Dear Future Daughter

Dear Future Daughter,

It's crazy to think that you're somewhere on this big blue planet, right now... maybe in pre-kindergarten like your husband-to-be, maybe not even in school yet... maybe graduating High School like your future-father-in-law was while I was still in Middle School. But that's a whole other letter.

You might have a play-date today after school. Or perhaps your parents have a conference with your teacher. Tonight Eli will be playing with his sister and hanging out with his dad and me. I wonder what traditions your family has.

I often think about you, and wonder what you're doing while Eli is coloring me a picture or playing superhero, rescuing us from monsters and aliens. Do you have a brother or sister, or a puppy to play with? Do you share a room with someone? Are your eyes brown like Eli's, or are they blue? Are you a little pain-in-the-rear about having your toe nails trimmed too?

My daughter-to-be, while I care about these things and everything about you, what I really pray for are the things we can't always see. I pray you are surrounded by loved ones who are affectionate and playful with you. I pray that you are affirmed as the wonderful creature you are every day. I pray you are filled with the knowledge of God's immense love for you. I pray there's a man in your life who models being a man of integrity on a daily basis. I hope you see your dad kiss your mom and hold her hand when they walk together. Or if your parents aren't together, that you aren't basing your idea of romance off of what you see on TV, because that stuff is not real. I pray you see your mom prized like the jewel she is... that you see her doted on and lavished with praise, because the young man you are going to marry has not only seen ME praised and valued, but he's never known a day of insignificance in his life.

He is being raised to open car doors and store doors for ladies. His father will one day teach him that it is his responsibility to pay for your dates, to walk to the door and pick you up, and return you with all of your clothing and all of your self-esteem in-tact at the end of the night. He will be taught that real men don't participate in activities they would be ashamed of their moms knowing about. When you mess up, I pray you have a repentant heart.

You have big shoes to fill. Up to this point, his sister and I have been the number one and two ladies in his life. We love him more than anything in this world, but know that we must let him fly at some point. And when you’re in, you’re in, you’re family. Eli has learned to treat us like the special ladies we are. He is fiercely protective of both of us and is being trained to do the same for you and your future children.

Eli has been raised to speak kindly to you, to value your hard work, to help in the kitchen and with the housework to show how much he appreciates you. He will understand that you are a VERY important part of your household.

He is not perfect. He could survive on yogurt, fruit and macaroni and cheese. He thinks Cheetos are a dairy product. He sometimes slobbers and talks in his sleep. He forgets to flush the toilet after he uses the restroom. Drama runs DEEEEEEPLY in his veins. But young lady, you are receiving the best gift you could have ever received on this side of eternity when you take his hand. He is responsible, trustworthy, honest and hilarious. Our house if filled with laughter every single day. If you knew the treasure you will receive in him, you'd find it hard to concentrate on anything else for the next twenty years or so until he's ready. So, wherever you are, whatever you're doing, whoever you're with... we are praying for you. We love you already.

Oh, and what I pray for you most is that you have a personal, living, breathing relationship with the One who laid His life down for yours. Your husband does. I see him live intimately with Him every day. He has learned early how to pray and trust in God.

Love,
Mom

PS. I fully plan on being the next best thing to your own mom for the rest of my life. You're stuck with me. Be thankful. And scared ;-)

PPS Eli has already promised me that he is going to be our next door neighbor when he grows up, so you’ll be seeing a lot of me. I promise not to butt in too much.

Thanksgiving Feast

Eli had a Thanksgiving Feast at school today. He has been so excited about it all weekend. I went early to help decorate and set up the cafeteria. When his class came in, I could tell something was wrong with him. I went over and hugged him. He leaned into me and started crying. He kept telling me nothing was wrong, but I could tell something was. I asked him all the regular questions, he wasn't sick, nobody had hurt his feelings, etc. Finally he told me that he was tired and he just wanted to go home. So, we left about 30 minutes early and in the car he told me that his ear was really hurting. I called the doctor and made him an appointment for this afternoon. He has a little bit of a fever and just looks pitiful. Hopefully he'll be better by Thanksgiving, otherwise, we may be eating frozen pizza at home =)

I didn't make these little turkeys, but they sure were cute!

A couple of weeks ago, Eli brought home a "Family Project" to decorate a turkey. We used candy, feathers, beads, buttons, cereal, pretzels, and foam shapes to decorate ours. His teacher, Mrs. Bankston, hung them all up on a bulletin board outside the classroom.

Poop Shoes

A conversation with Eli:

Eli: Mom, I wish our town only had houses that my friends lived in. I also wish that there were no cars and all the people walked everywhere.

Me: Why? I wouldn't want to have to walk everywhere.

Eli: Well, then all the kids could run and play in the street and everywhere and we wouldn't have to worry about cars hitting us. I also wish there were no dogs.

Me: Then we wouldn't have Harley. Why do you wish there were no dogs?

Eli: Because there wouldn't be any poop anywhere on the ground. When I'm an inventor, I'm going to invent poop shoes.

Me: That sounds gross, what would you do with poop shoes?

Eli: Then I could just step in the poop and I wouldn't have to worry about looking for poop because I'd have poop shoes. They would be silver like a robot, but they wouldn't be robots.

Aww, such imagination....

Eli's Pre-K and Soccer Pictures

Eli chose between what I picked out and what Johnny picked out to wear for his school picture. My choice won =) He also chose which pose he wanted. Such a handsome boy...

On soccer picture day, it was pouring rain. We took his buddy David with us because his mom had to take his sister to her cheer camp at the same time and her husband was out of town. David is sitting on Eli's right in the group picture.

Zoe's First Haircut

Zoe and I have had a pretty productive morning so far. We have taken Johnny's clothes to the cleaners, gone to the post office, CVS, dropped off the water bill and gotten Zoe her very first haircut. And I might add, all of this was done between 8:00 and 9:15.

I have been wanting to get her hair cut for awhile now, and had planned on Johnny going with us. However, he's been so busy at work, he told me to go ahead and go without him. She sat very still and did so good. She had about and inch cut off just to even up and shape it a little. The lady that cut her hair was very patient and sweet with her. She saved some clippings for me and we got a little card to take home.

Play Phone

I just overheard Eli having a pretend conversation with his Grandma on his play phone.

"Grandma I'm not a crybaby."

"Mom, Grandma said she was going to whack me in the face."

"No, Grandma I don't wear diapers."

I said, "Eli, Grandma wouldn't say those things to you.  That's not very nice."

His response was, "I know Mom, you know I'm not really talking to Grandma, the phone's not even real!"

Write that down too

Dinner conversation with Eli tonight:

Eli: How many more bites do I need Mom?

Me: You need 5 more GOOD bites.

E: When I have kids, I won't care if they have small or big bites.  It won't matter.

M: I'm going to write that down and remind you of that when I come to visit you and my grandkids.  I will tell them that their daddy once said that it didn't matter how good their bites were.  They could have 5 more tiny bites if they wanted.

E: Well it won't matter, and you're just kidding.

M: No, I really am going to write that down so I can remind you when you're a daddy.

E:  Well, you really are just kidding, so write that down too.