Where we've been

... missing from the blog world yes, but busy and happy more importantly. It has been a long summer, mostly filled with sun and laughter by a pool, or on a beach, at the lake and among family. We are blessed and really taking it in. I have so many photos to edit and share with you all, but the most important thing for you all to know is that we are doing well.

Austin starts Kindergarten next week and although I find myself reflecting on this milestone in our lives, I have very little time to sit and write about it... until this moment, which is where I will begin. I just finished a final exam for a class that made me question higher education all together. It was a class that I took "face-to-face" and made me really resent the fact that at the age of 30-something, I still have yet to finish my undergraduate studies. I will spare you all the details, as I find it would just sound like whiny jabber... but I will tell you this, I have lots of first hand experience to write my final paper on why education has been stripped of creativity... which leads me into Austin starting school.

So my little boy, my baby, the very first reason why this blog was started will be entering full day kindergarten next week. I know I am his mama, and I know mamas can be biased, but I know my boy is bright and incredibly creative. He starts each day on his own foot and is amazing at creating his day... I am not sure if that makes sense to any of you, so if it doesn't imagine this: a day where all your thoughts, outlandish by public opinion or not, all your dreams and wishes come true. Austin asked me today what he was good at, what was his special talent.

Well my boy, from day one, since the very day you were born you had the ability to put a smile on any person's face. You have grown into a person who is good, no great, no exceptional at everything you love. You are beautiful (although you prefer "handsome" because you're sister and best friend Ava are the MOST beautiful in your book and they are girls) you are sincere and you know what is best for all. Austin Lee you are a caring soul who is on the constant look out for others and you enter each day with the most inspiring attitude any person would be envious over. You learn from others deeds and understand why some other's actions are bad without me ever having to explain.

You feel... thank God for that.

You LOVE your family, even the ones you have never met, and you adore your friends. You are kind to animals and listen to what they say as if you do not speak their language. You are never afraid to show your affection for me and Dad and your baby sister; she is your world.

My dear sweet boy, I don't want one ounce of you to change, but I want you to grow. I can only believe that you beginning your formal education will allow you to grow... more to be delivered soon...


Much love, Liz

Spring shopping

I love this shirt, but they don't have my size.

The dog's gonna get fat and I may be a bit cranky...

The blogging rage has fizzled these days with the online craze shifting to Facebook. I found I was on Facebook so often, catching up mostly with my dad's side of the family that I had lost touch with over the past five years, that the sport of updating my status became a nauseating addiction.

So here I am, five days strong into Lent and no Facebook! Go me! I was discussing this silly and in many ways insignificant sacrifice to a fellow blogger, member of Facebook and very close friend of mine. She gave up random web surfing for Lent. We both agreed that without either of our online addictions we find ourselves stumped when on the web... where am I going with this all... not sure, but I know more blogging is in the future.

So the dog's going to get fat. I have this really terrible habit of tasting the kids food before I feed them anything and nibbling up what's left on their plates in addition to eating an enjoyable meal myself. As of Wednesday that stopped. I don't want to say that I am dieting, because Lord knows the grief I would get for just speaking that word, but I am making a concentrated effort to consume good foods, whole foods, foods my body needs. So Hannah might get fat from all the kiddie scraps. So far I haven't heard her complain.

I've been cranky because of this transition. Grrr...

The time that's void

There's no room to think or write at a time like this. No room for emotion, let down or complaints. As we walk through the days, weeks, often times months, and even some years of separation, the only way to be is numb, grateful and proud.

Very little gets you fired up, yet even the smallest things bring a smile to your face, a pain in your heart or a "thank you God" to your lips. Not all are aware of what is going on, or they are and they really don't understand. And then you remember your brothers and sisters, those who share the worry, pain, joy, pride and dedication. At times you may feel very alone, that while your spouse is away, you have been forgotten not only by friends and neighbors, but even by family. And that is exactly what you want, for every prayer and thought to reach your spouse and not even braise your blessed head.

And circumstantially a neighbor calls and invites you for dinner, a friend would love to take the kids for a couple hours, a kind note arrives in your inbox because there is love. And then ............ you let go of the pain ........... and the numbness sets in ........ and the time ............. it passes ......... and the impalpable is born. You forget about the tears because the man you are so deeply, madly in love with is away, but he is not gone and you are thankful.

You are thankful for each phone call and your mom's voice, that message your brother left, each email, chat, letter, visit from out of town guests, a latte dropped on your doorstep, a few sunny days at the playground, play groups buzzing with laughter and wine, meals made with love, for you and your little ones... your little ones ... those sweet, sweet babies... you are so thankful for them.

And so the weeks have made a month. And now he's on his way home. And you get butterflies in your gut, the same way you did when you first met. Your planning a special meal, picking out just the right outfit, bought a great bottle of Malbec... It's all over again and it is beautiful and the beauty is in you, the beauty is tomorrow.

We're here and we're happy

Happy New Year to all. Hope everyone had a spectacular and magical Christmas. Will post more adorable pictures of these guys soon. For now, I have writers block... sorry.