Family Living: Abbott Style

Today, my sweet little girl turned 6. Our lives have been chaos lately, so it was very important to me that she felt special today. I attended her FABULOUS school play, we kidnapped her at lunch to spend some birthday money and eat Jose Peppers--after school--was swim lessons, pizza and cake at grandma and grandpas. It was perfect. This evening, she was singing in the shower and cuddled up to bed with a mermaid tail blanket. Like most yearly events, I can't help but spend some time in reflection. First, I want to encourage moms everywhere. Parenting is hard. From day 1 with Haley, I felt like I was always struggling to "figure it out". How to not mess her up. As I stand here after 6 years, I still haven't figured it out. But she has turned out to be a wonderful little girl in spite of it all. The 3's and 4's are tough. But something magical happens in kindergarten. ---and I have enjoyed ...

Today is a good day.   Starting Sunday, Haley started running a fever and complaining of neck pain, headache, and sore throat.  This continued for several days and she has yet to go to school this week.  While taxing and frustrating, there was something good that game out of it.  Haley is feeling much better today, so we took advantage of the situation and invited her to the ultrasound of her little brother! He is developing beautifully.  Placenta has migrated so no previa.  The baby was an active little boy, kicking wiggling around.   The woman doing the sonogram was getting so tickled and ended up taking about 30 pictures total of the baby.  She said he is a character already.  The joy filled the room. Praise be to God.   The thought of three kids is sometimes...terrifying.  It is hard to imagine.  I remember similar feelings when I was pregnant with Owen.  But eventually, it passes.  The...

This evening I was reviewing some of my old posts---wondering how to stop time.  When I realized, I had not done my yearly recap. 2016--In Review 2016 began with the sudden loss of my grandma.  It was hard. Realizing our loved ones morality is hard.  I literally, slowly, watched her life slip away.  It was hard. I made AMAZING friends.  For so long, I carried a hole in my life.  I had an emotional need that never felt filled.  I loved God.  But I had this desire to connect that I could not shake.  Then I made two of the best friends I have ever had.  And now our group of three has expanded to a community of people.  Who all love God.  And we are loving God together and changing as people.  I can look back and see God's work being played out in these relationships.  It is not a doubt in my mind that these people are a very special gift and together, we will strive to glorify God. I found a church.  This ...