Coming Home

What if after a long day of shopping or even a short grocery trip, you came home and everyone in your house rushed to greet you as you walked through the door?  What if they applauded your arrival?  What if they kissed you and hugged you?  How would it make you feel?

I've noticed that each day when I come home from school, everyone seems so excited. They make a point to make a big deal of my arrival.  Maybe it's because Gabriella wants a new Hide-and-Seek buddy.  Maybe it's because Rick is happy to see someone that doesn't cry or pout when they don't get their way.  Maybe it's because the twins are just happy to see anyone.  I don't know what it is, but when I come home my family makes me feel like they missed me.  Truly missed me.

And I try to do the same for Rick.  Whenever Rick returns from errands or driving around the block to get away from the madness (I'm only partially kidding), I, too, try to make a big deal that he's home!  I encourage the girls to run (or waddle) and greet him.  I make a point to tear myself away from the latest Real Housewives episode to let him know I am happy to see him.  I mean, isn't that what we all want...to know that there are people that truly love being in our presence.  That's a good feeling to receive, but it's an even better feeling to give to someone else.

Rick snapped this picture of GG and me at the park the other day.  As I'm thinking about the whole idea behind this post, this photo came to mind.

I love the thought of coming home.  I love knowing what's waiting for me when I get there.  I love that for all the people who could care less if I'm around, there are four that think I'm fabulous...and I think the same of them.  I'm excited to see them.  I hear the garage when Rick's coming home and I'm like a little dog wagging its tail and scraping at the door.  It's sad, really...

But it's not.

I love coming home...and I hope you do, too.

My challenge to you is this:

Tonight (or tomorrow if it's too late), make the people you love feel overwhelmed by your excitement that they have come home. 

Love,

Mary

Significant

I've been trying to think of something significant to do with the walls in the girls' new playroom.  I don't just want to paint them.  I want to do something unique...something that means something.  There's just one problem, I am not artistic when it comes to drawing.  I feel pretty artistic when it comes to photography, but not with a pencil, crayon, marker, or paint brush.  It's just not my forte.

Significant...

When something has meaning...

It stands out from the ordinary...

 Marked by a moment, thought, or feeling that is worthy...

I want the the things I do, the things I say, even the stuff that's on our walls to be

significant.

As I was staring at the playroom walls over spring break, a thought came to me.  What if we used the main wall in the playroom as a canvas for our hand prints.   Whenever something significant happens, let's mark the occasion by placing our painted hands on the wall.  Let's date it, and as time goes by, our wall will change.  Those little hands will start to grow and who knows...maybe there will be more hand prints one day.  A wall full of our hands.  I thought it was the perfect idea.

So, on April 7, 2013, we all painted our hands yellow.  There was paint everywhere!  It didn't take long to figure out that 1 year olds don't like to open their hands, spread their fingers, and let you have your way. As a matter of fact, neither do 3 year olds!  None the less, we got our canvas started.  Before I wrote anything on the wall, Rick and I had the following conversation:

Me: What is today's date?

Rick: April 7th

Me: Ok, so I don't mess this up: 3-7-13

Rick: No! It's 4-7-13!

Me: Oh yeah!  I'm so glad I didn't write that!

So, I carefully wrote the date that marked the last day of a fun-filled spring break.  We all looked at the wall, high-fived its appeasing aesthetic and left it to dry.  

A few hours later, I stopped to notice how nicely the paint was drying and I couldn't believe it.  

Right there, as plain as day...

the incorrect date that wouldn't happen for 10 more days:

4-17-13!

After everything I did to make sure I did it right, I still did it wrong.  

In all of our celebrating...

In all of our finger-painting...

In all of the joy and chaos that defines who we are as a family...

I had written the wrong date.

 

But actually, I couldn't be happier that I did because now...

the very first (of hopefully many) finger-painted hands that will adorn our playroom wall have marked an occasion that instantly became even more significant.

I see God in the ways we fill our days, not the dates on which they happened.

Love,

Mary

Wanna Play Woo?

So Gabriella comes up to me the other day and in her sweetest voice asks, "Mommy, do you wanna play Woo?"  At first I was puzzled, couldn't remember a game called Woo. Then it came to me...

For the past couple of weeks, we have been getting used to our new house. We're finding ways to use our space and that includes running, jumping, spinning, etc.  We didn't have that much space before so it's kind of like going from a Smart car to a Suburban. Lots more room. One night after dance class, Gabriella asked me if I wanted to practice leaping with her. With our newfound room, I of course, said yes! Around the room we galloped and practiced leaps like gazelles. Each time I would leap, I would throw my arms up in the air and exclaim, "Wooooo! Wooooo!" When Gabriella wanted to play a game of Woo, this is what she wanted.

Tonight, we celebrated the twins turning 1. Is it even possible that we have survived this first year? It's been hard, but not as hard as every well-meaning woman who stopped me in the grocery while I was pregnant made it out to be. Sure, I've cried, been frustrated, felt tremendous pressure or fatigue, but maybe it hasn't seemed so bad because we've been playing Woo.  Maybe we didn't always call it that, but that's what we've been doing. 

When things are tough...when babies are crying, the phone is ringing, peas are boiling over on the stove, and GG is yelling, "I gotta go poo poo!" we start playing Woo. We throw our arms in the air and yell out, "Wooooo! Wooooo!"

Last night I was so tired. We were feeling the effects of a late birthday evening the night before, I had pictures to work on, lessons to plan, and a hubby that was falling asleep in the glider as I talked to him. GG came up to me and asked, "Mommy, wanna play Woo?" Really? Right now? When I am so incredibly tired. I mustered all the strength I had and said yes and we "Woo"ed all around this place! The twins were cracking up and it wasn't long before we all were. 

When I look back on this year...the twins' first year, sure I remember the tough spots, but whatstands out the most are those loving, exciting moments of Woo.

I hope you will consider playing. It's so much fun! And you know what...it won't be too long after you've started playing that you'll be sure to have visitor. I think someone once said that God loves a good ol' fashion game of Woo. (Actually, that's not true at all. No one ever said that, but it does have a nice ring to it, right?!)

Love,

Mary

It's the Walls

For real.  I almost forgot I had a blog.  Let's see, it's been 2 months since my last post and in those 2 months my family sold our house and moved into a new one!  Funny what life can bring.

As I've shared with people about the big move, everyone is so excited for us and, of course, asks for a description, or pictures.  While I am happy to oblige and appreciate the interest of others, here is what I really want to share about my new house, only I can't because if I went into this big shpill I would surely be looked at as crazy!

Our new home is an extension of us.  It's really like the 6th member of our family.  I could share with you details about flooring, square footage, and layout, but those aren't the things that personify this home.  

It's the walls.

If you think about your home...

big

small

fancy

ordinary

old

new

modern

traditional

There's something that all homes have in common and that is they have walls.  

Walls that are privy...

Privy to your joy

your tears

your worries

your hopes

your arguments

your frustrations

your celebrations

Your walls are there for it all.  Your home is there for it all.  Whether you realize it or not, your home starts to weave itself into your life, the memories you are making.  Maybe that's why I get so sentimental when I think about the places we've called home before and the place we call home now.  I know that when I look back on the special and ordinary occasions of life, I will remember where we lived.  Where we played.  Where we cooked.  Where we prayed.  Where we laughed. Where we played Hide-and-Seek.  Where we cried.  

Where we loved.

Where He resides.

So, no pictures for this post.  It doesn't really matter what it looks like.  

All that does matter is we're home.

Tonight, I saw God shining down on our new house as I came home.

Love,

Mary

Some Things Never Get Old

Whenever I'm at home, my camera is usually within reach.  There is such power in living a moment, but then when you have the option to capture it...to keep it forever, well, I guess that's the reason I take so many photos of my family.  Although the day and time may be different...although the background might change...

some moments never get old.  

They are the moments that always seem worth capturing, no matter how many times they've been captured before.

As I was sorting through the pictures I've taken these week, I recognized these special moments that have a way of weaving themselves in day after day, year after year.

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Seeing the candles on a cake that represent another year of life...

that never gets old.

 

Watching Gabriella discover something for the very first time...

that never gets old.

 

 Listening to Marielle squeal in delight...

that never gets old.

Looking into Genevieve's adoring eyes...

that never gets old.

 

What are the parts of your life that never get old?  The moments that mean as much on the 100th time as they did on the 1st.  These are the moments to look forward to and these are the moments to cherish.

This week, I have seen God in candles, discoveries, squeals, and eyes that never ever get old!

Love,

Mary

I Cut My Toenails

I cut my toenails.

I know what you're thinking.

Who cares...

That's disgusting...

 

I can't even believe I'm going to share this, but you know what?  Rick said it was like sleeping with a bear.  He said I had claws.  

He told me to cut my toenails...

But then, two twins that shall remain nameless started to cry and poop out of their diapers and another nameless 3 year old started running around, jumping on the couch pretending she was a fairy.

Let's see, change diapers, keep fairy safe, or cut toenails...

 

These are (as insurance companies like to call them) the random acts of God that keep interfering with insignificant tasks getting done...

like toenails being cut.

 

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Imagine yourself as a big jar with lots of marbles inside.  Each marble represents a little bit of the energy, love, time, etc. that you have to give to the other people in your life.  Rather, the energy, love, time, etc. that the people in your life require.  They need these things.

During the course of my day, many of my marbles are taken at school.  As a teacher, it is my responsibility to be what the students need.  Of course, educator falls into the category of roles, but so do many other things.  The problem is, my best days at school are the days where the most marbles have been taken.  After all, I have 24 students that are all vying for my marbles.

 

When I come home, I have 4 people waiting at the door for me.  They squeal with delight.  They hug me.  They kiss me.

They...

take my marbles.

So by the end of my day, when there's one marble left that actually has my name on it, you can imagine the feeling of fatigue when someone runs by in a drive-by and snatches it away from me.  I want to run after the perpetrator yelling, "Give me back my last marble!!"  Do you think anyone in this house is going to give me back my marble, though?!  Notta chance.

On 99% of days, I don't mind giving everything I have to everyone else.  There are times, though, when I am overwhelmed.  There are times, though, when I'd like to keep all of my marbles (or cut my toenails) and I feel guilty because I think that someone needs me or needs something I can do. 

Moms, I think we are so busy giving our best to the most precious lives around us that it's easy to lose sight that we deserve our best, too.

Yes, God deserves my best.

Yes, my husband deserves my best.

Yes, my children deserve my best.

Yes, my family and in-laws deserve my best.

Yes, my friends deserve my best.

Yes, my students deserve my best.

BUT, I deserve my best, too.

So, sometimes, I'm going to save some of my best for myself...not give it all away.

Which is exactly what I did earlier in the week...I cut my toenails.

Now see, isn't that a sad, sad example of giving myself my best.  Ha!  I have to start somewhere, though.  

At least Rick will let me cuddle with him again!! hehehehehe

As I look for God in the time I spend with the people I love, I'm going to make sure I see Him in the time I spend with myself!

Love,

Mary

He was Always There

Ringing in 2012

 A finished nursery for the twins and a growing bump!

 Gabriella was fascinated by the fact that mommy was carrying two babies!

 The hospital trip that started my bed rest.

 

Seeing Marielle and Genevieve for the very first time.

 

 

 Trying to figure out how to hold two babies at once.

The first few days home were such a series of trial and error.  We are still trying to find our way.

 

 Gabriella was always so interested in everything...including nursing!

Genevieve Elise

2 1/2 months old

 Marielle Corrine

2 1/2 months old

 Our first family picture (that was actually framable) of all of us.

 Easter.

 Gabriella's first dance class.  She hasn't stopped dancing since.

First time waiting for the ice cream truck.

We have always tried to teach Gabriella patience.

 We have loved filling up our bed with all the girls.  So much love.

 Rick and I celebrate 8 years.

 The year of the princesses.  

 Marking off the last thing on our summer bucket list.

 

Almost fall.

 

 Love seeing the bond grow stronger.

 Gabriella's first trip to the circus.

 A fall sunset.

 Picnic at Ashland.

 Marielle and Genevieve doing something other than rolling around.  Starting to crawl.

 So much of our time is spent playing around.  

 

 The twins' first Halloween.

 Toasting the beginning of the holiday season.

 Giving thanks.

 Gabriella Grace turns 3.

 The first Christmas for the five of us.  

Gabriella's first snowman.

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Tonight we will have a very special New Year's Eve party.  The five of us.  I will sip (ok, maybe chug, it's been a hard year!) champagne and think about the memories that have shaped this year.  The memories that have shaped my family.  The memories that have shaped me.  

You know, my blog has always been about the places I see God.  As I chose the pictures for this post, I looked for pictures where I could see Him.  

Holding my hand...

Carrying me...

Encouraging me...

Giving me strength...

He was always there.

In smiles

In tears

In big, bright eyes

In sunsets

In 850 lb. bounce houses

In a growing belly

In Disney princesses

In races

In kisses

In tap shoes

In circuses

In parades

In snowmen

 

In life.

 

As you reflect on 2012, I hope you see that He was there with you every step of the way.

 

Love, 

Mary