Lotion, Laughter, Love

1. I so thoroughly want to bottle up the smell of babies after a bath and keep it for when I feel upset. There is no better smell than a freshly bathed baby sleeping quietly on your chest.

2. I heard my daughter laugh in her sleep the other night. This was the first glimpse in to what she will sound like when she is happy. It was so cute.

3. I am overwhelmed by the love I already feel from Maya...and by the love from Luke, Drew, Evan, and Gabriel. The boys are so good about telling me that I'm a good mommy...Gabriel always tells me the "secret" that I'm "the best mommy in the whole wide world." I love his secrets.

Omniscience, Opponents, & Oreos

1. I'm reminded today more than once that God knows all and is in the business of using His knowlege for benefits we don't always understand at the time. Maybe we see the outcomes immediately...but sometimes we have to wait for it. Either way, when we wait on Him, we're a blessed people.

2. I love playing games with my children. They make the best opponents. SkipBo and Sorry are games of choice at this moment in their lives. Reminds me of times spent with my favorite opponent - my Dad.

3. 'Tis the season for me to make some Oreo Balls. If you haven't had them before, you're missing out. I can't wait to get the stuff and make them for the Holiday festivities. It's traditionally something I bring to Christmas gatherings. MMMM MMMM MMMM!!!

New, Nuzzling, Nice

1. The newness of a new born. I love Maya so much! How did we function without her?

2. The way a baby snuggles in to your neck and listens to your heartbeat as they settle in to a good long nap.

3. The smell of a freshly bathed baby. There is nothing better.


I am blessed. Thank You, God.

Successes, Sleeping In & Sentiment

1. It was nice to get the few things done that I did in the past two days. I have a list to go, but seeing some of it checked off makes me feel good.

2. Today was the kids' fall break, as well as tomorrow. That means we all slept in today. It was nice.

3. When I came out from taking my shower this morning, I discovered Chad sitting on our bed with a lock box that he has kept over the years. I never really thought about what was in it. He brought to me as I brushed my hair. Inside it was all the notes and letters I had given him when we were dating. It was fun to read how silly I was in them...and young...and naive. Best of all was the fact that he kept them.

Clarity, Comfort, & Crisp

1. Knowing you did the right thing, and although hard, praying for a comfort to come in the midst of the turmoil.

2. And it does....

3. The fresh feeling of clean, cool bed sheets at night that smell inviting and feel crisp.

Peace, Purity, & Pretending

1. The quietness and calm that comes when all the children are fresh from a bath and contentedly watching Charlie Brown's Great Pumpkin cartoon before bedtime.

2. The innocense of the way their minds work...the giggles over small things...

3. Listening to them play together and wishing my imagination worked like theirs does.

Smells, Smiles, & Smooches

1. The fresh smell of a child after his nightly bath, all warm and ready to snuggle.

2. The smile a cup of home made hot chocolate brings to the faces of my children.

3. The lip smacking smooches I get as my little ones run off to bed.