once upon a time there was a little boy with dark brown eyes (his nanny called them little raccoon eyes) and light brown hair. He loved hugs and play time and his mama carried him around as much as he wanted. His legs were strong and he could run fast, but both mama and little boy preferred for her to carry him for much of the time. His daddy loved to chase him and listen to him sing and watch him dance.
But the daddy and the mama and little boy needed someone. They tried to find the right place for him during the day. A place where he could go during the day to play and to grow and to love his friends. The mama prayed hard for God to send her to right person, the right place for the little boy. They tried out several places, but it just wasn't the right fit for the little boy. So the Mama prayed harder. She enlisted others to pray harder. She needed someone special for her little dark eyed boy. Her heart was sad.
But then, God answered the prayers of the mama. And enter Ms. Debbie. It was love at first sight between the little boy and Ms. Debbie. Issues with potty training, separating from mama, tears at drop off time? Gone - in a day. She loved the little boy and he loved her.
Soon the mama and the daddy heard "Ms. Debbie does this. Ms. Debbie said that. Ms. Debbie says this." He grew, he learned, he played, he developed confidence and language skills, he learned to share, to take turns. He made friends with some of the sweetest kids we have ever met.
And then we blinked, and it was time for K4. Could today really be his last day with Ms. Debbie?
There are many of us who pray. We pray for what we need, what we want, what we hope for. God hears our prayers. And he heard mine and answered it that day when my baby boy was 2 years old and needed a person that none of us had even met.
Some people pray. Some people are answers to those prayers.
That is what Ms. Debbie has been to us. The answer to a mama's prayer.
Thank you, God, for an answered prayer.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
in that moment
There is a moment that comes as a mama - an unexpected moment - one you don't see coming. They don't teach you about it in birthing classes - rarely do you read any "parenting" books on it - but it arrives nonetheless for I would dare say all moms. It happens fast and many times it is over before you have time to process it. What is this glorious moment? The moment all mothers experience? Got it figured out yet?
Our bedrooms are carpeted. Our living room (much to my dismay and due only to Jamey's wishes) is carpeted. The hallway is not.
Let me set the scene for you. We are sometime in the wee hours of the morning - that time I have not seen much of, in oh - about the past 3 years or so. But no matter how long it has been - and really mine are pretty good sleepers once they get out of the midnight buffet stage - a mama can go from a dead sleep to up and ready for action in .0000001 of a second. Yes - that is a scientific number and yes it has been tested. Don't believe me? Ask a mom. Little bare feet hit our hardwood floors during the midnight hours as they exit the bedroom and run - sprint - to our room. I can hear the first foot hit the floor no matter how long I have been asleep. How can I do this? The sound of feet on that hard wood floor is louder to my mama ears than any alarm could ever be.
This time it is Ansley. It is rarely Ansley. Ansley goes to bed when she is tired and sleeps there all night. Stephen however is not so likely to stay in the bed appreciating his warm soft bed and pillow. But tonight it is Ansley. "Mama - Mama - there is water in my bed" If I wasn't moving fast yet, the fact that my 7 year old - sleeping on the TOP bunk has just told me there was water in her bed - I was moving at light speed by then. So in the dark - blind from no contacts - I move quickly to the kids room.
Thoughts: Has someone gotten sick? The stomach virus has landed here. I just know it. Who will take off tomorrow? I can't take off - Jamey will have to. Is he done with exams? I wonder if we all will get it. If I have to call in I wonder if I can go get some work to do here first before Jamey has to go in. Surely there is no actual WATER in her bed. I mean, that is just not possible, right? It is not raining, is it?
Your brain can think faster than your feet move. But I arrive in the kids room and see Stephen sound asleep on the bottom bunk. As I am not quite sure how much, ahem, weight is allowed on the ladder up to the top bunk I do my best to reach up and feel around in the sheets and blankets for this "water".
I find no water.
"Where is the water, Ansley?" I ask. I look down and she is sound asleep in the bottom bunk with her brother.
Of course.
No water, No stomach virus, No problem.
Back to sleep/
Maybe....maybe 60 seconds have passed. And I crawl back into bed with the man that I love.
And we all four sleep until morning.
Our bedrooms are carpeted. Our living room (much to my dismay and due only to Jamey's wishes) is carpeted. The hallway is not.
Let me set the scene for you. We are sometime in the wee hours of the morning - that time I have not seen much of, in oh - about the past 3 years or so. But no matter how long it has been - and really mine are pretty good sleepers once they get out of the midnight buffet stage - a mama can go from a dead sleep to up and ready for action in .0000001 of a second. Yes - that is a scientific number and yes it has been tested. Don't believe me? Ask a mom. Little bare feet hit our hardwood floors during the midnight hours as they exit the bedroom and run - sprint - to our room. I can hear the first foot hit the floor no matter how long I have been asleep. How can I do this? The sound of feet on that hard wood floor is louder to my mama ears than any alarm could ever be.
This time it is Ansley. It is rarely Ansley. Ansley goes to bed when she is tired and sleeps there all night. Stephen however is not so likely to stay in the bed appreciating his warm soft bed and pillow. But tonight it is Ansley. "Mama - Mama - there is water in my bed" If I wasn't moving fast yet, the fact that my 7 year old - sleeping on the TOP bunk has just told me there was water in her bed - I was moving at light speed by then. So in the dark - blind from no contacts - I move quickly to the kids room.
Thoughts: Has someone gotten sick? The stomach virus has landed here. I just know it. Who will take off tomorrow? I can't take off - Jamey will have to. Is he done with exams? I wonder if we all will get it. If I have to call in I wonder if I can go get some work to do here first before Jamey has to go in. Surely there is no actual WATER in her bed. I mean, that is just not possible, right? It is not raining, is it?
Your brain can think faster than your feet move. But I arrive in the kids room and see Stephen sound asleep on the bottom bunk. As I am not quite sure how much, ahem, weight is allowed on the ladder up to the top bunk I do my best to reach up and feel around in the sheets and blankets for this "water".
I find no water.
"Where is the water, Ansley?" I ask. I look down and she is sound asleep in the bottom bunk with her brother.
Of course.
No water, No stomach virus, No problem.
Back to sleep/
Maybe....maybe 60 seconds have passed. And I crawl back into bed with the man that I love.
And we all four sleep until morning.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
bedtime snack
So if my girl eats a giant bowl of backyard (as in MY backyard) cherry tomatoes and cucumbers from the Cathedral Square market with a topping of ranch dressing, does this mean summertime is here?
Yes.
Or at least we are so close to summer, we can taste it here at the Duke house.
Soon comes the marathon last two weeks of May which does include the following activities: Stephen last tball game and party, Ansley piano recital, birthday party #6 of the month, Ansley class party, Ansley awards day at school, Stephens end up year party at Ms. Debbies (this is also TOO emotional for me to discuss at the moment - oh ms debbie we will MISS you!), ARF 5K charity run, birthday party #7 of the month, Ansley dance recital, drive to New Orleans, fly to Memphis, fly to St Paul, fly to Rapid City, drive to Mission, South Dakota, week of mission trip and other activities, drive back to Rapid City, fly to St Paul, then to Memphis then to New Orleans and then drive to Mobile.
Got it?
Yeah - me either.
Welcome Summertime
Yes.
Or at least we are so close to summer, we can taste it here at the Duke house.
Soon comes the marathon last two weeks of May which does include the following activities: Stephen last tball game and party, Ansley piano recital, birthday party #6 of the month, Ansley class party, Ansley awards day at school, Stephens end up year party at Ms. Debbies (this is also TOO emotional for me to discuss at the moment - oh ms debbie we will MISS you!), ARF 5K charity run, birthday party #7 of the month, Ansley dance recital, drive to New Orleans, fly to Memphis, fly to St Paul, fly to Rapid City, drive to Mission, South Dakota, week of mission trip and other activities, drive back to Rapid City, fly to St Paul, then to Memphis then to New Orleans and then drive to Mobile.
Got it?
Yeah - me either.
Welcome Summertime
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
5 Lessons learned this week....
1. Front top baby teeth like to come out in pairs. Ansley lost the one (see post below) and then about a day later, while she was at school, she managed to pull out the one right next to it. "I just pulled and it came right out, Mama."
2. Despite starting the day out with a ticket (ugh - giant headache - ugh, ugh, ugh - I can't even type about it yet)
I was reminded several times that there are more important and worthy things out there than my inconvenience of dealing with a certain less than nice state trooper. Praying for several friends with some major issues.
~ And here is my random tangent from this particular section of my post. While I do believe that we should not sweat the small stuff, I do not believe that we are expected to just suck it up and never show a sign of sadness, frustration or disappointment. I do not believe God is indifferent to the small things. Now should they ruin our whole day? Cause us to lose countless nights of sleep? Allow us to lose sight of the needs of others? Absolutely not. But it is ok to vent or talk or fuss - whatever you want to call it. God is ok with that. I think we should be too. Sometimes our problems are not as serious as an ill child or a decision about an aging parent or a job loss or other tough situation, but God cares nonetheless and so should we. My mama says, "Let it go, Lettie. Let it go." And these are wise words. Vent, breathe, let go, breathe. No on to our regularly scheduled list of lessons from the week.
3. You do not need a kickstand when you have training wheels. Not only do you not need one, you physically can not place a kick stand on a bike with training wheels. Not even a spiderman bike belonging to a certain little four year old boy who resides here with us. This is most aggravating to said little boy. Sissy has a kickstand (no training wheels mind you) so he should have one. My money is on him riding without training wheels sooner than later. We shall see.
4. It matters a lot in life whether or not you have a mama(or dad or other parental type figure) who loves you. Woah - this is some deep stuff here. But let me try to explain my crazy thinking. I spent time this week looking at negatives (like the real negatives - the ones used for a 100 years before digital drowned them out less than 9 years ago) and many of these pictures are of my mom, my grandmother and my greatgrandmother. I am still sad that I did not get to know them as much as I would have liked as my grandmother and greatgrandmother passed away when I was a child. But looking at the pictures shows me where I come from. Where Ansley comes from. Strong women. Who loved their children. Loved them for who they were and for the success they knew was inside them. "you come from good stock" my mama told me. I believe it. I can see the good stock in those pictures. They loved their children enough to want the best for them. Not in a crazy "toddlers and tiaras way where the parents live their own happiness through their children" but in a way that sets high expectations for success. Not success financially or with status - but success as a person who helps others, takes care of their responsibilities and who wants their children to be happy and confident.
5. You must cook pole beans for a long time. Don't be scared. you are not overcooking them. Just cook and then cook some more. And then yum. Yeah for me.
2. Despite starting the day out with a ticket (ugh - giant headache - ugh, ugh, ugh - I can't even type about it yet)
I was reminded several times that there are more important and worthy things out there than my inconvenience of dealing with a certain less than nice state trooper. Praying for several friends with some major issues.
~ And here is my random tangent from this particular section of my post. While I do believe that we should not sweat the small stuff, I do not believe that we are expected to just suck it up and never show a sign of sadness, frustration or disappointment. I do not believe God is indifferent to the small things. Now should they ruin our whole day? Cause us to lose countless nights of sleep? Allow us to lose sight of the needs of others? Absolutely not. But it is ok to vent or talk or fuss - whatever you want to call it. God is ok with that. I think we should be too. Sometimes our problems are not as serious as an ill child or a decision about an aging parent or a job loss or other tough situation, but God cares nonetheless and so should we. My mama says, "Let it go, Lettie. Let it go." And these are wise words. Vent, breathe, let go, breathe. No on to our regularly scheduled list of lessons from the week.
3. You do not need a kickstand when you have training wheels. Not only do you not need one, you physically can not place a kick stand on a bike with training wheels. Not even a spiderman bike belonging to a certain little four year old boy who resides here with us. This is most aggravating to said little boy. Sissy has a kickstand (no training wheels mind you) so he should have one. My money is on him riding without training wheels sooner than later. We shall see.
4. It matters a lot in life whether or not you have a mama(or dad or other parental type figure) who loves you. Woah - this is some deep stuff here. But let me try to explain my crazy thinking. I spent time this week looking at negatives (like the real negatives - the ones used for a 100 years before digital drowned them out less than 9 years ago) and many of these pictures are of my mom, my grandmother and my greatgrandmother. I am still sad that I did not get to know them as much as I would have liked as my grandmother and greatgrandmother passed away when I was a child. But looking at the pictures shows me where I come from. Where Ansley comes from. Strong women. Who loved their children. Loved them for who they were and for the success they knew was inside them. "you come from good stock" my mama told me. I believe it. I can see the good stock in those pictures. They loved their children enough to want the best for them. Not in a crazy "toddlers and tiaras way where the parents live their own happiness through their children" but in a way that sets high expectations for success. Not success financially or with status - but success as a person who helps others, takes care of their responsibilities and who wants their children to be happy and confident.
5. You must cook pole beans for a long time. Don't be scared. you are not overcooking them. Just cook and then cook some more. And then yum. Yeah for me.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
TF comes to visit
I mean, really, should it not be against the laws of nature for a kid to learn to ride their bike AND lose a front top teeth in the same week?? There is really only so much "growing up" a parent can take this fast.
Ansley has now lost 3 teeth and as she gets a dollar for the number of teeth she has lost, the Tooth Fairy slipped $3 under her pillow last night and Ansley woke up a happy girl. Here are some toothless grins from the weekend.
Ansley has now lost 3 teeth and as she gets a dollar for the number of teeth she has lost, the Tooth Fairy slipped $3 under her pillow last night and Ansley woke up a happy girl. Here are some toothless grins from the weekend.
 |
| Ansley would like me to point out at that in this picture, she is drinking out of a straw with her teeth CLOSED thanks to the newly opened space in the front. :) |
Friday, May 13, 2011
Treasure Hunt
In the past few months we have discovered geocaching. And tonight was our first real attempt - a warm up really at finding some local geocaches. As we will be traveling quite a bit this summer, we want to have a little experience finding them, so we started tonight in our own neck of the woods.
Jamey, Stephen and I set off to find three. And we are back home again after finding only 1. But that is a start, right? The first one was a bust completely. We didn't realize we could look for hints until we left the first site, so we may go back to that one. The second one was near an intersection we literally pass 5-7 times a week - maybe more. Here is a picture of our first find.
Jamey, Stephen and I set off to find three. And we are back home again after finding only 1. But that is a start, right? The first one was a bust completely. We didn't realize we could look for hints until we left the first site, so we may go back to that one. The second one was near an intersection we literally pass 5-7 times a week - maybe more. Here is a picture of our first find.
Stephen was thrilled. A real live treasure hunt. I was a little worried that he would be a tad upset that the "treasure" was an old pill bottle. But when we opened it up and he helped to write our last name - he was hooked. So the 2nd stop of the night was a success.
By the time we reached our third stop, it was really too dark to see anything. We are pretty sure the geocache was hanging in a tree, but as I had no interest in feeling around in the edge of the forest in the dark, we decided to postpone that search in favor of some ice cream. So no find at that stop. Or so we thought.
Stephen talking to his mawmaw on the phone as we drove home tonight:
Stephen: "We founded two treasure Mawmaw. Two real live treasure. The first one was a secret paper map that we writed our names on. The other one was real FIREFLIES. Like on Princess and the Frog. Real fireflies and there were so many, there were more than 35 or even 38. So many, Mawmaw. you would not believe it."
And guess what, he is right!! There were hundreds of fireflies at that last stop. (Which by the way, was the woods near Mobile Greyhound Park - would I have ever stopped there in a million years? NOPE) While we didn't find the geocache at the last stop, we found a different treasure. A sign that a southern summer was on its way.
Pretty successful first outing and we are looking forward to more.
PS - Thanks to the PASSMORE family for letting us in on the FUN!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Woot-beard and White Witches
The drink of choice for both of my children would be root beer when given a choice. Although Stephen has just now started to like any drink that is carbonated. Ansley has loved it for a long time. But of course, as I want their teeth to be healthy (and I don't want to fork over $500 at the pediatric dentist) I try to limit the amount of any soda.
Root beer is some pretty good stuff, I must admit. And I am sure I will also enjoy periodically over the rest of my lifetime - but I will not ever be able to drink a root beer without hearing The Boy call his rootbeer a "woot-beard". That's right - add a letter d to the end of it, change that R to a W, and you have got about the cutest way to pronounce rootbeer ever.
Soon enough that letter d will be gone. Soon enough he will pronounce things as they should be. What a sad thought. Sad and, not so sad I suppose. Isn't that the whole idea? To have kids, raise them and then watch them grow up? They don't tell you this part in the manual you get for raising kids when you leave the hospital. Wait - there was no manual. Which must the reason I am trying to figure this whole thing out as it happens. The reason I am watching Stephen fight the White Witch from The Lion the Witch and the wardrobe and trying to memorize this moment.
It will be gone soon enough - these moments of great pretend. These moments of wootbeard, white witches and other magical things. So I am glad I am here now. And I am thankful for that.
Root beer is some pretty good stuff, I must admit. And I am sure I will also enjoy periodically over the rest of my lifetime - but I will not ever be able to drink a root beer without hearing The Boy call his rootbeer a "woot-beard". That's right - add a letter d to the end of it, change that R to a W, and you have got about the cutest way to pronounce rootbeer ever.
Soon enough that letter d will be gone. Soon enough he will pronounce things as they should be. What a sad thought. Sad and, not so sad I suppose. Isn't that the whole idea? To have kids, raise them and then watch them grow up? They don't tell you this part in the manual you get for raising kids when you leave the hospital. Wait - there was no manual. Which must the reason I am trying to figure this whole thing out as it happens. The reason I am watching Stephen fight the White Witch from The Lion the Witch and the wardrobe and trying to memorize this moment.
It will be gone soon enough - these moments of great pretend. These moments of wootbeard, white witches and other magical things. So I am glad I am here now. And I am thankful for that.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Homework for class
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