Soaking Him Up

As many of you know this week has been an emotional roller coaster for me & my family.  I feel like it has bothered me SO much more than I ever have expected it to.  Not only is Gabe going to kindergarten but my whole world, my routine is GONE!  My early morning workouts followed by my time in the word well....partially happens.  The workout that is!  I arrive home (no laer than 6:30 am) to start waking Gabe, fixing breakfast, packing lunch, getting kids ready and out the door by 7:20 am.  I miss my quiet mornings of sipping my coffee, savoring God's word until my sleepy eyed kids wander down the hall!  It has been replaced by getting kids up & out!  It is so HARD to read once Lily's little feet hit the floor.  I feel by the time she naps in the afternoon I am on a mission to get what once looked like a home back in order!  She is one busy little girl.  See for yourself.

This is one of her many gifts & talents, haha!  Instead of our tissues being stashed in a cute little box I dug for at the grocery store they are all squished inside a metal bucket (a cute one of course) with the rest in the box next to them because seriously who wants to waste all those tissues?  It has been allergy season & they get to be expensive!  (especially the cute ones)

With all that said, I finally got time today to sit down and soak up God's word and it was exactly what I needed to hear.  It just filled my soul.  I stand amazed at our God sometimes when he intervines at such divine moments.  He knows what our hearts need when we stand broken and empty before him.  I continue to stand amazed by Him!

I had picked up my Beth Moore bible study (that is now over) this morning to do one of the lessons that I had missed doing.  It was such a good study that I don't want to miss them at all!  I just randomly picked one and it was perfect.  Here is a little from it and maybe it will be a little boost to your soul too!

First verse I read was this: God's way is perfect.  All the Lord's promises prove true.  He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.  Ps. 18:30

Hello, where was that verse on Wednesday when I needed it?  It just goes to show you that you need to soak up God's word, DAILY!  Take up your cross, DAILY!  Honestly, this was the first week in a long time that I have not been in His word consistently and it shows!  I am EMPTY!  In the midst of our new routines, busy schedules and the journey of life I NEED to find that time to get into the word.  I miss it!

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in Him.  Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.  Then you will be made complete with all the fullness if life and power that comes from God.  Eph. 3:16-19

He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire.  He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.  Ps. 40:2

For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.  Is. 55:9

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.  They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.  Jeremiah 29:11

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.  Romans 8:28

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.  Phil 3:14  

Hope you are encouraged my friends as I was today!

A glimpse of hope

Today was like all the others very sad when I dropped him off.  His teacher asked him if he wanted something to eat, he said no, and she told him where to sit.   So, he as usual sat at the very end away from everyone else with his hood up on his jacket because it was cold out this morning.  So, I walked down and ushered him to the seat where his teacher referred to and pulled his hood off.  Well, he put it back up so I leaned in and told him to put it down and I pulled it back down.  Well, he pulled it back up...frustrated I kissed him, said bye and left.

When I picked him up today he still didn't do anything all day except color, eat, recess, and go to the gym.  I was like wow Gabe y'all colored for a long time!  No writing, music, games...etc.  I do wonder what they do all day.  I obviously know they do more than color, haha!  Gabe's a boy of few words unless it has to do with Mario.  Overall he said he had a good day.  He likes his teacher.  They didn't get into trouble.

When I got home I opened his backpack to find a note from his teacher, a picture he colored, and some other information.  Finally, something!  I am very glad tomorrow is Friday & we will have a couple days to relax before we do it all over again.  I am one emotionally drained momma!

Hump Day

So today is day 3 of kindergarten!  Gabe got into the car yesterday (day 2) and said this was the worst day ever!  I didn't even make one new friend today!  Augh...break my heart!  Asked him what he did and of course he didn't do anything.  :-(   So, today I was already a little bumming for him.  So, Bill encouraged him to just introduce himself to 1 new person each day.  He does it in the grocery store why not at school?

So, on our way to school I prayed with him like usual and encouraged him again to introduce himself to someone new and to be sure he eats his lunch.  :-)  So, we arrive at the school and I walk him in and he didn't want any breakfast (they get breakfast before school if they want it) and his teacher didn't acknowledge that he was there.  Didn't say hi or good morning. So he just took a seat...kind of away from everyone else but not at the total end of the table.  I stood there a minute and finally kissed him and said bye.  My heart just ached for him.  I wanted to burst into tears but I didn't I held it together!  I finally got back to the car with Lily on my hip...buckled her into her carseat, plopped down into my seat and reached to get my phone to call Bill and realized it had fallen out of my jacket pocket as I brought Gabe into the school.  Already full of emotion I jump out of my car, unbuckle Lily and retrace my steps to go look for my phone.  I went back into the cafateria where I left Gabe to see if I dropped it in there and Gabe was sitting there with his hands on his lap, kind of hunched over, looking really sad & lonely.  I just wanted to scoop him up and take him home with me.  I quickly snuck around him so he didn't see me and of course it was no where!  I just knew some punk little kid had picked it up and it was no where to be found!  So, I went into the office and no one brought it in yet.  I left Bill's cell in case it showed up.  I went back out to the car, buckled Lily in again, raced home to catch Bill before he left for work so I could let him know I didn't have my phone.  I got home and of course he was gone!

Lily brought out our cordless phone that we NEVER use to me the other day and it has been sitting on the counter ever since.  I was just hoping & praying that someone other than me put it back on the hook so it could charge again...nope!  I just knew some kid had made off with my phone.  I wanted to get home to call Bill and then to call my phone because I just knew that they wouldn't be smart enough to turn the ringer off on it and it would go off in school and voila I would find my phone.  Just call me a detective!  So, I raced over to my mom's house to use her phone and she was like Bill just called...but I missed it.  So, on the verge of tears I called him back and sure enough someone turned my phone into the office at the school...just like I said!  (Not!)  So, as we continued to talk about Gabe I finally did burst into tears...but I did feel better after a good cry.  I helped my mom rearrange some furniture, hung a few pictures, went out for a little retail therapy, ate at Genghis Grill, and now I sit here and wait to go get Gabe from school...hoping that his day got better!

Kindergarten Update

Might I add that after we got home from dropping Gabe off the first day Bill got a speeding ticket on his way to work!  augh!
Anyways...

I anxiously arrived at the school like 30 minutes early to pick him up and once I got there Lily was antsy in the hot car so I took a spin down the street to get us a sweet tea while we waited for him.  That took up about 20 minutes in line at the drive through to accomplish.  augh!  By the time I got back to the school the pick-up lane was filling up.  Unsure as to what or where I was really going just followed all the other sheep I mean cars and got into a line.  Well, I waited and waited and slowly inched my way around the corner until it was finally my turn to put down my window and announce to the lady taking names that I was there to pick up Gabe Yuhasz!  I expected him to be running to the car, like he was anxiously anticipating my arrival like I was his and then he turned the corner and practically crawled to the car.  Seriously?  As I continued to coax him over and over again to hurry up and get into the car...other kids wanted to go home...moms want to get their kids...he finally made it!  He opened the door and said in such a tired, worn out voice...today was a lot of work!  I felt so bad!

So, I then proceeded to drill him with questions as we made our way home as to what he did...what friends he made....if his teacher was nice.  Most to which his response was I don't know.  I did finally get out of him that they talked about the color yellow and the letter Y.  Slightly disappointed that he wasn't overfilled with joy, excitement, and stories from his first day we let him pick whatever he wanted to have for dinner.  He chose to have taco's from taco bell!  Then all of a sudden Lily started coughing in the car...remember she just drank 3/4 of her sweet tea.  She continued to cough on I think some mucus from her chest that she coughed up...couldn't swallow it because she kept coughing and threw up all over herself on the way home from school.  GREAT!  So, we pull into the driveway...I get Gabe into the house...get Lily into the house...disappointed Gabe wasn't happy but completely worn out!  I got Lily cleaned up and Bill made the taco run...had dinner....got cleaned up...relaxed a little & went to bed!

The Big Day

The big day can mean so many things...the day you go to the prom...graduate high school...college...start a new job...your wedding day...the day your son or daughter was brought into this world.  But today, our big day was waking Gabe up at 6:53 this morning to step into one of his big days ever...kindergarten!  As we woke him up this morning, he rolled over protesting his first day of kindergarten!  Just hours before (1:05 am) he was half dressed stand bedside asking where his shorts were because he was getting dressed for school.  I groggily glanced at the clock and told him to hop into bed it was still night time.  What had happened while he slept just a few short hours?

He finally got up being coerced into a competition to beat dad who had to shower & get dressed while he just got dressed with my help.  So, we raced into his bedroom slipped on his bright orange polo, his khaki shorts, brown belt, and combed his hair.  We came out to the kitchen to eat some pancakes for breakfast.  The frozen kind...seriously who has time to cook before school?  The new year brought on new rules like no TV in the morning until he is dressed and had breakfast.  So, he ate while watching cartoons I already broke the rules.  It was his first day give me a break and it was going to be a tough one!  So, the grandparents all arrived promptly around 7 am to wish Gabe luck on his big day!

While snapping pictures (the grandparents) Gabe ate his breakfast and I packed the lunch of his choice!  He requested spaghetti-o's in his "fermos" (I hope they stayed hot) a banana, cantaloupe and orange juice!  Done!  Time to bore the kid with unending pictures outside by 3 different photographers!  So, we (Gabe, Daddy & I) piled into the car and ventured off to reality on his big day!

Bill of course took the scenic route to the school so we were all heated literally and figuratively because I have little ac in my car!  Upon arriving at the packed roads of the school I told Bill just park!  So, we finally parked at 7:57...ahhh 3 minutes to spare!  We hauled ourselves into the school with Gabe dragging behind to get to the classroom at 8 to realize they had not come down yet from the cafeteria.  So, off we went to the cafeteria to meet up with Mrs. Putnam and his classmates.  He found a seat at the table, we put some money in his lunch account, and waited...okay so I kept taking pictures.

Mrs. Putnam finally lined the kids up and lead them down to her classroom.  You could see Gabe go from being a little nervous to like fidgeting like none other.  Once getting over the threshold he clammed up and wouldn't move.  So Bill & I kind of coerced him into the classroom trying to avoid a scene.  We got the the table, he wouldn't sit down & play with the blocks that were left out so Bill leaned over and prayed with him quietly and he finally sat down.  I snapped a few more pictures.  Once we got all of our announcements, instructions...etc. we gave our hugs and said goodbye.  Well, he started to cry!  Up to this point I had held myself together quite well.  Well, it was over...I lost it!  I turned and walked away and let Bill deal with him.  I didn't want to make the situation worse!  Bill finally left and met me in the hall where we were all instructed to go to the library for a meeting, Tears & Cheers!  We had our little meeting, signed up for PTA, and departed!

We dropped Heidi off to the groomers then we made it home where my mom kept Lily so we didn't have to drag her along this morning.  We took a quick trip to hobby lobby.  Today I recovered a cushion on a chair while Lily played her harmonica, put some new hardware on my little desk, put in some flowerbed edger in the alley way, watered my garden & flowers, made lunch for Lily & I, snuggled Lily while watching yo gabba gabba, watched the movie Motherhood, cleaned my living room...time to go get Heidi and almost time to pick Gabe up from school!  I can't wait to see how his first day went!  I'll keep you posted and let you know how it went!

A Crazy Little Update

So it has been awhile since I have actually had time to sit down and blog.  I had a few minutes this morning while my kids are snuggling my hubby in bed to do it!

This past weekend we went camping for the first time with Justin & Falecia Lindley & their sweet family.  We decided to drive out to San Angelo on Friday night and just stay until Saturday because we all had to serve Sunday morning.  It was so different from NY camping which of course I expected.  I honestly didn't have a ton of expectations because I knew it wouldn't compare.  So once we first arrived we went to the state park which had a high fire warning, and then we found out no swimming because their wasn't enough water in the lake, what?  Seriously?

Well, we obviously couldn't stay there what the heck were we going to do with 4 small kids?  So, we decided to go and stay at Spring Creek on Lake Nasworthy.  It was like going from the motel 6 to the Hyatt.  (the Hyatt is fancy to some of us, lol)  It was on a big lake, had lots of campers, spacious, trees.  I thought it was really nice.  Totally different from NY because instead of trees separating your sites it was metal posts, haha!  The kids got to fish and swim so it was all good.  The only thing we couldn't do was have a camp fire because of the high fire alert which was eye opening to us because you do so much around the campfire.  So, thank goodness the Lindley's had a travel trailer because the kids played inside that night and then Saturday morning we played games and stuff before heading to the lake.  We slept in a tent which was lots of fun,ha!  ;-)  We also hit up this 60,500 sq foot, Christian thrift store in San Angelo!  I scored some great finds.  I was super pumped and can't wait to go back!

Last Thursday kicked off leadership training for A.S.K. CBS where I will be a core-group leader this year for 6th grade girls.  I am super excited to be involved in this ministry.  I am also super nervous!  I am not really big on taking on too many ministries at once but if you have been coming to Stonegate we have been talking A LOT about living an intentional life.  I often think of all the opportunities I have to live intentional and all the opportunities I miss.  I think how I misuse my time with things that are not going to have an eternal effect.  So, Janice Henry asked me if I would be a core-group leader and after seeking the lord in prayer about it I agreed to do it.  I want to live an intentional life!  One thing Patrick always says, we are always leading somebody whether we know it or not and someone is leading us.  I want to fill my time with things that could impact people for Jesus...not just sitting at home.  A.S.K. CBS is a bible study for K-6th grade and in the fall we study the OT and in the spring the NT.  It's for 10 weeks, 4-5:30 at Stonegate!  You should check it out and get your kids signed up!

I just finished my Beth Moore bible study which was AMAZING!  It has been my favorite one ever!  I think I loved it so much because it truly was a BIBLE STUDY.  It wasn't a self-help kind of a deal or something where you had to hash out all of your problems from the past.  I feel like once you deal with them move on from it and get over it.  It's the PAST!  Look forward and press on to the future.  It was all about Exodus, the tabernacle, the Israelites!  It was great!  I highly recommend it even if you do it on your own.  It's called A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place.

One week from today I will be walking Gabe into school, dropping him off, and hoping for the best!  Woah!  I can't even believe it.  I have been trying not to think about it but when I do it seems easier and easier.  Maybe because the bandaid is almost off, ya know?  I will admit a friend from bible study recommended The Kissing Hand and let me just tell you if you have a little one going to school for the first time DO NOT read this at the book store, haha!  I was crying!  So, I bought the book and I am going to read it with Gabe the night before school.  It's super sweet.  Thursday night is meet the teacher night so we will see how all that goes.

Well, I better get going and feed my kids breakfast....

Kindergarten Blues

I had another restless night last night as I tossed & turned thinking about all the things that could go wrong when Gabe goes to Kindergarten.  I am a mess!  It's like pulling the bandaid off a healing wound slowly...I wish I could just yank it quickly and see it's alright.

I am just overwhelmed with the thoughts of influence.  Who will be influencing him?  What will influence him?  Will he have the courage to do what is right when being influenced to do what is wrong?  Will he be bullied?  Will he be overly nice & get walked on?  I know it's only kindergarten but kids are mean these days.  For the last 5 years my job and role as a mother is to protect him, keep him safe, nurture him...not that I will stop that role but he's growing up and my role is changing some.  I am trying to cope and deal with what that all looks like.  My heart wants to stay with him all day, be sure no one hurts him, make sure he eats enough lunch, and gets to where he needs to be safely.  But my mind says Sarah get a freakin' grip...it's only kindergarten.  It's okay for him to experience hurt and it's no big deal if he doesn't eat his lunch.  Like I said I am a mess!

Today I rest in, Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares for you.  1 Pet. 5:7

Hot Spot

So one my moms co-workers told her of this hot spot, Imperial Reservoir, outside of Monahans.  Maybe it is not known of or maybe it is just a hot spot to us "yankees"...I don't know but we loved it!  So what if it was a little run down, who cares it served it's purpose.  :-)  We had a blast splashing around in the lake all day, building sand castles, and best of all having the beach to ourselves!  Yep, that's what I said...no one else was there!  Pure craziness I tell you!  It was wonderful!

It's just a little over an hour outside of Midland (once we figured out how to get on blue 20 & not green 20 :-)) You just pass right by Monahans and go to Grandfalls and it's right there!  It was our little hidden treasure we found today and are already making plans on when we will be going back again!

Check out some of our pics!

Can you even believe this gem is just a little over an hour away?!?!  I am off to get some stuff done and get the aloe out for Gabe's face!  :-)

Shredded Up

We have squash & zucchini growing like CRAZY!  We had these 2 ginormous zucchini's in the garden.

So we decided to shred them up in my new food processor of course!  Along with my adorable helper!

 It was done in no time!  I bagged it up & froze it to make zucchini bread this fall.  Yummy!

We got 14 cups totals from just 2 zucchini's!  There is more to come!

Last Week in Pictures

So with the MOMS retreat done and over I stepped into the house, hung out with my family and on Sunday my mom and I decided to make some pickle relish...some with cucumbers and some with zucchini.  It came out sooo yummy!  Here are some pics of what we made.

In between batches I worked on punching out circles and scalloped circles for my big order for Papercutz!  I punched out 2000 punches and made 700 cookies in 3 days, lol!  Here is my work!

Here is a picture of my kitchen when I baked all day!  It was CRAZY (and slightly embarrassing)

This was the finished product!

Sunday night we went to music on the lawn down at the museum of the southwest!  It was lots of fun!  Gabe & Bill played ball, Lily made her rounds snuggling with everyone but Tim Waterman was her favorite that night.  :-)

In the midst of punching, taping, baking...Lily would always surprise me with something.  She had me belly laughing when she came out of her room like this.

She had her one piece swimsuit on her head, lol!  

On Wednesday night we had a family party to celebrate Gabe's 5th birthday!

Thursday afternoon I thought it would be fun to make my own pinata.  It was so much fun!  It was messy but fun!

Then on Friday night Gabe went to spend the night with Nanny so we could surprise him with his room makeover for his birthday.  All of our family help contribute to his room.  

On Saturday we celebrated Gabe's 5th birthday with all of his friends Super Mario style!

They had a blast!

That sums up our last week in pictures!

Moms Retreat

It has been a whirlwind since I got home from my MOMS group retreat.  This is the first moment I have had to sit down and actually update y'all about what has been going on.  First of all the retreat was AMAZING!  We had so much girl talk, were encouraged with the word (thanks Tina Chalk), got to bond with some of our mentor moms, shopped, and of course planned for next year!  Here are all the fabulous woman who will be leading MOMS this year!

We had such a great time!  I can't wait for MOMS to start up again this year and be sure to check out Stonegate's website to register!  We have some new speakers, fun topics, and some great ideas!  We are super pumped about what God is doing!

Here are a few more pictures from our weekend!

A beautiful view of Ruidoso, NM, we celebrated the "diva's" birthday (our fearless leader), and then a picture of our planning meeting!