That's my boy

Favorite quote from Andrew's kindergarten screening experience:

Incredulously,

"MOM! They didn't even ask me to count to 100 or what 4+4 or 6+6 or 8+8 or 10+10 was!"

Smiling and not even trying to hide my amusement,

"Oh shucks, they didn't? Oh well."

"But I told them anyway."

That's my boy.

If I could save TIME in a bottle

With excitement we purchase school supplies, freshen the wardrobe with new school outfits, replace the flip-flops with practical tennis shoes as we prepare for the going back to school. The feelings are those of anticipation and excitement mingled with the sorrow of a passing summer.

Now I prepare to welcome my flock back to the nest. Sound a bit dramatic? I was going for poetic, but hey, that's why I am not a paid writer. The feelings associated with this time of year are similar....yet so very different. It is with reserved excitement that I send them off each August, but it is with unbridled joy that I welcome them home.

Late nights in the yard, impromptu picnic lunches with daddy at the park, afternoon movies, days at the beach, and lazy mornings in pj's are all just atmospheric benefits to the kids being home for the summer. The really good stuff, the really, really, important stuff is the T-I-M-E.

Time for watching them grow, time for bonding through new experiences, time for listening to them, time for hearing them, time for friendship to develop between siblings, time for unlimited physical activity, time for loving them, time for teaching them, time for disciplining them, time for cherishing them, TIME for each other.

I will never take this TIME for granted. EVER. For I have been adequately warned that it will pass in the blinking of an eye. I will not trade these moments for another. Because these moments will be the ones that I cling to in the cold winter nights of old age.

So yes, you could say that I am excited that the final bell of school is soon to ring, but if that is all that you think it is, then you would be wrong.

Smells like summer

Recently on a day outing I pulled out the trusty can of sunscreen and began the slathering of my two youngest, working on the ears, hair line and shoulders before coming around to the front.

Andrew stood patiently and sniffed a few times into the air before commenting:

"Mmmmm, what smells like the outdoor swimming pool?"

Yes, my boy, that day is coming. Hopefully sooner than later!

Elizabeth Jo turns two!

*(Re-posted, after blogger had a meltdown)

Two years is such a short span of time in the great journey of life. And yet, these two years have done much in the way of changing this little girl. Transfiguring a helpless and dependant infant into a talking, toddling princess.

But more than anything, these two years have changed me. You would think that if I had lessons to learn through motherhood, God would get that point across by baby three, or four, perhaps. Not so. Lest I think that my molding was complete, the Potter has shaped me more in two years than I thought possible.

Thank you Elli. Thank you for not only coming into our home, but forever changing my heart. Happy Birthday to one of the greatest blessings this side of heaven.

I put together a video montage of her second year...mainly for those related to us, or with a great deal of time on their hands :o) For the brief readers, here are a few of my favorite Elli shots!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Happy Birthday Katharine Anne!

K- Kool Kat
A- Amazing
T- Truthful
H- Hilarious
A- Artistic
R- Responsible
I- Inspiring
N- Noisy
E- Encouraging




Happy 7th birthday to one of the most loving little girls in the world. Kate, you are and will always be the SUNSHINE of our home!

I love you Katy-bug!

Because of her

I am a ‘young’ mom,(humor me), early 30's...little children. So I am thoroughly overwhelmed with humility when I am told that I am a 'great mom', or any variation of such a comment. I am so, so, so very much not!

These compliments seem more like a message I am meant to pass along. A message to the woman who modeled motherhood to me in a way that was Christ-like: caring, compassionate, selfless, and unconditional. You know, all the things I want to be, but still remain far from.

But then, in prayer (where all of my really good thoughts come to me), I realized that by not accepting the compliments I am not honoring her.
I am who I am, because of her.

The things are countless that she sacrificed, gave up, and went without simply to be the one who tucked us in, woke us up, and met us at the door after school. We didn't have worldly luxuries abounding, but the mother of pearl in our home was the one who gave us life, and with her we lacked nothing.

By being a foster parent for many years, other children have experienced her love simply by being welcomed into her home for a season, and her heart for eternity. And now through her work as an aide, in an elementary school, she continues to be the welcoming arms and caring heart for the many students with whom she interacts daily.

There is no greater gift that I can receive on Mother's Day, than to see my children wrapped up in an embrace with my own mother.

I love you Mom!

*I have also had the privilege of knowing and witnessing some of the best of the best in the vocation of motherhood. Today, I celebrate you as well. Your Godly examples continue to be a source of inspiration to me and the many other women that encounter your love. To all of you with whom I share this bond of motherhood, I salute you!

A square peg

Those who know me now...as a mom of five, might be surprised to know that as a young woman, I was probably the least likely of my high school friends to settle down and settle in to the role of motherhood. Especially stay-at-home motherhood.

Those of you who have known me since 'way back when' can you confirm?

So this role has been an evolutionary process. Not a 'born to be a mama' one. I have friends like that. And it shows in every aspect of their mothering. They are naturals.

I am a square peg trying to fit into a round hole.

Thankfully, I know a very skilled carpenter. And He makes house calls.

Not only has He worked at grinding down the rough edges, He has given me a passion for what I do. Something that seemed of such little significance at one point in my life, He has now given me the eyes to see its extreme value. In this role, I can see my value. And that is huge.

I am sure that I could have been successful in many other fields. I am sure that I could have contributed to many different intellectual environments. But if it wasn't His plan, then I am sure that my joy would not be complete.

Motherhood may not come naturally for me...but every single day I thank my Father above for ignoring the natural and leading me to the SuperNatural.