Silence...

If you have met me for more than 2.5 seconds, then you know I am a talker. If you've known me for more than 2.5 minutes then you also know I am a doer. I can't stand to sit still - even on my days "off". If I have a day of nothing but watching tv then it's because I have literally planned it and written down that all I will do is "relax" because then it's just an item I can check from my list. 

#mercy #evenIsoundcrazytomyself #judgeaway

In the past week I have sat with so many of you and just watched the devastation of Harvey. I have checked in with all my people from Houston and surrounding areas and been forced to be miles away as some of them lost everything offering nothing more than a well timed gif and virtual glass of shared wine. (Don't worry about them, they had plenty of alcohol to ease their pain because if we learned anything in college, it was how to drink.) (Just kidding, Mom... I learned that in high school.) 

(See, never at a loss for words.)

The most paralyzing part of all of this disaster is not being able to do anything that I feel is of real significance to help.  Two years ago I shared the lessons from Katrina I learned while serving as a volunteer coordinator on our campus. And as hard as that was, as exhausted as we were... we still felt like we could do something. 

And I know that I can do things. I can donate my talents, treasure and time and I will, but for now.... silence. 

And you know what? That's ok. 

I'm sure many of you feel the same... at a loss. Not sure of what to do right now in this moment. And what we can and need to do right now in this moment... is exactly what we are doing. Living. Praying. Being. Our world must continue to turn so that our friends and victims of Harvey can get their world spinning again.

What I've found is that if I sit in silence long enough, I do begin to hear something. This morning as I prayed for those friends and strangers ... my fellow Texans... the lyrics of this Mercy Me song began to ring in my ears... 

I’m finding myself at a loss for words

And the funny thing is it’s OK

The last thing I need is to be heard

But to hear what You would say

New York Times/ Photograph by David J. Phillip / AP

Oh word of God speak

Would You pour down like rain

Washing my eyes to see Your majesty

To be still and know

That You’re in this place

Please let me stay and rest

In Your holiness

Word of God speak

ABC News/Photograph by David J. Phillip / AP

I’m finding myself in the midst of You

Beyond the music, beyond the noise

All that I need is to be with You

And in the quiet hear You voice

Source

Word of God speak

Would You pour down like rain

Washing my eyes to see Your majesty

To be still and know

That You’re in this place

Please let me stay and rest

In Your holiness

Time

I’m finding myself at a loss for words

And the funny thing is it’s OK

It's okay to sit in the silence of His word. His presence is felt in the volunteers, in the donations, and even in our uncertainty. 

Back to School...

The time had finally arrived and the Wee3Kings were heading back to school. Sometimes I'm good and remember to recreate pictures of each of the kiddos for a major milestone and the night before kindergarten picture may be the best compilation series I have thought of. (Ok, so I feel like this is the only example of me doing that but whatever). (Also, I was really into "A Beautiful Mess" in my early instagram days). 

The next morning they were up, dressed and ready to go before 7am! 

I'm pretty thrilled that they are all on one campus this year and for much more than just the selfish reason of one drop off and one pick up. 

(But let's be honest, that's a pretty awesome perk!)

I'm excited because these are their people. Whether they know it or not... they will have for the rest of their lives. Siblings. No matter how bad they annoy you they are simply your...

beginning... 

middle... 

and end. 

Ryan and I are the bookends to their story... the cover really and we all know that you lose that silly ol' cover at some point. It gets wrinkled and ripped and lost along the way... but those pages on the inside are filled with the goodness and grace of the chapters of your life. I am so thrilled that they get to be here for the beginning of Landry's journey and the ending of part of Radley's. 

We made a "drop off game plan" the night before that included walking Radley to his classroom to drop his stuff and snap pics with his teachers. I can't even begin to express how pumped we are about these two women. Their teaching philosophy, their enthusiasm, their commitment to these kids.... just praying they stick around for four more years so all three kids get to benefit from their love!

Next up, we dropped off Emmy's things and snapped pics with her teachers. She and Ms. Gonzalez are kind of my favorite pair to watch - Ms. G knows how to handle the sass of Emmy! We have heard nothing but shining things about Mrs. Brenner and it turns out she went to high school with my DZ lil sis and her brother! Small world! 

Then it was finally time to drop off our big new kindergartener. She was all smiles posing with her new teachers, hanging up her backpack and getting settled into her desk. 

I don't think any of us really wanted to leave her there... she's not just my baby... she is OUR baby and in that moment of watching Radley and Emersyn be filled with pride for her and be proud OF her, well, my sappy momma heart almost lost it. 

And then we had to walk away and I didn't let her see me cry... not when she was wearing that giant smile!

The plan was to walk the bigs back to their classrooms,  but Radley was pretty over us by then and just wanted to head down the hall alone. So I of course made him take a picture with me and then gushed about how much I love him. 

We are such fantastic parents that we dropped Emmy off in the wrong classroom. (In our defense, the list switched since meet the teacher.) 

And then the waiting... A&M was still closed from Harvey and UPS is clearly not operating in Houston right now, so Ryan and I had a day to get stuff done. My list included a movie, a puzzle and blogging... his list included working outside, running errands, car repair and boring things. Then it was finally time to go get them and I am so glad that we were all there together. We got to hear about their day, their favorite subjects, their new friends and their teachers. We just got to be and that's not something we do enough. 

We OF COURSE couldn't finish the day without seeing the Munsons, especially since they are our Sonic soul mates. Alas, their school was having a fundraiser so they couldn't make it for Happy Hour, instead we went to see them, mainly so these besties could squeal and share all about their day. 

This six-pack is my favorite. 

Josh and Cindy had parent orientation so the kids twisted our arms to let the Munsons come hang with us that night and these babies convinced me that they needed a photoshoot with their cute faces and matching backpacks. 

Back to school, back to fun, back to learning... on to new things, new lessons, new memories.... these girls are going to bring such light to their classmates over the next 13 years... what an honor it will be to watch!

InstaKings...

We've had a BUSY month and I did a horrible job of keeping up with everything, so let's just start from the beginning, ok?

August 1st, We5Kings set off for Lakeview along with 260 of our favorite Aggie freshmen. We spent four days at Fightin' Texas Aggie Fish Camp and you can read all about those four days starting here!

As soon as we got home from Fish Camp, Radley got one little rest day and then headed off for Camp Carolina. Emmy didn't want him to stay without her which is ironic since she basically just lives to drive him crazy.

We had to say "see you later" to some of our favorite friends. The Acostas next adventure takes them to Austin and I miss them like crazy. She's the friend you can call or text to laugh with, cry with, be yourself with. We support and challenge and just love each other. I may not have been the best supervisor but she is an incredible friend!

First kid: Register for kinder in April, take tours of campus, ask all the questions at meet the teacher.

Second kid: Register for kinder in May, tell her about campus, sit in back at meet the teacher.

Third kid: "Hi, Mrs. King? ... We were calling to see if you would be registering Landry for school..."

#thirdkid #oops #lovelylandry#kindergartenrocks

Emersyn has been so into legos this summer. She came home from a trip to visit Gigi and Pops with a new set and went right to work putting this together. She had finished before I even knew she had started!

There's a lot of perks to raising besties with your besties, but one of my favorites is getting to spoil them. I got to take Millie on a quick "before kindergarten" date and had the best time listening to what she was excited about, what she was nervous about and what she couldn't wait to learn! 

Josh and I traded off the six pack a few days two weeks before school started and I did what all smart parents do - took them to a pool so I didn't have to entertain them so they could swim. 

There is some sadness that comes along with watching your kids get older but let me tell you this, mommas in the trenches of diapers and burp cloths and schedules and colic. They DO get older and one day you will get to go to the pool and not have to get in except to cool off and then hop back out to read a book.

And they even get old enough to "lay out" with you!

And if that wasn't fun enough - you'll quit having to worry about ice cream getting all over the car and you can splurge on cones for everyone!

Four the for days they were all together, only one took a nap. 

;)

The countdown to kindergarten started 10 days before school and we got to start in on one of my favorite back to school traditions! 

Landry's nearest and dearest sent her words of wisdom, encouragement and love to get her ready for the big day. You can read her entire lesson plan here...

And the back to school excitement wasn't enough - the whole world stood still to enjoy the "once in a lifetime except it will be back in seven years" eclipse. We went old school with our viewers (we also bought glasses, so no worries!). 

Ryan brought the kids up to campus and shared the glasses with the Aggies but I must say the cereal boxes were a big hit!

I decided if there was ever an excuse for us to be looking anywhere but the camera for a picture, then this was it. Those glasses didn't let in any light unless you were actually looking at the sun!

It really was incredible to watch!

The start of second grade for Emersyn means the start of a new book series. I gave her lots of options and she picked Anne of Green Gables and I am so excited because I've also never read this series! We are already four chapters in and we have loved every page so far!

And one last celebratory "20 years since high school" also means that I have been part of an amazing sisterhood for TWENTY YEARS! Thanks, Mom and Dad!

and that's us in an instant!

Landry's Lesson Plan...

Well, today was supposed to be the first day of school, but Harvey had other plans! This will definitely be a first week of school to remember! Landry's favorite activity every night has been reading the lessons that her nearest and dearest sent her for school. I'm posting here so that I have them all in once place and also because some of these words, while for a kindergartener, are also things that we should learn over and over again!