He needs help crossing from hay bale to hay bale.
He offers her nothing in return, not a smile, or a thank you.
He gets all in her face.
But, she still does it every time.
The things I must learn from this girl.
All posts by Molly
Sunset Stories
I took all of these photos on the same evening, when we went out to see the watch the sunset, but for the most part, they each have their own little story behind them. Ordinary moments in our every day life that I love.
Running and rolling (she’s not falling) towards the sunset.
These two. Doesn’t it look like they are having a heart-to-heart?
They were actually just getting ready to roll down the hill together.
Of our 3 dogs, Cache (pronounced Cash) is Aaron’s dog. If Aaron calls him, he will be right there, looking eagerly at Aaron.
Towards the bottom, little brother sat on big brother and big brother encouraged it. I’ve watched Reed grow in so much patience towards Gus and it really makes me melt.
I love him. This photo was taken about 8 years to the day that he first said “hi” to me. Although we hadn’t spoken, he had friended me on Facebook and then walked by me and said “hi, Facebook friend” with that same teasing smile.
And, there’s also incredible about seeing that guy you fell for become a patient father who puts on shoes after they’ve “fallen” off again.
I asked Reed to take a picture of me and Aaron. Just after I shooed a dog off (see the right side), Gus insisted on sitting on my lap. And just as Reed got ready to take the picture?
Just little memories. 🙂
Christmas Lights!
I’ve decided that I need to simplify blogging a bit and one idea I have is to share a single photo and the story behind it.
Our town lights the main downtown street up with gorgeous Christmas lights from Thanksgiving until after Valentine’s Day. This year, every time we were remotely in that area, Gus would ask us to drive down the street and see the lights. He always knew when we were in area… “I want to see a Christmas lights!! I wanna see a Christmas lights!”
We always caved, because who doesn’t love the one of Christmas lights, especially through the eyes of a 3 year old.
Role Reversal
Gus didn’t want to get ready for bed tonight, so Aaron slipped Gus’s pajamas over his ankles. Then, I told “Papa” that he better put “Gus” to bed.
“Did you remember to tuck him in?” “Oh!”
“Did you read Gus a story?” “Oh!”
“Did you turn off the light?” “Oh!”
Goodnight, “Gus”.
Valentine’s Day
My most memorable Valentine’s Day was 3 years ago. That day, I found myself in the very cold city of Moscow, where I met my youngest love.
I hardly even recognize that kid anymore. A shadow of who he really is. At one year old, smiles were hard to come by.
Quiet, observant, stoic. That’s how he seemed.
We didn’t see any bits of his personality until 3.5 months later, after our court trip, when we finally started to see his goofy and wild spirit come out.
Now, he’s the family wild spirit. He keeps everyone laughing.
A few mornings ago, he woke up sick. Normally, he wakes up smiling, chatty long before the rest of us are ready to hear a sound. On the dark, freezing winter mornings, I joke it’s the Russian in him, better adapted to the dark and the cold than the rest of us. But this morning, I turned the lights on, patted his back and then headed downstairs, knowing he’d get up when he was ready.
And when he did, he just cried and screamed. I picked him up and he started to calm down. A minute later, I tried to put him down again, so I could help Reed and Lena get ready, but the screaming started again quickly. All he wanted was to be held. So, held him I did. In the moments that are usually spent rushing around the house to get his siblings ready for school, we sat on the couch and he pressed his body into mine, positioning my arm around him like a seat belt. He relaxed and quieted.
Those moments of sitting on the couch, holding him, were sacred. I often wonder if I’m doing this parenting gig right. Maybe I’d be a better parent if I had more experience, if I was less busy, if I was just a more patient and gentle person, but you know what? In that moment, Gus would have settled for no one else. In that moment, I knew that I, with all of my flaws and imperfections, was enough for him. He felt loved and secure with me.
My heart keeps jumping to the host kids. The listings for many of the hosting groups are up, or will be soon. I read the little bits of their stories and I wish I could hug each one of them, tell them that someone cares. Parenting a teenager isn’t remotely the same as parenting a preschooler. But, when they’re sick or when they’re hurting, they still crave that love of a mom. They want someone to care and nurture them, too. Not the perfect family, but a flawed and imperfect family who loves them as they are. They all need someone to make them feel secure and cherished.
Maybe you’re that somebody?
Project 143 | New Horizons for Children | Children’s Cultural Connection | Frontier Horizon
a moose in moscow 