Last day of school- 2014

This last year flew by in a whirlwind of fun and excitement!

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August 2013-
1st day of pre-K

Jonathan and Bella started school this year- the very first year of time away from mommy! They did SO well! In fact, just this morning Jonathan counted BACKWARDS from 100-1 ... that has to be some kind of genius, right!?!? LOL!! 

August 2013-
1st day of pre-K

Our little town only does 1/2 day for the pre-K class, so it was just a preview of what "real" school will be like, but he loved every single minute! They went to the morning session, but often asked me if they could go back again and do class with the afternoon kids!! Jonathan is so very eager to learn. He asks tons of questions and is up in everybody else's business all the time trying to show off what he knows- perhaps better than everyone else (at least that's what he thinks!)!! 
Bella had a great year too- she learned so much and has come a long way. But her more shy-ish personality doesn't showcase her abilities as noticeably as Jonathan. Sometimes I worry that she doesn't get a chance to learn as much with him being SO very eager! 

May 2014-
Last day of pre-K

May 2014-
Last day of pre-K

So, we decided- and the school often recommends anyways- that next year they will be in separate Kindergarten classes! I'm curious to see how that will go for them, but I am excited too! I think Bella will really come out of her shell a lot! I think they rely on each other a lot, so it will be great to see their own circle of friends begin to develop separate of each other! 
They had THE BEST teachers this year! Mr. C and Mrs. L love each of the kids like they were their own kids... and my kids have all loved them too! Mr. C said yesterday that it's weird to think that this was his final good-bye to the Boni Bunch!! We love him and Mrs. L and will miss them dearly!

Mr. C- We love you!!

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August 2013-First day
of Kindergarten

Asher finished Kindergarten this year. OH MY WOW- I can't even begin to share my excitement about his kinder-year! This year, my child found his voice! Last year, for more than half of the year, he wouldn't speak to his teachers, he wouldn't participate in activities, and he'd stare at the walls. The doctor said he has social anxiety and selective mutism. It helped us understand that he wasn't being rebellious, he was simply having mini-anxiety attacks and didn't know HOW to deal in the social setting of school.

May 2014- Last day of
Kindergarten

 So after 7 months of therapy with an AMAZING lady, he came out of his shell! He finished therapy the month before Kindergarten started, and we've all been amazed at the difference in him! He has so many friends that he talks about all the time! He even talked to his teacher... and during show-and-tell, he even talked in front of the class!!!!! He loves to write words, always asking, "How do you spell...." 
He loves math- he came home from school almost daily with his math sheets and almost always had perfect scores! I am so very proud of Asher and this year's transformation!

 Mrs. M- We love you!!

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August 2013-
First Day of 2nd grade
(Take 2)

May 2014-
Last Day of 2nd Grade
(Take 2)

Xander just completed his second year of the second grade. (Read HERE for more about that) I will NEVER question our decision to retain him. This year has shown phenomenal change in the oldest of my Bunch. He began the school year reading at a 1st grade level and is now right where he should be entering the third grade! He went from being held back because he was struggling so much with the 2nd grade, to being named the class Top Student- for excelling in the 2nd grade! He made straight- A's all school year. He was everyone's best friend. I spent 1-2 days a week in his class- working with his teacher and loving every single moment. It was great to see my little man with his peers. 
 When I asked the kids this week "Who is your best friend in this class?" almost every single one named Xander! He is such a sweet, kind-hearted, and loving friend! He was so patient- since he was repeating this year with Mrs. L, he was her helper - he'd read to the struggling kids, help answer questions, and run errands! He has grown up so much over the last year - sometimes I can't even believe the difference! He makes a momma proud!!

Mrs. L- WE love you!!

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This year has been amazing! It was my first year to be able to volunteer in the school- helping the teachers and spending time with the kids! I learned so much about myself and my kids... 
who knew *I* would learn and grow by going to my kids' school!! 

Special thanks to Mrs. L for EVERYTHING, for Mrs. M for letting me play on party days, and for Mr. C and Mrs. L for letting me be a part of your pre-K for three different years! These teachers have been great... I can't imagine how our future teachers could even begin to compare!

Five Minute Friday- Grateful

Here I go again, writing my "Five Minute Friday" ... on Saturday! Fridays just get away from me entirely to fast! 

Yesterday especially.....I spent the entire day going going going! We had field days for 3 of the kids in the morning, then lunch with my parents, then field day in the afternoon for the 4th kiddo. Then we went to the park, then home for dinner, then I worked last night and didn't get home until after 11pm! Whew- I was completely exhausted!!  Before I went to bed, I looked at Lisa-Jo Baker's page to see what the prompt was for FMF, and I saw it said "Grateful"... 

wahoo!!! 

I thought... 

"That's exciting! I can definitely get behind this post... 

just not tonight!"

So, today I will write my "Six Minute Saturday" post about being grateful.... 6 minutes of unedited, unpracticed, unrehearsed raw writing... 

Enjoy!!

There are so many things in life to be grateful for. I don't even know where to begin...

So, "Let's start at the very beginning...a very good place to start..."

I am GRATEFUL for my God. Without God in my life, I would have no life; I would have no peace; I would have no joy; I would be nothing, and I would have nothing!!

I am GRATEFUL for my mom!  Without mom, I wouldn't be here (duh)! But especially this weekend- being Mother's Day- I love to remember her and all she has done for me and my brother. She got to play the roll of mom AND dad since our father chose to not be who he needed to be in our lives. Our mom loved us, cared for us, provided for us- even went back to college when *I* was in college to better herself so she could provide! She has always been so very giving- even now she works in a local children's home so she can be a positive influence in the lives of kids who have never had that in their lives! 

I LOVE MY MOM- Thank you, GOD, for the blessing of her!!

I am GRATEFUL for my husband. When we met, I fell in love! He was my best friend within the first week of knowing him. He accepted who I was without asking for change. He encourages me, supports me, loves me, and is the best provider for our household! He works so hard to give our family everything we need- I could never imagine life without him in it!  

I LOVE TIM- Thank you, God, for the blessing of him!

I am GRATEFUL for my children. Every single day, they challenge me, test my patience and my sanity. But every single day, they look at me with those big eyes and say, 

"I love you, mommy!"

Every single day, they give me the best hugs ever! Every single day, they fight over who will sit next to me on the couch, because they want to be close to me. Every single day, I wonder how I got so lucky... 

I LOVE MY KIDS- Thank you, God, for the blessing of my Bunch!

---That's 6 minutes, but I wanna keep typing!---

I am GRATEFUL for work- Tim's job AND mine! It's because of our jobs that we have a roof over our heads, food on our table, and clothing on our backs. It's because of our jobs that we are able to set a good example of work ethic and discipline for our children. Our jobs aren't glamorous or even "fun", but going to work give us the opportunity to teach our kids a very important lesson- just because you don't like doing something you've committed to, doesn't mean you give up and quit. You stick with it, and work at it to the best of your ability until God shows you your next path.

Colossians 3:23

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters" 

So, if for no other reason, but to teach our kids great lessons, 

I LOVE OUR JOBS! Thank you, God for the blessing of work!

I am GRATEFUL for my friends. I have several different friends- all very different people. I have friends who lift me up and encourage me. I have friends that I am able to lift up and encourage. I have a few select friends that I know I can go to if I need prayer. I have a few friends that I know I can confide in. I have friends who have been in my life for MOST of my life. I have friends who have only been by my side for a short period of time. People have come and gone in my life- every person has made some kind of difference. Unfortunately, not every friend has made a GOOD impact- THANKFULLY, those are the friends who were only around briefly- LOL!!  My friends help me be the person I am. I am blessed with some amazing women in my life! I am a better person because of them!!

I LOVE MY FRIENDS! Thank you, God, for the blessing of friendship!

There are so many things I am grateful for, but this is the last one for now....

I am GRATEFUL for my blog!! I am glad that I started blogging years ago. This is my outlet to vent, to think deeply, to share my heart, to share The Word, and to share my family. I love documenting big things in our family and big realizations in my life. When I have that "AHA" moment in my spiritual journey, I want to write about it and share it with the world! When my kids do something fantastic, the world needs to know! When I am bummed and need to get something off my chest, I love that I have this resource to express my thoughts! AND, through blogging, I met an amazing friend- Mommy Girl! We've never met in person, but we talk and chat and text like we're old friends! Without Blogger, we never would've met!

So, although it may seem to some to be a silly thing to be grateful for, 

I LOVE BLOGGING!

Where you are

In the life of a Christian, you hear the story of the Prodigal Son over and over.

So, hearing it this week was nothing new, but something smacked me in the spiritual face this time!

Don't know the story?? Here it is:

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Luke 15: 11-32

^"Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

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That son screwed up! His father gave him everything- gave him the world. But he squandered it all. He took for granted all that his father had done in order to provide all he needed for his life. When he realized the error of his ways, he returned home. He lessened himself in his own mind saying that he would go back and repent, but he just KNEW that his relationship would never be the same. He just KNEW that all he had done would forever separate him from his dad. He KNEW that he was unworthy to be called "son" so he was just going go home, to be in his dad's presence, but only from the outside looking in as hired help.

BUT ... his dad was so thrilled that he returned that he RAN TO HIS SON... the dad RAN to the kid! The dad knew that the kid messed up, and he didn't care. He was just so overjoyed that he was coming home, that he met him out in the field to bring him home! Dad didn't make his son a servant, instead dad had his servants SERVE HIM!!

I can't help but think how cool that is... that the dad saw him coming from way far away. And rather than waiting until he got all the way home to celebrate and welcome him back, he met him where he was. 

God is so good! When we screw up... even when we completely squander all of His blessings, he is ALWAYS ready to welcome us home. And he doesn't wait until we have all of our ducks in a row and have it all together and fixed. He meets us where we are. He sees our repentant hearts, and meets us where we are!!!!!

When I mess up in life, when I feel completely unworthy of His greatness, when I feel like I've hit rock bottom-  He still welcomes me with open arms- thrilled that I am ready to return. I may not be 100% on my Bible reading or praying, but He meets me right where I am, and guides me on home! 

I am so very glad to have a "Dad" like Him- who- no matter the mistake, He is ever-present and ever-loving!