Life is good, I said.

"And Jesus has to do with life," Charlotte responds.
"Who taught you that?" I ask.
"I did. And, I am right," she responds without skipping a beat.

Yesterday she was full of energy. Smiles. She ran everywhere yesterday.

And, very full of questions. "Will Jesus always love me?" "Why." "Even if I don't have an arm?" "How did God make apples?"

A very intuitive little girl. She pulls out her positive energy at just the right time.

I don't want to turn in to a pessimist.

What is wrong with me? The cup is seeming so half empty lately.
Ahhhhh, I am getting on my nerves.

Here is my half a** attempt at optimism today.

Things you should be thankful for:

1. A dishwasher. I don't know anyone else without one.
2. A place to put your toilet paper that is not in the middle of the bathroom.
3. Closet doors that hide your clothes.
4. Blinds that prevent your neighbors from seeing you get dressed.
5. At least one room of the house that is comfortable.

Okay okay...stop your bit$#^%ING please Elizabeth. You have so
SO SO much to be thankful for too.

1. Great friends, that appear and offer to help organize my life!
2. Parents that feed me, still!
3. A daughter that is beautiful, sweet, and full of hugs and optimism
4. A classroom that overlooks a field, with a glisten of sunshine
5. A godiva chocolate bar that is in my bag because my husband shared.

I feel better. Sorry that you were the brunt of my stupid complaining. The last list is obviously the much more important things! But, ya'll....can I just say it is super duper hard to not be effected by your environment. ahhh. And, when I try without a prayer. I feel claustrophobic.

Today, on my desk it says: "Be made new in the attitude of your minds." Ephesians 4:23

A leap of a birthday

Three years ago, as CZ's birthday approached, I remember one (of many) freak out moments. The "am I really pregnant" "am I really going to have to go to the hospital" "is it going to hurt" "can 9 months really be over" "I am going to be A MOM" moments. One occured when I was grocery shopping and the expiration date on the milk was 02-19-08. That was when I knew it was really getting close. So, three years later as we finished this galloon of milk, I remember carrying my sweet CZ around in my belly, how she was still when I was nervous, how I ate a bunch of pineapple, and getting an IV wasn't the end of the world. And, being a mom is the best ever, especially when I can call Charlotte my baby.

Having a "leap year" birthday is a little strange though. We totally celebrated all day on Sunday, Feb. 27th. There was so much excitement built around that day...that I didn't try to explain her when her "real" birthday was. I kind of felt like a bad mom...but about anything can make you feel that way if you let it. Next year she will get it. Duh, she will actually get a party on the 29th! As I went to bed Monday night I just kept thinking: somewhere in the mystery of today and tomorrow Charlotte was born. Cool.

On her birthday morning (well, we celebrated on Sunday, Feb. 27), we had a yummy breakfast, enjoyed snuggling, and tried to not jump out of our skin with excitement! This was the first year Charlotte really got excited about her birthday. She practiced singing to herself a ton...and it paid off as she sang along with everyone else at her party!

I have a feeling "three" might be our two! As she stuck out her tongue, begged to eat cake, and whined about almost everything...prior to her party. She covered up her morning grumpiness just fine at her party. Thank goodness.

As she opened each present, she very sweetly looked at each person in the eye and said "thank you soooo much." She grinned, smiled, and added "oh stinkin' cute" to all of the gifts that were clothes. Yes, she got two new babies...just what she wanted....actually three.

Cora and Kate sweetly posed for a picture on the awesome stool that Heather painted for CZ. CZ loves it and also was super cute when she opened the blanket that Tonia made for her. She quickly snuggled right up into it on the floor. It was really fun watching her open her gifts. She is spoiled rotten, yes. But, hopefully super grateful too.

It was a fun party. A super amazing Hello Kitty cake, Hello Kitty posters, a cardboard house for the kids to paint, and lots of art activities. There were stamp pads for the families to make fingerprint characters, and pots to paint and plant flowers. The highlight was looking back as CZ opened her gifts to see Matt, Neil, Tonia and Ben concentrating on painting their pots. It was hallarious. All ages had a good time :)

So, back down to reality. Charlotte loves LOVES loves her new (to her straight from the Cocharanes) art table. Hours of studio time have already been enjoyed.

I love Charlotte. I love everyone that loves her. I feel lucky, blessed, and grateful for everyone that showers her with love. xoxo

Things that make me smile:

Wearing...
GG's engagement ring
it makes me feel young as I admire the sparkle
and close to Gran and GG and Aunt Janet.
A cross from Aunt Jane
it makes me feel peaceful and free,
characteristics that remind me of Jane.
"Think Big" earrings from Heather,
makes me feel adventurous and creative.

"Two steps forward....

and two steps back. We come together 'cause opposites attract." This could probably be our theme song.

But, for today...TWO STEPS FORWARD!! Ben had the weekend off...and massive progress was made on the house :) YIPPEE! Kind, helpful, "steps" in when you need him...Greg...helped build STEPS on Friday!! Yes, we now have safe steps to get into our house!! (Okay, well safe is a funny word. We don't know where the key is to that door, so you have to go around to the other door to let someone in that door.) We won't dwell on that...STEPS! This is huge.

Ben even started a walk way to the steps so we aren't walking through mud. Finishing that will require a few good men...so he stopped where he had to...and then...

Started cementing the front of the house!!! This has a similar effect as stucco. And, it is looking so so great! Finishing this will require staffling. But, it is another step in the right direction.

1) Finish walkway 2) Finish front of house 3) Insulate the new living room (we have the materials) 4) Sheetrock new living room (have most materials) and then the rest is down hill....until we feel a push for more room downstairs. I keep telling myself that if we lived in NYC (which at one time we thought we were big city folks), we would have less than this much space. We can make it work, well, comfortably. Even if our family does grow on that one day.

So, I feel motivated with our steps in the right direction. Poor Ben is exhausted. And, I feel relieved. Bad wife. Well, not really. I kept in perpetual motion as he was working outside. All of the laundry is clean. The house is clean. We enjoyed a good dinner. And, a sweet little Charlotte was well snuggled and filled with sips of sprite.

bad hair day....

I feel like I am having a bad hair week. Just that "off" kind of week. Home is off--dirty and messy. School is off--busy and crazy. Marriage is off--crazy schedules different adgendas. Life just seems off.

But, GOD is never off.

"God is greater than our hears, and knows EVERYTHING." 1 John 3:20
"You and I are goverened. The weather determains what we wear. The terrain tells us how to travel....God doesn't check the weather...He makes it."

He does not change. Ever. Ever. But, please change me...I hate it when my mood changes with each bad hair day!

A valentine for you...

Love, a cute three year old. Most have been made. Getting them to the mail is the hard part. We have spent lots of time cutting and making Valentines the past few Saturday mornings.

Today was another 2-hour delay. So, I got some morning smiles and hugs from Charlotte. What a great way to start the day! "Mom, take a picture of the sky. It is beautiful." Charlotte said this as we were on our way to Ama's. Yesterday Ama took a great sky picture. It looked like the clouds had been sponge painted. I wonder if CZ will end up a photographer like her Grandma. Likely.

"Mom, I had fun at church today. Thank you for taking me." She said this on Sunday. I love when thankfulness shows up without being prompted.