You Are Special Today

I did not hit the snooze button yesterday when my alarm abruptly interrupted my sleep at 6:15. I had a lot to do. It was one of those days that I woke up feeling behind. After doing my morning Bible Study and prayer time (which I have to admit, was more rushed than it should have been), I jumped into the shower and began planning every minute of my day which included but was not limited to graduation practice for Joshua, library, bank, 2 loads of laundry, balancing checkbook, sorting the mail/bills and creating treatment plans for tomorrow's work day...all by noon because I had to be at work at 1:00.

Obviously there would be no time to play with the kids today.

I came downstairs trying to figure out what I could prepare for breakfast that would be quick and not create a big mess. I walked into the kitchen and found this on the counter. The note reads "for mom today, Love Joshua."

In our home, it is a true privilege to eat on the You are Special Today plate. Being the mommy and the cook, I have never eaten on it.

It was more than a privilege for me...it was an answer to a prayer I had said that morning. Please Lord, during this crazy day, remind me of what is important to you and help me be a godly wife and mom.

He answered my prayer with a plate, a handwritten note, and a 5 year old boy who thinks I am special.

Party Time!

Yesterday we celebrated Lydia's 4th and Katherine's 2nd birthay with a Pink Pig themed party (yes they make Pink Pig plates, napkins etc). We celebrated with our family and friends-thanks to everyone who came to celebrate this day with us.
Katherine likes to sing Happy Birthday! Notice the pig plates.

Pink Pig plates $3.50, candles $1.00, pizza for all our family and friends $50.00, the look on Lydia's face when she saw this cake...priceless.

Our neighbors bought Lydia a pink pig yard ornament! His name is Oinkey.

Among the many, many gifts received, Lydia got her first bicycle!

Lydia's 4th Birthday!

Lydia's birthday was on Thursday, I can't believe she is four years old. We are having her party along with Katherine's next week, so for today-we just made it all about Lydia. First, she was able to choose what she wanted to wear -her favorite dress. She also had the privilege of choosing what we would eat for all three meals. In our house this is a privilege because typically they eat what I prepare with little input (for those of you who know of the Funnel analogy in parenting-our childen are at the small end of the funnel, we keep their world small). Anyway, for breakfast she chose pop-tarts with red sprinkles (we don't have any pink), for lunch she chose PB&J with blueberries, and for dinner chicken nuggets, mac n cheese, and cauliflower. All of this was served on our special Happy Birthday plate. Oh, she would want me to include her drink for lunch-mommy's Pepsi! The Lord blessed us with a gorgeous day so we played outside, went hiking (yes in the dress), made pink cupcakes, ate snacks all day, and read her favorite books. Actually, she read Pinkalicious to me...and it is a pretty long book. She has it memorized almost word for word. She ended her day with a bath of bubbles! All day she kept asking, "am I 4 years old now?" I would respond "yes". Then she would wrinkle her forehead and say, "hmm". I finally figured out that she was expecting to feel different now that she was four. We talked about how aging is a gradual process. By then I had lost her..she was twirling around the kitchen.

Licking the beaters...the best part!

A hike in the "forest"
Pop-tarts!

I wanted to post my favorite 4 memories of the past year but there are way too many! I decided to post the top 4 things I love (pronouned luuuuuuv by Lydia) about my girl:

1. Here sincere prayers, which can be lengthy at times as she thanks God for every pink thing she can think of.

2. Her motto "I love to smile and be happy" and how she lives this out daily!

3. Her love for pink

4. Her endless energy...if only I had a small portion of it!