Last Weeks of SUMMER

So my oldest two kids start school in less than two weeks. Brayden will be in fifth grade and is starting Intermediate School! (a little emotional...for me, that is) And Kambree is starting first grade, which hopefully will be a much smoother adjustment than starting Kindergarten. (Where I left her at her desk with us both in tears!)

The summer has flown bye and I have tried to thoroughly appreciate the laid-back, stress-free atmosphere of hanging out at the pool and staying at home & making crafts & watching movies during these 110 degree days! Although I'm ready to say good bye to this unbearable heat, I'm not looking forward to the busy schedule of the school days & rushing the kids to their different after school activities. 

With my older two in different schools they will be on different schedules, Kambree will go 7:50am to 2:50pm and Brayden 8:40am to 3:40pm. We don't live where they can ride the bus so I will be the taxi driver. Not to mention that my little ones will be in preschool 9am-2pm two days a week. (I am truly thrilled for pre-school to start!!) And then there are the after school activities...Trinity is starting soccer & is already taking tumbling once a week. Kambree has tumbling twice a week & cheerleading once a week. And Brayden is going to be playing fall baseball. I have no idea how many practices that will require. I think I might spend half my day in the car!!

I really enjoy watching them play their different sports and LOVE seeing them feel such pride when they learn something new. As much as I look forward to this, I'm really going to miss all the quality time I get to spend with them in the summer time. Don't get me wrong, there's always days I want to pull out all my hair & no one seems to be able to get along. But, it seems as my kids get older the time goes by faster & faster. I want to savor the moments and enjoy them, not stress about the 18 loads of laundry that is piling up or the dirty dishes that need to be cleaned. Although these are good opportunities to teach my kids about chores and the value of hard work :) 

As I get older I feel like I spend LESS time complaining about the chaos and MORE time appreciating it!  

I use to look at my day as a "to do list" and see how many check marks I can add to the sheet but now I'm realizing my true purpose as a stay-at-home mom is to spend time raising my children, being with them, teaching them, inspiring them & training their hearts to serve God. Although the "check marks" make me feel very productive, those same tasks will be there again tomorrow and the day after that.  What is really rewarding is the long term investment I make in raising His children that He has blessed me with. And that I will see for years to come!

"Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them."
Deuteronomy 4:8-10