We are at the end of our first month out of school.  (I can’t say summer because Bubba immediately corrects me and tells me that summer actually starts June 21.  Sheesh, my life.)  It has been a full month – so full.

The first week that all three kids were out of school was the first week I went to work every day.  A sweet gal from our church came each morning and the kids fell in love with her on the spot.  Lauren works with the youth at our church and it became obvious that she was suited for it.  E.N.E.R.G.Y.  She took the kids swimming one day, hiking at the park one day, they baked one day, and on and on.  I do believe my kids started the summer THRILLED that I had started a job.  (Lauren’s only setback was that she forgot to take pictures for me.  Bottom lip stuck out here. That’s enough of that)

Week two had me leaving every morning at 7:15 AM and Honey played Mr. Mom and did carpool to camp.  Little and KB were at the same dance camp this week and Bubba did soccer with all his friends from school.  It was such fun and I got to go watch the girls “perform” on Friday. Both did a great job, neither will be a Solid Gold dancer.

Friday, June 7 was National Doughnut Day.  We went to the “new” Dunkin Donuts at the end of our street and partook in doughy goodness.  It was a fun half hour.  A sweet time.

This past week had Little spending a week at Variety Adventure Camp (her fourth year)  with (about) 100 other campers and a couple were from Promise – friends she knew.  You can see her in the camp weekly newsletter here.  Bubba and KB went to JUMP! camp with 2000 other campers and each was in a group with at least three kids from their class at school.  It was fun for them to try new things with people they knew.

Are you tired from just reading about this? Just imagine how tired we all are after living it!!

I should finish up May and tell you the big news I said I would tell you a week (or two) ago.  At least you would then know why I am not very present here on the blog.  I miss the blog.  *sigh*

After school was finished, there was still the business of a ballet recital.  KB’s class danced to “I Feel Pretty” and looked pretty doing so.

KB has declared that she would much rather play soccer or be a “singing star” over taking ballet next year, but there was no doubt that she enjoyed the time with friends that this year afforded.

And now for my news.  May was made more complicated and stressful when I was approached about a job in our church’s administrative office.  One of the assistants was moving to Atlanta upon her husband’s graduation from seminary and they had found no one for the job – was I remotely interested in learning more? I laughed, said “Sure, but I have three small kids at home!”, and proceeded to think through all the things that would have to fall into place for me to even consider the job in question.

I have to say that going to work full time was not a plan of mine but I feel like this happened TO me and has our Father’s fingerprints all over it.  I have always thought that if I were to work, a job at our church is just what I would want.  I loved the thought of helping people I already care about; people both my husband and I were already invested in together; administrative duties are right up my alley and require that very little work be taken home when the clock is punched at day’s end.  The specific job in question involved assisting the Director of Women’s Ministry, our Teaching Pastor, and the Pastor of Congregational Care and would allow me to use so many of my gifts and talents.

Honey was on board from the beginning and everything seemed to be so perfect if it were not for those three little lives that I am called to shepherd, train, feed, and more.  When the office Administrator asked for my thoughts, I laid out just what I would be able to give – part time in the summer and school hours during the school year.  Within 24 hours I was offered the job and I started training two days later.I’m in my second full week and so far so good. The kids have had camps in the morning and I have been able to spend the afternoon with them at home. Honey has been wonderful to take morning prep so that I can go in early and, in turn, leave the office early. It has been good so far.

One of the blessings that I have already experienced is the hour I am in the office before the rest of the church staff arrives. I am keeping the devotional book Jesus Calling in my desk and have been able to spend a few minutes reading God’s Word and Sarah Young’s works in the quiet of the morning.  It has been SO LONG since I have had such consistent time and the Lord has met me and spoken to my heart from the pages of those books.

We would appreciate any and all prayers. This is a real big change for us and my heart tends to struggle over the fact that, once again, my plan was NOT His plan.  Please pray that when my kids look back at this time they would see it as a marker in their spiritual growth and that my going to work was used to help them willingly obey the Lord even when His plan looks different from their own.  Please pray that I would be able to be a good wife to my husband with this additional pull on my heart and time.  And pray that my older brain can catch on quickly to the necessary tasks – nothing makes a girl feel old like learning a new computer program on a Mac after consistently “being” a PC.

School ended early for the younger two kiddos.  The week before summer break began, there was Spirit Week and Field Day.  MY STARS – what a big hoopla!

There was “silly hat or hair “day:

There was “duct tape and aluminum foil” day:

There was “mustache” day:

And “dress like your favorite character” day:
(Bubba dressed as Phineas. . . complete with a thought bubble that read, “I know what we’re going to do today!” Can’t find the photo.)

Blue and Green day (field day) was rained out and postponed until the next week.  When Tuesday rolled around, it was as if someone had spilled school spirit from a bucket onto the lawn!

The Blue Hutch bunch are on the green team. . . this year’s winning team.  Super fun.

School got out two days later and Regan and I decided we would really be big hits with our kids if we took them out to eat ice cream for lunch.  Turns out that just before 15 people arrived at an ice cream shoppe that wasn’t serving for another hour, I went in and asked the owner to open early.  He did and we had a blast!!!

And now, as Alice Cooper would say, “School’s Out For Summer!!”