fostering love

A few weekends ago, we spent some precious time with the Foster girls - and it was super fun!  Sadie and Lillie are finally at the age where they are aware of each other - and can maybe kind of play together.  They also have similar schedules these days which makes life a bit easier.  And I really enjoyed having some mommy time with Sarah.  I'm so rarely with other mom's that I really cherish this!

And who knew that kids schedules are so hard to coordinate?

Well, the Foster's introduced us to the Museum of Life & Science - so cool!  I haven't been since I was a kid.  I could see how I would definitely have a year pass if I was at home with Lillie and Mary Hardin.  Lots do, lots to see, lots to learn and overall just easy.  We really enjoyed it!  We managed to squeeze everyone in some type of photo as proof that we all went together - that is all that really counts -right?

We also equally enjoyed our donuts on Sunday morning after early church and some quiet hang out time.

So this is life, and we are soaking it up!

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moments make the memories

I walk into "school" tonight at 5:30 - it officially closes at 5:45 and I am the last parent to pick-up my children.  What DO these other people do?  I grab Lillie quickly... right after she shows me that she learned how to do jumping jacks at school today.  Which is hilarious and involves lots of arm swinging, out of breath counting and jumping.  I can only imagine twelve two years doing that in one room.

We race to Mary Hardin's room in a different building, get her all packed-up and just as I'm about to snap the carseat into the snap-n-go Lillie screams - "No.  You carry Mary Hardin, I push the stroller."  In an effort to move things along quickly, I agree and off we go.

Picture this - Lillie pushing an empty snap-n-go and me carrying an infant carrier with a 16 pound smiling baby in it, a bag full of dirty cloth diapers hangs on my arm along with two coats, one blanket and 3 bottles.  Oh - and I'm in a dress and boots.

Between school and our home, Lillie throws herself on the ground screaming in the middle of two driveways.  And then stands at the end of the hall and yells for her daddy for 20 minutes.  I know our neighbors just love us, and unfortunately Brad is out for the evening.

After Lillie rips the cheese off her pizza and spills a whole glass of milk on the floor, I look over at Mary Hardin who is hitting herself in the head with the sippy cup repeatedly and think to myself... so this is what stay at home mom's do all day, huh?

I take a deep breath and tell Lillie it is okay.  As I begin to clean up the milk I remind myself that these precious children are only this age once.  And I have such limited time with them.

I look at Lillie from my hands and knees on the floor - where I'm cleaning up the milk - and say, "Lillie I love you little bear."

And she looks me square in the eye and says, "Mommy, I do not love you.  I love my bread.  I love my yogurt."

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Mary Hardin is 7 months old!

She is getting so big!  Well, really she is getting so long.  Truly.  She is stretching out like a string bean.  Here is a quick run down of life at 7 months old...

... sits well on her own.
...army crawls all over the place - and she is quick.
...rocks back and forth on her hands and knees (crawling is right around the corner)
...eats solids a few times a day - LOVES rice cereal, HATES bananas.
...bottle feedings are getting easier and easier.
...smiles are getting bigger and bigger.
... and she is a little over 16 pounds and no teeth yet!

And there isn't any other way to say it other than she is obsessed with her sister.  Lillie regularly sings to her, plays patty-cake with her and seems to always be able to capture her attention.  Look at those skinny legs.  Thank goodness for Brad's side of the family!

Mary Hardin is joyful and happy and full of surprises!  

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Bundled

I've been loving our double stroller these days - and really loving these cute red hats from Aunt Carmen (+ the Zieder clan).  No day is too cold for a walk!

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Grandma Gist

When my mom called today she said, "Grandma went to be with Bill."  And I responded with something about entering heaven "with pearls and her face on."


She never wanted to leave even her room without "her face on."

My mom was teary.  I got a little choked-up.  It is not because it is a tragedy that Grandma passed away - she has lived an incredibly full, long, love-filled life.  It was her time.  She was ready to be whole.  To be reunited with Grandpa.  To think clearly.  To meet God face-to-face.  She was ready.  And I am thankful He took her peacefully.  I can rejoice in her life.

Grandma's life was always bigger than a fairy tale to me.  I never really understood how she did it - but each little piece of her life that she shared with me I will never ceased to be amazed by.

The red phone that sits in my mom's kitchen was a "party line" out at The Lake in NE.  The whole family would spend months out there when Grandpa returned from war.

The teak furniture that will soon be in my dining room traveled to the US from Denmark.  Grandma and Grandpa picked it out on one of their many military adventures and decided to ship it home.

Germany was home for my grandparents for a little while - Grandma didn't mind spending a few years raising three small children there.

And the glamour of being a Lt. Colonel's wife back then... the parties, the dinners at the club, the children riding at the base stables, the far away travels... it is all so far from my life.

So is the thought of saying goodbye to my husband for years at time with nothing more than the hope of a phone call.  The strength to go at it alone, day after day after day, raising three amazing children.  The strength to live not in utter fear but in courage.  That is so far from my life - and something I never once heard her mention.

She was an amazing woman, Grandma.  She was a rock - stubborn, organized, strong, discerning, clear headed, faithful.  She seemed to love to be a woman, but never obsessed over things.  It is true - Grandpa bought her clothes and furnished the house.  She didn't really care about that stuff, but she was always dressed to the nines.  She cared more to work in the thrift store.

Grandma, sweet grandma.  I will miss you.  I have missed you.

“I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.”
― Audrey Hepburn

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A couple firsts in 2012...

Lillie and Mary Hardin's first bath together... it was full of laughter and splashing!

Our first trip to Pullen Park as a family...
       We only had time for the Carousel (rides are only $1!!).  Lillie was nervous at first but ended up LOVING it.  Clearly she also really wanted to ride the train, but we "saved" that for another visit.  This sweet park has been under construction for a couple years - but I remember much of it from my childhood.  It was beautiful - and tons of fun!  But it was also crowded - I guess the best things always are... 

And then this has to be a first at Pullen Park.. right, hopefully, please?

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Marching on...

Seems like time continues to march on - whether I'm on board or not.

2011 was a year of great joy and extreme sadness.  I cannot describe the absolute joy that Mary Hardin has brought to our family this year.  It is beautiful, exciting and infectious.  I've also been reminded of the Lord's deep love as I've attempted to walk beside a few dear friends who are experiencing grief and heartache that I cannot comprehend.  And I'm slowly starting to understand the meaning of living each day as God gives it.

I've always struggled with worry.  I still do.  But in this new year, my focus is going to be on thanksgiving and hope in the Lord.  Rejoicing in each day.   

We ushered in this new year with some dear friends, some cheap Mexican food and some bowling alley beer.  Yup, true story.  And I loved every moment of it.

Brad and I laughed.  Brad used the word "bitchin" to describe a house as we drove up and down dark streets just wasting time with good friends.  Laughing.  It was good to laugh about nothing.  It was good to talk about something other than children and worries.

Bowling.
Let me explain our names...
Corbin's name was CHIMI - short for chimichanga (which he would eat every night of the week if Byerly would let him)
My name was CIRCUS - short for Circus Monkey.  I'm not really sure how this came about in college - all I really know was that at some point Greg started to call me Gilky the Circus Monkey.  I'm pretty sure it wasn't nice, but I never cared.  And I think when Brad hangs out with Corbin he wants to quickly revert back to all things college.
Byerly's name was THE PEAK - short for the The Peak of Good Living aka Apex.  She lives her life at the PEAK (meaning she lives it as one should, experiencing both the full breadth of joy and sadness and showing everyone that she encounters the Lord's selfless love).
And Brad of course, just named himself Brad.  Boring!

Notice below - Chimi (Corbin) lost this game.  And let me tell you that I find a bit too much joy in seeing Corbin loose something - anything. That is probably a hold over feeling from college too. 

And in this game look who won!  BYERLY!  Girl power.

These boys make me really happy.  Corbin knew long before I did that Brad would make me a very happy woman.  He tried to tell me - I remember one time specifically.  But he was wise enough and knew me well enough to let me find my own way.  Eventually I did.

I'm thankful that he is still part of our story.  And I'm even more thankful that he married a woman whom I love dearly.  I know I've said it before, but dang these are just "good people."

Looking forward to walking through this new year with hope and love.

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