Three Years

Three years ago today, your dad and I became husband and wife.  It was a cold, windy, beautiful day in Walworth County, Wisconsin.  We were surrounded by hundreds of our closest friends and family, and had the most beautiful wedding.  It was full of laughter, tears, promises, and many prayers and hopes for the years to come.  I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day, but more importantly I couldn't have asked for a more perfect man to spend my life with, through the good and the bad, the happy and the sad. 

Your father has challenged me, encouraged me, loved me, and held me up through all of life's ups and downs for not only the last three years, but for almost half of my life through a beautiful friendship that has been made into a beautiful marriage.  I thank the Lord daily for bringing him into my life, and am beyond thankful for the life we have been given and His constant presence in our lives. 

This morning your Papa got up before me to get you and your brother ready for the day, while I laid in bed for an extra half hour of rest before you climbed into bed with a special gift in hand.  "Mama, Mama wake up!  Present.  Happy!"  You handed me a small box, and helped me peel away the paper revealing a beautiful ring made here in France.  Your Papa searched hard to find a little jeweler that had pieces from a French Artisan, and I couldn't be happier with what he chose to give me for our anniversary, as well as, a little piece of France to remember our year here as a family. 

The Lord has blessed me beyond measure, and I can't wait to see where He leads us as a couple, and now as a family with our two little blessings! 

A Love for Music

Zaylee girl, you have always loved music whether it was on the radio, in a movie, or just me singing to you.  Every night I sing to you, and lately you have started singing along with me.  You love to pretend to play the guitar on anything that remotely looks like one, and always refer to Aunt Jenny when doing so.  Drumming and piano playing are also your instruments of choice.  Music is something that has always meant a lot to me, and I am so glad to see you enjoying the life that comes from the rhythm and beats that fill the silence.  Along with singing and playing, dancing is something you do automatically when you hear any sort of song no matter where we are or what we are doing.  Although Marcel is still a tiny babe, I can already see he too will love music much like you.  He instantly settles when I sing in his ear, and loves watching us dance around the living room.

Last night, we had the privilege of watching Tonton Steph in his happy place behind the piano.  He gets lost in his music, and is one of the most gifted piano players I know.  I could listening to him play for hours and not grow tired.  You can request any song and he will play it with great ease and pure perfection.  It is a therapeutic for him, but also for those around him while he plays.  You were loving every minute of it last night, and Marcel seemed to be enjoying it just the same.  Tonton Elie was serenading us as well, and David and Daniel were helping out on the drum.  It was a great time around the living room and tired you out for bed time that soon followed. 

Your dad and I can only hope that as you and Marcel grow up, you will find a passion for an instrument and take hold of it early on.  Uncle Timmy, Aunt Jenny, Grandpa D and Papi all play with great joy, and it is an honor to listening to them use their talents.  Music is in your blood and I can't wait to see what it is you find enjoyment in and if and how you choose to use it! 

It's eatin' time!

Marcel, my boy, I have been trying my hardest to hold off on introducing you to the wonderful world of food, but you just weren't having it!  For over a month now, every bite of food or sip of water we put in our mouth, you carefully and with great longing watched as your pretty blue eyes followed every move we made.  Last week your sister gave you her almost empty Pomme Pot without me knowing, and by the time I realized what you had in your hand you had already tasted the sugary goodness.  That night we went out shopping for some fruits, veggies and oatmeal to try out with you. 

Your first taste of food was oatmeal mixed with a banana, and you LOVED it!  I couldn't get it in your mouth fast enough, and you ate every single bite with great ease.  We decided to go with a very, very loose version of the Baby Led Weaning (minus the letting  you feed yourself bit since I hate the mess!) way about feeding you, and I think it will work great with you.  Papa doesn't like the store bought food, and since we buy a lot of fruits and veggies as it is the money saved makes me very happy and you seem to like your food chunky and full of real flavor.  You have successfully tried banana, avocado, and sweet potato all of which you enjoyed greatly. 

I'm still trying to figure out the best time to feed you, as you either get too full on milk to eat your food or to full on your food to drink your milk.  You love both, but are still learning to be able to handle both in your little belly.  For now, we will continue to explore and take it a day at a time while we enjoy watching you savor every bite!

Museum Monday

France celebrates the Easter holiday with a day off on Monday.  We had big hopes of going up the mountain with Mamie and Papi, rent a donkey, and hike to a picnic site, but of course it was the first gloomy, wet day in weeks.  Instead, we all hopped in the cars and drove out to Voiron to visit the Chartreuse distillery.  Zaylee girl, you drove with Mamie and Papi without hesitation and wouldn't leave Mamie's side the entire day.  If at any point you thought we were going to take you away from her, you would tear up immediately yelling, "No, no! Mamie!"  We get it.  You love her.  It was a fun little tour, with free samples and fun hats.  The original green Chartreuse is celebrating 250 years this year, and to this day only 3 monks know the recipe of over 130 herbs.  The monastery is right above our house, and is where they collect all the plants and herbs to send to the distillery.  It is pretty incredible, and I'm glad we went while we are here. 

After the museum, we headed downtown Grenoble to the fair.  As I have told you before, Mama loves a good fair, and by the looks of it you loved it too!  It was towards the end of the day, and most of the crowds had gone home, leaving it clear and free for us to roam.  You rode your first ride all by yourself, ate your first cotton candy (thanks to Dad of course!), and played your first fair game, which you rocked!  In true French fashion, we ended the night in the city with a delicious kebab, while listening to you and Marcel laugh at one another in your slap happy, way past bedtime state of mind.  

This day o' fun got me all giddy for our up coming vacations, and the full days we will have with your Papa while exploring new places together as a family of four.

He is Risen...

He is risen INDEED! 

Sunday was a wonderful day with family and friends celebrating and remembering our risen Lord.  We had a late lunch around the extended table where we sat and talked for hours through each course in true French style.  As we made our way into the living room with our coffee in hand, Papa and I sneaked outside to hide some chocolate eggs around the yard.  As you pranced out of the house with your pink bunny basket, your very own fan club followed behind you cheering you along.  "The boys," as you so adoringly refer to them, are completely smitten with you and Marcel and this mama sure loves watching all the love poured out on you!   When the boys aren't around you spend all your time talking about them, but when they come towards you a whole lot of grunting goes on, and sometimes even tears.  After an hour or so, you give into their smothering and want to do everything with them loving all the attention.

 >>Back to the egg hunt<<

You enjoyed searching for and finding all the chocolates, and all the guys had a lot of fun watching and helping you find each one.  You came in the house with a big smile and your adorable strut so excited to show off your treasures.  Mamie Suzanne was sharing in your excitement as you made your way over to her to share your goods.  You two love each other well!  When I broke the news that you couldn't eat ALL the candies, your heart might have broke a little.  Thankfully, Mamie is wonderful at the task of distracting you and dissolving a meltdown before it gets out of control.

It was a great day surrounded by great people remembering our Great God! 

Your Heart

Friday at my Women's Group with Mamie and Auntie Sue, three of the women asked for prayer for themselves and loved ones going through deep, heavy marital and relationship struggles.  Hurt, pain, broken hearts and promises so full of grief that even you, my sweet girl, felt the emotion and sat quietly empathizing the tears that were shed.  Your heart is already so big and full of love and care.  You feel things deeply.  I know I speak of this often, but it is something I admire in you and want to preserve and protect.  A heart like yours is both a blessing and a hardship.  It is to be guarded and nurtured.  I pray you learn at an early age how to discern empathy for others and to say no when necessary.  Seek after the Lord and He will show you the way.  Love well and often, but know when to hold back.  Your father is full of wisdom, discernment, and faith.  He has taught me multitudes of life lessons grounded in the Word and my prayer is that you too will see the example he sets before you of our Savior. 

Your father's love for you and your brother is fierce and selfless.  Often times when the day is done, and you are both sound asleep in your bed's we find ourselves talking about the stresses of parenting, the tiredness we feel, and the overwhelming joy that fills our lives in this new journey of parenthood.  Many of our evenings are spent cuddled up watching a show together as we let the day melt away from our tired bodies.  Last night was no exception.  The tears streaming down my cheeks were also no exception, as I often feel the emotions of the characters for more than your father finds healthy. Last night, however, as I felt my eyes welling up listening to the character of a father meeting his son for the first time, I glanced over at your dad and found a tear tracing down the side of his nose making its way to the cleft of his chin.  He has always been a sensitive soul, but fatherhood has changed him all the more.  He feels deeply for his babies, and often the thought of you two brings water to his eyes, and the thought of never knowing you nearly broke his heart.

My prayer for you my darling girl, is that you may "guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life (Proverbs 4:23)."  "Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow (Isaiah 1:17)."  "Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful (Colossians 4:2)."  "Let your conversations be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone (Colossians 4:6)."  "...in your heart set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do so with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander (1 Peter 3:15-16)."

I started praying for you and your future the day we found out your life was growing inside of me, and I will never stop praying for you and your brother for as long as I live.  I pray for your heart and your mind.  For your childhood, your friendships, your future spouse that he may protect your heart and love you well the way your father has so selflessly loved me and now you and Marcel as well.  Most importantly I pray that you learn to love the Lord at an early age and know what it means to truly follow after Him with your whole heart.  I love you my Zaylee Girl. 

 

A Few of my Favorite things...

Being a mother is the best thing I have ever had the privilege of doing, and I am continually learning and growing into the mother I hope to be for you both by God's good grace.  I need Him more now than I have ever needed Him, but more importantly I desire His presence in my life and His word in my heart like never before.  Motherhood is wonderful and exhausting, easy and hard, fun and trying, beautiful and messy all at the same time.  Without prayer, I would be lost.  Without the little things that fill the spaces in the days that feel all too defeating, I would be a far worse mother in those moments of overwhelming uncertainty that I will make it through.  I would be nothing without the two of you, my little loves, or your super Dad who lifts me up in my moments of weakness and picks up all the pieces when I've come undone.  Even still I would be nothing without the love of our Heavenly Father and the promise that His mercies are new every morning.

Every morning.  Isn't that truth incredibly refreshing?   As much as I loathe getting out of bed in the morning, I love starting the day fresh with my babies.  No matter how hard or long the day before proved to be, we get the chance to make the new day all that much better.  I am loving this stage of parenting you, even in the moments of learning to discipline you with grace.  You make us laugh all day long with your long winded stories full of animation and ridiculous expressions, touch our hearts with your tenderness, and amaze us with all you know and continue to learn with each new day.  Marcel is learning and reaching new milestones, all the while wooing us with his adoring charm and heartwarming smile.  I have said it many times over and will say it again (and I'm sure again and again!), the Lord has blessed me for more than I deserve and the two of you are my greatest blessings. 

Here are a few of my favorite things the two of you do lately that make the hard days seem incredibly small compared to all the moments that remind me of the blessing it is to know you and watch you grow:

• The way you answer our questions with either an, "ummm no tank you" or the most adorable "YES!" with a slight lisp.  
• How you stand with your right leg bent at the knee and your toes pointed towards the ground when ever you are telling one of your many stories.  

• Hearing you yell after us when we are walking away, "Wait! Kiss!" 
• Feeling Marcel's arm draped over my left gentle squeezing my neck as he dozes off to sleep while I sing softly into his ear with his cheek presses against mine.  I love breathing you babies in, and will never grow tired of singing you two to sleep while snuggled up close to one another.  

•  Listening to you and your Papa read books together, while I put away the dishes from dinner before sneaking around the corner to peak in on you two huddled close together.   
• The fact that you still love to find a good spot to sit, and the way you cross your feet while getting comfortable.  
• Listening to you and Marcel laugh together.  He adores you and I can't get enough of watching the way he looks at you.

• The way you say, "mazing!" when we do something you find to be special,  "mmm farvrite (favorite)" when you like something your eating, and "crazy!" when you are doing something silly. 
• Feeling your hand squeeze tightly around my fingers as we walk next to each other, and your arms wrapped around my neck as your little hand pats my back.  
• Watching you observe the world around you while listening to you describe with great excitement all the colors, animals, plants, people you see along the way.  

• Holding you tightly after you have been disciplined for disobeying with your arms wrapped tight around my neck as you say "sawzyee mama.  obey!"  You have an extremely repentant heart and always repeat over and over again what it is you were disciplined for.
• Opening the door to Marcel's room and seeing his face light up after waking from his nap or in the morning.  He has the most sincere, generous smile and it touches my heart every time.