What Summertime Is Made Of

1 trampoline

lots of water from a hose

plenty of sunshine

1 plastic tub

2 tennis rackets

4 bathing suits

and the most important ingredient of all...

four wonderful, playful, energetic, creative (at the moment) children

Handsome, if i do say so myself

"Mommy, do you have any jello for my hair?"

"Sure, Sweetie let's go get some."

"Is my hair flat down?"

"Yep, it sure is."

"Do I look handsome?"

"Absolutely!!"

"So when I get older and go on a date, we'll be so happy, 'cause I look so handsome."

"We'll all be so happy!"

nieces, nephews, and sister-in-law

cousins playing

moms talking:

girl talk

catch up talk

look forward talk

food talk

school talk

money talk

house talk

"You Are My I Love You"

This post is because of the 4 most precious kiddos in the world.
What incredible treasures God has blessed us with!



from You Are My I Love You
by Maryann Cusimano

"I am your parent;
you are my child.
I am your quiet place;
you are my wild.
I am your calm face;
you are my giggle.
I am your wait;
you are my wiggle.
I am your carriage ride;
you are my king.
I am your push;
you are my swing.
I am your audience;
you are my clown.
I am your London Bridge;
you are my falling down.
I am your carrot stick;
you are my licorice.
I am your dandelion;
you are my first wish.
I am your water wings;
you are my deep.
I am your open arms;
you are my running leap.
I am your way home;
you are my new path.
I am your dry towel;
you are my wet bath.
I am your dinner;
you are my chocolate cake.
I am your bedtime;
you are my wide awake.
I am your finish line;
you are my race.
I am your praying hands;
you are my saying grace.
I am your favorite book;
you are my new lines.
I am your night-light;
you are my starshine.
I am your lullaby;
you are my peekaboo.
I am your good-night kiss;
you are my
I LOVE YOU!

(the illustrations by Satomi Ichikawa are adorable)

I was blessed to be a stay-at-home mom for 12 years. I cherish each and every day with each of my kids. I am thankful for each second of joy they have brought to our lives. I miss the babbling, the bath-time splashing, the wobbly walking, the excitement of new achievements, the joy over new things, the pots banging, the need for band-aids, the happy meals, the little clothes, the little shoes, the little hands, and the little feet, the little smiles and the little bottoms, the bare thighs as they crawl around in a onesie, nap time, peekaboo, snuggles, and so much more...

Enough!

I read this somewhere recently, and it became an instant favorite.

I Wish You Enough

Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure.

Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said, 'I love you, and I wish you enough.'

The daughter replied, 'Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed.. I wish you enough, too, Mom.'

They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy, but she welcomed me in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?' 'Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?'. 'I am old, and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral,' she said.

'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?'

She began to smile. 'That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone.' She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and she smiled even more. 'When we said, 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.'

Then turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

She then began to cry and walked away. They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them; but then an entire life to forget them.

To all my friends and loved ones, I WISH YOU ENOUGH!

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." II Peter 1:3-4

Can't He Stay Five Forever??

A five year old peaking through a hole in his chicken at lunch,
"I see you."






"From the fullness of His grace, we have all received one blessing after another."
John 1:16