we believe

Tonight, Charlie and I are sitting in the bathroom of our hotel, on pillows, drinking a bottle of wine and devouring a caramel fudge brownie. We are sitting in the bathroom because we are sharing a small hotel room with four children who are mildly asleep. Which means, if they roll over and groggily realize that Mom and Dad are eating a caramel fudge brownie, they will be quickly awake and want some.



So we hide.

In darkness.

In the bathroom.

While sitting on pillows.

And whispering.

Today, Charlie registered the children for kindergarten - which begins next Tuesday. During the registration process, he learned that the school's open house, "Meet and Greet" was an hour later. So I cut out of work early - drove to the school - and met the two women who will be teaching our children over the next 10 months. I toured their classroom, cafeteria and playground and learned all about the bus schedule, which our children are encouraged to take to school each day. It picks them up at the end of our street.

Now, I must admit ... I have mixed emotions about loading our wee little ones on a bus each day. But I think I'll quickly get over it. Especially once I see how much THEY enjoy it.

I must also admit that I am very excited about this new chapter in our lives.

I am very excited that tomorrow, we are going to close escrow on our new house in Virginia. Our new house, which just so happens to be approximately two times the size of our house in California, and which also - just so happens to be - situated on one of the most beautiful plots of land, in one of the best public school systems in the entire United States of America.

In our school district, the average SAT test scores for last year were 1664. Which is approximately two times higher than my score in 1989. (It's sadly true.) (Although, for what it's worth, I did maintain a 4.0 in graduate school.)

The timing of this move is really impeccable, what with our children starting school in a few days and all. Did I ever mention that I was recently looking over the website of the school where our children will soon attend and realized that THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES was there, talking to the Kindergarten class? Apparently, the Commander-in-Chief sometimes takes tours to local schools.

How cool is that?!



Despite all the awesomeness of this location, tonight, I read through the County's Student Handbook and had to choke back tears because MY BABIES ARE GOING TO SCHOOL. And as frequently as I might think to myself, "Oh my GOSH, would someone please take these children AWAY for a few hours!" the fact that it's now happening has me very sad.

Because the chapter after, "How to be an advocate for your Elementary School child" was followed by a chapter on, "How to be an advocate for your Middle School child", which was followed by a chapter on, "How to be an advocate for your High School child" and there was all kinds of language about insuring your child takes their PSATs and SATs and ACTs and .... boo hoo! ... very soon, my children are going to be SO MUCH smarter than me.

And bigger.

And then I'll blink and they'll be moving off to college.



All of that, "Time moving far too quickly" aside ... the stress of the past few months - the stress of selling a house, and moving cross-country and starting a new job, and managing multiple escrows, and coordinating finances and living out of a suitcase, while keeping four children healthy ...has just about vanished.

We're absolutely sure this was the right move for us.

Today, when I was at work and realized that I really LOVE my new job and am so excited about what I'll be doing, it gave me a a whole new perspective. Things will be very good. Especially once we're all on a schedule, and I'm able to get in early - and get out early - and volunteer in the children's classrooms a few times a month over my lunch hour.

(Because I signed up to do that, today.)

I also signed Charlie up to be the "Art Volunteer" who goes in to the classroom every week to set up art supplies and participate in projects with all of the children. Additionally, I signed him up to volunteer for the Fun Run in October and Field Day in the Spring and Team Dad for Little League, and Girl Scout's captain. And you know what?

My husband is thrilled.

Everything is awesome.

Tonight, while sipping wine on the hotel bathroom floor, we were talking about Stephen Hawking's new book which is set to be released next week. And while it troubles us that this world renowned Physicist, who we both highly respect, concludes that God was not involved in the creation of the Universe, we still believe that God exists. We believe that God is perfection. We believe that God is hope. We believe that God is the positive force that drives us to be the absolute best we can be. We believe that we are part of the Universe and God is a part of us.

We believe God is in everything.



Especially in our 2008 bottle of La Crema, Pinot Noir.

(And our caramel fudge brownie.)