Thursday, April 16, 2015

I don't know what to do with her



I see so much of myself in her

Not just looks, but the way she is.  She is sooo much like me!

And sometimes it scares me

When you have a child that is similar to you, you see your self in them, the good and the not so good you are.

And you want to help them, help them to overcome things that you struggled with, things in life that were harder....


I want her to know it is ok to not always be perfect, to make mistakes, to color outside the lines

I want her to know that no matter what someone isn't going to like you and that's ok

I want her to embrace the hard moments because that is when you rely on God the most and grow the most

This is Maya
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but Maya is a much smarter version of me.  And I don't know what to do with it

There is something special to her, the way her brain works.  She inherited Brett's ease of just being smart without trying.  She is a lefty so it seems she just grasps things in a different way.  She reads chapter books non-stop and I can't even keep up with her.  Math is a cinch for her and her teacher mentioned putting applying to some time of gifted program for her and I kinda freaked out.

I can tell you we are just normal people, and I am nothing close to a super parent doing crazy things to make my kids smart.  I'll I have ever done is just read to them since there were little because I didn't know what else to do.

Brett and I both feel this pressure to put Maya in the right thing or find her nitch, but it overwhelms me in both time, finding it, and expense..... so I just do nothing.....

I fear the jack of all trades setting in for her future, just like me and I know there is more for her.

So I just pray.  Because, well I don't know what else to do.  That the Lord will lead us into best helping with Maya's future.  Even this can be hard for me, I am such a tangible person I want to do do do, know the answer now, randomly swirl my finger around and have it land on the right thing for Maya.
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And then there is the part of me that just wants her to be a kid and not worry about any of that, to feel no pressure to grow up fast, or find her thing now, but to just be Maya

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Happy 7th Birthday Maya!  The girl I don't know what to do with you.  I am so proud of you! You have such a big heart.  You always do your best!  You are kind and smart, but more than anything you love Jesus.  I can't wait to see what He does with your life!






Wednesday, April 8, 2015

what vacation is to me



Vacation is

falling off wagons into the mud
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Sitting at the table well after the meal is finished

Naps in the car
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Bringing exhausted kids home late from a full day

Finding hundreds of ladybugs

Grandmas slippers
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Skipping Rocks
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Feeding Donkeys
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Hints of spring in the air
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All things outdoors 
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 Family
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It may not be Disneyland, which I do hope to take all the kids to someday.  But seriously, they were so happy playing outside in the mud, with animals, exploring and talking the ears off of all of their aunts and uncles. And it was all FREE!

What may not have seemed like a "fun" vacation on the outset turned into one of the best trips we have taken!

Great Grandma is so great!  I love her love for family, she spoiled us, feed us and left us wanting to come back!

So glad we got to spend sometime with a piece of Fran; her mom and siblings. 

And so glad for us right now vacation means time with family