Today was SO refreshing and fun with my two boys!  We spent this gorgeous SUNNY day doing things that we love to do as a family~ This of course meant starting out the day with a delicious BREAKFAST!  Breakfast is my very favorite meal of the day--other meals kind of fade away for me if I've had a good breakfast with a steaming cup of black coffee or bitter tea (yep, we like our tea bitter around here, think *Clouds & Mist* from TeaSource.  (www.teasource.com)  So today we hopped over to the quaint and cute little town of Zumbrota to eat at Bridget's Café.  It was midmorning so we were already adequately hungry (okay, this is an understatement).   Malachi had already had his first breakfast of the day and was ravenous for MORE (insert sign language "more" sign here) :)  I had the Egg Skillet plate (scrambled eggs with peppers, onions, mushrooms, bacon, potatoes and cheddar cheese) and Elijah had the basic eggs & pancakes & bacon plate.  Malachi ate from both plates.  Then he proceeded to win the hearts of the other diners before we went on our way.

Next we parked near the library where there happens to be a beautiful series of bronze statues of children dancing and other tall pieces of art with poetry (think crisp air, beautiful sunshine, morning glory, POETRY and a happy child to boot!  Bliss!)  Malachi, Elijah and I had so much fun playing chase around the statues~ We took a walk across the historic covered bridge which M LOVED to walk across.  You could see the rushing river waters through the slots on the floor and that was probably fascinating for him.  He kept saying "wawa!" and pointing to the river.  I love that he delights in nature like we do.  We played at the wooden castle park and met new little friends there.  It sadly ended with Malachi slamming his face into playground equipment and getting his first bloody nose... Sigh..  We revived ourselves in the public library and he loved running through their aisles and playing with their toys.  (I can imagine the gasps here as you imagine him running & squealing through a quiet library, but it wasn't that bad! haha)

After a nap and lunch at home, we went back out to enjoy the day, this time to a set of lakes in Rochester that I had never been to before.  We walked (the simple act of walking is SO FUN for Malachi since it's new and his joy makes everything feel more exciting for us, too)  Elijah identified lots of waterfowl on the water, including migrating Loons, Coots and a Horned Grebe!  Malachi excitedly pointed out every dog that walked past us and even pointed out the moon that was faintly in the sky!  Smart boy! We met lots of interesting people at a park (nearby Mayo)-- especially a cute family from Chile, South America!  Loved hearing their beautiful Spanish, especially spoken by their darling preschool-aged daughter.  ("Higher, Higher, Daddy!" she'd exclaim while being pushed on the swings)

Days like today are a needed bit of JOY in a life that is so often work-driven~  Family. Sunshine. Food. Discovering.  Beauty.  Laughter.  I am thankful for all of the above :)  Thank you God!

I just want to remember all the little things... which are really, the big things~


M-guy is 14.5 months old.  This is such a precious age.  His favorite person in the world right now is "Mama" closely followed by "Dada."  This morning I left to attend MOPS--Mothers of Preschoolers (or in my case, MOBS--Mother of Baby) :)  Elijah told me that every other second, M-guy was looking out the window, asking "Mama?  Mama?"  At one point, he laid down on my fluffy, white winter jacket, stroking it and saying my name lovingly... (Tear at my heart strings! How's a girl supposed to EVER leave home when she hears something like that!?)   When I finally did pull into the garage 4 hours later, I have never seen such a look of pure joy & love as I saw on M's face... He almost looked as if he was wildly cheering or laughing--or both at once.  At first I wondered what wonderful thing Elijah had said or done to make him so happy... Then it hit me-- I was what was making him so happy.  What a profound realization of being so very loved.

M also has a very special place in his heart for "Dada."  Elijah left for a work meeting for the entire afternoon, and M kept asking for him.  We went on a walk outside (gorgeous spring-like day, finally!) and every little noise he heard from other houses made him question if it was Elijah, "Dada?"  Then he'd head towards the noise-- as if the ONLY person in the whole world that it could be was his very special father :)

M frequently comes to me during the day for a hug or cuddle time or to be picked up and held.  I do not mind at all!  :)   I am so thankful that God gave me such an outgoing, vibrant, joyful, cuddly & loving little boy.  Our home is filled with his laughter and noises~ how quiet it was before he came into our lives!

These times I hold close to my heart.  I don't want to forget the sweetness, the joy, the love~

Jackie

Authentic:  true to one's own personality, spirit, or character

Transparent: free from pretense or deceit 

Courage:  mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty

Last night I went to a Chris Tomlin concert with my family.  Not just my immediate family, but lots of unknown family.  As a Christian, I believe that those who have put their hope in Christ are my family, not just in this life but the life to come.  And so as I looked out on the sea of faces that filled the Target Center, faces unfamiliar, faces with eyes that I've never looked into, dreams that I've never listened to, smiles I've never received, I felt at home.  Because together, we were worshipping God.  Loving God.  And that feels so right and so pure in a time and age when we so rarely have time to worship or love Someone unseen and faraway.  

But I digress.  In that space, filled with impressive lights and chest reverberating sounds, I had a thought.  An idea.  Perhaps a little nudge from the One who made me.  Maybe I should write again.  But not just write.  Maybe I should write authentically.  Transparently.  And as the idea sinks in and then takes flight, Maybe I should write courageously.  

As can be clearly seen, I have not written a blog post in awhile.  And do you want to know why? ... It feels too vulnerable.  Too real.  Too open and honest.  Because I'm not a person to write about fluff.  Things with no substance.  I want to be real in my words and speech, and I can't write any other way.  But that becomes messy.  Because we live in a world that does not want to hear certain things.  Messy things.  Real things.  Oh, they claim they want to hear.  But in actuality, in reality, when it's all said and done, I don't think it's true.  Why?  Because sometimes others' words and perspective cause us to be angry.  Or afraid.  Or to question things that we thought we had figured out.  

Well my disclaimer is this:  This space is for me to write.  To write what I think and feel;  To write what I believe;  To write what is important to me.  Why?  Because I think when we do this, when we are authentic to our true selves, it makes a difference.  Maybe just inside of us.  Maybe to others.  But in the end, I hope it makes matters to God.  Because it's His glory that can be seen in our weaknesses and vulnerabilities.  When we are weak, He is strong. 

xxoo 
Jackie