Joleyn Larson Photography & Design

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Thank you!!

Jhacie got bumped on her chin..the same spot….three different times. It was such a sore little bruise.

Peanut figured out how to ride her bike this week. Daddy worked with her one night, then mommy the next, and before you know it, she was out there by herself determined to get this down. Now you can’t find her anywhere else but on her bike.

From: Jenny Gilbert [mailto:jennyjgilbert@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 10:39 PM
Subject: Update 8/27/08–change of plans

Please continue your prayers for them. I know they must be so exhausted, but their faith persists.

In Christ

Jo

From: Jenny Gilbert [mailto:jennyjgilbert@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:22 PM
Subject: Update 8/26/08

Today is better, better than yesterday anyway. Maybe because I am alone to think about yesterday’s events and the meaning of the moments we shared.

I’ve been a stay at home mom for 11 years. What am I going to do now? Is this mommy role just over now. Do I just retire and roll over and die? What am I supposed to do now? I’d worried about it for the past week. Sometimes tearing up, as I’d try to explain to Tracy my feelings of fear and concern. It was going to be one of those days you just never forget.

Yesterday, I woke my lil “peanut” up. Told her, “today is the big day, sweetie”. Trying to keep the tears from welling up in my eyes. Something I did at night for the past couple of evenings. She scanned my face for any signs of fear. I had to be strong for her. She got dressed, made her breakfast, and ate it with her brothers. They were all pretty talkative, for not being used to the early rise and shine. Today was different. It was special, the first day of school was here.

They finished up early with their morning routine, something I knew would soon turn into the last minute rush to the door. I gathered them up outside, and took the annual first day of school pictures. Oh man, the tears were forming again. But I held them in tightly, and snapped away.

I looked at how much each had grown, in their own personalized way. TR my “grown up” sixth grader. Ry-Guy my cool fifth grader who was now an inch taller than his big bro. Alex my “in control” second grader who too had grown at least 2 and half inches over the summer. Jhacie my sweet little princess kindergartener. I took a double take on that one. My sweet little kindergartener, my precious little shadow? The one who had followed me to bible study every Tuesday morning, the one who attended coffee at bone shaker’s with me, the one who would sit at Johnny Carino’s with her ipod watching princess Barbie, as I visited away hours of our day. It was hard to imagine doing that without her. She was my little buddy, my sidekick. I knew I was really gonna miss having her around.

It was hard to believe that all four of my kids were all in school now. Full time, all day, every day? It felt surreal, as they posed, and switched groupings, backpacks on, backpacks off. Mom take a picture of my new shoes, or my lunch box. It was all slow motion as I remembered dropping TR off at preschool with our favorite Mrs. Allen. Man, wasn’t that just yesterday? His humongous backpack he could hardly carry. His cute little outfit he had picked out for the big day. His hair combed to the side, just like he liked. I had Alex in a car seat, Ryan on my arm as I turned to walk away leaving my first born with a stranger, to teach him his ABCs.

The sound of the bus was just around the corner. The kids heard it, I wished they hadn’t. It was coming down the street, to pick up my kids. They ran across the street to stand in their spots. Waiting with anticipation for the new day. Peanut stopped and blew me a sweet little kiss, and Alex turned to give me the hand signal of I love you, he placed it on his cheek. I watched on the corner as they picked their spots on the bus. TR now in the back, Ryan in the middle, and Alex and Jhacie in row 1. The bus continued on it’s journey down the street, gathering more of the kids from the neighborhood. I stood wondering how they would do. Prayed for each of them that God would bless their day and mine. Prayed that they would be safe. Prayed that I wouldn’t break down and cry.

Tracy took the day off today. He knew this was going to be a tough one. My sweet heart, my hubby. “What do you want to do today?” he asked. “I don’t know”, I paused, “can we go to the school?” We got in the car, and drove to the school passing bus #1 on our way. I could see peanut. She had the window seat, she could barely see over the window, but she was eyeing the drive very carefully. Alex was visiting with friends across the aisle. We got to the school, and we parked. Got out and crossed over so we could watch them get off the bus. There were tons of parents doing the same, so I felt a little better. I wasn’t the only mom, having a hard time letting go. A short time passed, and the bus pulled up to the side of the school. They all got off. Ryan came out flying. He didn’t even see us. Then Alex, then Jhacie. She looked a little worried, maybe scared. I could tell she wasn’t too sure of where to go next. Alex quickly turned around as if he knew she needed help. He went back and got her. Relief spread over her face. Big brother was there, everything was ok now.

They walked to the playground where they ran around, played on everything. She climbed the rock wall first. All the way to the top, as to scope out the area. Checking everything out from a bird’s eye view. She found her brother in the middle of a game of hide and seek tag. He stopped to introduce his baby sis to the rest of the guys. It was the sweetest thing. My heart fluttered with pride as Alex said, this is my sister, she’s going to play with us. Off they ran, to play, all of them. Alex was there to guide Jhacie, I felt so relieved she had him there. She did too. Alex was the big guy on campus as far as Jhacie was concerned.

The teacher came out with a megaphone, and called everyone to line up. It was chaotic as all the kids ran around trying to find their teacher. It looked like a busy little ant hill of kids. Soon Alex was off to his room. Jhacie lined up with her class too. My heart was pounding. I knew soon she would be going through those same doors her brother’s had gone through. Closing behind, leaving me outside. I told Tracy, he had better go in without me. I didn’t want to ruin anything with my tears. I leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. I whispered in her ear, how much I loved her, and to not forget anything, cuz she had to tell me everything when she got home. She grinned and the bell rang. They went in together, and Daddy came out alone. This was it, the first day of the rest of her life. She was a big girl now and she wasn’t turning back.

The rest of the day was spent with my husband. We shopped, we ate, we drank starbuck’s. He filled my day with busy, non stopping fun. We went home to wait for the kids and caught a few winks of a nap. It had been a bitter sweet day. One I’ll remember forever.

So now today I sit here alone at my computer. Tracy went to work, the kids to school. I’m now officially alone to process the memory of yesterday. Tears in my eyes once again as I remember the day. My heart is happy though. God is good that way. Yesterday was really hard. Today was better. Now……I wonder what I’ll do today?

Should i say? Can i? Oh, my goodness!!!

My baby brother Freddie and his wonderful wife Amanda…

are…

well, they are……

yes…that is right!

They are having a baby!!! They heard the heart beat today…154 beats per minute. Such a precious sound that is.

Due mid February….maybe another 13th birthday?

I just want you two to know how happy I am for you. I wish you were here so I could just squeeze the heck out of you both. My heart is leaping, and the butterflies in my stomach are dancing!