One more year in preschool

This will be the last year our family has a child attending preschool at First Presbyterian Church in Peachtree City.  (Of course, unless the child we adopt is young enough to go there)  And, it makes me a little sad, but also a little excited.  I am sad that my two sweet babies are growing up and will soon both be at BIG school!  I am sad that in one more year, they will both be going to school all day and not just 3 hours.  I am sad that this is the last year that a child of mine will be at a school where it is OK to teach them about God's word, in fact, the curriculum is centered around it!  I am also sad this is the last year that a one of my children will be at a school where they still have parties for Christmas and Easter.  I am sad that this is the last year I can bring one of them with me to Community Bible Study (CBS) on Fridays.  What a blessing their children's program has been for our entire family!  I pray Trip and Mady will continue to remember all they've learned at CBS!  I am sad that after this school year is over, I will no longer have a child at home to eat lunch with me most days; lunch time will be so lonely.  (Unless you count TJ, now that he works from home.  HA!)  I am really sad that beginning next school year, they will both come home with homework.  YUCK!  I am sad to think about getting them both up, dressed and fed before 7:30 a.m. five days a week! I am sad that I have only one more year to get TONS of precious artwork on a daily basis made by Mady's adorable little hands.  I am sad, that pretty soon, TJ and I will no longer be able to talk about things we don't want the kids to know just by spelling the words.  BUMMER!  But, mostly, I am just sad that this time has gone so quickly and  I know time is just going to continue to move past me, full speed ahead, while I try desperately to hang on to their precious childhood!

Despite all these things that make me sad, I am also excited about our last year of preschool.  I am excited that I will soon have the ability to run errands by myself, without two little munchkins constantly asking me, "Can I have this?," "Are we done yet?," "Can I go to the bathroom?"  I am excited to think that I might be able to have lunch with a friend or even TJ, without constant interruptions.  I am excited that I will have some extra time to volunteer more at their school and at church and other places that I enjoy supporting.  I am excited that I will potentially have 7 hours to myself during which I can work out and even shower before I have to think about picking someone up!  I am excited that both of our kids will once again be at the same school and on the same schedule...even if it is MUCH earlier.  :-)  As is completely obvious by this list, most of my excitement comes from thoughts of my time being my own a little bit more than it is right now.  But, I am mostly excited that this time will eventually be spent getting to know our third child, who will be coming to us from Ethiopia sometime in the next 2 years...hopefully!!

The BIG changes in my life are always met with mixed emotions.  I am never 100% excited or 100% sad, but somewhere in the middle of both.  But, I am 100% sure that God is in control of it all, and his plans are to prosper us and give us hope!!

Posing on her first day!

Showing off her new big girl back pack!

I want to be sure and take the opportunity to thank all of our family in Wisconsin for loving on Mady during her time up there!  She had a great time with Pitty and Grumpa and the rest of the clan!  What a blessing to be loved by so many people!  And, the rest of us had a wonderful time catching up with everyone while we celebrated the wedding of Jamie and Megan!!

ADOPTION UPDATE:  We have been assigned a social worker and are schedule to meet with her in a week!  It is going to be a 3 hour interview!!!  We are excited to continue moving forward and getting one step closer to meeting Little E!  Trip and Mady are so sweet, praying every night for Little E and asking that we can meet him/her soon!  God is SO good and every time I start to doubt whether or not we can do this, He reminds me of his provision and his power...He can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine!