Run, Mommy, Run

Tomorrow's the big day (you can read more here)! My little princess is tagging along with Daddy to her first race. She made a sign to cheer me on. I am looking forward to the journey I will be taking tomorrow and seeing my man and my little girl waiting for me at the finish line.

Golden

Today I am golden.


It's been the simple things that have made it special:

• Opening birthday cards from my kids this morning while they all gathered around.





• Sitting in the car waiting to leave while my husband cleaned all the windows.





• Getting together with a friend for coffee and praying about big upcoming events in eachother's lives.





• Coming home to find my husband deep cleaning the bathroom.





• Having nothing but birthday cake for lunch (because I can).






The phone calls, emails, and facebook messages wishing me a happy birthday.





The beautiful weather.





Dinner with my favorite neighbors.





A special gift from my husband.







Early bedtime for the kids.

What a lovely 28th birthday!

Simply Golden - The party

This coming Wednesday is my golden birthday...the birthday that I have been waiting for since I was eight. I will be 28 on the 28th. I always knew I would do something special for my golden day.

Tonight, my husband threw me the best birthday I have ever had in my life. I played whirly ball when I was in 10th grade and vowed that I would do that again...tonight, I got to. My husband and four of our favorite couples (a fifth came after for dinner) went out and played whirly ball together. I now have a neck injury (thanks to my brother-in-law), a back injury, and a few bruises where the seat belt hit (come to think of it, I feel like I was just in a car accident) but I would do it all again...and hope to soon.

We've all been burned at some point in our life. We've all had friendships that didn't last or weren't even true friendships to begin with. We've been hurt by accident or maybe even on purpose, but either way it's still a hurt that comes with painful feelings that lead to protective walls being put up.

If you would have asked me seven years ago, if I thought I would be able to, number one, think of this place as home and, number two, have a group of "sisters" surrounding me I would have seriously doubted both.

I sat there at dinner tonight grateful...grateful for these people who have come along side Dan and me through these past (almost) twenty months...some of whom we didn't even know that well last year at this time. Who all, at one time or another, have prayed for us, encouraged us, and physically helped us get through another day. They all mean something different but something very special to me.

This road often feels very hopeless, never ending, and just plain lonely. But, there are many more days that we feel surrounded, supported, blessed, and loved. And on my special day, it's wonderful to have a handful of friends to forget the cares of this life for a few hours and go out and smash each other in to walls, hit them head on, and give them a serious case of whiplash...because after all, isn't that what friends are for?!

*the group (minus B&K that met us later for dinner)*

Love you guys!!

Beautiful

Brothers

I grew up with a sister just 17 months my junior. My sister was my first friend, my best friend, my maid of honor...we were two peas in a pod. Couldn't have been more different, but our two halves made a whole. It is a relationship that I will have and cherish for the rest of my life.

When we found out that baby number two was a boy, my hopes for Kaitlyn to have a sister kinda went out the window (we only planned to have the two). A world without a sister...the thought saddened me...and still does. I hope and pray she can find a relationship that is comparable...that she can find a sister-like friend to walk this cruel world with, to share secrets with, to band together when teen years get tough.

I entered the world of brothers when we found out Collin was a Collin. My brother didn't have a brother. I have always wondered if he felt like he missed out when he was younger. I know males tend to be different when it comes to friendships...and they feel totally comfortable not going to the bathroom in pairs. :-) I was scared for myself. When two or more boys are gathered there is almost always trouble. Where two or more teen boys are gathered there is almost always something being taken apart, blown up, or set fire...at least that is what I had heard. My Grandpa had many, many brothers and I would hear stories and feel so badly for his mother.

As Collin has gotten older, it's been neat to see a brother to brother relationship up close. Landon is protective. There are many times when I come out to see them sitting on the couch together, Collin on Landon's lap. There are many fights and struggles for dominance but there are no hard feelings and really no need for an apology in both of their eyes. It's a few punches, a kick here, a shove there and they both feel better that they got that out of their system. Now, they do feed off of eachother and they are both daredevils...but I just kinda sit back and let them be boys (I am a little too relaxed with them if you ask my husband). So far, brothers are a piece of cake.

I hope that as they get older they will always keep eachother close. That they will say that their brother was their first best friend, their partner in crime, and their best man in each of their weddings. I hope that they will always hug, always love, and always have someone to confide in...I hope that they will stay up late talking about life and have eachother's back.

My Mom used to say that it blessed her heart when my sister and I would get along...when she would see the closeness that we had. I now know what she meant.

The other day, Collin was sitting by Landon on the couch. He looked over at Landon and patted him on the head and said, "You're my bestest broder, Wandon," and they went back to what they were doing.

And that blessed my heart...

Three Things Thursday

--Thing one *otherwise known as my princess* : My girl loves school. I am so proud of her and all the progress she is making...especially socially. I have really seen her blossom since the school year started and her teacher has even commented on how she is gaining confidence. Since learning how to sound things out and put words together to write sentences on her own, she is really enjoying writing "books". It's exciting to see her develop a love for reading and writing. Her latest creation is entitled, "How to Love School". She has informed me that along with being a cheerleader when she grows up, she is also going to be an author and illustrator (I was surprised she even knew what an illustrator was).

--Thing two *otherwise known as my cowboy* : My Landon appears to be a rough and tumble little guy but underneath it all he is incredibly sensitive and thoughtful. He will gladly let others go in front of him or give his last whatever it is away to someone else who wants it...especially his big sister. He is the quieter of all three so sometimes he gets lost in the shuffle (which I am working very hard to remember). He is all signed up for kindergarten and although the subject was taboo, he is getting used to the idea and I am sure he will do fine. I can hardly believe that he will be five in just a few short months!

--Thing three *otherwise known as Zaiah or just plain crazy* : My littlest man is definitely his father's son. He will talk to anyone or anything and likes to meet new people. The other day in Walmart, he carried on a conversation with an old man in the deodorant aisle. From the moment he wakes up until it's time for him to go to bed, it's non stop talking...he narrates everything and if there is a quite moment it's too much for him to resist and his starts asking if we "member this" and "member that". His new thing is to get in my face if he doesn't think I am listening and say he "seriously" needs whatever it is he just asked for. He is a little bummed that he doesn't get to go to school, but the one on one time with him will be great.

I'm crazy about my Three Things!

Keep Dancing

The other night while I was at work, Dan had a tough night with Kaitlyn that resulted in discipline. After her punishment was over he asked her what she was thinking about to which she replied something about ways she could get out of "this life". He asked her what she meant by that and she told him that she wished she could be a grown up.

I remember wishing the same exact thing. Thinking that it would be wonderful to have my independence, do whatever, whenever, eat whatever I wanted, and dress how I wanted....stay up as late as I wanted and make my own rules. Then the time came for me to be an adult and it wasn't as fun as I imagined it would be. Along with all of the choices adults have in life also comes a whole lot of stress, responsibility, and lack of carefree living. There was supposed to be a lot more free time than this, I am very sure of that...at least it's how it seemed when I was seven.

Just as my little princess occasionally wants to wish away this precious stage in her life, it comes as a reminder to me that too often lately I want to wish away this stage that we seem to be stuck in...and at times the light at the end of this tunnel is too dim or just plain burnt out...Dan being unemployed isn't getting any easier.

When I am sitting on my little girl's bed watching her twirling around to a song she has picked on an old Girls of Grace CD of mine, I catch myself whispering, "freeze this moment, freeze this moment, remember this," and wishing there was someway I could make her realize that someday...not too far down the road...she is going to wish she could spend the afternoon, without a care in the world, twirling around in a ballerina tutu.

It's really hard to believe that I will look back and miss these past 19 months. It's hard to believe that I will wish to go back. But, my little girl serves as a reminder to me not wish this stage away either...to find what good there is on this road that feels like it's crumbling beneath my feet and just keep dancing...

Canada, eh?

One week ago, my husband surprised me with a little bit of spontaneity and whisked me away to Canada. It was an anniversary surprise. I had never been. It was the first time using my brand new passport. Not only did he take me across the bridge in to Canada, he took me to Niagara Falls. They were breath taking in the daylight and beautiful all lit up at night.

Although it will never compare to the US, Canada was pretty alright. I loved that everything was in kilometers (it made the trip seem shorter), the paper money is cute with all the colors, and there is a Tim Horton's every few miles (YUM!!). I just gotta say, the prices over there are outrageous.

I had a wonderful time in a different country with the love of my life...I hope it's just the beginning of travels to come.

Blessings

He is Risen!

Happy Easter. May you take time to praise Him today for His sacrifice.