fall joys

Here in Indiana, we are in midst of the glories of fall.

The weather is perfect, and we all want to be outside as much as possible.

Like a friend said, it's like "God's fireworks before winter comes."

A tromp in the woods

(the boy icing his eye is nursing a basketball injury.)

A building project!

This brings back memories! 

My parents helped me make an awesome lean-to when I was a kid!

A few cute pictures;

these ones of Eldon make me think of my mom :)

Thank you God for Autumn!

To Aggie on your tenth birthday

To Aggie on your tenth birthday,

I just realized with horror that I did not write you a birthday letter last year!  Please forgive me, and remember that I also wrote an entire book while thinking of you!  I blame the kitchen remodel of 2013, and the party planning and milkshake making and … whatever, you understand I’m sure. YOu are not the type to hold a grudge!

Ten. How are you TEN?

Big kids are so awesome. This year you started playing volleyball and I got to be your coach!  I hope you had as much fun as I did! Of course you did- you are still the child who makes fun wherever you are!

We just made another trip to Cleveland and we got to see Dr. Wyllie.  As you danced into her office, she said to me, “You know she’s cured, right?”  Such wonderful words to hear from such a woman. I will never entirely forget the scar or the shadow over you (and all of us), but I do forget it most of the time these days.

“Mom, do you have a job I can do?” You ask me this all the time. You are the most diligent, hard-working child I have ever met. You love to organize and to make things pretty.  You love getting paid for it too.. and when I asked you the other day what you needed so much money for, you shush’d me and said, “Now don’t you worry about it. Christmas is coming, that’s all.” You have interviewed the whole family about Christmas gifts already. Who am I do try to reign in this beautiful drive of yours?

One of my favorite things about this year has been our enjoyment of A Series of Unfortunate Events. You have devoured all 13 books, racing past me (I am still on #11.)  I love that you love the wit and the drama in these books. (Wit: a word which here means snarky and hilarious statements by the author scattered throughout dramatic and exciting tales of orphans running from Olaf.)

I am writing this several weeks after your birthday, after an epic month of busyness with church and school.  Right now I am in Florida with your daddy and you are chuggin’ chocolate milk at Nana’s house. Last night we talked via Facetime, and you could hardly carry on a conversation because you were having too much fun making weird faces into Nana’s Ipad. Oh child, you make me laugh!

Last week we camped in Kentucky. It was so much fun conquering the trails with you. Conquer you did- you and Marcus (and sometimes Eldon) led the way. I don’t think you ever got tired, not tired enough to stop. You climbed huge rocks and waterfalls and rejoiced in every bit of the wild.  I love your adventurous spirit!

Happy, happy birthday my dear daughter!

May God sustain your cheerful and generous spirit as you grow up in Him!
Love, Momalina

to Marcus on your seventh birthday...

To Marcus on your 7th birthday:

First grade gets to have you this year, every single school day. I miss having you home on Tuesdays and Thursdays like last year, and you miss it too (mostly because you love to play with little Reese, but I think you miss me a little, too.)

You are such a good big brother that other people are taking notice. Katie Jo asked you “Will you be Jimmy’s big brother?” You thought for a moment and said, “I’ll be his big friend.” Perhaps you feel like you have enough live-in little brothers. I can’t say I blame you!

You are STILL the one who can make me laugh when I really don’t feel like it. I remember one day when I was SO tired of the wrestling and noise, and then you decided to pants somebody. I was MAD. “Marcus! It is NOT OK to pull down someone’s pants!” Your brother was freaking out and you were trying so hard to look serious and sorry, but that twinkle in your eye! and that smirk!  I couldn’t take it. I said, “It’s NOT funny…” but I couldn’t even convince myself of that, so laughing I said, “Ok fine, it is funny, but you have to decide if this laugh is worth the consequences…” Somehow, I think you’ll be the kind of person willing to pay a high price for a good laugh your whole life long.

You notice when I’m feeling grumpy, and most of the time, you stop whatever you are doing and you sing to me, “Oh baby YOU got what I need…” in the style of Biz Markie. Gets me every single time.

Your birthday this year was all about “boy stuff,” slingshots and nerf guns and hikes in the woods. You watched Home Alone and made your own bad-guy trapping plans. You are still certain you want to be “a police” when you grow up. I’m beginning to believe it could happen.

Until then, we will try to contain your manliness in this little house of ours!

Thanking God for seven years with you,

Marcus!

Love, mom