It's been a while since I wrote one of these, but I've had thoughts of friendship circling my mind and decided to finally type them out.
Dearest Children of Mine,
As you go through life, I am hoping and praying that you will surround yourself with great people who become great friends. I've been thinking a lot about friendship recently. It truly is one of the things in life that I could not live without. Friends have come alongside of me at so many points and helped to hold me up when I felt like giving up. Friends can help your life be sweeter and more fun and better, and I hope you look for these kinds of people.
Here are a few tips on friendship that I've gathered over the years. I think it boils down to a couple of pretty basic things.
You've got to show up, and you've got to open up.
As I think about the friends that I have right now in my life, I am so amazed and overwhelmed at the blessings they are to me. It's funny, because if you looked at many of us on paper, we might not look super compatible. BUT - we've all shown up at the same places consistently. We've shown up for each other. We've put in the time. Relationships are built as you do life together, and you build commonality with shared experiences. As time goes by, you look up and realize how much you adore these people that you spend all this time with. It's happened to me over and again, and I am always a little surprised and super grateful at who I get to be friends with.
Don't pick friends based on who can give you advantages or who might seem the flashiest. Pick the people that are the most constant. And do the same for them. Show up. Make the effort. Do the inviting if you need to. Everyone likes to be invited. Do the hard work, and you will all be so glad.
Once you've got a bit of trust going, take the leap and open up with those around you. Let them see who you really are and what makes you tick. Be HONEST about the struggles that you face and your story, and be a safe place for their returned honesty. It is hard to shine light into the dark corners of our hearts, but it is so freeing and it ties us to those around us in really wonderful ways.
There are so many amazing people in the world that you could surround yourself with, and honestly, there aren't enough hours in the day for me to connect with each person I know in all the ways that I would want to. I've had to realize that I cannot go nearly as wide as I might like, but it is more important that I go deep. I think it's better to invest in a few relationships rather than trying to spread yourself among masses of people that you will just get to scratch the surface with. Some friends will be with you for a season, and some will span over several seasons, but either way, remember that you only have so much relational energy to give. Spend it wisely.
I know I've written about this on the blog before, but its been several years, and I feel like I am re-learning some of the same critical things. Kiddos, please know that I am praying for the people that God will have you spend time with in the coming years. I pray that there are encouragers and constants in the group that will help prop you up in the hard times. I also pray that you will be sensitive about when people need you. I hope you see the people that need friends and make that effort. I hope that you lead with kindness and compassion, which probably means that I need to do a better job of modeling that.
Because I have been so blessed with friendships, I hope and pray that you will be as well - but just know that it takes work. Like all good things in life.
XOXO
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Showing posts with label Things I Want My Kids to Know. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Things I Want My Kids to Know. Show all posts
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
THINGS I WANT MY KIDS TO KNOW: TAKE THIS JOB & LOVE IT
I'm continuing this little series of Things I Want My Kids to Know. I've realized that all of the topics I've chosen are things that I feel a little "soapboxy" about. I feel like parenting is one of those things that brings out the strongest emotions and opinions, because at the end of the day - this is our shot as parents. You only get one go-round with your kiddos, and there are SO MANY things that I want them to know and understand before they leave our home.
I do understand that most important things are caught, not taught, and I'm hopeful that they can see us as their parents living out those things that are most important to us. And, if there are ever any doubts, they can always reference these blog posts. Ha!
Dearest darlings of mine,
Someday, I hope that each of you will have the opportunity and desire to be gainfully employed. I hope that you can dream big and reach for the sky and that the world will be your oyster. I fully hope and expect that you will each be able to accomplish great things in your own ways and times. I can already see that each of you have unique strengths to bring to the world, and my excitement grows as I think about all that you will do in your lives.
But - I wanted to write a note of caution to you all. Pretty much anything worth doing takes a lot of work. Also - you may not like it all the time.
I hear a lot of people say things like, "Find something you love doing and figure out a way to get paid for it" -or- "Do what you love and never work a day in your life". I completely understand the sentiment behind these statements and can assent to part of them. I hope and pray that you look for jobs that are suited to you and that you will enjoy and find purpose in. After all, you spend a lot of life working.
However, I think the concept of totally loving every aspect of your job and life is not a realistic expectation to set. ESPECIALLY right after you finish schooling, when the drive towards idealism and self-actualization is like a tidal wave that is easy to ride until you wash ashore into reality. The best advice that I can give you is to start doing something, anything. Work hard at it. Figure out what you like and what you don't. Learn to be content in whatever circumstances you find yourself in.
Do you hear me? Learn to be content.
Some things will go your way. Some things won't. You can change some things. Others will be totally out of your control, and the sooner that you quit fixating on those things - the better.
In our life path, we have had surprises and set backs and a lot of hard work. We are not doing what we thought we would be doing, but it is exactly what God has for us. We love so many things about it, and there are other things that we are less crazy about. That is going to be true for pretty much everything in life. Always. Find ways to make peace with the things that you don't like and learn flexibility. (This is something I still have to work at everyday.)
You can read the story of how we got into CFA here, and I can assure you, it is not what we imagined for ourselves. But, I am so thankful for the life it has created for us, and I know it is exactly where we should be - good times and hard. Your dad has another saying, "Don't try to change the world. Try to change your world." And I see him living it out everyday. He is changing the world around him through all of the people he interacts with on a daily basis. It is hard and good at the same time.
Please find ways to be thankful and content. Those are attitudes that you choose, and the more that you choose them, the more you will feel them.
I am so excited to see what God has in store for each of you, and I know that you will do great things. But most importantly, you will be great - because you are you! You never have to earn our approval or love - you are so loved, no matter what. I can never say that often enough.
(But do know that I will eventually quit bank-rolling your life no matter how much I love you!)
With love forever, Your Mother
I do understand that most important things are caught, not taught, and I'm hopeful that they can see us as their parents living out those things that are most important to us. And, if there are ever any doubts, they can always reference these blog posts. Ha!
Dearest darlings of mine,
Someday, I hope that each of you will have the opportunity and desire to be gainfully employed. I hope that you can dream big and reach for the sky and that the world will be your oyster. I fully hope and expect that you will each be able to accomplish great things in your own ways and times. I can already see that each of you have unique strengths to bring to the world, and my excitement grows as I think about all that you will do in your lives.
But - I wanted to write a note of caution to you all. Pretty much anything worth doing takes a lot of work. Also - you may not like it all the time.
I hear a lot of people say things like, "Find something you love doing and figure out a way to get paid for it" -or- "Do what you love and never work a day in your life". I completely understand the sentiment behind these statements and can assent to part of them. I hope and pray that you look for jobs that are suited to you and that you will enjoy and find purpose in. After all, you spend a lot of life working.
However, I think the concept of totally loving every aspect of your job and life is not a realistic expectation to set. ESPECIALLY right after you finish schooling, when the drive towards idealism and self-actualization is like a tidal wave that is easy to ride until you wash ashore into reality. The best advice that I can give you is to start doing something, anything. Work hard at it. Figure out what you like and what you don't. Learn to be content in whatever circumstances you find yourself in.
Do you hear me? Learn to be content.
Some things will go your way. Some things won't. You can change some things. Others will be totally out of your control, and the sooner that you quit fixating on those things - the better.
In our life path, we have had surprises and set backs and a lot of hard work. We are not doing what we thought we would be doing, but it is exactly what God has for us. We love so many things about it, and there are other things that we are less crazy about. That is going to be true for pretty much everything in life. Always. Find ways to make peace with the things that you don't like and learn flexibility. (This is something I still have to work at everyday.)
You can read the story of how we got into CFA here, and I can assure you, it is not what we imagined for ourselves. But, I am so thankful for the life it has created for us, and I know it is exactly where we should be - good times and hard. Your dad has another saying, "Don't try to change the world. Try to change your world." And I see him living it out everyday. He is changing the world around him through all of the people he interacts with on a daily basis. It is hard and good at the same time.
Please find ways to be thankful and content. Those are attitudes that you choose, and the more that you choose them, the more you will feel them.
I am so excited to see what God has in store for each of you, and I know that you will do great things. But most importantly, you will be great - because you are you! You never have to earn our approval or love - you are so loved, no matter what. I can never say that often enough.
(But do know that I will eventually quit bank-rolling your life no matter how much I love you!)
With love forever, Your Mother
Thursday, July 17, 2014
THINGS I WANT MY KIDS TO KNOW: BE A LEARNER
Continuing my little series of things I want my kids to know - here's the next installment.
Hey Kiddos,
I want you all to be life-long learners. I really pray and hope for it with all of my heart. I do believe in absolute truths. I believe that God is who he says he is - the great God on high, maker of heavens and earth. I believe that Jesus died on the cross, and that his word is true. I believe that he asks us to love him and love others.
Other than that - I still have a lot to learn about life. In fact, I am learning and discovering new things each day, especially on the days when I am humble enough to recognize that I am broken and fallen and need to be more teachable than I am naturally wired.
I've been cruising through audio books this summer. They have served as a wonderful buffer against the mundane of laundry and sweeping, because I can go to another world and have my mind occupied whilst banishing crumbs from every corner of my physical existence. Or not, as things usually go. Several of the books have been infinitely sadder than I hoped - for example - I feel like I should have gotten more warning about The Book Thief. It was an excellent book, but I sobbed through the ending. We can all pay attention to the fact that it is narrated by Death himself.
A couple of the books have featured teenaged protagonists, who have been amusing and smart and who have reminded me of my own teenager-hood. It is becoming a more and more distant past all the time, which is wild to believe. I vividly remember the summer between my sophomore and junior year of high school. Though I was 16, I did not find a job, because I knew I wouldn't work during the school year and most places didn't want to hire for just the summer. This meant that I had an extraordinary amount of free time. Thinking back - it sounds so glorious. One of my best friends and I would spend the night at one of our houses. We would stay up late watching movies or having "deep" talks, and then we would sleep even later. We would hit up Sonic for a drink and head to the pool to lay out.
Those were the days. Sunshine and slushies and seriously believing that we knew about life. It seemed so easy to boil life down to platitudes and simplicity, which were easily served up in our little corner of the world where things mostly made sense. I really thought I understood how life worked and that somehow, I was blessed with enlightened insight to the universe.
Now, more than ever, I have come to the conclusion that I have so much to learn. And I'm not talking just skills - though there are certainly a great number of skills that I would love to acquire. I love taking classes and learning.
No - I'm talking about life stuff. About how life and people work. About the nitty gritty and the hard, the beautiful and the simple and the ways those things swirl about each other in a hypnotizing pattern that makes up our everyday existence. It's all there, and there are usually far more layers than I had any idea about as a teenager.
A couple of years ago, your dad had a life coach who had him go through several personality evaluations. His coach was shocked by the unusual results - one of which showed that your dad has what the coach labeled as a "me/me conflict." He can so fully see both sides of a situation that he faces a very real conflict inside himself of what to think about things. While we do regularly joke about his "me/me" complex, it is one of the things I love about him. He leads with questions before passing any judgement. He strives to understand, before he strives to be understood. I have learned so much from his example.
So, kiddos - please pay attention as you go through life. Ask questions. Be slow to speak. Recognize that you have no idea where someone is coming from until you take the time to get to know them. Know that God created a vast mass of humanity in his image, and parts of God are reflected and refracted in different ways each day as you interact with others.
Be a learner. Ask God what he wants for you to see in each situation. He's always working behind the scenes - though it can often be hard to make out exactly what it will look like. We can trust his goodness. It lead us to each of you.
Hey Kiddos,
I want you all to be life-long learners. I really pray and hope for it with all of my heart. I do believe in absolute truths. I believe that God is who he says he is - the great God on high, maker of heavens and earth. I believe that Jesus died on the cross, and that his word is true. I believe that he asks us to love him and love others.
Other than that - I still have a lot to learn about life. In fact, I am learning and discovering new things each day, especially on the days when I am humble enough to recognize that I am broken and fallen and need to be more teachable than I am naturally wired.
I've been cruising through audio books this summer. They have served as a wonderful buffer against the mundane of laundry and sweeping, because I can go to another world and have my mind occupied whilst banishing crumbs from every corner of my physical existence. Or not, as things usually go. Several of the books have been infinitely sadder than I hoped - for example - I feel like I should have gotten more warning about The Book Thief. It was an excellent book, but I sobbed through the ending. We can all pay attention to the fact that it is narrated by Death himself.
A couple of the books have featured teenaged protagonists, who have been amusing and smart and who have reminded me of my own teenager-hood. It is becoming a more and more distant past all the time, which is wild to believe. I vividly remember the summer between my sophomore and junior year of high school. Though I was 16, I did not find a job, because I knew I wouldn't work during the school year and most places didn't want to hire for just the summer. This meant that I had an extraordinary amount of free time. Thinking back - it sounds so glorious. One of my best friends and I would spend the night at one of our houses. We would stay up late watching movies or having "deep" talks, and then we would sleep even later. We would hit up Sonic for a drink and head to the pool to lay out.
Those were the days. Sunshine and slushies and seriously believing that we knew about life. It seemed so easy to boil life down to platitudes and simplicity, which were easily served up in our little corner of the world where things mostly made sense. I really thought I understood how life worked and that somehow, I was blessed with enlightened insight to the universe.
Now, more than ever, I have come to the conclusion that I have so much to learn. And I'm not talking just skills - though there are certainly a great number of skills that I would love to acquire. I love taking classes and learning.
No - I'm talking about life stuff. About how life and people work. About the nitty gritty and the hard, the beautiful and the simple and the ways those things swirl about each other in a hypnotizing pattern that makes up our everyday existence. It's all there, and there are usually far more layers than I had any idea about as a teenager.
A couple of years ago, your dad had a life coach who had him go through several personality evaluations. His coach was shocked by the unusual results - one of which showed that your dad has what the coach labeled as a "me/me conflict." He can so fully see both sides of a situation that he faces a very real conflict inside himself of what to think about things. While we do regularly joke about his "me/me" complex, it is one of the things I love about him. He leads with questions before passing any judgement. He strives to understand, before he strives to be understood. I have learned so much from his example.
So, kiddos - please pay attention as you go through life. Ask questions. Be slow to speak. Recognize that you have no idea where someone is coming from until you take the time to get to know them. Know that God created a vast mass of humanity in his image, and parts of God are reflected and refracted in different ways each day as you interact with others.
Be a learner. Ask God what he wants for you to see in each situation. He's always working behind the scenes - though it can often be hard to make out exactly what it will look like. We can trust his goodness. It lead us to each of you.
Wednesday, July 02, 2014
THINGS I WANT MY KIDS TO KNOW: YOUR DAD IS NOT MY SOUL-MATE
I started this little summer series of "Things I Want My Kids to Know," a couple of weeks ago, and I'm here with another installment. The first one was about Love - specifically God's love for them and our for them. This post will also be about love. It occurs to me that when all things important in life are boiled down, love is what remains. It drives what we do and who we are, and as such an important ingredient, it bears even more fleshing out.
So - dear children - I want you to know that your dad is not my soul-mate.
What? You might ask. How unromantic! You may decry.
Be that as it may - it's true. I am committed to your father and he to me, because we have chosen to love one another. I've written our love story here on the blog before, and even as I reread it, I am reminded of its lack of "pizzazz." We did not have a fairytale or a lightning bolt or a butterfly laced feeling that directed our steps.
We have real love. And God's grace.
When it comes down to it, I am forced to admit that I do not believe in soul-mates. I think that in reality, there are many different people in the world with whom I would be compatible and could conceivably share a life with. While far less romantic, this pragmatism serves us well. I am never left wondering if I missed the "perfect someone in the universe" or wondering whether life would be infinitely better with "someone who understood my every thought before I spoke it." Nope. It would still be life, with a flawed human.
Here's the deal, dear kiddos, none of us are perfect. In fact, one of the things that marks each human life is the inherent messiness we bring along with us. We are a mixture of all of life's experiences, our family of origin, and our own thoughts - so there is good and bad.
So, as you keep your eyes out for that special someone to spend your life with - just know that they will not be perfect. And loving them will not be easy. There will be beautiful moments where it seems that fireworks are bursting above as the sky showers twinkle dust on you, but there will be hard moments as well.
Let me give you an example of what this may feel like. Right now, our dear Violet drools more than any child I have ever encountered. She wear a dribble bandana that she usually soaks through by lunch time. The floor has puddles where she has been sitting, and it often appears that there are slug tracks of slime where she has drooled and then crawled through it. It's just part of who she is right now. So, anytime you hold and cuddle Violet, you just know that you will get wet. It's part of loving Violet.
Loving your spouse is the same way. There are things that are just no fun that come with each of us. Some seasons will be harder than others, but in the end, your spouses weaknesses and struggles will become part of your own. You will get wet, because you love them and that's just part of it.
Their strengths and joys will also become yours, and if you allow and look for it, you will be amazed to see the ways that you grow together. The ways that you become better versions of yourselves than you would ever be apart.
To sum it all up - don't go looking for a "soul-mate." Go looking for someone that you want to do life with and are committed to loving - no matter what. Ask God to give you both grace and wisdom as you move through life. And know that while your dad is not my soul-mate - he is my favorite person in the whole world, and I am so thankful to call him mine.
So - dear children - I want you to know that your dad is not my soul-mate.
What? You might ask. How unromantic! You may decry.
Be that as it may - it's true. I am committed to your father and he to me, because we have chosen to love one another. I've written our love story here on the blog before, and even as I reread it, I am reminded of its lack of "pizzazz." We did not have a fairytale or a lightning bolt or a butterfly laced feeling that directed our steps.
We have real love. And God's grace.
When it comes down to it, I am forced to admit that I do not believe in soul-mates. I think that in reality, there are many different people in the world with whom I would be compatible and could conceivably share a life with. While far less romantic, this pragmatism serves us well. I am never left wondering if I missed the "perfect someone in the universe" or wondering whether life would be infinitely better with "someone who understood my every thought before I spoke it." Nope. It would still be life, with a flawed human.
Here's the deal, dear kiddos, none of us are perfect. In fact, one of the things that marks each human life is the inherent messiness we bring along with us. We are a mixture of all of life's experiences, our family of origin, and our own thoughts - so there is good and bad.
So, as you keep your eyes out for that special someone to spend your life with - just know that they will not be perfect. And loving them will not be easy. There will be beautiful moments where it seems that fireworks are bursting above as the sky showers twinkle dust on you, but there will be hard moments as well.
Let me give you an example of what this may feel like. Right now, our dear Violet drools more than any child I have ever encountered. She wear a dribble bandana that she usually soaks through by lunch time. The floor has puddles where she has been sitting, and it often appears that there are slug tracks of slime where she has drooled and then crawled through it. It's just part of who she is right now. So, anytime you hold and cuddle Violet, you just know that you will get wet. It's part of loving Violet.
Loving your spouse is the same way. There are things that are just no fun that come with each of us. Some seasons will be harder than others, but in the end, your spouses weaknesses and struggles will become part of your own. You will get wet, because you love them and that's just part of it.
Their strengths and joys will also become yours, and if you allow and look for it, you will be amazed to see the ways that you grow together. The ways that you become better versions of yourselves than you would ever be apart.
To sum it all up - don't go looking for a "soul-mate." Go looking for someone that you want to do life with and are committed to loving - no matter what. Ask God to give you both grace and wisdom as you move through life. And know that while your dad is not my soul-mate - he is my favorite person in the whole world, and I am so thankful to call him mine.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
THINGS I WANT MY KIDS TO KNOW: LOVE
We are settling into the routine of summer, which means we are settling into a lack of routine. There are certainly pros and cons to this, just as all things in life, and I am trying to relish the good (sleeping in) and get through the bad (extra whining). I wanted to write that I am trying to thrive in every moment, but that just wouldn't be true. Some moments are just bad. They are sanctifying and for my greater good and all that, but they are no fun, and I would just be blowing sunshine to say otherwise. I'll spare us all the superfluous sunshine.
I've been spending some of the extra time getting caught up on our photo-books. I just finished all the kiddos 2013 books, and I started their 2014 books, because strangely enough, 2014 is almost half way gone. (What?!?) Obsessive might be a good word to describe the way that I approach photo organization. Or neurotic. (I wrote a blog post a while back about how I organize photos that I will try to link when I find it.)
If you're reading this blog, you probably have guessed that I take a lot of pictures. I like to have things documented and recorded. For a stretch, I was producing a photo book for every six months of my children's lives, and then I did the math and realized that no one needs or wants 36 detailed photo books handed to them upon high school graduation. That pace is also not sustainable with four children, so for now, while the kiddos are little, I am doing one book a year for each of them. That pace may slow down as they get older and have fewer photos taken by me, because less of their life will be lived around me. (insert equal parts tears and gladness)
All of this got me thinking about the WHY. Why do I feel the need to do this slightly obsessive documentation?
I realized that having a parent die right in the middle of their life taught me that I may not always be here. Cancer runs heavy on both sides of my family, and unfortunately, it has claimed many lives far too young. Each of my parents had a parent die during their childhood as well, so there were two grandparents that I never met When I think about it like that, I am really grateful for all of the years that I did have my dad.
I don't think about it morbidly most of the time, but I do realize that my time here on earth may be shorter than I hope it will be. That's everyone's reality really, but I find that I am more acutely aware because of my family's history.
With that said, I've realized that I want my children to know how much I love them - how precious they really are. I've been given these treasured gifts, and for this time right now in our lives, we have each other, and I am so thankful. I want to give them the gift of memories through the pictures that they cannot yet remember for themselves.
I've decided to write a little summer series of things I want my kids to know, because that is one of the reasons that I blog - to leave behind something for my children. Right now I am healthy with tons of energy, and I hope to stay that way, and right now, I can do this.
Dear LBV&W,
The most important thing is that I hope you know how much Jesus loves you. He loves you the most, because he invented love. No matter what you do or say - he will always and forever love you and want to be your friend. He died to save you, and he wants you to choose to follow him. I hope and pray that you will want to love Jesus back, but, it will be your choice. Just know that he will always be there for you.
The other most important thing for you to know is that we love you. Your daddy and I love you so very much and want only the best for you. We will not do this parenting thing perfectly. We cannot, because we are in no ways perfect. We are learning a lot along the way. But, we will do our best, and we are so thankful that God has entrusted each of you into our care. Please know that no matter what happens, good or bad, we will always love you. That's what it means to be in our family.
We are so excited to see the people that God is shaping you each to be! It is amazing to watch you grow and develop. Having a front row seat to your childhood is an extreme privilege. We are bumbling our way through discipline and lack of sleep and doctor's appointments, but it is ALL worth it. Because each of you are worth it.
If you never read anything else from me, please read this and know how deeply you are loved.
Love, Mom
If you're reading this blog, you probably have guessed that I take a lot of pictures. I like to have things documented and recorded. For a stretch, I was producing a photo book for every six months of my children's lives, and then I did the math and realized that no one needs or wants 36 detailed photo books handed to them upon high school graduation. That pace is also not sustainable with four children, so for now, while the kiddos are little, I am doing one book a year for each of them. That pace may slow down as they get older and have fewer photos taken by me, because less of their life will be lived around me. (insert equal parts tears and gladness)
All of this got me thinking about the WHY. Why do I feel the need to do this slightly obsessive documentation?
I realized that having a parent die right in the middle of their life taught me that I may not always be here. Cancer runs heavy on both sides of my family, and unfortunately, it has claimed many lives far too young. Each of my parents had a parent die during their childhood as well, so there were two grandparents that I never met When I think about it like that, I am really grateful for all of the years that I did have my dad.
I don't think about it morbidly most of the time, but I do realize that my time here on earth may be shorter than I hope it will be. That's everyone's reality really, but I find that I am more acutely aware because of my family's history.
With that said, I've realized that I want my children to know how much I love them - how precious they really are. I've been given these treasured gifts, and for this time right now in our lives, we have each other, and I am so thankful. I want to give them the gift of memories through the pictures that they cannot yet remember for themselves.
I've decided to write a little summer series of things I want my kids to know, because that is one of the reasons that I blog - to leave behind something for my children. Right now I am healthy with tons of energy, and I hope to stay that way, and right now, I can do this.
Dear LBV&W,
The most important thing is that I hope you know how much Jesus loves you. He loves you the most, because he invented love. No matter what you do or say - he will always and forever love you and want to be your friend. He died to save you, and he wants you to choose to follow him. I hope and pray that you will want to love Jesus back, but, it will be your choice. Just know that he will always be there for you.
The other most important thing for you to know is that we love you. Your daddy and I love you so very much and want only the best for you. We will not do this parenting thing perfectly. We cannot, because we are in no ways perfect. We are learning a lot along the way. But, we will do our best, and we are so thankful that God has entrusted each of you into our care. Please know that no matter what happens, good or bad, we will always love you. That's what it means to be in our family.
We are so excited to see the people that God is shaping you each to be! It is amazing to watch you grow and develop. Having a front row seat to your childhood is an extreme privilege. We are bumbling our way through discipline and lack of sleep and doctor's appointments, but it is ALL worth it. Because each of you are worth it.
If you never read anything else from me, please read this and know how deeply you are loved.
Love, Mom
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