This is what 6 looks like!

My sweet, spunky, independent Lydia turned 6 years old today. She really has had a big week that I will get to later, but for today, just one letter to my girl and a few pictures from the day. She started the day be being the snack girls at kindergarten. She brought Sandy’s doughnuts for treats for her class mates and then I picked her up from Kindergarten. We headed to the mall and she got her ears pierced. She was so brave!!! Next the 5 of us went out to eat to celebrate her birthday. What a day.

To my dear sweet Lydia,

Out of all the little girls in the world I feel like the luckiest mom in the world to get to be your mom. You have taught me so much about being brave, patient and independent. I love the way you know exactly what you want and how you want it. I love the way you pay attention to detail. You have the most infectious laugh of anyone I know. And when you laugh, it makes us all want to laugh. You are silly and you tell really great jokes! You are the perfect combination of sweet and spunky and I love you for that. You’re the best Lydia Claire. Happy Birthday sweetheart!


Looking a little nervous, but she was brave and strong!



Much better. This is what 6 years old looks like!


Just before bed, I don't often get a great pic like this of all 3 of them! Wow do I love these 3 sweeties.

before and after hair

I spend a lot of time researching and practicing and trying to figure out what the best way to keep T's hair healthy and cute. I have spend a lot of time lately researching natural products and I"m always looking for new styles. Here is Miss T with her hair all taken out before it is washed. Here is the latest style that I am so proud of. I think I finally have a technique for cornrows that really works.


And here is the after




Oh wait that is just a cute picture of T.





here is the after

made my heart smile

Tonight we had parent-teacher conferences for Jonah and Lydia. It was one of those nights when God used other people to remind me what great kids I have. Sometimes, (and especially lately) I have been focusing way to much on what needs to done, who needs to be where, what needs to be cooked or cleaned .But tonight I was reminded of all the great qualities my kids have. Beside doing well with their reading and math, they are good kids, good models in their behavior for others and just all around good kids. What a blessing they are. Here are 3 stories from my three blessings that make my heart smile.

Taneah: "Mom, you're my bes fwend"

Mom: "Really!" "What do best friends do?

Taneah: " The Hokey Pokey!"

Lydia is very into writing these days. She writes all the time on any piece of scratch paper, or notepad she can get her hands on. Today, she handed me a little, pink square of paper on it said

Mom, it is OK if sometimes you are crabby. love Lydia

And my favorite is from tonight.

We were sitting at Jonah's conference tonight and his teacher had just finished going over his math and reading scores and writing samples. Everything right where he should be and then we started talking about Jonah as a kid. We talked about how sensitive and tender hearted he is and how he has a hard time with making a mistake, how he's a good friend to everyone really just an easy kid to be around. Then she started talking about how they have 1st grade reading buddies. She went on to share that there is a boy in the 1st grade that has special needs and they decided to partner Jonah with that little boy. His 2nd grade teacher said he is so good with him and he loves it. At that moment, it wouldn't have mattered what she said about his reading, writing and math. I was so proud I could burst. It made my heart smile!!!

I remember

Lydia coloring with my Grandma Winter Christmas 2008

Everyone has had hard things in their life. Relationships they wish were mended, weaknesses they wish were stronger, situations they wish were different. Well, as I sit here and write this the hard thing in my life is my Grandma Winter. My Grandma Winter is my dad's mom and my whole life growing up she lived on the same farm as me, a half mile away on the other side of the trees. I saw her almost every day growing up. When I was a little girl she watched my sister and I 3 days a week when my mom worked at the bank. When I got a little older we were my dad's right hand "men". We'd run to Harvey and get parts for the broken machinery. We'd go check cows together or just let him boss us around with whatever needed to be done and talk about how he needed to relax a little bit. She was my baby sitter and she was my friend. To say we were close is an understatement. Right now my Grandma suffers from Ahlzeimers. Her mind is failing and she is confused. It has robbed her of her purpose in life and it is hard. I talked to her tonight on the phone and even though she wasn't completely sure who I was and she couldn't put together a whole sentence I know she felt loved. I sent my love through the phone and I hope it was enough. I prayed for her tonight and I hope it was enough, I'm awake in the middle of the night wishing I could do more, be there for her more, love her more. It is hard. And I hope it is enough. I'm not there, I can't change the situation and so for tonight I decided a letter to her to celebrate the good times I remember will have to do.


Dear Grandma,
How are you tonight? I am good but I miss you. I think of all the fun times we've had and all the things you're taught me. I remember going to your house as a little girl and playing dress-up with Jessie upstairs and you telling us we were "fancy dames". I remember riding my bike over on a hot, dusty, summer day and sitting at your table to chat about anything and nothing all at the same time. If I had something exciting to tell, we would celebrate with fresh baked cookies and if something was bothering me you would listen. I can hear you telling me "This too shall pass. . ." Most of the time we would just sit at your kitchen table and talk or look at what was cute or ugly in the latest JC Penney's catalog. Usually I would talk and you would listen. I remember the smell of vinegar on a freshly scrubbed kitchen floor as we played cards for hours. We'd play Rummy 500 and I think most of the time you let me win. As I got older you were always there. I never questioned that and it was just the truth. You were always there for me. What a wonderful gift to give someone, always being there for them. Thank you for that.

Some the sweetest memories I have is when we worked together. We would be armed with our sticks and farmers caps (to keep the sun out of our eyes) and help dad sort cattle. For some reason we thought those sticks were going to save us if a cow really came after us. (who were we kidding:) I remember taking lunch to the guys in the field or running here or there where ever the guys needed us to go, taking trucks out to the field or getting parts in Harvey. I remember sitting in the passenger side of a dusty, red, Ford pickup listening to an old Johnny Cash song and watching you smile with agreement as we talked about what a good song it was. And then there was your food. Oh how I remember the wonderful, huge meals you made. Whether it was chicken and strudels, kuchen or just a plain old hamburger. Everything tastes better at Grandma's right. I like to cook and I love to cook for others. I'm pretty sure I got that from you. Thanks for teaching me the joy in serving others.

Grandma, you are such a big part of me and I am blessed for having you in my life. Every person should be so lucky as to have a Grandma who is always there for them, loves them no matter what and thinks they can do no wrong. I love you so much and now that you are having a hard time I want to be there for you. I pray that you feel closer to God in these tough days than ever before. I pray you feel Him wrap his arms around you and you know you are loved. I know you don't always remember everything anymore but dont' worry because I remember. I remember and I'm thankful for you. Take Care.

With all my love,
Valerie

Sometimes you just have to wait for life to happen. . . I had been contemplating what to update about. I could tell you all of the milestones we've had around here lately. Or the glorious storm day we had today ( I mean it,  it was great), or about how God is teaching me in the everyday things but. . .

right now as I write I have a certain adorable 2 year old throwing and absolute hissy fit, yelling at the the top of her lungs," I WANT TO BE NAKED!" "I WANT MY SHIRT OFF LIKE JONAH!" " I WANT BE NAKED RIGHT NOW!" "MOMMY, I WANT TO BE NAKED!" All I can do is sit here and giggle! 

Hope you all had  a great day, I know I did, and now I can face my week with a smile.

Birthday Boy

January 18th, a day I will never forget. It is the day I became a mom. WOW, when I think back of what that 3 letter word has meant in the past 8 years I"m blown away. I"m not the same girl I was way back then. I remember thinking the first time I held sweet Jonah in my arms "I couldn't have ordered a baby this good if I had tried" I still feel the same way today.

Dear Jonah,
You are the best sweetheart. You are 8 years old today and I am so proud of you. You are kind and good, nice to everyone and a just plain easy kid to be around. I pray that you always know that I love you and that Jesus loves you. Out of all the boys in the world I get to be your mom! How did I get so lucky--not luck---blessed!

We had a family party tonight where we "cooked with sticks" which means we fondued. We do it every year on Jonah's birthday per his request. And last night we had a Spy party with 15 boys complete with scavenger hunt and obstacle course. I didn't get too many pictures b/c I was too busy "partying" but you'll get the idea.


There is a new song out right now by a group called "Sidewalk Prophets" and the words of the chorus are my prayer for you tonight and always.

"Be strong in the LORD and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say"

Pray for Haiti

I was going to update this today, but I can't get the pictures and stories of Haiti out of my mind. When I started blogging I got hooked on a blog of some people who had adopted and are now missionaries in Haiti. I use to joke last year I went to Haiti every Tuesday on my lunch break, b/c on Tuesday's during my lunch I would check up on their blog. I have been following the earthquake through thier eyes and the ministries they work with. The Livesay blog is on my role if you want an up close and personal account of what's going on in Haiti.

I know enough that if the Lord puts something in my my mind this much I'm suppose to pray, and pray hard, and I'm encouraging you to please pray and pray hard too!