And my first letter.  To my third.

January 24, 2013  10:54 p.m.

My sweet, serious Grant,

You very seldom come first.  You are often the third one in line.  The third child to be mentioned.  The third name to be written.  Very seldom the first.  Because you are my third baby.  And I like to do things in order.

For 2013, I have been inspired to write a letter a month to one of my children.  My first instinct was to write to your older brother for my first letter.  And as I sat down to write the letter, you came to my mind.  Today you stayed home because you have a bad cold while your siblings went to school.  You and I shared a “just the two of us” morning.  We don’t get that too often, do we?  So, because I want to remember even the tiniest detail of our special time together, I am writing the first letter to you.  And because you seldom come first.

You are often the first responder when I ask for some helpers.  And you happily help.  Today I asked for your help to put away clothes that no longer fit you and your brother and to fill your closet with big brother’s hand me downs.  And you made what is usually a somewhat boring yet necessary task enjoyable.  You took every piece of clothing and decided on whose side of the closet to hang it on or to get rid of it because it was “uninspiring”.  How I marveled at your thought process.  Not only thinking about what you like but what your twin brother would like.  That is just who you are.  Always aware of others’ feelings.  You are older than your four years.

Once the job was done, you didn’t hesitate with your answer when I asked what you wanted to do next.  Color together.  How you love to draw and color.  Such an observer while paying attention to details.  Always thinking.  Your characteristics are evident in your artwork.  If you are drawing a hamburger, you add sesame seeds to the bun.  When you draw a person, you are sure to add eyelashes and dimples.  Looking at your artwork is a wonderful gift for it allows me to see the world through your eyes.  Sweet, serious eyes.

You are so very precious to me, sweet boy.  You are the third of four.  And how I love you as if you were the only.  I love you for who God made you to be.   A thinker.  A helper.  An artist.  Sweet.  Serious.  Older than your years.

Love,

Mommy

Thank you, Lord, for blessing my life with my Grant. I am blessed beyond measure. Beyond comprehension. Because you are good. So very good. Amen.

Continue to follow the Letters To Our Children blog circle by reading Jennifer Bacher’s letter to her birthday boy.  I feel so very blessed to have met Jennifer who also is a contributor with me for Click It Up a Notch. Not only is she a kind-hearted mom of four but I am consistently inspired by her words and images.  And I am blessed to call her “friend”.

I’m a big enforcer of that rule in our house.

And when my children are not following the golden rule, firm but fair discussions happen.  And if the disrespectful attitude continues, privileges are taken away.

Tears flow.  Doors slam.  Covers go over heads.  Time to be sad and mad and think.  Sometimes fall asleep.

Life lessons are hard lessons.  But absolutely essential lessons to teach and to learn.

He is disappointed and upset now.  But he will thank me later.

All because I love him.

Golden Rule joy

And every morning they ask me to wrap their blankies around them when they sit at the table.

And how they giggle when I wrap them up and kiss their sweet little faces.

These are the moments to cherish.  Because in a blink these moments will be gone.

Blankies at breakfast joy

In November, I was surprised and humbled when I received an email from Courtney asking me to be a guest blogger for Click It Up A Notch.  Without question, I said yes .  You can read my guest post here.

A few weeks later, I receive another email from Courtney asking me to join the Click It Up A Notch team this year!  Talk about surprised and humbled and honored and thrilled!  Not only do I get to share my passion of photography but I get to work with some truly amazing, talented women.  You can read a little about each one of them here.  See what I mean?   They are fabulous!  There are truly no words to describe how grateful I am for this opportunity.  I am so very, very blessed <3.

Click It Up A Notch joy

Finally.

House is quiet.

Peace.  Thankful for the peaceful morning.

peaceful morning joy

Alien joy

It was a nice day with the pine tree that grows outside my office window.

pine tree joy

So my dear husband (who claims that he doesn’t “do” Christmas lights) took them down for me.  It’s the little things.He’s a keeper joy

Because she is nice like that.

Nice uno joy