
Well, this morning was a first for our family -
all remaining children of the Haan household
went off to school this morning for the whole
day. This is the first time in 20 years - yes,
20 years - that I have not had a child home
with me during the day because they were
either too young for school or we were
homeschooling (actually there were some
early years when we only had Lauren and I
worked full-time so I'm not counting those
years either).
Meghan was very determined to be there
the first day and despite feeling a little
pukey she persisted in making it! Hopefully
she won't be too tired out by the end of the
day.
I went back through photos from last year
and thought it would be fun to post them
side by side (I thought about having you
guess which year was which but Meghan
is a dead give-away :)

Meghan - Fall 2007 Meghan - Fall 2008
We sure didn't know what was in store for us last fall! Looking at these pictures Michael commented
that likely the cancer was already growing in Meghan's arm last fall but we just didn't have any idea.

Rileigh - Fall 2007 Rileigh - Fall 2008
In looking at these pictures of Rileigh I really see a more confident little girl - she has matured a lot this
past year and really started to "come into her own."

Aidan - Fall 2007 Aidan - Fall 2008
And wow - Aidan too! He looks so timid and nervous last year and this year there is a definite sparkle in
his eyes and a "been there, done that" attitude.

Aidan & Noah - first day of kindergarten Noah & Aidan - first day of first grade
(Apparently Noah was feeling a little more enthusiastic about the first day of kindergarten :)

And what about mom, you say? Well, after dropping the kids at school and Michael at work, I did something totally self-indulgent. I took a 5 mile walk around Reeds Lake by myself and then sat at a coffee shop with my laptop before heading home to try and cross off items #1-5 on my list of 3,418* things to do.
*number may be slightly inflated for dramatic effect
My mother-in-law called Michael and asked if I went home and cried :) I told him I did not cry (yet) but I did reflect a lot. The photo on the left was taken on my walk and I was thinking a lot about the path behind us and before us. We have no idea what the next year will hold {{we certainly didn't last year}} and yet I am choosing to face it with HOPE. Amidst the uncertainty, pain, and struggles, I think the last year has given us a great many gifts to be thankful for, one of which is a fresh perspective on life in general. And it feels scary, hopeful, and thrilling all at the same time. I'm excited (yes, excited!) to see what God has planned for us (the good, the bad, and everything in between).
Here are some great verses I'm meditating on today:
The LORD, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you,
He will not leave you or forsake you. (Deut. 31:8)
O LORD,
I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to
direct his own steps.
(Jer. 10:23)
The
steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his
way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD
upholds him with His hand. (Psalm 37:23-24)
I am
continually
with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your
counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. (Psalm 73:23-24)
For
I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor
principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor
height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:38-39)
But
one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind I press toward
the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
(Phil. 3:13-14)
I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that
He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day. (2
Tim. 1:12)
He who has begun a good work in you will complete it
until the day of Jesus Christ. (Phil. 1:6)
Do
you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the
prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who
competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to
obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. (I
Cor. 9:24-25)
Lay
aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us
run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus.
(Heb. 12:1-2)
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(edit: Well, I did not complete #1-5 - it is purely an illusion that having all your kids in school means that
you have a bottomless reservoir of time in which to accomplish things!)