Big smile

Do you see this adorable grin?  Can you believe that this little guy's heart is even bigger than his smile?!

This

Andrew snapped this picture last night.  I was singing little Bean to sleep.  She needed me and I needed her.

 

Perspective

Dear Kids,

Sometimes it will feel like your world is out of control.  You'll feel as if you are doing everything in your power to get things checked off of your ever growing list that you've created ... and with each item you check, three more appear.  You'll feel nervous and scattered and maybe even a tiny bit scared.  In fact, in moments such as these, your focus may be so intense that it makes you narrow sighted and you fail to see all the wonderful things that surround you.  Should you find yourself in such a situation, take a step back and ...

• Look at the big picture.  What things in your world are good and right?  Celebrate!  What things need to be changed?  Make a plan and put one foot in front of the other as you fix your problem one step at a time.
•  Look around.  You have people that love you and will always be there to help you, should the need arise. Mr. Rogers once wrote, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping,'" I think this is such great advice.  
• Look up.  God never meant for us to carry our burdens alone.  Pray.  Ask Him to help you.  Thank Him for all of the blessings in your life -- for the ones you see and the ones that you don't even notice.  Exodus 14:14 reads,  The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Listen to Him and he will lay a path before you.

And just like that, things become clearer and your perspective will be based more on truth than on emotions.  Remember, even when things seem daunting, you are never ever alone.

Love always,

Mommy

Sorry it's been so long...

Dear Sprout and Bean,

Tonight I just wanted to write you a little letter.  I am so sorry that I have not written in a while.  Mommy has never been so busy in her whole life ... but that does not change the fact that Mommy loves you more than her whole life.  So, while you are asleep and before I fall asleep, I just want to write three things (out of the infinite number of things) that I love about the two of you.

Sprout:

1)  I love our special mama and son times.  For example,  I love that you twirl my hair when you are sleepy.  I love that your "snuggles and cuddles" and how you hug my neck as you close your long-lashed eyes.  I love that I can be such a source of comfort and security for you as finally fall asleep.

2)  I love your tender heart.  When your sister is sad, you do your very best to make her feel better (most of the time).  Whenever you hear a moving piece of music, your eyes tear up and your little lower lip quivers.  And when you tell someone you love them, you really do make her whole day.  And if that someone is ever sad, she thinks about a certain sweet little boy and she cannot help but feel completely blessed.

3)  I love that you want to learn about everything!  You want to know every species of animal and plant and dinosaur.  You want to learn how to play the fiddle, drive a tractor, and hunt a bear.  You want to sing in the choir like your daddy, build furniture like pawpaw, and cross stitch like mawmaw.  I hope you know that Mommy and Daddy are committed to helping you do all of those things! 

Bean:

1)  I love that you are full of joy.  You dance to the music of katydids.  You sing (off key) at the very top of your little lungs.  You think that everyone is your very best friend -- and when you smile at them, they cannot help but want to be your very best friend!  Your laugh is just about the cutest thing Mommy and Daddy have ever heard ... and the wonderful thing about that is that you giggle all. of. the. time!  Can I tell you how wonderful it is for us to hear our very favorite noise over and over again!

2)  I love that you are a very strong and determined little girl.  You, my short little bald friend, do not know your limits.  You have exceeded all of your developmental milestones because you do not think you're too little to do anything.  You want to climb like a monkey, talk as fast as an auctioneer, and create beautiful pieces of art.  And if you fall, babble, or miss the paper with your crayon ... you do not get discouraged!  You delight in you attempts and you try over and over again.

3)  I love that you want to protect your brother.  If he should cry, you run to take care of him.  If he gets clumsy and falls, you run to his rescue.  You love that "brodor" with all your heart.  He is the first person you talk about when you wake up.  You want to do everything with that boy.  You want to be just like him ... and if he ever needs you, you are right there for him.

So goodnight, my sweet babies.  I have enjoyed writing this short letter to the two little ones whom I love so dearly.  May God bless you.  I can't wait to hold you when you wake in the morning.

Love always,
Mommy

An Ode to Stay-at-Home Parents

It seems as if every baby magazine that you read has a list of the top ten baby "must haves."  And when you register for your baby shower, stores will give you their version of your "must haves."  When Andrew and I were pregnant with Sprout, we listended to our local baby super store and registered for the bazillion things that they told us we would not be able to live without.  Now that we are experienced parents with two kiddos at home, I have discovered the secret that magazines and superstores would rather keep hidden.  You really do not need a lot of things ... We quickly learned that our babies need us ... not material substitutions for the things that we can provide.

Last week, Andrew had to go to the eye doctor.  As he was filling out the patient information form, there was a spot that asked for a job description.  And instead of writing "unemployed," Andrew wrote "stay-at-home-dad."  Way to go, Andrew!  That is the truth!  The man works hard.  He provides our children with their physical needs, emotional needs, and spiritual needs.  He plays with them, feeds them, laughs with them, and prays with them.  He prepares their meals.  He makes sure that the are well-dressed and clean.  On top of all of that, he somehow maintains a clean house and can even assist me with a project or two.  Words cannot describe how thankful I am for him.  My husband is amazing.

In short, I am grateful for my husband and for the way that he provides for our family.  Thank you, Andrew.  You rock!

This Little House

Confession:  Sometimes I want to sell this little house of ours.  We have no storage.  There are no walk-in closets, we do not have a garage, and our attic space is limited.  Our stroller has to be stored under our piano, along with Sprout's tricycle.  Bean's Pack-and-Play is in the middle of a room because we literally have no wall space.  Our porch is in desperate need of repair.  Someone even smashed the chicken mailbox that Andrew made me for Christmas one year.  And honestly, I do not know when we can afford to move. 

And then:  Christmastime came.  And I remembered.

• When Andrew found this house in the late spring of 2009, he drove me up our road to show it to me.  As soon as I saw it, I knew that it would be lovely with Christmas lights on it.  Yes, this house was made for green garland and bright red velvet bows.  Our house is darling, especially during this time of the year.  It is the kind of house that snow globes try to capture.
• When I was younger, I once visited a house that felt like love.  I will never forget that feeling.  I would silently pray that one day I would have a house that felt like love, too.   Years later, my dear friend Arlene visited our house and told me that our house felt like love.  I cannot tell you how much my heart glowed when she said those words.  She was right.  Our house really does feel like love.
•  Arlene adorned our childrens' bedroom walls with mountains and starlight, lunar moths and stately deer, crimson leaves and black-eyed Susans.  We made our kids a little fireplace and a cabin nook.  Their sub floors have scripture verses and love notes that we wrote for them before they were born. 
• Our house would be a palace to most people in this world.  We are warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  We have clean water and a refrigerator that is full of food.  We have luxuries that are not necessities. 

And now: I realize that if we live in this house for the rest of our lives, that would be just fine. It has everything that we need.  It is beautiful.  It is full of love.  We made it ours.  Andrew carried me through our front door as his bride.  We brought both of our children home to this little cabin.  And you will never see a house as charming as this when it is adorned with Christmas lights.

on the stairs of our front porch

For My Grandma

Radiant, parties, fried chicken, elegance, spunk, leopard print, beauty, and family ... these are all words that make me think of my Grandma Mollie.  She was a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, an aunt, a grandmother, a friend -- she touched the lives of everyone sitting here today.

She was a walking piece of history.  Grandma was her family's first American-born child.  With her siblings, she saw first hand how hard work and determination could turn a small deli into a booming and successful business.  She lived the American dream.

Grandma Mollie lived life to its fullest!  She loved traveling, exploring different cultures, and adventure.  Grandma swam in oceans, went on safaris, and stood on mountain peaks.  She loved sunshine ... perhaps just a little too much.  But most of all, Grandma loved her family.  We were her shining stars and she was our rock -- a foundation that made us all proud.

Grandma Mollie possessed the kindest heart anyone could ever have.  When she was sick, she knew that her earthly life was coming to an end.  However, she had a beautiful peace and calmness about her.  She talked about going to heaven and seeing her family members with the sweetest smile on her face.  Her biggest concern was not for herself -- it was for us.  She asked me, "Anna, do you think everyone will be okay?"  And I promised her, "Yes Grandma, everyone will be okay."

Isaiah 43:1-3 reads, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, Your Savior..."

As we gather here today, we miss grandma. And the truth is, we will miss her our whole lives. She was one of those "once in a lifetime" people that we were blessed enough to know. However, we will be okay. Each of us will garner all of our love, strength, and determination -- attributes so characteristic of Grandma Mollie -- and we will live our lives to the fullest. We will follow her example.