a letter at seven

Happy Birthday Superstar,

It's hard to put into words how grateful I am to be your mother. Seven years ago you came into our world almost 2 months early. Each year, I think back on that time and feel so thankful for God's plan and provision. You surprised everyone,even your NICU doctor, with your health and growth. He told us you were a Superstar and you have held true to that name.

You continue to be full of life and love. You are passionate about creating; painting, making art from whatever you find; using your imagination in beautiful ways. You love to dance and sing.  I often hear your sweet voice in the back of the car and it always makes me smile. You are strong willed and tell it like it is. You love with all of your heart and want reassurance that you are important and loved too. In December, you became a big sister. At first you had reservations, but slowly I have seen you take on the big sister role in such a wonderful way. This year you've learned to read, lost your first two teeth, and learned to tie your shoes.

I want to remind you to not be in such a hurry to grow up. To stay little. Childhood is such a brief season. I want you to savor every moment of it. 

Most of all,  I love you so much. I thank God for your life and for the blessing you continue to be to us all. God has taught me so much about love and about grace through being your mama.

"I love you so much. I'll never forget. "

xoxo, mama

four today

Today you are four.  I watch you daily in your magical world...in your world of dress up, dancing, and singing. I see you and I see joy.  You are a gift to us all.  I pray you will never lose your zest for life, your curiosity about the world around you, and your love for creating beautiful things.    We love you to the moon and back...today and always.

letters to our children l a letter to my oldest daughter l april 2013

 

My sweet e.

We are fast approaching your 9th birthday.  This birthday has brought so many emotions for mama. It is your last single digit year and  half way to 18.   I had planned that today I would write your annual birthday letter to you, but I have decided to do something different. I am going to wait and give you your letter to you on your birthday.  I want you to read my words, only you, and not an audience.   I've come to realize that there is so much about life we share with others, yet there is so much we need to keep for just us.

Today I want to share some of the highlights of the last year while you were 8.

As I look back on 8 the one thing I will remember forever is that this was the year you asked Christ into your life.  As a parent I do not think there is anything that can bring more joy than knowing your child's eternity will be spent in Heaven.  Your daddy and I knew this had been something you had been thinking about for a long time; something you took very seriously. It was such a blessing to see the peace and excitement you had when you shared this with us.  I will never forget the night we sat as a family, hands held, while you prayed to our Lord.

This year you have gone from enjoying soccer to absolutely LOVING soccer. You dream of being a soccer star.  I love watching you on the field. You are atleast a foot shorter than all of the girls you play against, yet you don't let that intimidate you or stop you. You are fast on your feet and you truly amaze me with your skill. I love to see how you always cheer your teammates along, even when you have been the "under dogs" this season.  You are still filled with enthusiasm and encouragement.

You love to sing and dance. I don't think there is a day we don't have a performance going on in our home.  You create plays and you choreograph dances for you and your siblings and cousins. These are so dear to me.  You've been teaching yourself piano on the Ipad and I love to hear you perform your song choices.  Your latest love has been learning the "cup song."  You taught yourself the whole rhythm and lyrics via you tube. I love hearing your beautiful voice sing.

I've told you this before, but I have to tell you again.  You are an amazing big sister. I love how close you and your brother and sister are.  It is something I will not take for granted ever.

You love American girl dolls and you love to play pretend.  I love to watch you. You have a favorite tree that you love to climb. In that tree your imagination is endless; it's a gift indeed.  Childhood is precious and I love that you aren't in a hurry to grow up.  You really seem to enjoy being 8 and living for today.

You will try any food and have such a great variety of foods that you enjoy.  I spent my childhood being a picky eater and I am so glad that you aren't.

You are enjoying learning to bake and do things in the kitchen for yourself now.  It is fun to see you gain your independence.

You still love to sleep with mama and daddy.  There isn't a night that passes that we aren't snuggled up together at some point during the night.

You are a lot like me in that you get your feelings hurt easily.  You wear your heart on your sleeve and it's hard when others do not return the love you give so freely.  This will be something that you will always find hard. I know.

You love to read and write, but don't enjoy math too much.

You are not a morning person.  It is rare to find you awake before 9 :00 each day.

You love to make things...crafts, clothing for your dolls, cards, drawings--you love it all. You have such a creative mind.

I am so proud of the girl you are and the little lady you are becoming. It is hard to watch you grow and give you your wings;  but I know with God leading you, you will do wonderful things.

I look forward to seeing what the next year will bring in your life.

I love you to the moon and back,

Mama

I have joined a group of other mothers writing letters to our children each month.  Please head now to the blog of Bee Chalmers.  Her work and heart are equally breathtaking. I adore the way she is able to capture her children.

a birthday letter as you turn 6

hello sweet boy,

today you turn 6.   i can still remember the moment we found out we would be welcoming a little boy into our world.   to be quite honest--i didn't know what i would do with a boy. i was caught off guard and surprised in all kinds of ways.  i would never have dreamed the way that you would complete my life, like only you can. you have taught me so much about life and living it.  you have taught me that parenting isn't always easy...it can be messy, hard, and challenging, but it is such a gift i never want to take for granted.  you have shown me what it means to live out a crazy love, so full of emotion and presence .  you have displayed a kind of  bravery and zest for life that i envy and desire for myself to take on. you remind me so much of your dad in this way.  i hope you will remain fearless and strong in your choices.  you, our middle child, have shown each of us an extraordinary love.  the way you take care of your baby sister makes me warm every time i see you together. and the way you look up to your big sister is so endearing.  i pray that this adoration for your sisters never ends and that you will always be the best of friends. the lake has really become your happy place.  whether you are spending time fishing, digging for treasures, or just running around in complete bliss.  it is where you find peace and solace.  i love that at six you still want me to lay with you at bed time.  some nights you ask that i don't snuggle you; but then if i give you a few moments, you slowly embrace me. these moments with you are so precious;  i hope i will feel and remember them always.  never forget how much you mean to each of us.  your dad and i  pray that you will walk with the Lord and follow His plan for you in all you do.  you have a special heart and so many gifts to give this world.  happy birthday my sweet son.

i love you to the moon and back

you light up our lives

"when I look into your eyes, it's like watching the night sky, or a beautiful sunrise. there's so much they hold" jason maraz our spirited third child.  today you turned three.  my heart is so full and floods with so many contrasting emotions.  i want to cry inside as i watch our last baby turn into an independent little girl.  but then i want to rejoice and laugh as your growing  personality overflows to all that know you.  there is so much to you that i never want to forget.  your questions and wonder. the why's you ask hourly.  your giggle.  your big brown eyes and adorable dimple. the special way you have me tuck you in bed  every time you go to sleep.   your love and adoration of your brother and sister.  your bossiness.  your crazy clothes choices and the even crazier things you say. these details of you are so precious to me.  i love that you are open to life with such a big heart.  you are so independent and strong willed.  you are a mama's girl. but you love your daddy in such a special way.  it melts my heart.  he's truly your prince.  and you are indeed his princess.    these three years have been more than i ever dreamed. i cannot wait to watch you grow into the person God has planned for you.

today we shared your birthday in so many special ways.  first it was just the four of us (daddy is gone to the middle east-but he joined you for birthday cake via skype) and you opened a few presents.  you got your first american doll and you fell in love completely. at lunch time a few of your cousins were able to  join us for lunch and cake. it is truly a blessing  for you girls to all live on the same street, growing up and making these special memories.   and then we ended the day with your mita and pito.  and yes, as you look at these pictures one day-you really did change your clothes that many times in one short day.

you are loved by all that know you.   i hope this year is filled with many more amazing memories and that you will always know how much we love you.

xoxo

ice cream treats in the park

this has to be one of the most fun sessions i have taken to date.  this sweet family of four overflowed with fun and love.  throughout all of these pictures you can just imagine the fun they must have at home with their little girl and their faithful pal.   i hope you enjoy this preview of our morning in the park.   i hope your sweet girl has the best first birthday and a year filled with lots of love and blessings!

a super yummy cake smash

i have been so blessed to photograph so many wonderful families. for this shoot we were able to capture some beautiful family shots and also some great first birthday memories to cherish.   they were all such fun and you can completely see what wonderful parents these two boys have. their mama and daddy love them to pieces.  i am grateful i could give them this gift to preserve this special time in all of their lives.

a celebration of life and love

i am so excited to share pictures of such a special couple.    i have known gene and michele since highschool.   but, i didn't get to really know them until i got married and we enjoyed a few get togethers with them while home on vacation or at christmas.  and it wasn't until moving home last summer, that we really got to spend more time together through church, bible study and various other events.    my husband has always been very close to both of them, so it has been wonderful to share this bond as well the past year. when michele contacted me about doing these pictures, i was very excited.   she wanted  to have something to remember this special time in their lives as they both turn 40 this month.   i feel honored to be able to give them this gift, because it will bring them so much joy for years to come.   these pictures capture their love and commitment to each other over all these years; and to have them to look back on is something to treasure.  i hope you enjoy them.

happy 40th michele and gene.  we are all blessed to know you...

a handsome boy turns one

last month i got to spend the morning with the cutest one year old and his super special parents.   i can't really say which was the better time...shooting the photos of this handsome boy or hanging out on the back porch of our house with his parents.  both were lovely.   tammy was a friend from high school who i had not seen in years. i love seeing old friends who are now mothers.   her love for her son really shines through all of these photos.   tammy i hope you love these and i thank you for being so patient as i worked on them.  can't wait to see you again soon.

a cake smash and some sisterly love

it's not usually a good sign when the rain starts coming down on the way to your photo shoot.   i arrived at our location and immediately thought we would be rescheduling.  BUT it is florida and as my brother n law often reminds me, wait five minutes if you don't like the weather, b/c it is likely to change.   we were so thrilled when the rain stopped and we had a little glimpse of sunlight to go on with our shoot.   this family had the most precious little girls.  their oldest was so cooperative and listened so well to my instructions. she was a delight. and oh, boy, i just loved watching their one year old dive into her cake.  she LOVED it.  i hope you enjoy your preview ashley....you have a lovely family!

today you are eight l a birthday letter

dear e, the past eight years have flown by much too quickly.   my  heart changed in unspoken ways the moment i became a mother.

this year seems extra sentimental to me as you enter a new phase of life.  you are not quite a little girl anymore, but not quite a teen-aged girl either.    i certainly see changes in you as you gain more independence and curiosity about the world around you.  when i think of you, i think of the tenderness that fills your heart.  you are so loving and so full of compassion for everyone in your life.

we've shared so much in these short eight years.   in the last few years daddy was deployed quite often and you were my rock.  you were there to make me laugh, to give me snuggles, and to be a help in more ways than you'll ever be aware.   indeed, i missed daddy, but these memories will forever be etched in my heart.   i love the bond we share and i hope we never lose it.

i've enjoyed watching your faith in God and love of Jesus grow over the past year.   you have questions and passion and it makes me so happy.   my prayer for you is to grow closer and closer to Him.  i want you to let Jesus  lead you and trust in Him for everything in your life.  if you do this, you will forever be blessed.

i know the next few years will continue to bring changes as you grow into a young lady.   i pray for wisdom in guiding you,  love and patience in teaching you, and an open heart, to be there for you always.

i love you to the moon and back!

happy eighth birthday!!!

xoxo,

mama