missing...

my precious friend, sweet.

i can hardly believe that it has been a year since she went to be with jesus. i am thankful that i was able to share life with her for so many years. i am thankful for the many seeds she planted in my life to be a better teacher, servant, mommy, wife, and friend. i am thankful that i still have relationships with her husband, kenny, and her daughters ivy and kendall. when i am with them i feel like she is there. i am missing her today as i do so many days, but i am thankful for the time i did share with her, what a significant blessing she will always be to me.

remembering...

Emily Sha Martin
July 2, 2008- November 2, 2008

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

praying today for her sweet family. hoping that today they are feeling prayers and lots of love. praising my heavenly father for the hope that can be found in him alone, even in hard times. rejoicing that emily is with jesus. and knowing i will never forget the short time i knew her and the impact she had on my life.

just some thoughts...

i don't really have any funny stories to share about my adorable children, but i haven't blogged in a few days, so i thought i might just share a few of my thoughts from this week.

#1 it is official i am no longer employed by RISD and it is becoming so real. for the past 7 years of my life i have spent this week sitting in meetings, cutting out lamination, sweating, stapling, painting, personalizing things, making 13 trips to the teacher store for just one more thing, organizing, feeling stressed & excited at the same time, and all that goes with getting ready for a new school year. (all you teachers out there understand.) well, this year i did have some stress and i am sure sweat a little, but no teacher meetings or hanging up bulletin boards. this week i feel like i have officially started my job as full-time mom-- laundry, washing bottles, going to chick-fil-a, cleaning, and going to playdates. i love all of those things, but i would be lying if i didn't admit that i have had some sad moments. i miss the smell of new crayons, the energy that fills a school as everyone is preparing, the friends, the satisfaction of looking aroud perfectly organized classroom that you have been working in for days (without air conditioning), and the anticipation of the challenges that each new school year brings.

#2 i am feeling very emotional about my niece starting kindergarten and it is freaking me out just a bit! i think "aunt flow's monthly visit" might have something to do with it, but seriously i can't even imagine what an emotional wreck i am going to be when it is olivia. i just hope that sarah (that's abby's mommy) is holding up better than me and will have lots of advice when i am in her shoes in a few years. i am really excited for abby. and i want to say one more time how much i love abby! she is going to be the best kindergarter ever!! a teachers dream- smart, full of personality, a rule follower, helper, kind to others, and enthusiastic about learning!

#3 i love the olympics!!! these last 2 weeks they have consumed me. i have switched to watching the "today show" in the morning from "good morning america" (i know some of you have the opinion that this is should be a permenent decision, but i miss diane, robin, and channel 8 news/weather/traffic) so that i can get the inside stories. i stay up way too late (like 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. watching the "late night games." and i am already sad about the closing ceremony and the games being over for another 4 years. the summer olympics are so great! this is going to sound super cheesy, but i have felt so proud to be an american and really feel like the athletes have represented our country well. i am such a dork, i know!

#4 the most relaxing 15 minutes of my day is my shower. don't misunderstand me, i have always enjoyed showering, but since having 2 little ones at home i APPRECIATE the shower more. it is literally the only time that everyone allows me to be alone. i sometimes feel like every other minute of the day is filled with others and i just need a little alone time every day. so last night i found myself making the shower take as long as i possibly could. is that sad? i hope not because i don't mean it that way. just funny how things i never thought would be different, like showers, change as life changes for me.

#5 will someone tell me how to fit everything in one 24 hour period? laundry, cooking, cleaning, feeding baby, diaper changing, potty training, having friends, watching olympics, spending time with husband, and still have time to read a book, oh and don't forget sleep. i know the obvious is to cut out olympics, but i still don't think i would have enough time.

this is so wordy and probably so boring, but for me it has been very therapeutic. so thanks! i can now see that this has been a significant week for me. lots of changes and many new realities. i am feeling a bit overwhelmed at this moment, but very soon (like tomorrow) i will calm down and be so excited about the next stage in my life.