I think it's Going to Be Good

I never thought that I would say this, but I think that Kindergarten is going to be good. All summer I have been toying with the idea of holding William back a year. In Ohio, it is the thing to do. I have prayed, talked to every parent I have ever met since living here (most I didn't even know), and talked to James about what we should do. Suffice it to say, the boy who was the first to call me mommy, journeyed out to start a life of his very own today. With his school uniform, he didn't have much say on what he was going to wear, but luckily, we were able to find a super cool spiderman backpack, and of course, he chose his spiderman underoos. William and I knelt for prayer this morning and I prayed that William could remember that if he was scared or shy or felt any other bad feeling, that he could pray and ask Heavenly Father for help. As we walked into his classroom, he simply put his backpack in his locker and went to find a seat. I didn't even cry. I knew that he was going to be just fine. We went home and we started the day...without our bugaboo.
We returned to pick him up at 2:30 and I was so anxious to hear his first words. I found him in the crowd and called out to him. He coudn't see or hear me. I saw him looking around. It was as if I was a lost parent and he a lost boy in a crowded airport. I held out my hand and he saw a glance of me through a dozen other anxious parents. I grabbed him up in my arms and held him as tight as I could. He hugged me back as hard as he could...and we just sat there embracing for quite some time. I was holding my little boy who called me mommy and I never wanted to let go. It was official. He was a kindergartner. I can only pray and hope that I did everything I could to teach him to make good choices, be a kind friend, and respect authority. As we were walking back to the van, I was holding his hand in one hand, Naomi's car seat in the other and I was yelling at Jake to stop running in the street. Life was perfect...the same as usual. He looked up and said, "..and mom, I only had to say a prayer one time." I held back tears and I thought to myself, "yes, this just may be a good thing."




With William at school, Naomi, Jake and I went on a hike with some friends. I had to document Jake's outfit that he has been wearing every day. It includes Spider-man moon boots, Spiderman swin truncks and a Spidey T-shirt. We inherited these awesome clothes from someone we don't even know. A friend of a friend of a friend gave us some of her used clothes. I am so grateful...more Spiderman apparel. Sweet.
Naomi is getting so big. She loves her Bumbo...every three-month old needs one these days. Apparently, it's the new thing. I even prop her up in the high chair so she can eat dinner with us and I let her sit in her jumperoo. She has been such a blessing for us. She is the Best baby in the world and I can lay her in her crib and she falls asleep...and I haven't done anything different with her than my other kids. She was just born a blessing and contunues to be one.

Tender Mercies of the Lord

I will never hesitate to pay my tithing again. The Lord's Tender Mercies have never been more apparent to the Ford Family than now. To start off, I was informed that Jakey could NOT start preschool unless FULLY potty-trained. Anyone who knows Jakey, knows that he does not do anything until he is good and ready. We have tried numerous times to potty train this kid, and have failed in all attempts. We know, as well as him, that he could do it. He has done it before and quit, stating, "I'm just too small." I took matters to the Lord. For a solid week I pleaded with the Lord to help Jake have a desire to be a "Big Boy." During this time, I had a revelation. Obsessed with Spiderman and frequently upset becasue his spidey suit was always in the wash, I decided to offer him a new spidey suit (so he could always have a clean one) if he could show me he was a big boy. The week went off and on, but by Saturday, it seemed as if he got it. I was ecstatic. Than I went numb. Did we really have $25 for a new spidey suit? I knew I would have to do it, but the money was an issue. I threw all 3 kids in the car and headed to the Akron neighborhood garage sales. I stopped at one sale, and asked how to get to the one that I was looking for. We found the sale. It didn't look like much, but I let the kids get out...yes, all three of them. We walked down to the first driveway. Sitting there on a blanket I saw a blessing from the Lord. A spidey suit...red, blue and perfect for a newly potty trained three year old. I held it up for Jake to see. His big, bright, brown eyes popped out of his head as he ran to it and gave it a hug! "How much," I asked? "$.50" It was unbelievable. Before we got to the car, I had stripped Jake down to his underroos, and he had his new Spider suit on with pride. Never have you seen such a happy little boy. His grin was ear to ear and his eyes shone with joy. Who says that materialistic spidey suits cannot bring us great joy? To me, it was the joy of a loving Heavenly Father knowing what I needed. I held up my son for the past-owner to see. "He couldn't wait," I shouted to the older boy who sold it to us. I felt as if I was literally holding up a gift from the Lord; a spidey suit with a wiggly three year old body dancing inside of it. A couple weeks later I was looking at our finances. I called James at the hospital. "Do you think that we shoud cut our fast offering in half?" I asked, wondering what he would say in our grave condition. He was silent for a moment, and than responded, "are you serious?" "Not really, I said, but I just don't see how we are going to make it?" James reminded me that tithing was not an option, but a commandment. Things will work out, he reminded me...they always have. The very next day, we recieved a phone call about a large sum of money that we had not yet used. I nearly started crying. Never will I doubt again. Another Tender Mercy? Indeed. My post-partum anxiety has never been so manageable. I took the Lord's advice and did all that I could do to prepare and manage my trial. He came through more than I ever expected. I have barely struggled since the birth of my beautiful baby girl...a blessing in and of itself, or the move to Ohio, buying a new house, and seeing James less than I ever have before. I was barely holding on after Jake was born and another child was not an option for a long period of time. We, at the Ford housled have experienced many Tender Mercies of the Lord the last few months. The Gospel is not here to take away our problems, it is here to help us get through them. Spiderman would agree.