Happy 9th Birthday, Zane!

My sweet and precious boy is 9! I love this boy so very much. He is still such a beaming light that brings me such joy. I've loved watching him come out of his shell and test the waters and be so very adventurous. He was always so very tiny but he spent the last year growing bigger and beyond most of his peers and a few of his friends who are one or two years older than him. We laugh cause for someone who was barely on a chart for his early years, he's leaped so very far and fast.

His classmates love him and gravitate toward him. He's amazing at video games, reading, math, sports, music (we gotta get this boy singing more!), art, exploring, dancing, joking, cooking and cleaning. One of his friends Macy recently wrote a note to him and said that he's a good friend, very kind and has great hair. That warms my heart.

He was recently talking about how many years he has before he's driving. He was a little shocked thinking about how he's more than halfway there in years. He asked to stop talking about it cause he knows he's not ready yet, and what's extra neat about Zane is that except for every once in a while wanting to be older to do some things, he doesn't want to grow up too fast. This is sort of a glimpse into how Zane really soaks up every experience. He might be quiet at times but his memory is rock solid and the big connections he makes leave me in awe.

Sounds like a good idea!

On this very hot day, September 11, it was nice to impulsively stop by the Bunny Splashpad. We had gone to the car wash but I pulled through the one that's scary, so to lift Hendrix's spirits, I suggested we stop by the splashpad. He was excited. It was empty when we got there, which I absolutely love, because it gives H all the room in the world to freely explore and interact with his surroundings, with no worries. 

After a little bit of time there, and after enjoying our alone time, a couple of other parents showed up with toddlers and preschoolers. I thought I heard a dad call for his toddler by a name that sounded very close to Hendrix's name. So after a few minutes of trying to watch and listen, I went over to the toddler's mom and asked his name. Indeed it is also "Hendrix"! We chuckled and discussed our love of unique names. We shared about our love for a variety of music and the fun related children's books. The couple is about 10 years younger than us and just moved to the area from Seattle. Hendrix told Chezney "Hendrix is my name."

And then it was time to leave, Hendrix insisted on walking back to the car with his towel covering his face. Whatever, dude. 

Casting Ideas and Imagination

We have Google Chromecast on a few of our televisions. It's very convenient cause I can basically cast just about anything on whichever TV whenever I want. When on the Chromecast input before casting anything, random photos and pieces of art will rotate on the screen. Hendrix and I have a tendency to talk about the photos some nights while calming down for bed.

For the photo above, Hendrix talked about how the "mountain has many steps" and how he "wants to climb up, up, up into the sky." I'm often humored  by his big ideas. Much like Zane used to ask, Hendrix has asked to climb into the TV to go there and to that house. I hate giving him the bad news.

For the picture below he talked about the great big city and all the lights and tall buildings. At one point he stopped to insist he look out of my bedroom window to see if this city is outside.

I'm thankful for these unrushed moments and time to just chat with my little guy, to hear how the expanding world develops in his mind. I wonder if he sometimes goes to sleep and dreams of the things we just fantasized over, casting wishes and hopes to "live" out.

Strolling with Zane

Sometimes I follow along on Zane's bike rides, observing the risks he'll take or just listening to some of his big ideas.

Kinetic Energy

They feed off each other's energy, that's for sure, even with challenges.

A New School Year

Vanessa and Zane have had a wonderful start to 7th grade and 3rd grade. Vanessa messages me when she gets to school and just before she leaves to head home. And if I'm extra lucky, she sends a pic from moments throughout her day, like at lunch or just as school is about to begin. Zane's teacher sends pics too, and is very open with communication. I feel blessed to be so connected in a wild and crazy world!

The Office

Everyone has an office like this, right? 😂

3 Hearts Beat As 1

(mid July)

When Daddy is away, you can bet everyone else ends up in the same bed. 💓

20 Years

Adam and I have been married 20 years today! And this next Saturday we've *officially* been together 26 years. I say it *out loud* cause it still seems impossible. I don't feel old enough...except for when I do something like fall and twist an ankle and my body hurts for days afterward...or the amount of coffee it now takes me to survive just 1 day... 😂

I would be lying, and many would know, if I were to say it's been pure bliss. Maybe it has helped to watch others, to know that it takes a lot of unconditional love, work, patience, appreciation and acceptance of each other for who we have been, who we are, and what we're becoming.

I want my children to know that their mom and dad won't always see eye to eye, that we accept each other's flaws, that we love each other to the core of our being, and how we handle the storms and our disagreements. When I feel Adam isn't understanding me and I flood him with resources to hit home my point, he often reins me back in by pointing out that we're more alike than not.

God has blessed me with an assurance from the very beginning that He's had a plan for Adam and is doing an amazing work in him, and that He created and shaped Adam precisely for me. God placed me by Adam's side and Adam by mine so we can do good work together in this world. I'm so thankful to celebrate 20 years of our original covenant today, to continue this life journey with him, and to reflect on every blissful moment with extra appreciation.

I ❤ Adam!

"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." ~ Colossians 3:14

Not All Stacked Up

(beginning of June 2019)

The summer flew by. It was one of those summers where I unintentionally had a slew of thoughts and hopes for how it would go. It didn't stack up nearly as I had hoped, especially in regards to Zane's bedroom and other projects I made contingent upon the completion of his room. 

The hold up with the construction ended up being a sort of road block on many fronts, like even with facilitating certain transitions in Hendrix's world, which undoubtedly impacted other things. 

Oh well, that's what happens when you stack ideas too fast -- it doesn't hold up like one might hope. God knows the perfect timing for all the thoughts in my heart and head, though, so I'll wait patiently and remain present in the world as it is.