Here we go.

August 25th..... 7:45 a.m..... is coming really really soon..... The day that my youngest will start Kindergarten. A day I always knew was coming and a day I am thankful to be blessed to witness. A day that is so exciting I can barely stand it and a day that is so heart wrenching I can barely stand it! SOOOO many emotions have been going through my mind, but mostly I am just so proud to be a momma of two beautiful, delightful, kind, smart, Jesus loving children. God has blessed me with 2 children, and has given me the responsibility to raise and nurture them into being valuable grownups and God fearing, God Loving, Jesus following individuals. 

My daughter... my little look a like. She is going into the 3rd grade this year. I am so excited about this year for her. She will be having a phenomenal teacher for her regular 3rd grade class, and a phenomenal teacher for her Thursday Pegasus Classes (Gifted and Talented). Her Pegasus teacher is actually a lady Clay had as a teacher back when he was in elementary school. We have hoped to have her in Anika's life since she started school, and maybe Ari will be lucky enough to be placed with her one day too! I think she will soar this year as usual. I think this will be such a good learning environment for Anika, and am so thankful she gets the opportunity to be in Pegasus. She loves to learn and loves school! She is such a beauty. She is gentle in nature and very full of emotion. She is tall and skinny, and my heart feels weary when I see her in a more fitted outfit.... the little girl is ever so slightly disappearing and a young lady is blossoming. She is the daughter I need. She makes me better. She makes me slightly nutty sometimes. She is intellectual, artsy, and she will go very very far in whatever she puts her mind to.

My son... my little love bug. He will be starting kindergarten this year. I am nervous and excited about it. I know I have taught him how to behave, his ABCs & 123s, he can read, he is sweet. He is a BOY and can be rambunctious. I know he is ready. He is ready to spread his little wings and fly without me constantly by his side. I am not sure that is a thing a momma is ever ready for, but I am excited for him to start gaining independence and making a difference in the world. He is a kind and loving little boy. He loves hugs and kisses. He loves for me to hold him... and you better believe that I hold him as much as possible. He stands up for what he believes in and he is HILARIOUS. You can do it baby boy... I know you are nervous about leaving me and being the tallest in class, but I know you will be just fine. Keep loving and learning about Jesus and you can reach any goal you put your mind to! I will always be in your corner cheering you on! 

This year I pray that you both have a happy, healthy, and educational school year. I pray that you will find a friend that can be your best school buddy. I pray that you laugh all day and have few tears. I hope that you succeed and I hope that you are challenged, because that is how you grow! I pray your teacher loves you and that you love your teacher. I pray that they take care of you just like you are their own. I pray that the school is a safe place and a great environment. I pray that you both let your lights shine to the world. That when people see you both they can see Jesus through you! I pray for God to protect and keep you safe. 

The next 11 days I will cherish... but I know you are both ready for the year to come. You make me proud. You fulfilled my life long dream of being a mom. I love you two more than you will ever know. The greatest gift I was ever given! I love you Anika and Ari... Go get 'em tigers! 

xoxoxo

-Mom

Hospital For The Broken

I was on the awesome world of pinterest the other day looking for some recipes for the coming week and happened upon that quote. I wanted to scream it from the roof tops. I mean this is so TRUE y'all.  Church is for BROKEN people... because guess what? We are all broken people. Not a single person besides the Savior himself is complete. We all sin. We all have areas we need to improve. We all have our down falls. We are all broken... because we are not perfect! 

More and more today you see people of Christ's church following after men.... whether it be daddy, momma, a person you look up to or whatever... MEN. The view has gotten tarnished because people chose sides, or don't dig in for themselves and figure it out and take others words, or won't talk it out, and I have come to conclusions that this is CRAZY talk.... we chose a man's side. We should all only be trying to get on Jesus' side! 

Some of the strongest preachers of the gospel were BROKEN people. The apostles Jesus chose were Tax collectors, compulsive behaviors, deniers of Christ, doubters...... They were men that sinned.... Yep, not a single perfect person in the bunch and they actually were WITH Jesus in his life on Earth. Jesus ate with the sinners and the scribes and Pharisees complained...  Today, people are being like the scribes and Pharisees. We need to be more like JESUS and eat with the sinners and spread the Gospel and be PEACE MAKERS. Check out Matthew 5:9, Romans 12:18... While in the Word go ahead and read all of Ephesians 4.... Humble, Meek, Forbearing, patient, loving. I am for one very thankful that Jesus will eat with the sinners, because I would never have a chance to have a relationship with Jesus if it was only for the perfect.

When baptized into the church of Jesus we are baptized into HIS church. He died that awful death so we sinners might have a hope for an everlasting life. I think our Earthly life would be spent better trying to get the broken into the church rather than kicking them out because they are not good enough. Jesus had to die because NONE of us are good enough WITHOUT him, but WITH him we can be amazing. We can be life changers, we can be spreaders of light. Through Christ and Christ alone we are saved.