rise and shine

This morning . . .

Lia: "Wakey, wakey, mommy!"
Tired Mommy: "Good Morning, Lia."
Lia (in a high pitched voice): "Wakey, wakey! The sun is up so you have to get up!"

Zach started 4Th grade last week. His first two days were great. He was very positive about how his day had gone and he really likes his teacher.

Last weekend we took a trip to Columbia. A friend of ours got married in Minnesota in July and to celebrate his family and friends had an open house to meet his new bride and rejoice with them. We were also able to take a stroll through campus--one of our favorite places to go as a family. Since Zach was a little guy we have had lots of fun times on campus. Zach's 7Th birthday party was at Stankowski field. We had an awesome kickball game until I kicked the ball and it popped--I can still knock it out of the field! Even Lia loves campus. She and I often went to campus to have tea and chocolate milk and hang out with the college students! I miss those times!

Our weekend in CoMo was wonderful--until we left to come home.

On our drive home Zach cried several times, when we arrived home he cried again, at bed time he had another good cry. He asked why we couldn't just move back to Columbia. Why do we have to be in KC? Why can't he be with his friends? It breaks my heart that after a year he still struggles to be away from "home".

I thought he was feeling better about being here. Everyone says to just give him more time. We validate how he feels, give lots of hugs and try to encourage his little aching heart. My prayer through this is that Jesus would make Himself known to Zach, that Zach would learn to call on His Savior and find rest and peace in His presence.