He is clearly seen.

don’t you?

With several inches forecasted for the next few days, I started thinking again of summer.  Wrigley specifically.  I went back into the archives and decided to play with a few photographs.  These were taken on our way downtown to catch a Cubs game……but more because the children had a chance to run the bases.  The run the bases part was to be the highlight for sure.  As we waited with all of the children to get on the field, the rain began.  And it didn’t stop for quite some time.  We never did get a chance to run the bases.  There is always next year.

Awaiting the train:

The museum is one of my girls’ favorite places.  Afterward we had fun taking photos with a new hat….

An Unexpected Gift

Terror screams in the night
Her little feet carry her to mama
Blood falling on her lips
Her nose quickly draining blood

Warm wet towel to her face
So many tears for a little one
The sterile feeling bathroom and terror
This little one usually sparkly and ever-moving

Reaching under her legs; head cradled in mama’s arms
Away from the hard, cold room
Into the soft, old rocker
Peace, relaxing, resting, calm

A mama’s answer to prayer
This child is still
Laying quietly in mama’s embrace
Oversized all these years later but resting now

Rock back and forth; drifting
A mama’s peace
A gift from above
A prayer for the togetherness of years past answered

A moment of thanks and joy
“I see a little girl with a hairbow on the ceiling”;
“And a yellow horse going up to the sky”
Oh my soul, leaping and dancing at the sound of her little voice

She’s like a train, moving fast and far
Resting only on a schedule
A schedule mandated from above
As a sweet gift to a mama in need

Thank you, Father.

….Drinking up, soaking in moments like this, recognizing them as they come along – not allowing them to drift into that forgetting, unrecognized place is nourishment for the soul in a dying world…..

I feel lots and lots of challenges for my household this time of year.  While I love the snow, the dark that arrives so quick each day is problematic for all of us.  The children get ready to spend a lot more time indoors and I get frustrated that there won’t be any boating until summer and that it is harder to get natural light photographs during the winter months.  All that said, I was so thankful for the first snow of the season earlier this week.

And now we prepare to celebrate God’s goodness.  The pilgrims remind us of hard work and determination to form a land that honored the Lord Jesus they loved so much.

Pilgrims and Indians really do love waving at their mamas & papas.  They all look so excited to perform their various poems, songs and Bible verses.

And this one, well, just because I adore her:

One sick little one…..

although not perfect, this still warms my heart:

olivia-psalm-23

Congrats on the straight A’s, Miss Mak

In honor of veteran’s day this past Tuesday, I wanted to share some photographs of my favorite veteran – My dad.  Beepa for short.  My dad was a young soldier when he was sent to VietNam.  And my mom was a very brave wife while he was gone.    Both my mom and dad are full of humility – a quality that I adore in them.

Here’s my dad as a young guy:

This is this marine these days:

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Thought I’d also post some of the birthday photographs from last week.  I’ve got so many, but thought I’d just post some of Lulu:

Here is our birthday girl blowing out the candles are the party we had with her friends:

And the very next day with family:

First, the wisest thing I’ve heard all day:

“I just keep praying that God does what He wants for this country.  I’m not even praying for the candidate I want to win.  He knows best.”  My mom said something like this to me this morning.  In my opinion, that is the wisest thing I’ve heard all day.  Thanks mom.

Now, my girl’s day:

We began with a big hug for Papa……after she saw the decorations:

Yes, our dining room table often has clutter on it.  Does yours?

This little one is a girly, girl.  Dresses and sparkly things are her delight.  She received this dress and some new shoes the night before her day to wear to school.  And that’s the tag still attached!

These are the spectacular shoes that she *adored*:

Aren’t they fabulous for a six year old?

We made some treats for her friends at school:

Of course, we pulled out the special day plate.  And we had a special breakfast.  Crepes with butter & cinnamon sugar.  She didn’t like them, by the way.  Isn’t that odd?  I put sugar AND whipped cream on them.  I’m stumped by that one:

We opened some cards and gifts after breakfast.  I wrote something to her in the card and when I began to read it to her, I got choked up.  I mean, I started to cry.  Dave had to finish reading it for me.  Then I cried some more.  Why?  Well, there is something about this one.  Something special.  All parents think that about their children.  Of course I think Mak is special in her own way, too.  But with Lu, well, I can’t explain it.  Maybe it’s because I had some miscarriages prior to giving birth to her……and then when I was first pregnant with her I started to bleed and the dr. told me that the baby probably wouldn’t live…..and to make sure that I get in immediately next time I get pregnant to get the progesterone.  Maybe that’s why.  That’s probably part of it.  But there is something more.  Something about this child.  She’s like this bright light in our home.  She’s laughter.  And shiny.  And happy.  And complicated.  And lovely and loving.  And so much more.

See what I mean?

Snowball makers and igloo makers………..oh man is she ready for the snow!  And the tinkerbell movie & and Uno game.  What a blessing that we could provide these things for her.  Really.  That’s a blessing.

And no birthday would be complete without a call from Uncle Jimmy….and GrandMary & Beepa….and Aunt Julie.  All before school.  Loved she is.  Yep, very loved.

This is one of my favorites from the day:

Then we voted.  And moved on with life.

We went to a wonderful diner near our home for dinner.  The entire restaurant sang happy birthday to Lulu.  Oh, how I love living in a small town.  Watch for her big, bright smile.  She was so happy.

blowing out the candles!

And the sweet car her sundae came in:

Another of my favorites from the day…..as we walked into the diner:

A little uno when we got home……the Tinkerbell movie (during which they both belly laughed).  And then they begged that we would wake them up when we knew who won the election.  We refused that request.  We don’t need any crying tonight.  I can wait for the morning for that.

I’m posting this one again, because it is my favorite photograph from the day.

Lord:   thank you for this little one.  You made all of our dreams come true when you caused her to grow into a healthy baby……and then you gave her to us to care for on this earth.  Thank you.  We pray that in spite of all of the parenting mistakes that we have made and will make, that she will grow and learn to follow You everyday of her life.

This little girl turns six years old this week.  Oh my.

She’s gotten just so big:

I’ll be celebrating this sweet little one this week.  I’m taking a break from shooting anything new (other than two or three people that I said I would certainly shoot) so there will be a lot of my kiddos around here in the near future.

Happy Birthday week Lulu.  You are a big bright light in our lives.