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...

We stood together on our wedding day, my hands in yours, our eyes on each other, and we said "I do". After 12 years of marriage, I've learned that life must be a continuous thread of "I dos" floating throughout each and every day together. It isn't always easy, and I know I fail miserably often, but the desire to make this work is strong and our foundation as a couple is solid. I do choose to set aside my selfishness and serve you... even when you've really annoyed me and I'd rather not fold and put away your clothes. ;) I do choose to apologize after I've spoken harshly... even though my pride tells me you should apologize first. I do choose to lift you up daily, to pray for you, to tell you "thank you" for working so hard to provide for this family. I do choose to make this marriage and our relationship a priority... even though we are exhausted and distracted after long days of working and raising children. I do promise to ...

Happy Birthday to my favorite little man in the world! You have given us an immeasurable amount of joy since your birth 7 years ago. God knew exactly what He was doing when He gave me a son, because I needed you and I adore this nonstop adventure that is life with a boy. You are truly a fun and happy kid. You have lots of friends and make new ones easily. You are confident and competitive. These attributes show themselves most on the soccer field and during Taekwondo. You and your daddy are both headed toward getting your black belts together. Daddy is also still coaching your soccer team. I love that you share these hobbies and spend lots of time together. You just completed kindergarten and it was a great year for you! You are more than ready for 1st grade. I have been so proud of all your hard work and focus in school this year. At your graduation, Mrs. Stanley and Mrs. Brown presented you with a certificate for Efficiency, stating that this is your spiritual gift. They comme...

Gracie,  I just endured your brother’s kindergarten graduation, which made me feel all panicky and desperate to delay the passing of time, and now, here you are turning TEN! What are you two trying to do to me? Honestly, I can’t handle it. This birthday is an exciting milestone for you because you're moving from single to double digits and that only happens once! You’ve also passed that halfway mark between birth and the day you'll turn 18, the day you’ll officially be considered a brand-new “adult”. I would really prefer that you stay on the newborn side of life, but apparently we have no control of these things. What I love about you now is that you are as sassy as ever, intuitive beyond your years, and too smart for your own good. You are witty in a way that leaves us speechless sometimes, because you think and speak quickly. This is definitely a trait you share with your father and while I do love this about both of you, it also terrifies me a little in public plac...

I've been preparing my heart and mind for this for over a year now. We are officially homeschooling! This is both terrifying and so liberating; I am now responsible for my daughter's education. As if parenting isn't challenging enough on its own, I've also chosen to serve as my child's  teacher-of-all-subjects . I am truly so excited about this new adventure, but this decision to homeschool wasn't necessarily an easy one for me. I have essentially chosen to take Gracie away from the only school she's ever known and from the friends she's had since preschool. I gave up my teaching assistant position at this same school, a perfect situation for me, knowing I may never get that opportunity again. I also know that homeschooling carries its own social stigma and it would be dishonest of me to say I'm completely unaffected by what my friends and family think about my choices. That being said, I've received so much support and encouragement from my ...