Ok, so its been an eternity since I last updated this blog. I'm not very good at keeping up with things like this. But I just have to document this moment in time when life feels so beautiful and perfect. My little Gwendolyn Hope was born on July 12, 2011. She is 8 weeks old as I write this and the most precious thing in the world. I love holding her and watching her. I love the faces she makes, the noises, the way she holds her hands in a fist sometimes and has her fingers spread as wide as they will go other times. Seeing her look at something and feel joy is evident in the way she kicks her feet. I can tell she wants to touch things and go over to things she sees, but she has no idea how. There is something so magical about this time in childhood development. When she sees me talk to her or make noises with my tongue she studies my mouth and tries to copy what I'm doing. I know that any day now I will hear that first, sweet laugh. I can't wait. She is such a happy baby. She hardly ever cries and sleeps so well at night. I'm truly blessed. I know she is my last baby and so I'm soaking in every moment, trying to remember to grab that camera as much as possible. (I'm not good at remembering to take pictures!)
Natalie is in 2nd grade now and growing so fast. She no longer wants me to hug or kiss her when we are in public. I can't believe that embarrassment of your parents happens this young! She is so smart and thoughtful. She loves giving of herself, her time, her money, or things to others. She will give away her last dime or her last doll to anyone in need without a second thought. I love that about her. I love that she is so sensitive. She is always worried if she has upset someone or if she has done something wrong. She truly wants to do what is right, both in the eyes of her parents and society and in the eyes of God. She has already invited our neighbor to a church event. Her friend had never been to our kind of church before and when it was over she said, "wow, that was so fun. Thank you for taking me. I want to come back." Wow! God is using my daughter to reach people already, and she is only 7.
Jada with her quiet spirit reminds me so much of myself. Timid and shy with strangers, she follows the lead of others before she takes the lead herself. Its funny that we aren't blood related and yet I see so much of my childhood self in her. I love watching Jada with her little sister Gwendolyn. She has always been the youngest in the family up until this point. I half wondered to myself if she would get jealous of Gwen after she was born. Boy was I wrong! Jada is like a little mommy. She hears every little cry and whimper like no one else in the house besides me. Not even Erik notices Gwendolyn's whimpers at first. Jada often comes sweeping in to Gwen's rescue with a pacifier, a toy, or a spit up rag. Such a sweet big sister she is. I love seeing the love in her eyes like that.
Kaleigh is a bold and confident 7th grader. She is completely the opposite of me in every way. Outgoing and carefree she can talk up a quiet room for hours. Sometimes I wonder if she will ever stop for breath! Kaleigh surprises me the most. When Erik and I got married she wanted nothing to do with it. Looking at our family picture from our wedding day everyone is smiling...but Kaleigh! She stands with a frown on her face. I remember Erik forcing her to stand there and pose for that picture. And today she accepts me as if I was her own mother. In fact, she wants me to act as Mom #2 in everyway. I love that! She is such a fun girl to be around. There is never a dull moment when Kaleigh is in the room and she always has a kind word for everyone. Gosh I love it when that girl comes over and gives me a hug and says, "Hi keri. I just wanted to give you a hug!" Yay! And Kaleigh I just want to tell you how much I love you!
Life is beautiful. For all the moments that I complain about being tired or feeling overwhelmed, or hating my job because I'm not a good sales person...I have to say life really is so close to perfect right now. For as bad as I am at convincing people to buy computers from me, I am getting paid to sit at home in my office and talk to people. Wow! All I have to do is be friendly, learn a little bit about them, have fun talking to them, and see if they want to buy a really great computer. All from the privacy and comfort of my own home. This has to be the best job ever!
And then there is Erik. The best husband I could have imagined for myself. Kind and giving, he always puts family first... well first after God. For as annoying as I can be sometimes, his patience with me seems endless. It is so fun being married to your best friend. I love spending time talking to him, watching movies, or just hanging out.
Tears come to my eyes when I really let myself think about how blessed I am. I did nothing to deserve this. Its just an extension of God's love for me and of his grace. I know I am already saved from an eternity of seperation from God after this life, but I am also saved from a lonely and pitiful existence in this life as well. God's blessings keep reigning down on me. Oh how beautiful! Oh what a beautiful life! And I'm only 30! Thank you, thank you my God! I love you!
This morning I got up and went to change Gwen into some warm clothes. The weather changed today and the high is only about 75 degrees. The low this morning was in the 40s! As I'm looking through her drawers of clothes, I'm noticing that nothing will fit her anymore! Everything in that drawer was either a newborn or 0-3 month size. I knew it was time to pack it up and bring some new stuff in. Why is this so much harder to do this time around? 
