Twas the Night Before School Started

Twas the Night Before school started and all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse.  All the cookies are baked and the lunches are made.  Three (only 2 go) little boys just await. The Jitter Glitter has been spread and their backpacks are ready for 3rd grade and 1st grade oh am i ready?  I'll walk them this day and send them on their way, holding back tears i don't want them to fear.  Its a New School year!

Tomorrow is Micah and Josiah's first day of school for the 2016/2017 school year.  Summer went way to fast, i hope the boys have as many great memories as i do.  It feels like just yesterday i dropped Micah off for his first day of PDO.  Now, hes starting 3rd grade.  Where did the time go?  And then you have JoJo... His biggest fear is he wont read good enough, i reassure him that hes read lots of Dear Dragon books this summer and he'll do just fine.  I remember the fear i felt on my first day of school each year and hope my boys feel excitement not fear.  They are truly amazing little men and will do just great.  Every time they share a concern i remind them what nice, well mannered little boys they are and that they'll do just fine.

I'm excited for them but at the same time i'm going to miss them.  I've enjoyed our long summer days at the pool and the adventures that we find.  

Micah has Mrs. Kulaga which i've only heard great things about.  Josiah has Mr. Rakas (Mrs. Nemcek will return 1/2 way during the year because she just had a baby) Micah actually had Mrs. Nemcek for 1st grade and i really liked her.  Noah will go later this week for his sneak peak at pre school where his teacher will be Ms. Tammy.

My boys are growing SO fast that i can hardly keep up.  This night i pray specifically for this upcoming school year.  For the things that they will learn and the friends that they will make.

Mommy Loves you sweet boys, you'll be just fine!

Fitz and the Tantrums - HandClap

My Boys go crazy every time they hear this song come on.  You probably saw the video I posted earlier of my boys dancing in the car.  They truly are incredible and have ALL the moves.

One Proud Mama

This year i decided that i wanted the boys to be a part of our clubs swim team.  They had private swim lessons last summer but were still a little unsure about swimming.  After talking to some other moms that had done swim team in the past i decided to sign the boys up.  Micah was a little reluctant but Jo was super excited because he heard he would get a trophy.  When Micah heard Jo was on board he couldn't have his brother show him up so he too was on board.  

The boys went every morning to swim practice for 45 mins and even attended private lessons with one of the coaches after.  The progress they made was unbelievable.  The never gave up and kept going.

Josiah never actually swam in any meets but will surly be ready next year.  Micah did swim the freestyle and backstroke.  The skills they learned this summer will stick with them for life.  Some mornings they would ask me if they could skip practice but i encouraged them to keep going.  Today we went to a local water park.  All that practice payed off!  The two older boys saw all the slides and when we read the rules it said... You must know how to swim to ride.  The boys were so excited because this is now something they can do with confidence.  They were a little nervous at first but once they went down they didn't want to stop.  

Noah who has been attending private lessons now for the last few weeks is also making a lot of progress but not ready for the slides just yet.  While he watched his brothers slide he was sure to let me know that he too wants to be on the swim team next year so he can slide too.

I really couldn't be any prouder of my boys!  They truly are incredible...

Tonight the boys had their end of the year dinner/party for swim team.  They surprised the kids with trophy's and even passed out a few special awards.  Jo proudly accepted his participation trophy!  Micah not only received a participation trophy but also received the most improved swimmer plaque.  He was super surprised and even a little shy as he went to accept it.  

I'm one lucky mama to have 3 amazing boys!

Danny Gokey - Tell Your Heart to Beat Again

Danny Gokey, tell your heart to beat again is one of my favorite songs (i usually end up crying when i hear it but happy and sad tears)  An incredibly wise person sent this song to me a few months ago and it was exactly what i needed and still need.  

I'm sharing this song because today at church Phil Vischer was our guest speaker.  You may better know him as the veggie tales guy.  He shared his journey about a dream he had.  He spoke about God giving us dreams and sometimes he takes them away from us.  Why would he do this if he is an all loving father.  He rounded the story out by saying sometimes our focus needs to be brought back to him and not our dream.... Sometimes our dream can come back us or not.  

When i was driving home this song came on the radio and it brought the dream i have for the boys and i to the surface.  I Love my boys and can't wait to see what dream, God has for us... It's going to be beautiful because its going to be his.

Pool Babes 3 years ago...

Today when i went on Facebook these were the pictures that were on my news feed.  I remember this day like it was yesterday.  But, in reality it was 3 years ago.  Noah was just a year and a half.  Josiah was 3 and Micah was 5 (the summer before he started kindergarten)  This summer actually one week to the day later our lives were changed for ever.  These smiles mean more to me than anything.  I feel so blessed and thankful for them.  I hope you enjoy this throw back just as much as i do.

Afraid of the darkness

I'll often wake to one of my boys standing over me asking if they can sleep with me because they are afraid.  Or requesting that i leave their bedroom door open and the nightlight on.  As a young child i can remember being the same way.  My mom and dad never let us actually get in their bed but did allow me to drag my blanket and pillow into their room and sleep on the floor.

I've been attending Calvary church here in Naperville for sometime now (i really liked the fact that i could go unnoticed)  But, more recently I've been going to the Compass Church (i can't hide as easily, since i go to one of their smaller campuses) This past weekend they had a guest speaker Dr. Michael Rydelnik from Moody Bible.  What do you do when the Lights go Out? Isaiah 50: 4-11
His sermon really resonated with me and got me thinking.  How do i handle the darkness, am i scared? and i faithful? Do i hide? Do i run?  Do i make my own light?

Much like a small child i often feel helpless and lost in the darkness just looking for the light.  I have to remind myself daily that even in the darkness i am not alone.  Even when i can't see him, he can see me... He will never leave my side even when the day is so Dark.  Dr Rydelnik used the analogy of the small child in a burning building,  His father calls out to him.. Jump i'll catch you.  The young boy says but i can't see you.  His father reply's by saying.  But i see you, jump... i'll catch you.
I need to remember to just JUMP, he will catch me.

Recently when i returned home from the pool with the boys (i need to do a long over due update on the boys) i went into the basement to grab something out of the freezer and thats when i saw for the 2nd time this year sewage coming up the basement drain.  It took everything in me not to cry,  Thankfully this time it had not reached the carpet or drywall.  I quickly took action and called out a plumber who showed up in 30 mins.  He assessed the problem and came up with a solution.  After a second gentleman showed up with more equipment and a lot of money later they hopefully solved the problem.  Dark days are hard and sometimes linger... Leaves you asking why?  Why because he knows you can handle it.  It was a put on your big girl panties kind of evening. Bleach in one hand and a glass of wine in the other.  I managed to handle it all.

I am ready for the light to break!  Recently i saw what i thought Gods plan was for me only to realize maybe it wasn't so.  Just another lesson... Lately I've been clinging to Ruth 3:11  He is going to catch me and see me through this time.

Being a mom is hard and no one has all the answers.  I just have to assure myself and my boys that the darkness is nothing to fear.  If a nightlight helps, or a door cracked... let it be.

Boys, Boys and more Boys...

I am SO thankful for my boys... with my boys comes all their little friends which is complete boy overload.  Growing up with a sister close in age we did things a bit different.  On average i break up at least 3 fights a day (thats on a good day) This leads us to our most recent emergency visit...

Micah and Josiah were running around chasing one another.  I asked them to stop put of course they didn't.  Just as i was stepping out of the office to stop them, Micah gave Jo a huge push and into the wood door trim he went.  Landing of course with his face.  I picked him us and his face was covered in blood.  I cleaned him up the best i could to determine where the blood was coming from.  I couldn't tell if his tooth was broken or shoved back up into the gum at first.  I called the dentist and they said he needed to be seen ASAP.  So i quickly packed everyone up.  Jo had a washcloth and Popsicle in hand.  When we arrive he had calmed down and wasn't as upset. 

X-rays were taken and as far as they could see the tooth was not broken up inside the gum but he sure did jam it up there!  There surly is never a dull moment in our house.  My boys have knocked out or chipped more teeth than i can keep track of.  Their energy is endless, i'd pay for even just a quarter of it.  I'm just thankful we've avoided broken bones and stitches so far... Knock on wood!!!

Here is my sweet boy and his newest look...