Our Little Loves

A few years ago Abe and I decided to celebrate the day of love by honoring our little loves. We continued the tradition the year by sending them to the exclusive restaurant titled 'Spaghetti. Spaghetti. Spaghetti.'  The entree was your choice from different types of spaghetti. 

 On Valentine's Day the kids get to use the real plates and the fancy glasses.

 I am pretty sure the beverage was their favorite part. They all filled up on soda (a special treat). Not only did they barely touch their meal, but they didn't even have room for much of the fondue dessert.

A little background: Daisy gets jealous when Abe or I talk to people of the opposite sex. The evening started with me and Abe being the wait staff. Before the main course was served Daisy 'texted' her parents, who were running late. Amazingly, when the food arrived so did her parents. Not far into the meal the soda was empty, so Daddy Abe hopped up and re-entered as Waiter Abe. I whispered, "I think the waiter's cute!" She didn't realize I knew the waiter and my husband were the same guy and she angrily said, "You know that makes me mad!" and had to give herself a time out. When I explained I said that because they were one in the same she thought it was funny. #monogomyaintnojoke

My littlest boy and my biggest boy.

DanFam5

 my big love

Of course on Valentine's Day I want to throw out a happy birthday in heaven to my brother. Miss you.

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Taking A Stand At The History Fair

Zekers worked with 3 of his best buddies at school for the history fair this year. The theme was Taking A Stand In History. Zeke, Nolan, Ethan and Colton chose Muhammad Ali.  

Here are a couple facts that stand out to Zeke:

•He had an Olympic boxing medal and a great boxing title but it was taken away because he didn't fight in the Vietnam War.

•He was fined $10,000 and 3 years in prison but he appealed to the Supreme Court.

•He fought for African American rights.
•Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.
Your hands can't hit what your eyes can't see.
Muhammad Ali. Muhammad Ali.
 Taking a stand in history.

The boys won first place in the documentary category at school, which enabled them to enter the district history fair. THEY WON FIRST PLACE!

Look at these smiles.

Celebrating the win with ice cream.

I'm so proud of my hard working boy!

I Survived

Today was the 100th Day of School. To celebrate, Lijee's class made shirts with 100 items on them. We googled ideas and this is what we came up with:

 Here's the back:

One little girl was bebopping around with hearts on her shirt and something about 100 days and loving every single day; we're over here with survival and bandaids with
poop emojis. 

The kindergarten and first graders have a parade at school to celebrate. The kinders wear 100 things on their shirts and the 1st graders dress up like 100 year old people.

 This is what it's like to be inside my head: I was watching the kiddos walk by, taking note of the cute shirts, thinking, "Ooo--that would be good for next year. Oh wait. I don't need to make another 100 day shirt! Whew! Oh wait. {sadly} I don't need to make another 100 day shirt. Ever again." {sniffle} Welcome aboard my crazy train, people.

 Daisy found her little brother in the parade.

 One hundred days smarter.

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Trust

It's shortly past midnight and I can't sleep. My mind is racing, yet it's numb and thoughtless all at the same time. It's been two years almost to the hour my family's world was shattered. Two years since I've seen my brother or heard his voice.

Gosh, I miss him. The way he and my Dad would work together. The way he'd be the first to say, "Good supper, Ma." The way he would call us girls Marshy and Trink.  The way he loved his daughters fiercely. I miss my big brother.

When God talks to us, we often miss it. So he repeats things until we get it. Three or four times in the past week I have heard someone say that it's not up to us to question God. There are some things that we don't understand and it's not our job to understand them. We just need to trust God and believe his love for us. 

As I was lying in bed tonight unable to sleep I realized He has been purposefully telling me this all week and I just got it.

Through my tears I am trusting Him. Believing that He is with me, wanting to comfort me and bind my broken heart. I just need to let Him.

'The Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.' Deuteronomy 31:6

'For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.' 2 Corinthians 1:5

'Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.' Matthew 5:4

'He heals the brokenhearted and binds their wounds.' Psalm 147:3