Preschool Graduation

Well, our youngest has graduated from preschool last week.  It was definitely an emotional time for me and she didn't take it so well either.  She loved going to school and loved her teachers and classmates.  She made lots of friends and most of them she probably won't see ever again.  The year went by so fast.  Sending both our kids to preschool was the best decision we could have made.  She went from knowing so little to knowing so many things.  She has learned how to write the alphabet and numbers.  She knows the days of the week and the months of the year.  She can spell her name and also spell MOM and DAD.  She also knows how to spell her brother's name.  This summer I plan to work more with her before entering kindergarten.  Kindergarten?  Ugh.  I am not ready to see my baby enter the world of public school.  Time goes by so fast and it's not fair.  In our district kindergarten is full-day and I know it's going to be long and exhausting for her but she's a social butterfly and will do well.

I am so proud of her and how far she's come since the beginning.

Aside from learning she also went on many field trips and I was able to join her for each one.

The fire station where she learned about fire safety and had the chance to see the different equipment used during a fire and a tour through one of the trucks. 

Story time and a tour of the library.

 

A hike through a local park getting educated about different animals and trees by a tour guide.

 

A tour at the dairy where we learned how milk is made and even got to meet a few cows and goats.

There were also a few concerts.  Halloween, Christmas and graduation.

 

 This milestone really hit me hard.  I was in tears throughout her last day of school.  I'm an emotional person and can't handle change very well.  I am also struggling with the fact that my kids are growing.  Of course, the growing is going to happen and I am very proud of both my children.  I want to be able to keep my children little forever but also can't wait to see them grow up too.  

So, we have another graduate from preschool.  I am so proud.  

God Will Never Unfriend Me

Lately I've been having some issues about not feeling accepted by certain people and feeling harshly judged by others but I do not want to go into details about those things.  Aside from all that I logged onto Facebook today and took notice to the fact that one of my nieces had "unfriended" me.  I messaged her and she said her boyfriend went onto her phone and deleted everyone.  I immediately knew this was false because I could see she had over 1,000 friends on there, including all of our family.  I remember when I noticed when the amount of my friends had dropped by 1 but I didn't put much effort into trying to figure out who it was.  Come on, I have a life!  Today I discovered it was her and it had me confused and a bit hurt.  I've been "unfriended" before, not just on Facebook but in real life as well.  Plenty of times.  I've known people who have looked me in the eye and told me how much they cared for me and then found out they had the very opposite things to say about me behind my back.  This happens often.  It's made me lose the ability to trust anyone.  I've often wondered how anyone could be so dishonest and disheartening to others, then again, I haven't been perfect in how I have treated others at times.  We're human.  We have emotions.  We make mistakes.  We get hurt but we also hurt others, intentionally or not.

So many times in my life I've allowed people to get close to me and believed their words of how they like me and trusted that their motives were good, only to find out that they weren't who they said they were.  I wouldn't doubt that every person I've ever met has said at least one negative thing about me when I'm not around.  Here's the thing, their opinion doesn't matter.  Nope.  It doesn't.  I don't wake up in the morning and live my life for them so their judgements mean nothing.

The opinion of Jesus is what matters.

God created this world for His purpose.  He created me for His purpose. Am I living my life fully and completely for Him and the way He desires me to live it?  Those are the things I need to worry about.

Honestly, it's taken me a long time to feel this way.  My husband has the ability to brush things off his shoulders and never makes an issue out of anything that someone else says about him.  When I was hurt over some comments others had made his response was, "it doesn't matter what a person who doesn't even live with us thinks."  Since he said that I started praying to God to help me through this.  I can't change the opinions of others but I can change how I handle them.  When someone says or does something hurtful I'm going to feel that sting of pain for awhile but then I'm going to remind myself that it doesn't matter.  I'm going to focus only on the One who created me.  The One who has never given up on me.  The One who promised to never give up on me and will hold onto that promise.  The One who would never hit the "unfriend" button.  People will make promises and break them.  God makes promises and keeps them.

It's true!  Who could love you more than Jesus loves you?  No one!  So, why should the opinions of others matter so much to us?  They shouldn't.  Having this mind set has been an amazing weight off my shoulder and really helps.  I thank God for his everlasting love. 

Tea With The Princesses

I'm probably not going to get a chance to work on Happy Homemaker Monday today.  I only have one hour before having to pick up my daughter from preschool and there is so much to be done around the house but I wanted to update about the weekend.

Saturday morning my daughter and I joined my best friend and her daughter to a princess tea party with Elsa and Anna.  It was so cute.  The tables were set with fruit, a ham and cheese sandwich in the shape of a butterfly and little cakes.  Elsa and Anna did the girls hair, makeup and nails.  My daughter was so happy and loved every minute.  I don't think I've ever seen such a bright and cheery face on her before like this.  She always tells me she wants to be a princess so this was a chance for her to live out that dream.  She kept telling me it was the best day.

Then we went home and joined the boys for opening day at the amusement park we go to a lot.  This is the third year we are season pass holders.

 

When I tucked my daughter into bed that night I asked if she had a good day.  She hugged me and looked up at me with a smile and said, "the best."  It makes me feel so good to see my kids happy.  

I also have to add, with the help of Elsa, my daughter had a french braid in her hair for the first time.  It looked so cute.  

Doing "The Twist" With Chubby Checker

As a little girl I remember my dad blaring his oldies and singing as loud as he could and dancing around.  I would join him in doing The Twist for fun.  We also danced to The Twist at my sisters and my wedding.  I have to say, music from my parents' generation is definitely amusing.

When I heard the legendary singer and songwriter of The Twist was coming into town to try and break the record of how many people can dance to the song simultaneously I knew my parents would be thrilled.  Yes, they were thrilled and ordered tickets to the minor league game where Chubby Checker sang a beautiful rendition of The National Anthem and then came back out after the third inning to break that record, in which, we did!  With almost 7,000 people in the stands we all twisted for five minutes.  It was pretty awesome.  I'm glad to be part of it along with my parents, husband and kids.  This is going in The Guinness Book Of World Records, folks.  Big deal!  At least, I think so.

 

Happy Homemaker Monday - 4/25/16

The weather outside is:
BEAUTIFUL!  It's going to be in the 80's today.  YYYYYEEEEEESSSS!  Loving it!

On the breakfast plate this morning:
A cup of coffee and a bowl of cinnamon chex.

As I look outside my window:
It's so bright and sunny out today.  My flowers have bloomed and birds are flying everywhere.  I love this time of year.

Now I am:
I just finished watering the flowers outside and straightening up the inside of the house.  We had some ants by the front door so I quickly got rid of those.  Right now I'm just sitting and enjoying another cup of coffee and typing this up.  The kids are at school and hubby is at work.  It's my moment of peace.

As I look around the house:
I did some reorganizing and straightening up so things look clean and tidy.  This will not last long, folks, and if you have or had little kids you understand what I mean.

On today's to do list:
My parents are coming over today.  My dad has been helping me get a garden started in the backyard.  Today we are finally going to do the planting.  I can't wait to have fresh veggies to enjoy.

Currently reading:
Just my devotional.  I really want to get a new chapter book to read.

On the tv today:
When my television is on it's usually kid shows.  I'm not sure what's on tonight but I'm sure once the kids are in bed my husband and I will find something to watch.

On the menu this week:
Monday - gluten free meatloaf, mashed potatoes and a veggie.
Tuesday - crock pot ham
Wednesday - zucchini boats and salad
Thursday - baseball game
Friday - Bacon, spinach & tomato pasta

These meals are subject to change, as always.

What I am creating at the moment:
A garden.  Yay!

New recipe I tried or want to try this week:
zucchini boats 

Favorite photo from the camera:

 Last Saturday was opening day for my son's baseball league.  Here he is running down the field after his name was called.  They were announcing all the players.

Prayer, Inspirational Quote or Devotional:

Happy Homemaker Monday created by Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom

A Day At The Dairy

I now know what the term "It seems like only yesterday ..." really means.  As I escorted my daughter on the preschool field trip to Rutter's Dairy today I could remember walking through the same building and around the path leading through the farms with my son as if it were only yesterday ... but that was about three years ago.

My daughter was only a baby when my son was in preschool.  I would carry her against my hip every day I had to pick him up or drop him off to school and she would accompany us on most, but not all, of the field trips.  Now I'm doing all of this for her as she isn't a baby but a student of the same class.  Every paper she brings home and everything she learns is the same as my son.  Next month she will graduate and be on her way to the public school system.  I will no longer have any preschoolers or any little toddlers about to become preschoolers.  It's sad, actually.

Can we find a way to slow down time?

The field trip was a lot of fun.  The kids had a chance to learn where the milk comes from and how it goes from the cow and every step until it goes to the stores.  We even had a chance to meet some cows and a few goats too.

When my husband got home our daughter said, "That field trip was really great!"

I love these bonding moments I have with her. 

Happy Homemaker Monday - 4-11-16

I'm baaaack!  Haven't done this in awhile.  But I really wanted to get back at it.  Joining in with Sandra at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom. 

Breakfast time ... what is on the plate this morning?
A bowl of Raisin Bran and a hot cup of coffee

On today's to do list
Laundry
Dusting
Playing with the kids

Currently Reading
Duck Dynasty devotional

On the TV today
Watching an episode of Gilmore Girls on Netflix

The weather outside is
Cloudy, rainy and cold. 

On the menu this week
Monday - Zucchini Parmesan with gluten-free pasta
Tuesday - Chicken Turmeric rice
Wednesday - Mini Meatloaves and veggies
Thursday - Stuffed peppers with chicken and mozzarella
Friday - Pizza baked potatoes ... not sure what to make with it yet

If I have a few minutes to myself I will
Actually, right now is my "few minutes to myself."  The husband is at work, kids are at school and I'm sitting on the couch typing this up while watching Gilmore Girls.  I'm also planning on doing more online research in regards to this new restricted diet my husband has to be on.  I'll type more about that at a later date.  Also enjoying some coffee and the kid-free peace.

New recipe I tried, or want to try this week
Chicken Turmeric Rice, zucchini Parmesan, pizza baked potatoes ... this week will be filled with new recipes and I will make sure I post all about them this week so stay tuned.

In the garden
Oooh, I'm so excited that I am in the process of growing my own garden this year.  Because it's not quite planting weather yet there is nothing growing as of now but the garden is dug out and ready for the next step.  Hopefully the warm weather arrives and planting season shows up soon.

Favorite photo from the camera
My son had his Cub Scout Blue & Gold banquet last Saturday and received his Wolf patch.  He's now moving to the next rank of Bear.  So proud of him.

 

Praying for

My husband and the issues he has been dealing with.  How I can be a better wife. 

Bible verse or devotional

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeing; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised" -- Proverbs 31:30