How is it that I never cease to be amazed by the miracle of her? Not one single day has passed that I don't give a silent prayer of gratitude or feel like the luckiest mommy in the world to call her my daughter. From the very first time I looked in her eyes to just today in the grocery store, looking at her sitting in the cart, she takes my breath away. I love you my Linzi Lu, my Lulu, my sweet baby girl (who is not a baby anymore!).

My Little Gymnast

Linzi's absolute favorite day of the week is Tuesday because that is when she gets to go to gymnastics. Her class is not until the evening and it is all she talks about all day. She wears her leotard all day and often insists on sleeping in it on Tuesday nights. Some battles are just not worth fighting, and jammies vs. a leotard for bed is one of those. ;-) Her teacher is Ms. Cathy and she is so sweet. I have to brag a bit and say that Linzi is the most serious student in her class, as serious as a four year old can be anyway!

The gym where she goes does not allow us to get very close and I had to take these pictures from a viewing area up above. I didn't want to use a flash, so given the distance and lack of lighting, the pictures are not the greatest. But I think my camera did pretty good considering the circumstances.

Time to reflect. . .

For those of you who have taken to the time to send me an email and check in on us, Thank you! This whole blogging experience has been such a blessing in the people that I have connected with and think of as friends. And no, this is not a goodbye, even though it sounds like it! :D I have been taking an unintentional break from blogging, emailing and the computer all together. These past couple of weeks have been busy, as usual, but I have avoided the computer at all costs and tried to focus on other things at home, deal with some things that I have avoided and reconnect with my sewing machine. I am on a mission to make"friends" with my machine and dress my little girl to the nines in homemade clothes. Why? I don't know. It makes no sense. It takes up all my time, I don't know a whole lot about sewing, so I get very frustrated, and I have spent more $$ on fabrics and embellishments than if I just went shopping. But now it has gotten personal, and by golly, this spring break, my Lulu will be setting the fashion trends for the preschooler set. Shallow, I know. :-)

I have also been listening closely to where God is leading me in this next stage of my life. I feel like I am on the verge of something big, something life changing. My heart has been drawn to Africa for a very long time now. I KNOW there is something I am supposed to do there. It consumes me constantly. I have been praying and meditating on this for a while now. Another adoption is not in the plans for our family, so that is not where I am going with this. I would like to take a few mission trips to Africa, I am just not sure in what capacity and which organization to work with. There are still many questions to be answered, but I feel like things are starting to come together. I feel like there is a purpose for my life that has not been fulfilled yet and that purpose is to serve others in this way. My oldest son has the same feelings and desires. He is actually the one who planted the seed in a conversation we had a few years ago. In that moment, I remember seeing his beautiful heart in a whole new light. It was one of those great moments that your own child teaches you something profound about life and living. It is my greatest and most treasured dream to experience Africa and its people with him. I am working on making that happen for both of us.

So what has got me into this funk? My birthday is on Thursday and it is the BIG one. This is the last birthday that really matters anymore! After this, I just don't care. Yep. I am going to be 40! I will no longer be a young thirty-something mom. Sheesh! I used to be a twenty-something mom! Now I am seasoned, experienced but not old! No, I don't feel old. That's what's got me in such a funk. I always thought forty seemed old, but now that it is almost here, it doesn't feel like a big deal. But it is a big deal! At least to me. So this week, I am putting on my tiara and I am going to work this birthday like no other! :-) Actually, this is going to be a year long celebration. I have booked a cruise this summer for just Mandi & I. We are going with two other mothers/daughters. Mandi will be 13 this year, so we are celebrating her becoming a teenager and my forties and girlhood with some really fun girls. No boys allowed. Linzi will be spoiled rotten at her nana's and Eric is taking Alex somewhere for a week of male bonding. So that is my big present, but I will have to wait a few more months for it.

So there you have it. That's what's going on with us. And no post would be complete without a pic of one of the kiddos. Check out this drawing Linzi did on her doodle board. It's a drawing of me! At least she drew me young, pigtails and all! LOL


But I have to admit, it looks a lot like Angelica from Rug Rats. Don't you think?!!! I am so amazed at her artistic talent.