Merry Christmas!!

Lots and lots of craziness going on, so much so that, at times, the meaning of the day would pull away from me. But the kiddos were hilarious this year (we had to wake up Ainsley at 7:00 because the Three were starting to attack the presents) and John and I were able to occasionally catch a glimpse of how every year with these guys is only going to be more and more fun.

The wee ones opened presents for about 15 minutes before they started to melt from breakfast not happening on schedule, so they contentedly took a food break and had fun watching Ainsley open her gifts. Johnny went berserk about his huge Tonka dump truck until his sisters received their babydoll strollers, whereupon the truck was abandoned so he could join in the fun of racing stroller-laps around the house (he used the old one). Big sigh from his dad, but the kids were all doing their tolerable happy-screams and, well, maybe sweet-Johnny will grow out of it. If not, he's going to be a great dad.

So I leave you with our Christmas card picture and wish I could figure out how to post the one I really wanted to use instead (if someone can help me figure out how to download something from Shutterfly?????). The cards have seriously been addressed and stamped for a few days now - just haven't had time to seal them. This info will certainly drive a couple of my close friends bonkers...

This is what is going out - I love how Johnny is just about to take off. Fortunately you can't see the front of Lizzy's dress because she had just played in and soaked herself in dog-dish water.

Right when we were starting, Gracie decided she did not desire to take a family picture and threw a sweet little tantrum. This is right afterward, when she must have realized we would send a family photo out with our without her in it (or with her in it as she is kicking and screaming on the floor). That Gracie.

Mother's Day

This is late because I was over-thinking the holiday all weekend. I started this post a few times and nothing ever worked. Then, when I had given up and bagged the idea, I realized what it should be. It fits me perfectly because it doesn't have anything to do with the struggle of infertility or how much I used to dread Mother's Day (still don't love it) or how odd it is that we had to create a day to honor our mothers when, if we behave as we ought, our mothers would feel honored most of the time.

It happened one evening when, as is my routine, I checked on Ainsley before I went to sleep. I always take the books out of her bed, find her favorite "guy" (stuffed animal) to place next to her, cover her up if she looks cold, stare in awe at the precious gift I've been given, pray for her, the usual mom-stuff. I would do the same with the triplets, but the door to their room sticks and someone always stirs or wakes up if we open it after lights-out. The night will come soon, though, when they are part of the routine.

As I looked at my child, it struck me that Mother's Day is 100% not about me. It is about my mostly-precious children; the ones I pray over and have hopes for every day. These are just some of the prayers I say for them:


~ for your faith to be in your heart and your head



~ to never doubt how deeply you are loved by your family and, even more so, by God



~ to know you were made perfectly and wonderfully



And lastly, I pray for their hearts to be fierce.


May my children always stand fast.