Pre-K

The school year is up and running and, boy, has it been an adjustment. Our lazy mornings are a thing of the past. Since Decs had been in preschool for 2 years already, we decided to move him for Pre-K. So far, I'm really excited we did! The teacher is fabulous and he is already showing us his new skills (lowercase 'e' woot!) Trying not to be too nostalgic but they do grow SO FAST. Sniff.

Year's past:

skate!

Declan's inability to focus on one activity has always been hard. He is "on to the next" as soon as you think he settled in to what he is doing. I assumed it would get better with age. Each year of soccer I was little more hopeful than the last. Nope. Zero attention span. BUT...the clouds have parted and a passion has been born: skateboarding. I have to drag Declan out of the skate park every time we go. A couple times after 5 hours. We love going too. There is such a community of great people and we have built some neat relationships.

 The monkey on the left is Declan's friend Owen. His mom and I are really good friends. Bonus!

 Here's  glimpse of "skate school". It's every Saturday morning for 2 hours.

 Because, really, does it get much cuter than green skinnies and gray chucks?

 Quick dinner break...

Not a coincidence...

This past Friday as I left the gym I received a call from our fos/adopt placement coordinator for a healthy newborn baby girl. In the 5 minutes that I had a few questions answered, another family said YES and as quickly as my heart swelled with excitement, it broke. Devastated and honestly completely unsure what just happened (is this a cut throat operation, here?!) I went home and moped in my room for awhile. Thankfully, after a conversation with a fellow fost/adopt mama, I had digested my feelings enough to head out with my boys and enjoy the evening. I know this is a roller coaster. It's been that from the get go.  Did I make us lose this little girl because I had a couple questions? No. God's timing is perfect.

This morning in church we sang "Blessed be the Name". I'm starting to see the pattern of this song making it's way in to the rotation when I feel like I'm knee deep in one of life's trials. It always smacks me in the face with truth.

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

heart : melted

Tonight at bedtime Declan was in big stall mode. After a snack, a potty break, song time, prayer time, another potty break, he wanted me back in his room. It's stormy so I just laid on the ground next to him (he's in a big "sleep on the ground" phase) and Declan wrapped his twiggy arms all the way around my neck. I breathed him in. He smelled so good all fresh from the bath. Then, I had this sudden flash forward of life in 10 years: I'll have a hormonal 15 year old that won't let me snuggle and will suddenly have new priorities---friends, hobbies, etc. I'm sure I'll be the embarrassing parent and will hear "mooooooooom" with a big eye roll and sigh.

But...not tonight. Tonight, my almost 5 year old wanted me. All of me. Not a distracted, go through the motions me. Just mommy. As we full embraced hugged, this was the exchange:

"Decs, please promise me that you'll always and forever love your mommy."

"I promise. Because you are silly and nice and beautiful."

{I die of the sweetness}

"....no matter how old you are, you'll love me?"

"Even when I'm a daddy like daddy, you'll be my fave." 

How did I get the cutest, sweetest, most heart warming child ever? Probably because he's the most challenging, will testing, busiest, talkative kid ever. God knew all his qualities would perfectly mesh.