first day of school 2007

I do love the first day of school -- always have. There is so much promise in a new year. And in the first few days the flurry of startup hides the fact that our schedule will soon be filled with baseball, chorus, drama club, girl scouts, and dance classes. Well, back to the usual schedule. Those of you who are parents of school aged children will understand. Life changes dramatically once you have a child who is beholden to the school schedule. There are very few vacations you will take which do not depend on a momentary check of the school calendar...and hardly any you will take which cause absences. Here's my advice to those of you who have little ones or no children...take all the fall and early spring vacations you want NOW!

Do any of you consider the beginning of school like the beginning of a new year? I feel that moreso than New Year's Eve. Perhaps it is the side effect of being a teacher's kid when young.

William seemed to have a great day and was full of information when he arrived home. His daily folder indicated a "3" which is perfect according to the teacher's discipline scale. (The scale actually goes to 4, but she rarely gives 4s since that is for extraordinary feats. 2 and 1 would mean a difficult day. I hope to see very few of those!) Jordan loved her teacher and is excited about the cool year ahead. (Apparently she has the cool techie teacher who knows all the tricks and is an Auburn Alum.)

more confirmation of camp fun

camp updates

or perhaps I should have titled this "leaving your oldest in the woods with her friends". Jordan was happy as a lark when we checked her into Girl Scout camp on Sunday afternoon. She seemed like an old pro since this was her second year. I remember being bewildered at the forms and list of required items last year. This year it seemed more manageable to pack those fancy rubbermaid containers.

Dave was scheduled for a plane flight on Sunday afternoon at the exact time of Jordan's dropoff so he said his goodbyes here at home and then his father joined us for the trip to camp. Pop-pop was a huge help and it all went smoothly thanks to his extra hands. Here is Jordan in front of the main dining hall. You can see the beginnings of a path in front of the building. That path takes you down past the horse stables and to the lake area. The camp has its own little harbor area.



William and Grace were excited for Jordan, but then missed her as soon as we got home. Grace asked when she could go to camp. That girl is not scared of anything!



The items required to sleep in the great outdoors:



Jordan's troop friend and tent mate, Catherine:



There are four total beds in the tent and Jordan recognized one tent mate from last year's camp experience. This is basically a repeat of the last photo, but I wanted you to see the tent cabin. (disregard the slant caused by the motherly photographer)



Today I logged into the camp website to check out the digital photos taken during the day. (So cool and comforting!) I found Jordan doing something that looked like tie dying and also a few photos eating lunch. There were some photos down by the water of girls awaiting a ride on the banana boat and she appeared to be among that crowd. I think she's having a good time. William looked at the photos and then had several questions about why boys were not allowed at the camp and what kind of things Jordan was doing. He's missing her and has felt her absence several times today. He was my buddy throughout the day. It's been a good chance for him to take the lead position here at home and show me he's a big boy.

new song favorites

I've really been enjoying the new music coming out lately. Two new songs which caught my ear are by India Arie. I'll admit to seeing her on an Oprah show (tivo'd of course) about summer favorites. Her performance took my breath away. The first song she sang was a special one she wrote for the girls she met at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy. I love the lyrics and thought they were so appropriate for someone Jordan's age. If you have a girl you'll recognize the fragile age that girls go through self confidence wise. My Jordan has never been aprehensive about anything, but sometimes I see the beginnings of a "female" self doubt...the kind that we as women struggle with everyday which asks if we are enough as is, did we do enough, were we present in the roles expected of us. Jordan's development is perfectly normal and age appropriate, but I just want to squash as much of that self doubt and guilt so she can soar as she gets older. I sent the lyrics off with her in one of her camp letters. The song is called "Beautiful Flower" and I love the lyrics:

BEAUTIFUL FLOWER BY INDIA ARIE
This is a song for every girl who's ever been through something she thought she couldn't make it through, yeah
I sing these words because I was that that girl too
Wanting something better than this but who do I turn to?
Now we're moving from the darkness into the light
This is the defining moment of our lives, mmmmmhh

Cause you're beautiful like a flower
More valuable than a diamond
You are powerful like a fire
You can heal the world with your mind
And there is nothing in the world that you cannot do
When you believe in you
Who are beautiful
Yeah you, who are brilliant
Yeah you, who are powerful
Yeah you, who are resilient

This is a song for every girl who feels that she is not special
Cause she don't look like a supermodel, Coke bottle
The next time the radio tells you to shake your money maker
Shake your head and tell them, tell 'em you're a leader
Now we're moving from the darkness into the light
This is the defining moment of our lives, Yeah

Cause you're beautiful like a flower
More valuable than a diamond
You are powerful like a fire
You can heal the world with your mind
And there is nothing in the world that you cannot do
When you believe in you
Who are beautiful
Yeah you, who are brilliant
Yeah you, who are powerful
Yeah you, who are resilient

The other song she performed on that show was called "There's Hope" and it is a song which could only pick up your mood. It's hard to stand still during the song and right now it is my early summer favorite (even over Maroon 5). The chorus goes:

There's hope
It doesn't cost a thing to smile
You don't have to pay to laugh
You better thank God for that

and it talks about how we all want a lot of things, but those aren't the key to true happiness. Check them out for your summer smiles. The Beautiful Flower song is available only in itunes with 100% of the proceeds going to the school. What are your current song favorites?