Time with Family

Last weekend was such a treat for us when my brother, Ehren, and his wife, Ester, came with their children to visit us. More visitors arrived Monday after Ehren and Ester left, when Brent's dad, Bruce, and stepmom, Jane, stopped by for a couple days on one of their "circle tours" to see their kids and grandchildren. With our anniversary thrown in the midst of that too, it was four very fun filled days and it has taken me this long to regain the energy I need to sit down and think my way through this post!

We always have so much fun when Ehren and Ester visit. They are so layed back and yet are always up to trying something new. We mixed things up this time by nixing the usual zoo trip and instead went to Fontenelle Forest and meandered on the boardwalk through the forest while on the lookout for dinosaurs on exhibit right now. I'm not sure what the older kids liked better, the dinosaurs or racing strollers...with little kids in them. Ah yes, the lovely walk on a quaint wooden trail... the surrounding views of streams and deep cliffs covered in foliage...the lurching of your body over the side rail to avoid being run down by a crazy red head pushing a stroller with two little girls laughing their heads off as they race in break neck speeds on to the next innocent bystander. From the looks they were receiving, I thought it best to look innocent and put a good 20-100 feet behind me and the racing stroller.

The best part of being with Ehren and Ester (with any of my brother's families for that matter) is watching the kids play. When I was in high school and Ester was our exchange student, I was horrified by the budding romance between them. I think my opinion went something like "My college age brother with a girl who is a year younger than me? Eeeewwww, grosss!" Fortunately, nobody listened to me and during college I came to my senses and realized that if Ehren married Ester, I would get to have one of my dearest and closest friends be a part of all the major and minor events in life and I would get to be a part of hers. I remember being in my dorm room in college while she was visiting and saying to her, "Our kids will be cousins!" I think about that every time I'm enjoying these precious children play.

These are pictures taken in the forest and also the only time the camera was taken out during both visits. It's a problem I have when I'm enjoying the company so much that I forget all about capturing the moment.


The making of a band featuring Kade, Anika and Sage. Special performance of interpretive dance by Ester.



Love this picture. Kason was so tired and this was the only place that was good enough for him to be content.



Ehren did his best to carry some of the weight for Ester but even this would not do.



I want Brent to build this tree house. It was so Swiss Family Robinson like.

Ehren and Ester headed home Monday and Bruce and Jane pulled into town that afternoon. Since it was our anniversary, Bruce and Jane were sweet enough to stay with the girls that night so Brent and I could go out and celebrate. We ate really, really good food but maybe a bit too much of it because the next morning we were still full and had to ask Bruce and Jane if they would be willing to cancel plans to eat out that night so that our stomachs would be able to return to their normal size. Fortunately, they were okay with that. Bruce spent the morning at the zoo with Sage while Jane, Clare and I supported the local economy. Poor Brent had to work. The evening was topped off with a light meal...okay, kind of light until we got to dessert and had a divine blueberry coffee cake that Jane had made. She said she was going to bring some slices with them to have on the road but heh, heh, heh, they forgot and we got to eat the rest ourselves. :) Again, a very nice visit and the girls absolutely loved getting to spend time with their grandparents.

Both Brent and I felt so guilty for all the food we indulged in that we both ran over six miles the next day and have done several other workouts since. It was soooo worth it though.

Cuddle time

There is this perfect moment right before Clare's bedtime when she is just tired enough that if you gather her into your lap she snuggle in, sticks a thumb in her mouth while the other hand reaches back to gently pinch an ear. We had such a moment the other night while all four of us were outside playing around. Brent and Sage were off to catch crickets and beetles while Clare and I cuddled on our two person swing. We swayed in the breeze with my arms wrapped around her, feeling her body completely relax in the rocking motion. There is a silent agreement between the two of us that we could stay in this swing forever. I remember having these same moments with Sage when she was that age. It's the feeling of being in as perfect a moment as you can get this side of Heaven. In that moment I try and memorize every detail of my surroundings, the feeling of holding her so tightly, the overwhelming amount of love I have for her right then so that I can remember it for the rest of my life. I want to remember for the inevitable time to come when she is too busy or too big to cuddle with her mother or maybe for those times when she's not quite as endearing :) These moments are at the top of my list as one of my favorite things in being a mom.



As we sat I had this thought: is this what God feels when we completely surrender to him? When we quit running around, distracted and in non-stop motion and take a moment to sit in his lap? When we stop trying to do everything "all by myself" and allow His arms to surround us as we allow ourselves to completely relax in His care? Does He hold us in His arms, relishing in the love He has for us? Then I began to wonder when the last time was that I totally, absolutely chose to sit quietly in His presence and felt His peace be enough and everything to me. I say it and think it all the time that I need to stop worrying or trying to control things that are beyond me and just hand them over to God and trust...sounds good but honestly, I usually don't hand it all over. I hold just enough in my hands to feel like I'm not about to free fall into unknown territory. Instead of letting my body go limp and breathing in the knowledge of His love and care for me, I keep my back straight while I sit with Him, watching for any sudden movement that would compel me to stand up and leave that comfortable spot. I'm thankful for these moments when He shows me a new glimpse of His love and I resounded that night, as Clare and I swayed in contented bliss, to make more time to sit with my Father and let Him hold me for as long as it takes for me to not want to be anywhere else.

Proud Mama

Monday was a big day for Sage. It was her first day of preschool and I am happy to say that her mother did not break down in tears when she handed her precious little blond haired girl into the care of her teacher nor did she lose it when driving away. It's only because I know that Sage will be going to preschool another year after this before heading off to kindergarten which enables me to look at her two and a half hours, three days a week as more of an educational social outing rather than my Sagers making a step away from her dependence on us.

I feel it's important for me to describe her attire since we were too absent minded to remember to take pictures but then again, who ever remembers to take pictures when walking out the door to an educational social outing? Her choice of "first day of school outfit" was a long, green corduroy circle skirt with purple and pink polka dots and a white t-shirt with pink jacket which coordinated perfectly with her hello kitty backpack. One of the first things she told me when I picked her up at the end of school was that another girl had on the same shoes as her so apparently the day was not without drama!

Brent was able to go to work late so he could also witness this special day and he took it upon himself to get her bathed and dressed that morning. When he was trying to get her into her clothes she told him that she wanted to wear her pajamas to which, of course, he informed her that pajamas would be a major fashion no-no on her first day of school--maybe in high school kids would receive such a statement in a more open minded way but definitely not in preschool. Her response was to bolt out of the room. Brent thought she was heading downstairs to find me for a second opinion so he finished getting ready himself. On his way downstairs he passed the office and saw Sage, still in her underwear, sulking on the chair. He asked what was wrong and she said "I feel nervous." Ugh...doesn't that just tug your heart? They had the thorough discussion on why she didn't have to worry and how much fun she was about to have and before long, the two came downstairs and Sage was ready to get dressed. When we got to the school and waited in the line of cars to drop her off, I let Sage out of her seat and had her sit up front with me. She has this habit of talking gibberish in a happy tone when she's uncomfortable or nervous as was the case that morning, but we could tell as well that she was excited to find her friends and see what this whole school thing was about. Our turn finally came and as her teacher opened the door and greeted us, Sage belted out, "Hi Mrs. Hart!!" and off she went with hardly a look back. As we watched this precious girl of ours who suddenly looked so much older with a backpack on, make her way to the class I turned to Brent and said "I'm so proud of her." So much pride. No sentimental tears or worries over how the morning would go for her...just the wonder of watching Sage be able to identify a fear and work her way through it so bravely. Oh...I love her so much.

This morning was the second day of school and once again she was a bit nervous but not quite as much. She seems to like it so far and especially loves the part of getting to see her best friends Sara and Abbie. Clare and I are soaking up this rare time with just the two of us but that time does not go by without her asking "Er's Sage?" (where's Sage?) at least a half dozen times. I've always relished the thought that I (and Brent too) get to be our children's first teacher so it's both a little strange and exciting to be sending Sage off to what I suppose is her second teacher. No qualms though, her teacher is really cool and is very open to Sage's introverted ways. :) So I guess we're officially entering the world of show and tell, class trips, fears of head lice and the scramble to find the perfect snack food for an entire class. It's all so much fun (minus the head lice fears) and I'm completely savoring this special time in her life.