while pitting cherries...

Wow, pitting cherries looks like major surgery! I found a tip online to use a large paper clip and fish the pits out and i felt like i was removing organs and the red juice was staining my hands... Anyway, it took me a good 30 minutes to do a pound, and I got to thinking about something that happened today.

My daughter, Anna turned 3 in June and this has gotten Justin and me thinking about preschool. I had received a plethora of opinions on the topic and felt like I really needed to do my own research to see where I really stand.

I went today to a fairly new, but pretty affluent preschool nearby, where a friend of mine teaches, to get some information and they ended up taking Anna, Sawyer and I on a tour. This place was awesome! Each room had a theme based on a children's book and the lesson plans were posted on the door. These plans were described by the head of this school as being, "highly structured and highly academic." Two things we are looking for!

All this being said, the place was awesome, but probably out of our price range. The part of the day that really got me thinking, was when we were in the 4 year old room, with the kids while they were doing Learning centers. I can only assume that I was totally and completely beaming. The tour guide said, "Wow, it looks like you miss it." It, being teaching. I thought about this, and even though I miss teaching, it wasn't teaching that made me beam. It was school. At the risk of sounding like a total geek, I still must say it. School is Awesome! I love it and always have! The sense of community in a classroom, the excitement of learning and trying new things, the change of a new teacher every year, then every class period, the relationships, the playing, the opportunities to try, succeed at and even fail at, new things! I cannot wait for my little ones to experience it! I will be right beside them all the way to try and make sure they have a positive experience, and that they also learn from the tough days too.

I truly believe someday I will return to teaching, and probably teaching Spanish:) one of my passions, but for awhile, I will be content experiencing school through the eyes of my kids:)

I get by with a little help from my friends:)

One thing I love about the Midwest is people here are genuinely kind. Not just polite for appearances, but they have a genuine care for your well-being. I have heard this is especially true here in St. Louis.

In my case, I have an amazing group of girls who I have grown close to at my church, Matthias' Lot. I have found that as a mom and a wife, it is very difficult to maintain friendships if you are not at the same stage of life, or if your friends can't come to you. (IE: they are single, or without kids). Because of this difficulty, many people appreciate the closeness of family at this stage of life, due to their ability to be around with a moment's notice. Instead, we gather for bible study, play dates, and the occasional GNO (Girls' night out.) During these times, I am so encouraged by these women! They build me up, don't talk bad about their husbands, and offer to take the kids when i need a break. They support me and build my confidence as a wife and mom. They help me stay sane while my husband is working insane hours, and they listen to my struggles. These women are my family here.

My husband is very busy, but when he is home he is always saying, "You should go do something. Call someone and go see a movie or something!" The only problem with this is that, like me, my friends are also moms and can't just drop everything with a moment's notice to "hang out." My best friend and I each have a 3 year old girl and a 1 year old boy. This has been an amazing blessing in that our entire family can benefit from hanging out together. We have a great time together! We understand each other. She recently had her third baby, a boy:) He is completely adorable and snuggly and sweet, and gives me baby fever all over again! She got home from the hospital while I was out of town, so upon returning home, i was hit with the realization that a lot is changing. She is going to need help! 3 kids under 3! I already missed her! I knew that our times together were already mostly stolen away time on the phone during nap times and now I didn't even know a good time to call, or if she would have time to talk. Then, the sadness set in.

This is the girl who taught me how to be a true friend. She supports me when my family does not. She loves me and looks out for my well-being and doesn't judge me. I only hope I can bless her as much as she has blessed me. I know that her busyness isn't the end of our friendship. She has the uncanny ability to "do it all" and still know when her friends are in need. She is a sister to me and I thank God for her. So, now our times together will be play dates while wrestling our little ones and kissing boo-boos. Not too bad:) These are the days.