H

Today I was looking into the big beautiful blue eyes of my Kid5 and thinking how my dear friend H. would have loved her so much. Kid5 is spunky, funny and full of life. H. helped me so much when I had Kid1, he was challenging to get to sleep and she taught me to rub his little face and every so often rub over an eye and eventually those little eyes will stay closed. She was so gentle with her babies and I loved that about her. When I was at wits end wondering how to get my baby to sleep she gently taught me to be soft and kind. She was soft and kind in everything she did. She never spoke to me harshly, she was truly my friend and truly wanted me to be safe and happy. I loved her and her death shook me like I had never been shaken before. Kid5 is named after her and today when I was leaned over her crib gently rubbing her face I couldn't help but to think of how H. would have loved her and how gently she would have rocked her in her arms. It's been so many years since H. has been gone that I don't think of her as often as I used to, but it's days like these that I miss her deeply. 

Rest in Peace my H. you will never be forgotten. 

It's a hard knock life

Ha Ha Ha!

I LOVE THIS!

my sugar

Sugar and spice and everything nice.

THATS what little girls are made of.

my angel

James 1:17 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change

Hey there Abe, can I get your address …

"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

A few weeks ago Kid4 and I learned all about the Civil War… How fascinating! Im just in total Awe at the history of the United States! What a country we live in! 

love you forever

Love you forever

"...A mother held her new baby and very slowly rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she held him, she sang:

I'll love you forever,

I'll like you for always,

As long as I'm living

my baby you'll be…"

Have you read this book? I use to read this book to Kid1 all the time. It was given to me at his baby shower, TWENTY long and short years ago. When he was little I thought "how could I ever not like him?" As he grew, I soon realized that it is EASY to dislike the choices that a child makes, but also EASY to always love the child. I LOVE this child, he IS my baby. I haven't always liked his choices but I have always LOVED him. 

It's a good book. I highly suggest it. 

my happy girl

If your happy and you know it, clap your hands.

If your happy and you know it, clap your hands. 

If your happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it. 

If your happy and you know it, clap your hands.

This girl is pure happiness to our hearts. 

Dear Kid5, 

we are happy to be blessed by you, and we KNOW it!

I love you.

First day of school for Kid4

Kid4 had a wonderful first day! I am so happy because often the first day of school is really hard on her. This year we are doing a classical education program and she only goes to school twice a week and home schools the rest of the week. It's a wonderful balance for her and I.