Big Sister Time?

Yesterday out of nowhere, Finley points to my tummy and says "Baby!"  After making a mental note to put current outfit into the maternity clothes pile, I said "Nope!  No baby in mommy's tummy!"

I have no idea where this came from... we have never talked about a baby being in my tummy or anyone else's tummy.  So crazy!

Apparently, Finley wants to be a big sister! =)

Goodbye VBC MDO

Today was such a sad day.  It was Finley's last day at MDO and I have grown to love her teachers and the other kids in her class.  I know this is just one of many goodbyes that we'll be making as we continue the road of parenthood, but I'm hoping that the first ones are the toughest or I may just not make it to Finley's kindergarten graduation! =)  I'm seriously going to need some Prozac when Finley goes off to college.  I absolutely hate goodbyes!

Here is a comparison of Finley on her first day of MDO in August versus her almost last day of MDO in May... I of course couldn't send her to school in an outfit much too small, but I wanted to have a comparison of her in the same outfit to get the full effect.  I really didn't expect to be able to get the shorts on her yesterday, but they fit surprisingly well....  Of course, they were huge on her in the Fall.

And here's a picture of her today on her last official day of "school":

She's growing up so quickly.  It never ceases to amaze me and always catches me off guard to see how much she has changed.  This year has been a blessing and we will never forget her year with Mrs. Sheila and Miss Tiffany.  This is the year that Finley learned to stand, talk, walk, eat "real" food, play with "real" toys, socialize with adults and kids outside of our family, and take naps away from home.  This was a year of so many "firsts" and we are so thankful that Finley was in the hands of such caring teachers.  We have nothing, but wonderful memories and couldn't have asked for a better experience!  

More BSF Praise

I didn't mention this, but yesterday at Sharing Day several moms told stories on how their children had sang songs they'd learned in BSF or talked about Jesus, etc.  Some of these stories were even about children as young as Finley who had seen a picture of a book and said "Bible" or saw a picture of Jesus and kissed Him.  

Well, this morning, as Finley and I ate breakfast together, I read out of our One Year Children's Bible.  At no point, did I say the word "Bible", but when I closed it, Finley pointed to it and said "Bible."  

How wonderful!  

God Gives Hope to the Hopeless

and BSF to the Momless....

Two Years Ago:

When I found out I was pregnant, I immediately started asking God to provide Godly resources for raising children.  

One Year Ago:

Finley was 6 months old before I first heard of BSF.  My friend, Mary, invited me to attend BSF with her last May and sign up for the study of John which would start in the Fall.  I went with a closed heart and a skeptical mind, but praying that God would reveal if BSF was a place for me.

I will never forget that morning at BSF because I knew instantly that BSF was where I wanted to be... and more importantly where God wanted me to be.  As Jodi, the teaching leader, lectured, it was if she was speaking straight to me.  She seemed to touch on every single sensitive issue that I had been struggling with and yet, she did it with such grace.  How obvious it was to see that God was pouring His words out of her!

BSF-- Fall 2009:

Over the summer I secured childcare for Finley on Tuesdays just so that I could be a part of BSF.  I had not planned to put Finley in MDO, but it was a blessing for both of us.  Each week at BSF, I waited to pick up a pink sheet.  The pink sheet given each week was devoted to Raising Godly Children.  I poured over each one so thankful that God was providing just as I had prayed that He would over a year before.

November 2009:

My discussion group leader left and we received a new one.  I was upset, angry, and confused. Our discussion group was close and we were quite happy with our leader. Then Vicki, our new leader, opened up at our fellowship, revealing that she had lost both of her parents and had struggled with raising her children without the help of her mom.  Though our whole group was not represented, we found that all of us there but one lives without one or both of our parents and our group is very young!  I knew that once again God had answered.  Our group bonded with Vicki instantly.

January 2010:

BSF opened up an under 2 program that allowed Finley to learn the same Bible truths that I was learning each week.  I broke down thinking about how God had answered once again.  Instead of dropping Finley off at MDO on Tuesday's and rushing to BSF, we were able to go together. 

The 3rd week I brought her with me, Finley started struggling with stranger anxiety for the first time in her life.  She clung to me and her teacher, Mrs. F, prayed over her.  I cried.  What a gift it was to have someone pray for her!  I felt a burden lifted...  I knew that her leaders were sharing in my desire to teach her the Word of God and to pray for her.  A gift I could've never expected from a stranger.  (I told Mrs. F how much that had meant to me and she started crying!  Isn't it amazing how others can touch us so profoundly and not even know it?)

April & May 2010:

Jodi called me at the end of April and asked to interview me for leadership.  She came to our house and I poured out my heart.  After telling her far more than she probably ever wanted to know, she said "We would be honored to have you join our team."  I couldn't believe that God had opened this door for I felt and still feel so unworthy, but most of all, I am thankful.  Thankful to be a part of such a Godly group of women especially after serving as a Discussion Leader in Training for the last weeks of April and beginning of May and seeing how God is using them.

Yesterday:

We had Sharing Day (a chance to reflect and give thanks for how we've seen God work in our lives during the past BSF year) for the Leadership Team of BSF.   Vicki and I shared how God had orchestrated our little group who had experienced such loss.  As we were taking a bathroom break, another Discussion Leader, Emily, approached me.  She said "I lost my mom 12 years ago and I always love seeing how God uses BSF to help the momless.  It seems I'm constantly seeing it year after year."

The "Momless"... I've never heard that term before and can't say I enjoy being in this group, but it's comforting to think that just as God gives hope to the hopeless, He gives BSF to the momless.  Of course, BSF is just a tool and one that He uses for more populations than just the momless, but it's nice to feel understood.  It's nice to have a place. 

Today:

Today was the last BSF of the year and was a Sharing Day for all of the class members.  It was nothing short of incredible.  As one lady shared about how meaningful the Children's Program had been to her, I teared up knowing that I couldn't have said it better myself.  She said:

The best way to love me is to love my children.

And the best way to love my children is to teach them about the One who loves them more than I ever could.

The Lord answers.  Sometimes it isn't how I expect and sometimes it isn't in my timing, but He does answer.  BSF has been an amazing answer to what felt like at times a hopeless prayer.  I am so grateful to serve a God who gives hope to the hopeless and brought BSF to me, the momless.