For when I forget

Confession time!

This post has been patiently waiting for me to finish it for, well obviously, 2 months now! I just kept getting stuck wondering if I was remembering all I wanted to say to them. Then I just got distracted!

So, read it knowing that some of the details are the past, but the feelings are forever! And I needed to remember how I really felt after wondering if my place has been in the fiery furnace lately! :)

Even though I am not currently writing about them by name, I decided to leave the names in with this one because it feels more personal and meaningful. The verses below are displayed respectively in each of their rooms.

Thanks for letting me share them with you!

Stacey

**************************************************

I already told y'all the long story of how we got where we are, so today I will just share a few thoughts about the kids and the pictures I took on our first day. Just so you know, I had to round them up and manage pictures and a smidgen of video on my own their first day. In case you can't tell by the past posts, I love taking pics and recording history of my kids. This day was such a special day, but I just couldn't manage to get all the pictures and video that I really wanted. And of course, I had to stay behind the camera on this day as well :( And then on top of all that, our good camera's lens is broken (has been for a long time) which means that pictures are coming to ya courtesy of my cell phone (or my "mobile" as I like to call it; my friend makes fun of me cuz when I leave messages for someone to call me, I always say "I am on my mobile" and apparently no one says that!!) or our video camera's picture-taking component. Just not the same!!

The kids were so ready for the day. Well, sorta, as you will soon see! The night before, I had prepped folders, backpacks, lunches, extras, camera, you name it! I got up early and put my cute-Mom look together! Some days, these people are lucky to see me with make-up on before 9 am since I usually put it on in the car after I drop the kids off!


Good morning Anysa! She is eager for Kindergarten!


Dressed and ready! She looks a little peaked to me, but it is just the stinky lighting and my phone. And it didn't help that all she would settle on is a ponytail. I would have much rather utilized on the millions of giant cute bows in her closet, but she is soooo over those!!


Luke, or Mr. Sunshine as we like to refer to him around here, was not so ready to greet the day! I seem to recall something like "Leave me alone! I not going to school!"


He is telling me to turn off the light and go away!!


On his terms, he is a totally happy and eager boy who is also not camera shy!


This picture of them cracks me up! I so want to photo shop a leather jacket and jeans on him. Doesn't he look like a cool biker dude with his Pink Lady by his side!!


I love kids' feet!! And besides, you have to go your first day with just the right pair of shoes. His shoes zip up and have little baseballs and bats on them. And Anysa, well, who can resist a little sparkle!


While at a stoplight, he requested this picture of him and his "map mat".


Anysa settled in quickly and really had no use for me or my camera. I was trying to control Luke and my camera at the same time plus the room was too chaotic with kids and parents to ask for someone to take our picture. That is why 2 parents would have come in handy that day.


As we got closer to Luke's classroom, I got a little more nervous. He is hit or miss; either he separates with no problem or he has an attachment attack. Well, he was a trooper. He marched up, we found his mat and name star, he put is star up and headed straight over the table were one of his "girlfriends" was sitting. He said "Hi, R....", sat down, and started attacking the play dough. So proud of him!

Luke- I can hardly believe how much you have changed over this last year, and especially these last few months. You are just like your sister with your "terrible three's"; so opinionated and moody! Oh my, and the whining and "me do" seems so prevalent right now!! You try to make up for it with your infectious laugh, the way you share in exclamation points, and your general zest for life! You want to do everything Anysa does or at least irritate her while she is doing it. You two have become such good playmates; you have learned such neat play skills from her and I always love listening in on your conversations. I am always amazed by your imagination and your thoughts. And, of course, they don't always come out the way you mean to say them; such funny phrases! You don't mind playing by yourself sometimes, often zooming your cars across your car track rug. Unless it is a big mess that you have created, you love to help me :) Cooking seems to be your favorite thing to help with, although I personally think you just love running the mixer. Oh, and vacuuming! It must be an engine thing!! You are such a speedy fellow on your Spiderman bike; just the other day, you pretended to drive your bike to "Chifla" while we were stopped at the "circle street". You love your friends and are really trying to learn to play nice and share. Funny though, you have learned the fine art of letting me know it was an "asident" before I can scold you. Having an older sister has also meant you are learning other things quicker than I prefer; teasing, claiming it is "her fault" or calling her a mean name, fibbing! We have had to watch Flo, the Lyin' Fly and Buzby, the Misbehaving Bee for more than entertainment value lately! Getting the hang of underwear has taken longer than I wanted but you are really trying and have mastered it mostly! The other day, you disappeared, and when I found you in the bathroom on the toilet, what you did all by yourself made this momma proud!!! Bedtime is not your favorite time and nap time is starting to be a distant memory for us. Despite our best efforts of a routine, it is a hard time for you. It has been fun reading with you at night. Lately, you are so into Jonah (VeggieTales style) or to be more specific, "The Pirates Dat Don't Do Anyfing." You can practically tell me the whole story yourself, and with expressions that are so humorous. Speaking of expressions, I must take a picture some time! You have this face when you are really trying to get your thoughts across. You tilt your head slightly, squint your eyes, scrunch up one side of your mouth, nod your head, and share your thought or idea. Love it! You love to sing and hearing you try to sing praise songs and your Sunday school songs so tugs at my heart. You have been willing to say dinner prayers for awhile and your bedtime prayers are simple and to the point. "Dear God, tank you for Mommy, and Daddy, and Nysa, and my family, and Mommy." Yea, I score twice!! My favorite is when you stop, open one eye, and say "What else?", then keep going. Or when you slip in thanking God for your food, then stop yourself and say, "No, no, no.", then get back on track. You love to play ball, cars, super heroes, dress up, pretend, sing, color, paint, and you are starting to learn board games that I play with Anysa. Of course, when Daddy comes home, the gloves are off. It is chase, hide-n-go-seek, chase-tag-tickle, playing ball. You seem so big these days; taller, leaner, longer legs, more mature face, advancing skills, an ear-to-ear grin with a big dimple! I am so glad you still have a tender heart for Mommy and I am the one that can make you feel better and who gets the best hugs and kisses. Just the other day while at the library, you leaned into me and Anysa, put your arms around us, and said, "I love you guys.". I am so proud of you and am waiting to be amazed by the plans God has for you! I love you Lukey!

Psalm 119: 9-16

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, O LORD;
teach me your decrees.
With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.

Anysa-Ah, my special girl! I am almost at a loss as where to begin! I kept pretending you were not starting kindergarten this year. It just didn't seem possible. See, right before I blinked, you were a precious infant quietly napping in your Moses' basket. And now, you are an emerging young girl. Your eyes sparkle most of the time and you always have wonderful ideas to share with others. I loved watching you try gymnastics again this past winter. You were taller, leaner, and even more brave. You so have gymnast thighs! Then summer brought you one of your greatest joys-swimming!! You can never get enough of the pool. I was so proud of how hard you worked during lessons-watching you learn those amazing strokes-wow! And now, as you are about to try dance again, I know you will be even more graceful and lovely as you were the first time! Your imagination has exploded this past year! There is pretend, drama, re-enactments, music, singing, accents, costumes. OH.THE.COSTUMES! You have even matured in how you take care of your baby dolls. Along those lines, you so creative with your drawings! You love your movies and a good snack while watching them. And although you shed a few tears, you also shed the training wheels on your bike!! Now all I see is smoke coming from those tires at the speeds you are reaching! My favorite part is how you just sing and sing as you ride your bike! You have no problem grooving to your own words if you can't think of the originals! You are not fearful of higher and faster; your toes tickle God when you swing! Like Luke, you love to help me bake. You could play all day long, but you still get overwhelmed and upset when clean up time arrives (it is like we have dumped one hundred pounds on your shoulders!), but you are getting better. And no one even had to teach you the stuff and shove method! I am very proud of your bed-making ability; you shame your momma! You are a true nurturer, and though sometimes a tad bossy, you love and care for those around you. Maybe you will be a famous director one day! As you fast approach 6, you have yet to let me forget what I promised you on a whim 2 years ago. A puppy! You remind me often and tell everyone you meet that "when I turn 6, I get a puppy!". I love listening to you; your phone conversations and prayers are so much more mature now, you are learning about riddles and jokes, you are asking what more and more words and everyday phrases mean, and you still have one or two words that just don't want to come out right. I love watching you sleep at night with one hand clasped tightly around the corner of your pillow. You told me one time that it kept the bad dreams away. Mostly, I love what an incredible big sister you are! And that is NOT always easy with you-know-who! And while there are days you cry out, "WHY.DID.YOU.HAVE.ME.A.LITTLE.BROTHER!", more often, I hear you asking him to play, teaching him how to do something, sharing bursts of laughter together, and assuring "little buddy" that it will be alright. I know you will continue to love him, teach him, laugh with him, and protect him for many years to come. I love most when you run to me for "just one more huggy and kissy" and I must remind myself not to let those moments be less special than they truly are. I know God is preparing you for great works! You make my heart burst with pride and I love you so very much my sweet girl!

Psalm 139: 13-16
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

As you grow, I pray that each of you know the fullest favor of God's richest blessings throughout your lives.

Mommy