School

Second day of school but this is when we got around to taking the picture.  

First Day of School.   Everyone is excited.  

Things I want to remember right now.

1.  Fulton was so sad he did not get to wear a uniform this year.   One the first day of school we were getting ready and he said "Oh no, we have to go to the store and get my school outfit."   I assured him he had one more year before he "got" to wear the school uniform.

2.  Fulton is excited about his new light up shoes.  I bought them at the store when he was not with me.  I called to ask him what shoes he wanted and he said spider man shoes like the ice-cream.  HA!  How does he even know who spider man is...well I guess he doesn't since he thinks it's spider man ice-cream.   

3.  We are two days into school and Fulton loves it.   He is sad there is a break over labor day.  

This guy starts school in about two weeks.  I can't wait to hear how his speech will improve with the extra help.  Today I asked him: "John Paul, do you like transformers, Dinotrux, or Stars Wars."  He said "I ik  St rs."   Bill and I could have cried over his cuteness.  He is the best.  We love when he makes an effort to talk.  So sweet to hear his sounds.  

Reflections on 30

I think at 30 it is really clear that the past ten years really paved the way for the next ten years, and if I could meet myself at 20 I would simply say, keep going, carry on, you got this.  I know you are a creature of habit, you like things neat, organized, and simple. When things get difficult you are known to talk to yourself, so again I say, keep going, carry on, you got this.   

At 20 you worked three jobs, shut down the library writing research papers, followed by shutting down Buffalo Wild Wings the night after to celebrate (because you always did run with such a WILD crowd-haha).  You won’t regret any of that.  The classes, the professors, the roommates, the friends, the being totally broke, you won’t ever regret it.  So keep going, carry on, you got this.

At 22 you will student teach 35 third graders in the inner city.  It is exactly the city you grew up in, but oh so different than your childhood.  It is will be draining not only physically but emotionally too, and you will still be broke. You will wonder what the heck you are doing.  Guess what?  You won’t regret it.  So keep going, carry on, you got this.

At just a few weeks short of twenty three, you will meet someone who will change your life forever.  He is smart, funny, deeply Catholic, and college educated.  On paper he is his everything you want and more.  But something far greater than the organized check list you make is really pulling you on this one.  You are the girl who worries and questions everything and you have not a SINGLE doubt about this guy.  In fact, you feel like you can totally and completely be you around him.  You realize you have really opened yourself up to vulnerability with this guy, but nothing has ever felt more right.  Guess what?  At 30, you won’t have any doubts.  He will still be the one thing in your life you are most certain of.  So keep going, carry on, you got this.    

 At twenty three you will get that dream job you worked hard for in college.  It will thrill and excite you.  It will be more challenging than you ever imagined.      You will love it.  You will become better at it each year.   However, at twenty eight you will be ready end that chapter of your life.  At twenty six you became a mom.  It was amazing and beautiful and changed your life.   Now, at twenty eight you are ready to say goodbye to the career and devote yourself entirely to being a wife and mom.  You won’t regret this, keep going, carry on, you got this.   

Here you are at 30. You are a stay at home mom with three kids.  Admittedly some days are long.  You spend a lot of time doing laundry, reading aloud books, making and preparing three meals and day plus snacks.  You aim to keep the days slow.  Your kids thrive on this.  You have learned to love this.  There is nothing greater than these long slow days.   I imagine you won’t regret these moments with these children, so keep going, carry on, you got this.      

*This picture is from 29 year old, but it sums up daily life at 30 years old as well.

One thing that keeps me going recording memories of family and creating these pages is how much joy my children and husband get looking at them.   Along the way I have learned you don't have to create the "perfect" page; just make something and your family is sure to love it.