Indy Zoo Field Trip

Last week was the much anticipated field trip to the Indianapolis Zoo. The weather was forecast for rain and thunderstorms, but many little prayers were answered and the weather was breezy and perfect for a zoo blitz. We had just a couple of hours to see the whole zoo. It sort of seemed like I ran the zoo marathon by the time we sat down for lunch. But Jaeden and the 2 other kids I had in my group had a great time. We were able to get up close to so many of the animals. I may have been more amazed than the kids. :o)
Here are a few photos from our trip.

Checking out the seal tank

Reaching to pet a shark in the Shark Touch Pool

The giraffes were amazing! They came right up to the trainer- who had treats of course! But how amazing to be so close to such gorgeous animals!

The baby even came to visit.

The elephants even trumpeted while we were there.

Jman, Micah & Alyssa. My great little group.

Lead Me

I had to share this song. It brought me to tears in the car when I heard it on the radio for the first time.

I think that every husband, wife, mother or father can completely relate to this song. We are trying to do our best to do all we need to for our spouses and children. But sometimes we forget that we aren't the ones in control and we need to follow what God has planned for us, just as a shepard leads his sheep.

This verse has become my daily prayer for our family:

"So Father give me the strength to be everything I am called to be. Oh, Father show me the way to lead them. Won't you lead me? "

P.S. Please pray for my Uncle Tom. He is currently in the hospital with major blood clots in his leg. They are trying to figure out the cause of the clots and suspect it could be cancer. He is at this very moment having a colonoscopy. Tom has a heart condition as well. It has been a rough few days for all of the family. I have faith that his diagnosis will be better than anyone, including the doctors, could have imagined.

That's my Byrdlings...

I just have to say that I love my little Byrdlings! This week has been one full of laughs and pride from Jaeden and Jaclyn.

I ask Jaclyn to put her shoes on her shelf in the closet. Where she is to put them every time she takes them off. She put them next to the wall, behind the ottoman. I see them and ask her to put them away. She responds, " Oh, I just wanted to see if you would find them. I guess I'll put them away now." I am soo going to be in trouble when she is a teenager!!!

Jaeden was working on his spelling homework. He had a worksheet with the instructions to: trace the words, copy the words, and then fold paper and write with out looking. He breezed through the first 2 columns of tracing and copying. He decided to fold his paper himself and I started reading his spelling words off to him. I read him a word, he replies "oh this is kind of hard". I look over and he is writing is words with his eyes closed!!! He really wasn't looking!!

Never a dull moment!

I am so very proud of my little man today too. He had a note sent home from his teacher. She wanted to let me know that Jaeden has been doing an excellent job listening and following directions. She went on to say " I can always count on him to be a leader an an example for the students. I am very thankful for Jaeden!" It is so gratifying to know that your child gets "it", not just at home but when you aren't around to see. Jeremy and I try so hard to treat each other the way we want them to treat others in the real world. It fills me up to know that others think our children are the gems we know they are.

I love my Byrdlings!!!

September 11th

On the 9th anniversary of 9-11, I'll never forget. It doesn't seem like it was 9 years ago.
I remember the place I was standing and watching as the entire event unfolded. I'll never forget the shock and awe, the fear, the confusion, of that day. And I'll never forget the great pride I had to be an American in the days following as I watched our nation pull together. I still can't listen to the song Proud to be an American with out getting a lump in my throat.
So today I am remembering all of those whose lives were changed on 9-11.

First Day of Preschool!

So being the mom who is totally on top of things, I am posting about Jaclyn's first day of preschool--- which was a week ago.
Jaclyn is in the Preschool 2 class now. And what a difference a year makes. This year, she walked right in, hung up her backpack and got her name tag, barely pausing for a picture. Then she walked right over to the teacher and jumped right in. She didn't even notice when I left.
She is loving class and I am loving that it is 3 days a week this year. Here are a few photos from her first day.