The School Daze

Karly has started school already at Jackson Christian and is enjoying pre-school...she has been waking up early to get ready, so I know she is loving it.  She was not "Hi, my name is scared" like she said she would be...she went to class great and really likes being there.  It is hard to believe my youngest is starting school.  I guess it won't hit me too hard until it is really kindergarten, but still, she is at school for a full day right now.

We are really working on this smile...for some reason Karly likes to stick her lower jaw out when she smiles :-)  

Danielle is really excited to be starting 1st grade in 5 days...she keeps checking the calendar to see how many more days.  She already has a little "boyfriend" in her class that also attends our church and she wanted to put her name tag by his on their desks.  It was pretty funny when I found out from his mom that he purposefully put his name tag at a completely empty table of desks in hopes she would put her name next to his....so I guess the feeling is mutual...yikes.  I already had to have a conversation with Danielle and Kassi about their case of the "boy crazies" and how they need to be focused on what they are learning and treating boys as brothers and friends.  Brad makes fun of me when I lecture on this subject because I was as boy crazy as they come.

McKenna is starting 4th grade and is as goofy and wonderful as ever....she told us when she turned 6 that she would be a goof from 6-9 and then she decided to extend it to 10.  She is the one that always has a silly rhyme or a pun or some kind of joke for us.  I absolutely love her funny personality...and she is the peacemaker.  The only thing that really frustrates her sometimes is when the others aren't getting along and there is nothing she can do to help them get through it.  She takes a lot on her shoulders in trying to solve their little squabbles with her humor.  There are many times I think about how thankful I am to have her in the mix of all the girls...I told Brad one night that I secretly wished McKenna was my age sometimes because I think she would make a great best friend...I love that she doesn't get hung up in trivial things and she can laugh at herself.

Savannah is going to be starting 7th grade and we just had a meeting yesterday with her school counselor to make sure her schedule is all set and tour the school so she will know exactly where she is going.  After our tour, we walked through her schedule one more time just to see if she could follow it.  One of the most exciting things for her is that she will be getting a computer to use.  I was a little surprised that all the students will be receiving a Mac to use throughout their years of middle school and high school.  She tried out for the girl's volleyball team for three days this week and just found out the results last night.  I was really hoping she would make it so she could make some quick friends from being on a team, but there were about 34 girls that tried out and only 14 made it.  She is small for her age and has never played volleyball before besides the few times Brad and I helped her practice serving over the swing set and bumping the ball to each other in a circle.  She has the ability, just not much practice (or height :-P).  Unfortunately, she was cut....but, I was impressed that she did not take it too hard...she is now on to other things...she said, "Well, I know I am good at something, I just have to find out what it is!"  I think that is a pretty good outlook!

I am still seeing God's hand at work.  When Brad and I were taking our adoption training back in February there was another couple in our class that we really admired.  They had already adopted internationally and had to go through the training again because they were trying to get their Foster Care license.  We ate up all their advice and insight.  I knew that the lady was a school counselor, but I had never asked her where she worked.  Through this process of helping Savannah get adjusted and familiar with her new school we had to contact the school counselor for a tour and a meeting for scheduling....guess who it was!  She has been such a blessing and reassurance to us.  It is awesome to know that if Savannah needs someone to talk to at school...God has gifted us with someone with such a great understanding for her!

Savannah also asked to be baptized...she said she was when she was a baby, but didn't really understand it then and she wanted to do it now that she understands.  We were excited to celebrate this time with her as well and with Grandma Phillips, who also decided to be baptized.  Both Kassi and Savannah received new Bibles and Savannah has been reading it and putting post-it notes in it when she finds something that doesn't make sense to her.  We have had some great family discussions over some of the questions she has about what she is reading.  I hope and pray her desire to learn and understand God's Word continues.