Love Letters.

I was doing a sweep through my folders & found some letters I had written to Levi before we knew he was actually Levi & thought it would be neat to share them from time to time. It looks like I only wrote a handful I assume it's because I became to tired & was too busy eating cookies to write to him throughout the entire pregnancy.


Dear Bean,
That is what we are calling you now that we know about you. Since that is the size you are right now, I know that will be hard to believe as you grow and grow. Apparently you have been hiding out for about 6 weeks. We only just learned of you two days ago. And, we are so excited you are here, we have been praying and waiting for you for a long time. We have slowly started telling family members about you and are they all ecstatic to meet you!! Your dad and I haven’t really been able to figure out how we are supposed to feel, but we do know that we feel gratitude, joy, and utter love for you and are so looking forward to the life you will lead, we feel blessed to be able to have you in our lives and look forward to the day we actually meet you face to face.
Xoxo~Mom.

Poor bub.

I don't know which makes me feel sorrier for him: the cold-induced vacant stare, the bruise on his forehead from falling on a driveway & a picnic table or the mark on his lip/nose from falling on daddy's tripod. Thankfully he takes it all in stride like a champ.

I do believe in magic!

On the off chance I am not the only person who has been living unnecessarily with dirt and scuff marks I have to share about this product that has transformed my world.
I have long complained about the white doors in our home which have a matte finish on them and are impossible to clean. Or so I thought until my sister suggested I try the "magic" eraser. I was so skeptical that I only bought the two pack instead of the four pack. Never again. I now believe in magic~ it went after my doors in a way that would make Billy Blanks proud, I will never view dirt or scuff marks the same way. Yes, I felt like a nerd writing about a cleaning product, but then I found that there are others whom like me have been transformed by the power of magic.

We've arrived.

I was hoping that since Levi is such a joyful little fella that we would just bypass the tantrums. Not to be..we have arrived in tantrum town. It is full on arched back, thrown head and mouth wide open screaming. Why? Because he can't have my coffee, because it is time to get dressed and especially because we are done being outside for the day just to name a few. That last one I can identify with it is no fun being done outside when it is so beautiful out, and sometimes I feel the same way when it is time to prepare dinner. Seriously though I am having to remind myself that this is only a temporary phase and just because he doesn't throw them with daddy doesn't mean he loves me any less. Right?! I am so thankful that God knows when we need the patience & grace and that He knows just how much to pour over us so we can ride out the particular storm or tantrum we find ourselves in. To realize the worth of the anchor, we need to feel the stress of the storm. Amen.

Giveaway.

Check out http://thebestnesst.blogspot.com/ for a fun & unique journal giveaway!

Joy.

Reunite.

Reunite: To bring or come together again. I am so looking forward to this weekend when I will reunite with three dear friends. These are girls whom have seen me at my worst or at least at my most awkward (frizzy hair, braces & curling iron burns across my forehead) & yet still they loved me. We all recently reconnected, thank-you facebook, & decided that 10 years was long enough & we needed to see one another again. I am looking forward to a lot of laughter, sharing & enjoying warm meals at a leisurely pace while sitting on furniture ( that just can't always be done w/a toddler). Thank you sweet husband for not only agreeing to single parent for two days, but also for encouraging me to go.

We had a great weekend! Aaron, myself, Angie & Maia

I love this man.

then

now

10 years ago, or a decade if you prefer, I married the man I love. We were two very nervous & somewhat scared kids getting ready to make the largest life leap in front of a judge we'd met only minutes prior. I can remember looking out at the people who had scrambled to share in our moment on short notice & saw the tears on some dear ones faces, I of course melted, but my husband to be couldn't stop staring at the judge with a look that would be described as total & absolute fear. Thank heavens the fear didn't last & we've made it through the triumphs & lows with a lot of laughter & prayer. Interestingly the metal for our anniversary is tin or aluminium, because it bends, but it won't break. It is fitting for us since we have been bent a few times, but long ago we decided that a break was simply not going to be an option for us~no way~no how.
I can't even imagine how many countless times we have ridden bikes together, gone on hikes, watched movies, laughed, hugged & kissed, gone on 30 mile canoe trips (that was just once thankfully) how ever many it's been it isn't enough. I want more. I love this man. He is so kind, thoughtful, considerate, caring, loving, funny, he is intelligent beyond belief, talented in so many ways it drives me to the brink of envy, an even better father than I would have thought & ever so handsome, I mean it I have a serious crush on him & I am looking forward to many more decades to come.
~Happy Anniversary~