"Goodbye" at the bus stop...

*photo by H. Kurtz Photography

This precious face is my youngest son! He is ALL boy. He tears around the house like a bull in a china shop and is a no holds barred kind of kid! It's all or nothing with my sweet Izaiah!

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But this kiddo will be the one who sends me to the looney bin. PUH-lease don't misunderstand me...he was completely a GIFT from GOD and I do not take that lightly. In April of 2008 when the judge finalized our adoption I was as giddy and teary as I was giving birth to my other two children.

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But I'm not sure if it's because our DNA doesn't match or if I am just getting old but I can't seem to predict his next move like I could my other two. And because of this I am usually ready to pull my hair out...and in the next breath I am smooching all over his little face!

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Well, yesterday was his first day of school. This is his second year leaving on the bus early in the morning and not getting back until after lunch so he was excited! I was excited...not that he was leaving but that he was looking forward to something that was going to give me a chance to breathe, go to the bathroom, have a complete thought or chat with my mom without wiping soup off the dog, disguising the flying-hot-wheels-dings in the cabinets with marker, discouraging swinging from the light over the breakfast table or getting a drowning "Blankie" out of the toilet.

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Yesterday, this child that I fought with about coming inside for dinner, taking his shoes off @ the door, NOT searching God's green earth for his winter gloves because his handlebars were cold @ 6:45 am (yes, we ride bikes before my heart is awake!), staying in his crib, not making the nick in the drywall a gaping hole with his fingers...this precious little man barelt looked back as he hopped up the steps with his Dr. Seuss backpack.

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He not only started school without a tear...

He had an awesome day (said the note in his backpack)...

He rode his bike without training wheels for a significant distance...

And for the 1st time EVER, he didn't need his "boo" (pacifier) at bedtime!

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I will never forget the day the social worker put his 14 lb body in my arms. This malnourished, precious 9 month old who had cried himself to sleep on her chest was never going to leave my arms again. I didn't know that then. But God did!

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So, Izaiah's yesterday was HUGE!

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Honestly, (although in the moment I will deny saying the 1st part of this sentence! LOL!) I don't care if he paints the TV with peanut butter, he is such a precious gift who was chosen specifically for our family and I cherish EVERY moment with him!

. Happy 1st day of school little buddy...sorry it's a day late...you kept me kinda busy yesterday, thank you!

I LOVE YOU!

My Back-to-School Resolutions...

I don't know about you, but when the school bus pulls away that first day of school, although I am sad to see the kids go back, I often liken it to New Year's Day.

Today 2/3 of my brood left on that big yellow bus. Tomorrow the last 1/3 heads off, too.

It's a new chapter. A time for goals to reset (or be thrown under the bus). And I finally find myself re-connecting with ME!

"Well, hello there!"

"Hey. Wow. It's been a long time."

"Yeah. So, how are you?"

"Hangin' in but MAN, you look like DEATH! Did you sleep AT ALL this summer?"

"Nice."

"So, what's your plan of attack today? Where are you going to start? What are you going to clean? Which closet will get organized first?"

"Are you nuts? This is my plan of attack..."

* Drink my coffee while it is still hot!

*Sit still for longer than 3.7 seconds!

*Start a cleaning project and actually FINISH IT!

*Watch finished cleaning project STAY finished for the WHOLE freaking day!

*Use the bathroom ANYTIME I want instead of crossing my legs until naptime!

*Read while using the bathroom...and what I read will not include the words, MONSTER TRUCKS, LIGHTENING McQUEEN or EVERYBODY POOPS!

*Talk on the phone with my feet up instead of making skid marks with my shoes as I chase an uncontrollable child running with scissors around the kitchen and flagrantly saying, "uh huh" and "Ohhh" when I really have no idea WHAT the person on the other end is talking about...who am I kidding, I am usually so distracted once the phone is on my ear, I don't even know WHO is on the other end.

*Take care of myself! This will include morning devotions and some time with God, a long walk (without a trike with a flat tire being dragged behind me) or exercise tape (it will be nice not to kick a small child in the head while doing Tae Bo), eating right and not just stale PB&J crusts and the squishy grapes no one wanted.

It's going to be a good year! I PROMISE MYSELF!

Bus is pulling up. Time to see how their day went! And they get a fully-refreshed, showered, pleasant, relaxed, focussed mom!

What will YOU resolve this school year?

Peace.