Savannahs Birthday

Shes so quiet...so easy. She gives without requirement. She often gets passed over in a home with 4 other demanding children. So I guess that's why I was so surprised when it happened. I was too busy to see her...growing and stretching, maturing quietly like a soft, almost liquid, flower. A delicate and tender orchid, unassumingly thriving in the shade of so many other more boisterous and vibrant flowers that crowd for the sun in this jungle. Her spotlight so often eclipsed by someone elses need - she never complains, but takes each little glimmer that manages to escape the greedy horde above and below into her bosom, to feed and develope until, unexpectedly, she outshines them all.

My sweet, sweet Savannah...shy, luminous lady orchid of the jungle shadows, passion flower on the vine, red spikes needing nothing but air to thrive, curling tendril of fern from the forest floor...beauty in the details, in the secret places, like long lost treasure found. Eyes green as jade. Hair streaked with amber sunlight. Skin golden and smooth. Smile sweeter and more valuable than a cavern of priceless gems.

She is eight years old...quite suddenly. A major life achievement in our family and our faith. Yet she chose to celebrate quietly. A simple dinner. A family outing. And most importantly, a beautiful baptism. She invited her school teacher...a non-member, who graciously attended. The first person in our family to be a missionary.

My sweet, sweet Savannah. What other surprises do you have in store?

Back to School

I can't believe it's time. Time to say good-bye to my kids for another year. And while most moms are jubilant about sending their kids forth to greet a new school year, I can't help feeling melancholy and forlorn.

I enjoyed my children SO MUCH this summer. We did some GREAT activities and spent a lot of time together. Jason and I got the opportunity to teach them very intimately...and get to know each one of our children a little bit better. Jason focused on piano lessons and swimming instruction, and I got to help them with the more "scholastic" activities. We both shared in the spiritual responsibilities. And then, before I knew it, it was gone and over...and I was faced with the unpleasant task of getting my kids ready for another grueling school year.

And it wasn't just my elementary school kids...my oldest daughter starts high school this year...and early morning seminary. It's such a rite of passage for LDS youth...and I'm not quite ready to let her go. But she's been stretching her wings for a while now, irritated and scratching to be let free to fly from the nest on her own wings...seeking her own adventures.

I am so sad that I actually considered home-schooling my kids this year. Jason thinks I'm nuts.

We received a precious amount of borrowed time in the weather phenomenon called Tropical Storm Fay. Because of the threat of this storm, school was cancelled both Monday and Tuesday...postponing our first official day of school until Wednesday.

But eventually, I had to let them go. Amidst rising gas prices, my little ones have the added responsibility of riding their bikes to school BY THEMSELVES. I stood and watched as they pedaled away...with tears in my eyes and Nicolettes wails in my ears as her beloved brothers and sisters sailed forth into a world in which she so desperately wishes to belong...

"Kidddds...don't go without meeeee...."