A Lot of the Little...

I lost the charger for our camera so I wasn't able to take any pictures of our vacation with dear friends in St. Augustine, FL, and Pensacola. Or Bryant's birthday. Then we came home and I went to Best Buy and bought a new charger for around $40. Then I came home and promptly found the lost charger. I have been earnestly searching for the charger since Aubrey's birthday, beginning of March. It's funny how that happens.

So we are still here; busy living our simple life, which I love. We are thisclose to finishing our first year of homeschooling. Aubrey is in ballet. Bryant just started soccer. And I love it.

Day to day does not feel harried. We live a pretty low-key existence.

I'm reading, Kisses from Katie, to Aubs. A book about a girl who graduated high school and moved to Uganda to love on orphans. But really, it's about Christ and what He can do through the ordinary as long as we are willing to abandon all for Him. As we discussed last night, Katie is much cooler than Cinderella, Belle, or even *gasp* Elsa or Anna from Frozen. Aubrey agreed. We can totally imagine a crown on Katie's head on the cover of her book. She lives a much more princess-like life than the singing princesses. She has purpose; she is following her King.

I also don't think I've ever posted a link to this great article about How Mothers Are Made but it is excellent. Encouragement for the weary one. Me. :)

A Whole Hand

Yep. It's true. This was you, 5 years ago:

My novelty. Until this point I had only been a mother to a girl. I was surprised to meet you, my warrior-boy, who fought his way right into this world. I knew two things that day: 1. I was blessed far beyond what I deserved. 2. You were the most handsome baby boy I had ever seen.

My son of thunder, who is sometimes mistaken as wild. Maybe it's not a mistake in word, but in the meaning of the word. You don't know how to love people safely. You love people wildly. You are wild in your heart, in your passion and generosity toward those in your world. We pray that as you grow in stature, as your world expands to those outside of our boundaries, your wild-ness will reach them with Jesus' love.

 

 

 

 My son with the big blue eyes and the easy smile, Daddy & I are so so proud of the tenderness you have shown towards living in a way that pleases Jesus. You care deeply about living rightly.

 

 Full of adventure, full of joy, full of all your wonderful boy-ness. This is you.

 

As we celebrate today with paper airplanes at the beach with friends; as we eat cupcakes and sing, Happy Birthday, I will be thinking about that day 5 years ago when my heart about burst from the abundance of joy I felt at meeting you, Bryant Nathanael, and knowing you would hold an incredibly special place in my heart for the rest of my life.

Happy 5th birthday, Bryant-boy. We love you.

The Party!

I can't find the charger for the camera battery so these are from my phone.

 

Aubs and her 7 candles!

 Swinging on the rope swing.

 Little girls playing chase.

 Sweet, sweet friends. Including Bryant.

Front row: Annie, Skyler, Bryant
Back row: Addison & Aubrey

 

It was a good day.



And She is Seven

Seven years ago at around 4 am Daddy and I made our way to the hospital room where we would soon become parents. So many firsts, so many unknowns...so much excitement.

Fast forward to 10:42am when the sweetest baby girl I had ever laid eyes on was lying in my arms. You were the most beautiful miracle I had ever seen. You still are.

Fast forward seven years later...we had a fairy party with sweet friends; candles were blown out, cake was eaten, crafts were crafted, and we trekked to the mall so that you could get your ears pierced, thrusting you into the world of officially growing up.

Aubrey Grace, "bold grace," you love pretty things, in all shapes and sizes. You love adventures outside. Painting, writing and telling stories, princesses, bike riding, dancing. Baking, legos, decorating, and your, "new favorite color, purple."

Seven years ago as I sat staring at you I could not imagine this world of wonder, of make-believe, of all things bright and beautiful. And now, seven years later, I cannot imagine ever living any other way, with any other girl. You are so uniquely beautiful, inside and out. As the song says, "Aubrey was her name, a not so ordinary girl, or name..."

Seven years ago I was reprimanded by the nursing staff because I would not, nor could not go to sleep. I stayed up all night gazing at you, picking you up out of your make-shift crib to rock you in the chair, all the while feeling like I was breaking some big rules because there was just no way I should be able to call this sweet baby mine. I rocked and rocked you, staring at your perfectly shaped features, believing that if I kept staring and whispering your name somehow it would sink in that I was a mommy. To you.

Seven years later I still sneak into your room at night and marvel at what an undeserved gift you are. That I have been blessed to be called, "Mommy." By you. We are so proud of you and we love you so immensely.

Happy 7th birthday, Aubrey Grace.