S. A. M.

It seems like the more common something is, the less special or prized it is.  But the more I watch my kids grow, the more I think that sometimes, the most ordinary things can be the most precious.  As long as you don't let them slip by.
And as a mother, I get the great privilege of celebrating with my kids.  That's part of my job.
So when Samuel brought me a pice of paper a few weeks ago and showed me that he had written his name for the first time, I got really excited.  Lots of other kids can write their names.  But this was the very first time for Sam.  S.  A.  M.
A few days later, out of the blue, comes a happy face drawn with marker on constuction paper.  More excitement.
Then a stick figure.
Then trying to write "Nana" and "Mimi."
All firsts for my Sam.  All special and exciting.  He's growing up.  He goes back and forth between wanting to be little and big.
Last night he said to me, "Mommy, I am a big boy now but I'm still a little bit little."
Big or little, he's my Sam.

"The Help"

Unbelievably,  The Help is Kathryn Stockett's first novel.  And I loved it!  A great one for book clubs.    The first page had me hooked.  It's another book set in Mississippi in the 60s and though there are tough issues throughout, the characters are so endearing, often funny, that it's a wonderful read.  I think there were one, maybe two, scenes I skimmed over but that was it.
I love it when I'm into a book and realize that I still have many pages to go.
I hate it when I realize I'm almost to the end.
Love it when I have time to sit down to read.
Hate it when I can only catch just a paragraph or two here and there.
This time, I turned back to the first page after I finished the last page.
And I'm reading it again.

Better

Once again, I have so many posts written in my head though I've had a hard time getting them written here!  But I had to put up this picture of Lucy.  My baby girl will be a year old in just a few weeks.  I can't tell you how much I wish I could slow time and keep her a baby a little longer.  This time last year I could not wait for her to get here.  We have all enjoyed this little one so much.
I asked Jack the other day if having her around is what he thought it would be like.
He grinned and said, "Better."
I couldn't agree more.

History

I wanted to wear just the right thing.  Not too dressy.  Not too casual.
I wanted to say the right things.  Laugh at the right times.
I was nervous.
I was excited.  Very excited.
He had caught my eye at home group.
Beth and I chose one particular group because there were a lot of single guys signed up for it.  The group got too big so they split it.  Oh well, I thought.
But he was there.  And Beth knew him and said it would be a perfect match.
He drove a green truck.  He did landscaping at the time.  And he was so nice.  And so ruggedly handsome. I felt comfortable around him.
Finally he asked me out.  Of course I said yes.
We went to Spanky's for dinner on a Tuesday night.
I remember what he looked like sitting across the table from me.
It was easy.
I was hooked.
Twelve years ago today.  Our first date.
Four months later we were engaged.  Four months after that we were married.
And now four kids later and a lot of our own history, I'd do it all over again.

A Christmas CD

I have to put in a pitch for this Christmas cd.  Why?  Because it was done by MY brother.  Well, the trio he plays with.  Jeff is a jazz percussionist, among other things.  He's also a husband, father, and all around good guy.  In his younger days, he loved gummy bears, hot fries, pizza, and pitiful movies like "Howard the Duck" and "Harry and the Hendersons."  I don't know why it always makes me laugh when I remember all that.  BUT, his tastes have been refined as he has aged- like fine wine right?
This cd is called "Little Town" and you can find it here. 
It's good stuff.  Really.
And I have to say, I'm very proud of my brother.

Just a Nice Afternoon

Everyone is quietly busy right now.  Lucy is at my feet playing.  Her little cheeks are chapped from this snotty nose she's had for a few days but she's happy.  I have written many posts in my head but haven't had a good chance to sit down and write them up.  And I won't do it today either but that's ok.  The only reason I am sitting here at all is because my Brian cleaned the whole house while we were out this morning.  And I do mean the whole house.  It looks so good!  When he does something, he does it right.  When I got home, my first thought was, "WOW!  I am very thankful."  The next thought was,  "Now what else can I get done since I don't need to straighten up, do the dishes, etc.,.."  I have a list a mile long.  But, after I put the little ones down for naps, Kayla wanted to make words out of Bananagrams.  So we lined up our words all around the table.  Then Jack wanted to make word-finds out of our Upwards game.  So, we did that, too.  It was so nice to just sit still and enjoy the kids without thinking of what else needed doing.  I am bad for that.  And it was a nice answer to prayer as I'd been feeling like school was a little dry and we needed to do something fun.  So there it was.
Now we'll wait for these snow flurries the kids can't stop talking about.

Pictures

Our history sentence for last week went like this:

"In 1517, Martin Luther began the Protestant Reformation by printing the Ninety-five Theses that made Pope Leo X excommunicate him.  Later, John Calvin joined the Reformation."  

So today we remember and celebrate the impact of that brave act.

We also say Happy Birthday to Aunt Catrina!!

And we have pictures to share from our trip downtown last night.  I know I might be just a little biased but really, I don't think we could have done any better than our own

Luke and Leia

Superman

(I could eat him up.)

and a little mouse.  Or maybe a rabbit?

Lucy has to be wondering,

"Where's mine???"

Oh, to be so cute.