Blogging Weekly

ROCK BAND WITH FRIENDS~

FIRST FILL UP of the Season - Ya think I need a bigger POOL!??!

COLD Kylie!

STRAWBERRY PICKING WITH BRITT AND KATE!

FIRST TIME TO GATTIE TOWN!

So I have this bright idea of setting time aside every Friday to blog. I really want to get thoughts, events, pictures, etc. out to my family and friends. Especially when Stephen is gone - which will be a blog in and of itself! So here we go - every Friday is Blog Day and I am going to try to go back through the week and let you know how it was with a few pictures/videos sprinkled throughout.

This week has been a great one. We were in Ohio the first half of it spending time with Mimi, Papa and the Mayville parents. It was truly a blast from my childhood past as we went to the Zoo, played in the pool at Mimi's, went to DQ "uptown," and just spend quality time with family. There is something about being at Mimi's house that brings back a flood of memories for me. Catching lightening bugs, sitting out on the back porch with Papa eating Sour Cream and Onion potato chips, the quiet of Mimi's voice, Papa's humor, going to the pool with Jan, playing in the basement, Little Women - it truly makes me grateful for family. My cousins and sister will ALWAYS have a special place in my heart when I think of summers in Ohio. They know you in ways that no other will ever know you. They understand you in ways that nobody else ever will - the memories will never leave and I am so grateful that I have people in my life that know me. I know I can always call Bee, Kel or E-Money and they will ALWAYS and FOREVER be there for me. Just to have them is a gift from God above - I hope you guys know how much I love you even though I don't get to tell you often.

*Wiping happy, thankful tears*

On to the babies. Kylie Sophia is growing like a WEED. She is really talking now and is able to kind of tell me what she wants. She says "ascy" if she wants her paci, "bearbear" if she wants her bear, "more" if she wants more food (or whatever it is!), and she can say TONS AND TONS of other words. She astounds me by how much she understands. I told her to "go get her shoes because we are leaving." The next thing I know she is standing behind me holding her two little sneakers up to me. Blew my mind....I think I birth geniuses!

Elijah is also growing leaps and bounds before my eyes. He can say his ABC's, spell his name, knows his colors, shapes, TONS of songs - what ARE they going to teach him in preschool ;) Again, I must say he is a genius! He starts preschool in September. For three hours Tuesday and Thursday he will be in someone else's hands. This will literally be the first time he will be placed in another's hands since he was born - I know this is a good thing. I know this is exactly what he (and MOMMY) needs, I know that I can't hold on forever, I know that it is going to teach him so much - but I can't hide the feeling of sadness. For the past three years he has been under mommy's wing - he has been my little buddy, my sweet first child, my silly little boy - and for some reason when I think of taking him to preschool for his first day - I get a glimpse into the future of dropping him off at college - I KNOW a long way off - but it is the life lesson of letting go of our children. Teaching them to fly on their own - which I bet even birdies feel a little pain in the heart the first time their little ones take off from the nest. Elijah and Kylie have these places in my heart that go so deep. They are rooted into my heart which gives me comfort as they being the slow process of learning to fly.

I think that is why I love thinking back upon my amazing childhood. I want THAT for Elijah and Kylie. I want them to look back on times with us, their grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles - and feel that over-flowing sense of being loved and known. I pray that they will be happy all their lives, but know that they will face heart-breaks, sadness, pain, loss which causes mommy bear to surface - but I have a trust in Jesus to where I can say "oh Jesus, you can have my children. You created them, you KNOW them, you LOVE them in a way I could never, you understand them, you are pursuing them - and I give my control of them up to you - you have entrusted me, gifted me with them as their mommy on Earth - but you will always be their Heavenly Father - It just makes me at peace when I know you have them in your loving hands."

So, really I think this post is about letting go, trusting and resting in the loving arms of a God who passionately wants to love you and know you. Wow - there is no greater love than that of Jesus...complete, never ending, powerful, jealous, gentle, beckoning, mighty, safe, secure, unconditional.........