Maggie's 4k room visit

Maggie was super excited to spend the morning with her friends at the classroom drop in.  Several of her friends from last year are in her class this year but there are some new friends.  We can't wait for Tuesday!

Tired of Shopping Mommy

We've been working at school a lot over the last two weeks.  I'm pretty sure Maggie is tired of being at school without her friends.  Along with working at school, we also have been shopping to purchase items for school.  When we went into Hobby Lobby, she said she was tired and wanted to lay down.  However, when we pulled up at the Dollar Store she said "Can we just wait her until they bring it to us?"  Pretty sure this sweet girl is a little spoiled to WalMart grocery pick up. :-)

Lunch with Granny

My mom picked up a super cute necklace that I saw online.  We had a busy weekend planned so Maggie and I decided to go visit her and have lunch with her.  It was a gorgeous day so we picked up our lunch and went to sit on the boardwalk.  It was so much fun!  Caroline on the other hand wasn't too excited that we went to visit Granny without her...

Why We Should Let Our Children Go...

 

 

I'm guilty of mourning the next step...I don't want to think about my babies growing up but they are!  What a gift it is that they are able to move to the next level...this article really helped me put things into prospective! 

Why We Should Let Our Children Go

Becky Kopitzke

Jul 11

Summer. It’s bittersweet. On the one hand, I’m practically dancing in the kitchen—still in my pajamas at 9 a.m. and serving ice cream cones for breakfast—because no school bells are oppressing my family schedule this time of year and we are free, free, free.

But.

At the same time, summer means we turned another corner, you know? First grade into second grade; fourth grade into fifth. FIFTH grade—when did I suddenly become the parent of a prepubescent tween? Weren’t my kiddos just toddling around the living room in Pull-ups, smearing popsicle juice across their chins?

Well, okay, they still do that popsicle thing, but still. My babies are growing up. Each year seems to fly faster than the one before. And I just wish I could suspend time, only for a little while, and soak up my children before it’s too late. Before they’re driving off to college or boarding a honeymoon cruise.

You, too?

Our children are meant to live home. And while we see who they are today, God has a clear picture of who they are meant to become. How are you sowing into their future today, moms?

Last week I chatted with a friend, the mom of a newly minted high school graduate.

“So where is Abby headed next?” I asked.

“The National Guard,” my friend smiled. “She leaves in August.”

I’m telling you, my heart lurched into my throat.

“Oh my goodness,” I pouted, “your momma soul must be aching!”

“Oh no,” she shook her head. “This is who she is. This is who we raised her to be. Kids reach a point where they need to move on. You wouldn’t want them living in your basement when they’re 30, would you?”

Ouch.

The truth is, maybe I would. If it meant I got to see them, be with them, protect them.

Yet of course I know—that misses the whole point of parenting.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

My children don’t really belong to me. Yours don’t belong to you. They belong to God first. He created them—they are His handiwork, His masterpiece—and he placed them purposefully in our care. My daughters are designed for my arms, my voice, my special brand of encouragement and my style of scolding. Your kids are designed for yours—your approach, your personality, your hugs and your tears. God created us, parents and children, for each other.

Why? Not so we can squash their heads and preserve them at age 5, 10, or 15. God entrusted our kids to us so that we can prepare them for the kingdom work that He planned for them long ago, before time began.

We see who they are today. He sees who they are meant to become.

Who are we to mourn that transformation, as though it’s unnatural, or worse, some cruel joke God plays on sappy mothers like me? Truly, the process of our children growing up is perhaps the most natural and beautiful of all God’s created things. And we get to watch it happen.

We get to help make it happen.

If you have school-age children like I do, or little ones at your feet, then by all means, let’s seek the joy in their antics, their sweetness, their discovery of the world. Young children are a blessing in a thousand ways. Yet I rest in the hope that grown children are exponentially so. Because they are the sculpture beneath the marble, the beautifully painted canvas, the three-part sonata from beginning to end. They are God’s fully fashioned, always evolving work of art—ready for the world to see.

And He invites us, as moms, to help shape His work. How amazing is that?

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 1:4).

So whether you’re enjoying your summer with popsicles and playgrounds, or shopping for dorm room supplies, let’s remember that every moment of this crazy parenting journey is ordained by God. (Yes, even the hair-ripping ones. And there are a lot of those.) I want to be able to say I embraced every season and appreciated each new phase more than the last. I mean, I do hear the grandma stage is fantastic.

But it can wait.

For today, let’s try living in the moment—this moment, this summer, this beautiful, ordinary slice of time that God has granted us for His purposes and His glory. No matter how old your kiddos are, hug them today. They’ll be somebody different tomorrow, somebody older, wiser, and closer to God’s finished masterpiece. And guess what? We get to meet them, every day, all over again.

Wow. That makes this whole growing up thing worth celebrating.

Blessings,
Becky

This post first appeared on The Courage.

Happy Birthday Catherine

Caroline was invited to Dollywood to celebrate her sweet friend/sister Catherine's birthday!  She has been looking forward to this trip all summer long!  Charissa was sweet about sending us pictures throughout the trip!  This was our girls first big trip without us.  I pretty sure she didn't miss us one little bit! :-)

Mrs. Cooper came to visit!

Today is such an exciting day!  Maggie's 4K teacher came for a visit.  She couldn't wait.  From the moment we returned home from taking Caroline to school, Maggie was glued to the front door.  When she saw Mrs. Cooper pull in she immediately opened the door for her.  They played with puzzles, colored a picture, and read a few books.  Maggie is ready for 4K!  Me on the other hand feels like we just did Caroline's 4k visit with Mrs. Rushing.  Babies don't keep my friends!  

Hello 4th grade!

We blinked and this girl is ready for 4th grade!!  She set her alarm this morning because she wanted to make sure she had plenty of time to get ready for school!  She's a safety patrol this year and she has to report for duty at 7:05!!  She was up and ready and we were out the door on time.  We picked up Kylie and Cayden and were on our way.  Once at school, she picked up her safety patrol belt and barely had time for me to grab a quick picture of her and her friends.  This is the first year I haven't walked her to class for a picture with her teacher...I asked her to please grab a first day picture if possible.  

Here's to a great year baby girl! I know it's going to be a great one!

kjk

Goodbye summer 2018

I'm pretty sure this has been our best summer yet...I'm not ready to say goodbye but I know it's time.  Thank you Lord for the privilege to be their momma and the gift of being able to spend each summer with them!  I pray that they cherish these memories as much as I do!

Fun with 3k Friends

Several of Maggie's 3k friends met at the park this morning for a back to school playdate.  The weather was SO nice...the park was shady and there was a gentle breeze!  Thank you Lord!  After almost 3 years together, this sweet little group will be divided among 2 classes...hard to believe but I pray that they continue to enjoy each others friendship outside at recess and on field trips.

Dates with parents...

 

Caroline is out of town with a friend.  So Maggie is going to be an only child for 3 days!  Andy told her early on that he would take her on a date.  I called my momma and asked her if she wanted to go on a date with me.  Maggie adored her time with her daddy (as did Andy) and I adored my time with my momma!!  It's so nice to be the kid and not the adult in charge!!  Thank you momma for spoiling me with a fun night with dinner, shopping and a movie!

Lunch Date

Yesterday Andy and I got to enjoy a fun lunch date, just the two of us!  It was a wonderful, sweet, quick hour!  It was a good reminder of why dates are SO IMPORTANT!  A few years ago Andy and I committed to 52 dates in 52 weeks and it was fabulous!  We have 20 weeks left in 2018 and we are committed to 21 dates in 21 weeks!  Only 20 more to go!  Can't wait!

Summer Bestie

Well folks we are slowly wrapping up another summer...my pool bestie headed back to work on Monday. :-(  Somehow our summer flew by all to quickly! Jill and I jokingly say that we see each other more during the 2 1/2 months of summer than we do all year long!! 

I sure hope our kiddos treasure our summer memories spent at the pool as much as we do!  What a gift they are to me!! 

Back to School Haircuts

It's that time...school starts soon...today both girls got haircuts.  Although the only thing that happened was getting their dead ends cut off.  Both girls want "long" hair so nothing too drastic. :-)

WWE Live

Last night Andy and Caroline enjoyed their yearly fun at WWE live!  These two have ALWAYS enjoying wrestling events together!  As strange as it is, I hope they always enjoy these fun times together!!

More Maggisms

This kid cracks us up!  You never KNOW what she will say or do at any moment.  She says so much with her hands and the expressions on her face.  Here are a few "Maggisms" from the summer...

• The very first summer story time at the library introduced the kids to several different types of music.  On the car ride home we said something about 'rap' music.  Maggie said "But I don't understand why I never saw him wrapped in anything?"
• On the way to the pool I told them Aunt Jill, Tyler and Nori would be late because Aunt Jill had to pick them up from camp.  Maggie said "WOW!  Summer camp like they camped under the stars last night?"
• Maggie was asking Caroline a question and Caroline was ignoring her.  Maggie said "Well Caroline if you would just answer me I'll stop bothering you!"
• We saw a truck with flames painted on the front.  Maggie said "Is that truck on fire?"
• We were out running errands and Andy said "It's warm outside."  Maggie replied "Actually Daddy it's HOT outside!"
• I took pasta salad to a dinner.  Maggie said "Why did you put mac n cheese in your salad?"
• Badding soup=bathing suit
• Makini=bakini
• Tad poles=tidal pools
• Caroline and Maggie were having a disagreement on Maggie's birthday.  Maggie said "I'm the birthday girl...what the birthday girls wants, that's what we do!"
• "Hey Daddy, do you wear eye tacts (contacts) like mommy?"
• "I got a freeze brain!"
• Andy took the girls to a movie.  With 3 pieces of popcorn left in her tray, Maggie looked at Andy and said "I'm done with that today!"

Museum Family Day

We enjoyed another fun day at the museum.  Mags wanted to stay home with daddy so Caroline and I enjoyed a fun afternoon just the two of us.  She learned how to screen print a book jacket, create a bookmark and design a pencil pouch.  So fun!  And did I mention it's all FREE!

Fresh Flowers

We had lunch with my sweet friend Renee.  As we were leaving she said "Oh let me get y'all some flowers to take home."  What a gorgeous arrangement all from her backyard.  Fresh flowers make my heart oh so happy!

Sisters Sweet Summer Tea Parties

The girls wanted to play outside with their dolls and everything but the kitchen sink...they found a nice shady spot to play.  (So thankful for the trees and the shade they provide in our backyard)  I happen to walk by the kitchen window and saw this...I am trying so hard to soak up these sweet moments because I have a feeling all too soon, Caroline will think she is too big to play with dolls and her little sister!

Back to School Party

The children's department at church had a back to school party at the splash pad.  My girls had a blast!!  I am so thankful for these families and friends!!  I pray that everyone has a fantastic year!!

Caroline's Registration

I just registered this kid for 4th grade???  WHAT????  We are super excited that Caroline's teacher, who taught 1st, 2nd, 3rd, was asked to teach 2nd, 3rd, 4th this year!  So Caroline not only knows all the kids in her class, she also has her fabulous teacher another year!!!  We are so very thankful!

1 kid, 3 lifeguards

This has been a rainy week!  Lots of rain...morning, noon and night!  We haven't had too much pool time so I was determined we would get some time in today before the rain.  It was gray and cool but we went anyway.  We were the first one there and the only ones there until Jill and her family came.  I felt a little silly having 3 lifeguards on duty to watch one child.  However, I actually got to read a few pages in my book!  It was a win for everyone!

A treat for momma

The girls and I had to go by my office early this week for me to take care of a few things.  I let them play in one of the school rooms with playdough.  I came back into my office to find this...in case you can't tell it's ice cream in a cone.  Love these special gifts!

Thanks Aunt Jill

This is about the time things at work begin to pick up for me.  We had our preschool conference last week and this week I am trying to tie up a few loose ends for the staff.  I mentioned to Jill that the girls were once again heading to the office with me.  She offered to pick them up and take them swimming while I did what I needed to do.  It was  A HUGE blessing!!!  I got so much accomplish in such a short period of time.  So thankful for sweet friends who love my kids like their own!