At Our House

We are baking.

We are playing.


We are remembering.


We are snacking.


We are decorating.


We are anticipating.


We are resting.


We are wishing you a joyous Nativity & that all you love & cherish will be near to you.

Thanksgiving

Troy makes good things happen. It's one of his many qualities for which I'm grateful. I'd like to think that my talents complement his, that we're a good balance for one another, helping each become better through the conduits of being in tandem.

The beauty and mystery of a family is all the talents coming together to create a unique concoction, sometimes creating harmony and other times a dissonance that has me tilting my head in discomfort until it ceases, as it inevitably does.

Cole, with his ever sunshiny disposition, his dramatic body language, complete with the snappy jazz hands and open mouth. He likes to please others and make people laugh, and talents of a visual nature come easily to him. He has no time to waste on clouds of gloom and his sensitivity to others is elevated beyond the normal 9-year-old. His show of gratitude comes from someplace deeper than lessons from parents. We, in turn, are grateful for him.

Clark's personality is unfolding. He is blessed to have a flock of adoring fans built into his daily life. Parents and brother's alike who rush to soothe his cries, to play with him and show him the world. He is demanding, but I have a feeling he will give more than he'll ever take.

Jack, the oldest, is the voice of the tribe. While he has the pressure to do everything first, "right". He makes everything look easy. He has the ability to turn every situation positive and has years beyond his 13 year old body. He brings maturity and honesty to every situation. He leads the crew and what he wants is usually agreed upon.

Clare doesn't miss a thing. She knows when we've passed our street, she knows who is where, and she knows where things are (although it's often because she has hidden them). She knows. Her knowledge will soon be wisdom and she uses those pieces to identify outcomes and possibilities. And boy, is she fun. 

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed at the task of mothering these souls. And we get to watch and attempt to help, perhaps more like flounder, as we teach what we know, share what we've experienced and hope and pray that they will want to learn and use our mistakes and missteps to their advantage to start life a few rungs higher.

So, as we prepare to celebrate our day of giving thanks, I feel gratitude for the personalities that I call my family. They add flavor, they add zest, and above all, they help me to strive to be better, and soon they will surpass everything I'm able to teach them.

Which is exactly how I would have it.

Happy Thanksgiving.