Thank you Grandpa

A couple of weeks ago when Micah and I were in Birmingham my dad gave Micah and Isabella a bike. Micah was so excited that everytime we stopped at someone's house and every stop we made on the way home he would ask if we could take it out and ride it. He couldn't wait and it was killing him that he had to. Well, we got home and about a week later Isabella and Michael were outside and all of a sudden I see her ride past the front of the house with Michael running next to her. I ran outside to see what was going on and she was riding without Michael holding onto her at all. I was shocked. I got my video camera and took Micah outside to cheer her on. I was even more shocked when Michael said that it was Isabella's first try. After she rode for a minute Micah wanted to try. So Michael put him on (his feet don't touch the ground) and gave him a little push and he too was off. No training wheels, no assistance, nothing. I was floored, and scared to death. Since then they have been riding like crazy. The hard part is that they have to share, but they are getting so good. Isabella is even standing up now for brief periods of time. She's learned how to coast, and turn, and stop, AND jump off instead of fall. Micah is a little more timid right now because, like I said, his feet won't touch. But, when we get hime a bike that he can feel more secure on I know he will be off. We have ushered into a new era of our lives...they grow up way too fast.

1500 Miles and Still Smiling

Last weekend Micah and I took a trip together. We left last Thursday with my mother to go to Birmingham for my sisters' baby shower. It is about a 10 hour trip but with Micah it took about 11 1/2 to get there. After about an hour on the road Micah decided that he didn't want to go to Birmingham with us and he let us know off and on throughout the whole trip. He was great about it for the most part though and he never did have a total breakdown. Once we got there he was fine. On Friday, my sister, Amy, and I took him swimming at the YMCA for a little while. Then in a stroke of "genius" I decided to go to Target and buy Micah a new skateboard(his other one is too small) and another Razor scooter(Isabella needed a new one anyway). I figured if I had those for the trip home it would make our time better since we could stop every couple of hours and he could "decompress" by riding on something.

That afternoon we went to my dad's house for dinner and then to watch my niece, Taylor, cheer in her first football game. It was so great to see everyone. At my dad's house, we got out the scooter and the skateboard. I think my Dad and Augusta were amazed at how well Micah could do both. Then my Dad gave them a try, at 60-something, we were all afraid and amazed. It was alot of fun.

Then at the football game Micah played in the dirt the whole time with his cousin, Gloria Grace-aka "GG" and I got to spend time with my sister-in-law, Michelle, while we watched Taylor cheer. My only regret is that I wouldn't get to spend more time with Taylor since she was going to her dad's after the game. But, you know how 14 year olds are-BUSY!!!

On Saturday was the shower for Amy. It was so great to see how much support she was getting. It's hard as her sister not to be there for her for the birth of her first child. I am so thankful that God has surrounded her with so much family and so many friends. And BOY, I mean GIRL, did she rack up.

So on Sunday I drove home with Micah by myself, since Mom was flying out of Birmingham to teach her next class. I was so right. The scooter and skateboard were a life saver and we made it back without one single meltdown. Praise God!!!!!

I haven't posted in a few days so I thought I would just put in a few pictures of the kiddos and a couple of pictures of Micah's new "passion". He has taken to skateboarding. He loves his Razor scooter but has decided at 4 1/2 he's ready for skateboarding instead. Michael has taught him how to "drop" of the step and do a handstand. I want to fall out every time he does it but Michael just rolls his eyes at me and tells me that he will be fine. Ok...whatever! He is going to be our extreme sport athlete. Thank God for good health insurance.

Conversations With My Children

Conversation with Micah just the other day:

Micah: "Mommy, I want to be a policeman like Uncle Robert when I grow up."

Me: "Oh really? Why?"

Micah: "So I can carry a gun and shoot the bad guys, like this!" Then he proceeds to dive onto the floor, roll over, and point his fingers like he's pointing a gun.

I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cry. His actions so adorable and yet I wonder where in the world he learned what policeman do. He's a superhero fan, that's all I can say.

Conversation with Isabella today in the movie store:

Isabella is walking down the family video isle trying to decide which movie to pick out. She sees My Little Pony, Care Bears, Bratz, and then comes up on Thumbelina and says,
"Oh I want this one. It is one of my favorites and even though it makes me cry I just can't resist." I thought I would fall out. A woman after my own heart. What woman doesn't love a good cry while watching a movie.

Conversation with Aria:

Ok so I can't have conversations with Aria yet, but her little personality is emerging every day. Her absolute favorite thing is babies. When she sees them, she instantly goes crazy. We were at soccer practice last week and there was a woman there with a 3 month old little boy in a car seat. Aria was next to him before I could turn around. She was in his face talking to him while he smiled back. When he blew bubbles and drooled, she would lift up his bib and pat the drool off his mouth, she even tried to pick him up several times. The mom was so sweet and patient, she just keep saying over and over, "she's ok. It's so cute. She's so nuturing and gentle." And when I felt the little boy had had enough and I picked Aria up to take her away, she cried with the cry of a broken heart. It was so endearing. She carries her baby doll everywhere and at any given time she will sit down with a towel or diaper wipe, say "EWE!", and proceed to "wipe" the baby doll's hiney. I love it.

What amazes me most is that I didn't have to "teach" any of my children how to do these things. Their creator imprinted them on their little hearts. I love that my little girls are "lilies" and that my little boy is a "warrior", as they are called in our home. And whatever they choose to be when they grow up I will support, but more than anything I want them to follow God's will for their lives.

So far it seems they are doing just that!!

Taking Time To Smell The Roses

Do you ever feel that you are so busy that you wake up one morning and realize that you have neglected to talk to your best friend in a few days? That is what happened to me this morning. I have been so busy with moving, my children, my friends children, and daily life that I realized that I have spoken very little to my best friend, Jesus. I think that is why, so often, we find ourselves with "trials" in our lives, it forces us to spend time with God. His Word says that He is a "jealous God." He wants us to spend time with Him. All I have to do is imagine how I would feel if Michael woke up every morning for a week and "forgot" to say good-bye to me before work, or when he got home he didn't talk to me about his day or ask me about mine, or at bedtime he didn't kiss me and tell me that he loves me before falling asleep. I would be so hurt and angry. And yet for the past week or so that is what I have done to my Lord. I know that I serve a forgiving and understanding God, but I never want to take that for granted. He is also an amazing God who even in all my "busy-ness" still wants for me to take a few minutes and "hang out" with Him. How often do we do this? I know for me it is too often.

Did the life I live today please you God? Have I loved well? That is my prayer for today?