Back to the GRIND

The kids have been back in school for almost a month now!  And, while I was totally ready for them to go back and not have all 3 home all day, I was also a little sad to see our Summer come to an end.  It's been a slow adjustment for all of us, but we are starting to get in a groove now.  I think I suffer from some kind of summer induced mom amnesia because each year when we start back, I forget about the struggles each kid goes through and the struggles TJ and I go through.  And, every year they take me by surprise even though they happen EVERY YEAR!  But, the struggle is REAL.  This year I decided to add to the struggle by starting the Whole 30 diet/menu plan for myself.  I've complained so much about wanting sugar and not feeling well (the first week) that Eli told his school nurse that "mommy stays home because she is sick."  Yep, that's right...I'm sick!  Sick in the head for coupling the beginning of school with a change in my diet.  I knew I had a BIG sweet tooth and that I loved sweet treats, but I had no idea the crazy places you can find sugar in your food.  It's ridiculous!  I'm 17 days in now and feeling a lot better, but still missing my sweets.  I'm already making a list of all the things I will eat (in small doses) once my 30 days are up.  :-)

The best part about starting back to school (besides the obvious...7 hours without kids at home), is watching each kid grow and learn in new ways!  That's what I love about school, especially elementary school, it's never the same.  There is always some news to be told or some amazing discovery from the day or a new friend in the mix.  That doesn't mean the new stuff is always fun.  It can be hard to adjust to new teachers and new expectations.  And, as a parent, it is hard to watch my sweet little people suffer.  I don't like hearing about them getting their feelings hurt or feeling stupid or being ignored.  I recently read an amazing blog post by Ann Voscamp about broken hearts.  And, she talks about how hard it is to watch our children get their hearts broken, however that might look, but that in the end, it's through the breaking of our hearts that we grow to know Jesus more and that we become more like the person He has planned for us to be.   So, as we struggle each day to get up in the morning, get ready on time, do our homework, fit in time to play, have dinner as a family and get to bed on time, I know that in the midst of all those struggles, even the ones big enough to cause breaking in our hearts, God is present, He is for us, and He has goodness in store. 

(I'll post some back to school pictures later...once again, they are on TJ's phone...)