O boy.

I'm looking at Owie boys sweet face in this family photo and thinking about an email I got from the teacher that he had for kindergarten last year, about a conversation she had with his current first grade teacher.

Good morning, Sara,

   I popped in to chat with Pearline the other day and she has kind of a tough crowd this year so we were talking about it a bit and I said "But at least there's always Owen!" and she lit up and said "Ooooh, Owen is the light of my life!"  Those were her exact words and I must tell you that I have sent students from my class to Pearline's class the next year for five years of my career and never once have I heard her say those words.  She went on and on about how he participates in class and that he's so enthusiastic about what she's teaching and then, of course, that he's so kind and patient, even with the more challenging kids.  I thought you might get a kick out of it :)  Apparently he's doing well, hooray!

Best,
Sheila

There are always things to wonder, worry about and help kids improve on. With Owen, it has never, ever been being, kind, sweet, respectful and polite. He's a natural at that. What a gift.

Tonight, I am proud.

We have a bedtime story about all the feelings a heart can feel. Each page has cute, colorful illustrations and spirited, accurate descriptions of different feelings. 

"Sometimes my heart feels like a big yellow star, shiny and bright.I smile from ear to ear and twirl around so fast, I feel as if I could take off into the sky.This is when my heart is happy." 
There is a page for sadness, bravery, anger, shyness... 
"our hearts can feel so many feelings!" 
After I read to the boys I ask them what their heart is feeling. sometimes the response is "my heart ith thad i have to go to bed" or my "heart feels cozy" I love hearing them express themselves. I've noticed I'm the very happiest, when they say their heart is proud.They have so very much to be proud of.  
As humans, why aren't we proud of ourselves more often? 
Tonight, I've decided to feel proud. It's such a good thing to be (in the humble sense of the word). 
Why don't I go to bed more often giving myself a pat on the back?
Of course, mistakes are made everyday. Of course tasks aren't gotten to, or negative words are said. But it doesn't help to focus on the bad. What a happy thing to be proud. I'm throwing all the negative thoughts out the window and keeping the good, along with the resolve to be proud of new and different things tomorrow. 

Tonight I am proud that I spent time to play with Lewie. With a to- do list a mile long and other things I'd rather be doing, I helped create and then crawled into a fort with low draped blankets. it was stuffy and claustrophobic and making my hair staticky. It was uncomfortable and forced my shoulders to hunch. I usually do what I can to avoid super imaginative play, but at this particular time, I knew it was needed and it paid off. It paid off in the form of Lewies big eyes lighting up like the sky on the 4th of July. We talked about our fort being a big, wooden ship. We flapped the sails. A storm was coming. It was a good thing it was a magical ship that could transform into a submarine that would take us deep into the ocean, where we would be safe from the wind and hail and lightning.  we went down deep in our speedy boat. we looked out the window and saw fish, octopus, "thea hortheth!", starfish, crab, lobsters, and then A Shark! We had to put on our special masks and tanks and "thwim gear" to get the shark away. Lewie fought. He fought him so hard, with lots of sound effects. He saved the day. Then we found a huge, friendly whale who gave us a ride back to our submarine where we were safe again. 

What a blessing it is to be Lewie's mama. And to be proud of some time well spent with his bright, wonderful brain. What a blessing it is that he loves when i take part in the vision and the fantasy.

I don't always make connecting with my children first priority, but i'm grateful for the times that I do.  Abraham Lincoln said "whatever you are, be a good one." 
I am a mom. 
Today, I was a good one. 

all you need is love

 The whole kiddie litter was sick on Valentines day. We had to stay home from church and have a jammie- wearing, antibiotic-taking, nose-wiping day. Everyone ended up having just enough energy to decorate cookies and eat some red dinner.

VIVA !

I got to go toVegas with the Peter's women in January. 

It was fun, rejuvenating and always a joy to be with them. Im so lucky to be a part of this group. 

There is something that is very revitalizing about being with them, and its more than the diet coke and getting away from kids. I learn from each of them. they are strong, sweet wonderful women who each have an impact on my life in a profound way.