The New Bed and Crawling

A couple of weeks ago, Halle came to me and wanted to know why she was the only one who did not have a big girl bed in the house. Halle sleeps in a toddler bed and Grace in a twin. My heart sank. I felt so bad for her. She told me she wanted a big girl bed. I knew right then I was going to start looking for a bed for her. Tim and I tossed around the idea of bunk beds, and for many reasons decided they were not for us. So, the choices were a twin for Halle or a full for both of them to sleep in. I was leaning towards the twin for Halle, but after measuring everything in their room, the twin would fit, but it would look really awkward in there. To top it off we wouldn't have been able to leave the dresser in there. The room is really big, but with the way the door, window, and closet are placed there are not many options to work with. All that being said, we decided to go with the full bed. They have slept in a full bed before, and did really well with it. We figure if it doesn't work, that bed will eventually go in the spare room down stairs. Tim picked up the mattresses today, but the headboard and footboard are not in yet. Tonight is their first night in their bed together. I can tell Halle feels like a big girl. That makes me so happy! They are in there laughing and talking as I type this. It brings joy to my soul after a long day today!! Here are some pictures of them before we turned the lights off. And now, one of my big Halle girl!! So happy to be in her big girl bed!

I also wanted to add that Avery started crawling today. Today is my Mom's birthday. What a nice treat for my Mom. Avery showed off her new skill tonight for Mom as we celebrated her birthday. I know my Mom missed celebrating her birthday with her Mom today, but what an awesome remembrance of the Lord giving and taking away. Once again I am reminded of my Grandma through Avery Margaret!

Change

I have been wanting to start this blog for weeks now and haven't been able to come up with a title for it. I finally have it and feel like this title is appropriate for my life. We are in a constant state of change. As I tucked Gracie into bed tonight, and a tear slid down my cheek, I once again was reminded of change. So, I came right to the computer and started my blog. Tomorrow I send my little (big!) girl to preschool. Tim and I can't believe she is old enough for this. Where have the 4 1/2 years gone (almost 5)? I remember having her in the hospital, not realizing what was ahead for us and this little girl. Would we ever get over acid reflux? Would she ever sleep through the night? Would she ever get her first tooth?? (When she was good and ready - 16 months old!) Would she ever listen? Would she stop throwing tantrums and screaming fits? We have made it though a lot of these issues, but there are many we are still working on, and many yet to come. I can say though, she is a sweet, loving, caring little girl. What a blessing she is to this family.

This preschool decision was a quick one for us and it is now hitting me hard! All along we had thought we would home school. Because of this we were not thinking about preschool. We then felt like the Lord was directing us in another direction, and we feel (at this time) homeschooling is not for us. We then talked about preschool last year and decided not to send her this year, for various reasons. It was a decison we thought about, talked about, and prayed about. We both felt not to send her. The day after Labor Day - this year - I felt an unbelievable sense that she needed to be in preschool. I now know it was the Lord directing me. We of course could not get her into the school we thought she should be at. After 2 weeks of looking and knocking on different doors, an opening came up at a school that Gracie's best friend goes too. We went up the next day, looked at it and met her teacher. We made the decision the following day to send her. This is where God wants her, not where I thought she should be, but where He wants her. So, as I say good-bye to her tomorrow, I do it with so many mixed emotions. But, I know it is God's plan and God's timing. His ways are higher than our ways.

Like I said in the beginning, I have been trying to come up with a blog title for weeks. I went to Bible study this past Wednesday and the lady speaking said this year's theme would be around change. It hit me then that this was to be my blog title. Over the last two years, our family has gone through a ton of change. I won't get into it now, but a year ago I was sitting in church and the Lord spoke to me though the song:

"Blessed Be Your Name" -

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
In the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

It is was right then and there I chose to say "Blessed be Your Name". I don't understand some of the things we have gone through, but I am comforted in knowing He gives and He takes away. What a blessing this is to me.

Back to preschool - I am so excited for Grace. We love the school and love the teacher. It is such a blessing to us. It is so awesome to me to see Him work! So, as I kiss Gracie good-bye tomorrow morning, I will remember that change is constant. I will remember that this is God's will for our life, and I will remember to say "You give and take away, my heart will choose to say Lord, blessed be your name."