Extra time on my hands

Guess what?

Joseph and I are kid-free this week! My parents came to pick them up yesterday, and I'm going to pick them back up the middle of next week. Whoo Hoo!

(Disclaimer: Of course we love our kids, but everybody needs a break from time to time :)

You may be wondering what I plan to do with all this extra free time. Well, today was a washout since I worked till 2:00 and then went to the doctor (thyroid check-up and everything's fine). But tomorrow---

Tomorrow, I am getting a perm! No more straight hair for me (at least for a few months). I'm going to have curls! I figure it's about time I set a new hair trend. A few years ago, I got a short bob with bangs, and several of my friends and family members followed suit. So, if the perm thing turns out for me, it won't hurt my feelings if you all decide to try it as well :) I'll be sure to post some before and after pictures. After all, I do have a little bit of extra time for blogging this week since it is so quiet around here.

Bye for now!

JCPS Kindergarten and Academics

School is out for summer! Hurray!

Kindergarten Graduation- In case you didn't notice, Austin is sporting a new short haircut for summer.

I've written off and on about our public school experience this past year, so I thought I would give a few closing thoughts to wrap things up for summer.

I suppose our mundane is interesting for some...

Dear Grandma (and anyone else who thinks our life is interesting enough to keep reading :),

I've been meaning to respond to your email, and I thought some of my other friends and family might be interested to read about our life lately.

It was so good to see you at Jane's wedding. I can't believe my little sister is married! The wedding was just beautiful, wasn't it? Jane looked so elegant and pretty. She seems to be settling into her life on the West coast very nicely. We've skyped some, and she seems so happy with Zach. It's so romantic how they drove out west with no belongings except for what they could fit into Zach's car. Talk about starting a new life together! She's actually inspired me to do a big purge of my belongings, and I've given quite a bit of stuff away lately.

Sisters having a laugh after the ceremony.

Well, Austin is fully recovered from his tonsillectomy. I'm really happy that he wasn't too uncomfortable (or unpleasant!) while we were in Tennessee for the wedding. Austin's snoring has stopped, so the surgery must have cured the apnea. Hurray!

Lots of fun things going on at Austin's school lately. He took a field trip to the Kentucky Museum of Arts and Crafts a few weeks ago. Here's a picture of his art creation.

Austin made an alligator out of clay and wood. Everyone loved it!

By the way, we gave Austin a buzz cut this week. His pretty golden locks are all gone for the summer. I liked the long hair on him, but he was already sweating too much with the hot weather. It's been around 90 degrees for much of the past week or so. It will grow back.

Today, Austin had Kindergarten Graduation. Tomorrow is Field Day. He wraps up after-school soccer on Friday. Then, he has a three day weekend for Memorial Day. Tuesday is Beach Day. And, the last day of school is next Wednesday. It's all fun days from here on out- no more homework. Austin is really happy about that :)

I'll be sure to post pictures later of all the fun we are going to have this week. Love you!

Thoughts regarding Infertility and Mother's Day

I just read an excellent article written by Dr. Russell Moore titled Mother's Day and the Infertile.

Moore writes regarding Mother's Day:

It is good and right to honor mothers. The Bible calls us to do so. Jesus does so with his own mother. We must recognize though that many infertile women find this day almost unbearable. This is not because these women are (necessarily) bitter or covetous or envious. The day is simply a reminder of unfulfilled longings, longings that are good.

However, Moore goes on to say that:

...almost every congregation is filled with previously infertile people, including lots and lots who were told by medical professionals that they would never have children! Most of those (most of us, I should say) who fit into that category don’t really talk about it much because they simply don’t think of themselves in those terms. The baby or babies are here, and the pain of the infertility has subsided. Infertile couples need to see others who were once where they are, but who have been granted the blessing they seek.

My eyes welled up with tears when I read that article because I understand.

I understand the pain of unfulfilled longings, longings that are good and right.

I understand the pain that comes when everyone around you is having babies, but you are not.

I really do understand.

I am on the other side of things, now. Our babies are here, and the pain has subsided. God has granted us two little boys, and we are more than content. This article helped me realize that even though I am no longer walking through the valley, I can still be an encouragement to those who are hurting because I have been there, too.