These Little Moments...

To my favorite boy in the world, Happy 9th Birthday! I have spent time over the past couple days looking back at you. I specifically went looking for the pictures from those first minutes after you were born, the ones that captured our first moments with you. I am still just blown away by the miracle you are. God created each tiny toe, your perfect profile, and those pouty newborn lips. I'll never be deserving of all of the blessings in my life, but I am so very thankful that God chose your dad and me to be your parents.  The past 9 years have been the greatest adventure! There's never a dull moment, and I never could have prepared myself for the joys that life with a little boy would bring. I've been able to experience so many things through you... Ninja Turtles and Star Wars, Legos and video games, soccer and Taekwondo, just to name a few. You are a happy, confident little boy and I love watching you change and grow. A few things about you... -You and your dad are almost ...

A note to my children - I am in awe of God's glorious creativity as I consider the unique beauty found in each and every skin tone. The experience of our differences is one of our greatest gifts. Can you even imagine a world with only one landscape or a single type of flower? In the same way, our human differences - our interests and talents, cultures and cuisine, facial features and skin tones - are an enhancement to our earthly existence. We are so much better together. I wish it was as simple as saying this and having the world believe it.  My heart is heavy with the weight of the current circumstances in our country and I know that you sense this. We've welcomed the issues into our home and we will continue to welcome the conversations and questions. I want you both to be aware of our emotions and to know that God created us to feel deeply for each other. I want you to hear our prayers, and then I want you to see our actions. We, as a family, stand with and for our black ne...

To the most beautiful girl in the world, Happy 12th Birthday! I cannot get over how quickly these years with you have passed. It feels like it was just yesterday that I would hold you on my hip and we would dance and sing to silly Kindermusik songs. I can still see you on your first birthday, pink icing on your precious cheeks, enjoying your gigantic cupcake! And the ocean... a place of peace and joy for you since your first visit. I'll never forget watching you sing out to the ocean as a little girl. Waves crashing, sun shining, and Gracie singing. I've collected so many beautiful memories during your childhood and I hold onto them tightly.  When you were born, the best time of my life began. I need you to know that this is my greatest truth: Being your mother is the best thing that ever happened to me and having you as my daughter has been God's greatest gift. He knew just what I needed in this life and you are part of that incredible plan. I'm blown away by how He ha...