Blessings - Week Three (After School Arrangements)

All of last week I could only help but think of one thing (ok, well I thought of like 1000 - but this one in particular made me especially happy).  So, my week three blessing is my mom being able to pick Morgan up from school! 


When I was a small one and not so small one I often had to visit the dreaded AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. This was not always my fate - but I spent enough time there to remember vividly that I did not like it. Now, I will say that after school programs have changed, they seem to have much more "fun" activities than in my day - however I think it is still nice to be able to get off of school and go home for the afternoon, relax, have a snack, do some homework etc... 


I was forever worried that Morgan would be stuck in a school gymnasium afternoon after afternoon - as much as I would love to pick her up from school it's just not in the cards right now. Luckily we have a very generous grandma who is willing to be there every afternoon to pick her up. She also helps shuttle her to swimming lessons - so that I only have to get there in time to watch. And, when she has her evening gymnastics class I do not have to worry that she has not eaten or still has homework afterward.  It is the biggest relief and a GIGANTIC help. 

I am beyond THANKFUL.....  I kind of love how God knows our biggest deep down wishes and finds a way (one way or another) to make them happen. :-) 

Blessings Week Two - Friends and Family

So this week brings about the overall theme of friends and family...


We (Morgan and I) are so blessed to have both of these and the support they give.


Last week Morgan started gymnastics and is able to go to class with a friend from her old school (turns out there are actually a couple of girls she knows in the class). I am so happy she has the opportunity to see these friends still - even though they are moving on to different schools. And, that she is able to have the excitement attached with seeing good friends and spending time with them.


I am blessed to have friends who check in and make sure everything is okay / send thoughts and prayers... In fact, to even have a friend offer to take Morgan with her for the weekend, even though she had existing plans... (Thank you Brianne!)


We are blessed to have family that came to support and see us this last weekend, and a WONDERFUL cousin who despite very untrue rumors of potential duck-taping stayed with Morgan while we attended the service - Thank You,  Thank You, Thank You Michele!!! 


Also to have family that gave their time to show Morgan how to ride a horse (she is now obsessed) and experience some farm life - thank you again Paula, Dave, and Auntie Myrna!!  


Thank you to all of you who came on Saturday.... While I wish it were under different circumstances, we very much appreciate it and am glad we got the chance to see al of you. 


XOXOXOXO

A purse and some reins

So Saturday afternoon there was a discussion of purses, how some always forget them, how some lock them in their trunk, etc... etc...  It turns out this was a foretelling of one more purse to be left behind. 


Around 3:30 we got the call - Auntie Myrna was the owner of the forgotten purse and after some talking it was decided the best course of action was to take the drive and drop it off. So around the house went the "hey, we're going to deliver the purse who wants to go" and everyone did - especially Morgan when she knew this meant visiting the ranch / farm. 


A little over an hour later we were there. Morgan was instantly in love - three dogs ran out to greet us, she saw horses to the left and then found chickens, a rabbit, goats, and more dogs at the back... Her paradise. She helped Dave find eggs in the chicken coop, fed the goats, and then Paula saddled up Chester for her to ride (ON HER OWN). She led her around a couple of times and then let Morgan take the reins and steer him by herself. She definitely left the horse frustrated a couple of times - as her left / right guidance turned into more of a whoa then a go. But - he cooperated nicely and she is in LOVE with him... And, of course is now intent to save her money for a horse - and or a dog like chick (the new jack russell puppy). 


Of course we must give a HUGE thank you to Paula and Dave for sticking around and helping her do all of these things and to Auntie Myrna for forgetting her purse and having us over :-) - she had the best time. Oh how she loves animals! 

First Day of FIRST GRADE....

So, it happened. The first day is here, the first day away from me in the "real world". :-) 


It was a good morning - on schedule, no rushing, with a very excited 6-year-old leading the way.


She was so calm, so confident (I showed these things on the outside, however my nerves were rattling the walls of my insides). 


She wore her new outfit (with some accessorizing to complete it) and her only ? on the way was - who do I pay for milk if I want to buy some (I gave her a dollar for milk). 


Thankfully the "iron door" rumors proved false - some people had told me that you may not be able to go into the classroom, etc.. But that was not the case. We started off finding her classroom and entered to meet both of her teachers. She also quickly spied the class turtle. 


Then we moved outside to see where she exits at end of day and met the principle (a.k.a. the lady in charge of the whole school).  Paid a visit to Brandon and from there it was out to the playground (and the big climbing structure) as well as finding her line. 


They let us accompany them into the school and classroom. We stayed for a little bit - and with Bob's encouragement I left the classroom. 


Now I find myself staring at the clock - oh it's 10:30 - she just started recess. Right now it is 12:17 which means she has eaten or is still eating lunch in the BIG cafeteria (she was very excited about this).  The day is actually going pretty quickly - only 3 more hours until school is out. I can't wait to hear how her day went. 

Blessings - Week One

This week - week one (and two for that matter) were definitely a couple of the longest weeks I have had in a while. It was easy to start drifting into complaint mode and the seriously?? all of this happens at the same time - really? 


But, again smack down pessimistic and find the real view of the situation. To say we were blessed over the last couple of weeks would be simply too small. How were we blessed? 


First, the fire that took hold of our building did not touch our place. Yes, we have some water damage to the structure but none of our things were harmed. Nor are we staring down the face of being displaced for months like some of our neighbors. We are blessed that the firemen came so quickly, and that it happened in the day time when few people were home (including ourselves). 


Second, we lost Lily. But, we found Lily. In the most amazing of ways - in the most unlikely of ways - pretty close to 24 hours after she was gone. The fact that WE found her - and so quickly is not by chance - it is by absolute assistance and grace of God. 


Third and biggest - Grandma (Great-Grandma) passed away. While this is true, it is also true that she lived a long life and that I am lucky to have had a grandparent around for so long and for the fact that Morgan was able to know one of her great-grandmas. I am blessed that I had the chance to say goodbye and that Morgan and I were able to go down there no more than two weeks ago to visit. 


I am glad she can have that clear memory of great grandma adding some weight to her brand new piggy bank. And, watching her put together her puzzles and draw a picture of her new favorite pig. I am glad my grandma got to see her grow over these years. I am also glad she no longer hurts and that she is with her husband once more. I know she missed him and find yet another blessing / joy in knowing that people are not "gone" they are just away for little awhile....


xoxo 

Paygwen Srfen

Sometimes it just takes the small joyful things to make you smile and understand that all is okay! Today two "small" things happened. 


First, Morgan lost the second of her two front teeth - she lost the first yesterday during a field trip and as I understand it, this particular tooth got to spend some time bouncing around a bounce house after it fell out. Its partner came out today at the park. (both amazingly were found) 


Second, because it was her last day FOREVER at her daycare / preschool / kindergarten she took with her some of her old writing journals. I was just thumbing through and could not help but smile. It's interesting to see her progression over the year toward sounding out and spelling... 


From her "purple journal".... 


I like my hawse, I see me hawse

My room is clean. Very clean. (thought Grandma would like that)

(my favorite) The paygwen is srfen on a wayv.

and some longer dialogue: 


Why are you here, are you here to play. No I am not here to play. Then why are you here. :-)

Monday she starts first grade. Am I 100% ready for that - not totally. Is she - VERY much so! 


She has her "first-grader" backpack ready to go and filled with necessary supplies, her outfit and shoes purchased and waiting, and a general excitement about all this new world has to offer... I think we can learn from 6-year-olds. Morgan finds joy in so many things - I know that I should too. While I do to some degree - perhaps not enough. 


The other week at church the pastor talked about blessings and joy. Do you realize your blessings (large and small) - are you optimistic or pessimistic? The last couple of weeks have reminded me and taught me a great deal about blessings... And so, I have decided to start our weekly blessings journal. Just one thing each week that was a blessing or brought us joy, a reminder of all we have and hopefully a smack down on those pessimistic moments. :-) 

1916 - 2010

“ Perhaps they are not the stars, but rather openings in Heaven where the love of those that have passed on pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.”

On August 4, 2010 Pauline Esther Stewart-Horn passed away at the age of 94 years old. Born June 9, 1916 in Hume, California Pauline filled her 94 years with memories and experiences abundant. She served as one of the unnamed riveters of World War II, as Girl Scout leader of Woodrow Wilson troop 163 and Cub Scout den mother, and was a proud member of the Eastern Star, Mission Bell Chapter 205.  

With her husband by her side they were able to travel all 50 states and cross the ocean a time of two. She enjoyed books, ABBA, a nightly round of Jeopardy, a good crossword puzzle, and watching the hummingbirds dance across the sky.

She now holds her place in heaven - reunited with her husband John, and is forever in the hearts of her children, Nedra, John Sr. and wife Carol, grandchildren Sara and John Jr., and great-grandchildren Brandon and Morgan.

xoxoxoxo.......