trudy, the wonder kid

I am so darn lucky. I have the honors of raising Trudy, the Wonder Kid.

Seriously, she is dreamy.

Let me prove it to you by letting you in on her weekend.

She came home from a great evening of Disney on Ice, and what did she do?

TV? nope Eat Junk? nope

The Wonder Kid comes home and does her homework! That's right,

she worked on Social Studies Friday night, woke up Saturday morning and finished her math and then Saturday afternoon completed her science.

I realize that I should be writing a book about parenting or such....

but it isn't me - its all TRUDY, The Wonder Kid

yep, that's it!

I am giving up Being Right for Lent.

Yep, that's it.... I am giving up on being right.

Not only does it not make me right, but it makes me a bully and lonely.

I want to listen and learn, without winning or losing.

I want to hug and laugh, without rules or limits.

I want to not be right for 40 days and 40 nights.

Yep, that's it1

really?

could anyone have told me that I would love these kids so much?

I really want 2 or 3 more of these loved ones to bring into my family.

Can we? Can we have 3 more? Or 4 more?

Of course, I want them to look like Natey and love like Natey

But I will settle for a bit like me :-)

simplicity

"There is a beauty and clarity that comes from simplicity." Dieter Uchtdorf

prayers for pops

It is so difficult to see Pops in the hospital again. Though his body is struggling through the healing - his blue eyes still seem to smile.

When I think of the man that Nate is today, I see Pops written all over

so many of his behaviors and mannerisms.

from Pops - Nate has his gentle way of making his opinion known

from Pops - Nate likes to listen and to be surrounded by storytellers

from Pops & Louie - Nate has an attention to detail that is beyond meticulous

from Pops - the unwavering view of the world that is full of opportunity & possibility

Prayers for Pops

Can you hear me?

Lizabeth and Rory made these can phones a few weeks ago, and then of course Chance and Jake find right away and must experiement. They quickly reported they didn't work! Yet somehow, we could all hear their voices throughout the house.

love

love is fluently spoken here

It sometimes feels like our lives are too busy and too full of chaos,

yet there are times that humble us and gently remind us to be gratiful.

Lord, allow us to be full of gratitude for our busy schedules that demonstrate

that we are living our lives to the fullest and embracing all possible opportunities.

Protect those that we love or those in need. Send Kelli your warmest embrace

showing her that the word is still a safe and predictably wonderful world.

Allow her to open her heart to love and kindness that our Mother Earth continues to unfold.

Touch Michael's heart and warm him with kindness and affirmation that the world

loves him and that there is a constant stream of God's love and goodness flowing.

allow love and more love to be spoken here and everywhere.