The Last One

My heart is filled with all kinds of emotions, today.

Today was the last time I'll have to say goodbye to my new kindergartener on their first day.  

We decided to stop having kids after two.  The second one nearly killed me.  For real.  

When she started kindergarten, I had a job lined up and was ready to start the next leg of my journey as a mom - the everyone's in school now, leg.  I was ready and excited and looking forward to the new adventure.

But then...... 

Quin.  The encore.

I had to start over.  I had the sweet opportunity to experience so many firsts, all over, again.  

He's in 3rd grade, now.  And his little brother, the grand finale in our brood, is experiencing his very first day of kindergarten.  And here I am, again.  The everyone's in school now, place.

Summer wasn't long enough.  Never is. 

My heart and the rooms of my home feel empty.  My oldest two have yet to start their school year... that I am certainly not looking forward to.   

A quiet house with no kids is just depressing.  

But these tubes have done been tied.  No more encores or grand finales, for this fam.  So, I just need to suck-it-up-buttercup and keep moving forward.  

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go wipe my tears and try to get some work done.

God's Hands

Something happened, the other day.

I was headed to my older kids' new school to exchange some uniform shirts - something I almost didn't do, that day, because of the distance and my current gas situation.  But, I felt the need to go, so I did.

As I was waiting in traffic, I noticed the car two cars in front of me was stopped.  Everyone, else, was going.  My first reaction was frustration - I was on a bit of a time crunch.

That's when the driver flew out of the car, throwing her ice cream cone (poor ice cream cone).  She turned to us (the cars behind her) and mouthed the words, "Help me!", wildly gesturing with her arms.

Immediately, I put my car in park and jumped out to run to her.  She was trying to get the back door of her mini van to stay open (it was an electronic-sliding door).  Her husband had fallen out of his wheelchair in the back of her van and she couldn't get him back in, by herself.  She was freaking out - worried about the traffic and not being able to find the hazard lights button.  I told her traffic can wait.  Between the two of us, her adrenaline, and what strength her poor husband could muster, we were able to get him back in his chair.

As I walked back to my car, I noticed the car between us just took off.  Didn't even ask if we needed help.  Unbelievable.

No one, else, stopped.  They had plenty of time to, and they didn't.

I cried all the way to the school, making it in record time (they were about to close).

I was God's hands, that day.

He sees us.  He knew that lady would need help and that He couldn't be there, in person, so He would need someone to stand in His place.

I got to be that person.

He sees our needs, even the small ones.  He's our Father and wants to do what any parent would want to do - help His children when they're hurt or scared or need help lifting their heavy husband.

When we need a hug, He wants to give us one.  When we're crying, He wants to comfort us and tell us everything will be ok.  When we're happy, He wants to celebrate with us.  He wants to be here.  And He can be.... through us.  That's why we're here - to be His hands.  I so love that I got to be.

I hope she got to replace her ice cream cone.  💙