Bring on the Fall!!!!!

Thank you all for your prayers and notes of support yesterday.  Both Jarod and Anne did wonderfully on their first day back to school.   And I survived as well!

So I spent an entire blog on Jarod yesterday and all the worries of him entering 7th grade (more on that in a minute) and I didn't even mention our Anne Girl.

That's because she's got this whole thing down!  I was concerned that she might be upset because she is now the only one in our family at OPE.  But, nope.  She's good.

She said, "Mom, I really never saw Jarod anyway."

No problem there.  She has been my little miss confident since she was born.  So thankful for that.  Praying God continues to mold and shape her confidence.  I love that spunk about her - as long as it's channeled in the right direction.  She can definitely hold her own.

Russ said when he dropped her off at school yesterday, she was immediately searching faces in the crowd and waving to everyone.  Miss Social Bug.  She rarely meets a stranger.

She is in 2nd grade this year and has a wonderful teacher, Mrs. Allen.  She is so excited about school and I think she is really excited about the 2 hours that she has alone with me in the afternoon before Jarod returns home.

Jarod did great yesterday!  By the time 4:00 rolled around, I had hot cookies baking in the oven and I couldn't stay away from the window!  I kept watching for him to come up the street.

He came in just a talking!  And eating the cookies.  I don't think he stopped talking until his head hit the pillow last night and fortunately he slept ALL night this time.  The jitters were over.

Jr. High has already been a big eye opener for him but he is adjusting and is proving to be so grown up. I am excited to hear him be so open and honest about his feelings about everything and I do look forward to watching what God is going to do in his life this year.  I'm very proud.

Last year, Jarod was on the News Media Team at OPE.  We took him early each morning and they did a live newscast with all the morning announcements and such via the TV system in the school.  He LOVED this!

The Jr. High also has a Broadcast Media class.  It's a year long elective and it's very difficult to get in to.  Only 11 students from the entire school are chosen and only a few of them are the new 7th graders.  Jarod received a wonderful recommendation from Mrs. Callahan at OPE and he was selected at Lake Asbury.  He is thrilled!   He is proving to be great in front of and behind the camera.

I just love the confidence that my kids have in themselves.  I don't know where it came from except the Lord.  Russ was shy growing up and me, well - I would have rather dug a hole and buried myself FOREVER than have to speak in public.  I was in my 20's before the Lord began breaking me of my fear.  It just seems to come natural to them.  So thankful.

Well, school is back in full swing.

Russ and I have our Friday Date Days back (he's off on Fridays - kids in school - YAY!!!!)

I have two dates in the next two weeks where I'm selling Apparent Project.  Working on a few more!  Call me if you are interested!

I'm going with Jarod's youth group to Rock the Universe at Universal Studios in Orlando over Jarod's Birthday weekend!  How fun is that?

Sasha is supposed  to come visit for a few days.  YAY!!!!!


We have our 15th Anniversary trip scheduled for next month - whoo hoo!!!! (Jekyll Island, GA - that's where Russ proposed!)

I'm going to the Women of Faith Conference in Orlando with the Women's Ministry at our church in October.

AND........

I just booked my flight for my annual fall trip to New Hampshire to see Emily!  Eeeeeeeeeeek!

Bring on the Fall!  It's going to be AWESOME!!!!!!!

Until next time.....