Running Chatter

Over the past few days I’ve had an acute awareness of a shift that has happened in our home.  Maybe it’s the way that Charlie always has a book in front of his face and devours words like he used to devour episodes of Elmo.  Maybe it was doing some Christmas shopping and finding myself in the jewelry store, not Toys R Us,  looking for gifts for Chanelle.  Maybe it’s the way Meadow insists she do most everything for herself–when it used to feel like my full time 24/7 job was to take care of all of her needs. 

It’s a transition that is bitter and sweet all rolled into one.  A transition that is both exciting and scary.  A transition that I used to dread–but now?  Now, there is this little heart pitter patter of excitement and anticipation as I wait to see how their lives unfold.  A beautiful mystery that, I have no doubt, will be incredible to watch. 

Even with the excitement, I find myself wanting to remember.  Wanting to take our today memories and wrap them up neatly and to carry them with us into the future.  I want to record our memories not just for me, but for them. 

So I come here for some simple Running Chatter. . .

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1.  Snow Day

We have now had THREE snow days.  That means, school has been canceled three times due to snow.  (We only get 5 snow days, before we have to add days to the end of the year. (Insert: BOO!!) Anyway, I am a lover of snow days.  I have visions of roaring fires, hot chocolate, spending 30 minutes dressing in snow attire for 5 minutes of fun. 

I won’t go into how TWO of those three days were nearly completely without snow. (Don’t ask.)  However, we did enjoy the snow when it finally did come.

When we had a “snow” day earlier this week, Charlie’s only request was, ‘can we read together all day long?’

Be still my heart. . . my son loves words like his Mama. 

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2. Christmas

We know Christmas time is near when our village goes up. 

Meadow and I put it up all by ourselves this year.  One look at it would easily tell you that Summer did the work, not Chad.  Why?  Well, there are crisscrossed cords, tangled cords, and senseless organization everywhere. That would be a mark of yours truly. 

It’s beautiful, all the same.

In all honestly, it’s been a crazy hectic December so far and I feel like I’m just catching up to the fa-la-la-la-las and the bah-rum-bum-bum-bum’s.  Over the the next few weeks I long to drink in all the beauty that is Christmas and soak in the moments that we have.

It only happens once a year–I’m vowing not to miss it.

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3.  Meadow

Oh my.  My days with Meadow.  The one or two days a week when big bro and big sis are at school and it’s just she and I?  Well, they continue to be fantastic.

Our two year old keeps me laughing all day long. . . like when she dresses up as a bee, just because. . .

Or when she eats bubbles. . . even when I tell her not to. . .

Or when she collapses on the floor from making Mama laugh all day long. . .

I wonder if every family has a “Meadow”, because I’m not sure what we’d do without ours.

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4.  Sisters

Hanging out with Mommy is just fine, but in all honesty?  Mama is no match for “Nell”.  (That’s what Meadow calls Chanelle.  These two?  Peas. In. a. pod.

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5.  Brother

Let us not forget Charlie, though. Charlie and Meadow seem to have gotten the same I-need-no-sleep-I-have-endless-energy-I’m-fiesty-ornery-and-crazy-wild gene.  Meadow and Charlie often bond on this specific gene. . .

It’s a gene from Chad’s side. . .

I’m certain of it. . .

Totally, Chad’s side. 

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6.  Home

We are loving our new location more and more every day.  With the changing seasons, we see more and more beauty in our new surroundings. 

It’s peaceful here. . .

And it absolutely feels like home.

But if I’m being really, really honest?  We still miss walking out of our house and seeing Miss Nancy next door.  She became a part of our family and we miss her dearly. 

For the record, though, she did come for lunch last weekend and it has been anything BUT ‘out of sight out of mind.” 

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7.  Beautiful Rainbow World

Earlier this week I talked about the changing definition of “Neighbor”.  About how neighbors are no longer just the people who live next door, but that they are also people far and wide with whom we’ve developed relationships via the incredible space of the world wide web. 

Well, one of my “neighbors”, Lynne (I can’t even remember how or where I met her) is an incredible soul and, along with her sister, has done a beautiful thing.  I just want to share it with my readers. I could tell you in my words, but their words are better.

She did not ask me to do this, but I believe in Lynne and I believe n this project.  If you have a moment to check out this video or even assist this project please visit this website.  They are a few steps from crossing the finish line to their goal. . .

These ladies are world changers. . .

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That’s all I have for today.  My sister is visiting this weekend and we have a snow storm headed our way.  Sounds like a perfect way to spend a weekend.

Wishing each of you a wonderful, peace-filled weekend!