Everything Under the Son

We are two weeks into Natalie's Kindergarten year and all is well. She is excited to go to school each morning, and is exhausted each afternoon when I pick her up! To me, that sounds like a win-win situation!

We are getting really good at laying out her uniforms the night before, and also making sure that she has both her snack as well as her lunch packed and ready to go. We wait until the morning to throw in her drink, and Nathaniel makes her special sandwich each morning, but otherwise, we try to have the lunch-sack packed! I will be honest and admit that packing a lunch each day is perhaps my least favorite school-time chore! I am not sure why, but I would rather iron her uniforms than pack her lunch! Of course I do it anyway, and some days I even throw a little love note in there for her to find, but so far it isn't move up on my list of fun :)

Next week Levi goes back to Mother's Day Out and he can't wait. I am not sure he understands that his teachers will be different from last year, but it is good to know that many of his friends are returning as well, so he will have plenty of familiar faces!

I am gearing up for the fall DFK consignment sale. Lots to do, and not much time! I have plenty of laundry and hanging and tagging to keep me busy for the next few weeks! Let's pray I get it all done...the more clothing I sell, the more money I make...hello Christmas money! :)

I hope you are all having a blessed back-to-school season! I am ready for some cooler weather and falling leaves! I cannot wait to break out all of my holiday decor in our new home. It will all feel new in the new place! Such fun times are ahead!

Blessings to you!

Visit Ann, author of 'Holy Experience' and read her post today entitled "What a Mother Must Sacrifice". It is a beautiful post speaking to the making of a home, and the giving of ourselves for our children and our home. You will be touched and convicted. You will walk away ready to pluck your feathers...

Not five minutes ago, I asked my sweet Levi if he wanted some more milk. His response? "Yes Sir"...that is what everyone gets, male or female..."Yes Sir"...and I am not going to worry about it! He is so sweet when he says it :)

But here is the kicker... after thinking about the milk for another second or two, he then comes into the kitchen with me, walks towards the refrigerator, and says, "Actuwy, I want chocate milt!"

Yes, he is two, and yes, he just said 'actually' while using it properly in a sentence. Where in the world did this come from???!!!???

Natalie had a fabulous first day of Kindergarten! She was so happy when I picked her up, and exhausted too :)

As we were walking to the car, she looked up at me and said in a very disappointed tone of voice, "Mommy, I didn't learn to read today." So precious...she thought that she was going to learn to read the very first day. She wants to be able to read so badly, and really, she does well at sounding out words and making use of context clues and sight words. She has decided though, that life will be so much richer if she can read independently of anyone else. I want that for her too, but I know it takes more than one day! When we called my dad to wish him a happy birthday yesterday, I told him what she had said, and he told her that it takes TWO days of Kindergarten to learn to read! I hope she doesn't come home too disappointed today :)

She said they prayed and sang, they learned about the Bible, that she ate all of her snack, that her friends loved the book and the Kissing Hand cookies. She said that she did school work, and ate lunch in the gym..."the whole school ate together!" She said they had rest time and no one chatted, that she LOVES her teacher, and LOVES her uniforms! She came home happy, hungry, and exhausted...a good day I would say! :)

She is halfway through day two, and I can't wait to hear what happened today!

Hip*Hip*Hooray! It's been a great day! We had such a great morning getting ready for the first day of Kindergarten. Nathaniel and I had prepared some special things to make the morning fun and memorable, and I think the whole family enjoyed it!

Natalie looks so adorable in her school uniform! Of course, since I am one of 'those moms' I had hairbows made to match, and she looked great! What do you think:





Once everyone was dressed, it was time for surprise number one. Nathaniel and I had purchased her the book The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. If you have not read it, you really should. It is about a raccoon and his first day of school! He isn't quite sure about being away, so his mommy kisses his palm, and anytime he misses her, she tells him to put his hand to his cheek and her kisses will be there waiting for him. Oh-so-sweet! We read the book to Natalie, making sure to kiss her sweet palm, though she thought that it was silly that any child would not LOVE being at school without mommy and little brother there!! Such an independent girl!



Nathaniel and I had both written sweet messages to her in the book, and honestly, reading that story to her, along with what we had written was the only time I have teared up through this entire process. She is so ready for school, and we are sending her to the most fabulous classical christian school, with an amazing teacher...the Lord led us there. Knowing that God's hand has been our guide makes this so much easier on me!


Surprise number three was breakfast out to one of Natalie's favorite places...Chick-fil-a! We dined on chicken mini's and chocolate milk...a special breakfast indeed! She knows that from here on out, it is brain food for breakfast! :)



After breakfast, we were off to school! Natalie was so excited when we pulled up in the parking lot. She could see her schoolmates walking in, and all were wearing those adorable uniforms! Miss Independent walked right in, found the place for her backpack and lunch, and found her seat. She was so excited to have FINALLY arrived at the day she has been looking forward too for the entire summer...the first day of Kindergarten.



I pray that Natalie has a fabulous day today! I cannot wait to pick her up and hear all about her day. I know she will have much to share with me...fun stories and names of new friends!

Here is the blessing Nathaniel read over Natalie this morning:

Father, I thank you for the gift of
Natalie.

Bless Natalie
as she goes off to school.

May she remember we love her,
and that you love her too!

Help her to be a good listener,
and to love and respect herself and
those around her.

As she grows on the outside, may she grow on the
inside too, in knowledge and love for you and others!

Be with her and help her learn today
all the things you need her to know.

We ask this through Christ, our Lord. AMEN.

http://frpat.com/schoolbless.htm

It was a beautiful morning, full of love and laughter, family and memories! After leaving Natalie at school, Levi and I stopped by the gym for a workout, and are now at home playing! I am looking forward to a fabulous year, with lots of fun and memories for both of my kiddos!!

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On a different note...many continue to ask for pictures of our new home. It is still a "work in progress" but we are slowly making it our own. Here are a couple more teaser pictures to tide you over until we are done!

T-Minus 16 1/2 hours until my baby girl begins her journey through Kindergarten!

I will post tomorrow with an update including the special things Nathaniel and I have planned for her before leaving for school, as well as pictures of the morning and the Kindergartner in her official school uniform!

I came across this article the other day and was very moved by it. I really like the idea of a focused time together, thanking the Lord for our blessings.


What a special time for a family, to sit together, eat, and worship the One who created them. I love the traditional-ness of it...how each week it is the same. I love that the time together takes forethought. I love that the meal, specifically the wine and the bread, carries with it such symbolism. I love the lighting of the candles and the father blessing his wife and children. I love the handwashing seremony...amazing. I love tradition, and that is exactly what this is.

I have not yet attempted our own Shabbat Meal, but I am doing lots of thinking about how we honor the Sabbath, and how we prepare for it physically, mentally, and spiritually. I know the Lord has called us to a Sabbath...but I think we have forgotten it's true meaning, and we have let it slide. I think we are missing one of the great blessings He has for us, because we are not listening to Him. I think we suffer extreme fatigue in all areas of our lives because we don't take the time for true Sabbath. There is lots going on in my head about this right now. I still have so many questions.

What about you? What are your thoughts on the Shabbat meal? Is it something you would consider for your family? Speak up!

I have recently found this website and have really been enjoying looking at some of the recipes that are listed. This one is one that I am hoping to try soon! They are called 'No Bake Power Bars'. The picture looks delicious and the ingredient list sounds good too! I have always been a fan of power bars and protein bars...but they always seem to have a funny aftertaste. I read on another blog that this particular recipe does not leave that funny aftertaste...I will let you know when I try them myself. I am hoping mine look a little more like these, on the other blog who mentioned the recipe. I like the texture of a more finely crushed almond, and I figure they will be a little easier for the kids to eat this way also! Don't they look yummy?!

What about you? What are some recipes you are trying...are there recipe sites that you love browsing? What new recipes have you stumbled upon that are helping you move towards more healthy eating for you and your family?

Oh, and one other question. I have been thinking and reading up on soaking/sprouting some my own grains and other foods. Does anyone have any experience with this? I am not quite confident enough to give it a try yet, but would love to soon! If you have done this, teach me!

Even if you are thinking, "I don't have time" you must click over here to see what Anne Voskamp has to say today. You may have realized by now that she is one of my favorite bloggers. She makes me laugh, and cry, and always makes me think more and breath more deeply. She makes me count my blessings, and she challenges me to be better...better wife to Nathaniel, better mommy to Natalie and Levi, and better daughter of my Father God. Don't miss what she has to say today...her words will bless your socks off!

Now GO!

There is something so wonderful about checking things off of my to-do list. I love making the list as much as I enjoy completing it, though! Strange, I know. Anyway, I have had a to-do list going as we near the beginning of the school year. For the first time, our home is preparing for more than the beginning of Mother's Day Out 'school'...we are preparing for the real deal! My Natalie is starting Kindergarten!

I am so excited for her, and she is absolutely ready. Nathaniel and I have spent much time doing research and talking about the children's schooling. Where do we want them to go? Where do we feel God's leading in this?

Thankfully, we feel that God has led us exactly where He wants us to be! Check! Natalie will be attending a classical academy, she will be taught based on the trivium, and she will learn EVERY day that God is a part of EVERYTHING...even school subjects like math and language arts! She will be taught by wonderful Christians, and she will be challenged academically. To say we are thrilled is a huge understatement!

That said, I have had a to-do list including the usual things...pencils, paper, scissors, kleenex...but it has also included other things like ordering Natalie's school uniforms and making sure she has shoes that are dress code. It is all exciting!

Now it is the first week of August, and I have many of the items checked off on the list. The school supplies are purchased, the uniforms are hanging in the closet, the hairbows in the uniform colors are ready to wear, the shoes are still in the box in hopes of at least ONE day without scuffs...check, check, check.

This last weekend I was able to check off a few more items...the napmats are purchased and monogrammed, the lunch boxes are ready to go, and the adorable backpacks complete with the kids' names are ready for wear! Check, check, check!

How about you...how is your to-do list shaping up? Are you finished...half way there...have you even made the list?

I'm off to check off some more things like dishes, laundry, and painting the guest bathroom! Happy list-making!

I absolutely LOVE reading Rhee over at The Pioneer Woman, and I really enjoying hopping over to her recipe blog to see what she is up to in the kitchen.

Today, I hopped over and found this! It looks delicious! I am wondering when I will be able to give it a try...or at least a variation of it. I am not really all that into purple onions, so I may have to substitute with something else...but the rest of it looks delicious! MMMM!

I already have dinner in the crockpot, or I just might have run to the store before dinner tonight! :)

Oh well, guess I will save this one for a fun lunch with the girls...or something.