{"id":13281,"date":"2016-01-05T09:16:53","date_gmt":"2016-01-05T16:16:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nettiesworld.com\/?p=13281"},"modified":"2017-06-28T20:54:27","modified_gmt":"2017-06-29T03:54:27","slug":"beginning-anew","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/old.adoptedjoy.com\/?p=13281","title":{"rendered":"Beginning Anew"},"content":{"rendered":"

I love beginnings! So much promise and potential for growth and new accomplishments makes me all tingly! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

This morning was the first day of the new school year for Jacob. He’s a full time student this semester, so that’ll be different. And for the first time in my life, as I mixed up a protein smoothie for myself and Jacob at 5:45 this morning, I had to think about packing a school lunch. And then I immediately scanned the future of school lunches I will\u00a0have to be packing, and began, briefly, to re-think this “going-to-school” idea. Having nothing appropriate on hand –\u00a0because me and planning are like this:<\/p>\n

Me <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< \u00a0 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>\u00a0Planning<\/p>\n

I quickly determined we would just leave early and stop at a convenience store for a couple of meal replacement bars and a vitamin-water. Nutritionally less than optimal, I’m sure (maybe by tomorrow I can take a clue from this hilarious pose and have some oranges on hand:)<\/p>\n

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but better than nothing. I may not know what I’m doing yet, but I’ll get this figured out eventually\u00a0—\u00a0“I CAN DO THIS!!”<\/p>\n

21 years ago, on December 31st I realized I was really, truly in labor, and I was really, truly going to the hospital to really truly give birth and I was suddenly terrified. I cried on my mother’s shoulder, “I can’t do this!” And she did what all good mothers do. She laughingly reassured me, “You don’t have a choice!” \ud83d\ude00 She was right, I did not have a choice, and in retrospect I wouldn’t have it any other way. For the last 21 years, I’ve been doing all kinds of things I would never have dreamed\u00a0I could do, and it all started with this girl right here:<\/p>\n

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I look at her and think, how did this beauty come to be, this brilliant, talented, creative, scholarly, nurturing, capable and resourceful woman? What a delight to see how my first baby has grown, now an adult and ready to leave me (any minute, I feel sure) to start her own household. I’m blessed, so blessed.<\/p>\n

On Sunday we skedaddled out of church and headed straight down to Sun Lakes for an afternoon of fun, fellowship, and food with the Heidmann clan. Our annual Tri-Birthday Party for Jessica, Jacob and Laurent was, as it always is, a shining success. Efrain has become fast friends with cousin Lakota, and talks about him frequently when they are apart, pining to get together much more often! I took a few pics inside during the pre-dinner nosh-fest (lefse and party-mix are beautiful traditions that must be honored with photos), and after dinner had a mini-photo-session with the newly minted 16yo son\u00a0and 21yo daughter outside back by the orange tree. I love-love-love the way they turned out, both the color and B&W versions.<\/p>\n

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