All at Once

Well, as most of you know, Mr. B started school earlier this month. He has done great and he seems to really like it a lot. Mom did okay until they moved Bryce's teacher and his class was separated out. When I got that news, I cried like a baby. I don't really know why, because when I was trying to delicately explain this new development to Bryce, he responded, "okay." And later, during devotions, when asked, "what made you glad today?" He responded, "that I get to go to Mrs. B's class." So, clearly, he took the news well.

As if that is not enough to get adjusted to, he also turns 6 this month (on 8/28). There is nothing that makes you feel like you're losing your baby like the 1-2 punch of starting school and turning 6. This, coupled with the fact that we signed him up to play football this fall, has done me in. He came home the other night from getting his uniform, and he was beaming from ear to ear; all decked out in pads from hither to yon. Can I just say there is something horribly wrong with a sport that requires you to wear more than your weight in protective gear? Bryce is tough as cobb and I don't think I'm all that over protective, but football is going to be a little difficult to watch.

Here are a few pictures from his birthday party Saturday night.




And, the final blow to this momma's heart is what he proudly came home from school with yesterday...............his tooth. His, FIRST missing tooth, and I wasn't there to witness or video. It had been loose for a few days, and GDaddy had even tried to pull it with string and, um.....pliers (he is GDaddy after all), but no such luck. Apparently, yesterday at lunch it just came out. Luckily, his teacher saved it for him so that he could bring it home. And, he had fun surprising daddy when Brad got home. But, that little smile of his is altered forever. It sure is cute though.


Had these things happened singularly, I think I would be fairly cool about the whole thing. But, wow, with them happening all at once this month it seems like he is just growing up. No wonder my chest has felt tight for the last 2 weeks. Please don't get me wrong, I'm tickled pink that he is loving school and I'm proud as punch that he is doing so well and all, but it does tug at my heart stings a tad. And, just to prove my point, I'm including this picure too.......

Hello???? Need, I say more.......he didn't even have teeth in this picture.

Bryce, Mom and Dad are so very proud of you and we love you so very much!!

Reminding Myself......

......that all things work together for good for those who love him and who have been called according to his purpose.


I'm telling myself that today, over and over and over and over. It just seems like I'm surrounded by disappointments and hurts. Disappointments in our own family and disappointments in the lives of our friends. Some are more grave and serious and heart-wrenching than others, but there are many. So, I'm telling myself that God can work out these disappointments for good. And, even when there is no shred of evidence, I'm going to believe Him to do it. In every.single.instance!! Every instance of illness, every single instance of job related concerns(no matter what kind), every instance of school related concerns, every financial concern, and every concern of loneliness. All of them! As the song says, "so we lift up our hope in you, though we may not yet understand, we know it's true, all things work together."

Psalm 33:22May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

God, may you accept this as a pleasing faith offering to you, and may you show yourself strong and mighty to those of us who need you so badly right now!

Psalm 18:2The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

A Strange Occurence

This morning a strange and rare occurrence took place. Sara Kate and I were on our way home from dropping Bryce off at school. She was being her usual self and talking non-stop, asking all manner of questions. Then, without warning she said, (and I quote) "UGH, I am SO tired of talking!!" She nearly made me pass out at the wheel, as I thought to myself, "could this be true, could it really be possible that she has talked so much, that she has already reached some sort of internal word gauge that no one else on earth has triggered yet and modern science has yet to discover." And, very quickly I was starting to think of the solitude that just might now exist in our van...............But, then, what seemed like nanoseconds later, she added, "but my brain just keeps telling me to talk." Can I just say, that that little brain of hers is going to get her into trouble one day? Anyway, then she went straight into rhyming words (and I quote) "tick, lick, pick" etc. And, after that, it was time for some made up songs. She is the only artist I know that mixes praise and worship with kiddie secular in the same song. This morning her song was about worshipping Jesus her friend, and then the lyrics took a turn in to something I didn't even understand. All this was in less than 5 minutes it takes to get home.

Ah, so close, so very close. One can only hope.

I thought I would include a short video of one of her made up songs. She was in a singing mood one morning after she woke up and joined us in our bed. For some reason, I had the presence of mind to get the camera.

Fun Fact Friday: First Day of School

The time has come folks. The day is here. My little guy started school today. He was ready, no apprehension......well, except last night he told me he wasn't happy that he had to take a nap. I assured him that he didn't have to go to sleep, that he only had to lay down for a while, and that seemed to satisfy. That was last night just before bed, and this morning, he got up and was ready to go. He chose to take his lunch today, but I think he just liked the idea of taking his cool lunch box. He ordered PB&J, grapes, and cookies with apple juice to drink. I'll be curious to see if he decides to eat what he brought or eat at school. We'll see, I guess.

Yesterday, we went to orientation. We met his teacher, Ms. A and the para-pro, Mrs. C. We saw his cubby, backpack hook, his seat, and the rest of the classroom. We checked out the lunch room, the library, and the gym.

Bryce & Ms. A

A Quote to Share

I saw this quote the other night, and thought it was worth sharing. I definitely have some work to do in this area.

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. The essence of faith is being satisfied with all that God is for us in Jesus."
- John Piper