and then there were none...

yep, none.  Everyone is back in school and I am spending most of my days with no babies.  This is so foreign to me.  The first day they were both in school I came home went for a run re showered and it was time to go get tink, so far so good.   The next day, no run, laundry , dinner, errand or two...not time to get anyone yet, hmmmm this is not looking good.  Ok so I will work work work and fortunately there is a huge laundry list of things I need to do that require undivided attention or a babysitter.  With that said its time for CLES, Real estate CES (all of these great licenses I have had but had no use for in the past 4 or 5 years.  Well its time to dust them off and get to work.

The strange thing is that of all years, when both babies are gone more than ever....I am room mom for no one.  What?  But I am the room mom...nope not this year.  I was Maddens last year so I cant be it this year...and Murphy's class already had one as well.  What, ouch??????????  Oh there is still the PTA and tons of volunteer opportunities and requirements but nothing that has to do with the babies and their precious friends.  I am not sure I like this.  After all who will be controlling enough to document everything and produce the class DVD?!
Its becoming really clear to me that God is stripping things from me and my life.  But why?  I re read a recent journal entry the other day, and there are so many times where I just write WHY this or why that?  What to now?
Why is he taking things that usually keep me so busy they can be defining?  My guess is Hes up to something.  He's rocking my foundations in every aspect of my life.  I think its time for me to learn something new... what that is, stay tuned.   But if you see me wondering around or breathing work its because I am struggling to figure out who I am without my littles from 8-2:30 and 8-12 on M and F.  Oh and if you see me doing the happy dance on M W or F thats because my littles are out of school early!  I know I know....but I am still learning here.  It feels like the ground has cracked beneath me and I am not very sure-footed right now... it feels like walking around one of my dads sites blind folded, there are nails and boards and dirt and holes and I have to just keep walking.  A bit daunting but there is something in this walk for sure.

Oh and if you dont know me...my mom just reminded me this week I'm really not good with change.
"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going." Hebrews 11:8

My boy after 6 hours of swimming no lie...no breaks!

Yep, thats right.

My girl's first day in JK

Mrs. Burt!  Hooray!

Big happy change...but I do love this old girl

An escape to Muscle SHOWLS (ask Tinky where she went, it might be more southern than the people actually from there) well maybe.

icky

Where have I been....hmmm good question.  Seems like I have been in the middle of ickiness lately.  You know those times in life when it seems like everywhere you turn there's a mess or something sad happening?  Our sweet Bo Bo and Bridget left this morning to move to Australia, yep you read that right AUSTRALIA... and that makes us sad.
We realized we didn't really put a dent in the bucket list and that was disappointing.  It just seems like summer has come and gone and now what?
I was at a funeral this week and the minister spoke about how no matter what we can always have joy... a joy not from this world...which brings me to the dollar tree.
About a week ago mom and I decided we would take the babies to the dollar tree and let them "shop" for a bit.  My mom and I were chatting away while the kids were knee deep with choices all over the floor...gross, I know. Anyway, this precious woman comes around the corner with her arms full of shoe polish.  She explained she was a teacher and buying supplies for her class.  She said she knew Madden and Murphy because a friend of a friend of a friend had sent her our blog years ago.  She went on to say that she had watched them grow up so much and that we look "exactly like our pictures"... so funny!  She was so sweet about the babies and by the time we left they each had a knew treasure and a new friend.
All this to say...maybe its not the big bad sad events that should have my focus and energy when I all I have to do is look down and see my two littles in a pile of toys with smiles from ear to ear.
That precious lady made me stop for just a minute and look at those little faces. I am beyond blessed to have them.  So this summer the bucket list didnt quite get finished...but summer's not officially over and there's always next year, right?

As an aside Mrs. Margie from the dollar tree was in Costco today with my mom...hmmm God's fingerprints and little reminders in the midst of the icky :)


Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

My boy on his first day

My man's cubby

The Redbirds

My other boy turned 7!

And I turned...well anyway...

Madden's wearing Emily's flower girl dress for Sarah's wedding!

Cheer camp...!!

Not sure who is more frightening

Glam

Sweet friends

Oh and in other news Madden is now pippi longstockings, EVERYDAY.

Goodbye to Bo Bo and Bridget ughhh.

Seriously?