Summer is here and things are a changing

So many changes happening in our house and in my heart these days. . .

The last few weeks were a whirlwind of end of the school year activities for all three kids. Each of the kiddos had a great year for different reasons.

Linzi completed her first year of preschool and conquered her fear of separation. Except for one setback a couple weeks earlier, she did phenomenally well. It helps to have the sweetest, most sensitive teachers and staff too. :D

Mandi finished her first year of middle school and continues to stroke our parental egos with her perfect grades, self motivation and achievements. Let's just say she did really well at the awards ceremony. My oldest daughter is growing into a sensitive, intelligent and beautiful young lady. The world will be her oyster and with her talents and determination, I have no doubt that she will reach her dreams.

Alex finished 8th grade and proved to himself this year just how much he is capable of. He is and always will be my miracle child, my heart and my joy. I am beyond proud when I look at how far he has come this year. Being in a smaller classroom environment was a very good thing for him. We are not sure what direction we are going next year, still working on that one. If only I could get this kid a gig in Hollywood. . . seriously. He is a natural. :D

Alex's last day of school was also DH's last day of work as he knew it. Because he has accepted a position with the competitor, he was promptly walked out and given a paid two week vacation instead of completing a two week notice. :D The timing was perfect since the kids were getting out of school, so we packed up and headed to the beach for the last week. This time we went to the Destin area, which is our favorite of all our beach haunts. There are no prettier beaches, unless you go to the islands. The hubby started his new position yesterday and we are feeling very hopeful of what the future holds for this new chapter of his career.

Moving - we are definitely moving within the next year. We just don't know where! Our plan is to let the kids complete the coming up school year where we are now and ride it out until the spring. We will either relocate to Florida (anywhere in the state - it's our choice!), move to a different side of town or to a bigger house in our general area. Honestly, I have no preference as to which way it turns out. I am trusting God to lead us where we need to be.

And finally, I am changing in many ways too. I have felt a tug in my heart for a long time, I am trying to figure out what that tug means. More on that when I have clear answers. There is so much need in this world and I cannot just continue living so comfortably when so many are not.

My children's needs are each changing as they are growing and each one of them is completely unique. Some I can blog about publicly and some I cannot. There is so much I want to say, document, discuss and dwell on. But for the sake of their privacy, I can not do it here. I am thinking of going private again. As much as I love blogging and the opportunities I have had to "meet" other bloggers, I am becoming increasingly uncomfortable with being accessible to anyone who happens to stumble by. I may keep this blog for pictures and general news and start a private blog also. I would love to discuss the more personal side of parenting and talk about things such as international adoption related issues on a more personal level, parenting gifted and LD gifted children, daily struggles related to such and so on. These are the things we live in our house but don't feel comfortable sharing openly and publicly. Lately, the LD issue has taken a bigger place in our lives. We have decisions to make that will affect college options and our child's entire future. It is crunch time and if my child is to achieve all the potential that God has placed there, we have to support and learn to let go in new ways.

So that's a small bit of what has been going on here. I hope all is well with you. I miss my blogger friends. I haven't dropped off the face of the Earth, we are just living life here. Life is good and we are blessed in so many ways. There are so many tragedies lately, like the China earthquakes and Chapman family. My heart hurts deeply. I did not write about the Chapmans because it hit home to deeply for me. I did not lose a child that way, but I witnessed a mother in an emergency room watch her child die from the very same type of accident many years ago. She was the one who was driving too. That day changed me and I have never forgotten it, every single time I pull out of my driveway, I think about it. When I heard the news of the Chapman family, it might as well have happened to a dear friend. It hurts and my prayers have been with them constantly, especially Will.

Hugs to all and beach pictures to come, maybe later today.