How Big of a Slacker am I?

REALLY Big - that's how big!

I can't believe another month has gone by with nary a blog-post! Even my faint attempts at TRYING to get caught up didn't come to much! I don't think I even got to Faith's birthday which is June 28!

I'm such a loser!

Well let me see if I can get ya'll caught up (that is if there still is a ya'll out there interested in this dead blog).

Summer was awesome. We spent lots of time outside enjoying the sun and water! We played at the cottage, went to the big lake, had pool parties with friends, went to Fredrick Meijer Gardens, sprinkler parks and much much more! It was one of the most fun and relaxing summers I can remember! The girls are at such nice ages (6 & 3). They're independent enough that I don't have to watch them quite as closely AND I'm not lugging around diapers and all the things that go with those!

I'm really grateful for some much-needed rest and recuperation time. I needed it after Sports Camp . . . and before the chaos of planning for the fall.

That's what happened to the last month of bloglessness . . . fall planning, scheduling, meeting, calling, emailing, more calling, recruiting, organizing, more recruiting and more organizing. The last month has been insane with all things Children's Ministry. Only just this week do I feel somewhat settled and clicking into a rhythm. I'm still in need of a solid handful of volunteers, which is frustrating, but I have to remember that this thing is God's deal not mine.

On the home-front all is well. Faith is doing great with the transition into all-day everyday 1st Grade! She has an amazingly wonderful 1st-year teacher (who happened to be my sister's suite-mate at Calvin) who is enthusiastic about teaching AND has an obvious love for the Lord and for her kids! Faith was also lucky enough to get her "best good friends" in her section of 1st Grade. She loves reading and writing, and recently told me she's going to be an author when she grows up. She's already penned her first several books this week! I'm really surprised that Faith isn't more exhausted after a day at school . . . but as soon as she gets home and has her snack, she's either chomping at the bit to write a book or do homework! The kid LOVES homework. She's actually bummed when she doesn't have any. I know this will wear off eventually, but in the meantime, it's very sweet!

Faith has also enjoyed playing teacher to Bella (Bella also thinks this is great). They spend a lot of their together time making books, or playing school. I love seeing that!

Bella, is transitioning well too. It's weird for her having Faith (or as she says, Thaif) gone everyday. She's kind of at a loss for what to do now that her "social coordinator" is gone. She's getting the hang of it though, and has even figured out that she can play with Faith's things when she's gone and NOT get yelled at!

Every morning Bella asks, "Where are we going today, Mom?" She's devastated every time the answer is, "No-where, honey. We're staying home today!" She insists on doing something each day. She's a mover and a shaker people! No home-body here!

I've been really enjoying my alone time with Bella. I feel like I'm catching up on what I missed with her when I was busily trying to keep up with Faith's antics. Bella has always been such a good little girl . . . easy to "ignore" when big sister demanded so much of my time (and discipline). We now have time to read books - just the two of us, or paint with watercolors or play with playdough, or make cookies or banana bread. She's a joy to hang around with! I love our time together.

My time with Faith seems to be that much sweeter now too. We're not at each other's throats all day and exhausted by bed-time. She actually comes home happy . . . ready to chat about her day . . . she's snuggly with me . . . wants to read books and "talk" . . . she even told me the other day how much she missed me! I'm very much enjoying my time with my grown-up girl! I love her goofiness, her desire to "talk" about things that are important to her . . . and I'm especially loving her need for "Mommy-time". It just feels so good to be loved and needed by her . . . when the last several years have felt like a constant battle.

I'm so grateful to God for where this family is . . . we're in a good place. I feel settled, fulfilled, comfortable . . . just happy, content! God is good! I thank him everyday for my two beautiful gifts! OK, three, if you count Mike!

I'll try to be better about posting, now that we're in a rhythm here! If you're lucky, I might even post a picture or two!

Thanks for being patient with me!