August 24th

Today was a big day around here! Xander had his first day of first grade and LOVED it!! I'm so happy for him and so thrilled that he enjoyed his first day.
He is enrolled in the Mandarin Immersion program, so he will be having most of his day in Chinese and the other part in English. He taught me how to write his name in Chinese and taught all of us how to count from 1-5. He's a natural - both leader and learner. I am so, so proud of him!


Also today, Amelia Jayne officially gave up her nonny. The silent, fifth family member around here is no longer with us. She just gave it up. Said she was done with it and didn't need it anymore. Asked me to find another baby who could use it (I didn't have the heart to tell her that no mother would willingly give that nasty thing to their baby).


Big things are happening around here...

Goodbye, summertime

I'm having a hard time believing that summer is almost over.
I'm so glad for so many reasons.
School starts in less than two weeks for my little first grader.
Bookbags have been purchased.
School supplies were ordered at the end of kindergarten.
Lunch boxes have been bought.
Clothes and shoes have been hunted for and acquired.
Summer homework is almost completed.
School open house is next week.


My soul is starting to breathe again.
I can almost smell the crispness in the air.
This blog post is still one of my most popular to date. I can totally see why.


Routine.
Calm.
Schedules.
Sweatshirts.
Hot apple cider.
Sigh.


I'm completely looking forward to this next season.

Relationships

We believe that we are in relationship, not in isolation. We are born in relationship. We are wounded in relationship. We are healed in relationship. We cannot know or become who we are except in relationship. Essentially, we are our relationships. And the most powerful relationship for self-discovery and transformation is our primary love relationship.
from Making Marriage Simple by Harville Hendrix & Helen LaKelly Hunt


I think it's incredibly true - I have discovered more about myself and made the biggest changes and transformations to myself thanks to my relationship with David. Not all of them have been great, but overall I am incredibly thankful for David and his influence on my life.


Relationships are important. I truly believe that God calls us to be in relationship with Him and with one another.


Today, let us not forget to pour into our relationships with one another.
Laugh. Talk. Breathe. Call. Sing. Skip. Write. Sigh. Love.


And take a page from Sandra's book - always be your husband's first and best cheerleader.