Our trip to Longboat Key each year is one that is treasured by all. A week spent with your cousins and grandparents at the Gulf is something you all love so much. I love this family tradition myself and am so grateful for it.
It’s hard to put into words all that I have learned and gained from documenting daily life with our family. I am most certain this will be an ongoing process. I think one of the most significant has been the ability to see the places around us in unique ways each time we are together. Most often our life takes place at home or in our backyard; but there is always a new story, a new light, and unique way of seeing you all in this place we call home. Fresh perspective, to see the beauty of life, to not let it become mundane; is something I want to hold on to forever. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow, so I want to really see this world and the people I am with, with a new found love and passion daily. And taking any of this for granted cannot be accepted.
We had a play date today with the cousins. As I started to watch you all swim, I realized with eight of you, and one of me, I was definitely outnumbered.
You both share a love of the water. So many wonderful memories together. Every one seems a bit more precious in these later years. Buster has been such a faithful friend to all of us.
We all took the boat out tonight and the highlight was definitely the worms. You were all picking them up, squealing, and playing pranks with them. Such simple fun always makes the best childhood memories.
Hold me. Two simple words, yet they represent so much. You are our baby girl who will be 5 in just a few months. You still want to be by my side, to be in my arms, to be carried whenever you can. I realize that these days won't last forever. I want to hold on to these memories in any way I can and I want to linger here a bit longer. I love you sweet girl. More than words will ever say.
(Each month I participate in a project with others mothers, making it a priority to get in the pictures. You can see our collaboration for this month here.)
We don't get up often to see the sunrise but today reminded me that we need to more often. I loved having this time together by the lake; just the two of us.
Summer. This is what I think of when I dream of summer. Each year as summer arrives, we look forward to the relaxed, slower days; but then we begin to fill them before we realize we are even doing it. I need this reminder; to linger longer, plan less, and just be here. I want this to be summer.
The rain was falling, the sun came out, you grabbed your rain jacket and out the door you went.
The summer of questions. An undeniable heaviness pulling towards change; no matter how hard I try and slow it down. Praying I will guide you and be the mother you needs always.
Your hair is getting so long, but today you told me that it still doesn't go to the ground.
You are always trying to keep up with your sister and brother and their friends.
This time of year in Florida means lots of afternoon thunderstorms. Thankfully they are usually over pretty fast and we can get back outside to play.
Buster Brown has been our faithful friend for fifteen years. Every morning you are in charge of feeding him and letting him outside. It is so sad to see his health start to decline over the past year. He is now having trouble walking and getting up when laying down. He has been such a faithful friend to us for so many years. I cannot imagine not hearing his paws walking throughout our home one day.
Your middle name is Grace. When we chose this name for you, I had no idea how fitting it would be. I had no idea how much I would learn about my own need of Grace through parenting you (and big Sissy and Bubby).
I’ve been reading the book Give them Grace by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson and it has spoken to my heart time and time again. This book is reminding me in so many ways that as children you do not need just a set of rules and instructions to follow. There is so much more at the heart of teaching you. These words from the last chapter of the book resonated deeply with me.
“So when you have that morning to top all mornings, when everything could possibly go wrong does, when grace doesn't mean anything to you, it is His grace that will sustain you. What mornings like these teach us is that we’re just like our children. They forget, and so do we. They need grace, and so do we. We are partners in grace with them. We need days of failure because they humble us, and through them we can see how God’s grace is poured out on the humble.”
I think we could all learn a lot by watching our children and how they live life. There is a passion and a love of the moment that I admire so much about my four year old. When do we start to change? When do we stop living with such reckless abandon? Children live with such unconditional love, with an incomparable energy, and they enjoy the present in a way we often neglect as adults. Yes, we could all learn from watching our children.
I love seeing the joy you live life with.
You are loving your new found freedom in the pool. I love watching your confidence and independence grow daily. This is the summer you became a fish.