Dear Children, loving school and still going strong. You even get all your homework done. I think it's going to be a good year. Dear Awkward, while sitting next to Hazel's bed singing her a song a huge spider comes out of nowhere, hits me in the chest and runs down my shirt. I handled this extremely well given the circumstances. What would you do? The logical thing to do in my mind? The clothes come off...run to my room while losing the clothes. It's the only way to be sure. Naturally. Little miss muffet... Dear Awesome, coming home after a couple of days away and having all the kids rush Will and attack him with hugs and squeezes and smiles. And me? I had to wait hours for my turn because he was buried in children who love him so dearly. The awesome part is just how dang lucky we are. Dear Liquid Gold, oh man, Kayloni's salted caramel sauce is to die for. I can eat it by the spoon full. If you like caramel, believe me, you want a jar of this. Dear Bad Luck, driving down the freeway minding my own business and a rock flips up and hits my windshield. A nice big crack right across my line of vision. Who's got time for that! Not to mention I don't have money for that! It was a perfectly good windshield! Dear Hazel, I met with your teacher this week. They all love you so much and just kept saying how much you have improved, how smart you are and how sweet you are to help the other kids. I am so dang proud of you and all of your hard work. My sweet little Hazelnut. You're toothless grin just kills me every time. Dear Kade, When I met with all of your teachers I didn't know what to expect. You are one lucky boy because every single one of your teachers seem so kind and genuinely want to do what ever they can to help you succeed. And your homeroom teacher just happens to be our landlord, which is pretty awesome cause you already really liked the guy. This is such a huge burden off my shoulders to have others help me. Dear Avary, your love of gymnastics may have just doubled after watching the Gabby Douglas story, I can't even count how many times. We have had some injuries, you know the normal getting kicked in the face and knocking things over from your flips. I do love to see you be so passionate about something. I believe you will excel. Dear Hailey, you got up early and made everyone fresh crapes with strawberry sauce and whipped cream. It was pretty yummy. If you can leave the work space clean as if it never happened then I will gladly teach you many things in the kitchen. Dear B, you are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope you know that you are not alone. Dear Sis, sometimes you just need each other. I am glad to have my sisters. Dear News, we have some pretty BIG and pretty exciting news! But you will have to wait two more weeks to find out what it is. Dear Will, I have really loved our time together this week. You worked so hard and are so worn out, but you still took the time to drive me to Gilbert for my Dr. appointment. I cherish the time that we got to spend talking in the car the entire way there and back. How you always turn the radio off so we can talk. And how sweetly you are caring for me as I am not feeling well. And on top of that you are taking care of our seven children and the hundreds of duties that accompany our awesome family. I know it can be so stressful at times trying to divide yourself 8 different ways and still be kind. You have done a great job at that this week. Dear Self, I'm not feeling good. I'm feeling so bad. Lack of sleep, and too much pain. But I have found many things to be grateful for this week. Especially the fact that when my children are faced with such difficult trials in life, yet I have this peace because I know I have the truths necessary for them to succeed in this life even though it is hard. God loves us. He gave us the way to overcome and directions to find our way home to him. Without it...it would all eat me alive.
