Kindergarten, lent and good deals!

Can you believe I said Kindergarten? Seriously, Gavyn can't really be turning 5 in less than two months! It is true though and no matter how hard I try to deny it, the day is coming. So last week, we went on a school tour and this Friday we have another one looming over us. You see, we live in one home school area, but are actually closer to another elementary school, so there are choices to be made...just to make it more difficult, I swear! And what happened to half day kindergarten ...I could use a year of that. (Gavyn may be ready, but mom...well, you know the answer to that!) I did find a private school that has half day, but really people we moved to this neighborhood for the school district and we are paying way to much in taxes to NOT use the school system...Ahh!!! The problems of your children growing up.

We are also in the time of lent...which I, quite honestly, have not been one to give up anything previously. Okay, I gave up things like smoking, but I already don't smoke. Anyway, this year is different. I know way more than I wish I did, but I am moved to give up something meaningful for lent (like my friend Jill, who wants to give up laundry...hee, hee..) Okay, so this is what I settled on... SHOPPING. Really. I think some should let my favorite stores know. This could put the economy back in a spin. And just to show how tempting the devil is, I have coupons good for the next few weeks only! (Anyone need codes for the Gap (20%) or Old Navy(15%)? Then there's my Michaels coupon for 20% off my entire reg priced purchase....really Satan, OUT WITH YOU!)

So there's my sacrifice...I know God appreciates my gesture.

Which brings me to my next topic...free stuff. Through March 10th, Shutterfly is giving away 8x8 photobooks! All you need to do is enter in the code PHOTOBOOKS at the end. I created each of the kids a Disney book on Monday and they arrived Friday! How awesome is that! Have fun making your free book!

Love,

Jenn

Learn and Grow

I opened the mail today to see this beautiful card inside...

No words inside, just the tag "Give Yourself Room to Learn and Grow"

Learning and growing...and room. Powerful concepts that sometimes have me completely down on my knees.

Oh Lord, Help me here.

There are times that life seems fairly normal again. I really want to reconnect with the friends that have those little babies...which I realize are not so little anymore...but then fear sets in. And I have to take a deep breath. In. Out. No hyperventaliating on this shift.

Then I dust Harrison's room. His little locks of hair call me. Such moments are devastingly hard all over again. I put Gavyn's clothes away, only to see the matching outfits I had bought my boys. I accept that God has a plan, I know His love...it doesn't change how much my arms ache, or how I imagine what Harrison's cry would sound like. I wish I could hear him cry.

Give me room. Breathe. Room that I may learn and grow.

While we are at the Magic Kingdom...really magical kingdom in my mind...we were watching the fireworks on the last night there. Sweet Tinkerbell comes floating down from Cinderella's castle during the best song...Dreams are wishes your heart makes. I can't even tell you how many silent tears came down my cheek; how my sweet hubbie gave me that gentle touch, knowing where my dreams were right then. Through my dreams, my wishes, there is growing.

I am learning that growing doesn't mean the same as moving on. It is simply growing. According to Wikipedia, growth refers to an increase in some quantity over time. My heart is growing. Harrison, Gavyn and Emilia are equally loved in my heart. There is growing. My heart is both growing and learning with room to spare.

Love,

Jenn

Thanks for the card, Jodi!

Be Still.

I know I have been a bit quiet lately. It's been a busy month. This weeks Bible study has been on transparency and quite frankly, this Beth Moore study has spoken a little too close to my heart. So I have to learn to just sit and be quiet with whatever God lays on my heart. And if you know me, sitting quiet is not all that easy for me to do. I grew up with a Grandma always saying idle hands are a ... well you know the rest of that saying. So I grew up BUSY! Now I am having to be quiet.

On the other hand, if you are my friend and I have been pestering you lately on the phone...that is because my mind will not behave and I need a distraction. It's sort of like cleaning the fridge when you have a room you can't walk into...you know which one you should be working on, but your mind is not really there yet.

Transparency. What exactly is that? Do I need to lay it all out there? Whoa. That may scare you off. What is it that God wants me to do? And could He hurry up with me already? I am not that patient...

Be still, I am your God.

That's what I hear, over and over. To show you how not still my mind can be, I imagined taking, oh what test is that...you know the one in High School that tells you what you would be good at FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. (as if you can tell that in HS!) I think maybe the ASVAB test??? Anyway, I thought how great it would be if I could just take a question and answer form and then ta da! I have my God given purpose. Hmm. Not too quiet.

So, if I don't blog too much, I am praying more. In fact, praying all the time for His guidance; His healing; His patience and grace; for His will to become transparent to me. I wouldn't mind a few of you praying for me too. I pray that you know how much this means to me and how much I love you.

Love,
Jenn

The most magical place...

Whoa! What a week! This week we surprised Gavyn and Emilia with a big, huge trip...to Disney World! It was amazing. We loved it. I am so exhausted, but before I went to bed, I had to share this one completely, tear-swelling moment I had.

On Wednesday, Gavyn and I went to the Magic Kingdom by ourselves. (Emi was sick...yuck...she also wanted only her Daddy...yea!) So Gavyn and just did what ever his little heart wanted, which was to meet the princesses. To give you a little picture of what that looks like, the princesses have their own little special area where you wait in line and then you are ushered in for some one on one time with Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Belle. So Gavyn and I do this...and it is cold outside, so there are very few people at the park, which allows Gavyn some extra one-on-one time. So he is chatting it up with Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. I mean really chatting.So much so, that when we get back that night, he tells Daddy that was his favorite thing and he would like to draw Cinderella a picture and take it to her the next day. So he does draw the picture. Low and behold, on Thursday, the very first thing he wants to do is go see the princesses. (He also changed his shirt to go; sighting the shirt I picked out as ridiculous to see the princess in.) So in we go again. As we walk in, Cinderella says "Gavyn!" before we even got up to her...she remembered him from Wednesday. (See any resemblance?)

I had to hold back the tears. He was in love...she was so kind and even though we held up the line...she spent even more time with him on Thursday. He gave her the picture he made her and she so graciously accepted it, asking him if she could take it home and hang it on her castle wall. Then she laid one of the biggest (and sweetest) kisses on my little guy.




Later, when we went to the parade, guess who's carriage stopped right in front of us?. I could tell he thought it was just for him... I'm sure it was.














Love,
Jenn