10/10/09

Dear Eliana,
You are six years old now. Chloe just turned 4, so I’ve been writing in your baby books this evening. I can’t believe how far our family has come since you first broke into our hearts. You seem like the third partner with Daddy and I. We couldn’t do this without you. You are so smart, and so helpful. Sometiems you get a bit carried away, but mostly you are very well behaved. You are the most amazing young lady! Sometimes I feel intimidated by your brightness. How is it that I’ve been blessed by God so much to have you in my life!? I pray that you never lose the sincerity that drives your every move and that you grow up to be the Godly woman I know you can be. I love you, Eliana Sherrí. Forever and ever.

Momma

First off, I was so blessed to have been able to go out to Oklahoma back in February to spend a few weeks with my family. Chris took me and the girls out and dropped us off, then came back and picked us up later. We had a great time visiting my folks and siblings, and it was hard to leave. I also enjoyed getting to sit under Sister Connie Wilson’s preaching (she’s their pastor) and my Uncle Don’s teacher (he’s the general HQ coordinator for ABM, an an awesome teacher). I really recieved a blessing and a refreshing. We had a lot of good times going out and just hanging out. But I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves:

Trip to Grandma and Papa’s 2-2009

Next up, I have added a gallery of the pictures taken when we had our first real snow in almost 10 years! It was so beautiful, and the girls had a lot of fun, considering it was one of the very few times they have ever seen snow in person. Everybody got out and we had snowball fights, made a snowman (he’s really short, because the snow was only about 4 inches or so), tried to sled down a hill, and just had a good time overall.

Snowstorm 2009

Finally, I have added pictures the girls’ birthday party. Everyone had so much fun with their animal masks, the craft, a special song by Eliana and Lydia (will load video later), presents, and of course, Cake! Eliana and Lydia were totally surprised by their bikes, and they told me over and over that they had a great time. I love throwing birthday parties! And even though I was dealing with a broken arm, it was a pleasure to have entertained everyone.

Eliana and Lydia 2009

Here are a few videos from the party:

We’re going to have tons of fun, but only if we can get everyone to come! Bring your own mask, or wear one of ours! There will be cake, games, music, crafts, food, and presents!! Oh, about those presents, don’t worry about bringing one, this party is all about having fun with our friends, so just bring yourself! If you do choose to bring a gift, then they are interested in clothes, books, and outside toys. They both wear a size 5/6.

The items for the treat bags came in the mail today, and we put them together. We also planned the menu, the activities, and the decorations. They are so excited. It’s hard to see them so far from being babies, but it’s fun for them to get more and more involved in the party planning as well as daily things like chores, making meals and such.

I have a TON of pictures I need to put up, but work has kept me so busy. Hopefully I’ll get to them over the weekend and this coming weeks so that we’re all up to date before I post birthday pictures next weekend.

Eliana:

Chloe:

In this movie, she has short, straight, blonde hair, and my idea of her and Eliana favoring are even stronger, especially after this picture:

Compare to this picture:

Or her entire gallery

I can’t believe my girls are so big! I have been a mother for 5 years. Man.. that’s like a lifetime, just ask Eliana, she’ll agree. They are so wonderful, and growing up to be so beautiful. They amaze me.

I’ve added to the gallery page, a Christmas 2007 gallery, and one from their party yesterday. I’ve also added to their individual galleries which are featured on their own pages.

Here are the pictures from the party:

Kasey and I go back to 2000, before Chris and I were married. The first time we ever met in real life, I was pregnant with Eliana. Then the first time she ever met her Damon was at Mom’s house in Georgia, Eliana was about 3 months old, and was at Ya-Ya’s House in Alabama. Finally they met for the first time at the Assembly, and here is Eliana’s reaction:

I don’t remember the whole story behind this picture, but it has always been a favorite of mine.

Though we haven’t been able to spend as much time together as some friends do, Kasey and I are still very close. Here’s a picture of her and her first niece at this past Assembly:

These Pictures have been added to Eliana’s Gallery as well.

I realized today that it’s not just my health that is at stake here. Eliana can not only ride her bike without help, but she can ride it fast! I had no idea. I thought she was still just barely getting it. I took the girls out some today, and she got on her bike and was gone in a flash up the driveway.

Ya-Ya is usually the one to take them outside, and it’s been okay with me all this time because it helps me; I get the free time, and they get the activity. But It’s not okay with me anymore. I’ve got to get over myself, and realize that my comfort isn’t a joy, seeing my children grow up healthy and happy is. And it’s not good enough just knowing they are, I have to be a part of it too.

The other day the two older girls were looking out the window from the couch talking excitedly about the empty swing-set they saw in our back yard. Then Lydia rushed off to her room and Eliana trudged behind her. She was talking to herself a long the way saying, “We can’t go outside unless we’re at Ya-Ya’s house. Momma works all the time so she can’t take us. We just have to stay inside all the time.” I had a sadness come over my heart instantly as I stared at the laptop with complaining clients and overdue projects piled up before me.

So here are my New Years Goals:

• A fenced in area for the girls to play in without worry of the road
• A family dog in that fence
• A patio in that fence
• A table and chairs on that patio

I have the computer I wanted, I have the furniture I wanted, I got the stove I wanted today. So now I want the ability to be with my kids outside, to let them be able to play anytime they want, I can work on the patio, and take breaks to push a swing.

I love the work that I do, but my life’s dream wasn’t to die behind a computer, it was to have a husband and children that loved me. I have those things, but time with them is wasted.

My mom once told us kids that she had a hard childhood and what she wanted when she “grew up” was to have children so that she could raise them to love her and to cherish her. My mom is the best mom, and probably one of the most loved, in the world. She’s faulty like mothers are supposed to be, but she’s genuine, and she works hard to keep her family healthy and whole.

As a kid, I said things like, “I’ll never be like that to my kids” and foolishness like that. While there are a few things I do differently, being like my mom is so much more fulfilling than trying to change. I’m a product of her raising after all. But I’m not quite there yet. I want to be better. I want my kids to cherish me and their memories of me like I do my mom. Even though I hated her when I was a teenager– Teenage girls are supposed to do that it’s some unwritten rule. I look back and have the same regrets most grown ups do. “Mom and Dad were right about everything.”

So It’s time for me to stop living for me, and give my life to my children, because they are all that really matter in the scheme of things.