Work in Progress

The warmer months are quickly approaching and our kids really need some more space to play outdoors. Since a weekend home on 50 acres in the country isn't in the budget at the moment, we have decided to add a deck onto the back of our house. It is a relatively small space, but our hope is that it will free up some much needed room for other things on the already over-cluttered patio. (Must get the sandbox out of the flowerbed!)

With the table and chairs up on the deck, I'm envisioning many hot summer days spent sitting on the patio with my toes dangling in the baby pool and being shaded by a giant sun umbrella while I catch up on my reading. HA HA, ok, there may be a baby pool and a sun umbrella, but I doubt there will be much sitting or reading going on for me, with three little ones to chase after. But that's fine by me. I'll probably have plenty of years, God willing, to spend sitting and reading. Which reminds me of one of my favorite quotes by Bob Moawad. "You can't make footprints in the sands of time if you're sitting on your butt. And who wants to make buttprints in the sands of time?"

So anyway, I was looking at this work in progress (our new deck) and I was feeling excited about the additional usable space it will give us. I was also marveling at how quickly the carpenters had built it (one and a half days for what you see here, which includes digging holes and pouring concrete too.) I thought that was pretty good.

Then my thoughts wandered onto another work in progress, (which happened to be dancing and twirling in front of me) so finely crafted by an even more skilled carpenter. I looked at my little girl, who is transforming all too quickly before my eyes into quite a beautiful young lady. I don't just mean physically beautiful. I mean she is a beautiful soul. I marveled at the miraculous design of God, and this time my excitement was for more than just added square footage or even warm summer days. I am excited for every future moment I have to spend getting to know her and I am abundantly grateful to God for choosing little 'ole me to be the mother of such a beautiful soul, who I know will keep us marveling for years to come at her progress.

More Pics from the Egg Hunt

My Cup Runneth Over

This moment will hold a special place in my mental scrapbook.

It was SO precious! It was one of those times in parenthood when you realize, in a nanosecond, that every struggle so far, and any worry for the future, is all so insignificant. There IS a plan! A purpose and a God much bigger than yourself. If you'll just have faith and let go, life's blessings will often fall into place all by themselves. Despite your urge to control things and in a more perfect way than you could've imagined.

It was often overwhelming managing a toddler and a newborn only 18 months apart and more than once I questioned the sanity of it all, but I've seen time and time again how lucky Toots and Buddy are to have each other and how grateful I feel just to be able to witness it.

We were at St.B's Easter Egg Hunt and Toots spotted a preschool classmate, Andy. She took Buddy by the hand and said "C'mon Buddy, there's my friend, Andy." I just followed and watched. When they reached Andy, Toots put her arm around Buddy and gently guided him to Andy, with her hand on Buddy's back saying, "Hi Andy, this is my brother, Buddy!"

She's 4 years old y'all. A 4 year old politely and lovingly introducing her 2 year old brother to her friend... I could've melted into a pile of sugar right on the spot.

He is Risen!

I hope you all enjoyed a very happy Easter. We had a lovely brunch at Gigi's house and enjoyed the special day with family and friends.

Everyday

Everyday I try to keep in touch with with the people I love. Everyday I think I need to try harder. Everyday I wonder "HOW" I can keep up with everything.

I never thought I would write a blog. (I kind of thought that was for younger, or more interesting people... then again, I never thought I'd be sending text messages either.) But, my hope is that this can be a way to keep in touch with all of the wonderful people God has blessed me to know, and if it helps to hold on to a few memories for my sweet kiddos, that would be great too, since I'm failing miserably at scrapbooking.

I can't promise to post everyday. I'll just do what I always do. Try my best, to be my best, everyday. (And maybe share a few tales along the way.)