Thank you, Mom!

I've been thinking about all the things my mother has done for me and my siblings. And I thought I would make a list of as many of those things as I could.

THANK YOU, for, putting us first. 

THANK YOU, for, sacrificing so Kiah and I could attend Faith Christian School. 

THANK YOU, for, homeschooling us. It gave me a working knowledge. We didn't have to worry about tests or grades. It was about the learning. And it created a fire within me to always seek to learn new things. I am so thankful to have been educated at home. I was able to choose what I wanted to learn. It made me excited about knowledge.  

THANK YOU, for, making us matching outfits. We always looked so cute. You made sure our clothing wasn't awkward or weird. 

THANK YOU, for, taking so many photos of our childhood. I have so many photos to look back on and enjoy. I don't have to wonder what I looked like as a baby, toddler, child, tween or teenager. 

THANK YOU, for, listening. We could always come to you with our problems and vent. And we still can. 

THANK YOU, for, controlling our food intake and cooking amazing meals. And keeping us healthy. You set rules in place and we didn't dare disobey. And we always asked mommy first for treats. It taught us self control and discipline. And now we know how to be healthy and not over indulge. 

THANK YOU, for, letting me pick my toothbrush and toothpaste. It is the little things we could control that helped us gain confidence and have us the security to make choices. And also to not feel too controlled. Positive choices and affirming those choices goes a long way. 

THANK YOU, for, setting everything up for deiver's ed. And then helping me get my deiver's license. And even when I failed the first time, thank you for staying positive. 2nd times the charm! 

THANK YOU, for, making me take keyboarding in high school even though I fought you tooth and nail, verbally. I was so rude and you just stuck to your guns. And now I have a lasting skill that helped me greatly to obtain two college degrees! 

THANK YOU, for, bringing us to Burger King every Tuesday in SC. I have such beautiful memories of those times. And plenty of the plastic toys to prove it! Gotta love Kids meals! 

THANK YOU, for, planning amazingly fun birthday parties for each one of us EVERY year! Not until I was older did I learn that other kids don't get birthday parties for each year! I assumed they did. And once I learned they didn't I felt even more blessed! 

THANK YOU, for, reading to is for hours and hours. I have coloring books all colored in to remind me of how many hours we spent listening to you read, Elsie Dinsmore and Narnia. I can't wait for the day I can read to my children! 💙

THANK YOU, for, bringing us to church all by yourself. Now that I have Elijah, I can't imagine how you did it all. It's hard enough with one child! 

THANK YOU, for, caring to make it possible for me to get baptized at Faith Assembly  in South Carolina. 

 THANK YOU, for, teaching is the truth about life. Because you taught us about Jesus and God and the Bible we have a foundation. And a view of life theough the lens of truth. It has helped me to be counter cultural, to question the world's ideas. And above all, to know that I am loved. 

THANK YOU, for, teaching us to think for ourselves. Because you taught us the truth. It gave me the ability to really think about situations! And to see reality in spite of how things appear on the outside. 

THANK YOU, for, letting me find my own way. And for trusting God with my future. It must have been scary. But you trusted God's word. 

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11

2013

 

I am friends with my sisters because you cultivated the love between us. You didn't force me, as the oldest to care for my siblings. I never felt forced to protect them or mother them. Because you were always around to do that. 

THANK YOU, MOM. 

I AM WHO I AM TODAY BECAUSE OF THE TIME YOU SPENT WITH ME AS A CHILD
I LOVE YOU! 

2 | 52

 2 | 52

A Photo Series

* 'A photo of our child once a week, every week for a year'*

Here is week two! I had so much fun on this day! It brought me great joy to see him open his gifts and interact with the other children.

Elijah at his Birthday party! <3

Elijah's 7th month!

Here are some facts about our child::::

•he has 6 teeth

••he crawls extremely fast

•••he pulls himself up onto everything

••••he is so proud when he stands up

•••••he loves the grass

••••••he loves to eat dirt

•••••••he buries his face into mama's chest when he's hungry

••••••••he has a very ticklish neck

•••••••••he has a fake chuckle/giggle

••••••••••he likes to eat oatmeal cereal

•••••••••••he loves to chew on water bottles 

••••••••••••he falls asleep instantly in the car

•••••••••••••he loves to ride in the stroller!

••••••••••••he loves his Poppaw 

•••••••••••he keeps his eye on my family's black lab, Amos, he's not sure about him

••••••••••he tries to squeeze my family's house cat, Jewel, but we don't let him

•••••••••he likes to nap next to mommy on the couch

••••••••he smells like a little boy after being outside 

•••••••he has huge feet, infant size 4/5! 

••••••he loves to snuggle with daddy in the la-z-boy

•••••he smiles the moment he wakes up

••••he loves to splash when he bathes I. The sink

•••he has a tiny bit of hair that sticks up

•• he gets sad when daddy leaves for work

•he loves to bounce in his bouncer

WE WENT TO A PAINTBALL TOURNAMENT 

Kaleb is now on a D-5 paintball team. 

We met up with our friend Cate S. She was there because her boyfriend is also on a paintball team. 

It was fun to see Kaleb in his element. But the tournament was not a child friendly place. Not only were there paintballs all over the ground, so I couldn't set Elijah down {{{Thank GOD, for, our Ergo carrier!}}}; there was also a ton of vulgar language. It was not in any way a family friendly place. I am not going to be able to take Elijah there once he starts absorbing language and repeating

E V E R Y T H I N G

 It was loud and very mosquito-y. We stayed for 2 hours. And then, my sister, Elijah, and I went back to her apartment and relaxed. I don't know about her, but Elijah and I both have several mosquito bites! Mine itch like crazy so I can only assume Elijah's itch also! 

It was nice to see Cate and watch Kaleb play! 

  

KALEBS BIGGEST BATTLE SCAR

SNUGGLY BEAR BOY

⭐I planted flowers at the beginning of the summer and I am so proud of how well they are doing!! 

🌞I started a tiny tiny little flower garden in the back yard. It is 3ft by 3ft

And next year I will add to it. Hopefully it will be 3ft by 10 feet!! 😊

Here are some photos of the progress of my potted plants!! 

I planted Sedum, marigolds, pansies, lilies, flox, a ballon flower plant that Kaleb    bought me last summer and we moved it from Olivia to Jeffers. 

My NONA stayed with us for 5 days, it was VERY FUN!! 

We cooked some amazing meals and cleaned and played with Elijah! And boy, does he sure love his Bis Nona!! 

I love my Italian heritage. 

Having Nona around was a joyous time! 

This weekend, Elijah and I are staying with my patents. My sister is coming from Minneapolis and we are all going to have a fun time visiting. Elijah loves to be with his aunts.