Coming To A Close

Hello There Beloved Reader. As we are wrapping up the school year over here I'm doing that thing that I do when I get all sentimental and stuff.
Are there anymore participants that would like to join me on this little journey down sentimental lane? O.k. grab a box of kleenex and let's go!

When we began the school year this year my Fab 4 were the "new kids" as we had just moved back from Seattle WA, to Reno NV. We started the year with one in H.S. two in Middle School and one in Elementary school. That's three schools full of strangers. And just so we are clear,   that's three drop offs and three pick ups  everyday.
The first few days of school in August were quite emotional for them all because they headed into the unknown without each other, and without  a single, solitary friend. Not one single person who knew them. When we moved to WA almost 5 years ago they were all at the same elementary school.  I believe with all my heart that was a gift from God. Emma was in 6th grade, Chloe in 4th, Solomon in 2nd and Isaiah had just started Kindergarten.
I was SO grateful at that time that even though no one else knew them, they had each other.
To be known is a treasure that cannot be overrated.
Coming back here though they were all spread out, and seemingly alone. I remember the first week, needles to say, there were lots of tears shed as they came home to describe a school environment that was quite different than the one they had known in Washington. We managed to push through to the sunny side of the street, and they all are stronger for it, but as the momma bear, I'm not gonna lie,  it was hard to watch sometimes.
There were some mornings that I felt just like it did when they let go with their teeny tiny hand and headed off to the big bad world of kindergarten. You know that moment when you hold your breath and once again trust that this life won't break them? I relied heavily upon this scripture;
"Fear not for I am with you even to the end of the age."
Even to High School. Even to Middle School. Even to the 4th grade.
My two "middles" as I call them, tugged at my heart strings more than any other.  They were the ones that wanted to stay in Washington. They were the ones who LOVED where we lived. They are the ones who are a tad bit more on the introverted side. And  They are the ones who shed the most tears that first week. I can honestly say they are my heroes.  I can' t even imagine starting middle school as the newbies.
When I read the quote below the other day it made me think of them.

“Courage doesn't always roar.  Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow.”  Mary Anne Radmacher
For that is exactly what they did.  They kept getting up day after day and making their way through halls where no one called out there name or greeted them at the door. I'm beyond proud of them as you can clearly hear in my writing, but more than pride I feel grateful. They are their own people. I can't take credit for the behavior that they exhibit or who God created them to be. So, more than pride I feel a tremendous amount of gratitude.
Gratitude for  who they have been, who they will become  and  who they are.
Also I'm a tad bit excited and grateful that  SCHOOLS OUT!!! Let the fun summer memories begin.  

On Looking Back and Choices I Made

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my greatest contribution to this planet is most assuredly my Fab 4 children. It was not for me to be a CEO of a fortune 500 company, or to go to Law School,  or to be a Missionary, but rather it was, to be a full time mom to 4 children.    I know some moms are able to do both,  (career and raising a family) I know some single mommas are forced to do both, but for this momma of 4,  both was simply not my choice.  I'm really grateful that I got the choice.  I have come to realize so much of life, really all of life is made up of choices we make. When I was a young person getting ready to go off to college I derailed from the University I had chosen, and where I had been accepted and had scholarships. I made this choice for the sake of saving a buck and decided to go instead to the community college where I lived.  I don't regret that choice because had I left I wouldn't have ended up with My Giant and then therefore we wouldn't have our 4 children. Would I recommend to all the up and coming graduates to walk in my foot steps? HECK NO!! There is one moment in time where you get to have the freedom to go anywhere and do anything.   IF you have been given the opportunity to do something grand, expensive, and far away ... TAKE IT!! The time for this in your life might not ever come again, so GO FOR IT!! If however you choose to take the safe and practical route like I did, know that there is glory in that too. In this life we make choices, when we aren't honest about those choices we get into a state of being I like to call denial, and although denial is comfy some times, it's not healthy. So,  may I suggest to just be honest about your choices when looking back. I remember along the way making a conscience decision to choose my Fab 4 over career and other passions. It wasn't always easy, and still isn't financially, but I'm never going to regret this life choice. NEVER. EVER. And then something like this quote comes along and confirms your life choice.  "Your greatest contribution to the Kingdom of God may not be something you do but ... SOMEONE YOU RAISE."  Andy Stanley It's hard for me to even begin to imagine "The Kingdom of God" being changed or affected by my life choices, but somehow this quote resonates with me. This quote gives my life purpose beyond what any paycheck or title could ever do.  And it makes me think about my Fab 4 and how they have changed me as a person. They have given me a gift beyond any other earthly token. The gift of motherhood. Although it's a messy, sometimes thankless, and certainly penniless job, it's my favorite.

MoNoSco turns 19 years old

Today I get to celebrate a second birthday. Well, technically the world calls this day my anniversary, but to me it feels like a second birthday. It's MoNoSco's birthday today and I am 19 years old with this guy. We got married June 3, 1995.

I remember when I was a 19 year old girl who got engaged to a 21 year old young man. I told a young, 21 year old Moses, "Won't it be SO cool when we have been together longer than we were alive apart from each other?" And now this year marks that date for me.  We have been together 20 years. Married for 19 years. Known of each other for 22 years. That's A lotta years. If you are interested in those years, the beginning years of our LOVE STORY you can read about them here; MoNoSco Love Story Together our names make up Mo No Sco. Moses+Noël+Scofield= MoNoSco
That's what he's etching on the wall at the old Genoa Bar. MoNoSco... It's a pretty great name if you ask me. 

It seems only right that our name should be etched in stone at the place we got married 19 years ago.

We didn't get married at that bar, but we were in Genoa NV 19 years ago at this time.

19 years ago on this day I was only 20 years old. 

Now, I sit here as an almost 40 year old woman and I can remember that day like it was yesterday.

I wasn't nervous.

I didn't have cold feet.

I was 100% sure that my commitment, promise, and covenant to Moses was one life choice I would NEVER regret. 

And I can honestly say, that after all these years I am beyond thankful for this beautiful thing called marriage.

We have had SO much fun together traveling along life's highways and byways, and low-ways.

There is still no one else I'd rather spend my day with and as I sit here and think about us and all the years that have gone by it fills my heart to overflowing that I have been lucky in LOVE.

I have been so very fortunate to grow up beside this man named Moses. 

Being married to him has taught me more than I could ever possibly imagine it would have.

And I have yet, to find a way to fully express how much I love him.

Good thing I have the rest of my life to figure out a way to do just that, 

but for now,

I think I still like the way Billy Holiday sang it on our wedding day 

Oh Happy Happy Day MoNoSco!!