Mother's Day ~ leaning into something lasting

We sure love the time of year for planting! Again, it coincided with Mother's Day weekend and all were excited to participate. Well maybe not Bella...

Bella is living out the best part of her life in a backyard with lots of sunshine & shade, kids to chase around, squirrels to watch & plenty of things to sniff. We call her Bella-goat most often since she can be found nibbling on anything & everything that seems not edible.  Bella & Bennett got to live part of their puppy days (or months) in this very backyard. I wonder if she remembers it.  While on the subject of Bella, I must mention how it was strange to return to Texas with only one of the two dogs we left with six years ago. I know a dog is just a dog but man oh man, I miss Benners & I'm not the only one! The girls mention him at least once a day still, nearly 18 months later & if you ask Charlotte what she misses about Florida, one frequent answer is "Bennett." What a growing process for all of us but all that to say, I think Bella is quite content being an "only-dog" & enjoying life in Texas. 

Back to the planting & the planters....

Bob, the busy retired man we are thoroughly enjoying our time with these days had three framed out areas to plant in when we arrived. He & Robby took the girls up to Home Depot that Saturday morning & he let Char & Elo pick out what they wanted to plant in each garden plus plenty of beautiful flowers to brighten up the backyard.  They bought so much stuff that I had to drive the big red truck over to meet them since they were in the vehicle decked out with a million car seats! Once we arrived home, the girls we chomping at the bit to get started so we headed outside for a day full of sunshine.  Those are my favorite days.

They raked all the soil around which was a little dangerous when you know who (child #2) was in charge of the rake ; ) Charlotte & Eloise were so serious about their tasks though & stayed busy helping their Grandpa get everything planted! The list included but it not limited to tomatoes, corn, green beans, peas...I really can't remember what else.

Here is girlie pie #2 with the rake....sharp pointy part facing up....

The buckaroos took a good long nap & awoke ready to wrangle the duck in the backyard & take him for a ride! It made us laugh for quite sometime!

It is a rare occasion when I can get these two young ladies to smile together without making silly faces. Almost five & almost three? Wowsers! They really have a sweet relationship, love being together & are always so kind & loving with one another ; ) Aren't all relationships a work in progress? What a gift though to help these two love each other well & look forward to seeing them be not only sisters but close friends. Eloise loves the pink shirt she is wearing & insists that I snap the top snap....stylish!

At some point that afternoon I turned around from getting a baby in or out of the sandbox & almost fell over Charlotte who was beaming ear to ear. She said "Mommy, look what we planted for you! Happy Mother's Day!" & handed me the prettiest gray pot with a lovely pattern on it & purple flowers pouring over the top. It was beautiful but not even close to as beautiful as the sweet hearts behind that gift.  Eloise was acting like a puppy dog which is why she has a stick in her mouth ha! Too bad I am covering up that pretty little pot but at least the purple flowers can be seen.

That afternoon we had the pleasure of hosting our long time friends from our first few years living in Dallas. Andrew & Renata were in a couple small groups with us when we were all newly married. We spent many a night at our house or theirs' relaxing, sharing meals & great conversation.  They even drove with us when we moved to Orlando....quite a kind thing to do! While we were away they added Owen who is now four & Khloe who is two to their family & we could hardly wait to get together! Owen was in Brazil with Renata's mom so we missed out on the fun of a four year old boy BUT absolutely loved catching up with these three.

Papa fired up the pit so we could make some S'mores....YUMMY! The girls had never had them before & they loved them despite being super sticky. It made me want to get a camping trip on the calendar & then I remembered that the boys are still not walking & might be not very fun ; )

On Mother's Day morning, Robby let me sleep in till 8:15 which may not sound like sleeping in but I assure you, it was! He & the kiddos woke me up with some precious hand made cards with lots of scribbles & hearts. We went to worship at Stonegate Church which was not far from the Valentine's. It was odd to be the new people & was such a reminder of how important it is to be friendly & helpful when you don't recognize someone! Great service though followed by a quick run in for some Schlotzsky's sandwiches, a favorite of mine & lunch at home. We got some naps in before spending more time outdoors.

We celebrated with this amazing mother & grandmother who I stare at her holding Anson & feel like I have been transported to the early 1980's watching her with baby Robby! Jeannine has more energy than I do & has blown us away with her willingness to engage with our children.  It is a little peek into what she was like with two young boys.....no wonder they turned out so well : )

Owen & Grandpa were making silly faces at each other while Anson got some sugars from his Daddy.

Mother's Day this year, I was feeling pretty good compared to how I felt last year with two tiny babies, a one year old & a three year old. We looked back at that post & laughed remembering how exhausted we were! We are still pretty tired but are thinking it is more in relation to the transition we are experiencing right now since we actually get to sleep at night.  

I am so thankful for the opportunity to mother these four & in the day in & day out mundane tasks, God helps me to take a step back & remember the value of pouring my life out for another.  He reminds me that helping them know & understand the love He has for them is of utmost importance.  He reminds me that I can ask him for wisdom & see him provide. He reminds me that I am much like those little children who can't seem to hold it together through any given day. He reminds me that we are ALL in need of a savior. He reminds me that even though the days seem long, they are fleeting. 

As two little ladies water their little garden & marvel at the growth in just two weeks time, He reminds me that He is the one to make things grow. We  pray that in time we too will see the growth in four little hearts that are learning to trust Jesus more than anything else.  All this planting & growing talk reminds me of a song that gets stuck in my head often....seriously, my mind is like a Pandora station with much less continuity between tunes. The song I am thinking of is called "Planting Trees" by Andrew Peterson.  Robby originally found it & made me listen to it. I love the words....

We chose the spot, we dug the hole
We laid the maples in the ground to have and hold
As Autumn falls to Winters sleep
We pray that somehow in the Spring
The roots grow deep

And many years from now
Long after we are gone
These trees will spread their branches out
And bless the dawn

He took a plane to Africa
He gathered up into his arms
An orphan son

So many years from now
Long after we are gone
This tree will spread its branches out
And bless the dawn

So sit down and write that letter
Sign up and join the fight
Sink in to all that matters
Step out into the light
Let go of all that's passing
Lift up the least of these
Lean into something lasting
Planting trees

She rises up as morning breaks
She moves among these rooms alone
Before we wake
And her heart is so full; it overflows
She waters us with love and the children grow

So many years from now
Long after we are gone
These trees will spread their branches out
And bless the dawn
These trees will spread their branches out
And bless someone

This song is on a playlist that plays often during the day while the kids & I are just doing what we do every day.  When we were getting the house cleaned up to list before moving I had the girls busy with rags & windex against the massive sliding glass doors that were always ridden with precious handprints, snot & who knows what else. The boys were crawling around, pausing to watch their helpful sisters & then undoing the job that had already been done while I cleaned up the kitchen. That song came on & I stopped, looked around at Charlotte, Eloise, Owen & Anson & thought through the words.  My heart was full in that moment & in many moments. While we are "leaning into something lasting" we pray that  "many years from now, long after we are gone, these trees will spread their branches out & bless someone." 

Me & the four who made me mama...

God is continually working in our hearts whether we are mothers or hope to be, or suffer in the aftermath of a broken relationship between mother & child. I think often of the many mamas I have helped through labor & delivery only to wrap up their precious baby who has already died or will die in their mother's arms.  My heart aches for those longing to have a screaming baby in their home. I remember the sweetness of that sound after asking the Lord to provide for so long.

The latest family I am thinking of & praying for often is the Dennis family.  Robby & I share a couple mutual friends with this couple but do not actually know them. Their story is one of heartache & hope as they chose to carry their daughter Sophia to term knowing that she would not live for very long outside the womb due to a condition called anencephaly. She was born last September & spent ten hours being celebrated by her family & friends before she died.  Their suffering was great & shared very honestly through the blog Lindsey kept.  I was so excited to read the first snippet of a post less than a week after Mother's Day announcing they were expecting another baby but my eyes filled with tears as I continued to read.  Again, they received the news that their second child also had a condition that was not compatible with life outside the womb. Again, this couple has chosen to honor the value of human life and carry as long as the Lord sees fit.  Her last post is titled It.is.so.unfair. & will move you to tears along with help you understand the beautiful truth of the Gospel in suffering. Lindsey is one incredible mama to her precious babies & after hearing their story I hope that you too will join in prayer for them as they walk through another challenging pregnancy.