Thank heavens for Emmalyn!

It's easy to understand why her sister insists on taking her everywhere. She brightens the darkest of times. When you think a task is impossible, she turns your thoughts hopeful! When you're anxious, hold her, and she fills you with calm. When you're crying, she'll smile and dry your tears. 

Watch her excitement as she plays the day filled with fun and laughter. Emma is pure sunshine. When the rain comes, she lights the dark with her rainbows!

Sam - "Can you give a dream?"

Sam has found a new hobby collecting "electronic components!" It's so endearing hearing my 6 year old say such big words. This big mess gave me a great idea for last nights dream.

One day you and Emma were outside playing (chasing chickens) when out of the sky a small space ship crashed landed in our backyard! You were a very scared, but Emma was curious and went to go investigate. As she was tapping on the ship, the top lifted up and out popped a tiny alien. "Awe he's so cute," Emma squealed. You didn't think so, you were still scared. But then he spoke. "Don't be scared, I was watching you guys from way up there," he said pointing to the sky. "I just wanted to come and play too."

All afternoon the three of you played. You showed him all of your toys and tools.  And Emma discovered that aliens are really good at ridding chickens. You all were having so much fun laughing and playing that time slipped by fast. The sunlight started fading, and the moon shown brighter. The little alien, Chicken Rider (Sam named him) said he had to go home to his mom and dad. "That's where I live," he pointed to a star. "Hey that's the second star to the right, are you neighbors with Peter Pan?" Chicken Rider looked at you baffled.

You guys all said your goodbyes. Chicken Rider climbed in his ship, waved goodbye, and closed the top hatch. You and Emma waited in anticipation to see the ship fly, but nothing happened. Chicken Rider hopped out, and started to cry. "My ship is broken, how will I get home now?"

You knew just what to do! Running inside you yelled, "I'll be right back!" You grabbed your bag of electronic components and tools then ran back outside. "I'm gonna fix your ship!" And you did just that!

You were so proud as you watched the ship fly off into the night. Emma yelled, "bye, bye, wuv you!" You hoped that someday he would come back again to play. Maybe even tomorrow!

Back to School

I NEED some quiet time! Then I will be recharged and more engaged!

Others may see me as outgoing and social, and I can be for them. But for myself I CRAVE alone time! For those wanting all the things I offer and do for them.. they NEED to give me alone time. It helps to have a little time to remember who I am. No soaking up the wants, needs and emotions of others. Just time to commune with myself and my God. Write a poem, read a book, watch a movie, listen to music.. all things I love to feed my soul. When my internal timer goes off, I'm ready to soak up those wants, needs and emotions from others. 

Everyone falls in love with Emma

She is so full of life. I wish I could record every moment with her.

She's so petite and tiny. Born at just 17 inches, she'll be small like me. 

If she can't see me I won't get my diaper changed

So silly, every moments with her is fun.. except those stinky diapers

Everyone loves how she runs..

Just like her mom

"Like your running towards the swings, or from Satan.... ?? they neighbor's dog"

"See, and you don't care if people are staring cuz it's just a moment then you're gone!"

Loves to share special rituals with everyone. 

High five, pound it, noggin

She makes you smile!  

Amazing fashion sense, and the puppy dog eyes to get what she wants. 

Life is exciting when you see it through her eyes... SQUIRREL!

Her amazing ability to make friends, they flock to her. 

Sam "Can you give me a dream?"

Tonight's dream consisted of Sam helping on the Christmas Trail out at his grandparent's place. He was not happy one bit that he was not given a superhero costume in this dream, instead, he wore an elf costume. Sam then told me I was fired. So this may be the end of giving Samuel dreams at night before bed.... sigh.

ENTJ

Yikes! Both proud, and a bit apprehensive. This child of mine will challenge and make me proud. We are all individuals with our own strengths and weaknesses. My strength is instinctively knowing what he needs, and wants most of the time. But I also need to work on his ability to be open to others feelings and express his own more tactfully.

It's exhausting to have a very extroverted boy who says the word "why" a hundred times a day. He is extremely smart with a brain that never turns off.  I need more patience when he doesn't understand how his siblings feel after his naughty actions. I am grown so it doesn't effect me as much to not have my feelings affect his actions, but I have to protect the feelings of others in our family. To give them the space introverts need to function and be nice. We need our down time, he does not!

His heart is huge, but just doesn't understand how to express that love he feels. He does not have a selfish bone in his body, just a need to be his own person. He amazes me everyday! It saddens me when his love for others sometimes goes in vain.

God give me the patience and guidance to nurture his inquisitive spirit, and to model what it means to have empathy and compassion for others. I am so proud to be his mother, thank you for placing him in my arms!

ETJ Traits

1. Strongly opinionated and self-confident, they think that they're always right
2. Strong-willed and independent
3. Intelligent and capable
4. They're curious about everything, and are always asking "Why?"
5. Energetic and enthusiastic
6. Active and interested in physical sports
7. Unusually powerful and authoritative presence for a child
8. They're friendly and enjoy people
9. They prize competence and knowledge
10. Very honest and direct
11. Often unaware and uninterested in how others feel
12. They make decisions quickly and with authority
13. They may seem older than they are
14. They are very competitive
15. Independent and self-sufficient, they prefer to lead than follow

lest I forget

Sleepy Eyes

The moment you see those sleepy eyes give in and close, I take a deep breath and think F I N A  L  L Y! After the hard work of lulling them to sleep, I feel a deep satisfaction that they are at peace. There is nothing more intoxicating than watching my children sleep. I feel a sense of peace that they are dreaming about the day we filled with memories, laughter and tears.

I give

I lay down with her in my arms

Let my hair down to for her to grasp and pull

She pulls, and twines, and takes

I give and give and give.. for I have so much to give

love to give my love, my strengths, my everything, yes even my hair if you wish

Without sharing my gifts, I feel I am nothing

Who am I, if not for someone to share it with

Just be happy!

I may seem intense when I absolutely can't wait to break up a fight. I am not one of those people who can just let a fight play out. I feel a great need to stop the fight in it's tracks! WHY?? Because I absorb the feelings and experiences of those around me.

Please, Please...

Likewise I crave to feel happiness from others. I do all that I can with my abilities and talents to make everyone around me content, happy, fulfilled, and loved.

The emotions I felt while family viewed this made me in turn so happy and fulfilled

Mother's Day present

 I loved taking these pictures and then presenting it

#1 Coach gift

All year long I take pictures with this project in mind

 

I make a Christmas calendar with all the grand kids every Christmas for my parents

This took a lot of time, patience, and love

Happy Birthday Dane 11/14/2013

How easy it is to take the time to make him smile

Fathers Day 2012

These scrap pages are always done at the last minute :)

Grandma & Grandpa L* anniversary scrap pages done every year

I know all my actions and words haven't been kind. Sometime I make someone else happy and another suffers. These pains will forever hurt!

SAM - "Can you give me a dream?"

Self Confidence

It was your first day of kindergarten, and you woke up nervous to start the day. Without a fuss, you dressed in your favorite outfit and combed your hair to look so handsome. With your favorite boots to match! 

Once at school, I introduced you to your teacher, who helped you start the craft all the kids were working on. You colored your name tag, which had "SAMUEL" written on it, and decorated it to your liking.

At recess, the teacher called all the kids from class over to have a race. You had always dreamed of being in an actual race, but today you were terrified. Horrible thoughts stirred in your mind, butterflies fluttered in your tummy...What if I fall, what if I look silly, what if I lose? Letting those mean thoughts overrule your desire to race, you asked the teacher if you could go to the bathroom. Behind a bathroom stall, you hid deciding you would wait until the race was over. Just then the door swung open Flash Gordon skidded to a stop.

Flash -  "Dude I heard there is a race about to start! Why in the world are you in here instead of at the starting line?"

Sam - "I'm too scared to run!" "What if I fall, what if I look silly, what if I lose?" "Besides, I'm not very fast in these cowboy boots!"

Flash - "Wow those are the coolest boots I've ever seen!" "Hey, I have an awesome plan!" "How about you let me wear your boots while I sit back and watch the race, and you can wear my shoes!?" "They are super fast, You're sure to win!"

Sam - "Really, you'd do that for me?"

Flash - "Sure would little dude."

You hurried and switched shoes with Flash before heading to the starting line. Once there, all the other kids OOOWED and AHHHED over your cool red and yellow racing shoes. Your teacher held up her scarf.."On your mark, get set, go!" With the wave of her scarf, you and your classmates took off in a flash.

You ran as fast as you could! Everything around you seemed to blur by. You crossed the finish line first with an enormous smile on your face. There was clapping from the sidelines where Flash was watching and cheering. The other kids soon crossed the line, cheering for you as well. Then the little blonde girl from your class walked over and congratulated you. "Great job, Sam! You were amazing! I like your shoes, but I liked your cowboy boots better!"

Hearing that you decided it was time to switch back to your beloved boots. You walked over to Flash who was polishing the boots with his sleeve.

Sam - "Thanks for letting me borrow your race shoes." You sat down to take the race shoes off.

Flash - "Bummer dude, I was really starting to get attached to these boots." He then took them off and exchanged them for his racing shoes.

Sam - "Ah, now my feet feel so much better," you thought to yourself while admiring your boots.

Solitude