Raw(e): This Week

Grace sneaks into my makeup bag every chance she gets.  This Week, which is the new Raw(e) theme, has been no exception.  I don't know where she gets it from; I really don't wear makeup much at all anymore.  Can't wait to see what Sixteen is like.  Not looking forward to that!

Sunday Service

We had a great sermon at church yesterday.  A member gave a heart-wrenching, yet inspiring testimony of her spiritual walk over the last few years.  She spoke of her husband, who has bipolar disorder, and his suicide attempts, their children, job losses, the loss their dream home, and her battle with the breast cancer that has invaded her lymph nodes.  It was an amazing and courageous account of their last few years as a family, and how God has used these trials to draw her family closer together, but more importantly, closer to God.  I so needed to hear her story; it was like salve over my wounded heart.  I cried painful tears for most of the remaining sermon, which was also amazing.  Here's the link if you're interested in the sermon.

In the past, I haven't been a very good ambassador for Jesus when I'm at my lowest- in the muck and the mire of life.  I typically hide my head in the sand and escape, praying it will all be over with quickly.  I don't like suffering or feeling uncomfortable, or not knowing.  I don't like to wait.  But I know during the painful times, God is gently leading me, like a shepherd with a sheep that's gone astray-teaching me, trying to make me more like Him.  Or, He may be teaching someone close to me something through my example.  An example that I know most often falls short of God's desire.  Often I feel like I'm presented with the same trials over and over again, as if I obviously didn't "get it" the first time around.  And honestly, I'm sure I didn't.

I'm striving to get to a place where I don't "waste" the trials of life being preoccupied with myself and my problems.  That's clearly not what God had in mind for our lives, I'm sure.  Instead, I believe it's often a nudge (or in my case, a kick in the pants) to come on back to Him.  Not that suffering is punishment from God, because I don't believe that to be the case, necessarily.  But I know for me, when life is "good," it's easy to get caught up in the things of this world and ignore the things of the next.

The Whiting Forest

We discovered a treasure today- the Whiting Forest, which is just passed the library in Midland.  I have driven by the sign countless times, but I never gave it a second thought until a few days ago when I was at Dow Gardens and saw their brochure. It looked like just the place for us, so we took our little girl there today and had a great time.

The forest was a beautiful place, great for hiking and filled with various types of trees and wetlands. But, coolest of all were their many forts made by local builders that were dispersed amongst the trails.  They even had a place where you could build your own fort. It's definitely worth the trip.  Your Dow Gardens pass gets you in free.  And you just can't beat free.

Climbing with Papa

The wetlands fort (not to be confused with the wet-pants fart)

Grace, in her element...

A monarch...a sure sign of good things to come.

One of many water shots...

 I really thought I was smiling here...

Peek!

We call him the "Woodland Gnome."

So many places to explore...

Lots and lots of giggles...

I loved this reflection in the water...

The make-a-fort hideout.

We ended the afternoon at Pizza Hut, stuffing our faces with a cheese and tomato deep dish.  And it was everything I needed it to be.  Yum.

Three more months...

and Grace will be two.  No more quantifying her age in terms of months, instead I will say, "She turned two in August."  It seems like yesterday I was struggling with the transition from weeks to months.  But grown she has, over the past twenty-one months, and I couldn't be more proud of the little person she has become.  Full of wonder, excitement, giggles, spunk and songs, mixed with an equal portion of independent spirit.  She is so very special...our little girl.

It seems only fitting that what had been quarterly appointments with the pediatrician, have now stretched out another three months- yet another sign that our baby isn't a baby anymore.  Yesterday Grace and I made a special stop at Coffee Chaos for our traditional smoothie, even though there were no shots or doctor visits this time around.  I just can't resist a photo op...

21 Months!

A few things that stand out over the last three months:

•  An every-increasing vocabulary and the formation of  first sentences.
• Switching from two naps per day to just one. 
• Blossoming little friendships and a love of group play (music class, story time, gymnastics).
• A first "I Yuv You!"
• And, the potty, of course...

 On the cute side:

•    Thanks to Grandpa Abbott, Grace has a love for old country, specifically Johnny Horton.  She loves  the song Honky Tonk Man.  She'll sing, "Hey, hey, mama can your daddy come home?"  

• Lately when I strap Grace into her car seat she'll say, "Hurt finger!" (pretending I pinched her) and ask me to kiss it to make it better. (I love the healing power of a kiss)

• She loves to be tickled, often asking me to "tickle belly" or "tickle arm-pit," and then "ya-one (other one) arm-pit."  She flails around, laughing hysterically, but can't stop asking for more.  

• Grace loves "ba-fly" (butterfly) kisses and often requests them while we're lying in bed together.  One cheek is never enough, she always wants "ya one cheek, ba-fly kiss", and she'll turn her cheek and I flutter my eyelashes on that one too.

•  But, most sweet to me is how kind hearted Grace is with her friends.  She's always first to offer hugs and kisses, and gets very concerned when a friend is crying or upset. She is always excited to play, and for now, doesn't seem to mind sharing.

So, in three more months, I'm sure I'll be a little bit sad, but more than anything, I'm looking forward to watching our little girl grow into herself.  Into the person she was meant to be.  She has already proven to be so much more than I could have ever hoped for.  So much more than I ever deserved.  And I'm sure she has many more wonderful surprises in store for us.  And I can't wait...