i love who you are and who you are becoming

Evaleigh,

I love who you are and who you are becoming.  You are everything I ever hoped having a daughter would be like.  You love to exclaim, "I wouldn't ever choose any mommy but you.  You are the best!"  Well I certainly feel the same way about you.  Gosh, you are growing.  Kindergarten this year, really?  I'll miss the heck out of you but oh how you are ready.  Here are a few things about you lately.

Smiling in Daddy's lap at a bonfire at momomee's.  I swear those flames got to be 40 feet high!  Biggest bonfire we've had out there ever!

You appreciate the value of family just like I do.  You love to ask questions about our family ties and who is related to who and how.  I've always done that too.  It is so important to cherish your heritage and from whom you've come.  Thank you for loving Nanny the way you do.  We are so SO lucky to still have her and I am grateful you will have memories of her.  I remember my great-grand mothers and visiting them, it is what binds generations together.  Weeping willow tree in the front yard, Grandmother Curles old weathered skin and the way her eyes reminded me of Papa, and the secret garden across the street from Grandmother Shepphard's.  Grandmother Mallonee's high rise apartment in Asheville.  Always make an effort to see your family.  Always.

You were so good at General Conference this past weekend.  You took it in and were attentive and echoed words and phrases you knew.  

I hope you never stop wanting to get dirty.  Explore, roll in the mud, pick up little critters, be curious about the bird noises you hear, and walk barefoot, make believe.  Those sorts of things were the foundation of my childhood.  It makes me feel so proud to see you do the same.

Oh boy.  This was me asking you about Will.  A boy from school you've come home talking about for months now. The range of your emotions go from joy to embarrassment. But I think its getting serious. He held your hand during quiet time at school today.  Oh my goodness I couldn't figure out how to process my thoughts and emotions as you told me that. I asked you, "Did you think 'what is happening?' or 'huh that's nice.'"  You said, "Huh, that's nice."

A few other things you said to me about him today, "Guess what? Our birds played together.  Mine and Will's.  His bird's nest was like a hot tub because they were all laying down."

"Will got a hair cut today."

"He has brown hair, blue eyes, is taller than me, and was wearing a brown shirt today."

"Guess what? Will knows everything.  Dinosaurs were in the 90's and 80's.  That was a long time ago when dinosaurs were here."

"Will said I could come over to his house."

Ok, I'm going to go put some books on your head now so you stop growing up!  But actually, I love seeing every single stage you go through and THANK YOU for talking to me about it all...please never stop.

Speaking of talking to me, you came home from school Tuesday so chatty and you and I sat on the swing at momomee's house for 10 minutes while I just let you tell me every detail about school.  I couldn't get enough.  It was like I was parched and I just soaked in every word you had to offer.  I love you so much.

Last night while I was doing bedtime solo I asked you to read a book while I put Avett to bed.  I came in and you were reading Madeline, a favorite since Lindsey gave it to you for your 1st birthday.  You started looking for your Madeline doll Grandmaw gave to you for Christmas and then you "read" the whole book from memory and each time Madeline was on the page you had her point to her self.

You are lovely to watch, to take in, to study and cherish.  I'm so glad I am your mom.  Our life is so so good.

Sheppard family reunion

This past weekend we drove 2 hours to Franklin, Georgia to Auntie Susan's new home.  She married George Watkins on Valentine's Day this year and now they live on 500 acres of beautiful Georgian land.  We arrived late which is why we aren't in the big group shot but we had such a beautiful time.  My great uncle Johnny and Aunt Lynn came from Australia and they have the kindest spirit about them.  Perhaps it is partly their charming accents but it is just soothing to be around them.  

We also had Glenn and Jackie Sheppard there from Missouri.  My great great grandfather Joushua Calvin Sheppard is Glenn's great grandfather.  (I hope I am getting this right!). They had two out of three of their children there, Trent and Krista.  Krista and her husband Mark live in Kansas City with their 3 children Arianna, Hudson, and Hunter.  Trent lives in Boston with his wife and 3 children.  We felt so happy to be around them.  Even through we may be distant cousins it instantly felt natural and genuine to be around them.  

I am so grateful for family ties and for keeping them and nurturing them.  I loved the common love we all shared for our Savior around the campfire last night.  John brought the guitar and we sang How Great Thou Art, Come Thou Fount, O My Father (requested by Aunt Lynn), and so much more.  John and I sang Murder in the City more beautiful than we ever have before.  I love taking our talents wherever we go and sharing them together.  I felt so proud to have my love by my side.

The children ran and played in piles of leaves, wrestled with the dogs, looked at the roosters, ran up and down hills and through the fields.  We had s'mores around the fire accompanied by John's guitar and a big white ring around the moon above us.

Later that night Susan, Cristy, Nanny, and Candy and I (some in the hot tub and some not) chatted on in to the night.  I didn't bring a bathing suit so I just hopped in in my pajamas.

Everyone brought their family history and we filled a room of pictures, documents, and family trees.  

I have grown to love family history this year more than any other time in my life. I am so thankful for where and who I've come from.  It is an honor to be alive.