Your Daily Dose

I just received a really cool catalog in the mail that has a lot of really cool prints in it with great sayings, verses, poems and it made me start thinking. "Hmmm... I know a lot of people who would enjoy this." So, hence, the development of "Your Daily Dose."

I am going to post some of my favorites. I hope to do it frequently, but with tropical storms and hurricanes knocking on my door my time on the computer might be cut short. So, I'll do what I can.

Here's the first one... ENJOY!!

May the light always find you on a dreary day.
When you need to be home, may you find a way.
May you always have courage to take a chance.
And never find frogs in your underpants.

--an anonymous Scandinavian

No accidents...

In God's great world, there are no accidents. Everything that happens is part of His plan. As my recent Bible study stated, "God orchestrates the circumstances in my life to reveal His plan."

It's amazing to me how He reveals that. It's also amazing to me how it can take me so long before I actually get what God is telling me. (How many blessings have I missed out on because I didn't hear His word??)

I have been going to other churches in our area to give MOPS presentations. I have been to several different denominational churches. All of which I might have chosen when looking for a church for our family.

Let me digress for a second and explain how we came to be at our church. It's very close to our house. It meets in a non-threatening environment, a school. I saw the signs for the church every weekend. Their signs read, "Meeting you where you are." There was another sign that read, "Church clothes," and had a picture of blue jeans. I tried it. I liked it. Bryan came home. We went together. He liked it. And over time that 'like' became love.

But, I'd always believed we'd just lucked out in finding a church for us on our first try. However, after going to present at other churches and being a part of the services, God pointed out to me that He sent us to TCF for a reason. It was His plan!

Don't get me wrong. The other services were fine. I'm sure they were pleasing to God's ears. However, they just weren't our style. It took me about three services to realize that God was speaking to me. Telling me I was right where He wanted me. Telling me I'd found home.

Doing better...

The week for my kindergartner went well. A few things played into things going more smoothly this week:

1. We used the drive-through drop off line.
2. Cadey met a WONDERFUL teacher at drop off who has become her buddy. The teacher greets Cadey with a HUGE smile, a warm hello, and lots of hugs. PRAISE!
3. Cadey's become more comfortable and now walks into class with some of her classmates.

And the biggest reason it's going better??? God is there with her. Cadey got into the car after school on Monday and was very chatty. It then got quiet and I hear from her, "Momma? You know how we prayed that God would rise up some friends for me at school? Well, he did!!" She then went on to talk about how she played with several little girls from her class, and was even a "great friend" to one little girl by holding her hand and playing with her. (Big smile by Momma!)

And, that's all I have to say about that.

Yay, God!

Flying close to the nest

Cadey has finished her first week of Kindergarten. Being a shy girl, she was a bit nervous to start at a new school where she didn't really know anyone in her class. All four of us went on the first day, and she seemed to do pretty well. Didn't really want us to leave, but we were ushered out anyway. I shed a few tears, but after talking to Mom and B, was a bit soothed. When I picked her up at the end of the day, she told me all about her day, seemed happy, and said she had a good day. BIG PRAISE!

Day two did not go as well. Matthew and I walked her in, and she began to cry when I told her goodbye. The teacher helped her to get busy putting her backpack away and checking in. I made it to the car before tearing up.

Day three was about the same as day two. Not bad. Not great.

Day four ripped my heart out. Cadey started fussing about not wanting to go to school at about 7:30. Then, she became rude, mean, loud, and disobedient. I tried to be patient. I tried to be understanding. I tried explaining. Then I just told her we were going and began to count her each time she was disobedient, rude, or mean. That girl is stubborn!!!!!! By the time we left for school at about 8:10, she was in full-on tizzy mode. I basically had to drag her to class, crying all the way (her, not me.) Cadey was crying so hard that she could barely breathe. The teacher helped me try to distract her, but she wouldn't be soothed. I gave her extra hugs and kisses. And we said another prayer. Finally, the teacher took her to her desk and talked to her. Her red, tear streaked face, and the look on her face as she looked at me leaving will forever be burned into my heart. I was crying when I left. I didn't even make it to the car that day before losing it. I just couldn't console her or myself. Was I throwing her to the wolves? Would she be forever scarred? Would she come out of her shell and make friends? So many questions I had. I still do.

Day five, Friday, went better at drop off for one reason: Daddy was going to the school to have lunch with Cadey. She was excited. So, getting into the room and getting settled was easy. However, Daddy reported that leaving from lunch was much like the previous day's drop off. Cadey crying, trying to pull the teacher (who was holding her hand) down the hall after Daddy. SIGH!!!

Let me explain one thing here: I am not shy. Never have been, don't ever plan to be. It's just the "Dakins" in me. So, Cadey's shyness is hard for me. I don't know what to say. I don't know what to do. I know that once she gets comfortable, she will come out of her shell. But, the coming out has NEVER been so painful or so traumatic before. I think about my little precious girl in that BIG school with ALL those kids and ALL the new experiences and I just want to wrap my loving arms around her and hold her forever. I know I can't do that. I know that I must open my wings so that she'll learn to do the same and soar.

So, for now, both Momma bird and baby bird are staying close to the nest. I'm coaxing for more flight time, but also comforting my wee one upon her return. I see her potential to soar. She just needs to flex her wings for a while to learn the air currents. One day, she'll be so happy riding those currents she'll forget all about being out of the nest. And then, she'll truly soar!

Taaa-Daaaa

For a couple of weeks, Matthew kept asking for spoons. He'd go to the drawer and get spoons. I thought he might like them to pretend to eat, play plah-doh with, make music. Alas, no. He would just walk around with them.

One day he came into the office with his spoon and I noticed him doing this:

Guess I underestimated his abilities with a spoon!


And, while Nana was here, she got Cadey working on a bunch of projects. Check out one of the things Cadey made with a little help from Nana. (She added on extra rooms "for the babies to sleep in" after Nana had left!)


Their abilities, while quite different, ABSOLUTELY show their personalities right now. They are an adventure each and every day!!