Our Family

The only way we are ever going to ensure peace on this planet is to adopt the entire world as "our family." We are going to have to hug them and kiss them. And dance and play with them. And we are going to have to sit and talk and walk and cry with them. Because when we do, we'll be able to see that, indeed, everyone is beautiful, and we all complement each other beautifully and we would all be poorer without each other.

Stan Dale

I came across this in a box of cards. Thought is worth sharing.

For the record...the memory record:

• Gracie's people are beginning to look more like people with hair, eyes, nose, mouth, limbs & now a belly button. The mouth is an attempted smile that overuns the outline of the face on both sides. I love that kind of smile, don't you?
• Adverbs...Grace uses adverbs now--correctly in most cases. For example: I have to go to the potty quickly or that guy is walking quickly and I fixed my hair beautifully.
• Grace likes Lightmean Aqueen (Lighting McQueen) and needs the game just like Haddon. She pointed out "I don't have anything Lightmean Aqueen and I need something."
• M's look like m's & o's look like o's and g's are taking shape as well. We're learning to write.
• After the 27th snow event (according to WLS 890), Gracie is finished with snow.
• Gracie likes to sing the high part while mom sings the low part, though she's becoming more of a soloist lately. Per this morning (Veggie Tales "You Are My Sunshine") when the part gets high, you have to sing really loud and open your mouth really big.

Every Season

A heart song from one of my favorites~

Every Season by Nicole Nordeman

and everything in time, and under heaven finally falls asleep
wrapped in blankets white, all creation...shivers underneath

and still I notice you, when branches crack

and in my breath on frosted glass
even now in death, you open doors for life to enter
you are winter

and everything that's new, has bravely surfaced
teaching us to breathe

what was frozen through, is newly purposed
turning all things green,

so it is with you and how you make me new
with every season change

and so it will be, as you are recreating me
summer, autumn, winter, spring

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's just a season & things will change, making me new again.

This has been a monumental week for Ms. Grace. She is yet away at her 1st sleepover...spontaneous sleepover. What did she pack 1st? All things regarding her hair: 3 headbands, barrettes, comb, brush & tangle spray. Cute~

I checked in this morning to see how she fared: a few tears at midnight - no, she didn't wake up at midnight but was going to sleep. Arrrrr~ Oh, yes that's right: sleepovers don't happen everyday. So tears at midnight but she fell asleep in the cuddling arms of the big sister of her little friend. Sweet. She's probably still sleeping~ Too cute

And how did I spend my first free night without Grace?? Not much to tell given the blizzard, short notice & must-stay-close-to-home-just-in-case situation. Grocery shopping - no one shops on Friday night - get in, get out. There was a blizzard, so needed some staples just in case. After putting in the last load of laundry, I popped some popcorn & settled in for a bit of mom TV ohne animation. :o) I fell asleep on the couch watching a Friends rerun, then rested comfortably in my Grace free bed until 5:50 AM this morning.

Next time, I'll be more prepared for sure. For sure, there will be a next time.

Happy snowy day~