Hopeful

Somehow summer has flown by and we are already back into the fall routine.  With that routine comes preparations for Georgia's Journey of Hope and a flooding of memories.  How naive and hopeful I was hugely pregnant with my third child.  It seems odd that it was 4 years ago when sometimes it feels like yesterday.  In the last few months I have found myself almost back in that same place.  Not pregnant and no longer so naive but hopeful.

I am excited watching my girls grow and change.  Calla is now in grade 3 and Maya in grade 1.  We're only in the second week but they are both happy and adjusting well.  I love to watch Maya, my once anxious and fearful child, running around on the playground with her little buddies.  She has discovered a real love of dancing and has chosen to take a couple of extra classes on her own without a teacher or friends that she knows.  I admire her courage and desire to do something that she loves.

Calla has lots of friends at school too and although she remains quiet she does really well academically.  She continues to dance as well.  She doesn't always like to try new things but has opted to join her friends in a hip hop class this year.  She tells me that it's hard but fun and she wants to continue.  Calla also swims like a fish and she will start swimming with the swim club in October.

Aria is in dance and gymnastics.  She is in the terrible twos stage but somehow makes me laugh on a regular basis.  She still loves music and says the funniest of things.  Today when I went to take her out of the van she said, "Mommy,  My legs don't work anymore!  Carry me!"

As many of you know, Mike has been doing really well with his running.  He ran the half marathon in June placing 30th among 3000.  Then last month he ran a 10k and came in first.  A few days ago he again placed first in his age group running a ten miler.  He always runs in his Never Give Up shirt available through the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation.  He considers it good luck!

We are planning a trip to Disney in November.  I don't know if I have ever been so excited for a trip in my life.  For those of you that know me, you know that I have traveled quite a bit.  I am also looking forward to subbing this year yet again.

So life is good and full of joy.  I am hopeful and yet always surprised how grief can suck the life out of me.  Yesterday after handing out brochures all evening for GJOH and chatting to people about the event I was physically and emotionally exhausted.  Then of course, I couldn't sleep.  Insomnia!  I had almost forgotten about you!  Now I am trying to shake off the fatigue and the heaviness but know that it will probably stick with me until October 6th, the day my little girl would have been 4.

September 30th we will be celebrating that beautiful little girl.  Join us!

Love to you all,

Kristen