal-Mart off and on for almost 20 years now. They have started to give what is called “My Share” bonuses a few times a year. Believe me……it helps. I don’t count on them so they are ALWAYS a blessing. It came at a perfect time. My car has to be fixed before winter and this will help so much in doing that. We have also discovered that Chris’s “used” car that we love will need some work. I’m pretty sure the heater doesn’t work. I’ve turned it on a couple of times and it doesn’t get hot. With the seasons changing, it will have to be fixed also. I have dubbed it “The Blue Banana”. My husband doesn’t appreciate that name very much. I’ve tried to find another one, but this one just fits. Sorry honey!

Nathan has been almost 3 weeks in big boy underwear! He has had very few accidents and is doing well. Thank you to all my encouragers that told me it would just click some day. It took him until his 4th birthday, but it finally clicked! Noah is now asking to wear pull-ups. He wants to do everything his brother does. I’m hoping this encourages him to potty train a little more quickly than his brother did. I’ve learned to hope and not hold my breath. :o)

I’ve been following a blog http://www.bowensheart.com/ about a family waiting for the birth of their son. He has a serious heart problem. He was born over the weekend and his first surgery is Monday morning at 7:30am. Please pray for this family. They have a great attitude and love for God and for Bowen, that’s the baby’s name. I’ve included their website. Check it out. The father is in the band Sanctus Real. He is the lead singer. It is a touching story of faith. Please join me in praying through this with them and asking for God’s will in little Bowen’s life.

Have a blessed week!

Success is a wonderful thing!

We have been attempting this potty training thing for well over a year now.  He's finally got it!  Yeah...we've had a few accidents and setbacks, but he's been in "big boy underwear" for 2 1/2 weeks now.  I never thought this day would come.  For Nathan, it came after his 4th birthday. I'm hoping Noah won't wait so long.  I keep thinking that he likes to do everything his brother does.  I am hoping and praying that potty training will be one of them.
I now have a 4 year old!  I can't believe he's already 4.  Worse than that...in 6 months, my baby will be 3.  Ahhhhh!!!  Where did the time go?  Noah is talking so much more clearly.  I knew it would happen, but I think I wanted him to stay a baby a little while longer.  That's not God's plan and I want Noah to grow.  I just wasn't prepared for how quickly it goes.  I watch my boys and I am amazed at what they know and how quickly they learn.  I was singing a Casting Crowns song with the radio last week. I glanced in the rear view mirror and Nathan was singing too.  He knew every word.  That kid is good at memorizing.  He must get it from his daddy.  :o)  I feel so blessed to be a mother, even when I want to scream and run for cover.  As I've said before, I never thought I'd even be a wife, let alone a mother.  Fortunately I have a pretty good support group for the times I want to run screaming from the house. 
Nathan will be able to go to kindergarten next year if we want him to.  His birthday is just days before the deadline.  I can't decide what to do.  Chris and I have been talking it through, but we don't have any resolutions yet.  I'm just praying that God reveals His will in this situation. I know He will, I just have to be patient to wait for it and quiet enough to hear Him when He answers me.
I have been following the blog http://www.bowensheart.com/ about a little baby boy who was diagnosed with a heart problem before he was born.  His mother is in labor today and I would appreciate prayers for their family.  If you haven't heard about it on K-LOVE, visit the website above.  He will have to have heart surgery as soon as he is born, that is, if he lives through the delivery.  Please pray with us that God's will is done in this family's life.  Thanks for joining me by being a prayer warrior.
I am about to embark on an exercise plan.  My friend Shannon is testing to be a personal trainer in a couple of weeks.  She is awesome and will do wonderfully.  She's using me to practice writing a training plan and yes, I did volunteer.  I'm ready to get some of this weight off and feel better.  Right now, my blood pressure medicine isn't always helping to lower my blood pressure.  I think losing weight will help immensely. (sp?)  Pray that I can stick with it.  I want to be able to play with my boys as they get older.  Right now, I tire easily and my arthritis in my back makes it difficult to be as active as I would like. 
I hope everyone is doing well and has a good week.  I'll try not to wait a whole month before I blog again.