Doing better at this blog is a new goal. I am trying to organize my time so that at least once a week, I journal here my thoughts and the goings on in my household.

We are back in the swing of the school mode, I guess. Ethan started 3rd grade yesterday. It was the first year that I didn't stay home to get him on the bus. That was hard for me, but he seemed to take it in stride. First day jitters weren't a problem. Ethan's school loops, so he has the same teacher and kids in his class this year that he did last year. No anxiety with that at least.

I did, however, get a call from the school. The dreaded first day call.... Ethan was stung by a yellow jacket. I guess he and other boys from his class had stumbled on a nest in the "peace garden." Not so peaceful yesterday. He got iced down and covered in baking soda toothpaste. He managed to breathe in and out like we practiced and made it back to the classroom.

I wonder sometimes how to prepare he and Hope for all that is coming. I've lately been teaching a lot more a reliance on the truth that God is always with them. We have been praying more on the spur of the moment for things big and small.

Charlie and I go tonight to meet Hope's preschool teacher and see the classroom. Hope will be going to preschool two mornings a week. Ugg... she's only 3. I'm not ready for this. She also has taken to dressing herself in the morning in the most delightful outfits. They make me smile, so I actually let her get out the door with them. Except for Sundays... we have to have some standards for church.

I have been reading a lot lately. How much is actually absorbing, I don't know. I have also been struggling to "be there" for Charlie. He is discouraged about a lot right now and I haven't done the greatest job of lifting him up. It's something I have struggled with for the whole almost 10 years of our marriage. You would think I would have learned how to by now.

I have learned this week that my children are very different beings. Now, I knew that before this week, but it has really hit home. Ethan, who is now 8, has always entertained himself. Even as a baby, he would sit quietly in his bouncey seat and eye the toys hanging from the activity bar. As he grew, he was fascinated with building and books. I could sit him in the living room and he would stay put happily exploring his toy basket.

Now, Hope, on the other hand has never sit still. She needs to be right on my leg all the time. She doesn't play by herself at all. Her toys do not keep her attention. Her brothers toys do not keep her attention after the initial thrill of having one of the forbidden toys wears off. Only other people really hold her attention. She thrives on interaction, relationships and sharing. Not so strange considering that she is a girl and genetically linked to me. However, occasionally it would be nice for her to entertain herself for a few minutes.

This week has been one of the longest of my life. I can't wait for the boys to return, so Hope will have more people to interact with.

In other news, Baby Stump arrives today. If it is a girl it will be Anna Jean Stump and if it's a boy it will be Jesse Andrew Stump. Either way, it will be our godchild. And it will be loved beyond measure.