like a child

this morning when eli was saying the prayer he thanked Heavenly Father that it was emma's  birthday. he prayed, "i'm thankful for emma, i love her, emma is awesome."   it made me ponder...when did i ever tell the Lord someone i loved was awesome. another lesson from my grandkids.

  

our birthday bash tonight was for emma who turns 4 tomorrow and rob who had his birthday last week. i loved having a full table.

as the adults talked upstairs the kids do what kids do...play! 

emma loved the booklet noah made for her about princesses. 

cupcakes for the kids and cream puffs for the adults (well of course the kids too.)













i loved having all the wonderful full
sounds in my home again

someone playing the piano
someone laughing, someone crying,
someone cooking, and lots of talking. 
             my favorite music

 

so glad they're here

it's been so fun to have the st. louis millers here. tonight we went to deb deaver's reception and had great fun watching the kids dance on the stage. i was amazed at them singing the songs too. eli was terrific with 'what does the fox say' - (a song that i just don't get.) the kids literal danced till they dropped. deb had all kinds of gourmet popcorn which i'd never seen but was really yummy... which was a surprise.

  i'm praying daily this family can find a way to move here!!

Cousins

Josh, Val and their kids came in for the week...yeah! It's been 7 months since I've seen them and there's nothing more wonderful than having the kids see me, run up the stairs and jump into my arms. heaven...absolute heaven! so today they spent the day at chris and rob's so josh and val could attend a wedding. when i came over after school chris finally let them use 'technology', obviously their favorite thing. so this must be the modern way that kids get together and 'play'!

haley and abi getting to know each other

being special

i just watched a short clip of a time when mr. rogers was receiving an award. i'm sure he received many but he spoke about the fact that there were many who helped him get where he was. then he asked everyone in the audience to take 10 seconds and just think of some of the people who have "loved you into being" and cared about you to help you be who you are. after the 10 seconds he remarked how pleased they must be to know the difference you feel they made. it was so gentle and so genuine and for those 10 brief seconds i felt so grateful for 3 dear friends in my life who loved me into being a little bit better. 

my kids got a daily dose of the heartfelt wisdom of mr. rogers and i loved his cardigans and gym shoes and 'slowness.' he gave time to let his message 'sink in' and feel good. and now at 60 when i see a picture or hear his safe voice it makes me feel grateful that i live in a beautiful neighborhood and that there is goodness to be found by helping others know they are special by just being themselves.

josh

i am so very proud of this son of mine. he's been one of the doctors at the nfl combine where they literally check out the health of all the players before they do the draft. it doesn't surprise me that josh is a doctor. he's been so driven as a teenager and so focused and worked so hard. it's such a cool feeling to learn from your children and see their insights are sometimes so much deeper than your own. i'm constantly saying to myself, 'how did he get so wise and insightful?' and yet i know there are still important things i can and want to teach him. 

i guess the best part of parenting at this time of my life is the beautiful sharing that takes place. we both learn, we both teach, we both love it.

more birthdaying!

tonight's dinner was spent with mom and christy since i haven't had quite enough celebrating! mom's memory is fading a little more each time and yet she is such a gracious kind woman. if i have to grow old and forgetful i hope i can be as sweet natured and pleasant as mom. i think that is a gift you give your children and probably one i often overlook. today i am grateful for mom's example of growing old with grace and enduring valiantly to the end.

birthdays

the birthday activities continue...but not for me this time...that continues tomorrow. tonight we went to celebrate rob's birthday with richie and carolyn and their family and chris and the kids. with 9 kids the best place to go was McDonald's of course! but you know, as long as you're with family it doesn't matter where you go to, it's going to be fun.