Back then

Brief pass through memory lane. 

There are more interesting things to share but I just had to when I stumbled on a few old boxes last week.These  particular sentimental pieces of evidence were of me around the age of my own daughter today. 

That little girl, so very tiny, is now a full grown woman. Me, a Mom and wife. Molded, stretched and tried year after year....and still today, like a new creation. Its all too big for my mind to fully understand. 

How is it possible that my tiny heart has been beating in time for this long?  Each one of us are a miracle.  You, your children, your family, your friends...even the stranger at the post office.

 That carefree teenager below had no clue what would be in store. 

This was the invitation that my mother had made for my graduation party.   Its still in one piece after all these years. Left: Heading to Elementary school for the first time.  Right: High School Senior picture

My first steps in my faith.  How cute is my wobbly cursive??

Communion...I was Addys age.  I remember that day like it was yesterday.  The princess white gown and the freshly curled bangs.

My little 7 year old self loved the Lord.  Not quite like today, but the seed was planted. My prayers were a lot different then but none the less , the Lord has heard me, still is ever present and has been so faithful over the years.

^"Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it."

Proverbs 22:6

Its not always for us

 It can safely be said that the only good thing about winter is seeing the kids enjoy the snow.  Oh, and maybe, how perfectly pretty it looks.  The rest I could do with out  all together.  This  is one of the only reasons you would see me out there in this nasty coldness....to join the begging gang of smiles.

George insisted that ALL of the backyard toys be taken out this day.  Guess what didn't get put away afterwards and it now covered in 5 plus inches of snow out there?

Guy smiley going for a ride. Traffic stops for no one around here.

Miss Addy is afraid of nothing cold. Of nothing at all really.  Watching her made me cold.  Mama's a wimp.

My own snow angel.  Its true...she is in general, an angel.

There are many times in a day, a week, where I am found doing things I don't necessarily enjoy 100%.  Like sitting soaking wet in a snowbank for a hot minute too long in our backyard,  coloring in same coloring books for the umpteenth time that week, or re-tucking in for the 8th time in that patience draining bedtime dance, cleaning up the microscopic Lego's after my fingers hurt from pulling them apart for a frustrated 7 year old for 16 hours straight.....the list can be endless.  

( some exaggeration is necessary to make a point and almost always
when talking about a child )

I do count it all joy ( to a healthy degree, I'm human! ) with my creatures though because sometimes we must 'love' as an action, we just do it.  You know, those things you'd rather not be doing at that exact moment.   Sometimes its fun, sometimes its just bad timing so its not the blast it should be.   BUT  I see your facebook updates.  I see you in your backyard when I head to the store.  I see your kids sticky hands when you are late for church. I see your awesome parenting, heck, I wouldn't want to miss it!...I see you helping to build memories.  You are awesome!!

 I see your kids wrecking your kitchen while they are trying to make dinner 'with you'. 

 I see your kids building a ramp out of your freshly laundered clothes.  

I see you cleaning up thousands of tiny stickers that are stuck to your tables after a craft.  Hey....I'm doing it too.....we are in this boat together ( even with our half smiles...our hearts are pretty full).  

At some point in my life someone did it for me.  Someone did it for you. They showed us their love by making the time. 

 Getting on our level and looking us in the eye. 

 Laughing with us ( probably because of exhaustion but hey,  I didn't know that !)

Its our turn.   So , lets try and find it in us to always just do it because that is what they deserve ( ....and don't we always end up glad that we did in the end??). I'm doing better in this area and the more I just give in  the easier it gets.  I'm letting the dishes sit longer and the laundry piles get a little more ferocious.   The mess ain't going anywhere.  Trust me...Ive been praying and waiting on it.  Just not happening. So run off and play.  You cant afford not to.

"Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her." - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Memories#sthash.mnD9ppuC.dpuf

Matthew 26:13

Verse Concepts

"Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her."
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Memories#sthash.mnD9ppuC.dpuf

Matthew 26:13

Verse Concepts

"Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her."
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Memories#sthash.mnD9ppuC.dpuf

'Truly I say to you, wherever the Gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her."

Matthew 26:13

Matthew 26:13

Verse Concepts

"Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her."
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Memories#sthash.mnD9ppuC.dpuf

Seven

So, another year has come and gone.  That tiny 8lb 7 oz baby from 2007 is now a healthy 7 year old little girl.   Its been a deeply moving experience being her Mom.  She was indeed so carefully created, and man, He made her exquisite in every way.  From her brilliant blue eyes to the tips of her chubby toes, she is pure and good.   So very good. Kind and quirky. Stubborn and thoughtful. Creative and Smart. Born with a heart like no other.  How can such a small creature contain so many different qualities?

January 18th, 2007. 8:04 pm

  I  can only describe these past seven years as Joy filled.

Its truly been such a pleasure. Evidence, once again, that God loves us, to have trusted us with such a precious creation, and for that we are eternally grateful.

When we were pretty far into the pregnancy with Addison we started to build a little library for her.  I found this one the other day while tyding up and thumbing through found a little note I had written to her before she ever even entered the world. Before I ever knew of this 'love'....  before I had this mothers heart.  Its corny and so poorly written but its full of love and with wonder at what the future would bring.  

Happy Birthday 

by 

Robie H. Harris

Addison Lee-

Mommy & Daddy bought this book on 11/4/06 after we had an ultrasound picture taken of you.  It was 3D so we got to see all your beautiful features for the first time. We even got to see you moving around!!  Mimi, Pop Pop, Auntie Courteney, Uncle Tyler, Auntie Elisabeth and Uncle Mark came to see you too. Lots of other people wanted to come but there wasn't anymore room..... everybody loves you so much already.  You are so lucky.

Mommy and Daddy waited a lifetime for you to finally get here.  Up until the day you arrived you kicked Mommy so much.  Mommy was so huge- her belly couldn't get any bigger, but that was ok because the bigger Mommy's belly got....the prouder Mommy and Daddy got knowing that you were growing so big and strong.

It took 28 long hours before you were ready to finally come out.  Mommy couldn't wait any longer!!  When you came out your Nana, Mimi and Auntie Courteney were there with Mommy and Daddy.  The first time Mommy saw you she cried so hard.  You were so very beautiful and you had 10 toes and 10 fingers.....you were perfect in every way.  I think everyone else in the room cried happy tears too, but especially your Daddy.

The whole waiting room at the hospital was full of your family.  Nana, Grampa, Grammy, PapaDad, Mimi, Pop Pop, Uncle mike, Auntie Stacie, Jade , Colin, Uncle Matt, Uncle Mark, Aunt Elisabeth and Auntie Courteney.  They all wouldn't go home until they got a chance to see you and hold you.  Almost till midnight!

January 18th, 2007 was the best day of Mommy's whole life .  You are the most loved baby in the whole entire world and I cannot wait to watch you grow each and every day.

Mommy loves you

xo

Excited to be making your own birthday cake this year.  A triple decker!

A girls fun day at Nuthin But Good Times

One of many celebrations

Balloons floor to ceiling

The yearly birthday shirt....

Seven.

Happy Birthday my Addy Lee.  

You make everyday special....

we love you infinity. ...

Only God could love you more than we do.

He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them,  "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

Mark 9:36-37

Three

 And just like that...the story was written. Two new lives .  

 Out of what felt like nothing at all, 

out of absolutely no where ,

where cries and prayers felt unheard for so long, 

two tiny hearts began to beat. 

 All I had to do was just breathe and trust Him.  

My body was created to do this. 

 Like these two lives,I am wonderfully made too.  

 

 Abundantly answered prayers.

 Twins....Andrew Lee and George Lee.  

Named after two upright and wonderful men.  Our Dads.

....over two months to go.

....three weeks to go.

January 14th, 2011. Boys were born via c-section at 1:36 and 1:37 pm.

First Birthday

Second Birthday

Three

Happy THIRD Birthday Drew and George!!

Proof that time does fly when you are having fun.

And behold, a voice from heaven said,

 “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” 

Matthew 3:17

First things First

 Time simply slipped away.  The business of love and family  trumped all.  This is what the Gregg's have been up to. 

 Addy started first grade.  A morning this Mom dreaded forever.  I did everything I could to make it a day of perfection for her...from the outfit, to her favorite snacks, anything to keep my mind off the fact that my baby would not be prancing through the back yard all day with her brothers, but completely out of my sight.  It turned my stomach to think of it.

  

This is how terribly upset she was to be on her merry way.  Not.  Not a flinch.  Not a 'Im scared.' Nothing.  Just a gleaming grin of excitement.  A day she was dreaming every bit as much about as I was dreading and shedding silly tears over.

 We went to the bus stop as a family this first morning.  The boys convinced they were following her on, eventually looked as sad as I felt to see her drive away.  Before she entered the door to this day , I hopped in front of her and insisted on just one more kiss.  Luckily for me there was no embarrassment or hesitation.  Just the most beautiful big wonder-filled eyes.  Oh Addy, how I wish I still saw the world through eyes like yours.

How could we not just smile back and let her know that this was a big day, a hard day, but boy it was going to be good.

 And just like that.  They drove away.  I was able to muster a smile of pride...my baby girls attitude toward this adventure had smoothed over those wrinkles of worry I had built up that would turn out to be nothing at all.  My girl was ok.  We had done ok with this parenting so far, she had the confidence to look at this change in the face and with a smile.  No fear. Relief washed over me.......

.......as.....I got in my van and followed the bus to school.  Yes..I was that Mom. I hid out and took a picture of the bus pulling in.  Of her holding the hand of a scared little girl and entering the school.  THEN I even went inside and took a picture of her in wait. Leaving I cried a little  on the way back but mostly out of happiness.  It was a good morning and it was an even better afternoon when her brothers and I sat at the bus stop and practically bubbled over in excitement for that bus to pull back up and give her back.  Grinning wider than I had ever seen her, she stepped off, ran and hugged me tight.  Told me it was 'the best day ever'.

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Addy started up her third year of soccer.  This year was especially special because Daddy and her friend Ella's dad were the coaches.  A great team of great girls. Relaxed and fun season.

The boys enjoyed soccer practice too.

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With Addy being at school all day during the week, the boys and I were able to really spend some quality fun time together.  It was really cool to watch the dynamic of the two of them alone together and really get to know their new growing personalities.  They no longer look like my little babies, but little men.  They have a cute little relationship and their own 'way' together. 

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 Fall <3

We visited Windy Hill Orchard with some friends as we do every year.  The kids look forward to and so do we.

We spent Halloween in Peterborough with a bunch of friends.  Our theme this year was 'pups'.  

The kiddos.

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Puppies have been on our kids minds a ton with the new arrival of our new fur baby Baylee.  She was another rescue from North Carolina.  Hollis loves her.

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George will probably want to strangle me someday when he sees this but this is a HUGE milestone for our family.  NO MORE DIAPERS.  Both boys are potty trained and doing fantastic.  I was so nervous to get this started because I assumed it was going to be a massive under taking...but within a week we were a go!  Way to go Drew and George!

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Glasses. OFFICIALLY old.  Its pretty mind blowing to even say how old I am now without feeling like I lost half my life ,but now my body is really aging too.  Time DOES fly by...its not just a saying anymore. Its happening in our home.  Operation 'slow down and enjoy each second' is whats going on here now.  I don't want to turn around and notice another 10 years as quietly slipped away.

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                           Late October/

Early November ( losing my mind too) we had Amber Joy do our annual family portraits .  Once again, the hour with her felt like an eternity of children behaving badly but she worked her magic once again.  Her talent is God given...I'll take it. I 'll treasure it forever.

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Soon after pictures, the holidays wizzed by as well. We were able to see all of our loved ones this year in this short window of time and our hearts were truly filled.  All the aches and pains of the past crumbled away and we just loved and embraced each other, letting the grip of the year go and releasing it to a new year of beautiful unknown things. 

The minute Thanksgiving ended , out we went for our tree and started decorating.

 ....and had some silly fun at it .  What good is life if you cant let that love fill you will visible joy and delight?

Lord you have blessed this year with a love we have never known.  We are praising you for blessings now and those we know not of yet.  You are so good, Lord, You are so faithful. Entering the new year is so exciting.  May we bring Glory to Your name in huge ways.

He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." 

(Revelation 21:5)