Easier to breathe

So here we are or at least I am (being sappy old sentimental me)…at the end of another school year with 3 kiddos.  The youngest finishing elementary school and the oldest actually attending his last day of high school (TODAY) and the middle finishing her first year of high school with her last day of warm car rides and morning talks with her big brother. It has been another amazing school year with awesome teachers, encouraging role models, and folks caring for my kids. And now the house is filling with a couple of our parents coming in for graduation on Friday.  And I am thankful for everyday of it and will surely miss these days, longing for when it wasn’t as complicated or as crazy as I thought or felt that it was.

Spring is definitely a busy time for me (and many others I am sure) starting shortly after Christmas.  You have to prepare for the end of the year. I know I start preparing for the end of Afterschool and how our Sunday School will look during the summer.  We have Spring Break, Easter, Christmas in April, prom, plays, awards with a few minutes to breathe in between before we are on to the next. This year we tackled Student Ministry Sunday (aka “Children’s Sunday”) on Mother’s Day with the hopes of finding new volunteers to be there for our/your children.  I wrapped up Building Better Moms for the year on Monday with the help of 30 something of my girlfriends by having an end of year party and opening registration for next year. I, also, threw in a conference in Atlanta just to add to the mix of chaos to better prepare for the new curriculum that we will be launching soon. We had a first meeting for VBS and what that will look like.  The list goes on and on.

I know that I am not the only one that feels weighed down and crazy at times and trying to keep everyone’s schedule figured out and work figured out.  I love the craziness though. I know that I am a part of a beyond amazing church and church family with my own built in folks caring for me and encouraging me.  I know that I will not have to do it all by myself. I am so fortunate that I have been surrounded by some of the most amazing co-workers, best volunteers and new volunteers joining me along the way.  I am so, so thankful for all of them.

Every experience is a learning experience whether it is a personal or professional one. There was a lot to learn from each thing that I have been involved in with work and never ending things to learn while raising our kids. The rules change every day.  Life changes every day.

I can say, though, even though we haven’t launched the new curriculum and I haven’t survived graduation yet (which, really, I am convinced that I won’t…how does a parent do that?!?!), I can see the light on the other side of the tunnel and I only feel slightly in over my head not as anxious about what is still to come.  It is easier to breathe…just a little bit.

Things haven’t always gone as I have hoped or even believed that they would this year.  There have been a few bumps and bruises along the way and I might have wiped a few of my own tears, but we have (almost) made it and I am excited for the next adventure that will come our way.  And hey, it’s almost summer!