W.O.W.

Last week when the girls returned to school, Mike asked me if I felt lonely.

I responded that I didn't really.

I mean I missed the girls a lot, but I still have Brandon to keep me company.

Well, that all changed yesterday! Brandon has started preschool.

Two hours for 3 days a week. Really not too big of a deal.

But, yesterday, he went to his friend, Matthew's, house right after preschool.

I didn't have any kids with me from 9:45am to 2:25pm!

It was the weirdest feeling......

I walked around the house in circles. Not productive at all. I used to always think that if I could just have the kids somewhere else for a few hours, then I would get so much done.

Not yesterday!

I spent time talking to friends on the phone and

slowly cleaning up our bedroom.

That's it!

I feel like a chapter in my life is over.

The part where I have small children with needs that consume my entire day.

Now, ALL my children are busy.

They all have little lives that exist beyond Mommy.

And although a part of my heart aches because I will miss them being little,

I can't help but rejoice in the fact that

Brandon LOVES preschool.

A huge smile accompanies his return each day as he tells me what they did at school.

"We played Duck, (pause), Duck (more pausing), GOOSE!"

I try to share my day with Brandon,

but it isn't as interesting to him as Duck, Duck, Goose was to me.

I rejoice in the fact that

Sydney LOVES school and has a fun teacher who gets that little ones need to be social and chat. She encourages it! Bless her.

I'm so glad that Sydney has found her fears from the week before to be unfounded.

She misses me because she's gone all day, but she can do it!

And she's thriving!

I rejoice in the fact that

Amanda is happy!

In this time of her life, as her body is changing and most of her friends are not,

I see her embracing her tallness! (She's a good head taller than all her friends).

I see her confident and able to handle the little issues that come with growing up.

I love that she can play soccer and then turn around and do ballet and sing/act.

And for now, she still likes her parents.

She still comes for big, long hugs and wants to talk.

I rejoice in the fact that

Mikey gets it.

He knows what I'm talking about.

He loves our kids, too.

And when there is a time that I can't 'deal' he steps right in

and

saves the day.

I think maybe I have been able to ponder a little more this week.

Perhaps that's the reason for the post.

Most of the time I feel too busy to think.

But I have been thinking

and I know

I have a great life!