Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Wow! This week has gotten away from me. Thursday morning I had two very sad and long-faced kiddos. Sam and Emma were having a rough time coming to terms with the fact that Thursday was their last day of school with there friends. Chloe was probably also sad, but she wasn't expressing it like the other two. Through tears we prayed our way to school asking God to give peace and understanding that this was what was going to be the best for all of us. It was an emotional day for me taking phone calls and reading emails from their teachers expressing their sadness that the kids were going to a different school. I had to go into the school and pick up all of their confidential transfer papers and it was not easy. I stood outside waiting for the kids and was met with hugs and tears from other moms that I have gotten to know over the last few years and that was not easy. I let the girls stay for their last day of after school choir, so Samuel came out of school surrounded by four of his closest friends and I had to turn away because the emotions were just too much. Four 6th grade boys holding back tears just broke my heart :(. Samuel and I went to get a snack while we waited on the girls. We picked the girls up and headed home with three quiet kids. I know many have pointed out that we are still in the same city, but living in different neighborhoods in Chicago is about the same as living in different countries! Each neighborhood has just about everything you need and you do not venture out of it if you do not have to. I have promised that we will make an effort to see their friends once in a while, so I think that has helped with the transition.
Everyone woke up much earlier than normal on Friday. Our nerves were getting the best of us. I took comfort in the fact that I knew God was already at the new school preparing their day. We all got ready and got our things together and headed out on our new adventure. It was a little confusing first thing because we were not sure where they were to line up or what they were supposed to do. We waited in the office and the office staff found a 3rd grader and a 6th grader to take the kids were they needed to go. I slowly walked away and started for my car. I then heard someone call my name and it was a friend whose sons also go to this school. I was so thankful that God placed her in the parking lot at that moment to offer encouragement and to let me know that her and her boys had been praying for the kids that morning. I drove away from the school and I bawled like a baby. I had to go to the store and I am sure people were wondering what was wrong with me because I was a mess. I stayed busy on Friday and whispered a prayer all day. 3;15 finally came and I was able to head over to the school to pick up the kids. I was pleasantly surprised to pick up three smiling, talkative kids. They told story after story and their excessive talking gave me a pretty good idea at how their day went :). When we got home Sam and Emma wanted to text one of their friends from their old school. I usually do not let them do that, but I also knew it would give me a honest idea at how they were feeling about their day. The texts stated how they had a good day and were already making friends :). Friday night we were going to watch a family movie. Samuel asked if he could make himself some popcorn. Our biggest struggle these days is getting our kids to get along! They fight ALL.THE.TIME and rarely think about nice things they can do for each other without being asked to be nice to each other. Samuel makes his popcorn and we are watching him. He gets out three bowls and gives both his sisters one of the bowels of popcorn, WITHOUT BEING ASKED! I started to think maybe I picked up the wrong kid from school :). I know it has only been a few days, but we are already seeing small changes and we know it is because they are being given Truth all day.
Saturday was spent being lazy. Sunday was church and then we went to some friend's house to watch the Super Bowl. We have just been so overwhelmed at the people God has placed in life over the last 9 months. They are becoming family and they are such a blessing to us! Kids had another great day at school. Still getting settled on the routine, but they seem to be going with the flow. Thank you so much for loving our family and praying for us during this transition. It has only been a few days, but we already see how this change was the best for our family. Our commute each way to school went from 35-40 minutes each way to 3 minutes each way. I love that the last three school mornings have not been rushed. It has given us extra time to just talk and laugh and not involve me loosing my mind getting everyone out of the house on time. We get home by 3:35 each day and I love that by 4;30-5:00 the kids are done with their homework and we have more time to be together as a family.
The last time we bought a new TV we only had one kid. We have been putting some money aside for about a year and so we found a great deal on a TV and stand and we bought it last weekend. We made it a year without having a TV in our main living room and I was a little hesitant about putting a TV in there, but it has become the gathering place for our whole family and I love it! Most nights the kids were in the basement and we were in our bedroom watching TV and I just did not like the disconnection from each other. Now we all pile in the living room and it makes my heart happy.
Everyone woke up much earlier than normal on Friday. Our nerves were getting the best of us. I took comfort in the fact that I knew God was already at the new school preparing their day. We all got ready and got our things together and headed out on our new adventure. It was a little confusing first thing because we were not sure where they were to line up or what they were supposed to do. We waited in the office and the office staff found a 3rd grader and a 6th grader to take the kids were they needed to go. I slowly walked away and started for my car. I then heard someone call my name and it was a friend whose sons also go to this school. I was so thankful that God placed her in the parking lot at that moment to offer encouragement and to let me know that her and her boys had been praying for the kids that morning. I drove away from the school and I bawled like a baby. I had to go to the store and I am sure people were wondering what was wrong with me because I was a mess. I stayed busy on Friday and whispered a prayer all day. 3;15 finally came and I was able to head over to the school to pick up the kids. I was pleasantly surprised to pick up three smiling, talkative kids. They told story after story and their excessive talking gave me a pretty good idea at how their day went :). When we got home Sam and Emma wanted to text one of their friends from their old school. I usually do not let them do that, but I also knew it would give me a honest idea at how they were feeling about their day. The texts stated how they had a good day and were already making friends :). Friday night we were going to watch a family movie. Samuel asked if he could make himself some popcorn. Our biggest struggle these days is getting our kids to get along! They fight ALL.THE.TIME and rarely think about nice things they can do for each other without being asked to be nice to each other. Samuel makes his popcorn and we are watching him. He gets out three bowls and gives both his sisters one of the bowels of popcorn, WITHOUT BEING ASKED! I started to think maybe I picked up the wrong kid from school :). I know it has only been a few days, but we are already seeing small changes and we know it is because they are being given Truth all day.
Saturday was spent being lazy. Sunday was church and then we went to some friend's house to watch the Super Bowl. We have just been so overwhelmed at the people God has placed in life over the last 9 months. They are becoming family and they are such a blessing to us! Kids had another great day at school. Still getting settled on the routine, but they seem to be going with the flow. Thank you so much for loving our family and praying for us during this transition. It has only been a few days, but we already see how this change was the best for our family. Our commute each way to school went from 35-40 minutes each way to 3 minutes each way. I love that the last three school mornings have not been rushed. It has given us extra time to just talk and laugh and not involve me loosing my mind getting everyone out of the house on time. We get home by 3:35 each day and I love that by 4;30-5:00 the kids are done with their homework and we have more time to be together as a family.
The last time we bought a new TV we only had one kid. We have been putting some money aside for about a year and so we found a great deal on a TV and stand and we bought it last weekend. We made it a year without having a TV in our main living room and I was a little hesitant about putting a TV in there, but it has become the gathering place for our whole family and I love it! Most nights the kids were in the basement and we were in our bedroom watching TV and I just did not like the disconnection from each other. Now we all pile in the living room and it makes my heart happy.
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| I love that the girls have the same homework each night! |
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| Emma has been sucked into the world of Minecraft with Samuel. I just do not get it. |
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