The last day of Kindergarten

The night before the Last Day of Kindergarten!!  Deveraux wore her gloves to bed (Drew calls them her homeless gloves) it makes me laugh.

In the car ready to go on the last day!

First day back in October....

Bobo and I headed to Earthbound Organic Farm for our last outing together before summer

I tried to get out hands holding...but hard to do it with one hand...but it'us!

Waiting for sissy outside Room 8!

I love this picture...many days of picking up Deveraux.  Last one!

One more hug!  Deveraux asked me during the last week of school if there would be a time for hugging her teacher.  I said if there is not a time set aside, then she needs to take her hug before she leaves.  Well, there was a time for hugging.  Each student stood in a line and hugged Mrs. Juarageui.  Deveraux ran back after she was dismissed for one last hug.  When Andrew asked Deveraux if she would miss her friends or teacher more, she said her teacher!  She said she would miss classroom more than playground but field trips more than the classroom time.  And she feels ready for first grade!

Yeah, Schools Out!!

School Friends

One highlight for me was I was able to play the role of "counselor" and go in and teach the students a lesson in "not talking out of turn."  It was during the last couple weeks of school.  It was fun to do this for Deveraux's class....a familiar but seems like a lifetime ago role for me.  I felt appreciated and the students and Mrs. Jauregui enjoyed the lesson which felt good.

We celebrated with frozen yogurt in downtown Monterey!

Amidst some reluctance with school (for the mama) it was a great year and such a good experience for Deveraux, she loved school!  That is wonderful!

days

Some days, some more lately, I have had trouble rising up to my days.  I start with a fresh perspective of all that I want to do and feel.   I have my lists of all that I want to accomplish and all the ways I want to feel productive.  I have my "will" and desire to set my heart right before God.  Then somewhere (not too long after) I have felt weary and a little lost and not sure why...  I am so thankful many days are not like this.

But where I landed today is we can't always explain things of life.  My thoughts landed with...I need to surrender. 

Would it be nice to have an entire day to just sit in all of it...think...ponder...pray...do a creative project...read.... do whatever feels right and good....yes

The flowers from my sweeties

But I have to walk up those stairs and enter in.  That means making breakfast, tending to needs, being present, comforting, mediating, being in charge, planning our day....
And yet those things often keep me going in a day and keep me from too much of me. 

So surrender..,.to that little boy who snuggles in my lap but who gave a harsh word to his sister, to that little girl who wants to use the computer and is frustrated when it is closed but slowly comes around when we read a short story together, to God who I talk to and make my declarations... but I am tired of those (declarations) sometimes...so I will just say, "I surrender" to whatever.

I wish throughout the day I could remember in my thoughts and heart all those good Words of life that give perspective...sometimes I do and sometimes I don't.

So I will try and just surrender for today.

Forty-One!

We began the day at one of my favorite places, Earthbound Organic Farm and with two of my favorite guys!



Cookies in the morning!  Of course, we are celebrating!



We were headed to Deveraux's graduation...so Andrew was writing in her special school journal!

Flowers for Dev...and me

I was blessed with some time at the ocean by myself.  I was wrapped in a big blanket because it was windy and just had some time, it was good!  The ocean has become like what the mountains have been for me in Colorado.  A place of God, restoration, and refreshment!  My blessed husband and kiddos greeted me with roses and words when I came home!

Birthday dinner...wood burning pizza's!

We gave Deveraux a cross necklace for her graduation present!

My sweet girl whispered in my ear, "You are my biggest blessing."

Deveraux's card to me...including some money!

La Bicyclette
I have been wanting to try some of the restaurants around Carmel town

now on our way to the ocean...

I love Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Company...my drink of choice these days is a Soy Latte!  Yummy!  Oue dear friend, Maria, worked her when they lived here.

I love their faces!

CUPCAKES!

I think Drew's face is funny here....

we both are sticking our our tongues....they say you start looking like your dog...maybe you start looking like your husband the longer you are together... (he he)

Drew gave to me by walking...he was not looking forward to the walk up to get home...but i loved the idea of walking the whole way...so I used the Birthday card.

Often, my birthday can feel hard.  Today I just tried to enjoy the day!  I feel really blessed.  I like my life and I like who is in my life.  I like who God has made.  I may not always understand why I don't have more friends as the reminder came today that no one here in CA knew it was my birthday, 

But, I had many calls filled with birthday greetings from loved ones. That meant so much to me!!

I am overjoyed by my family.  The snapshot I have in my mind is the four of us in the Gap dressing room with all of them supporting me as I tried on swimsuits. 

Glory to God for that!

Blessed beyond Measure! 

I also realized I have another half to go....I am only half way there if I live to around the average span of life.  So some thing I want to do...

To know union with Jesus

to not worry about how it "should" be done or look, or get "the right experience"

to choose my husband

to play with my kids and be present with them, to know I am a good mom

to be a good friend

If I could open a bottle in 40 years, this is what i would have hoped for....