This I Know

I pulled my scarf a bit more tightly around my neck and broke into a bit of a jog to the door.  The wind felt cold and once again, I wished for never-ending summer.  Balancing the phone in my neck, I swung her up into the seat of the cart and handed her my list, along with instructions to "hold it up where Mother can see it because ballet only lasts an hour."

It seemed like she sang the whole time...in actuality it was only a few minutes, I'm sure.  I listened intently... because I knew it was really important...    Oh, ...not the song.  That wasn't important... (although it was very important to her).  It was that decision over college majors and coursework that was pressing...I listened. Standing in the cereal isle, searching for that healthy, low sugar cereal that would tempt even the most finicky young teen.

And somewhere along the way... the song, and grams of fiber, mixed with  the transfer of summer course credits and the outlook for internships, which far surpass my areas of expertise (if, in fact, there are any of those)...and I wished that at some point in my life I had taken the time to learn to juggle...and I gave my best advice, but wished I could do more...wished I truly knew the best answers.....and the song was something about wanting pink cake with pink icing for her birthday.

We figure it out one day at a time.

She's been working and waiting a long time for this.  Being fitted for pointe shoes was a big milestone.

My sweet, sweet Grace.  My life would be so incomplete without you.  The day God gave me that verse about grace and I knew somewhere deep in my heart that you were on the way...well, let's just say you are so much more than I could ever have longed for.

In other news.... once in a while there's that time when you smash your hand into the edge of the cupboard trying to hurriedly hide your chocolate because you hear footsteps running out the hall and you have no desire whatsoever to share said chocolate...nor to let anyone in on the secret of its whereabouts...and child (who shall remain nameless) comes around the corner just in time to see you nursing your wounds.  Yep.

 ...and after being up far too late several nights in a row helping large college boys with papers and such...I sent everyone off to church today while I played hooky and stayed in bed way too late and had this sweet, sweet dream that the just the three of us...(you know..... Me, Martina McBride, and Faith Hill) were having this deep conversation about how to properly maintain your singing voice as a  forty*ahem*somethings age singer. ...So, sleeping in... it was totally worth it.

Back on track with earlier mentioned shopping trip....

When we reached the checkout...even though one pint sized child was in the seat of the cart the whole time... there it was.  It was right there in the cart.

One pink cake mix and one can of frosting with sprinkles!!!  I kid you not.  Truly amazed at her resourcefulness as usual.

I put it back, because, of course, Jennie was making her cake.  I suppose birthday pictures would fit in perfectly about now for our new 7 yr. old.

Been asking alot of questions lately about her birth mother (for which of course there are no real answers, but I wish there were)   Sweet girl, you are mine.  Every heart in this family needed you.  I am one grateful Momma...and Don't you ever forget that.

And we had another birthday a few weeks back... Christian's 15th birthday in October...

Christian, my sweet guy...this family would be so dull without your wit and humor.  I love you so so crazy.

There was fall break.

I had gotten ok...'bout missing Mitchell.  ...then he came home for a few days.  The second I saw that smile again, I wanted to cry.  Mitchell, I miss you so much.  Sometimes I walk into your room because it still smells like you in there...

excuse me for a sec while I run for a tissue

A lesson I read to the girls the other day asked, "What things have your parents taught you?"

Here are Faith's answers (which can only be understood in depth by all who truly know and love her):

1.  "Keep water and food away from your books."
2.  "Stay inside the fence in the play yard so you don't get killed."
3.  "Don't waste paper...cause then you'll use it all up and you'll run out."

Friday's science lesson was about oxygen..the typical grade one lesson about how we all need air to breathe and how every living thing needs it.  I realized it was too simple when Faith interrupted and broke into telling me about how astronauts have to wear oxygen masks to breathe, just like the people who climb Mount Everest because there's not enough air up there.  She concluded by telling me she wants to climb Mount Everest some day, and then she headed off to the bookshelf to read a book on Mount Everest.  Someday when I have a few spare DAYS I'm gonna write a blog post about her entitled "Smart as a Whip".

...and people wonder why it seems I'm losing brain cells at such a rapid pace....my theory is,  I think they're all leaving via osmosis and moving on to a more promising ground housed under that jet black hair.

God, your works are marvelous...this my soul knows oh, so very well.

To You be the Glory