Sunday, July 28, 2013

You'll Run

For my darling McKay.
Love, Mom

You'll Run

Did you see, My Son, the tear in my eye, did you see, my son, the tear
When you said, "I'll go to school very soon" and I said, "Oh yes, very soon, my dear."
"You'll wear a cast when you go to school", though my voice was nonchalant,
Your reply confirmed what my heart fears, "But Mom, how will I run?!"

You'll run, My Son, every day of your life,
You'll run, My Son, from your chair.
Though for a time, your feet will be still,
You'll run a race beyond compare.

You'll choose each day which path will be yours,
You'll choose the voices you heed.
You'll run each day as you face your fears.
You'll run to God in need.

You'll run as you learn and sense and grow,
And your pain, your strife will teach you to know,
What it is to long for what you can't reach.
Empathy is a lesson experience must teach.

So you'll run, My Son, even from a wheelchair,
As your heart begins to grow,
You'll run, My Son, though the stillness confines,
You'll run as you come to know-

That your Heavenly Father is there, My Son,
Your Heavenly Father is there.
And someday very soon you'll run again
With strength that was not there,
Until you sat for a while, My Son,
In the classroom of a chair.

Though I long to see you run, My Son,
Though I long to see you free,
I know that God who watches o'r us each day,
Doesn't leave it up to me.

For He knows, My Son, that to be all we can
To become just like His Son,
He knows my Son, to become like Him,
Sometimes we must sit when we'd rather run.


Sunday, July 21, 2013

Safety Town

This summer McKay and his cousin Bo attended Safety Town, a great program through our city where children are taught how to be safe in all different kinds of circumstances. McKay LOVED it! He keeps asking when he can go back.
Each day he would come home talking about the activities. "Mom, today we crawled through a window and there was smoke everywhere!" "Mom, today we met a real police man". "Mom, today we put our fingerprints on paper and if someone steals me I'm going to touch everything in the car so that the police will find me again." "Mom, when I grow up I want to be a forest ranger. They are the coolest!" 
What a ham!

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Hair

Me: I'm going to do my hair real quick.
McKay: But dad, I thought you were bald!

It's good to have a subtle reminder now and then :-)

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Benson's 3rd Birthday

This year we celebrated Benson's birthday in Pirate Style! Benson loves to watch Jake and the Neverland Pirates so it was no surprise that he requested a "Jake" birthday party. 
Each little party attendee received the invitation above which was rolled up and placed in a bottle like a true treasure map. 
Benson's cousin Boots reportedly carried the map and bottle around the house all week talking about the treasure he'd find at Benson's birthday!

As they arrived, each pirate received a pirate hat and were led on a treasure hunt to find the rest of the pirate booty.

 
Look out, Me Harties, it's a fearsome crew!
Showing their best pirate faces.

And their birthday faces (except for McKay who apparently was still showing his pirate face.)

Benson leading the band of pirates on the pirate relay race.

After walking the plank, each pirate had to bounce on the tramp and launch water cannons at Captain Hook.

Nothing like some Pirate Pizza after a treasure hunt! Especially when it's enjoyed with Nana and cousin Isi.

Never fear, Captain Benson is here!

Benson and Boots with their loot.

Yo ho mateys away

After the pirate relay race in which the pirates walked the plank, launched water cannons at Captain Hook then hoisted the pirate flag, they were sent on a true treasure hunt. After solving riddles and clues the pirates were led to their treasure!
Once all the work was finished, the pirates adjurned into the house for some Jake Cake. 

Looks like someone's been sampling too much of the birthday punch!

Captain Benson and his telescope!

And what did he get for his birthday?
A Jake pirate ship! He was thrilled!

Sunday, June 16, 2013

The Womanly Art...

Breast-feeding is a hot-button issue. It seems that everyone these days has a strong opinion about it. My experience with breast-feeding has been surprisingly varied. My first go-around was rough. With McKay I had no idea what I was doing. I figured it would be simple but it wasn't. I cracked, bled and had 6 cases of mastitis within the first three months. I almost gave the whole thing up but was saved by using a shield. From about 6 months on things worked well and I nursed McKay well past his year birthday.

Benson was another story entirely. By week three things were downright gory. At every feeding the fissures seems to deepen and I sometimes wondered if my baby was getting more milk or blood. My toes curled at every feeding and by two months I was crying at every feeding. It was awful. What I didn't realize was that both Benson and I had a bad case of thrush which was keeping the wounds open. Once we realized it and treated it, the cracks were so deep there was nothing to be done. I couldn't stand the pain any longer and we switched to formula.

After my experience with Benson, when I was 8 months pregnant with Lily I started having mini panic attacks at the thought of breast-feeding. I was dreading I so much that I almost decided to forgo it completely. However, I thought I ought to at least try, so Lily and I made a go of it. The beginning wasn't perfect but with limited use of a shield and some amazing healing pads called Ameda ComfortGel Hydrogel Pads, we were actually pretty successful.

Lily has been my best nurser thus far. Unlike the boys, Lily won't drink formula at all. She will hardly take a bottle of pumped milk. This experience with breastfeeding has been very positive and has allowed some insights into the beauty of it.

I think breast-feeding is a miracle and a mercy. A loving Heavenly Father has a perfect plan for his children, even from their birth. How beautiful that an infant whose only knowledge of the world is the mother who gave it life would then be fed (nearly constantly at first) by that same most familiar and comforting person. What comfort that must give a tiny baby in a big frightening world to be held by his mother and still connect to her in some way by being fed in her arms. Interesting too that the breast is located next to the heart. As a mother draws her baby close for food, the baby is comforted by that familiar heartbeat whose rhythm she knows so well.

Breast-feeding requires a mother to hold her baby. With three small children to care for, that requirement has been such a blessing. Because my baby needs food only I can give, I must stop and hold her. I have loved those mandatory moments. We retreat and both of us receive nourishment. Hers literal, mine spiritual as I hold and ponder on this precious person in my arms and entrusted to my care.

How poetic that each day begins and ends with my baby and I, heart to heart. Perhaps my favorite time of the day is dusk when I feed Lily for the last time. She eats and relaxes into a gentle sleep while I hold her and  gaze at the evening light warming her perfect face. It is a picture I never tire of and one I thank Heavenly Father for every night.

I believe it is by Divine design that we nourish our children in our arms and near our hearts. And while breast-feeding will end, I look forward to the rest of her life as I nurture my baby in other ways. I will always be grateful that we began in this special way.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Look out world, here she comes


It's so interesting to watch. Each little Spirit approaches life in their own way. These last few weeks with Lily have been so interesting as she is beginning to gain her first independence. As stated previously, it has been exciting but really sad as her mother to watch her change so rapidly. But she is changing! She has been absolutely the sweetest baby--hardly ever a fuss or complaint. However, as she is beginning to learn to crawl and now to stand, we are seeing a strength in Lily we didn't know was there. 
Both our boys have been pretty tentative and careful about crawling and walking. They seemed to take their time and "warm up" to the idea. Not Lily! Once this girl discovers something, she sticks with it. Her cute little face is completely covered in bruises because she keeps standing up, falling down (usually hitting her head in the process), and then getting right back up to try again. You can't keep her down! 
She also LOVES to eat. Now that she has discovered eating, she wants to try everything. If it can be pulled off the floor, she's determined to eat it (this includes the carpet). 
Yesterday I was in the other room while Benson was playing play dough. When I came back in he had thrown it all over the floor. There was Lily crawling as fast as she could from crumb to crumb, gobbling them up! When I grabbed the broom and started sweeping them up, she was there right next to me, trying to get a few more bites in before they were gone.