And in the Blink of an Eye. . .

She turned five!!!!

Thanksgiving and her fifth birthday all rolled into one.

It seemed especially fitting because she is definitely one to be thankful for.

Like her mama, she seems to balance things out; ease people.

Her smile and easy going nature just brings about a quite comfortable peace.
And that is a gift I am thankful for.

Her and her Nino.

Love From Nina

Shenanigans with Little and Kendra

Probably the only shot I took that wasn't birthday related.

Her little buddy. Ten days apart.

She is front and center of mom and dad.

Thanksgiving 2014 looked very different from years past.  It was quiet.  It was small.  We weren't all together for the first time in a very long time.  There were some gaps.  There were some small moments of missing.
But there were even bigger moments of peace. Joy. Happiness.  
I am reminded how Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."--Matthew 19:14\

There were certain times throughout the evening, while kids played ball, ran in and out of doors, feasted on the patio, and licked ice cream off plates that I realized they were oblivious to the haunting hurts: dad's friend who passed away six years before, the neighbor who died this summer, but whose husband invited us over, Anthony being with his dad, hurt feelings or pain we adults carry burdened by our pasts. . .the kids missed it all.
They only enjoyed the present, lived it for every little thing it had to offer.
They were thankful in its fullest capacity.
To be five again. . .or at least to live like it.
Try it.
Or die trying.
 

Living and Leaving

I went to a funeral today for Ofie and got to thinking. . .as one usually does when they are paying their respects and listening to the eulogies and words from loved ones.  I was happy to hear that Ofie was blessed with four grandchildren.  And I thought of her fierce desire and enthusiasm for becoming a grandma.  She radiated joy with just the thought of what a grandchild would mean in her life.  She was so interested in my babies and what they were doing and saying.  I tell you, her daughter and son in law were planning a wedding and her mind was already on the grand babies.  And I couldn't help but wonder at God's glory for planting that desire into her heart early on so that when the babies came...she embraced every little second. I bet no time was wasted. She knew what a gift they were: the gifts she had been waiting for and so she became "amma," whole-heartedly and completely. And then she was gone too soon, but what little time she had with her grand kids, it sounds like she made it count.

The funeral came on the day after a long awaited family dinner.  I think the last time we may have all been together was early September.  It is now November.  Too long.  Too much time has passed.  Too much busy not enough rest.  Sundays at our house has become a day to go to church together and then rest, watch some tv, go for a walk, only do minimal cleaning. . .and eat a good dinner.  That has been on my to-do list for the last two months, and it's working.  It's a nice, calm way to end our weekend and reconnect before the new one throws any curve balls at us.  But I really wanted my kids to have some scheduled time with their grandparents and cousins.  I was happy to ask for once a month but to my delight we agreed to try twice a month!  That makes my heart full.

Sometimes, I must admit,  I feel like the odd man out--But listening at Ofie's funeral today, I was reminded of how she walked in her faith and upheld her convictions in a way that wasn't preachy or arrogant.  I knew she loved God by the way I saw her love people.  Obviously, God and her family came first and it comforted me to feel like I am walking down a similar path with my family--we might not look like everyone else, but it's who God is calling us to be.  I have to chuckle as the words I speak to the teens and tween come back to me, "Right is always right even if no one is doing it.  Wrong is always wrong even if everyone is doing it."  Sometimes being different is being who God wants you to be.  Ultimately, my goal is to meet my maker and for my kids to know and love the Lord so we will love as many as we can along the way. I think Ofie and I had a lot in common.  I do.

So today we walked to ballet, pointing out butterflies and birds along the way.  This afternoon, I walked around the lake while the kids ran.  I breathed in the beauty that was before me.  All of it. And tonight, we danced in the kitchen after dinner to "God of This City."  And this little one fell asleep listening to her dad reading Charlotte's Web aloud to her. And the day was a gift. . . so we decided to live it as such.

One day she will no longer sneak into our bed in the middle of the night. . .and I will miss her.

I get to be there for this.

And this.

And this.

And this.

“We are the windows through which our children first see the world. Let us be conscious of the view.” 
― Katrina Kenison
Children are a heritage from the Lord,
    offspring a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
    are children born in one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man    whose quiver is full of them.
Psalm 127:3-5

Happy, Heart-Filled Home

You know the days that are so full to the brim of splendid?  I think I just experienced one of them.  Helping in both kid's classrooms, trekking to the doctors for a mysterious rash on a daughter, a play date/lunch with a friend who catered to our hungry tummies and opened her home to us. . .Not even the tantrum that followed when it was time to leave, cast a shadow of gray upon the stay.  She was fast asleep by the time we reached home. . and soon kids raced home to do homework and their Daily Ten list before they could go out and play. . .Overheard in the bathroom, as I actually sat in my sacred place with a book in hand, contemplating whether or not I would go to book club tonight:  "We might as well clean the shower while we are at it."  They happily, eagerly, helped this mama out and went above and beyond their "chore" list.  I felt so happy.

A brother stopped by to pick up the dogs that were visiting in the yard.  His visit was brief but he did help out the fourth grader with a rounding worksheet that I was getting frustrated over.  He saved the day.  God sent him at just the right time to intervene and my warm, happy, fuzzy feeling was not lost.  Did I mention an hour and a half wait at the doctors, or a temper tantrum by the three -year-old?

Dinner was simple: prepared while on the phone talking to my best friend, about our daily happenings.  Earlier that morning, I text her to let her know we had prayed for her daughter who was having teeth pulled that day.  A sweet text message followed and now we were checking in.  Two moms, two friends.  Blessed.  A dinner together, where we talked life and love and all things in between.  We focused on Way number 1:  Loving our Lord with whole hearted devotion.  Thank you Clay Clarkson for the plan--now I pray we really strive to implement it into our nightly routine.

Cookies were placed in the oven for dessert and I made the call to stay home: to inhale their loveliness, this peaceful space of home.  I praised God that even in the chaos of the day, I was constantly looking for the joy.  I kept it together, calm, cool, collected.  Focused and intentional.  All that remains tonight is a read aloud--we're aiming for two chapters while the kids inhale their fresh from the oven cookies.  I love today.  I love its simpleness. I love its splendor.  I love that I am here to live it with these people who matter most to me. 

Today was a very good day.

December 18, 2012

It's difficult to get on here and write about life as usual.  Because there is not a whole lot about it that seems usual to me right now.  On Friday twenty elementary children were shot and killed along with six adults.  These children were the age of my Bubba.  Sweet, innocent souls taken from their mommies and daddies far too soon at the hands of a troubled young man.  Malls, theaters, schools-it seems as if nowhere is truly a safe place any more.

Thankfully, my Emmanuel, is my saving place.  He is with us.  All the time, through the tragic and mundane, God is with us.  This was the message we received at the Living Nativity we walk through every year.  We walked and witnessed the recounting of Jesus' birth story.  We experienced the wonder and the awe of the greatest gift to mankind.  God with us. No matter what kind of a year we've had, the troubles, the triumphs, the peace, the pain--there is peace in knowing our Lord, Jesus Christ.

And maybe it's because I taught the Diary of Anne Frank for six years at the high school level, but I keep thinking of Anne's quote. . .“It's really a wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.”


And I do too.  Wasn't it just shown directly to my family HERE?  How can I not?  People all over the world are reeling and mourning and doing for the people in Connecticut.  Love does.  It is an action.  It is an action that is required so that people believe in the goodness of others again.  My prayer is that my own family and circle of friends continue to find ways to serve, to love, to do.  Maybe we are idealistic. . .but maybe we will be life changers because we hang on to the right ones.  I can live with that!


In between awards assemblies, school, living nativity walking, dinners with friends, and doctors appointments Lene performed in her third high school performance.  The Nutcracker.  They started practicing the weekend of Ernie's accident and with the help of family and friends--we were able to get her to all her rehearsals and the week long performance.  Rehearsal for Little Mermaid starts Friday. . .never a dull moment: )

We would like to say a huge thank you to all the friends and families who came out to see her.  This year many of the above students are going to New York to experience Broadway first hand. These shows will help pay the way for many of them.  So all support is especially appreciated!!  We were also able to attend Lene's Beginner Band concert last night.  They played a whopping five notes!!  It was so sweet to listen to them and all their blunders.  Band is not something I see in my daughter's near future--this concert is the first time I've heard her pick up her instrument.  She does not practice at home, and I'm okay with that.  It's not a battle I will fight--I'm glad she tried it and I will be fine when she is done with it.


And that my friends is our week in review.  I'm thinking to capitalize on the silence and to truly enjoy the last days of Ernie and I being home together, I probably won't post again until after the holiday.  Then I can send ourt book off to be made--I can not wait for that!  This blog--our little family history is such a gift to live with the ones He chose for me.  Be blessed!!!