We have a Kindergartner!

Pin It Having been in education for seven years before the girls came along, I have seen many first days come and go. I watched as the Kindergarten parents walked their little dears down to the classrooms: tissues in hand with red noses and bleeding mascara. Most of the time I thought to myself that will NEVER be me! Even up until last week, I still felt that way...then it happened. My husband offered to go with us to take Elena on the first day. I lost it...I mean, ugly cry lost it...then never really got it back. I have been an emotional wreck since then, crying "happy tears" as we call them around here, each time I thought of letting her go.

I'm a planner...not because I feel like it always has to be just so, but more so I can be mentally prepared for what may happen. God is teaching me some things about that and today was one of those days where He showed me just how much I need to work on letting go and trusting Him instead.

I began my day in Romans 12:9-16. This is my prayer for Elena and her class this year. Then I poured out my heart to God (pretty sure I stained that page in Romans with some spilled coffee and tears as I prayed). I confessed my lack of faith and pleaded with Him to lift me up today. Before I was ready, it was time to wake the girls and get the morning under way.

Per Elena's request, we had home-made blueberry pancakes for breakfast. I started working on them then went into the girls' room to wake them. She bounced out of bed, made her bed without complaining and got herself dressed (I'm not snowed into thinking this is how it will be every day, but I'm glad today was that way). She insisted I put her hair up and she wear a bib so she didn't get syrup in her hair or on her new "music" shirt. (Then she asked that I not comb her hair because it looked BEAUTIFUL just the way it was). It was unintentional, but that's just what happened! I completely ran out of time to brush her hair and put it up again so she went with a funky pony-tail of un-combed hair this morning. She was happy as a lark, and I am learning that happiness is sometimes more important than having a perfect appearance.

I know that every good parent's goal is to have their child grow up to be a responsible adult who is able to think and do for themselves. That begins with allowing kids responsibilities and choices, sometimes earlier than we would like. Elena picked out her outfit, dressed herself, designed her book bag, and packed her own lunch for this morning...and I have NEVER seen this girl more proud! Tough for me to let go (and none of the choices I would have made myself), but totally worth it to see the satisfaction on her face.

I'm STILL not used to getting three kiddos ready and out the door to go ANYWHERE (much less trying to do it about an hour earlier than we ever have before, without Daddy in the house to urge everyone on). We got to school later than I would have liked, in the rain, without a rain coat. We arrived at her classroom door where I was hoping to snap a couple of pictures of her with her teacher, maybe get a shot of her with Patrick and me, and be able to have a minute of hugs and well wishes for the day.

Instead, there was a MASS of kids, teachers, and parents in the hallway, all trying to go different places and of course we couldn't get anywhere with a baby stroller and 3 year old in tow. Elena walked into the classroom on her own (after a few questioning glances to me about what she should do while I returned her looks with uncertainty myself), the teacher's assistant helped her put her things away and a clump of parents huddled together near the door snapping last minute photos as their little ones gathered on the carpet and the teacher waved to us.

And that was it! In that flurry of activity, my little girl officially started her job as a student. It wasn't until I got to the car that I realized I never even said goodbye to her. I worried about whether I caused her to be nervous, if my insecurities affected her, if she knew how very much I loved her. Then I got home and loaded this picture onto my computer:

And again the tears began to flow. But this time, it was because of what the Lord revealed to me through this image. In SO many ways, this picture tells the entire story. She wasn't looking at me. She didn't need to look at me. She was intent on her teacher. She had a smile on her face and was excited about what lay ahead for her, never once looking back.

Though our job is FAR from done as Mommy and Daddy, today has taught me that we've done pretty good this far. She is a happy, confident, responsible little girl who knows she is loved and knows she has a job to do. That was evident in the way she walked into the classroom this morning, and evident in her prayer last night, "God help me to show love to my friends and teachers in my class and help me to put others first." I think I am truly learning what it is to have your heart outside your body today. But as much as I love this girl, I know that God loves her more. She isn't mine, she is His, and He has just entrusted her to us for a short time.

Thank you, Lord for this precious, crazy gift of parenthood and for teaching me so many things through my children. Thank you for being faithful and answering my prayer today. You were there with me the entire way. You reminded me of her sweet and simple prayer last night that so perfectly mirrored my own prayer for her this morning and even when the master deceiver tried to trick me into thinking I had it all wrong, you blessed me with this beautiful image of this strong 5-year old little girl that belongs to you.

Hope Blankets...a FREE Taggie Lovey tutorial

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I feel so honored to be a part of what the Lord is doing for orphans through a dear family at our church. They are getting ready to make the journey to China to pick up their TWO precious babies! To see their story, follow their blog here.

In preparation for their journey, the ladies at our church will be making Hope Blankets for them to take to China. People will be able to sponsor a blanket and pray over them. The funds raised from the sponsorship will go directly to providing formula and diapers to the orphans there. What an amazing way to bless some babies!

Below is a step-by-step tutorial for the Taggie Lovey blankets we will be making. The tutorial is designed for a beginning sewer so it should be pretty easy to follow. You can also download a pdf copy here. Let me know if you have any questions!

Materials:

  

·         13" x 13" Square of Solid color fabric

·         13" x 13" Square of printed fabric

·         4 contrasting & complementary ribbons (20" of each)

·         Sewing machine

·         pins

·         needles

·         scissors

·         a pencil, chop stick, or pen for turning the corners

·         ruler/measuring tape

·         iron/ironing board

Recommended Fabrics:

solid color soft or textured fabric like fleece, minky, velvet, corduroy etc.

colorful, bright, fun printed cotton fabric

Cutting and Preparing:

Cutting the fabric

First, make sure the cotton print is pressed and neat. This will make it easier to cut and work with.
Align one corner of the fabric with a straight edge and trim the edges to even them out if needed.
Measure a 13" x 13" square and cut the length and width
Repeat the above steps for cutting the solid color, textured fabric. (do NOT press the textured fabric)

Cutting the Ribbons

A quick way to cut the ribbon is to stack them all up together. Measure 5" lengths and cut with scissors or rotary cutter. Cut four 5" lengths of each of your four ribbons.

 Pinning the Ribbons:

On the RIGHT side of the PRINTED fabric square, space out your four ribbons evenly starting and ending 3" from the corners.
Fold your ribbons in half, RIGHT sides out, and pin to the RIGHT side of the PRINTED fabric square. Make sure the cut edges of the ribbon are even with the cut edges of the fabric. Pin with the sharp point of the pins facing outward (this keeps the large part from interfering with the presser foot of the machine in later steps).

Sewing the Blanket:

Securing the Ribbons

Starting on one corner, use a regular straight stitch around one edge of the fabric about 1/4″ from the edge to secure the ribbons.
When you get 1/4" from the first corner, leave your needle in the downward position and raise your presser foot.
Rotate the fabric, lower the presser foot, and continue along the next side
repeat the steps above until you have completed all four sides
Remove pins and trim threads

Pinning it all Together

Lay your second piece of fabric on top of the piece with the ribbons. Make sure the RIGHT sides are TOGETHER, so that the ribbons are sandwiched in between.
Pin the two pieces together around the edges with the sharp points of the pins facing out. (The more pins the better on this step to keep that pesky fabric from moving around too much as you sew).
In the middle of one side, leave about a 3" gap between the pins. This will act as your guide for where you leave the hole for turning later.

Sewing the two Together

Use a 1/2" seam and start in the MIDDLE (to the outside of the SECOND pin in the 3" gap).
Using a straight stitch, sew forward two or three stitches then back stitch 2 or three stitches to secure the seam
Continue sewing all the way to the first corner until you are 1/2" from the edge
As you did when sewing the ribbons, leave your needle in a downward position and raise your presser foot.
Rotate the fabric and continue along the next side.
Repeat the steps above until you get about 3" from the start of your seam.
Back stitch and forward stitch a couple of stitches to secure the end of the seam.
Remove your pins and trim your threads.

Turning the Blanket

Cut the four corners of the blanket close to the stitching to make the points less bulky when it is turned.
Turn the entire blanket right side out through the hole left when sewing.
Using a pencil, chopstick, or pen with cap, carefully push out the corners of the blanket from the inside until they are nice and square.
Flatten out the blanket and finger press the edges.
Line up the area where you left the opening for turning and pin it generously.

Finishing the Blanket

(If you want your thread that is seen to match, now is the time to change your top thread or your bobbin thread)

With 1/4" seam, start at one corner and top stitch (sew a straight stitch across the top edge of the fabric). Begin with a forward and back stitch to secure the seam.
Be sure that the 3" opening is sewn securely when you reach that point (edges are pinned nicely and not coming out).
Pivot at each corner as you did in previous steps.
Continue until you reach the corner where you started.
Forward and backstitch to secure the seam.
Trim the threads, remove the pins and you are done!

Some other helpful Links to Get to Know your Machine and Sewing Terminology

http://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Sewing-Machine

http://inspirewireblog.com/basic-sewing-terms-for-beginners/

http://www.life123.com/hobbies/sewing-quilting/sewing/sewing-terms-you-need-to-know.shtml