Playing Outside

We've been enjoying the cooler afternoons and taking time to play outside more.  Myla Grant loves to lay on a quilt and soak up the nature surrounding her while the big girls love to explore it.

Recently, while we are laid across a quilt looking up at the sky, we noticed a faint rainbow.  What a sweet reminder of God's love and care for us.

One of the big girls' favorite things to do outside lately is dig in the dirt.  They fill buckets with dirt, collect rocks they find, and build dirt "castles" for hours.

They get extremely excited when they find an earth worm or roly poly among the dirt. 

Being a mom to three girls doesn't exempt me from playing in the dirt or with bugs!  I am thankful our girls love to explore nature and their surroundings, even if that includes dirt and bugs.

Emalyn and Myla Grant's Dedication

This Sunday was a very special one. We dedicated our sweet girls to the Lord before friends, family and our church community. It is such a privilege to have these little lives entrusted to our care. They are the Lord's and we are thankful He has allowed us love them and tell them about Him. We are also incredible thankful for the community of believers who will walk beside us as we raise our girls...our church family, sweet friends and families mean the world to us and will all play a special role in our girls' lives.

Time for School

Adair and Emalyn both started school this week. After debating over moving Adair to a different school, we finally decided that being close to home and having the girls at the same school would be best for our family. They are going to Trinity and are literally three blocks from our house. Hank and I had the opportunity to meet their teachers on Tuesday night and they are all precious and wonderful! I know it's going to be a great year!

In her own handwriting: 4K

The excitement...

is written...

all over her face!

Adair's teacher is Ms. Anne. She is super sweet and Adair really likes her! Adair started on Wednesday. She came home excited about school and with several new friends. The first new friend she told us about was Sarah, she said, "Sarah has really dark hair. She kind of looks like Emalyn. She's from China, too." I thought it was so sweet that Adair seemed drawn to Sarah because she reminded her of Emalyn. She has looked forward to going to school every day this week. I'm so thankful that she loves school and learning!

First day of 2 year old Mother's Day Out

Emalyn's first day was today. We went last week and met her teachers and saw her classroom. We even met several children that would be in her class. We talked and talked about school. I wanted her to be excited, but most of the time when I mentioned it, she said "no". I worried that it might take weeks for her to adjust.  Adair had heard me express my concern more than once, and as she was going to bed last night she prayed this prayer for Emalyn, "God, please let Emalyn have a good day on her first day of school tomorrow and be happy.  Help Emalyn to love school like me.  I love school.  In your name I pray, amen." 

As we were getting ready to walk to school this morning, I asked Adair if she wanted to pray for Emalyn and she prayed a very similar prayer.  God answered our prayers!  This morning when Adair and I walked Emalyn to carpool to drop her off, she did great! One of her teachers, Mrs. Michelle, came right over to greet her and she went to her willingly when I handed her off. She waved to us and said goodbye with no tears!

She was with me on Wednesday and Thursday when I dropped Adair off and then went back to pick her up, so I think she fully understood that I would be back to get her, but part of me kept expecting to get a call to come get her. When I picked her up, her teacher and the director said she had done great and had only gotten upset during the last thirty minutes. We are so proud of her! I know she is going to learn so much this year and grow in so many ways. We are definitely thankful for sweet and patient teachers!

Here's to a great year and to getting back into a routine! I think all of us will be happier with some structure in our days.

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