Wordless Wednesday

Happy Birthday, Goliath!

Dear Goliath,

You are 8 years old today! We started the day with the traditional family birthday muffins. Actually, you started the day before any of us...you were already waiting for me when I came in the kitchen to bake! You always are an early riser. And it's a good thing you got a jump start on the day. As soon as you finished breakfast, you waited impatiently for your dad to take you to get your birthday present: a new bike! Much of the rest of the day was taken up riding around the neighborhood with your friends.

As I watched you blow out your candles this morning, read your cards, and ride your bike, I kept thinking the same thing: "He is so grown up!" And so you are. There is no trace of the baby you used to be--I long ago went from being "Mommy" to "Mom". You refer to your brothers as "you guys" and your friends as "dudes." You prefer a hot morning shower over the leisurely evening bubble baths you used to enjoy. You would rather watch a cowboy movie with Dad than cartoons with your brothers. You run to answer the phone when it rings, you know how to use the internet, and you recently figured out how to purchase pay-per-view movies off the TV. After 3 mysterious charges, we got smart and put parental locks on all the channels!

In some ways, you are just like any other growing boy. For one thing, you are pretty messy. Your room is a disaster, and I've had a hard time finding the balance between allowing it to be your personal space and insisting that it be tidy. I'm working on it, though. You also have become less careful about your appearance. You used to drive me crazy because you would roll up your pants legs because you thought you looked cool that way. Now, you don't seem to care if you're even wearing pants! You must be reminded to brush your teeth and comb your hair most days, and if I dare let you choose your clothes, they probably were picked up off your bedroom floor. I fear that this is just the first of many years of smelly socks, sweat-stained T-shirts, and moldy duffel bags for our family of boys!

In other ways, I am seeing more and more how God crafted you to be the one and only wonderful you. You really enjoy cooking--we have shared sweet moments in the kitchen creating delicious treats together. You adore horses! This year you finally got to take Papa's horse outside of the pen, and you are a pretty good rider. In fact, you are quite the outdoorsman. You also caught a gigantic fish this spring and killed your first deer just a few weeks ago. I will never forget how excited you were when you called me to tell me you "stopped him dead in his tracks!". You love to read, and can easily spend an hour (or longer) with your nose in a book.

This year you have enjoyed great success, but have also faced some tough challenges. This summer, one of your Sunday School teachers went to heaven after battling cancer. You asked questions that I couldn't answer, and it hurt my heart to realize that you still carry so much fear and worry from my illness. You faced a difficult situation at school in the fall, and showed us that your emotions--good and bad--run fast and furious. I wanted so much to step in and "fix it" for you, and I just couldn't. Talk about growing pains! As hard as these things have been, I am thankful for the bond that we share and the evidence that the God of the Universe holds my boy in His hand.

There are two mental pictures I have of The Year You Were Seven that I hope I never forget. One is from the day you broke your arm in Abilene. A visit to the ER became a trip to the operating room to reset the bone. While we waited for them to wheel you in to the OR, I was an emotional mess--I couldn't bear the thought of you going in there alone. But I didn't want you to feel scared, so I tried not to let you see me cry. When it was time for you to go, I leaned over to kiss you, and you gently wiped the tears off my face.

The other happens on a pretty regular basis: When I drop you and Little Middle off at school in the morning, you take care of him. Even if we're pressed for time, you wait for him to get out of the car, and you walk with him into the school building. I love to watch you caring for and loving your little brother that way, and I equally love how he seems to walk a little taller with you by his side.

Dad and I are so proud of you, little man. God made you strong, smart, and so very, very special. I expect that eight will be great for you, and I look forward to seeing what you will do next. I have no greater joy than simply being your mom. Happy Birthday, baby.

I love you,

Mom

Ringing In the New Year

In 2009, I...

*searched the world over for kid-size goat horns so that Goliath could shine in his 1st grade play.
*quit one of my jobs so that I could spend more time with my family.
*joined a gym, began working out regularly, and hired a very cheerful personal trainer.
*rediscovered the joy of making popcorn in an air popper.
*found a new church home.
*spent four amazing days in San Antonio with my mom and my sister.
*spent one night sleeping in a hospital chair after Goliath broke his arm while horseback riding.
*became a soccer and a football mom.
*celebrated the engagements of my sister and my best friend!
*had a meltdown when someone in my family brought home a rat for a pet, and ended up with a gerbil named Steve instead.
*cried during Little Middle's preschool graduation.
*cried again when I took Little Middle to kindergarten for the first time.
*joined forces with 3 friends (aka the "Dinner Divas") to create a dinner co-op.
*went hiking, hunting, and roller skating.
*had a tough time answering deep spiritual questions that my boys kept asking!
*attended a No-Cancer Party held in my honor.
*got into a consistent routine of doing daily quiet times.
*mourned with several friends over lost loved ones, and rejoiced with several others as they welcomed new babies.
*got a new car.
*saw Mary Poppins and The Nutcracker at the theater.
*listened to Little Middle read his first book.

In 2010, I am looking forward to...

*being part of 2 very special weddings.
*uneventful doctor visits and clear CT scans.
*deeper worship and closer walking with my God.
*continued fitness and weight loss.
*the rainy season, when I will get much use out of my new Mary Poppins parrot-head umbrella.

Thanks, Lord, for new beginnings.

Finding Joy

These weeks leading up to Christmas have been tough for me. I just haven't welcomed the season with the usual joy and excitement. I have seen so much heartache, loss, and worry in 2009--several of my friends are facing the holidays without loved ones...people I care about are jobless or faced with uncertain financial futures...people I look up to have lives turned upside down by illness. I've been annoyed by the commercialism attached to the holiday, and the pressure to make each Christmas bigger and better than the ones before. I want the season to be magical for my boys, and I have been at a loss as to how to make it happen. So I prayed, and I asked God to restore my joy and give me perspective. Here's what happened:

I told my class of 4-year-olds the Christmas story. I looked around the circle at their big eyes, and I knew there was no one else I would have wanted to be telling about the miracle of the manger.

I called my mom to tell her our plans had changed and we would be home for the holidays. As I sang "I'll Be Home for Christmas," she started to cry. I knew there was nothing else I would rather be hearing.

I was putting clean sheets on the beds while Baby was in the bathtub. I heard him singing "Go Tell It On the Mountain" to himself while he was splashing around. I laughed, and knew that I would treasure that memory for a long time.

I stayed up late wrapping presents a few nights ago. I thought about the joy that is to come on Christmas morning--not from the gifts themselves, but from the being together--and I knew there was nothing else I would rather be doing.

I sat in a worship service surrounded by my church family singing "O Holy Night." I knew there was nowhere else I'd rather be.

Yesterday I looked out the window to see Goliath hard at work in the yard, bagging leaves to earn money so he could go Christmas shopping for his family. I knew there was nothing else I would rather be seeing.

This afternoon I put on an apron and baked Christmas cookies with Little Middle and Baby. I watched them happily spread icing and shake sprinkles, and I knew I wouldn't trade that moment for anything in the world.

Joy to the world! The Lord is come!

I am ready to receive my King.

First Snow of the Season

We don't dare dream of a white Christmas in Texas, but that's what we got (albeit a few weeks early) yesterday morning! The big boys still had to go to school, but I managed to get a few shots of our littlest snow bunny.

Here he is enjoying the change in the weather...

...and licking snow off of the trampoline:

What can I say? Boys will be boys.

What I Did During Thanksgiving Break

Around our house, nothing says "Thanksgiving" like a good hunting trip. After 11 1/2 years of marriage, I finally gave in and went hunting. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em...right?

Hubby, Little Middle, Baby, and I made a day trip to the lease. We hadn't planned on taking any kids, so we ended up doing more looking than actual hunting. We had a good time, though! I'll let the pictures tell the story:

Little Middle, all dressed up and ready to go!

This is my absolute favorite picture!

The boys were examining all the dead wasps up in Daddy's stand.

Indoor plumbing. That's all I have to say about that.

Really, really BIG spider.

Rumor has it that on a previous trip to the lease, Goliath shot out all the windows on this old abandoned car with his BB gun.

Hunting brothers

Here's Baby, taking a break in the truck while we waited for Daddy and Little Middle to get back from exploring. He had a hard time being quiet, but he sure did enjoy getting dirty and finishing off several of his dad's sodas!

*Confidential to Hubby: If I'd known it would make you so happy to take me out to the lease, I would never have waited so long to go. In spite of all the red dirt, I had a really fun time being part of what you love to do (and driving off road!). I love you.*

We shared Thanksgiving with Hubby's family and drove home on Thursday night. On Friday, I re-packed my suitcase and drove to Houston. That night, I met up with my lifelong BFF and we went to see The Nutcracker performed by the Houston Ballet at the Wortham Center. I went to the see this ballet every Christmas as a little girl...this trip brought back sweet memories, made better by sharing it with my best friend!

My sweet sister is getting married next summer, and her wedding dress was ready! I met my family at the bridal salon on Saturday morning. Mine weren't the only tears shed when she walked out in her dress. She will be a beautiful bride.

A week spent traveling across Texas to be with a lot of people I love reminds me...there is MUCH to be thankful for.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Dear Baby,

Today we celebrated your fourth birthday. What a fun year we've had with you! This has been a year of many "firsts" for you: your first dentist visit, your first trip to the lease with Daddy, and your first time to sing in big church. You are a big boy...my baby is not a baby anymore!

You hear the words "I love you" a LOT from Daddy and me, but today seems like a good time to tell you WHY I love you so much. I love you because you sometimes still let me hold you, and when I pick you up, you lay your head on my shoulder and pat my back, as if I'm the one who needs to be comforted (sometimes I am). I love you because every night when we put you to bed, you refuse to be covered up, but when I come back later to check on you, you are lying flat on your back with the covers pulled up to your chin. I love you because you have an uncanny resemblance to Charlie Brown from Peanuts. I love you because you can spell your name and the words "family" and "boots." I love you because you love to play "Crack the Egg" on the trampoline with me, and it doesn't bother you at all that you, as the egg, are easily cracked. I love you because you have a little speech issue--R, L, S, and a few others letter sounds are problematic--but the way you talk is so adorable, I don't much care if it ever gets fixed. I love you because you are a computer whiz and can navigate your way through the internet to get to your games. I love you because you always hold my hand in the parking lot, because you like to help me clean the bathroom and sort the laundry, and because you ask me every single night where we are going the next day. I love you because of your crazy love affair with macaroni and cheese. Although slightly frustrating, your devotion to this food item is admirable and funny. I love you because you are easy-going and fun to be with, and because you make me feel like I'm doing a good job being your mommy.

I love you because you make me laugh. Oh, how you make me laugh! Just this morning, I was looking through some old pictures. You walked by, casually looked over my shoulder, and said, "I recognize that girl. She's my mom." Then you walked away.

This year we sent Little Middle off to kindergarten. I worried that you would be lonely and bored without your brothers around. It is, after all, the first time in your entire life that you've gotten one-on-one with me for any period of time. Turns out I worried needlessly. I have been reminded these past few months why I chose to be a stay-at-home mom in the first place--so I could have time like we've had and moments like those that we've shared. I wouldn't trade these sweet days with you for anything in the world!

Precious boy, your mommy loves you. You are a living, breathing testimony to the faithfulness and mercy of our God. Every day with you is a grand adventure and a great gift. Surely I am the most blessed mommy in the world, because you are mine.

Happy Birthday, Heart Boy.

Love,


Mommy