These Days

 

Dear Ava,

Rhett's not the only one having some exciting milestone developments these days. You have started to make drawings that look like things you say it does! Just last week you drew this and told me it was a sunshine and low and behold I did a double take, it does look like a sunshine!

 

 

You watched Wizard of Oz for the first time the other week too and you were a big fan. You have added it to your Christmas List and you ask me many days, do you think I will get that movie for Christmas? I debated about skipping some of the "scarier" parts but I ended up not and you did fine with all of it. You also recently watched parts of "castaway". I love that movie and I had recorded it when it was on TV the other day. You have asked to watch it again a few more times so we have watched parts of it a few times now. (I know the movie well enough we skipped lost of scenes that your not old enough for yet, a few gory scenes with injuries or when the plan actually crashed, etc)  I think that movie has some beautiful life lessons and I enjoyed talking with you about how he kept trying even when things were really hard like when he learned to make fire and when he made his boat and got over the waves to get off the island. We also talked about his feelings during different scenes. You were fascinated by all of the island scenes I let you watch and have been going around the house making pretend fires and saying "Wilson!" In both those movies we like to ask each other do you think they will find their way home again and the other one will answer, yes - I think they will and we cheer them on their journey. I love a good story in book or movie form its fun to share both those with you in new ways as you are getting bigger.

 

Your feelings run so deep and yet are also just below the surface these days. You learned in your pre-school about how leaves change colors and fall to the ground for winter. When we are driving in the car you will mourn this loss as you see the trees and say with such sadness in your voice "Mom I don't want the trees to loose their leaves."  "When will the leaves come back?"

 

The weather is changing but we've had a few nice days sprinkled in the mix. Last week on one of those perfect sunshine fall days we went to play at the park by Hefner Lake. After we played for a while we walked down near the water and watched the sail boats. I sat there holding your brother and watching you watch the boats, the sounds of little waves hitting the shore and it was such blissful and peace filled moment. I've been feeling alot lately that's its been hard to juggle work and a mom and wife and in the midst of days I feel like there aren't enough hours in the day and its crazy busy comes moments like these. I find myself craving more of them, more quiet, more calm, more simplicity. Being stretched to far leads to me being cranky and losing my patience. I am praying and taking to steps be intentional in seeking more balance these days. At each stage you keep helping me want to be a better person and strive to refine my weaker parts and I think its one of the hardest and best parts of being a parent. What a blessing you are these days and every day.