And...She's Off!

When my firstborn Madison was small, I loved taking her outside to play. Just she and I. While Steve was at work, we would swing on her swing set, blow and chase bubbles and play catch with her big blue ball. I loved it and so did she. I loved being in our back yard, just the two of us...in our own little world. And so did she. Except...as I soon learned...as much as she was just like me...my Madison was her own person. And as content as I was to exist in our own little world...my little girl was not. I remember her little head with her little bow turning toward the sounds of the neighbor kids as they rushed by on their bikes. She would run to the front yard and watch the other kids as they played baseball in the neighbor's yard. Her eyes would light up anytime any other kids were around. And I smiled and cried inside. I realized...my girl wanted to go.

When she was a little older, we went to the beach. I was so excited to set up all her brand new Sesame Street beach toys and buckets and shovels. I envisioned Steve and I and my parents all sitting on the beach under our colorful umbrella, watching Madison with her little sunhat playing in the glistening sand. And...we did. For a short time. Until my little lady realized other families with small children were nearby. And my Madison was up...making her way to the nearest family...saying, "Hi! I'm Madison! Want to play with me?" And again...I smiled. And I cried inside. As much as I wanted to bury my nose in my book and pretend no one else existed, my girl wanted to make new friends. And so we did. And I realized...my girl wanted to go.

You see, I realized there on that beach, that my Madison was not just MY baby. As much as I longed for her to belong only to me, and share all my feelings and ideas, she was her own person. She had her own ideas and feelings and desires. When you are handed that sweet smelling bundle of joy in the hospital, you are filled with such emotion...joy, relief, thankfulness...and often, as I did, you may forget that this little person needs you to love her and feed her and change her and teach her and protect her. Yet she needs something else. She needs you to allow her to be her own person. To realize she does not belong to you as a doll filled with stuffing does. She is her own person. She has her own thoughts and desires. She may want different things than you do. And that is alright. It really is.

My Madison is grown now. She is no longer that curly haired little girl with the matching bows and sunhats. She is a beautiful, intelligent, independent young woman. And she still wants to go. She still wants to spread her wings and fly. She wants to go places, and meet people, and see new things. And that is what she is doing right now. And I could not be happier for her. : )

Last week, my girl flew across the ocean to spend a few weeks with her Nicolas and his family. She did it all by herself. She flew into a huge airport in New York City, and found and boarded a plane and flew to Denmark. All by herself. I am so proud of her for doing this...for going where her heart is leading her. And not being afraid. She went past the front yard...past the closest family on the beach...she went across the ocean and is experiencing so many new and wonderful things.

She is doing this without Steve and I by her side, but not without the love and faith and values we have shared with her throughout her life. And so...I am alright. I miss her like crazy. I look forward to every text and phone call. But my heart is happy. She found an amazing young man who loves her and takes care of her and protects her and who has a wonderful family who also loves her and cares for her, and who has welcomed her into their home. My girl has always wanted to go. And now...she has. She will return  full of experiences and memories to hold on to and share. Until she goes again.

All set to go...

Grandma was there. Just as she was the day she was born. : )

Nicolas snapped this for me when she arrived in Denmark...before she even saw him. : )

My girl and her man.

Prayers for my girl and her safe return are welcome, my friends!

Thursday Thoughts...And A Winner!

Today I am thinking about...


...summer. And how it is passing so quickly. I wasn't always a big fan of summer. I used to wait every day for the cool breeze of autumn to come and with it, the brilliant colors of the fall leaves. And I still do. But now, I actually cling to summer. I mentioned it to Steve one day, and he summed it up perfectly...as he always does. : ) He  reasoned...correctly...that back when I longed for summer to end I had littles who were not yet in school. Their days, whether it be summer or fall, belonged to us. I didn't need the three months of summer to appreciate having my kids home with me. They were with me on the bright autumn days and the cozy winter ones as well.

Once they started school, I realized that those lazy days of summer were that much more special. And although hot, sunny days aren't my favorite, I was in no hurry for them to end, as that meant my littles would be going back to school. And so I learned to love summer, by default, I suppose. : ) And I guess that was one more reason why a few years ago, we decided to homeschool. Now, no matter the weather, no matter the season, my littles...who are not all that little anymore...are home with me. Where...for us, right now...they belong. : )

Here is a peek at our past few days of summer...

I spent some time scrapbooking this past weekend...I really enjoy it, once I sit down to do it! I usually do an entire year's worth of pictures for each child this time every year.

 

 

I spent some time with my oldest this weekend...

 

 

we even had some milkshakes after our manicures. : )

 

 

There were summer dinners...

 

 

and summer desserts. Chocolate Zucchini cake is one of my faves. : )

 

 

There were mornings on the porch...

 

 

and evenings out. The big kids that is...They went to Chinese and a movie, while the littlest and I sat outside with our feet in the little pool and "chatted" about life. : )

 

 

Oh...and this little blog turned three! Thank you all for your kind words and sweet comments. I do appreciate them all. And...the winner of the fun Bloggy Birthday Giveaway is...

 

 

Kathleen!!!!

 

 

Kathleen was one of my first Bloggy friends, and I am inspired every time I visit her lovely blog.

 

 

 

Congratulations!

Please email me your information, and I will send it right out!

 

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends!

 

 

 

 

This Little Blog Turns Three!

That's right...it has been three years since I hit "Publish" on the first post on this little old blog. I did it knowing nothing about blogging, other than the fact that I had enjoyed reading a few other blogs for a few years prior. I didn't know what I would blog about, or how to photograph something well, or how to link or change my background. Three years later, I don't know a whole lot more, but I do know that I am glad I jumped in and started. When people ask my why I blog...I tell them it is kind of like an online scrapbook. It is a way for me to look back and remember the important and the mundane...the holidays and ordinary days...the times that pass quickly and without fanfare.

It is also a ticket...a ticket for me to visit places and people and homes and families that I otherwise would never have the chance to see and to know. I have made amazing friends here...friends who inspire me and pray for me and encourage me to be a better woman, wife, mother, teacher, Catholic, and friend. I gained the inspiration and confidence to homeschool our children thorough my Blog friends...I learned how to take better pictures, and have exchanged delicious recipes here. I have found a peace in my heart knowing that there are other women out there who share my love of all things home and family. And for all these things...I am thankful.

But enough about me! Birthdays are times to celebrate...and celebrate we shall! If you have read this blog for any period of time, you know my love holidays...and my love of fall and Halloween. To thank you all for sharing your lives with me, I am giving away a small token of my appreciation in celebration of three Bloggy years! If you would like to enter for a chance to win these cute and festive Halloween pillows and a very amazing scented Yankee candle, just let me know down below. We will draw a name from all entries received by midnight on Wednesday, August 5, and I will post the winner's name on Thursday.

So once again...thanks for reading...and if any of you are thinking about possibly starting your own blog...my advice? Jump right in! : )

Blog Friends Become Real Life Friends

Yes...it is a wonderful day when your very dear friend, who you met through your respective blogs...visits you with her beautiful family. When they drive such a long distance just to spend one night with you and your family. When you meet her husband and two sweet daughters for the first time...because you met her last November and this time she brought her family...and you felt as if you have known them forever. That is wonderful.

Tara, who blogs here about all things home and family and takes beautifully amazing photographs, and her family visited us this week. We had so much fun in the short time they were here, and immediately knew that we would all indeed be friends for life. We sat on the porch and visited, we cooked dinner together in my kitchen, we watched our children play, we drove to Dairy Queen...we just sat on the couch and talked. And it was wonderful. I am thankful for the gift of our friendship, and for this world of Blogger that brought two women together who otherwise would have lived parallel lives, never realizing the other existed.

Here is a peek at our time together. Watch Tara's blog for more. Her photos tell so much more of the story in a much more beautiful way! : )

The exact moment our babies finally met...and it was as precious as it looks. : )

After we sat on the porch together, Tara and I did what we have always dreamed of doing...cooking together! And this lady makes a delicious fruit salad!

We all sat outside while these two jumped into the pool over and over again...

and were inseparable after that. : )

After jammies and ice cream, they did this...while the rest of us...including Tara's beautiful older daughter Anna...sat on the couch and talked. And talked. And talked.

The morning brought a pancake breakfast and hugs good bye...

for now.

And then they were off...on the next leg of their family summer adventure. But not before we promised to meet halfway sometime soon, because when you are blessed enough to meet a family that makes your family so incredibly happy, you want to erase the miles separating you as often as you can.

Thank you, Tara and family!

Christmas In July 2015

We celebrated Christmas in July on Saturday. And the kids loved it. Here is how we spent our day...pretending it was a cozy December afternoon instead of a hot one in July. : )

The kids awoke to a few small presents each...

then we baked sugar cookies. And it was fun, because we never do sugar cut-outs at Christmas. Just everything else. : )

We had a nice treat in the afternoon of cookies, tea, and milk...

and finished off the night after Mass and dinner with my very favorite...ever.

And because we love holidays so...we continued the celebration on Sunday...

because that's just how we roll. : )

Soon enough, the real thing will be here! : )

Thursday Thoughts

Today, I'm thinking about...


Saturday. Because it is Christmas in July!!!! And yes...we celebrate Christmas in July. Because...why not? Why not celebrate the most magical time of the year in the middle of the most fun time of the year? We don't go all crazy with decorations or anything, but a little bit of effort creates a lifetime of memories. We will watch a few favorite Christmas movies, bake some Christmas sugar cookies, and unwrap a few small gifts. And of course, the Christmas music will be playing all day long. Told you I love holidays. : ) In the meantime, here is a quick look back at our  quiet, summer week...

We ate summer meals...

(Just add burgers!)

with gifted garden veggies from my super talented niece Maria. : )

This was zucchini lasagna and a fresh garden salad.

We had coffee...and milk...and tea...on the porch...

and took summery pictures before Mass...

(And if you think you have seen this dress on her before, you have. It is her very favorite and I got it from Gymboree. This is her third summer wearing it!!!!)

We watched scary summer storms from inside...

then ventured outside to enjoy the beauty left behind.

We took a walk everyday...

and jumped through the sprinkler at night.

(Note to self...have hubby scrub the side porch.)

And we had ice cream cones outside. Just like my mom used to make. : )

Have a wonderful weekend!

Thanks for visiting. : )

One Word Wednesday

SUMMER

                             

And That's Quite Alright

We don't spend our summer days at the pool. We don't spend our summer evenings at the ball field.
We do our own thing. And that's quite alright. If there's something I have learned over my almost nineteen blessed years of mothering, it's that it is alright to do your own thing. Do your own thing and what makes you and your family happy.

What makes you happy may not always be the norm. It may not always be what everyone else is doing. And that's alright. I didn't always feel so confident in that fact. Turning forty a few years ago, however,  allowed me the freedom to stop worrying. To stop worrying about pleasing others and find comfort in the fact that by doing what we enjoy, our family may be different, but not wrong.

If I could be so bold as to offer a piece of advice to the younger moms out there, it would be this...
Do what you want. Live YOUR life. Find joy in the things that make you happy. Respect the fact that others may have different interests and hobbies. Refrain from judging others on the basis of your differences. Don't compare yourself or your parenting to anyone else. No one knows your family better than you.

If you ever find yourself feeling pressured or inadequate or uncertain, remember this. No one knows your heart or your family...your strengths or your challenges...your interests and your dreams more than you. No one else knows what makes your family happy. You may do things differently...you may not be the norm. And you know what. That is honestly quite alright. : )