blessings for our home...

One thing Adam and I really wanted to do was create "blessings" around our new home for us to remember over the years.  We picked out a few key verses for each room and spent Sunday afternoon writing them around the house before the walls are put up.  I hope that Marley remembers this and the blessings are truly felt as we grow old and enjoy this home.

Marley "claiming" her room!

Marley's Bedroom

Marley's Bathroom

Entry Way

Kitchen

Dining Room

Stairs

Upstairs Living Room

Upstair Bedroom

Master Bedroom

Master Closet

Marley's Bedroom

friday night lights and a little ketchup...

It's been a while since I last posted, but, well...that's life.  Marley and I have both been LOVING our new schools!  Kindergarten sends my child home daily a sweaty, hot mess, but she seems to be loving every minute!  She gets to ride the "Staff Bus" from my school to hers most mornings and back to me in the afternoon and that might be her favorite part of school so far! ;)  She loves her bus driver Mr. Sanders.

She's made so many new friends and loves telling us all about the kids that get in trouble each day...of course she's never one of them...;) 

First Day for both of us!

Loving this girls!

As a mom I am loving the "community" feeling in a smaller school district.  The football players from the high school came to help with carpool and morning assembly at her school before the first football game and to her that was like a bunch of superstars showing up.

We even get to walk to the high school from the other schools for the Friday Pep Rally's!  

Our superintendent and admin are out at the Primary school to help unload cars in the morning and have been on our campuses daily and I love it!  They truly care about the staff and students.  

This past Friday was the first home football game and Marley couldn't wait to go!  She wore her cheerleader outfit to school and got to run out on the field ahead of the players at the game on Friday night as a "Rocket Launcher".  The minute we got to the game I was reminded of another reason we came back to small town Texas...Friday Night Lights!

teacher-mom...

Here I am, the night before the first day of kindergarten, and I'm a mess!  I've realized there is this problem...it's called being a teacher-mom.  It never dawned on me that every time a parent walks their child in to greet their teacher on the first day of school, that probably means they aren't walking their own child in...because they are there to greet yours...happily and with a smile.  To be completely honest I'm heartbroken...although Adam will be there to walk her in (and take a bazillion pictures per my command), I won't ever get to do that.

To Marley, I'm sorry...to all the other teacher moms...it's okay...we are busy being that happy, smiling teacher which is right were God intended us to be.  Because those children need someone to be there and assure them that it's going to be okay, it's going to be a great day and that you love them just as their parents do and will protect them just the same.  

I will look at Marley's teachers from now on in that way...they too, are perhaps making a sacrifice to be there to greet Marley and love on her as I would.  They too are there because they have a passion for children just as I do.

I have also began to have more compassion for the parents dropping their kids off for kindergarten.  I always see those "crazy moms" and think, "Geez we haven't lost one yet...they'll be fine!  Really? You think I'm not capable of taking care of your child all day?  I mean I have 22 all day and we all survive!"  Well, let me apologize...because I am now that mom.  Those thoughts/fears and love.  As an educator I know this is ridiculous but I can't help it...what if she doesn't know where her class is on day 2 and is just roaming lost and crying, what if she drops her lunch tray and kids laugh, what if she gets on the wrong bus, what if no one plays with her at recess...

I get it.  It's called love...

But I also get that every person in that school building loves my baby as if she was theirs and it's going to be okay.

We moved to Robinson for just that...a small, tight knit group of people that will educate and love my child, and for a community that will truly help me raise her.

To all the teacher-moms out there...it's going to be okay...we've got each other.  To all the moms and dads out there...remember that your child's teacher is making a huge sacrifice to be there
on that first day, because we want to...we love what we do...and wouldn't be anywhere else.

Marley, my prayer to you is that you shine brightly and share it with others.

meet the teacher...

Tonight was kindergarten meet the teacher!  Marley has been so excited since we found out her teachers name, Ms. Hannegan.

In perfect timing Marley got a postcard from Ms. Hannegan today in the mail and you would have thought it was a signed card from Minnie Mouse!  

Adam and I have both prayed for Marley to have a teacher that will love her for who she is, nurture her soul and help to grow her brain.  A kindergarten teacher can set the tone for a child's whole school "career" and I think we've hit the jackpot!

Here's to a wonderful year at Robinson Primary!