Pure Sweetness

Picking grapefruit during the winter has got to be one of the gifts to living in Arizona. The kids are so proud of their harvest finds and our breakfast table always has fruit upon it! This particular trees seems to keep giving. We are thankful!

New Things Learned

So proud of you Titus for trying new things these days. You have NEVER been interested in basketball. You have given it a try and you are awesome! You not only do you run like the wind but can dribble doing it.

I love watching you practice shooting from the kitchen window. Lately, I need to rub my eyes and take a second look. The ball that once seemed to be your enemy and cause you such frustration is now your friend. Somehow you worked that out.... you are one determined little boy!

Other new things we are all trying....
*Tali is doing ballet ( a little slow for this cheerleader, high kicking girl) and has learned to roller blade
*Titus is doing Hip Hop and has learned soccer
* I have perfected the chocolate chip cookie (thanks Kray) and am cooking yummy meals
*Tim is working out and doing lawn work
*Silas is standing, waving bye-bye AND taking steps
*Silas is giving the sweet open mouth kisses and pat pats

Today, I am grateful for new things learned!

Reflections on Moving

I can hardly believe we have been in a new state for 8 months. It has been one of the hardest seasons in my life and honestly I have not handled it well and I am fully aware of this!

I am not sure how one leaves best friends, or the familiar sights and experiences of the day to day. I am not sure how one is to move from one life into another. How do you leave behind friendships that nurtured your soul, or families that loved your children, I don't know. I don't know how you leave behind a wonderfully full life and enter into a different, lonely quiet life.

Strangly, one moment I am being brought cookies from a dear friend, kids are dropped off from playing, friends call and move throughout my day to day and the next moment I am staring out my windows into a yard void of familiarity, I am lost in the traffic on hot, dry, lonely trip to the store. Moving is strange like that. One moment life is rich and full of so much and the next, you realize you are entering into an unknown that will press hard on you. It will make you plead for God's grace and mercy daily. It will bring you to your knees in prayer over the loneliness you have as you desire for just one person to reach out and invite you into their life. Moving for this girl has not been easy.

But in all the heartache, I must recognize amazing graces that we have seen along the way....
*The day after we moved in, neighbors welcomed us warmly (even set up a snowcone stand when it was 115 degrees, my boy loves selling things and stands of any sort make him happy)
*The day we had to move back in (after a terrible move out of the house into a hotel), neighbors welcomed us warmly
*Our yard is full of trees and adventures!
*In the quietness of my day I have learned to cook and actually prepare good meals for dinner
*The kids have wonderful teachers who have handled their hearts and minds with care
*Neighbor children play in, out and around our house daily (we aren't really alone)
*I have found a grocery store that has flowers for my table top
*With a small social life, I have learned to enjoy the simplicity of mothering and especially the joys of spending my days with a 10 month old boy

Finally, we have a beautiful weeping, whimsical tree that Tim put a swing on. We sit on this wooden swing and life slows.... we slow, it's magical like that. Swinging on this swing attached to the arms of this magnificent tree can bring such delight! Even the deathly hot sun peaking through the wispy branches cannot disturb us while we sit upon the swing. Finally peace, finally calm and a new familiarity awakens.

My 10 monther

Oh, my little buddy! Words can not express the joy you bring to my day to day! You are an explorer which keeps me busy BUT your laugh and smiles are such a gift! Right now you are standing, eating everything (you aren't picky at all), I know you are awake from your naps because you jump up and down in your squeaky crib, you love listening to birds and find such delight in eating rocks. Dadadadada is your favorite phrase and finding mommies nose makes you laugh. You know, "so big," and all done with your hands. You aren't fond of other crying babies, or screams but none of us are. You're reminding each of us what it is like to see the world so simply, with such fascination and wonder over dogs barking, birds chirping, trucks driving by, the wind on your face, splashing water in the bathtub, banging cupboards, clapping hands and the dancing shadows from the trees.