garbage truck Moments.

The school buses are running, the pencils are sharpened, and the nerves are high as today embarks the first day of a new school year.  This first day feels different though.  For the first time in 6 years I am not a part of it all.  Instead I'm hanging with my favorite little person, in his pajamas, waiting at the front door for the garbage truck.
The decision to be a working mom, or a stay at home mom is one that comes with great responsibility, balance, and many times sacrifice.  If you've been reading here for a while you know that last year as a first time mom learning to balance a baby and work there were tough times, and many tears shed as I walked out the door each morning. I am positive on this day that our family prayerfully made the right decision.  I am so thankful that we are able to make some of the financial sacrifices needed to make these garbage truck moments possible.  I know he would be fine with or without me at home but this momma's heart would be walking around a little bit empty if I was leaving him again this year.
I will dearly miss my job as an ESL teacher and will continue to think about and pray for my former students.  Many of them started with me in 1st grade and are now 5th graders this year.  Thoughts and prayers to all my teachers and especially mommy's who are leaving their house this morning, entering a new school year, new adventures, new students, new challenges, and new heart warming memories.  They are going out to make the biggest difference in the world by educating our children. 

Tough Times.

Today was hard. 
Tuesdays are typically a long day for me because after school we have faculty meetings to attend.  This puts me getting home later than usual.  Throw in an evening event with the lovely BarreAmped Lululemon trunk show and that 

equals = 

1.5 hours with my little man today.

Can we say not enough?

I dreaded this day away from him like the plague but had no idea how much it effected me till I walked in the door 15 minutes past his bedtime.  Tears immediately filled my eyes and I couldn't believe how terribly I'd missed him.  I wondered how many smiles, giggles, and coos happened today without me there as a witness.  

Then God did this thing that he's really good at, He brought me back to the truth.  As I whisked Henry off to nurse him before putting him in bed I watched him rubbing his tired eyes and I felt peace.  I sat there in our glider enjoying the small moment I had.  As I placed him in his swaddle and hummed our little lullaby he began to talk, and jabber, and coo so loudly that I had to laugh.  

It continued for a good 5 minutes.  I laid the baby boy whom just moments earlier was falling asleep in my arms down in his crib.  He was having a full blown, one sided, loud conversation with me.  

As if to say, "Hey Mom, it's ok let me tell you all about my day."  Through his smiling coo filled lips, he told me about how he missed me, how he had fun but not quite as much as when I am with him.
  I propped my head on my hand in his crib and listened while staring at him in his joyful little eyes.

Those five minutes made my day.  

Then I gently laid my hand on his chest and shhhhed him to sleep.

I realize that on a day like today, especially, I must think on the good.  Because it's the good that feeds us.

I'm thankful for the 1.5 hours I got with my baby boy.  There are mothers all across our nation who would give ANYTHING for an hour and a half with their child once more.  But they can't have it, their child's life was robbed from them as their sweet little souls played in their daycare at the World Trade center 11 years ago.   

Tonight I count my blessings.   I pray that God can help my to count them all the time.  The ones that last 5 minutes and the ones that last a lifetime.  This is what I should dwell on.  

Shout with Joy to God, all the earth.  Psalm 66:1

School Days, school days, dear old golden rule days.

http://pinterest.com/pin/254171972690771918/

Happy First Day of School.

I pray that I will have the wisdom and patience to love and encourage my students this year the way God intends for me to.

Though I'll silently be counting the minutes till I'm back home.

Tears have been shed, and though they will continue I hope that the trickle will become a little slower and lighter each day, as I push through the transition of working and being away from my baby boy.