I am overwhelmed by how blessed I am as a mother. To have these three smiling faces look up to and love me like they do is truly amazing. Now life is not always sunshine and smiles. Yesterday was a smile. A big smile.

Makenna had her first piano recital. We had rehearsed her lines and her music over and over. She was ready. I was a nervous wreck. Not because she might fail but I did not want her to have the fear of failing. Failing is a part of life that we must all be apart of to grow but I did not want her to experience the anxiety associated with the mental possibility of failing. Needless to say I was so anxious that I skipped lunch.

We got to the church early to rehearse the steps, check out the piano, and get comfortable with the microphone. I saw it in her eyes the moment we walked in. She had this blank look on her face and she kept mumbling about trying to find the whole in her dress. I distracted her by taking her to the piano. She played her music to practice but did so without even looking at the music which causes her to mess up. I took her to the mic to practice and she looked at me with those big brown eyes and said, "monnie are you going to come up her with me?" I took  a deep breath. While every inch of my body wanted to say yes, I told her no. She looked down at her feet and said, "Can I go sit in my chair now?" I wanted to cry.

She went and climbed in her chair and waited. Chris went over to talk to her and give her a pep talk that only daddy's can give. He came back and said, "She is ready."

The recital began and she was first. I was glad that she did not have to sit and wait for others to go and anticipate the anxiety of her turn. Ms. Neutz called her name and she got up and went to the mic. She did just as we rehearsed. Then she went to the piano. She played her 2 songs and looked at her music as she played. The went back to the mic said thank you and did her cute curtsy. I was brought to tears. She did beautifully. I have never been so proud to be her mamma. But what happened next impressed me even more. She sat in her chair for the next 2 hours while the other children played, without making a peep or squirming. I could not believe it. I had no idea she was capable of such self control. It was great to see that all the tears and praying of this job called parenting had finally paid off. God is so good.

Now on the other had we have Maddax. My 2 year old with OCD!! This child has become a perfectionist. At first it was cute. Closing drawers behind me. Emptying his trash can. Running the Shark in the kitchen. But then he started at night with his bed. If the blanket gets a wrinkle in it he hollers, "Fiss it." And he has a turtle that lights up stars on the ceiling and if it is not in the right place in his room he chants, "Turtle." There is a pillow in his rocking chair and if it is not sitting the right way in the chair he chants, "Pillow." This can go on for up to a half an hour or more. I was giving in and attempting to fix most things but I figured out I am only making things worse. Worse for me. I love this little boy but he has got to learn how to deal with imperfections. He reminds me alot of his uncle Jeff when we were kids. He turned out okay, I guess. LOL! But boy is that a rough road to travel on for both child and parent. So we are doing are best to fix it once and then let him try to adjust. It is a work in progress.

Now on to Emme. Sweet Emme sleeps in our closet. The house is just to rowdy with Makenna and Maddax to have her sleep anywhere else. We have tried. It works well except when we forget to get our clothes out. She is growing big and today she is 3 months old. Time is going by so fast. She smiles alot and loves to be talked to. She is a good baby except for these weird 45 min naps. Maddax and Makenna did it too so I am hoping she will outgrow it soon. We are still trying to find her neck. It seems to have disappears under one of her chins.

She has gone from butter bean to butter ball and I love every little fat roll she has. She is a joy and I am so glad to have been blessed with her sweet little spirit.

She will not smile when I am behind the camera.

An Unasked Answered Prayer

My Makenna loves her cousins Callie and Chloe  so much.  She always wants to be doing everything they are whether is is American Dolls (she has a fake one from the trift store and has no clue), playing Calico Critters (which she says in a British accent, do not know why), or Irish dancing (she is pretty good for not having any real lessons, watch out River Dance).  About a month or so ago we went to Callie and Chloe's piano recital.  Makenna was so excited.  At that time she had seen Callie and Chloe play at home but this was the big thing and they wore pretty dresses, according to Makenna. When we came home Makenna spent the next week pretending to perform in her very own piano recital with Maddaxs play piano.  She would play a bit, then stand up and take a bow.  Very, very cute.  She has since perfected the bow from practicing it so much.

Chris and I started talking about the possibility putting her into piano lessons when she is 5.  That is the age that Callie and Chloes teacher begins lessons on the piano.  We have met her and she is a God loving, gifted pianist.  Chris and I have no desire to put her in any orginized sport where she can pick up disobedience.  You cannot be the salt of the Earth till you are salty. So piano was a great way to teach Makenna structure from another individual and add in some social skills as well. However, if you have met my daughter you would know she is far from being socially inept.  Infact at times she is more like the Wal-Mart greeter.

We knew we could nver afford a piano so we decided for Christmas next year we would by her a keyboard.

About a week later I was on Facebook when one of my friends stated she had a Baldwin upright that she was wanting to farm out to a good family.  I told her I was interested depending on the price.  She sent a message back I will never forget.  She said it was ours at no fee but that if we ever wanted to get rid of it could she have first dibs. Chris and I were sold. It is amazing how God new exactly what we needed before we even asked.

Chris and a few of his friends trudged to Elizabethtown yesterday to pick it up.  When they returned with it in hand Makenna was overwhelmed.  She could not stop talking about it or touching it.  She even went as far as to go around and not only say thank you but also individually hug each one of Chris's friends who had helped.  I so love her thankfulness for others.  One of his friends went on to say, "Chris I did not do this for you, I did this for her."

Since God single handedly brought about this piano, I think he must have great plans for Makenna to play it. The Bible says in Psalm 100 to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord..."  I must say she already has that part down.  I pray He keeps her passion burning for playing for Him.