Bible Study

I think I mentioned this before, but I joined a local MOPS group this year. If you don't know what MOPS is, it's Mothers of Preschoolers. It's totally different from my MOMS Club because it's all faith-based. At first, I wasn't sure if I'd like that aspect of it, but as the year has gone on, I've found myself really looking forward to my MOPS Thursdays.

Every other week, I go to a local church and meet with other moms of preschoolers. Hugh goes to their nursery with other kiddos his age and he plays for two hours while we meet in fellowship. There's always food (there's a sign-up and at least once during the year you're asked to bring something). There's usually a craft, and there's always some theme for the week.

Yesterday I had MOPS and we discussed a book that we were all given at Christmas as a gift. I wish I had started reading the book sooner than Tuesday (lol), but I was able to read about 100 pages of the book and had enough info from it to participate in the conversation during the MOPS meeting.

Something interesting came from yesterday's meeting. While reading the book that we were to discuss, I found myself asking a lot of questions and questioning things. Mainly, "Am I the only person that doesn't hear God when I talk to Him or ask questions?" I know prayers are answered in their own time, and I can usually look back and see reasons for things, but I've never had a flat out discussion with God with back and forth.

I asked the women at my table if any of them had experienced this. In the book, the author discussed her many conversations with God and Him talking to her. Like, for real, legit talking to her. 

To my surprise, the women at my table had all had some kind of conversation with God and had heard answers in some form. One said she has had arguments with God (lol) and clear as day knew she was hearing the voice of God through different means. Another shared that she hasn't had a voice, but has been lead to follow God by different signs that she's learned to pay attention to. Another said she just follows God's lead by reading various passages in the Bible, or will head a voice in her head saying to read different verses and she knows that's God talking to her.

I was dumbfounded. I have never had an experience like this. Then we talked more about the Bible and I admitted that I don't know the Bible, don't read it, and wasn't raised reading it. I was Catholic after all. They all agreed that the beginning should start with the Bible and it's never too late to start.

One of the ladies said she had something for me and would give it to me at the end of the meeting. We made cards as our craft, said our intentions and prayed for all that were shared, and then we were done. She said she'd meet me down at the nursery (where I was heading to get Hugh) and when I came out with Hugh, she gave me a women's devotion book and an audio book thingy that I can listen to in my car.

I was really overwhelmed by her kindness and gave her a big hug. I texted Brittany after and told her about the meeting and the discussion and we got to talking about Bible Study. She suggested we do one together.

I honestly feel like God works in amazing ways. I asked Britt if we should ask some of our other friends and see if they'd be interested in doing a women's Bible Study together and she said absolutely. I emailed a few friends last night, and we now have a group of seven that will be starting our Bible Study on April 13th!

The book that's above is the one that we'll be starting with. It sounded interesting and I like Jen Hatmaker (I follow her blog). I'm eager to deepen my relationship with God, and to experience the fellowship that comes from sharing and opening up with friends. 


I feel so fortunate to have people that I can depend on and that support me. I think we'll all grow and connect even more through our Bible Studies together!!

I'll be sure to post again once we start and share how it's going!!

End of the Year

The end of the year came upon us quite quickly. Gus had such a wonderful experience at Lake Windward this last year and we really went into it uncertain, but came away feeling so happy that we trusted our guts to do the best for him. We have seen so much growth in his speech, it's remarkable.

When we had his fall IEP (in October because he had met all the goals set in May of 2013), I asked his speech therapist about how far behind he was. She said he was about a year and a half to two years delayed. When we had his May IEP, she said he was about six months behind his peers. Talk about growth!!

We were able to add OT to his IEP. His teacher spent the whole year trying different interventions (as is how things are done now days in the education world) and collected and plotted data and then tried more interventions and more data collection... and finally, after trying so many and not seeing the results that she felt were warranted, we were finally able to add OT for the fall. :-)  This should help him with being so squirmy, strengthening his core muscles, and teaching him strategies for staying focused.

Gus had his first field trip and Steve and Hugh and I were able to attend. We walked over to Webb Bridge Park (just around the corner from his school). It was a great trip!

Gus and Cameron, Nikki, and James walking into the school ready for their 1st ever field trip!

Gus and James

Meera and Hugh

Gus had a blast with his two 5th grade friends (they're helpers in the special needs preschool classes)

Steve pulling Hewy in the wagon :-)

Gus holding Ms. Amanda's hand as they walked back to the school

Gus also got to participate in his first ever Field Day!! I wasn't there to help, but his teacher sent some pictures of Gus during field day:

That's a happy boy right there

For the end of the year, his teacher had a party (the day before the last day) and I was able to go to that. The last day of school was sad for me. Gus wasn't aware of what it all meant, but I was. Throughout the summer, as we've been by his old school, he's asked to go see Ms. Amanda and all his friends. It breaks my heart to know that he'll never go back and will never see them all again as his classmates. 

Gus and Ms. Amanda

Gus on the last day of school

We will miss our friends at Lake Windward Elementary, but are eager to see what being a Medlock Bridge Mustang will like! I'll be going on Tuesday to register Gus as an official mustang... and the beginning of a new chapter will start on August 11th!

4th Birthday!

Gus's cupcake cake

For Gus's fourth birthday, we decided to do a bowling theme. I had taken him bowling a few months before and he really enjoyed it, so I decided to look into how much it'd be for a party. Turns out, it was pretty affordable and I was hooked!

I created his invitations myself, and I think they turned out really cute.

We invited ten of his closest friends, and decided on cosmic bowling on Saturday, May 10th. I had thought of doing it on his actual birthday (Sunday), but it was Mother's Day, so we opted for Saturday instead.

We've decided to do a birthday shirt each year, and I love the one I got for Gus for his 3rd and then I got Hugh the same one for his 1st. Each year, when Gus has his birthday, we'll get his, and then when Hugh has his birthday, he'll get the matching shirt. I plan to eventually have a quilt made for each boy once they're older, and use those birthday shirts in the quilts.

Anyway, Gus was able to wear his new shirt for his bowling party. We were excited to have Steve's dad and Sue Ann come down for Gus's birthday. They came on Thursday and stayed until Sunday morning. It was such a great help for them to come, and they were able to keep Hugh occupied while we focused on Gus and his party.

This is the set-up

Gus and his BFF, Meera

Gus and his buddy Garner

Hugh and his grandpa

The fog machine kicked on and then the lights went out and it was a party!

Gus got a REAL bowling pin as a keepsake and each child autographed it for him

Hugh and his buddy Grey

Cameron and James with their mom, Nikki (they were in Gus's class this last year)

Gus's good friend Gage

Of course, Miss Aubree was there to celebrate with us :-)

After the kids bowled for an hour and a half, we headed to the arcade. Each child was given a MEGA coin to put into the token machine, and then it spit out $3 in tokens. It was so awesome. The kids had a blast in the arcade!!

Putting his MEGA coin into the machine

We learned that Gus needs some practice with driving- thankfully we have 11 years before that's an issue

Gus and Gage playing air hockey

The party was wonderful. Everyone had drinks, pizza, cupcakes, and the kids each left with a big bowling pin-shaped sipper with a straw. It was a lot of fun and we enjoyed being able to watch Gus have fun with his friends.

We got home and decided to open his birthday presents while Grandpa and Nana were still with us. Gus was overwhelmed with all the nice things that his friends gave him for his birthday.

Aubree gave him a hand-made Lego box!! It came with Legos inside!!

Logan gave Gus a special Pluto from Wilderness Lodge-- he got it while in WDW just the week before!

We gave Gus a Buzz Lightyear

It was a fun birthday and we had a great time celebrating four amazing years. It makes me sad to think he's already four, but he's an amazing little boy and I cherish each day with him!!