Settling In

Hannah has been in school for a month now and still loves every minute of it. Her favorite part every day is recess, but she also enjoys her teachers and is making new friends. So she has settled in nicely.

Me, on the other hand, I'm still getting used to things. As a friend pointed out the other day, kindergarten is really about training the parents. We're the ones who have to set the morning routines, get out the door on time, check the backpack for important papers, sign the papers, pack the lunches, write the checks for the fundraisers, etc. Every week I feel like I am just keeping my head above water trying to keep track of the homework assignments and any special activities for the week. And I am still trying to figure out what to do with the small mountain of papers that is accumulating on my kitchen table. For a person who likes to be organized, this is a constant frustration.

Here's the current pile, you can't really tell how deep it is, just deeper than I know what to do with

So while Hannah is at school I am spending a lot of time with this guy:

Caleb has turned into quite the climber. Not only can he climb on the couch, but he can also get to the table next to the couch, on Hannah's little table, and then tries to climb on the buffet from the tabletop. Oh, he can also get on our bed by climbing on the ottoman at the foot of the bed. Nothing is safe, people. 

After cutting four teeth at once, he is now a happier child and much more fun to be around then at the end of August. Let's just say I'm happy that I'm not being yelled at everyday by a toddler anymore. 

Still, some days are hard (as any mom knows), some are better than others. But I've been reminded a lot lately, both through a book I just read and through scripture, to be thankful in all things. So I am trying to remember that; that in spite of all the challenges throughout a day or a week, there is still so much more to be thankful for if I can just take a minute to recognize those things. Something as simple as a sky looking like this out my kitchen window:

We enter the presence of God when we are thankful. Psalm 16:11 says, "You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

And how do we enter God's presence? Psalm 100:4 tells us, "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name."

So there it is my friends, and this is what I'm trying to do, especially in this season we are entering. Let's come to God with thankful hearts in the midst of the busyness of everyday life (school lunches and all).