The Tears Fall

The tears fall.

Happy tears. Sad tears. Just-because-I'm-hormonal tears. They come out of nowhere these days and catch me off guard. Or wake me up in the middle of the night.

Like now. Finally I gave in. After crying, praying, kissing my sleeping daughters, and eating a Pop-tart...I decided to write. So bear in mind this is being drafted at 4 a.m. and therefore should be read with grace.

Why am I feeling so emotional?

With our baby's due date just three weeks from today (Yikes!), I am just emotional in general. But yesterday was one of those days that provided so many opportunities for emotion. It held a milestone event for Adria, a church friend's funeral, another Sunday at the office, and a celebration for the Baby boy that's about to join us...among other things.

The Baby Shower

Last night, my Mom and Adrian's Mom hosted a Baby Shower with the theme "Frogs, Snails and Puppy Dog Tails" for our little guy. It was super cute, and I could tell a lot of time had gone into the preparations. I felt honored and thankful that such effort would be put forth for a third baby. Much appreciated, Mom! My sister made the trip down from Vermont to be there, and it was so good to visit with some dear friends and family. Thoughtful and adorable gifts and boy clothes were given to us and baby, along with many much-needed Diapers and wipes!

My Mom tapped into her creative side to make this cute poster for the Shower
along with Frog, Snail, and Puppy Dog Cake Pops!

But the silly thing is that I awoke in the night crying because Adria was not there to open the gifts with me. Such a silly Mommy! She has been so excited about Baby Brother coming and baby stuff, that I thought she'd love to help look through the bags of goodies. Instead, she and sister Johanna took advantage of the sunny spring day and played outside with cousins and other little girls who were there. You know, like any normal child, so I didn't want to stop them.

Me and my girls at the end of the Baby Shower

Then in bed, my mind wandered back to Adria's Baby Shower, nearly seven years ago (has it been so long?). I remember many people being there to celebrate her coming. I remember taking a few minutes to share about her special life and the unknowns with Spina Bifida, and our hope and prayer that even though the baby I carried had a life-altering "abnormality" that she could still live a blessed and fulfilling life. And just look at her now! I wished I would have said something about it last night, and publicly thanked God for Adria's blessing along with the blessing of a perfectly healthy little girl in Johanna and the opportunity to have a son. Yes, the tears are falling.

The Soccer Game

A huge testimony to Adria's blessing and her incredible life also occurred yesterday. She played in her first ever soccer game! This was her first official sports game of any kind, actually. She ran around the field with other children age 6 and under, and kicked the ball several times, falling just a couple times. Of course, she was regularly distracted by her fan club that kept arriving to watch...there were about a dozen of us there.

But let me tell you, I was laughing along with crying the happy tears. Watching these little ones play 3 on 3 soccer was hysterical! Half the time, they were kicking the ball the wrong way or standing there oblivious that the ball had come to them. Still, each team somehow managed to score two goals.

Look at Adria running after the soccer ball!

The game lasted less than 30 minutes and even with many breaks, Adria's cheeks were flushed and she was quite winded and tired by the end. But, we were all so proud! Our little girl, who can't wiggle her toes or walk well without leg braces to support her weak calves and ankles, was out there playing SOCCER! And it was all by her choice. When she saw the paper come home from school with the soccer balls all over it, she begged to play. Mom and Dad were apprehensive, but she really wanted to and we had to let her try...even if it meant she'd fall on her face time and again. But this little girl knows how to get up again (sometimes with a few tears of her own).

Here's Adria at her first soccer practice a few weeks ago:

Mom and Dad supporting our little worn out soccer star post-game. 

The Funeral

In between the Soccer Game and the Baby Shower, there was a Funeral. It was for a dear lady from church, almost my parents' age, who just lost her battle with cancer. I was not able to attend because I had to work, but I heard that more than 200 people were there to remember the life of this soft-spoken woman with a servant heart and deep love for God and her family.

Though I was not very close to her personally, just the thought of her family's loss and the empty spot that will be left in the church is enough to bring tears. Yet, we still can rejoice that she is whole and healed in her new heavenly home.

A friend at my shower said it was really a great service in her honor. The service and reception went fairly long, so many of my church friends were not able to attend our Baby Shower, but of course I was understanding.

The Office

In the midst of this day, I found myself crying at work. While I do have to work every other Sunday, it is a short day for me, requiring about five hours in the model home...a.k.a. my office. Yesterday was not busy, and I was honestly so thankful because Saturday and the rest of the week were so full of client appointments (which really is a great thing).

My one appointment was with a woman who came in with her three children - two girls and their little brother. Turns out they were all three years apart, just like my children, but about ten years ahead of us. The kind mother had just been approved for a loan for her first home and was researching her options. She was timid yet eager to explore her options to build with us. I wanted to help her, I really did. Unfortunately, there was no way I could get her into a new home with the limited amount of her loan approval. I did the best I could to encourage her and provide advice, but I could see the disappointment in her eyes.

A few minutes after they left, I couldn't stop thinking about this mother that must be working so hard to provide a good life for her family and to give them a home. Yep, it made me cry. I hope and pray that she can find a wonderful place to call home.

A New Day

As dawn is now approaching, my tissues are wet from all these happy, sad, hormonal tears. But my heart is full and I am thankful. I have so much to give thanks for...a baby who I will soon hold, two beautiful daughters, a comfortable home, a great job, caring friends and family, and a New Day that God has given to embrace. In this new day, I am especially thankful for my husband, who shows his love in special ways, like giving his nine month pregnant wifey a pedicure yesterday morning so that I had pretty blue toes for the Baby Shower :)   

Here's to hoping your days may have Happy Tears, even in the midst of the Sad Tears.

Our Princess celebrating Halloween?

October had barely begun when Adria announced that she wanted to be a princess for Halloween.

This may seem completely normal, however we have never really celebrated Halloween. My husband and I both grew up in conservative households where our parents chose not to participate due to the pagan origins of the holiday. They likely agreed with what this article discusses about Christians celebrating Halloween, and how it's best just to create an alternative.

Ironically, the alternative Halloween celebration we grew up with usually involved Adrian and I celebrating together as children. That's right, we have known each other my entire life; he was always the cute older brother of one of my best friends.

Since my family lived in town, my parents would drive us out to the Seely's farmhouse in the country, far from trick-or-treaters, and we would play games and make yummy popcorn balls. (Here's a video recipe if you've never tried these!)

It was a fun time for our families, and now holds special memories for Adrian and I.

But we never did trick-or-treat and neither has Adria. It's not something we've felt strongly against, but she is easily frightened of scary-looking things. At such a young age, I've been concerned about taking her out amidst many older children who may be dressed in frightening costumes.

Until this year, there has been little discussion in our home about Halloween.

However, Halloween has been exuberantly talked about and celebrated at Adria's pre-school the entire month of October. Plus, all the cartoons she enjoys applaud the wonder of this costume and candy-filled holiday. Her teachers and bus drivers ask, "What are you going to be for Halloween?" to which she excitedly responds, "A Princess!" as if there were no other option.

At this point, it would actually be cruel of me as a mother to say, "No, sweetie, we don't celebrate Halloween." How would her five year old mind grapple with that, as all her other pre-school friends excitedly make plans for the holiday?

On Thursday, October 31, she was proudly adorned in her Rapunzel dress and tiara as she got on the school bus, which is provided by the state for pre-school children with "challenges." The bus drivers hooted and whistled at our cute, little Princess.

Her pre-school is actually located within the local public high school, where the older students can assist her teachers and learn about early childhood development. That Halloween afternoon, they took Adria's class of 23 costumed kids trick-or-treating to different classrooms through-out the high school.

The parents were invited to join in afterwards for a little party and snack. And my little princess was so excited to see that I had been able to step away from work for an hour and bring sister Johanna to be there with her! Her teachers told me she was such a trooper walking so far through the school, even if they did have to slow the pace at the end somewhat for her.

Adria with her classmates at their Pre-school Halloween Party

 

Sister Johanna, Little Bo Peep, made herself a part of the fun

 

Now that Adria had a bag full of candy and her first trick-or-treat experience under her belt, we decided to spend the evening resurrecting a long past Halloween tradition. We took Princess Adria and Little Bo Peep Johanna to Granny Seely's house for pizza, popcorn balls, and fun time with their cousin Ireland a.k.a. Princess Sofia the First.

Precious Princess Cousins at Granny's house

Halloween can be a controversial holiday in the Christian community, but I do think Matt Slick from CARM.org did a good job discussing the topic. It's best to be aware of what the holiday is and educate your children when they are ready, but any child loves the chance to dress up and get lots of candy!

The Purple Princess Party

Watching our baby girl turn 5 is a big deal. It's an even bigger deal when it's her first birthday, since she turned one, where we live close to many family and friends again.

Naturally, we had to celebrate in style. The Purple Princess Party was a grand event that featured eight adorable little princesses! The celebration was held on Sunday, Adria's actual birthday of September 8.

Eight adorable princesses attended the Purple Princess Party - Birthday Girl Adria is second from left. 

Aunt Leona graciously watched our two princesses in the early afternoon, while Mommy, Daddy, Uncles Cam and Aaron, and Grandma and Grandpa worked hard to decorate the back yard. I was really appreciating the fact that the home we now rent sits on a 3/4 acre wooded lot, giving us plenty of space for the festivities.

Due to the excessively girly theme, the only little boy invited was a princess' younger brother who actually turned one that day! Sorry, my dear friends with little boys, maybe next time we can do something for them too, I just know that my nephews don't appreciate the "prince" role that much :)

Adria and the token little man at the party, who was celebrating his own first birthday on Sunday! 

We kept the girls busy with a princess glasses craft, Crown the Princess game, swingset and sandbox, dinner and cake, and a castle piñata that an older princess had to help break. The princesses got along well and seemed to enjoy the "castle" we built with a canopy tent, streamers and wrapped diaper boxes for the entrance.

They eagerly joined in crowning the princess and hitting the piñata, all except for the birthday girl that is. Adria said she was afraid to play and wouldn't even try without the blindfold. I wondered later if she may have been unsure with her footing and afraid to fall in front of her friends? That's not usually a concern, but who knows. She did love the glasses, cake, loads of presents, and most of all, playing with a bunch of princesses!

And of course, no party is complete without a little drama. Just as we were getting ready to pray and bless the food, my little Johanna starting gagging on some watermelon and then spewed all over us both. Yeah, it was disgusting. But, we just stepped inside and changed while the guests got their food...I hope no one lost their appetite! Fortunately, Jo-Jo was only temporarily slowed down and soon was back to running around everywhere, like she does.

After that episode, I found a few minutes to sit down and grab a bite to eat before cake and presents.

My mom really gets into her grandkid's parties. She made the party invitations, the Princess for the game, and this great castle cake.

The weather was perfect and all the little princesses seemed to have a good time. Even though Adria didn't want to participate in the games and Johanna barfed on me, I would say it was a great party and well worth the effort. 

Finally, as the sun was setting at the close of the party, I was able to steal away my little 5 year old for a moment together. How I love this amazing princess!