No contest

Today's study break included taking in a few pages of the current People magazine. I'm a sucker for anything baby, and Jennifer Lopez was on the cover with her new babies. OK. We all know that she's a beautiful woman. But have you seen those pictures? WHO IN THE WORLD SERIOUSLY has a nursery like that? And WHO IN THE WORLD lounges, four weeks after delivering twins, in a ball gown in a living room that is pristine? And no one I know wears such pretty heels IN THE HOUSE with newborn twins. You can tell she's a first-time mom of babies because she's giving one of the babies a bottle while wearing that gown. Formula stains. Looking at those beautiful pictures, I had to just bask in something. I wasn't the least bit jealous (except maybe it would be nice to look so trim so quickly after birthing babies). I am so content with my family, the kids' rooms, the whole bit. We're real. I love my family. I am so blessed.

She gets it!

McKenna prayed tonight, "Dear Jesus, Thank you that you died on the cross. Thank you that you went in the tomb. Thank you that you didn't stay there. Thank you that the angel told the people that you were not there."

AMEN, Sister!

Good for a laugh (or two)

Do you have an extra 7 minutes today?  This is just a good laugh!  I love it!

Gladys Hardy loves Jesus but likes a drink

Christmas in March

Anna is singing "Joy to the World" just loudly enough last night that I could tell she was singing and not humming.  I scooted over a little closer, and this is what I heard, "Let eh-every Cla-a-ark, prepare Him-m roo-oo-ommm..."  Good idea, little one!

Anna's also making some connections that I don't think I made at 4.  She told me that she knew who her Father in Heaven was.  We chatted about this for a minute and then she said, "You know what's weird?  He's Mary's Father, too.  That's weird because she's His mom.  Huh... "  

***

We spent more than five hours this morning and afternoon running all over the children's museum with some friends from church.  The kids had a great time, the girls even took in their first legitimate theatrical performance.  Samuel at sand only once (I'm still not sure if this is good or bad).  I must have walked up that stinking ramp enough times to at least burn off one of the many scotcharoos I ate this week.  

thus it REALLY begins

Tonight McKenna noticed a commercial for Disneyworld for the first time.  Believe it or not, even Anna hasn't picked up on this mystical place.  (That's about the only thing she's oblivious to.)  McKenna sees the commercial with all it's hype about staying in the castle.  When it ends she turns to me and says slowly and sweetly, hands clasped, and head tilted, "It's a dream come true..."

Things to look forward to, for Tricia

There are so many moments that no one can prepare you for.  You can't remember them all.  You try, but they come so rapid fire that you just can't.  

You can look forward to wiping whole handprints of icing off the refrigerator door...

Sitting in a dark room hearing your baby breathe and watching the beautiful rise and fall of her chest, wondering how anyone could believe it was an accident...

Hearing your little girl sing praise songs to Jesus as she walks through Target, just in front of you, exploring a little bit on her own...

Riding in the car, just the three of you, setting out on an adventure...

Slobber on birthday cake from blowing out candles...

The first "I wuv ooh" and every one thereafter...

Looking back at pictures of when they were "little"...

Telling your little girl how great it was to meet her daddy, fall in love, get married, and pray for her throughout your pregnancy...

Helping her learn to write her name, and seeing her just take off with learning altogether...

Watching, and enjoying, The Wonder Pets and other kids shows...

Laying beside her, smelling her hair and wondering, "Can this be real?"  (the love, not the good smelling hair!)...

Going from a regular car seat to a big girl booster seat...

Seeing her imagination come out in stories and play...

There are just so many...

Not the point

When I watch The Biggest Loser, I just want to eat a snickers bar.  Every time.  Seriously.  What's wrong with me?

(thinking)

I love my sisters.

Reflections

Anna:  The snow is so bright today!

Leslie:  It is bright outside, but it's the sun that's bright.  The light is reflecting off the snow.  That makes the snow look bright.  You could ask Carrie and Laura and they could tell you more about it.  

Anna:  How did they get to know so much?

Leslie:  Well, they work hard, study, and read a lot.  They're good at remembering.

Anna:  (Pause) Mom?  Why didn't you do that?

Leslie:  Well, I did.  I am.  (stutter...)

Anna:  (Longer pause)  Yeah.  You're good at piggy back rides.

I'm not in this alone

So after reading a story to the girls tonight (actually, bedtime was much more EVENING than NIGHT--last night was entirely too late) about Snow White the girls were looking at the pictures and recapping the story for me.  McKenna's take on the story was that "the dwarfs went to work every day and then went back to college".  College, cottage...whatever!