Did someone give the clock a whirl?  How is it possible that we are already into the third month of this new year?   Mister Time, could you, would you, please do this momma a favor and slow down.  I can hardly catch my breath.  My once toddlers are teetering on the brink of tweens and teens.   Oh my heart, I am so not good at this, will I ever be?

Each year becomes more precious, more valuable, more difficult for this momma.  How can it be that in six short years my first born will be an adult and my baby will be right on his heels?

As I rely heavily on photographs and my blog to keep the memories fresh and close to my heart, this past year we started a new tradition that brought our family great joy.   We have our “Thankfulness Jar”.  Whenever we feel prompted we scribble something we are thankful for on a piece of paper and drop it into our jar.  On New Years Day we sat on the floor by the fireplace and read them one by one.  We were so surprised!   We had forgotten so many things that brought us such relief, joy and gratefulness throughout the year, but were so happy we had these little pieces of paper to remind us.

Thankfulness Jar

1. Thankful Hayden’s concussion was not more serious than it was after he hit his head on the playground at school.
2. Thankful I got my tooth pulled and it didn’t hurt at all!  (Gillian 7-24-13)
3. Thankful to spend Labor day weekend at home with family & good friends. Great pot luck at church.
4. Thank you God that Mr. Mesquit is doing better.
5. Thankful for our house and pets.
6. Thankful for Hayden’s help with yard work this Summer.
7.  So thankful for our new front porch, love it!
8.  Loved my weekend away with Dad in January- hotel, movie, dinner.  ~Hayden
9.  Thankful that we have insurance so that Kip could get the melanoma taken care of.
10.  Thankful that my honey works from home.
11.  Thankful that Gillian is part of an amazing Bible Study.
12.  Happy we got to experience The Drive-In with our kids.
13.  Thankful we got to go to VA. PA, MD for Spring break to visit family.
14.  Thankful for my cat.
15. Thankful that we still have our home and our cousins do too.  (G -regarding fires, floods)
16. Thankful that our relatives are healthy – G
17. Thankful that Hayden’s jaw and wrist weren’t broken after his huge bike crash.
18.  Thankful that our miracle ferret, Blizzard survived surgery and intestinal damage.
19. Thankful for the gift of a clean car.  H washed it and G vacuumed it.
20. Thankful that the kids are getting to be stronger swimmers.
21. Thankful for my weekend away with Hayden, it was a huge blessing.  ~Kip
22. Thankful for a fun NYE celebration with friends and family.
23. Thankful Collin Frye is doing better.
24. Thankful for our weekend away as a family in Breckenridge.  Our 22 mile bike ride.
25. Thankful for the week Eli stayed with us.
26. Thankful that Kip was able to get into see a doctor at Jewish Hospital.
27. Thankful for Gillian’s ballet teachers and Soccer Teachers.
28. Thankful that Hayden fixed my MacBook.

As a parent, it can be difficult, especially for the momma’s.  It is often difficult  to know when to step in, or just let them be who they are. Because really, it is me who has the problem, not my child.  It is me, who has a hard time when my little boy would rather just “chat” on the playground than actually “play”.  Or “hang out with the adults” rather than play with the kids his age.

But truth be told, the blessings far out weigh the heartaches, (for now anyway).

My son

It helps a lot to have other friends who understand and know what you are going through, to just “get why you worry about that child”.

Recently my sweet Hayden asked us out of the blue if he had ever had a suit.  We replied that when he was younger he did and wore it for Christmas and Easter.  He asked more questions about dads suits and ties and then casually one day he asked, “Do you think that I could get a suit, mom?”  Okay, tell me if I am wrong, but do other nine year old boys ask for suits????  Anyway, we spent one afternoon at the mall looking for a good suit that he liked to no avail.  Go figure there are not alot of suit choices for young boys this time of year!!!

I proceed to ask him why he wanted a suit, hoping to not embarrass him or make him change his mind, I just really wanted to know.  He said he’d like to wear one to church occasionally and maybe for pictures.  =)  We finally found a nice sport coat and a couple of ties at Lands End and he is thrilled and looks ever so handsome.    I am truly blessed to have been chosen by God to be this boys mother.  I am grateful for my girlfriends who also parent a child with “an old soul” that I can walk along side you and be an encouragement to each other.

Up until this year, that was pretty much what my children experienced as well. However, this year I found out that our kids have their daddy’s gene’s where their teeth are concerned.

Upon finding out both kids have several cavities that they each needed to have filled, we also learned that our “new dentist” that we just found and liked didn’t take our “new insurance”. While I was trying to find another good family dentist (why does it take so long to find good, reputable health care?) who accepted our insurance my sweet Gillian had one of her bad teeth abscess. What was urgent now became critical at a time when I was unable to help her.   With the help of many friends and my wonderful and amazing husband, we found a dentist that is near our home and takes our insurance.  Kip was able to get her in right away and get her taken care of, while I was near my mom who was in the hospital.  I am so blessed to have such an amazing husband.  They did end up pulling her tooth and having to put a spacer in.  Which for me because I was not with her was so traumatic, but I hear that she was extraordinarily brave.  I was afraid she would fight to go to the dentist and be afraid of them but Praise be to God, she is not!

The other life lesson that I have always believed in but has completely been confirmed since becoming a parent. Is that God designed families as a mother, father and children for a reason. (Duh to us, but what is wrong with the rest of the world?). I know there are things that Kip is teaching our kids, especially our son, things that I could never teach him. I am so grateful that my kids have a wonderful father. A father who isn’t afraid to get down and play with them, wrestle with them, run with them and teach them. Where am I going with this? Let me tell you.

This morning Kip had to go into work early, he and H already had breakfast together and I was still in bed. Kip asked Hays to wake me up at 7:00 am so I could get them ready for school. A little before 7, my sweet little boy comes in and gently lays next to me to wake me up. When I come down stairs I see that the table was set for me. A bowl, milk, spoon and cereal were laid out for me on top of a place mat and a chair pulled out for me. Without saying a word to boost of the work he had done, he merely asked if he could sit with me while I ate breakfast. At that moment, I could see that the example that his father has set was paying off. From a mothers perspective this is huge, I want my son to treat girls with the love and respect that he has demonstrated towards me.

There are so many joys and responsibilities when raising both boys and girls. It is those precious moments before they are grown that give you hope that they will (be good people) be caring, compassionate and God fearing people and that as parents we will have played a small part in that.

Lots of fun memories this school year, so many good friendships formed, great teachers and so much individual growth. Much like, her big brother, G really benefited from this experience.

Last days are so bittersweet, especially for mom. My babies are growing so fast, how is it possible?

Some fun pictures from this year!

1. I am so grateful that my children have chosen good, respectful friends at school.

2. I am equally grateful that they have had great teachers this year.

3. I am blessed beyond belief for the husband that I have, who loves us and provides for our family.

4. I am blessed that other than a few issues we are all relatively healthy.

5. I am blessed to be sitting here watching my kids play outside with their friends.

6. What a blessing to hear the birds outside chirping.

7. What a blessing to be a mother, as Mother’s Day approaches. I am also blessed that I still have my mom to share it with. (Praying for my dear friend who does not.)

8. I am so blessed by my girlfriends and all that they bring into my life.

9. Oh so blessed to receive the gifts that my children make with their very own little hands.

10. Finally, but most importantly blessed that I am so loved by our Heavenly Father.

Many May Blessings to you!

<Silence>

“May I have some chocolate milk, please?” ~ G

“Mom is sleeping G” ~ K

“Dad, “May I have some chocolate milk, please?” ~ G

“I don’t even know what that is” ~ K

“Yes you do, daddy! It is chocolate in milk, in a cup, a sippy cup!” ~ G

This lil one keeps us laughing.  God Bless her!

As much as we know WE are not in control as much as we would like to be, our primary role as parents is to protect them and to train them up. We are to look to our Creator for that wisdom and trust that He knows all of our needs and concerns and the will provide for us and take care of us. Simple? Not at all.

In the midst of a challenging season with my baby girl, I am consumed with worry and fear. “Is she okay?”, “Is something medically wrong with her?”, “Did something happen to her that has traumatized her?”. So many questions and no answers.

Frustrating? You betcha. It is equally frustrating for her, she does not know how to describe what she is feeling or why. She just feels it. I feel it would be even more traumatic if I dismiss her feelings and her pains and so we persevere in the quest to rule things out.

I am praying for her often and I sit and wait somewhat patiently for that gentle answer that God will give me. I know He has me covered as He has sent many a messenger to encourage me and come along side me with hope, encouragement and loving advice. Just this weekend, a complete ‘stranger’, a fellow parent in G’s dance class, saw our battle and frustration and she touched my arm, looked me in the eyes and said “Mom, it is okay. She is just fine, we went through this with our eldest child. The world will not end.” What she said after that hit me the most. She said, “She is what matters most right now. You can give her what she needs and it is OKAY!”

Now, I know all of this, BUT, I wasn’t acting accordingly. I needed for this stranger — fellow dance mom, now friend — to gently and ever so kindly open my eyes to what matters most. I am so grateful for those precious gifts that God gives me, these special telegrams delivered by God.

My new friend was so right, as soon as I stood along side my daughter, she was fine. She was able to function without fear and enjoy herself. Is that not what God does for us?

I am ever so grateful for this friend who had the courage to step in and wrap her arms around someone she did not know and share some of her wisdom with me.

We are still working through some insecurities with our daughter but I feel that with continued love and prayers from the two people who were entrusted to care for her, she will be just fine.