My Little Girl Is Growing Up!

Today was Anni's first "unofficial" day of Kindergarten. Her school offers a 13 day Jumpstart program for little people beginning Kindergarten in the fall. Since Anni is only going to make the age deadline by 15 days we decided to take advantage of the program to help her with the transition.

We arrived at the school at 7:45 and gathered with the other parents and children in the cafeteria. The teacher came in an collected us, then it was off to the classroom. Anni was being a trooper. No tears just some apprehension. She wanted me to hold her hand and she wasn't letting any distance get between us. I kept praying, "God please don't let me cry!" We arrived at the classroom and I helped Anni find her seat. The teacher began handing out color papers and then a few of the kids began to cry. Not my Anni girl. She was really awesome. I was afraid she might start crying because she felt bad for the children who were upset. The little girl beside her was having a hard time and I leaned down and said, "Why don't you try to be her friend today, then maybe she'll feel better okay?" she nodded and I told her I was going to go. She grabbed my hand and I thought I was going to lose it, but I kept praying. Anni looked up at me and said, "Mommy, you can go get in the car, but you can't leave. You just stay right there! Isn't that a good i-plan?" She has always combined the words "idea" and "plan". This made we laugh even though I was on the verge of tears. I assured her I would be close by and that I'd be there to pick her up when it was time. I got me some shuga and then I stepped outside the door. After I made sure all was okay I headed home.

So here I am, in my living room blubbering like an idiot. Noggin isn't on the TV. It's quiet except for the tinkling sound of the fish tank pump. These are going to be 4 of the longest hours of my life. Anni - my beautiful little lady. Today Kindergarten - Tomorrow......... I don't even want to think about it!

New Addition to the Family

Sunday morning in church James' phone began to vibrate on his side. He leaned over to me and whispered, "My phone is ringing." He glanced down at the LCD and looked back with a grin. It was the call we'd been waiting for! Waiting 3 weeks in fact.
After the service dismissed I hurried to the back to collect Anni from her class and met James in the parking lot. Sure enough, my new Dodge Charger had finally arrived and she was waiting on me in Dulles!

This has been my dream car since they came out in 2006. We have had an explorer for 11 years now and it's been a great family vehicle but we knew it was on its last leg and started looking around. I found a few deals online and showed them to James. He looked at me a little puzzled and said, "I thought you wanted a charger."
Well ladies and gentlemen, I almost passed out. "What? You mean.......? Do you really think.....?" As you can tell I was unable to form complete sentences. We set out looking and found the perfect one. I've always wanted a black charger with a rear spoiler and James wanted a sunroof. We found one in Wichita, Kansas worked out the financing and got the transfer underway.

Here's where the waiting came in. THREE WEEKS! I thought I would die. The wait was finally over!

So after we rushed home, changed clothes and picked up the dog, (this was a family outing) we we on our way to Dulles to pick up our newest family member.
We didn't get home until after dark so I couldn't take pics until yesterday, which are limited because it rained all day, and I couldn't keep Bit Bit (the dog - notice he thinks it's his car!) and Anni out of it (She thinks it's her new DVD player - I was instructed to photograph the entertainment system for you all, and did so promptly, while she posed by the car!). I absolutely love it!

We are so blessed, all we asked for was black paint, a rear spoiler, and a sunroof. We were given much more! It's got all the bells and whistles - Navigation System, DVD Player, Sunroof, Rear Spoiler, Leather Seats, Power Front Seats, Front CD Changer, Power locks, Power mirrors, Power windows, Heated Front Seats, a Hemi that can growl like no other! Wow! What a car! Now if I could just afford to put gas in it so I could go somewhere. Ha Ha

And for all you guys out there negotiating contracts with your wives, FYI no contract was drafted for this. When I asked him if he was sure he wanted to invest this much in a car right now he said, "You've always settled. You shouldn't have to do it this time." A statement like that will benefit the man more than any contract terms I can think of.

All joking aside. I do have a great husband. I just want everyone to know how much I love him. He's not perfect. I'm not perfect. Our life isn't perfect. Our marriage isn't perfect. But just like the charger, when we put all that stuff into God's more than capable hands, we get more than we could ever want or deserve! God is more than good - he's perfect - all the time!