1,000 Gifts ~ #31 - #60

My week of noticing God's gifts of grace ...

31.  Eric going to bed super early because he had an early flight to catch Tuesday morning.  The blessing comes in when he got out of bed because he remembered he needed to read/pray scripture over me.  I am so blessed by this.  I just lean back, close my eyes and listen to the sweet words.  I feel like I could sleep like a baby as well as run a marathon after he does this.  God's Word is so powerful!

32.  Blueberry cobbler.  Watching my girls eating it and hearing things like "You're the best cook in the whole wide world, Mommy!' (Olivia) and "I don't think I've ever tasted anything so delicious" (Emma).  I'm sure they won't always feel this way, but I'll take it while I can get it.

33. Yet another surprise gift from my Secret Encourager.  The florist delivered these on a Tuesday.

Which is an important day for me as I teach small group to 8th grade girls (a challenge) and prepare for Bible Study on Tuesday nights.  Perfect timing! The card has one of my favorite scriptures written on it .... Psalm 5:3.  I'm telling you, my Secret Encourager must read my blog :)

34.  Seeing Emma and Olivia at lunch on Tuesday and getting hugs from them.

35.  Playing outside with my girls on a gorgeous Fall day.

36.  Emma had Monk Day at school Wednesday ... as in, they took a vow of silence upon entering the classroom.  She needed a monk costume and unfortunately, she wasn't graced with a Mom that can't sew.  Where God did extend grace is when he made Eric my husband and Emma's Dad.  We bought the fabric and he made her a costume put together by liquid stitch. 

These pictures make me happy.

37.  Running 5 miles Wednesday morning.  I felt good and am always thankful I am able.

38.  After running, heading straight to my parents' where my Daddy had breakfast ready.  Yum.

39. Having Kari Jobe's You Are For Me on repeat for 4 days straight.

This is probably the most played song on my iPod.  I'm forever searching scripture to remind me that yes, He is for me and always has my best interests at heart.

40.  A visit from the insurance adjuster (because of this).  He told me because of the nature of the 'accident', we didn't have to pay a deductible on either vehicle.  I could have hugged his neck in our driveway.  I refrained and decided to thank God for the gift instead.

41.  Kisses from my girls as they get out of the van in the mornings.

42.  My friend Rita spending the night to 'protect' me.

43.  Listening to a sermon on my iPod while I ran Thursday morning and feeling like I could shout.  I did laugh and raise my hands on a busy college campus which I'm sure scared the people around me.  I didn't care.  Sermon was all about grace.  Praise-worthy.

44.  Surprising my girls by taking them lunch to school Thursday. 

45.  Emma reminding me that Eric doesn't have anymore trips planned for the remainder of the year.  Yes, Lord!!!!

46. Carving pumpkins.

47.  A half-day of school Friday. 

48.  My girls wanting to go straight home on the half-day of school just so they could play all afternoon.

49.  Olivia's friends.

50.  Emma complaining about her neighbors being mean to her.  When I ask her 'why' she answers (like she always does) because she was talking about Jesus.

51.  Olivia making me laugh.  Seriously, every.single.day.

52.  My friend, Cathy, going over and above for Olivia's Flat Stanley school project.  Seriously.  Stanley even visted the Mayor.  Olivia was so proud. Cathy, you rock!

53.  Lying on the sofa, under my favorite blanket with my family piled around me.  Fire and candles going and watching a movie.  Bliss.

54.  Sweet quiet time with the Lord.  Times that don't involve studying or preparing lessons, but the kind that involve fellowship ... an exchange between the two of us. 

55.  An email from a high school friend telling me she heard I was following Jesus and what good news that was to her.  Perhaps that will always be the biggest reminder of God's grace to me.  I am not what I once was!

56. Sunday afternoon lunch with friends.

57.  Learning about the Beatitudes in Sunday School.  I love my Sunday School class!

58.  Seeing/hearing/watching my big brother preach Sunday night.  I will never get over what seeing him preach stirs in me.  All grace!

59.  Taking the Lord's Supper Sunday night and remembering all Christ did for me.

60.  Ending the weekend with my girls watching Charlie Brown and laughing hysterically.  That always reminds me of my brother and me doing the same when we were little.  Happy memories.

Bring an Offering

After a particularly stressful day, I decide it's time to get ready for church.

I yell upstairs for the 6th or 7th time and tell the girls to hurry up.  We're going to be late.

Olivia starts to whimper and just hearing it aggravates me. 

I go upstairs to see what the hold up is and see her still in her play clothes.

She tells me she wants to dress fancy for church that night and I never let her dress fancy.  (To my defense, I never knew she wished to dress fancy.  Jeans and a shirt on Wednesday nights have never bothered her before.)

I choose a few outfits.  She turns up her nose to all of them.

We settle on one.  She then decides she doesn't like the shoes that will go with it.

I lose my patience and get out the original outfit (jeans and a shirt) and tell her she has 60 seconds to put them on and meet me at the door to go.

She does it but through tears.

Emma takes her time getting in the car because she can't find her play book and also, wants to find the perfect purse to take.

Count to ten.

We're finally on our way.  I'm trying not to cry.  This is the 5th Wednesday out of 6 that Eric is out of town and can't go with us.  My cell phone rings.  I see it's him and press 'ignore'.  I know if I take the call, I'll say something to him about him traveling and sound resentful.  He doesn't need to hear it.  So, I spare both of us and turn the ringer off.  Just in time to hear the girls fussing.

I give them what seems like the 100th lecture of the day about loving one another and speaking kindly.

Olivia picks up a book to read and accidentally (I think) pokes Emma in the eye.

Crying begins.

I look out the window and try to recall if I have a vacation coming up.

I do have one but remember I have to take everyone with me.  At this particular moment, that's no comfort so I try to think about something else.

I pull into church with only a minute to get inside.

Olivia starts to get out of the van and spills her crayons all over the parking lot.

Are you kidding me?

I let it out ... "Olivia! We are going to be late!"

She carefully picks them up and puts each one back in the box.  S l o w l y.

I'm irritated.

I get them to the Children's Ministry room and head upstairs to the Sanctuary.  I sit on the pew, let out a long sigh and think it ... the thought I hate to admit to .... "Okay, I'm here.  Hope this is worth it.  What now, Lord?"

And, just like every other time, it is worth it. 

His Word is spoken and just the sound of it is calming.

God is good.  God is holy.  God is a jealous God.  God loves me.

But, then I'm ashamed.  If I feel this motivated and refreshed after coming with such a poor attitude, how much more so would I receive if I walked in ready? Prepared?

You give me this ... this comfort ... this attention ... this word ... and what have I brought to you?

I sit down with a 'bless me if you can' attitude and you choose to speak to me anyway?

I'm amazed I heard anything at all.  And, what's even more difficult to admit is that if I didn't, I would arrogantly blame it on church, the music or someone else. 

I go home refreshed.  I put the girls to bed and then hurry to find my Bible.  I read it .... the passage I've been thinking about for days.

Psalm 96:8  ....

"Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name:

bring an offering, and come into his courts."

Bring an offering?

I think of the Levitical offerings in Scripture.  Feeling pretty confident God isn't looking for a spotless lamb or goat (what a relief), I begin to wonder what He means.

What is my offering to Him when I come into His house? What is my offering when I enter into worship with Him? What offering from me, this modern day, will give glory to His name?

I think about it for a few weeks and ask God to speak to me ... make me aware of what He's trying to teach me.

What I learn first is that God wants my expectations.

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD;

in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Psalm 5:3

When I give my expectations to Him, whether it be expectations with my marriage, my family and even my children and their behavior, He begins to work in every area.  I find rest in taking my expectations to Him every day (sometimes every hour) and know He's receiving what I give Him with joy and attention.

He wants my prayers.

"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where

they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the

Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."

Acts 4:31

He wants to hear what is on my heart.  He wants to hear that I am concerned for those around me.  He wants to hear that I am expecting big things from Him.  That my faith is active and I believe He will move.

I learn He wants my time.

Be still, and know that I am God:

Psalm 46:10 KJV

Cease striving and know that I am God

Psalm 46:10 NASB

Not just a quick study time, but sweet fellowship.  He wants to hear from me and for me to be still and listen.  This offering requires discipline but may be the most important one in my walk right now.  I love that the NASB says to "Cease striving".  I get into trouble when I try to make this or that happen and not let God be God.

I learn He wants my devotion.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10

Whole-hearted devotion.  The kind that surrenders everything including unforgiveness, bitterness, hurt and anger.  He tells me these things are choking the life out of our relationship and it can't continue.  I argue that I have none of these things and He reveals the deepest parts of me that are hanging on to those very things I tell others to let go of.

I learn He wants my fears.

"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep:

for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety."

Psalm 4:8

Whoa.  Not sure I can give those up.  He reminds me I'm not in control of any situation.  He also reminds me I can trust Him with my heart, my family and my safety.  I have no choice but to hand it over.

Something changes in my heart.  I start to feel different.  Maybe a little lighter.

I walk into church and feel an overwhelming gratitude to THE ONE I came to worship.  I have poured out my heart to Him and yielded to His Spirit and my attitude is nothing but gratitude.

The music is more touching.  The relationships are rich.  The preaching is annointed.

And, I am thankful. 

I want to offer Him every part of me.  Not because I expect something in return.  But because He will pour out a response anyway.  Almost more than my fleshly body can bear.

He is Worthy!

Even when I'm not.

Apparently it was her first time ...

Know what I realized last night?

I have never carved a pumpkin with Olivia.

I figured this out while I was cooking dinner last night and she was off-the-hook excited about carving pumpkins after we ate.
I first thought the excitement was from all the sugar.

She asked me repeatedly "When will dinner be ready? Are we going to eat dinner? How long will dinner take? Do we have to eat dinner?"

And, dinner?

It was really breakfast, y'all.  But, really yummy ...

Pancakes ...

(We were cracking up at my teddy bear's mouth :)

Biscuits with homemade cinnamon honey butter ...

Not to be confused with homemade biscuits ... those were frozen, baby.

And, OFCOURSE we had livermush ...

With a side of bacon .... because we're healthy like that.

Then, the carving began ...

Most of Olivia's excitement was she could not wait to see the inside of a pumpkin.  (Seriously, I've never done this with her before? I'm amazed by that.)

(Also, notice the cute guy in the picture? He had just walked in the door minutes before dinner.  He has been in Los Angeles all week.  We were SO happy to see him!)

Her face shows her curiosity about the inside ...

 She wasn't that impressed with it.

 Emma took it all very seriously.

 We did have fun, though.  Olivia was screaming (with joy!) when we lit the pumpkins up outside.

I still can't believe I've never carved a pumpkin with her before.  What have I been doing?

A Day In The Life Of ....

How about a run down of my day .... feel free to be bored.

Today turned out to be different than I thought.  What I thought I would do is clean out my closet and perhaps, Hershey, the guinea pig's cage.

(Side note:  Yesterday I googled 'when will a guinea pig die'.  I'm really not proud of that fact, but am also bummed that the answer I got was that they can live 8 years.

8 years? Heaven help us.  He is now the size of a small cat.  I'm expecting him to walk off wearing his cage any day.

Back to my day ....

It started off earlier than expected.  My friend, Rita, came to spend the night with me and she was up early.

Why was she spending the night?

Well, I guess it was to protect me ?? I haven't slept well all week since Eric's been gone and she came to make me feel at ease so I could sleep.

That was all well and good, but when she showed up (please know that she came in wearing footed Eeyore pajamas and with nothing but her pillow and blanket), she insisted on sleeping on the sofa.

That made me ill.  I couldn't convince her to sleep in a bed.  I guess she was going to watch the back door all night.

Here she is on the sofa while I'm yelling at her to get in a bed.  She's smiling which proves she could really care less if I yell.

The pajamas did the trick, though.  No burglars.

Once she left, I took the girls to school and then went for a run.  It was cold this morning so I may have cried right before I stepped out of my van.  Thankfully, I felt great afterwards! It makes me wonder what I'll do in the middle of winter, though.  I'll need some serious motivation.

I came home to get ready to take the girls lunch to school.  I felt bad for Emma yesterday (more on that later) so I thought lunch from her favorite restaurant might cheer her up.

While we were eating, I noticed Olivia switch from happy, hungry child to whiny, Mom-please-take-me-home-with-you child.  I caved.

I told her teacher I was taking her with me and she said, "Olivia, I sure do hope you feel better".  I looked at the teacher and said, "We both know she's not really sick, right?"

She nodded.  That Olivia knows how to play me.

Here's a clue to how quickly she was healed.

Truth be known, I was happy to have a buddy this afternoon while I ran errands.  This was a perfect day since I spent the entire morning trying to convince Emma homeschooling would be a good idea for her next year.  She told me "You shouldn't homeschool me, Mom, just because you are lonely and miss me during the day".

True.  She probably wouldn't learn a thing, but atleast we could play Barbies or something.

Anyway, back to my day ... Are you bored, yet? I kind of am.

I did suddenly have errands to run because I can't find our old man's, gray wig.  Emma needs it for Reform*tion Day tomorrow so she can dress as Abrah*m.  So, I did what I swore I wouldn't do and took Olivia to P*arty City to find a wig.

We didn't find one.  Not there or at T*rget or at W*lmart.

Which sent me into "Why do you girls never put anything where it goes?"

I'm not sure what we'll do now, but I have a feeling Emma will get pretty serious about looking for the one we have. 

Oh, funny story ... we were walking through Target when I grabbed my belly and told Olivia it had butterflies in it.  I was going to tell her the butterflies were because we would get to see her Daddy in a few hours.  She didn't let me get that out before she said, "Maybe it's God telling you He wants you to have a baby".

Ummm ... no.  I laughed and she said, "Okay, go ahead and laugh, but if He wants you to and you are saying 'no', you are disobeying."

Lord, is that you?

We picked Emma up from school and went straight to piano/violin lessons.  I dropped the girls off at the door while I went to park.  When I lock my doors on my van, the horn beeps.  The horn startled a lady standing nearby and she started cussing me.  I'm not even kidding .... cussing me because the horn beeped. 

I apologized and then laughed as I walked into the music store.  Geez.  Again, people are odd.

I sat outside of Emma's violin lesson and was impressed to hear her practicing O Holy Night and The First Noel.  I was swelling with pride when Olivia chimed in with "Whew. It sounds like a sick cow in there".

So, we had our 537th discussion about not saying every little thing that comes to your mind.

No filter.

After all the running around, cussing and lectures, I did what any good mother would do.

I drove straight to Krispy Kr*me for medicinal purposes.

Sometimes, it's just good to end a day with excess amounts of sugar.

I know I feel better.

So, how was your day?

Future Bible Study Leaders

We talk a lot about Bible Study around here.  Especially since right now, I am in full Bible Study mode at my church.  I spend a lot of time studying, preparing and talking about it.

My girls hear about it all the time. 

Emma is intrigued and begs to be a part of one.  I'm not sure I'll be able to hold her off much longer ;)

Olivia? .... well, Olivia just likes to play Bible Study.

I catch her in her room 'teaching' her baby dolls.  It's hilarious (and very sweet!).

She found a stack of leftover Bible Study cards in my bag yesterday.  She loves any notecards, note pads or sticky notes.  So, she begged me for the cards.

She brought me this one already filled out ....

She totally made up the numbers - ha! My favorite part is her prayer request .... that I would take care of her!

She makes me smile.

Typically on Bible Study days, I am distracted.  Preoccupied with thoughts of how things will go that night and making sure I'm overly prepared.  It's all a little unnerving for me, but I am making an intentional effort to prepare so far ahead of time, I don't stress my girls out the few hours before I leave.

So, instead of stressing and looking over my notes for the 45th time yesterday, I decided to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful weather with my girls.

The weather we're having is good for anyone's stress level.

It's absolutely gorgeous outside!

(Harvest Pansies - love them!)

 (Love the tongue - haha)

Seeing Olivia ride her scooter is a little stressful.  She goes SO fast it scares me.

So we moved back to the deck rocking chairs for some peace. 

Then, she decided she wanted to take a few pictures.

But, she's a pushy photographer (see the little monkey in the window?)  She kept yelling, "Smile more, Mom! What's wrong with you?)

 Then, I got tired of the demands and told her to give me the camera.  She just kept snapping ...

She is a trip.

I'll still take hanging with them anyday over stressing out about Bible Study.  God always works it all out in the end.  I don't know why I put myself through that anxiety anyway.

We're heading into the 4th week of work in One in a Million.  I can't say enough about this study.  It is difficult only because of the 'junk' God reveals in His Word - the reasons we don't live the abundant life He offers is because we're too busy looking other places for satisfaction - ouch!

I've been convicted, encouraged, overwhelmed, sad and happy all at the same time.  I love what God is showing me and pray I don't miss the lesson(s) he's trying to drive home in my heart.

I also pray my girls always see Bible Study as a good thing.  Who knows? Maybe one day they'll be my group leader :)

Fruit Cobbler ~ Mimi-Worthy

My Mimi made the best cobblers.  She made the best everything, actually.

My favorite memories of my grandmother are walking into her house, going to the refrigerator and spotting all the cups of pudding and jello she had waiting on me.

Not the store-bought kind like we have now.  The kind she had made and put in pretty milkglass custard dishes so I would have my own personal size. (Oh, what I would give to have those dishes today!)

She also made biscuits from scratch and always, always let me pinch off a few pieces of the dough to make mini-biscuits for me.

Recipes aside .... when I would spend the night with her (which was often), she would play countless games of Hi-Ho-Cherrio and Yahtzee with me.

As I got older and traded my games in for things like cheerleading, she would sit on her front porch while I practiced my cheers in the front yard.  I still laugh remembering her jumping up at the end of a cheer and yelling for me, and even kicking up her leg :)

She hummed all the time.  Especially when parking a car.

She always had petunias planted in her front and side flower beds.  All colors.  Beautiful.  I love the smell of petunias today.

At every visit, we would make a trip to the store to buy a new paint-with-water book.

(Google Image)

I played in her make-up.  I particularly loved her face powder with the big poof pad.  I can still smell it :)

I loved her closet.  She had the most stylish clothes and every outfit seemed to have it's own pair of shoes.

We would crawl in her bed at night and I would watch as she would ball up the gum she was chewing and lay on the nightstand lamp.  I would do the same.  That's so funny to me now.

My grandfather bought her a new 8-track player with FM radio and we would dance in the living room.

She kept malted milk balls in the cabinet for us to grab anytime we wanted.

She was an absolute gem.

I know now she didn't have the easiest life.  But, what is so fascinating to me is that I had no idea.  Her house was fun and I always wanted to go there.

So, last night as we all sat down for dessert, I tasted the blueberry cobbler I made and the taste immediately made me miss my Mimi.

I don't always do it right (though it's hard to mess up), but last night, it was perfection.  It tasted like I was sitting at her bar in my pajamas having just a little more sweets before bed.

You can do that at your grandparent's, you know?

Sweet memories :)

See how easy .....

Fruit Cobbler

1 cup self-rising flour

1 cup sugar (with a little more thrown in :)

1 cup milk

1 stick butter (melted)

2 cups of fruit (any fruit - our favorites are blueberry, peach, apple & cherry)

                      (fresh or frozen - just make sure thawed and drained)

Mix first 4 ingredients together, stirring until smooth.  Fold in fruit.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Pour in baking dish and bake for 40 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Serve warm with ice cream.

Enjoy.

1,000 Gifts ~ #1 to #30

I'm reading Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts.  Again. 

I have read her blog, A Holy Experience, for so long.  I anticipated the release of her book and then couldn't wait to get it.  Her words are so soothing, poetic and I love that all things point back to grace.

I've seen so many people blog or talk about keeping a journal counting all the ways they see gifts from the Lord throughout the day.  Gifts of grace that, if we're not careful, we miss. 

I'm ready to join in.  Taking the time to recognize God and His blessings takes discipline.  Especially when I don't feel like it.  All the more reason to get started.

Since last Monday ....

1.  Rainy days that force us to slow down and enjoy one another.

2.  A call from Eric telling me he was fortunate to catch an earlier flight home.  Oh, how we miss him when he's gone!

3.  A sweet gift from my Secret Encourager at church (candy corn was inside, so .... yay!)

4.  Stopping at a stop light and noticing a woman waiting on the bus ... in the rain.  I rolled down the window and asked her if I could take her somewhere so she wouldn't have to wait.  She was the sweetest thing.  Turns out she only needed to go a couple blocks, but couldn't walk because she had a bad hip.  We had a great conversation about the weather, trees and how good God is.

5.  My father-in-law who graciously stayed with the girls while I went to lead Bible Study.  He spoils them and they love him!

6.  Emma telling me for the 5th day in a row she hasn't gotten called down for talking :)

7.  Telling Emma she's a good kid and even when she does get called down, it's okay.  Seeing her smile at that remark reminds me she needs words like that spoken over her daily.

8.  A text message from one of my favorite youth girls telling me how much she enjoys our Women's Bible Study.  How thankful I am for girls that fall in love with God's Word early!

9.  Hot baths every single night.

10.  Beautiful fall weather.

11.  Hearing Olivia sing to the top of her lungs "It's been a long journey, but I have been blessed, walking with Jesus, I have no regrets ....."

12.  My church and the peace I feel when I walk in.

13.  A friend who went through her closet to find me some pants I could wear.

14.  Sweet friends who immediately start helping me pack up after Bible Study.  I can remember when I never had people to help me.  Now it seems like there is an abundance of people willing.

15.  Tuesday, I was concerned about getting our projector set up for Bible Study and right before we began, our youth pastor walked in to help.  He isn't normally there.  Just seeing him brought me great relief.

16.  Hearing my girls say "I'm sorry" to each other without prompting.  Even more so, hearing "You're forgiven" spoken back.

17.  Yet another gift from my Secret Encourager on Wednesday.  An extravagant one. (Hmmm ... this person must really know me.)

18.  An encouraging email from someone at precisely the right time.  God knows what I need, when I need it.

19.  Waking up tired, dreading the day .... then hearing music coming from upstairs. My girls are already awake, getting dressed for school and laughing.  Changed my entire attitude!

20.  After Eric and the girls left for school Thursday morning, I walked into my bedroom to find Eric had made the bed :)

21.  Running 4 mornings last week .... 4 miles each time.  Love the cooler weather and so thankful I am able.

22.  Running gloves.

23.  Preparing a lesson from Chronicles .... Blessed I am able to teach and God speaks to me through His word.

24.  Reminded again of the importance of a godly legacy.  My girls are depending on me.  Thankful for grace and love that covers a multitude of sins.

25.  Running with my little brother.  SO very thankful for this time and God's grace.  We laugh, talk and suffer together :)

26.  Eric calling me Friday morning to tell me he's committing to pray Psalm 91 and Ephesians 6 over me every day.  All Grace! Lord, you know I need that!

27.  Lying in bed for the next 3 nights while listening to Eric read Psalm 91 and Ephesians 6 to me like it was written specifically for me.

28.  My girls laughing.  Will always be my favorite sound.

29.  Watching Eric and Emma head out the door Sunday afternoon for a hike.

I wanted to go, but didn't dare ask.  Daddy/Daughter time. 

30. Bible Study.  I have received so many emails this week from women in my church being encouraged through God's Word.  I love that.  Only God's Word can change lives and it's so neat to witness.

Sunday Letters

Dear Emma,

I had to hold in my serious disappointment when you told me a story about school on Thursday.  You are reading The Diary of Anne Frank right now.  It's a challenge for you, but one you've wanted to read ever since I mentioned it to you.  You carry your pocket dictionary with you and are determined to get through it. 

You learned the word 'monotonous' while reading it and said you now understand what I mean when I use that word all the time :).  Your class was writing a story together and you called out the word 'monotonous', which apparently amazed your teacher.  He said you all weren't going to use that word, but would use 'boring' instead.  You were disappointed when you got in the car because you are wanting to learn new vocabulary, but you couldn't use it.

Ugh!

I'm sure there was a very good reason, but told you to not let that stop you when you're writing stories individually in class.  Keep learning! I'm so proud of you!

Also, you told your Daddy and me this week that your math & reading teacher (Mrs. Coffey) is your best friend at school.  You are so taken with her.  You pay attention to her hair, her clothes, her jewelry and her laugh.  You even got out of the shower yesterday and put on perfume immediately because 'that's what Mrs. Coffey does'.  It reminds me again how important it is for you to be surrounded by godly influences. 

And, she is just that.

Dear Olivia,

Yesterday was 'clean the upstairs' day and it seriously stressed you out.  Your Daddy and I worked on your room (it takes a village!) while you and Emma worked on the bonus room - or what is better described as "Barbie City".  It was bad.  And, you came out crying after 20 minutes.  You said it all just stressed you out too much and you couldn't help.

Bless it.

Ofcourse, you were sent right back in, but we would continue this cycle for 2 hours.  You play the 'I'm too little card' when things get tough. 

Truthfully, it eventually works.  You are the baby, that's for sure.

Dear Eric,

Perhaps you are the most wonderful husband in the world at this point.  This was proven last night when we all jumped in the van and I said I would drive to dinner.  I backed right out of the garage without a care in the world .... and ran smack dab into your car.

Ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All I could do was walk back inside and sit silently on the sofa.  I felt like an idiot.

You were so understanding and kept telling me not to worry about it. (Maybe because you've done it several times yourself?? :) Either way, I'll take the support.

I love you.