First Day of School!!

Today was the first day of school and the first year Parker and Tessa will be at the same school!!!

Parker was sooooo excited and it has been so fun to watch his excitement through this change.

Parkland Elementary...here they come!

Parker is in 3rd grade and Tessa will be in Kindergarten this year.  And little Weston is headed back to Ms. Kayla's to party with her and her precious twins!  

This year looks very different and it's exciting.

Some comparisons from last year to this year :)

Parker - last year in 2nd grade at Central Elementary!

Parker - this year in 3rd grade at Parkland Elementary!

Tessa - last year in Pre-k at St. John

Tessa - this year in Kindergarten at Parkland Elementary

Weston - little man was tiny and in a carrier last year!

Weston - this year...well this is all him!  

Excited for a daily routine at Ms. Kayla's with his buddies!

~Whitney

New Headbands!

Headband making in full effect!! Ready for some new big girl looks for school!! Yay for a spunky variety!!! One down, 3 to go.

Got a second band added and it looks so much better!!

I was taking pictures of her and big brother swooped in all adorable and stuff ;)

~Whitney

What He's Doing Next!

"A day at a time"
It helps me take deeper breaths and settle stronger in my faith.

The path we leaped for in Tessa's education 2 years ago was hard...the alternative made for an easier decision making process...but the emotional and financial unknowns were daunting.

While she was 4 and 5 years old, Tessa was included in a very typical learning environment...the timing was perfect, the influence rooted in kindness and sincerity, and the experience, unmatched...an incredible dream come true.

Here we are, two years later, transitioning back to public school and I can't help but reflect on what God has done in our lives. Another IEP is upon us, but God has calmed my fears and removed the intimidation.

My focus is on Our growth and His glory. Excited for what He is doing next!

~Whitney

Successful 1st Days!

Parker and Weston had a BLAST at Ms. Kayla's hanging out with Ronan and Ainslie!!

And Tessa made some very sweet new friends...

And got some very special love from precious 'old' friends ;)

We could not have asked for more!  

This is a big year for our family and to have a summary like this for day 1 meant the world!!

~Whitney

First Day of School!

 Wednesday was a big day for our bynumfive!  It was Tessa's first day of school, and Weston's first day at Ms. Kayla's! Parker was excited to be joining Weston at Ms. Kayla's since his school doesn't start until Wednesday the 19th.  And it was the first day for all of us to be up together this early in the morning since summer started!!

I could stare at this picture all day!

Such a beauty and getting SO big!!

She had no smiles for Mom or Dad...

nada.....

Yes, this is my 3rd time to send my baby off to 'daycare'...but it NEVER gets easier.

We were so thankful to have Weston at home for the first 4 months and now we're super excited for all of his new adventures at Ms. Kayla's!

See....still no smiles.  I'm telling you, this girl was done with Mom and Dad and READY for school!

Yay for SMILES!!!

Ms. Macee and Mrs. Croom were exactly what she needed ;)

Here's to a great start to her 2015-2016 school year!!!

~Whitney

School Update!

Tessa is doing amazing in school! Absolutely amazing. We couldn't be more excited about the experiences she is having in her new environment and with her teacher and friends!

We've been a little quiet because we hit a bump in the road and it has taken a lot out of us mentally and emotionally, but God's timely provision has allowed us to move ahead hopeful and encouraged!

It is hard to deliver the news that Kathryne is no longer working as Tessa's full time paraprofessional at SJN. We were sad and disappointed by this unexpected news, but SJN has gone above and beyond for us and for Tessa. As of last week, we have two new women that will be working with Tessa each week. Ms. Emily will be Tessa's para on Mondays and Wednesdays and Ms. Teri will para on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Darin spent a couple of days last week with each one of them and it has literally been the most seamless transition for Tessa and for us.

It is hard to explain the level of gratitude we have for the Administration and Staff at SJN. Such a shocking change of events could have easily derailed this experience for us, but SJN never wavered. Their commitment to Tessa is incredible and we are so thankful for all of those that have been involved to continue to make this experience a reality for Tessa.

Things don't always go as we have planned, but I believe when we are faithful, they do go according to God's perfect plan.

Thank you for your continued love and support on this journey! Bumps in the road remind us how big of a God we serve. And it gives way for opportunity to see such amazing goodness in those He has intentionally placed in our lives.

~Whitney

http://www.gofundme.com/Tessa

Simplicity in my Cluttered World

Jesus Calling April 1st:
I am calling you to a life of constant communion with Me.  Basic training includes learning to live above your circumstances, even while interacting on that cluttered plane of life.  You yearn for a simplified lifestyle, so that your communication with Me can be uninterrupted.  But I challenge you to relinquish the fantasy of an uncluttered world.  Accept each day just as it comes, and find Me in the midst of it all.

Talk with Me about every aspect of your day, including your feelings.  Remember that your ultimate goal is not to control or fix everything around you; it is to keep communing with Me.  A successful day is one in which you have stayed in touch with Me, even if many things remain undone at the end of the day.  Do not let your to-do list (written or mental) become an idol directing your life.  Instead, ask My Spirit to guide you moment by moment.  He will keep you close to Me.

1 Thessalonians 5:17; Proverbs 3:6


"Transition" - the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.
We all go through periods of transition.  They typically bring with them a range of emotions, and at times, unmanageable levels of stress.  This is me, this is where I'm at.  Not only can I not relinquish the fantasy of an uncluttered world, I find myself settling on a determination that all is lost and that anything that once was good, is no longer. It is a terrible approach to life and it quickly reveals a vast number of insecurities and shortcomings within me.  

A very Godly encourager in our lives wrote this morning about his own life: "Little by little over the last 10 years God has brought us to the edge of the cliff, so to speak, and seemed to ask us each time, 'Do you trust Me?' "  He proclaims his amazement at what God has done in and through them for His glory and makes careful clarification; "I do mean what HE HAS DONE...for HIS glory! God's ways are not like ours."


The raw reality for me today is that I am so tired of the cliffs. I can't pretend like the question at the cliff doesn't challenge every single human reaction within me.  I feel like I'm standing here screaming how tired I am, pleading for provision without heartache...begging for a transition, for once, with flawless resolution.  But I am reminded today, that what I want, and all MY to-do lists, likely have disaster written all over them and have no business directing my life.  I might be stuck in this moment for a time...but I'm confident that God will take my heart and my hand and guide me back away from the cliff and on to trusting Him.

The challenges of today, and stressful uknowns in transitions ahead, do not negate the history of God's glory in our lives.  I believe He does indeed make our paths straight, but not without the acknowledgement of Him and that His ways are not like our own.  Transitions in our lives are terrifying at times, but accepting each day as it comes and realizing it may come and go with many things left undone, is definitely the simplicity that I need to stay in touch with Him.

~Whitney

Tessa's First Day!

To say she was totally excited and motivated to be back at school would be an UNDERSTATEMENT ;)

Tessa is in the habit of doing very shocking things on her first days of anything.

This is her 'oh my goodness I've worked really hard on my first day of school' face ;)  

~Whitney

Our Kindergarten Kid

 We have a sweet, funny, compassionate, handsome little Kindergartner!

  ENOUGH with the pictures, Mom ;)

~Whitney