Aug 08 2011

sometimes new beginnings are tough

Posted in Family

Today was the first day of the new school year, and it was kind of a big deal at our house since it was Riley and Cole’s first day at Snowden School. We knew it would be a lot different from the school the boys attended in Nashville, but honestly it was a lot tougher for them than I had hoped. It’s hard to start over with no friends in a huge urban school when you’re 8 & 10 years old. I told them tonight that I am SO proud of them for being so brave. I promised them that we’d take it one day at a time and that it would get easier. They are great boys, and I truly am incredibly proud of them. In keeping with tradition, we went out for ice cream after school to celebrate (even though they weren’t very celebratory!). There’s a great frozen yogurt place called YoLo near the house, so we went there.

Aren’t these boys super handsome?!

This is how Riley looked most of the afternoon, bless his heart (while Cole sucks down the last of his melted yogurt in the background!) . . .

I finally got a smile out of him & I LOVE this photo!

If you pray, would you please say a prayer tonight or tomorrow morning for Riley and Cole? Pray that they will both make a friend this week and not feel alone. Thank you from the bottom of this mama’s heart. And now I have to get ready for bed. This 5:30 alarm is killer!

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jenn - August 8, 2011 - 9:41 PM

Ahhh…I got teary reading this. Will definitely pray for your sweet, sweet boys. It WILL get easier…but in the meantime…lots of extra hugs and ice cream!!

Courtney - August 9, 2011 - 4:55 AM

oh, yes. praying for your sweet boys. the first day of school is ALWAYS hard on my heart…i can’t imagine yours this year specifically! off to run…and will be praying for those adorable Dunlap boys (and their mama!)

kirsten - August 9, 2011 - 5:36 AM

praying!

Meredith - August 9, 2011 - 7:24 AM

Praying now for your boys. As a child we moved quite a bit and I had a few of those hard first days. It will get better!! Praying it gets better quickly for your sweet boys.

Heather - August 9, 2011 - 7:46 AM

I follow your blog and am a waiting momma w/ AGCI. I heard a story on Klove just the other day where a mom was sending her dtr to a new school and the dtr came up w/ the idea to take stickers to all the kids to make new friends. I don’t know if your boys are too old for that type of thing, but I’m sure you all can be creative and come up w/ something fun to make friends.

Monica @ In the Whisper - August 9, 2011 - 8:06 AM

Beautiful sweet boys. YoLo can help most of the ills in a day. Praying for these sweethearts today. Can’t wait to see how it goes.

Kathryn Jones - August 9, 2011 - 8:09 AM

praying for your boys…and for the kids at Snowden School.

Michelle - August 9, 2011 - 8:45 AM

We moved our three kiddos several times in their young lives b/c of my husbands work, a challenge it is.

You your dear boys, and husband will be held in our prayers as you transition, finding your place and friends in your new community.

Faith, Hope and Love (and more ice-cream:) will get you through this…
mlynne

Abby - August 9, 2011 - 9:59 AM

Being a kid can be tough. I’ll be praying for them!

Mrs. McGoo - August 9, 2011 - 3:41 PM

love you guys and lifted your boys up last night when I read this and again this morning on the way to work.

karen halbert - August 9, 2011 - 10:13 PM

awesome post. it totally made me tear up! poor, sweet boys. we’ll be praying for him tomorrow!!

dee dee - August 13, 2011 - 11:20 PM

I feel your pain! we are in new schools this year too. and i must say that military moves were a breeze compared to moving into a NON-military area. my big girls (15 and 12) are having such a hard time. we truly do understand! so, as I pray each day for my girls I will be adding Riley and Cole to the list. well, i’ll be praying for riley u and riley d b/c my nephew is a riley too. but i’m not even going to use their initials in my prayers. i’m pretty sure God can keep them straight!

thank you, friends! » The Dunlap Family - August 9, 2011 - 9:31 PM

[...] wanted to give a quick follow-up to yesterday’s post. Thank you to everyone who left a comment here on the blog or on Facebook, texted me, emailed, or [...]

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sometimes new beginnings are tough