Peer Pressure

When I was pregnant with Elliana, I always read about the effects of peer pressure she will experience later in life, but I honestly never expected it to to affect my now two year old. But, I admit that I am glad that it did.

After all, if it were not for peer pressure, my daughter would have not tried and LIKED cucumber. Or Sugar Snap Peas. Or Ranch dressing. With a joyful attitude, completely on her own. ALL IN ONE NIGHT!

For the Lord knows that Mommy has tried to encourage her to eat all of those foods, and more, but they fell on deaf ears until her friends happily ate them in front of her. Oh, how I pray that her peers continue to be such positive influences in her life.

Suffering and Blessings

As I type this, I am already having doubts on the likelihood of actually posting this blog. After all, this blog represents the happiness and joy that makes up our family. To post a blog of sadness or confusion just doesn't seem appropriate, almost like it would diminish the happiness normally reflected. Or...maybe a blog of our less happy moments will only accentuate the positive blessings. After all, we are a family through good times and bad.

It seems like everywhere we look lately, someone is suffering. Earthquake in New Zealand, riots in Libya, gas prices at record highs, the list goes on and on as these were just the first few headlines on the news feed. Our friends, family and ourselves are suffering in ways that I don't remember seeing coincide before. Everyone seems to be hurting in some way...at the same time.

My husband raised the question tonight if life has always been this way, and if we are more sensitive to it as our own suffering has increased. I admit, he got me thinking. Tonight, I laid in bed for over an hour with my mind racing. Thinking of blessings, suffering and how the two are related. I don't yet have an answer on that, but I do know that I refuse to let the sadness and confusion of this world continue to overwhelm or steal my happiness that I have been blessed with. I am God's child and I have faith that he will never give me or my loved ones anything to hurt us, but only make us stronger, somehow better people.

I love the following quote as it reminds me that amidst the pain, confusion and suffering of this world, blessings are continuing to flow. Abundant, perfect and unexpected blessings. And, I will continue to celebrate this family's blessings...past, present and future ones as well.

“When we lose one blessing, another is often most unexpectedly given in its place” ~ C.S. Lewis quote

48 hours...

A lot can happen in 48 hours. Earlier this month, during a 48-hour period we experienced hope, sadness, exhaustion and fear. Several weeks have passed now. And although, we still experience a wide range of emotions in our family, I am making a conscious effort to focus on the many positive things we experienced in the just the last 48 hours.

First a little background to explain the pictures. This past weekend, we ventured to Indianapolis for a little getaway and adventure at the children's museum. Although we stayed only one night, it was a taste of a true vacation and made me more hungry for uninterrupted family time.

And now, in no particular order, a list of positive, simple joys that are too often overlooked or not appreciated.

• The persistence my 2-year old has in having fun. Although it sometimes exhausts us, I am grateful for each moment and wouldn't change a thing. It is because of this persistence in having fun, that within seconds of walking into the hotel, Elliana began the broken record requests of "go swimming now?"

• And, because of that persistent request, we all had a great time bouncing and playing in our own private pool (as it seems no one else wanted to swim in February).

• I am thankful for my husband who somehow always knows just the right way to bring a smile to Elliana's face, different than the kind of smiles that Mommy can create.

• Plush sheets, Aveda bath products, fancy decorations in a hotel and the simple joy that we were away from home with no chores to do.

• The joy of eating out...no dishes, no preparation. Just ordering, waiting and enjoying. Ahh...what a huge joy.

• The ability to experience a "different museum" as Elliana kept calling it. To learn, laugh and play.

• The joy that dressing a Barbie can bring to a toddler.

• Appreciation for returning to a warm, beautiful home. A home protected from the fierce thunderstorms last night and a safe haven for us to be "us".

And although we were gone only 24 hours, I am continuing to be grateful and appreciate this dreary, rainy Monday which will round up this 48-hour period.

• for a friend who encourages me when I am feeling down and can listen to me babble on and on. (You know who you are).

• for Elliana's goofy grin and happiness for giant, stuffed characters who interact with her. It makes me smile.

• for friends who share their tickets and teach us how to make the most of a toddler in a big kid world

• the joy of a driving a car, something both Elliana & I enjoy and appreciate.

And so, just as life can down hill in 48 hours, it can also go back uphill. And for that, I am beyond grateful.

Thunderstorms and Rainbows

Sometimes a few unexpected thunderstorms in life can force us stop to appreciate those every day sunny moments when they arise. Heck, even the cloudy moments are no longer as dreary as the thunderstorm has now passed and the hope of a rainbow is now present again.

Recently, I've allowed myself to stop and enjoy each non-thunderstorm moment as they arise. Moments that fill my heart with joy and restore the soul in a way that I know needs repairing but had no idea where to start.

Moments like watching the joy a giant stuffed dragon can bring to my daughter's face. The joy of a balloon on a snowy Saturday morning and the excitement of a fair at the local library.

Moments like watching my daughter pose for me as I find happiness in snapping her photo over and over. I can appreciate her goofy grins and the sparkle in her eyes. I appreciate the excitement she has in seeing the newly taken photo and asking to take more.

Moments like watching Grandma & Papa climb around the playground with Elliana (in February!). Climbing under equipment, having snack breaks and sliding down the slides with giddy excitement and sometimes uncontrollable laughter.

And moments where we just embrace life, thunderstorms and all, as a family, praising God along the way.

Bringing home the zoo

When it is too cold for the zoo, Elliana & I decided to bring the zoo to us! This morning, we happily created a tiger, zebra and giraffe puppet during craft time. Before my eyes, these puppet animals came to life and I watched my daughter grow. 

I watched Elliana help sew up the puppets. Perfect little stitches along the guided lines. She dictated where to put the eyes, the spots and the noses. There were even specifications as to how far apart the eyes should be.  And I couldn't help but laugh to myself. 

I watched Elliana prance the puppets around the room and heard the zebra say "Hi Elliana, how you?" and watched her answer and smile at the puppet she was manipulating. And when the eye fell off of Stripey the Zebra (mostly because we were playing with it too soon after gluing it together) I watched her pick it up, laugh out loud and attempt to pick up the glue and glue it back on herself. 

Before my eyes, my baby is growing up. And I LOVE watching her grow.