A day in the park

Isaac is getting to be such a big boy and oh - so much fun! This week is Spring Break for Brandon and I, so we actually had the time to do some leisurely things today. While we always have intentions of doing leisurely things on the weekends, we typically wind up cleaning the house, running errands, tackling the laundry, or doing whatever else we've had to leave un-done throughout the work week. So, needless to say, our day of leisure activities was a blast! We went for a long walk and wound up at the neighborhood playground. We'd thought we would take Isaac there to swing for the first time, so we were looking forward to it. Upon arrival at said playground, however, we were overwhelmed by how much the playground.... uh.... sucketh. There wasn't a baby swing. Actually, there wasn't a swing at all! I mean, c'mon... can you really call that a playground?

Here's what Isaac thought of the neighborhood playground:

Once we got home from our walk, I quickly began searching the internet for playgrounds in our area. I found one not too far from the house, so we loaded up the car and headed for the park after lunch. Much to our delight, this playground had many swings, including a baby swing. And, as you can see by the pictures, Isaac loved it! I look forward to going back to the park *many* times this summer. :)

Fun with Mom & Dad in the Park

Pot of gold...

Mondays are long days. I go to work, bring kids home with me, and teach piano lessons for several hours. Between fielding students, the phone, parents, cups of water and jolly rancher requests, the time always flies by but not without it's measure of chaos. Today was no exception. I'm in full swing, teaching a lesson, when there's a knock on the door. I answer it to find that it's one of my piano Moms, and she tells me that I have to step outside to see something. I curiously stepped outside and obdediently looked in the direction of her pointing finger. It is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen! I ran back inside to get my camera and the kids... the pictures don't do it justice, but I'll never forget it!

Can you see that there are TWO rainbows?

They were the brightest rainbows I've ever seen! The arch had been fully formed and stretched completely across the sky. I couldn't even come close to getting all of it in my shot. I'm so glad that the Mom came to get us because they were almost completely gone by the time we went back inside just a few minutes later. As I walked the kids back to the house, one of the boys stopped me, grabbed my hand, and asked me "Mrs. Ritter, can we go find the pot of gold?". I asked him if he would settle for a jolly rancher... his sprint back into the house answered that question. Besides, who needs a pot of gold when we're able see God's handywork painted across the sky?

To my Angel baby...

I have a good friend who recently suffered a miscarriage. Her specialist discovered the loss when she was 13 weeks along but, sadly, the baby had passed during her 8th week of pregnancy. My friend had been stuggling with terrible morning sickness, but had been at work, teaching, every day... running to the restroom in between classes, and doing her best to eat well and stay positive.

When she found out that she would never get to see, hold or love on her baby, she called to tell me the news. She had spoken with family members who had said all of the wrong things to her, trying to "reason" the loss to her rather than grieving the loss alongside her. Since that day, she has confided in me about the things she is feeling and dealing with... things that I remember all too well after my miscarriage. I have done my best to be there for my dear friend. To listen to her, to reassure her that what she's experiencing is normal, to cry with her and to pray over her. The sadness from the loss of a child - even one you've never met - is absolutely excrutiating. I pray that the whole in her heart, the horror of her dreams, and the sea of her tears will blur in the distance of memory as quickly as possible.

Another of my friends recently suffered the loss of her 6 week old baby... a loss I cannot even begin to imagine. She came up to the school to visit last week and shared a poem with my friend that she had received in one of her condolence cards. She shared it with me, as well. The words brought about an eruption of tears, which then brought me to my knees in thanks to my God for choosing me to be Isaac's mother. I do not deserve him, but accept His precious gift with open and grateful arms. I am terribly saddened to know that there are many women out there that experience this loss time and time again, and yet are never afforded their hearts' desire. I pray for you, whomever you are, and share the words with you that were shared with me. I hope that they bring a meaure of closure to your heart, as they did mine.

"A Mother's Love cannot be measured by increments of time...an entire lifetime of love can be squeezed into a few brief miraculous moments when necessary..."