thank filled for one year

we worship a great big god.

he had a plan that started before the creation of the world.

a plan to make something beautiful.

a plan to redeem.

a plan to restore the wasted years.

and, although we often don't understand the ways he is doing that,

we choose to worship.

one year.

we praise you, abba father!

you are good.

thank filled for one year.

happy forever family day, aubrie-li cana.

thank filled last "first day of preschool"

(yeah, yeah.  i know there are nay-sayers that say "oh!  don't say you're done, tami!  whatever.  right now, there are no more kids in our family, so it is the last "first day of preschool" - unless something changes.)

my little man started preschool this morning.
and i cried.
of course i cried!
i have spent nearly every day for the last three years with him.  i am the momma bear - as in "don't mess with my kid, or i'll claw you!" kind of momma bear.


as he got ready to go to school today, i just kept looking at him and thinking that he really is ready.
he has made amazing progress at occupational therapy and speech this summer.
he has made amazing progress in attachment this summer.

and my heart just had peace that this was good for him.
i mean, it's good for me, too!  but, when we originally made the decision for preschool, the decision was very selfish on my part.  i needed a little break.
this morning, though?
it was all about abe.  and all about the reality that he has grown sooooo much this summer... and he was ready to spread those wings... a little.
;-)

here is abe greeting mr. l.
we are beyond blessed that the school that most of our kids go to also has a preschool.  mr. l is the principal for austin, amy and anna.  we are also beyond blessed that abe's preschool meets at one of the places he feels most comfortable - and safe: our church!

some days it's "abraham" and some days it's "abe".  today, he was having an "abe" day, but had to find "abraham" on a fish.

he then took his fish and matched it to the fishbowl that also said "abraham" on it.

he had an amazing day and was so excited to tell me about it.
i happen to think that god hand picked the PERFECT teacher for abe.  a teacher that i could trust to love my very special little man.  it's pretty hard for a momma bear to trust just anyone, you know....  but this teacher?  she is a god-send.

thank filled for broken roads

thinking about the broken roads that brought me four children.
my heart stirs with anger about the injustice.
a week ago, i wanted to seek out a birth mother.  i have no warm and tender feelings for her.  i wanted to hunt down pathetic orphanage workers.  i wanted justice for the injustices my child suffered...

but, the spirit nudges me to see it differently...
thank filled that god kept them and carried them.  thank filled that he intends to use the injustice to point to the glory of his perfect justice.  thank filled that god has called me to seek justice on their behalf.

random thanks

i have so much to be thank filled for.
sometimes it's harder to see.
and sometimes, blogging just takes too much time and effort.

but, this morning i was thinking about a few things i am thank filled for:
- coffee. (that's a pretty consistent one)
- paint.  i'm looking forward to painting abraham's room this weekend.  a task that i can plan and complete. sometimes stay at home moms need those...
- my partner.  i love him.  i'm thankful for him.  i can't imagine doing life without him.
- retreats.  it's ok to admit that this is hard and that i need a break.  i'm looking forward to this retreat with some friends.  i don't even know WHICH friends, yet ;-)
- china.  it's rocked my world.  it's changed my perspective.  when i think of the past 5 1/2 years, so much of my life and heart are there.  so thank filled that god opened my eyes to these people.

thank filled mid week

thank filled today:
that even when i am clueless, he is not.
that when i don't even know where to search for answers, he is the answer.
that when i want to stomp my feet and scream, he pulls me into his lap and holds me close.

thank filled monday

-thank filled that she needs me, even if it isn't in the ways i wish she did.
-thank filled for monday mornings, because they are a reminder that new is always around the corner.
-thank filled for a god's messengers bringing a word from him and doing it in a way that gets our attention.
-thank filled for dreaming with friends.
-thank filled for coffee.
happy monday.  hope it's filled with thanks!

thank filled for a day of firsts!

wednesday was a day filled with firsts in our home!

my first day packing lunches:

we added up what hot lunches would cost for a week and came up with almost $85! that's crazy! certainly i can feed my kids for less!

oh, and btw - lunches will not always looks that fabulously colorful. how could i not take a picture of that, though?

*****

first day of junior high!

i love this kid and i can't believe he is in 7th grade!

he is very laid back about it all and wasn't in the slightest bit stressed about starting junior high. so much, in fact, that he didn't even bring his schedule to school with him! he asked how he was supposed to know where to go (in the parking lot!) and i told him to look at his schedule. "i don't have it!" he said. when i asked what class he had 2nd hour, he said "i don't know!". sigh. oh, dear son...

*****

first day of HIGH SCHOOL!!!

how in the world did that happen?

i miss her already. she is quickly becoming one of my best friends.

she bought me roses for my first day of school. how sweet is that?!

*****

first day of 2nd grade!

she was my only kiddo not having a big new transition,

but, with amy, all transitions are big, so this one was filled with uncertainty.

she loved it, though! as we knew she would!

*****

first day of kindergarten!!!

my baby girl... my only kiddo so far to only be with me (aside from the 20 months without me).

she was a little uncertain; sure that she would really miss her mommy...

and she did. but, she also had a really great day and was anxious to go back today!

*****

first day of middle school!

aubrie is a 5th grader and that seems to be a good fit for her. she is at a great school this year with lots of people from our church on staff. it was such a blessing to my heart yesterday afternoon to watch the posts of my facebook wall: the school social worker, the music teacher, a bus driver and a team leader for teachers all sharing about their interactions with aubrie. thank filled for god's provision.

*****

first day driving to school!

ok. she won't be doing that consistently until at least november 30 (her 15th birthday), but it is a first and it is coming!

*****

wow.

i love these kids.

i'm thank filled that they call me "mom" and that i get to send them into the world to share the love of christ where ever they go!

(abe starts preschool in 3 weeks!!!)