We always like to do a back to school dinner to get pumped up for the new school year. This year they decided on pizza and rhubarb slush for dinner - yum! I had found emoji plates with heart eyes earlier in the summer and saved them for our special dinner and per our tradition the book 'The Kissing Hand' was read, such a good story. We pulled out the schoolish decor and did up our chalkboards. These little women of ours are so precious and I want them to always remember they are precious to us and the Lord. The idea for our Family Home Evening lesson/theme was based on the scripture story of Lehi's Dream - holding to the Iron Rod! Immediately I knew that I wanted to do some kind of rod like reminders for the girls for school and a blindfolded adventure in our basement. I am grateful how things often fall together just as they should and this FHE was one such time.
Graham was at the end of the yarn I had weaved through the basement. He called out encouragement to our blindfolded girls and I tried to distract them. At one point Stella asked me to just help her and hold her hand, it was a very tender moment because I told our ladies that I would ALWAYS, ALWAYS help them to cling to the rod. I hope they remember the feelings we felt as we adventured through our basement maze holding to the yarn rod.
Lots of nerves and lots of excitement as the girls woke up read for the first day of school. Amelia whispered to me that she was mostly excited, that was at 6:05am!!!!!! We had laid out clothes and packed up lunches the night before, the ladies got right into their morning to-do list and I was so darn proud of them. Stella decided to play the violin this year. They don't have their lesson until next week but gosh it was darling to see Amelia teaching Stella some fingering, it made my heart beam. Love these ladies!
Oh my goodness, a new school and a new grade! Smiles for photos and then when the reality set in a few tears from our big girl. The teachers seem great and each of the ladies have kids they know in their classes so that is so fantastic. There is so much awesomeness about public education and I will always be an advocate for the good and do my part to work on the not so good parts. What a privilege it is to have the freedom to go and learn....the sky is the limit for the ladies.
Also, I simply must mention how lucky they are to have one another!
Amelia's teacher had this darling little note of the desks, I dig her already!
So because I don't officially start work until next week I went home after I dropped the women off for their first day of school. I walked in and saw the chalkboard sign from the girls in our den......I may have shed a few tears! That saying of the "days being long but the years short" is sooooooooo true!!!! The years at home with my little women have flown by and here I find myself in the next phase of parenting, I have school kids. While my heart breaks a little that they are growing up, it is also pretty awesome! They are growing and I am too, my volunteer gig from last year turned into a job and this year they want me back. It makes me feel darn good to be wanted, to contribute and I am very grateful for the opportunity to work for Families of First, such a tremendous organization.
Cheers to another year!
~ Momma P
