Liv and Grace

This picture makes me smile.  I am still pinching myself over these two beauties.  So grateful for my two daughters, Olivia Ruth and Grace Elizabeth!

Olivia Ruth

Not sure how we got here so fast.... my little girl and I 💕

Favorite part of Gracie's day

She loves to see in the big yellow bus come down the street. She waves her hands with excitement. Her Buddy is  home!

Happenings around here...

It's been busy around here!  Lots going on....  School, homework, soccer, flag football, volleyball, girls on the run, and lots of play!  It's been a great start to our fall and the back to school routine and schedule is providing a structure that we were craving towards the end of summer!  Here is a glimpse of our September thus far...

38

This came in the mail today from one of my crhp sisters.  I just love this verse. And there's that word Grace again. Not a coincidence why my fourth child is named that. God is so gracious and I'm definitely counting my blessings today on my 38th birthday!

Our family of 6

I am loving our family photos we had taking for my Mother's Day gift!  I will treasure these forever!



Olivia, almost 9
Jack, 7
Grant, 5
Grace, 4 months
My hands and heart are full!!!!!
God is so good!
Thanking the Lord every night for this beautiful ministry of raising this family he has blessed me with.

Kindered spirits

I just realized their birthdays are:
07/01 & 01/07
That has to be more than just a coincidence 😊

Proud Mother

Dear Olivia,

You truly make your mother and father proud. 

You have become such a great kid that I feel so grateful. 

Yesterday I received a phone call at home from your school teacher. She has never called our house before.  When she first called I thought she was going to tell me you missed the bus home, instead she said, "do you have a minute?  I need to share something that happened at school today!"

My heart dropped. Oh no - is everything OK?

Turns out everything is more than okay.  Mrs. Gallagher was calling me to personally tell me all the wonderful traits she has seen from YOU and this one occusian almost moved her to tears.

There are two little girls in your classroom that are competing to be Your best friend.  To some, this would not be a problem, but to Olivia this was making her a little bit anxious.  Each girl would become upset at you for talking to the other girl.  You did not want to hurt anybody's feelings so you had a hard time handling this.  You felt torn in the middle of two girls competing over your attention.  You actually stayed home from school Wednesday with a "tummy ache," but I think you couldn't handle the stress anymore. 

Your awesome teacher picked up on it.  I also encouraged you to write Mrs. Gallagher a note asking for guidance.  And you did.  (In your best cursive)

Once read, Mrs. Gallagher pulled you aside at recess and talked with you about how you can handle it and gave you really great advice. You soaked up all the encouragement Mrs. Gallagher gave you.

This is The part where Mrs. Gallagher was moved to tears. She sent the three of you girls out into the hallway the last 10 minutes of school so you could work it out. 

She said Olivia's leadership skills, kind heart, and Christianity approach were remarkable. 

You came up several activities for you three girls to do in the hallway. 

The first thing you came up was having you three girls interlock arms and then try to get out of the circle. I think this was your idea of a trust exercise. 

And then You had each girl say something mean to each other so they could each feel their feelings get hurt and how that is not fun for anybody. 

Finally, you wrapped up the activity with each girl saying something nice to each other so the girls could experience kindness from each other.  You then concluded that kindness is much more fun than meanness and that there is room for EVERYONE to be friends.  The girls agreed.

Mrs. Gallagher was so moved by her second grade capacity to orchestrate a successful meeting with her two friends. She called me to share the news. 

I feel so proud. This is the stuff that matters to your dad and I.  Sure, we care about good grades. But more importantly we care about your character. And you have great character. Keep up the great work Olivia and never lose that big heart of yours. 

Ps - you're an awesome big sister too.  You are always the first to offer me a hand without being asked.
 

We love you, 

mom and dad

 

the little things in life

I just love this baby. Fourth time around I am truly enjoying the little things like giving her a bubble bath instead of seeing it as a chore/task like I did with the other babies. 

Soaking her all up. 

Stopping to smell the roses and slowing down our morning pace today. 

Letting baby girl splash in the bathtub just a little bit longer even though I have a laundry list of things to do for tomorrow 1st communion.

After all I'm finally learning it's a little things in life to savor.

Grace will be four months old this weekend. 

And we just moved her to her crib last night.

 

 

to my daughter(s)

To my daughter:

I have been waiting for you.

Since I was a little girl toting around a baby doll, I have been practicing to be your mommy. I have dreamed about reading you bedtime stories and tucking you in. Your perfect eyes and warm smile, I’ve pictured them in my mind countless times.

I’ve hoped for the special connection that would bond us together, unshakably. That we find the perfect balance between parent and friend.

I want to be the one who knows your secrets, and your dreams, and your fears.

I worry about the rough times, when you learn everyone isn’t your friend and some people are unnecessarily cruel.

I want to protect you from the evil in the world, but also prepare you for it.

I hope I can be the mother who teaches you kindness, patience, and forgiveness.

I don’t want you to struggle to find yourself, like I did. I want you to be confident in who you are, and in the love and support you have from your family.

I hope you never feel the sting of being different, but rather embrace it, knowing that our differences are what make us beautiful and allow us to grow.I want you to be strong and stay grounded in what you know is right. If you must stray from the crowd to remain true to your values, I hope you are courageous enough to do so.

I wish it were possible that you never experience pain or sorrow, but you must. It will shape you in a positive way, if you let it.

You will stumble and fall and, no doubt, be discouraged. But you will stand up, dust yourself off, and take another step, because you are strong.

You are beautiful. You are amazing. You are LOVED beyond measure!

 

Easter Photos

As tradition would have it - we were lucky enough to be on the beach for Easter.  Extra special as it was also Grace's first beach trip.  Destin, Florida is absolutely gorgeous.  Nothing beats the Gulf Shore.  Love these vibrant photos of my family of 6 - my greatest Blessings....

Seaside, Florida

We spent the day in Seaside,Florida which is quite possibly the cutest beach town I have ever seen.  We had a great day… We shopped at the market, ate crab cakes for lunch, and enjoyed ice cream on the Square.  A nice day spent as a family.