Flourish + Fun

Mum had a total (so far) of 3 brain surgeries, it was rough. Awful. A really emotional year. The year felt very very L O N G. Too much at times. I felt scattered and had a hard time remembering the most basic of details. My mind was not fully present with all we had going on.  But this new Fall, this new season, we are hopeful for.  And so thankful that we made it through this past season of constant hospital visits and curve balls.  We are praying for a better rest of the year ahead.  It's years, like this last one, that make me realize how chaotic and, at the same time, beautiful life can be. Grateful for a God who carries me through it and sends the most amazing friends and family into the mess of it to help lift me up. It takes a village, and I am forever thankful for mine.

I'm back today visiting the queen, my Mum. I've been here every single day, nearly all day, for the past 3+ weeks. She is seemingly doing better, and is more with it today. She was able to stand. And is quite chatty! She would love prayer for freedom from pain, strength and her body to heal.  . Update for those who've asked... my mom has been disabled for the past 25 years, with Dystonia, a neurological disorder. And she has Spasmodic Torticolis, which is very painful. It makes her muscles spasm and cramp all day long.  Last week she fell and fractured a bone in her pelvic area. She has quite a road ahead of her. However, we are hopeful that she will recover and are praying she will feel better soon and her body will heal.  💗But w Thank you for joining with us and for praying for her!!

Em snuck out of her room tonight and came into ours. Her and I started talking about her day, school, friends, her future, etc...  Me:  "Em, have you thought about college when you're older?"  Em:  "Nope. But I have I've thought about cupcake world, having a playdate with Soledad and Audrey, being a Native American, being a Wompanoag (Native American) so cool, life on the moon, what it's like to be a dog, candy world, I would eat all the candy... what it's like being Poppy (from Trolls), our house and what if santa put a bunch of balloons in our chimney and it flew away, being shrunken in size (like honey I shrunk the kids), and ...when is auntie Susie going to make that (macrame) knotted rope thingy with me? That's what I've thought about."  Love my sweet girl! 💗 💗 💗 (Age 7)

It seems as though I have been MIA for a year and a half. HA, sorry! I started posting so much on my other social media sites that I neglected my little blog. Well, with maybe one or two little posts in between. Here's the quick review... first, fa-la-la it's December! Ok... ;) EM  She turned 6, then 7  - I missed both on this blog... time flies. She went to 1st grade, and started 2nd. She is flourishing at school. She is so smart. So kind and such a good friend. I admire her logic, smarts, and her sweet heart. I'm sure little sister will follow in her footsteps too. She looks up to her so much. She has a great crew of girlfriends, they are so darling. Her neighborhood friends and school friends are her whole world. Last night I rocked her to sleep in the rocker, and put her up in her bunk. I realized I need to remember she is still so little, I need to give her more grace. I often think she is so mature, responsible, etc... which she is, but I need to remind myself...

{written on 3.31.17} I don't want to forget last night. It will always be a sweet memory. Ava was exhausted. She snuggled her blankie, sang one song and was out. Just Em and I were awake... cuddling, chatting, saying prayers, and singing songs. She had her cute popsicle pjs on and was laying on her ice cream printed sheets. Their pink starry night light was shooting stars across the whole ceiling.  Then it happened, she explained it all to me and said she wanted to do it. So we held hands, bowed our heads and she prayed a prayer to ask God to come into her heart and love her, forgive, and be near to her, always.  Earlier this year, at the IF Gathering I wrote down the two people I wanted to share God with, Emma and Ava. For the months prior to the IF Gathering's weekend retreat (and lets be real, maybe since they were in the womb) I have spent quite a bit of time praying about this. Not just a quick passing prayer, but a big, heartfelt, focused prayer....

{ahem, I realize I have been MIA from my blog for a year... haha!} This just popped up in my FB feed. WOW. I remember this day SO well. This day was a BIG turning point in my life 5 years ago. Everything is so different now. I am on a completely different path.  I remember walking in and everyone yelled "surprise." I vividly recall the immediate excitement I felt. I couldn't believe Kyle actually pulled off a surprise party for me. But right after that initial moment, I felt anxious and overwhelmed. It was just ONE more event, one more thing I had to be at. One more thing that I had too little time and too little energy for.  We had just moved from Santa Monica to SLO. We had just bought our house. We were in the process of fixing it up. And we were now living closer to my family. It should have been an exciting time, but to me it felt like the walls were caving in on me and mostly because I was working around the clock. I absolutely loved my coworkers and obviou...