Miracles Despite My Unbelief

As we enter the Christmas season, I am overwhelmed by God’s love for me.  This past year God has shown His great love for me in a multitude of ways.  He continues to show me my sin and all the habits that make that sin my default behavior.  He hasn’t condemned me, but instead whispered encouragement and surrounded me with love and peace as He shows me new ways to live in this world. 

The biggest, tangible blessing has been in the form of reconciliation and mended relationships.  For years I’ve prayed for the relationship with my step-daughters to be all that God desired it to be.  This year, when all hope of a relationship with them diminished, God showed me that my hope hadn’t been in Him, but instead I put hope in me and my plans.  Then He showed me all that He was capable of. 

It is overwhelmingly gorgeous. 

Every hope, every tearful plea, every heartfelt desire for our relationship has been given.  I praise His holy name!  For the first time, in our entire marriage, it feels like we are a family.  There is unity, there is laughter, there is communication, there are hugs and kisses, there are cuddles, and there is unconditional love. 

So many times I sit before Jesus, begging, pleading for this or that.  So many times I ask without really believing He can or will do it.  Yet, time and time again, He shows Himself to me despite my unbelief.  I am so grateful that Jesus became a man and understands our human weakness. 

I was reading in Mark, chapter 9.  There is a story of a father who brings his son to Jesus.  The father tells Jesus that his son is possessed by a spirit that doesn’t allow the boy to speak and makes him convulse, foam at the mouth, and grind his teeth.  The spirit had tried to kill the boy with fire and drowning.  The disciples couldn’t drive out the spirit.  The father asks Jesus if he can do anything.  Jesus tells the father this, in verses 23-24, “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”  Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Whatever we face, whether it be grief, stress, relationship issues, financial burdens, health crisis, despair, enter what you’re facing here, Jesus is bigger than it.  He is absolutely able to do more than we can imagine.  I’ve seen it with my own eyes, time after time, this year.  May He continue to help me overcome my unbelief. 

In every situation. 

For all the days He blesses me with.

The Heart

This saying was posted to Facebook:

here’s to the girls:

whose fathers broke their

hearts before any boy could.

Parents, by nature, are going to make mistakes.  They are human, they have emotion, and they don’t know everything. That is part of this journey called life.  I’m extremely tired of blaming parents for life’s hardships.  We live in a world where people desire to be the victim and will do anything to live in that role.

My parents were never married.  I am an illegitimate child.  My father took off when he found out my mom was pregnant.  My mother, being an outcast even in the 70’s for being a single mother, didn’t list him on my birth certificate for fear that she would lose me.  There was no parenting plan.  There was no child support.  There was nothing.  He preferred that because then he didn’t have any responsibility for a child he didn’t want.  When I was 10, my grandpa died and I was a young girl desperate for a male influence in my life.  I reached out to my father.

If I was lucky, I got one phone call or letter a year.  When I was 15 he admitted that he never thought about me, he never remembered my birthday, he didn’t care about me, and he didn’t want to be my dad (he had a son that he was a dad to).  It was then that I realized the treasured birthday cards from him, weren’t actually signed by him.   It was at this critical moment in a girl’s life that I believed the lie that I was unlovable.  For the next decade of my life this lie would be the foundation of all my self-worth. 

I share all of this not for sympathy, but instead to show that I understand what that statement means.  I can tell you, my father, despite his choices, did not break my heart.  My father, through his actions, molded my heart. 

As a 15 year old girl, he stripped it of immaturity and wrapped it up during a time of life where most girls are willing to give their hearts away. 

As a 16 year old girl, his actions made me understand what it means to forgive and to be willing to allow forgiveness to enter my heart and heal it.

As an 18 year old girl off to college, his actions made me know my heart couldn’t handle rejection, so instead I guarded it and was protected from many poor choices I could’ve made.

As a 25 year old girl, my father’s actions molded it into a heart that was founded not on what men told me, but what God told me about myself.  It wasn’t easily swayed into love by compliments or wooing.  It was guarded because I realized it was precious. 

As a 27 year old girl, my father’s actions helped me to see a man who was willing to love that heart, despite its scars, and hold it, cherish it, and help it to grow.

As a 37 year old woman, my father’s actions helped me to see how much my husband loves with all his heart and how he freely gives love, patience and guidance to me and his daughters. 

To the girl who posted that Facebook picture, I say this:

Every single choice you make will have a consequence in your life.  I realize, since you are a teen, you do not fully understand how long consequences can last or even how deep they can take root.

It is your choice whether you accept both your parents as the ones God gave you and love them, in spite of how many of your expectations go unmet. 

It is your choice whether you will be the victim or the survivor of any situation life throws at you.

It is your choice whether your words will be used like a light that shines in the darkness or like dynamite that will destroy everything around it.

It is your choice whether you will work on a relationship or let it go.

It is your choice if you walk away from a man who desperately loves you and replace him with other men in your life.

The reality is, that man, your father, will love you until he has no more breath in him, despite how many times you make a choice to tear him down.

It is your choice.  Make sure you are ready to live with the consequences.

Smiling is Our Thing

A few weeks ago we went to get family pictures taken.  One of the local co-op groups does a fundraiser.  You get professional pictures for less than a tank of gas and all money goes to their co-op.  We met at a beautiful park and had a blast. 

N LOVED it because I didn't have rules about what everyone should wear.  I didn't care if we matched.  I just wanted everyone to wear their favorite outfit or something they were comfortable in.  N's response was as excited as if I said he was going to meet George Lucas. 

One of the things that N really, really, really wanted to do was hold the girls on his shoulders.  You have to understand, they are 13, 11 and 5.  D is almost as tall as me and E isn't too far behind.

He did it!

You can't get much bigger smiles then that!

What Has 8 Wheels and All Her Bones in Tact?

This weekend we spent time with three of my favorite girls.  For months they've been asking to go rollerskating.  Finally this weekend it seemed to work out that we could strap on the wheels and roll to the music (while praying we didn't fall down and break a hip or something).  I used to be a roller skating maniac.  I LOVED it.  Probably because it was the one sport that I could actually do.  After 24 years out of the game, I was a little concerned about going.  Here's my entourage:

D - she's only 13 people.  I'm not sure, I'm positive she looks about 21 in this picture.

She's a dynamo on skates.  She can squirt sour candy into her mouth, do the chicken dance and skate without missing a beat. 

E - she tends to be tired after about 3 laps.  Until she squirts about 1/3 of a bottle of sour candy spray into her mouth.  Then she's ready for 3 more laps. 

She is the video game queen.  I'm not entirely sure how long she was at the games, but she was clearly in her element.

Zoe - she was ready to strap on the wheels and see if she liked this roller skating business.  Then she found out they had a bar.

For the next 90 minutes she wouldn't come off the rink.  She LOVED it.  By the last 15 minutes, she was racing me.  She won.

N complained about his knees and how we would need someone to sit with all our stuff...blah, blah, blah.  Personally I think he was texting our friends and making bets about how many laps before I fell down. 

It was a great day with our girls, learning the joys of sour candy spray and realizing that after 24 years, roller skating is like riding a bike.

13

Today we officially enter the teen years.  D is 13 today.  Here's some things about D that you should know:

13 - This teen thing isn't that shocking.  She's always been a teenager at heart.  She had "the look" perfected when I met her at age 5.  Which had me worried.

12 - D is an easy teen.  She's young for her class, so we're already half way through junior high.  While there have been crushes and mean girls, she's navigating it with grace.

11 - One of her favorite things to do, even when she was 5, is paint our nails together.  It's our girl time.  We chat about boys, life, movies and growing up.  Some of the things that she says shows how wise she is. 

10 - Even though she's in junior high, she'll still give us hugs and kisses in public.  There are many times when we'll be together, waiting for something or chatting with people at church and D will go up to hug her daddy.  I love that those things are natural. 

9 - She's got her heart set on becoming a baker.  It's been her dream for years now.  She's incredibly talented.  She has great ideas, good instincts and is willing to work to perfect her craft.  I'm amazed at her passion.

8 - She's a trendsetter.  If feather earrings are in, she'll have 5 pairs.  If blue eyeshadow is in, she's got it.  Right now, she's totally into neon.  The brighter the green, the better.  What's even more awesome, she knows how to wear it.  Which is truly saying something because neon isn't quite the skintone complimenter as some might think.

7 - She's an excellent sister.  She takes time to hang with Zoe.  They are thick as thieves.  When you have 8 years difference, that's not always the case.  Those two love each other in ways I prayed they would.

6 - She's trustworthy.  In a world where there is pressure on kids in ways I didn't experience, D usually picks the high road.  She's a friend that won't tell your secrets, a person who won't judge you and she cares deeply for people. 

5 - She loves things that make adults sore:  swimming laps, rollerskating, Just Dance on the Wii...  When she gives you her smile, you totally give in because no one can resist it.

4 - She can totally sleep until noon, unless we're doing something mentioned above and then she's up with the sun. 

3 - She's kind, loyal and fun. 

2 - She's growing into such a stunning woman, both inside and out.  I'm amazed at her maturity, her passion, her joy in life. 

1 - She's a daughter you'd be proud to claim. 

Happy birthday D!  We are so honored to call you daughter.  I've watched you grow from a child into the beautiful, young lady you are today.  You absolutely take my breath away.  I look at you and am awed by your beauty.  When I look deeper and see you heart, you leave my speechless.  You are kind, compassionate, joyful and wise.  I love to see how God is molding you.  You are His handiwork and He doesn't make mistakes. 

Thank you for allowing me to be part of your life.  You are a blessing far beyond anything I deserve.  I pray that today is filled with blessings, laughter and the reminder of how truly amazing you are.

Love you sweetie. 

Fun at SonRise National Park

This week is VBS.  Since my mom and I are the directors, we are running in about 654 different directions.  It's part of the love of the ministry though.  Each night we get to hear kids singing, "God's got it" and learning how Jesus will meet all their needs.

Each night we hear laughter and excitement.  It's part of this crazy job that fills my heart.

Then there are these two:

That's Zoe and her cousin Micah.  Micah is her shadow each night and moves to sit next to his cousin.  They say good-bye about 752 times each night with hugs.  Love to see how these two love each other.

The best part, D is working in crafts and E is enjoying time with the other 6th graders.  I'm hoping to wrangle them all up for a picture. 

I'm so blessed God is showing me His continued blessings in my life this week.  He's definitely "got it!"

Mermaids

We recently re-joined the YMCA.  There are several reasons, three of which happen to be girls who are dying, "literally dying to get to the YMCA to swim!"  Apparently when you have a teenager and two, dramatic girls as daughters, things become life or death.  I think they actually plot when they're together about how to get N and I to acquiesce to their demands.  It also doesn't help that we pass by the YMCA almost every day.

The girls had some money left over from Christmas, so we took them swimsuit shopping.  The thought of swimsuit shopping for me personally brings on a very large, very paralyzing panic attack.  For our girls, they each found about 62 swimsuits apiece that they thought were adorable.  We spent a good hour in a dressing room while they tried to find thee perfect suit for the YMCA.  Which I'm positive, all this was part of their plotting.  YMCA, new swimsuit and new goggles.

All our girls are fish.  They love to jump in, dive, do laps and be in the water for as long as possible.  Because of all the chlorine and the fact that they live under the water, they needed new goggles.  Ones that don't fog up because that's just annoying. 

On the way from the store to the YMCA, Zoe was admiring her pink, anti-fog goggles.  I'm positive this girl would wear them 24/7.  She told me I should try them for driving because they are AWESOME!

When she got out of the car at the YMCA, this was her look:

She put them on in the car and was ready to go. 

She will routinely get them out of the YMCA bag and wear them around the house.  Just yesterday I saw them on her table and I asked if she went swimming.  She laughed and said, "no mom (in a teenager tone), I was watching TV!"  You have to imagine that with an expression that informs me I'm the dumbest person in the world for not knowing they are great for TV watching. 

I have a feeling this will be the look of summer at our house...swimsuit and anti-fog goggles. 

Fragile

Ever since Zoe's accident last week, I've been a little on edge.  With her birth being so traumatic, I am keenly aware of how fragile life is.  I have a very different view of being a mother than I did when I got pregnant.  I see all the things in life that I want to protect our girls from.  It's not just injury, it's bullies, low self-esteem, cancer, people intent on hurting them, and on and on and on.  I see our girls as fragile, tender children who only need to know the best that life has to offer.

I want to give them only that life. 

I want to wrap them in bubble wrap and go everywhere with them.  I'm sure they'd love it, but unfortunately it's not realistic!  I have to have faith that God has them in His care.  I have to remind myself that our girls are actually His, not mine.  I'm just the blessed woman who gets to be in their life. 

Sometimes at night, when I'm drifting off to sleep and my subconscious takes over, I have those flashbacks of the "worst case scenario."  I know, over time, these will fade.  If I look back on Zoe's life, she's been protected in so many ways.  They are ways that only God can protect her.  I know, without a shadow of a doubt, He's got her.  There are just those moments when I'm totally human. 

N and I were talking about our life together.  It started bad.  We both weren't the partner we needed to be.  If we look back, we wouldn't change anything.  It's paved the way for where we are now.  Despite the miles, despite the stress that can cause, we are in a better place than we have ever been.  That's only a God thing.

I have to remind myself that nothing is a surprise to God.  He doesn't sit up there and say, "wow, I did not see that one coming!"  He puts the details together that pave the way for what He has planned for us.  I know He does the exact same for our girls.

There are moments when I realize how little control I have.  How much I'm on the ride just as much as N and our girls.  I have faith that the God who brings us to the trial, will walk us through it.  I know His plan is better than anything I could dream up. 

This week has been reminder of how fragile life is.  That reminder keeps me in the moment.  It keeps me thanking God for all that He's done for us, despite my very selfish nature.  I'm humbled to be given this life because I don't deserve it.  I'm challenged to give everything to Him.  To put everything, including myself and my family, at His feet.

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  I Thessalonians 5:16-18

blessed.grateful.

As I look back at 2011, I feel complete.  There are so many things that happened last year.  Our lives seem to be getting busier rather than into a routine.  God definitely doesn't keep us comfortable for long.

I'm amazed at where we are today.  Honestly, I never thought I would have this life.  For the first time in the 7 years we've been together, it feels like N and I have caught our stride.  Instead of the 7 year itch, we've got the 7 year...whatever the opposite of itch is!  I'm so proud of N.  He's accomplished so many things this year that I think he's finally seeing himself as I see him.  He's now a college graduate.  Because of that, he's found his dream job, was hired out of several candidates and is now being groomed for leadership roles.  He's finally in a place where he's encouraged and appreciated.  Even though we spend the weeks apart, there is a peace that this is God's plan.

We entered the teenage years with the start of school this year.  Despite all the talk about having a teenager, it has been a smooth transition.  D is making excellent choices with friends.  She loves youth group.  We are so proud of the young lady she is becoming.  I can't say enough great things about her.  All my fears have been taken away.  God definitely has hold her heart!

We have E back!  For a long period of time we didn't get to spend time with E.  She didn't want to come see us, didn't want to participate with us.  It was hard.  It felt like we lost her.  Just as quickly, she's back, engaging us, hanging out with us and being the spunky kid that we love.  It was a huge answer to prayer to have this change happen.  We missed her!
Zoe is...there are so many things that I could finish that sentence with.  She constantly amazes me.  Her heart is compassionate for those hurting or left out.  She collects friends and despite them excluding her, she just wants to include them.  She lives her life in a play.  There are lines, scenes and new characters each day.  I have to pay close attention to any movie we watch as I'll need to remember the lines, scenes and what everyone said.  She'll bust out the lines in our normal conversation.  In Toy Story 2, Jessie calls Woody, "Wood-DEE."  Just the other day she was talking to N and referred to him at "Dad-DEE."  I am so enjoying watching her enjoy and live life.  She's a great daughter, friend, she prays for those around her and her heart is full of love for the people in her life. 

2011 brought a contentment that I have never felt.  10 years ago if you had said that I would be willing to be a stay-at-home-mom, a children's ministry volunteer, cook, clean and do laundry as my "job" I would've laughed in your face.  Now, that's my heart's desire.  Being involved in children's ministry at church has filled my soul.  God has taught me so much about Him, life and myself through these various ministries.  He's also refined me into what a wife and mom should be. 

While 2011 was a growing, refining and maturing year, I can't wait for 2012.  God is showing me my purpose.  He's showing my family our purpose.  I'm so incredibly blessed to have His grace and mercy each day as He guides me through this journey. 

A Letter To Our Daughters

We have officially entered the teenage years.  Not necessarily with age, but in life stages.  As I talk to our teenager, I see so much of myself in her.  As her step-mom, I worry for her in ways I couldn't predict.  In ways that take me back to junior high and all my insecurities.  If I'm being honest, insecurities that I still struggle with at times.  That has created an intense need on my heart to impart, to all our girls, how important their hearts are.  This letter can easily be addressed to each one of them individually. 

_________________________________________________
Dear beautiful daughter,

I am so honored that God has given you to me.  I am so honored that I get to be part of your life.  As I watch you grow, my heart continues to swell with pride for you.  Each time I see your face I fall more in love with you.  It's an unconditional love.  Nothing you do, no choice you make will ever stop the love I have for you.  Because of you, I now understand the unconditional love that God has for each of us.  I love you with that same intensity. 

Just like you, I make mistakes.  I make poor choices.  As your mom, I will fail you.  However, just like you, I have a Father who accepts me despite my failings.  He will always welcome me with open arms, no matter how many times I turn from Him.  Just like God accepts us, nothing, absolutely nothing, can make me disappointed in you.  I want you to re-read that.  No choice you make, no eye roll at what I say, nothing will make me disappointed in you.

You were created in His image.  He made you perfect and I couldn't agree more with that statement.  He gave you your heart, your personality and your physical appearance.  After He created you, He said, "it is good."  Everything about you, your nose, your eyes, your body, your heart.  "It is good."  It is God's handiwork.  God doesn't make mistakes. 

I know that sometimes that's hard to believe.  I was once a young lady who felt completely inadequate.  I would look in the mirror and see all the things that didn't measure up to the girl on the magazine or the most popular girl at school.  I would cry myself to sleep some nights because I felt so ugly, so inadequate, so different.  I would crush on a cute boy, write my name with his, and will him to like me back.  When he didn't, I would cry myself to sleep and believe the lie that I was unlovable.  I would believe the lie that if I wore a size 2, had the best clothes, wore the right make-up and had the cutest hair, then he would notice me and love me.

I gave my heart to boys who didn't even know it was theirs.  I had my heart broken.  I cried more tears than any of them deserved.

Each of those times I was trying to settle.  God doesn't want me to look like the magazine because that's not how He created me.  God created you with a purpose and God wants our hearts.  He sees what we are on the inside.  Whatever your heart desires will show on your outside. 

Being a size 2 doesn't make you nice, only your heart does that.

Having a boyfriend doesn't make you loved, you were loved by me and God before we even knew you.

Being class president doesn't make you popular, loving people as God loves you will do that.

Crying your eyes out because that cute boy in your second period doesn't notice you, is giving that cute boy more than he deserves of you.

There is absolutely nothing about you that you need to change to be loved.  You are already loved wholly and unconditionally.  Be who you are.  Be who God made you to be.  Value yourself and all that you can offer.  Live the life God has created for you, in this moment, in this second.  Don't worry about your future, it's already written.  If you focus on the future, you'll miss all that God has for you today. 

I can assure you, God has a plan for you.  That plan will include a man.  A good man.  A Godly man.  You will be the girl who holds his heart in your hand. 

He will be attracted to you because of how you value yourself. 

This man will see your heart first and your smile second.

He will laugh with you and wipe away your tears. 

He will protect you. 

He won't be afraid to sing songs in church or in the car with you. 

He'll be equally comfortable at the girly movie you want to see as he is at a superhero movie.

He will love all the quirks you dislike in yourself. 

He will never ask you to change because he loves you just as you are.

This is the man who is worthy of your heart. 

Don't give your heart away for anything less.  Don't settle.  You are worth all of this and so much more.  You are worthy of every blessing God has for you.  You are worthy of being loved for your heart.

This is my prayer for you.  To know your worth, to know you're loved unconditionally, to know that you are created in His image.  This is how I see you.  This is how I will always see you. 

I love you completely.

Content

This weekend was busy and full.  D & E came for a visit.  It is always a joy to have them.  I'm just so amazed at how quickly they are growing.  D is in junior high now and went to her first dance.  In junior high, the boys are on one side, the girls on the other and you don't really dance with each other.  Near each other is a better term. 

She's making new friends.  She's doing well in school.  She has a joy that shines out of her that is contageous.  I'm so proud of her.  I know she's struggling with some things.  God gave us a moment to talk.  I know I'm only the step-mom, but I truly feel the same love for her as I do Zoe. 

E is doing really well.  I was worried about her making good choices.  She's showing me that my worry is for nothing.  She's doing well in school.  She's making friends and wants to keep AWANA as a priority.  I saw a side of E this weekend that I haven't seen before.  She amazes me.  I can't wait to see what the future holds for her. 

Zoe is Zoe.  She's funny, sassy and sweet all in a little package.  Last night we were hanging out and she wanted to watch Cinderella in my room after her bath.  We got cozy on my bed to watch our favorite movie together.  She snuggled into me, turn her head, got a little pout and said, "mommy, I think it's a great night for a slumber party!"  How can I say no to that?

Not only did I get my three girls, I got my one man!  N had a long weekend.  Yesterday we got to spend the morning together.  It was the perfect weekend. 

I am so blessed.

We're A Few Bikes Short Of Being A Gang

Sunday was a big day at our house.  It was not only church, but the first daddy-daughter ride...ever!  D finally convinced her mom she could ride daddy's bike.  She spent at least 90 minutes that morning primping.  She had perfect bike make-up, the perfect biker outfit and a pink bandana.

After church, she got to ride with daddy home.  Look at those smiles.  I'm positive daddy did just as much primping for the big ride!

Getting ready to take off.

Here they go!

While on the road.  I'm positive she smiled so much and so big that she got bugs in her teeth.

She cannot wait for the next ride.  Daddy complimented her on doing really well.  He's ready to take her again.

Not to be outdone, a certain 4 year old said, "me next!  Me next!"  Of course Daddy can't say no to his girls when they ask like that.

We could hear her giggle echo off the houses in the neighborhood. 

I think it's safe to say, we're likely to be buying two more bikes in the future.

When The Sun Comes Out, We Sweat

This weekend was gorgeous.  It seems that La Nina or whatever her name is has made for an unseasonably cool spring.  So cool in fact that we've had more rain than our rivers can handle.  We've had flood warnings for much of the last couple months.  I've been battling slugs like no other this year.  I've gone through one container of Morton's salt already and my marigolds were still lost. 

When we saw the forcast for the weekend and it was just yellow circles with no rain, clouds or lightening bolts!  We ordered yards of bark, borrowed a truck and went to work. 

The pile-o-bark was a bit overwhelming, but smelled heavenly.

This picture doesn't really do it justice.  It was almost taller than Zoe.

Here's the side of our house that requires the most work.  It's a huge bed that is edged with weeds.  Technically our property doesn't extend beyond the fence.  So all that green you see that "looks" like grass is actually weeds that have grown in so much the HOA just mows them now.  This side of our house needs constant weeding and is really the japanese clover in my side.

D was with us this weekend and offered to help, bless her heart.  I moved the bark, she spread it out and N took pictures!  In his defense, he offered to help, but I told him I had to work on my guns.

Now look at the bed.  Isn't it so pretty?  It's also been heavily sprayed with weed killer.  The super concentrated kind that kills all vegetation for a year.  I'll tell you, that stuff is my new BFF.

What do you do after you take care of the pile-o-bark?  You do back bends against the wall.  Duh!

You also have a little girl who wants to help, so she takes the empty wheelbarrow up and down the sidewalk so she can help too.

Then you rehydrate, take a minute for some lunch and then you wash the motorcycle.

You jump in the bubbles, clean the pipes and get all wet and soggy.

Because tomorrow, that shiny, gorgeous bike is going to be your ride. 

The Tween Years Have Begun

D is set to graduate from the sixth grade in exactly 22 days.  It's a milestone that is both a welcomed celebration and, quite frankly, scary.  When N and I started dating, she was the same age Zoe is now.  I'm pretty sure it hasn't been 7 years that have flown by.  It can't be!  I'm pretty sure I'm still 25.

When I look at D, she no longer has baby teeth, so something must've happened.  Last night proved that things will never be the same. 

Around 6:00 N got a text message that said, "I finally got my phone!" 

D finally, finally, FINALLY got a phone. 

We are finally, finally, FINALLY going to be doing most of our communication with D via text.  I'm not sure I'm prepared for that. 

I guess I btr get used 2 writing like this.  I thought today would be a Text Lingo 101 for parents of tweens!

LTHTT = Laughing Too Hard To Type
LUSM = Love yoU So Much
BRB = Be Right Back
N = No (because the extra letter is too troubling to include)
N-A-Y-L = in awhile
N/M = Nothing Much
N2MJCHBU = Not too much, just chilling.  How about you?
ne = Any
ne-wayz = Anyways
L8R = Later
LOLA = Laugh Out Loud Again
TYVM = Thank You Very Much

I know there are probably a million more that I don't know or don't want to know about.  We are very fortunate to have a daughter who makes good choices.  Even though we will now begin to speak in a totally different language to each other, I know the heart of our girl.  Her heart is gr8.

TTYL = Talk to you later!

Naked

Saturday was a busy, sunny day in our house.  I ran my last long run of the training season and came home to an antsy bunch of people.  I bribed N with some time in the hot tub if he agreed to go to the YMCA with us.  I knew he couldn't say no to the offer.  So when we arrived at the YMCA I told him it also included hot tub time for me too. 

D is a fish.  The girl will spend all her time doing sommersaults, hand stands and diving into the pool.  One of her favorite things is to go to the lap pool and do laps with me.  I got out of the 100 degree hot tub and entered the 69 degree lap pool.  It was like hot and cold therapy for my legs.  I think it actually worked, I wasn't too sore after the 10 mile run that morning!

While we were going from the glorious hot tub to the artic lap pool, N was taking Zoe around the kid's pool.  If D's a fish, Zoe's a mermaid.  She loves to be held as she swims around the pool and likes to blow bubbles.  Zoe usually gets on N's back, like a piggy back ride and then bounce all around the pool. 

Yesterday Zoe asked Grandma if they could go to the YMCA pool.  Grandma told her that she didn't have a card to get in.  Zoe was pretty sure that I would share mine with Grandma.  Grandma then told her that she didn't have a swimming suit to wear.

Zoe told her, "just go naked like daddy." 

Apparently going shirtless is going naked and it's okay for everyone.  I'm sure N appreciates Zoe's rendition of his swimming attire.