Sweet, SWEET Abundance

I was lying in bed, wide awake, at about 1AM on Sunday morning thinkin about all kinds of things. One of which was this blog and what I want to do with it.

I thought about a summer re-design (workin on that ... ya know, cause summer is just about over...), I wondered how to get one of those cool little designy things to go between the posts for that pretty factor and I tried to figure out how to somehow get little tabby thingies up at the top so I can start featuring my photography. But mostly I thought about the content of the blog. What do I want to say?

I want to be intentional with what I say. I want to encourage anyone who reads this.

I want to tell a story here. This is the closest thing that my girls have to baby books (yes, I know that this fact alone qualifies me for worst mom of the year!) and I want them to be able to see their stories told. They deserve that.

And I want to share my faith.

So, this week I have been looking for stories to tell. And, while I do not have one big story, I do have several moments of Abundance that make my life the little foretaste of Heaven that it is.

When I woke up on Sunday morning (after the hubbs let me sleep in a bit) I walked into the living area to find the man who stole my heart almost eight years ago sitting quietly at the kitchen table, Bible layed out in front of him, with his head bowed in prayer. I resisted the urge to grab my camera and, instead, bowed my own head in humble, thankful prayer for this AMAZING man that I am Blessed to spend my life with. I honestly have NO idea how I deserve this gift, but I will spend my life in grateful abandon trying to make him as happy as he makes me.

Monday afternoon the girls and I climbed into the car to head out to meet hubby so I could have a girls-night-out date with a friend. The girls immediately asked to listen to the CD with songs from VBS. I admit that I may or may not have rolled my eyes ... I love the music, but it is ALL we have listened to int he car for over a month. But then Hattie looked at me and said "Please Mommy, I want to sing Jesus music" ... hello 2x4 upside the head! So we turned it on ... and up - LOUD. And I listened to both my girls sing their Jesus Music. And then got to walk around a mall with my friend Sue, spend absolutely NO money, try on clothes that FIT in stores like Lucky Jeans and then sit in a car and laugh, cry and talk for over an hour.

Tuesday afternoon I was hit hard with a nasty migraine. By the time my man got home I was in so much pain that all I could do was cry. No medication was working and I could not get even enough relief to let the meds put me to sleep. In the middle of all of this massive pain I opened my eyes to see Sophie inches away from me with a look of worry on her sweet face. She started rubbing my back (like she had just seen her daddy do) and said kept sayin "I so sorry mommy ... are you OK?" And then SHE started crying because she was worried. It was a new emotion and she had no idea what to do with it. So she just loved on her mama. I am so thankful that she does not know fear and worry well enough to handle these feelings. She is safe, secure and comfortable and any change away from that is a start to her. I am also thankful that she had a sweet example in her daddy as to how to take care of me (or anyone else in need) when it is necessary.

Wednesday afternoon Hattie came home and climbed off her school bus. I asked, as I always do, how her day was. She usually doesn't answer me - part of her ASD diagnosis - so I did not expect anything in return. But she started jumping up and down and saying "kite mom. KITE". I looked up thinking she had seen one and there was nothing there. I didn't really know what to think, so we just went in the house. A few minutes later, however, as I was going through her bag, I pulled out ... a kite. They went on a field trip yesterday and she had seen it and gone crazy over it. Her teacher let her buy it (they go on these trips to teach them to shop and interact within the community) because she was "so cute" about it. So, you see, when I asked her about her day ... SHE ANSWERED ME!!!!!!!!!! For the first time EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Praise Him.

Now, this morning, here I sit with my sweet little friend Sophie. We are watching Sesame Street and she is learning all about the letter L. At 2 years and 10 months she can recognize all of her letters and numbers, tell me what sound the letters make and give me a word for each of them. She also knows her shapes - including octagon and pentagon, colors (FINALLY) and animals. She says her S's with the sweetest little lisp you ever heard and she dances better than ANY of those kids on So You Think You Can Dance (in MY humble opinion). She is amazing.

So is her sister.

And her brothers.

And her sister-in-law.

And, do not even get me started on her daddy.

So, in 3 days, when I turn (gasp) 42, I will do so knowing that I am one VERY Blessed woman.

This is life ... in Sweet Abundance.


Thank You, Father ... thank You.