noticing a few things.

1. i don't think i have ever done a post without a picture.
does that mean i am a visual learner?

2. i have never had a tea party with my boy.

3. never knew how quickly a tea party could be over.
boys don't like to hang out and chat.
they sort of eat and go.

4. conversations with jack are therapy for me.

[giving jack his brownie and milk]
jack: can i have more than this?
me: well, what does God say about that?
jack: hmm....[no response]
me: he asks you to be thankful for what you have.
[1 minute later...done with his brownie]
jack: can i have more brownie?
me: i think you need to be thankful for what you have.
jack: mama, what does God ask you to do?
me: you tell me.
jack: he tells you to give me more.

i get it sweet boy!
more! more! more! don't we always just want more!
Lord, help me to be thankful for what i have
and
lovingly
show
that
to
my
children.

Lord, i pray today that you are enough.

happy monday!
alicia

florida.

love you hayes family.
love you johnsen family.
love you mom.
had so so so much fun with you.
glad that the sickies didn't last too long.
to the beach.
in the water.
in the sand.
to the zoo.
on the train.
to the avenues.
out for dinner.
loved not having much of a plan for the week.
just allowing things to sort of happen.














lis, here's the picture.
i knew i had it in my stash somewhere.
not sure if this is the same deer
but
this
is
the same
exact
spot.
this sweet deer gave us lots and lots of kisses.
and notice there are quite a few more kids.
we've doubled our kid count!

happy monday.
alicia

overrated.

i say the first day of school is way overrated.
too much pressure.
i say we just skip right to the second day of school.




















today jack drew a story.
this ones a keeper.
this is an octopus
who has a teddy bear [down in the right hand corner]
who has a bed that fits him perfectly
and he likes to watch the stars
in his bedroom
when he falls asleep.

i share this not with the notion that my son is a genius [even though i think he's pretty close].
i share it with a heart that is so full of love
for every single
moment
i get to spend
with these kids.
yesterday was simply awful [not going to hide that one].
and because of today.
a new day.
i know that the Lord has mercy and grace beyond
anything i can possibly imagine.
He loves me like i love this boy.
He loves me like i love these kids.
and if i take the time and sit with Him and listen [like i did with my boy]
He really will tell me the story.
my story.

and i know that my story never has to have another first day of school ever ever again.
big smile.

happy second day of school.
alicia

what does 13 look like?

she is officially 13.
but when we did this photo shoot she was not.
love the sign that we found.
had a moment on friday.
her actual birthday.
kind of like the moment i had when she rode her bike for the first time.
and
kind of like the moment i know i will have when she goes to college.
i am feeling that tug on my heart.
that little tap on my shoulder
telling me
that time keeps moving
and
she
will not
be with us forever.
taking advantage of every moment i have with her.
a blessing to this house.
to this family.
thanking the Lord so much for every moment
the good and the not so good
everything
has lead me to this moment
loving her as she is
with all my heart.

happy sunday.
alicia

day 2.

so jack and i had a little talk about miss megan before his lesson.
we talked about how miss megan wanted to teach him to swim without his big bulky vest.
she also needed him to listen to what she asked him to do.
and we also talked about how little boys who listen are sometimes rewarded at the end of their lessons with candy.
jack: okay mama, i will listen!

he listened extremely well.
and she was able to teach him how to kick with straight legs.
she taught him how to float on his back.
this one was a little more tough.
she would count to 3 for him to hold his breath
and
every
time
she got to 3
he would grab her really tight.
pretty sure he thought something was going to happen....
i think he had this "she's going to drop me and i'm going to have to swim
and i don't know how to swim" feeling.
back and forth.
back and forth across the pool.
he did fabulous!

on the way home from his lesson....
me: how was miss megan today?
jack: she was awwwwsome! [with yellow starburst juice dripping down his chin]

happy tuesday!
alicia

the other megan.

first swim lesson with miss megan today.
in the car after the 1/2 hour lesson was over.

jack: megan, i don't like the other megan.
me: hey bud, what did you think of your first swim lesson?
jack: i was just a little frightened of miss megan.
me: why?
jack: i didn't like miss megan....she asked me to kick....so i didn't kick.
[brief pause]
jack: mama, can you show me a picture of miss megan and me?
me: i thought you didn't like her?
jack: i do! i do! i do! i do mama!
me: you changed your mind?
jack: yah, i changed my mind....but i just don't like miss megan the most!

ah the mind of a 4 year old.
so fickle.
and yet so truthful.

just to note: miss megan is an absolutely precious young lady.
she tried desperately to bribe the boy with gummy bears....
so very well intentioned and tried so hard to help him calm down and breathe.
he just wasn't havin' it.

we'll see how it goes tomorrow!

happy monday.
alicia

how?

my sweet precious megan.
how did the time slip by so so quickly?
how is it that i just turned around and you are almost 13?
how did God know that you were perfect for me?
He just did.

Ephesians 3:20-21

²⁰Now to Him Who, by the power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]--

²¹To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).

how grateful i am to Him. He has superabundantly blessed this family with you!

i love you sweet girl!

happy late friday.

alicia