The prayer list is too long. And yet I pray. I pray for two infants of two different families that are in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). I pray for an elderly neighbor who has had a stroke. I pray for a long time friend of my mother whose cancer has returned. I pray the same for my college roommate’s mother. I pray for my husband’s co-worker whose brother was killed in an accident. And I pray for my extended family…

This is Kirbie.

Her funeral was today in Illinois. She is the daughter of my dad’s cousin. She was 15 years old, and man, was she a fighter. She fought for half of her young life for her health - first diagnosed with cancer, then with heart problems as a result of the radiation she received for the cancer, and then had a heart transplant a few years ago. But that heart gave out on Monday morning.

So what do I do with such things that make me shake my head and ask Him “why?” I guess I do what only I can do with uncertainty in this world. I trust. I trust that The One who holds us all in His hands has even greater plans. It is not for me to understand. And yet, He reminds me that He is trustworthy…

Through seeing a rainbow before rain came to our town.

Through the words of songs that echo in my head..
Joy and Pain, Sun and Rain, You’re the Same, You never let go.
and another…I can’t say your life will always go like it should, but I can say that God is always good.

Through the words of His that echo through my heart….
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you. (Psalm 9:10 NLT)

Rule #8: Don’t let your children sleep with you.
Broke this one with both children - still am- check.

Rule #17: Don’t give in to whining.
Yep, broke it - check.

Rule #32: Don’t let your children eat dog food.
Oops - check.

Rule #39: When a child states “I promise”, don’t believe them.
Really? Check.

And rule # 62: Make your children eat what you eat. Do not make separate meals.
Break it every single night unless we order a pizza - and here are the photos to prove it…

Tonight I made this for me and Ryan…

Then I cooked some other pasta with sauce warmed-up from last week for Drew…

Then I did this pasta in the microwave for Cooper…

But we all ate pasta, does that count?

And I’m a group leader for parenting classes! Ha ha ha ha! Hee hee hee hee! Ho ho ho ho!

Now he is more tired, being at school all day. Tired but “good”. That is the word I keep hearing anyway….How was school? Good. How was your day? Good. How’d everything go today? Good.

We did have one not-so-good moment on the first day of school, however. Somewhere between me and the teacher and Big Man, there was confusion about how he was getting home. So while I waited at the bus stop with my camera, he was waiting in the Parent Pick-Up area at the school. After the panic of not seeing him get off the bus passed, the feeling of “shmuckness” settled in. He was much braver than Mom though, as usual. And very forgiving. So this is the pic I got after the second day of school (our ornery neighbor is in the forefront!)…

What an adventure this year will be!

Little Man started Pre-K this week. Slowly but surely, we’ve gradually learned some of what he does during the 2 1/2 hours he is at school. He is a man of few words and has a hard time remembering what happened 5 minutes ago but I have learned a few things over the past three days. I know he has had a snack, played on the playground, played with play dough, dug for sea shells in a tub of dried beans, watched a Clifford The Big Red Dog show, and his teacher read a book.

I have learned to not ask too many questions though. Today during my after-school questioning session, I was told, Mom, I’m done talking now. But then as we quietly sat at the mall food court eating our lunch, he filled me in on some details all on his own.

He came home from his first day of school wearing a “Super Kid” sticker - he was sooo proud of it. He told me about an incident in which some kid tried to take a train away from him. But Little Man proudly stated, I didn’t cry though, Mom. (Little Man is very expressive with his emotions!) I didn’t get sad or mad all day and that’s why I am a Super Kid!

You truly are one Super Kid, baby!

Well, it is the last day of summer vacation. Tomorrow The Boys will begin school, which I can’t even type without getting teary. Tomorrow, The Oldest will begin first grade - he’ll be at school all day - do you hear me, ALL DAY! I know every child has to go through this monumental moment but when it is your child, it’s like you are the only mom going through it.

And then there is The Youngest. He’ll go to Pre-K everyday - do you hear me, EVERY DAY! Luckily, I’ll have him home for lunch - though I don’t think he thinks he’s as lucky - he will definitely miss his brother in the afternoons. He wants to pack his lunch box too!

So since it is raining, raining, raining today and the zoo became out of the question, we met friends for lunch and then came to Unpluggits. Have you been? Well, you need to! We had been only one other time, and I was so impressed! It has a supper huge indoor playground with all kind of slides and tunnels to crawl through. And then there is an arts and crafts area. Included in the price of admission is painting, stamping, stencils, and playdough. But then you can pay extra for such crafts as painting ceramics or leather work or beads. They have free wifi, cheap snacks, and a great area for the parents with leather couches and chairs. You can also do parties here. You pay one price and can stay all day (10am-8pm) if you want or come and go throughout the day! Check out their website and then come on over to play!

But tomorrow you won’t find me here. Tomorrow you’ll find me counting the hours until schools out - out in May for the next summer vacation.

For making me laugh, daily…

For holding me when I cry just because I need to…

For being the absolute best dad in the whole world…

For leading our family with humility, strength, and humor…

For financially supporting us in a job that you do with integrity and skill…

For praying for me…

For helping me pursue my passions…

For laying down your life for me, loving me as Christ loves His church…

For loving Him…

For being my best friend for 11 happy, happy years…

For these 11 reasons, and many more, I love you…always and forever.
Happy Anniversary.

Before I completely hyperventilate and fall to the floor because school starts in 8 DAYS, we are squeezing in every last drop of summertime and time together that we can get! So in that effort, Ryan took a few days off from work this past week, and we traveled to some great Oklahoma destinations! (slide show follows) You can also get some great deals on admission prices to lots of Oklahoma spots by going to Metro Family Magazine’s Exploring Oklahoma website - our kids got in free to all the places we went! Even better!
On Wednesday, we went back to POPS in Arcadia, this time to take Daddy and because it was their 1st Birthday! They hosted a great party with a moon bounce, inflatable slide, an incredible face painter, a hysterical clown, and free cupcakes! We finally had some cloud cover that day so it wasn’t even that hot which was a bonus! Cooper was completely enamored with Chester the Clown and followed him around everywhere, waiting to be part of another magic trick or some funny bit. Drew wants the face-painter to be at his birthday party! So in other words, we had lots of fun! Happy Birthday, POPS!

Hope you’re having a great week! We had a mini-vacation last week that I can’t wait to post about! See ya soon!

I see the long quiet walk along the Underground Railroad
I see the slave awakening to the value of her soul

I see the young missionary and the angry spear
I see his family returning with no trace of fear

I see the long hard shadows of Calcutta nights
I see the sisters standing by the dying man’s side

I see the young girl huddled on the brothel floor
I see the man with a passion come and kicking down the door

I see the man of sorrows and his long troubled road
I see the world on his shoulders and my easy load

And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them
and when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them