Missing Mike

mike has been busy lately.

really busy.

work and school

school and work

and we've been missing him something fierce.

 i've been going through old pictures a lot lately

and they remind me

not of this busy season

but of our best memories

quiet days

they remind me of what a gift my husband is

 it's been a long week

the kids are asking constantly

about him

when I write that he's been busy,

that would be an understatement

 he does it for us

work

and he does it for his family

he's selfless

the most selfless person I know

 and tonight

we get to see him

I can't wait

and that's the biggest understatement

come tonight

he's done with school for a few months

and we will have dinner together

seven nights a week

i can't wait for that 

 come tonight

we'll all get hugs and kisses

 man, i miss him

 and so do they

we're waiting for you Mike

my biggest blessing

my soul mate

my constant

i love you

My week and Thanksgiving

This week was fabulous. I love that I can type that.

We had some friends over, I accomplished some little projects, hint, hint:

 and I focused my attention. One thing that's been so helpful to me, lately, and in all of my life is to keep a journal. This week I wrote down some goals that I wanted to accomplish, and what do you know, my etsy site is almost up and running. I feel proud of myself. I'm sure that it'll probably go something like every other time I've set up my etsy store, as in nothing sells. But that's okay, I had fun doing it.
Eden and I had a lot of plans this week. We made a Christmas chain, and we set up our nativity sets.

And I promised to set up some Christmas lights. This was no small task my friends. It was disastrous.

When I pulled out the wad of lights, and finally untangled them, I lost my footing and smashed the working lights with the crunch of my shoe. It was almost humorous. Then I got out our scary, shaky ladder and tried to hang our one working strand of icicle lights from the gutter above the garage.

Yeah, that didn't go so well either. So, we now have the sorriest display of Christmas lights you've probably ever seen out in our front yard.

But that's okay, the kids seem to think it's pretty cool.

And our Thanksgiving was wonderful. Eden kept breaking out in drama, being Mary, the mother of Jesus, and charming us all. It's really very adorable. And my mom made the. best. turkey. ever. It was so delicious.
But my favorite part about Thanksgiving is always when we go around the table and tell what we're thankful for. Tears well up in my eyes every year, and I love the little bond of intimacy it creates with those at the table. I know I have so much. So much, and I feel grateful all the time. I really do. But this year, I feel especially thankful for Mike. He's everything to me, and I love him more than anything.
Happy Post-Thanksgiving!

Love him!

I'm so behind in blogging. That's not the only thing either.
I think about all I have to do but not getting it done.
We are enjoying summer though.

Especially together.
Mike starts up class again and work will be in full swing.
Once again.
Life ebbs and flows, the flow part is my favorite.

We got to paddle board for a second time this summer.
With my best friend, what could be better?

Next up on the summer bucket list: golf!

Mine

Lately,

my

life

is

filled

with

these

beautiful

people.

Lucky, blessed, whatever, it's mine.

Dear Michael

Dear Michael,

Right now, you're somewhere between North Carolina and home. I hope you're getting close, because I sure do miss you.

Today was kinda quiet. The kids slept a half an hour later than I thought they would this morning and when I went to get Micah out of his crib, he asked for you, of course. I told him you were gone, made some noises like an airplane, and he said again "Daddy, peease". 

Eden asked me all day if you'd tuck her in tonight. Of course, he always does.

Our neighbor and I chatted under the shade of a tree while the kids played. She invited us to go to the German club where they belong. I quickly thought back a month ago, and jumped at the chance. 

It's not always easy for me to say yes, but hard times produce beautiful things. A simple thing like today was a beautiful thing.

Micah was happy as ever digging and dumping little stones into trucks. See how his little knuckles are dimpled? I love those little qualities that are still so baby-like in him. He said "sure" today and is getting more naughty than ever. If Eden even uses tone with him, well, he's ready for combat.

He was so busy at the German club. They had a little playground and he was so happy just playing alone but having me close by. I was sort of worried when we first got there.
He refused to walk. I know how you are with me carrying him with my ankle now, and whew! I was worried. So thankful that our neighbor is creative with words and she coaxed him into walking down this little wooded trail.

I have to tell you, I saw the biggest oak tree there that I've ever seen in my life. It just amazed me. We've got to plant one of those. Maybe in two hundred years our house won't be here or anything else, but if we planted an oak? pretty sure she'd still be standing.

 Eden had a hard time waking up from a nap. I know, it's becoming the norm.
She was so proud of herself that she wrote a perfect "A" today, and so was I. I love her love of learning, it inspires me and at the same time reminds me so much of you.

Yesterday when we went to Culver's, I had the windows down on our drive and the music was turned up. Eden heard the Lumineers song that she loves and smiled one of the biggest smiles that I think I've ever seen. I could see all of her teeth, even the back ones.
After we ate, I let the kids eat custard until they said it was enough. I get so tired of being the rule maker in all things, so I let loose yesterday. Both of them pushed their cups of custard over to me before they could finish. Then today I let Eden eat her cereal with creamer as her milk. She loved it.
Saying yes and bending rules: two things that the kids needed from me since you've been gone. They're things that remind me of you and gives me a better picture of your heart.
I  love you Michael and sure hope you come home soon.
We all  miss you like crazy,
Love, Raelle

Priceless to me

I posted a really long post on Thursday and just checked my blog right now to see it not there. Whoops. I'm kinda glad. It was a bit of a rant and I used to have a self-imposed rule of not writing when upset. I don't think I was upset, but a bad attitude was definitely displayed.

Mike's been working a lot lately and I've been repeating a mantra to myself: the joy of the Lord is my strength. It's been a tough week with the kids, but I feel like my patience has increased by leaps and bounds. Seriously, I love that, and I hope it sticks.

I took these photos last weekend. Could it get any sweeter? Mike is such an incredible dad. He has a servants heart like you wouldn't believe. And talk about selfless, I'm just blown away.

I love tender, little moments and wish they could be acknowledged every time they happen.

They're priceless to me.

A perfect day

Let's go fly a kite

Eden and I made a little staycation jar the week before last for all of the things that we wanted to do while Mike was off of work. We used a little baby food glass jar, and lots of colored strips of paper. For each thing we wanted to do, we wrote it on the little paper and folded it up really small and put it in the  jar. One of the things we wrote on there was to fly kites.

 By golly, last week, we did.

 Micah was happy as a clam watching from his car.

 I can't think of anything that I love more than family time. Mike and I are a little protective of our time as a family. But with him working and school, the time we do have is so precious.

 I wish I could freeze these moments, and make time stop. Sometimes when their going on, I feel that, at the same time I feel it slipping by.

 The kite flying was a new concept to my little girl. She did great, but the wind wasn't that mighty, so we settled for a eight inch long kite string.

I'm sure there will be many more times to come, and we can show her how it really soars.

 But in the meantime...

 she's happy with her eight inch string.

 Maybe I should've schooled her more.

 Eden went off, always wanting to run near the road. I think it had to do with the chase factor. So, I decided to play around with the camera and teach myself some manual camera ways.

 I'll improve. 

I love my family time, and can't thing of anything more dear to me.