Sunday, December 30, 2012

Christmas 2012

Grandma and Grandfather Franklin were here from Illinois.

We ate.
We played.
We went to Mexico.
Christmas came.
Fun was had by all.
Christmas left.
I got to put the decorations away and de-clutter my house.

On to 2013!

Sunday, December 16, 2012

"Mommy" Time

I love spending time with my children.  I want my children to look back upon their childhood and remember that their mother put away her computer, she took them fun places, she read them stories, and she loved them.


Jared has been studying for an important IT certification so I decided to take the kids to dinner.  We had a little "Mommy" date.  I love this time!  We went to Little Anthony's Diner, and had an absolute blast.  The kids are learning how to behave in restaurants, which is always promising.  Plus, James can charm just about anyone.  Seriously.  That kid has skills.






Nothing Special...

Just a rainy day with my 2 beautiful children.  Looking for rainbows, frogs, and Jack Frost is always entertaining!




Sunday, December 9, 2012

My time is limited

I wonder how long he will love his mother like this.  How long he will just wander over and curl up in my lap and fall asleep.  How long he will snuggle with me in bed first thing in the morning.  How long I will be the only person who he wants to rub his back while he falls asleep at night. How long he will look at me with his chocolate brown eyes, and say "I love you so much, Mom."  How long he will want me to kiss him goodbye when I take him to school.  How long I will be the only girl of his heart.  But who cares how long I have?  Because for now, I have this...



I love my boy.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

V.I.P.

Sariah was selected as her class's VIP this week!  This means that her teacher noticed some pretty outstanding qualities in Sariah, and wanted to recognize her for them.  As the V.I.P., she gets to bring home this huge Mickey Mouse for the entire weekend.  This sweet mouse has come with us EVERYWHERE!  She also gets to be her teacher's special helper all week next week including taking the lunch count, being the line leader, and doing the calendar.  She seriously cannot wait to do the lunch count!  She takes this job very seriously and has been practicing with her stuffed animals all weekend long.  I will often hear her in her bedroom saying, "Who is going to have hot lunch?  No Hootie, I saw your lunchbox, so I know you don't get hot lunch today!"  Very funny.

So what did Sariah do to earn this honor?  In a conversation with her teacher, it was brought to light that Sariah always looks out for the little guy.  Her best friend is a little boy named Briscoe.  I got to meet Briscoe last week and I immediately knew what she was talking about.  Briscoe is a boy who has been through Kindergarten before.  He has a sweet lisp, his hair looks a little silly, and no one wants to be his friend.  But as I watched them together this last week, I could see that Sariah genuinely loves him.  When they got to the table that I was helping with, she saved him his spot because she wanted him to sit next to her.  When the other kids got a little frustrated with him for taking the pencil they wanted, Sariah promptly spoke up with "He found it first. You are going to have to wait your turn."

There are no words to describe the feelings that I experience when I think of the way Sariah is with Briscoe. We talk a lot about being kind, about trying to include everyone, and being friends with those who may not have any friends.  The following song out of the primary songbook is Sariah's favorite:

If you don't walk as most people do, some people walk away from you.
But I won't.  I won't.
If you don't talk as most people do, some people talk and laugh at you.
But I won't.  I won't.
I'll walk with you.  I'll talk with you.
That's how I'll show my love for you.

And within Sariah's little 5 year old self, she is living this most genuine, loving, Christ-like principle.  This is not something that can be taught - she was born with it.  Sariah, my girl, is incredibly special.  And with a heart like hers, which is now allowed to mature and take flight.  She is going to do amazing things, because of her undeniable love that she has for everyone.

What an example to me she has been.  She will never cease to amaze me.