Friday Photo Favorites

What an honor. How blessed our children are having a Fruncle on each side.

At the end of May we witnessed Fr. Stephen Blaxton's ordination. How very, very blessed to be rearing our children in the midst of faith lived daily. 

I remember so keenly my older sister coming and staying with me the first eight days after being initiated into motherhood. Her gift of self was overwhelming and not fully recognized to the actual degree until later. She sat with me as I learned to navigate the ends and outs of early motherhood. Her sitting across from me as we both nursed our little ones was so very much like her bestowing her blessing on me, saying, "you can do this, it will be the hardest thing you will ever do, but you can do this. We traveled this road before and it will be traveled again, come along you are not alone in your vocation." 

As my brother is not Fr. Stephen's brother biologically, they are part of a bigger, deeper brotherhood of Christ. There have been priest before and there will be priest after these two, and they all will travel the vocational road all the same, and they are not alone. 

Unpacking

We unpacked a box yesterday. I thought it was full of pillows-it was not. We found all the early picture cds from our marriage, which included a lot of Paul Thomas' first few months. Goodness that was a trip to memory lane. I want to say it was all rosy memories, but the truth is when I saw pictures of me, I saw so much pain and confusion. I saw me desperately wanting guidance and protection. 

The first is so very, very hard. I relived how the most important day of my life was tainted by misguided intentions. How I, as a person, was completely disregarded the moment my child was born. 

I remembered thinking that day, "Why don't you protect me! I am strapped down unable to move, I've been through the ringer, protect me!" Honestly, I thought it again yesterday. 

Yesterday, I actually got enraged thinking about how this very most intimated family time was shattered by self seeking individuals. Individuals that never once stop to ask if we were okay with what they were doing, just that they were doing it regardless. Yesterday, I vented to Philip and then cried and then vented. He is the best. He apologized for not protecting me, he is not at fault, he needed protection and guidance too. 

Maybe one day I can look at those pictures and look in awe of that young woman who endured so much more than 18 hours of pictocin induced labor, but endured it while being trampled on and as she wanted to scream and yell, she kept it together. Maybe one of these days not only will that strong and capable woman be seen, but she will influence growth and peace in this woman. Maybe those wounds will turn into scars. Scars are simple reminders of life lived, wounds seep pain and frustration. Maybe someday soon I'll be more like her.

Introducing

Nox and Luna.

Yes, we have arrived at "what in the world" stage of life. They really are very sweet and also very happy to not spend anytime with us as well, in true cat fashion. They have made mornings so much more pleasant as most grumpiness is defused by cat cuddles. 

Friday Photo Favorites

Oh this sweetness right here. Pudgy little hands, sparkling eyes, doggy ears and a momma heart. She is usually the first up in the morning and asking for ballet, or a book or some way to spend time together. She loves her sisters fiercely and is keenly aware of someone else, who is a bit of a ham, getting a bit more attention. She and George are also buddies and I find them together reading, reading, reading the same wonderful books, giggling at all the same places over and over again. And somehow tomorrow she will be three!

Friday Photo Favorites

Summer time and the living's easy.

Friday Photo Favorites

Love these silly people.

Friday Photo Favorites

Missing some cousin buddies.