#6 - New Beginnings

New beginnings. Second chances. Sometimes third and fourth chances. And sometimes more. We're wrapping up a chapter. Turning a page. Ending a tough time. A very rough time. In many ways, the hardest time that I've had as a parent. I've learned to trust God with my most precious belongings at a deeper level than ever before. My child. My children. But we have kept moving. We are leaving behind the bad and moving on with the good that we have learned from it all. And we are preparing for a new experience. A good experience. Hopefully, a great experience. That's what we are doing. We are learning from the place that we've been. Hoping that we've learned lessons that we'll never have to learn again. Moving on to a place that will be much better for our family. We hope. And what else do we have, beyond hope.

#5 - Time With Her

Time with Allie is some of my best time spent. Always has been. Since she was a baby girl, big bow on her head, strolling through the mall with me. Today, we have worked to solve a problem. Worked hard. All the while asking God to teach us through this hard time. Don't let this struggle be a waste. And I know it won't be. He is faithful. Always. And we have laughed. And we ate soup. And laughed some more. And while every picture I took of her today involved her stubborn little hand up in front of her face, she snapped this one of me. And we thought it was cool. Like her.

#4 - Morning Carpool

Beautiful sky.  Coffee.  More importantly, coffee creamer.  Seat warmers.  A dependable car.  Happy kids.  The jokes they tell.  The questions they ask.  The conversations I overhear.  The sounds of studying.  And laughing.  The teachable moments.  The scenic drive.  The ponds, and horses, and golf course, and bridges.  The school that is our destination.  The ones that work there that love my children.  The Christian environment in which they get to learn.  The friends that they have there.  Visiting with long time friends.  And new friends.  The quiet that awaits me when I return to my car after drop off.  The peace that I have in knowing that I have left them in good hands.