First day of school! First day of school! Please tell me that you can hear Nemo saying it?? 🙂 I can’t help but think of that scene in “Finding Nemo” every time we start another school year — Nemo’s just bursting, nothing in life could get in his way on his way off to school. The girls were soooo on Team Nemo this year about staring their school years, too. Even with mask mandates and all the COVID things, we’re just so thankful that we can go to school. And man, how I hope we can keep this kind of enthusiasm and gratitude for the chance to be educated for the rest of our lives. What has been the point of 2020 and its rollercoaster ride if it hasn’t been to realize how much we have in every arena — how much we were straight-up taking for granted before life changed? Loss – of any kind – always creates life contrast and sometimes those dark lines are painful and miserable, but without them, do we really grasp the light in our lives? We Awerkamp girls have sure benefitted from the contrast…we’re still counting our blessings at our semi-normalized life still and, yes, how I pray (but really) that we won’t ever forget how full our lives are, and how much we get to give back because of that.
Okay so the first day of school for these dolls was actually over two weeks ago, ha! I mentioned back here that we’ve been going 100 mph since we moved, and the story is still the same there. But again, SO grateful for that, even if it means I can’t post anything on time. All of the girls were “new kids,” since school started here mid-August, but they didn’t bat an eye at that and took on school like champs. Having so many cousins at their school helped with that big time, but again (ha), they were just so dang grateful and excited to go to school. And so dang cute on their first day (I am not a biased mom, I am not a biased mom 😉 )! 
I love so much that Olivia and Claire have each other at school — it’s been a couple years in the making, but they’re finally there together. Makes us all so happy.
That cute boy right there is Ethan. He is one of our cousins here and we LOVE him. And his six other siblings, and the seven other cousin-families we have in this little town. Did I mention how grateful we are for life here?? 🙂 
Even Miss Emmy had her first day of PRESCHOOL! This, honestly, is a big deal for us since we never sent our girls to preschool in San Diego (the preschool programs there were way too $$$, IMO). Emmy is going to preschool with one of the cutest teachers in town — Miss Amy! — and we feel so grateful to be able to go to her school, too. Sis was a little serious on her first day…she was nervous! I’ve never seen Emmy nervous, so that was enlightening. She just straight-faced it when I dropped her off — no tears, no shyness — just serious. Haha, that girl. I love her so dang much. I’m thrilled she gets to stretch her wings a bit this year and FLY. I know she will fly! 
Life is a beautiful thing, my friends. Still pretty weird in some respects – and uncertain and scary – but those dark, contrasting moments/experiences/situations? I know they are for our good! When I’m in the thick of life, I have to literally convince myself of that since the contrast gets so real and heavy and it’s basically impossible to imagine getting out of the rut. Then at other times, the light is really bright and relieving and all in the world genuinely does feel well. I’m in a good spot right now, so I’m consciously, intentionally trying to stock up and build my reserves of gratitude, optimism and faith, knowing that inevitably another contrasting line will pop up again. Writing like this helps me mentally and emotionally “store up” so well, so thank you, as always for being here/for helping me fill my bucket. And if you’re walking through a valley right now, friend, I see you. I really do. I don’t know all of you reading this, but if you’re here, then 1) I either do personally know you or 2) we have something in common: you’re a 20-or-30-something girl that might me married with some kids, and I get many aspects of your life. Most of the time when we’re hurting, we just need to be seen by someone, and if we know that someone acknowledges and loves us wherever we are, then deep down our hearts know that we’ll be okay. And then our minds know that we’ll be okay, and then guess what? Eventually, we’re okay! My personal belief is that our Heavenly Parents see us more clearly and keenly and perfectly than anyone here on earth. God in heaven is one we can absolutely turn to feel seen and unbelievably loved. Oh how my mind and heart feel respite in that reality…
Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For every one that sketch, receiveth; and he that seekers, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.
What man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
I know God sees you, and for what it’s worth, I see you, too. In this together!!
xoxox
