You often read that cousins are
usually your first friends. They know
all about you, love you regardless of your differences, and enjoy life with you
from start to finish…
Gaylord Pearson Family (My parents & siblings) – 2002
I always dreamed of how close my siblings and I would be as adults and prayed our children would grow up together, loving each other as true friends. Just like sisters and brothers. My sister, Katy, even started the kids calling each other sister-cousins and brother-cousins – they act like siblings when they are together. They are tight as buddies and fight like enemies – yet love each other through all celebrations and disagreements.
So this day, Jaquline, Jillian, and Anastasia had a sister outing! Becca (my sister, Anastasia’s mom) took all three of them to go see Frozen 2 in a real theater – oh see those smiles?
I didn’t hear much about the movie except, “it was good,” but heard all about the jokes, fun ride, giggles, and enjoyment of their time together.
I try to teach my littles to focus on relationships – invest rather than spend time. I also want them to have competent adult mentors to look up to. I pray they never feel they can’t talk to me, but I hope that if they feel they can’t, they know they have dozens of family members and close trusted friends they can go to. Aunt Becca is such a strong, wise aunt (and super fun), my older girls have already gleaned life wisdom from her and ask advice sometimes. (And since Mom is as much a student of makeup as they are… they honestly are waaaaay better at it… they usually ask Aunt Becca for beauty advice!)
I so admire how my very busy sister
takes time to invest in my youngsters!
They LOVE all Aunt Becca outings!
I try to invest time myself – especially in those little humans I’ve been blessed to raise. I sometimes feel time slips away. (You know, when I realize that was the last Thursday morning I’ll be required to drive Christina to college as she gets her license the day before her next semester starts in January.)
Sometimes God blesses you with an
awesome gift and you totally know it!
From the time I was pregnant with
Thea, Lucas was totally in love with his little baby. It was “my baby.” Lots of people tried to get
him to choose “new brother” or “new sister” – he always just said “my baby.”
Lucas said “you are my love, Baby Thea!”
Then when she was born. Lucas was captured.
He has been the most tender, loving
big brother. He snuggles with her…
…yes, they are fist-bumping each
other in their sleep!
When I was taking her to work with
me and totally enjoying my baby-time, Lucas greeted her first when I came
in. It was “how were you, baby Thea?” In
the morning, it was “Mommy, can you leave baby Thea with me today?”
I love their special bond.
Thea knows she has her big brother
wrapped around her fingers!
She is mobile now… I watch them race
around the gym floor and Thea’s playing with him!
I am so blessed by the awesome gift of being their mom. I’m so thankful for the bond they already have and look forward to watching them grow up together! Lucas thinks it’s awesome when he sees his friends (he says best friends) Grayson and Caleb on Facebook – he said, “Look, Mom, God gave all three of us special baby sisters so we can take care of them!”
April 27, 2019 is the fourth annual Family Fun Fest in Saint Augustine, Florida!
Check out this video (the smiling butterfly is my niece, Anastasia!) and “like” them on Facebook to keep in touch with updates!
Come join us for a wonderful day! I’ll be at a table with books, DVDbooks, Audio CDs, (some of the girls’ craft goods) and an activity center where children can make a complementary bookmark to take home!
My oldest two girls will be volunteering (probably gone all day and might drop in for water occasionally), Kimberly and Jaquline will be “on younger duty” in rotation (meaning they get to play with Anastasia, Jillian, and Lucas), and Jillian, Jaquline, and Kimberly will be rotating “salesgirls” at the table! Lucas and Thea will be entertaining others (most likely Grandma & and friends who stop by) and I’m sure Kimberly, Jaquline, Jillian, Lucas, and Anastasia will be familiar faces for everyone monitoring a child’s activity!
There will be an obstacle course to watch – many teams have already signed up, it is amazing!
There is other live entertainment, vendors, bounce houses, information booths, food trucks, and raffles! All of this will be supporting the Alpha Omega Charities!
Our table gives 50% of what we make plus usually, the girls give all of their “tip jar” money!
Come enjoy an awesome family fun day at Francis Field, downtown Saint Augustine, Florida on April 27, 2019 between 10am to 8pm! (We will be there all day, please find us and chat!) Oh yes, your kiddos will definately sleep well afterward!
Have you ever wondered if your kid was the only one who chose kitchen tools over toys?
March 4, 2019
Toys Versus Kitchen Tools
Have you ever thought it was just your kid?
…You know, when you have hundreds of dollars worth of toys for them to play with yet they would rather grab every plastic container, metal pot, and baking tin and beat it like a drum set with two plastic implements of some kind. (Spatula and cake server anyone?)
Nope.
It’s not just your kid.
Seriously, I promise. I’ve actually studied it.
In my very scientific study, conducted over almost two full decades, with dozens of children unknowingly participating, I have come to the conclusion that a mismatched set of plasticware, baking tins, and cooking pots serves as a more desirable toy than the newest Duplo set – to everyone under the age of five… maybe take that limit up to eight or nine if they are entertaining a younger cousin, sibling, or playmate.
Ready for some proof happening as I type?
…here is the playroom.
…and here is the front room (my kitchen and front room are divided by the couch Becky is sitting on – my photographer didn’t get the kitchen scene).
Do you see the children?
Just where are the children? Certainly NOT in the playroom with the actual toys.
So Becky is watching her algebra lecture videos while keeping an eye on Thea (in the bassinet), and Jillian, Mandy, Isaac, and JJ are bringing her “food” they “cooked” in the various kitchen tools. (The “food” is actually represented by alphabet refrigerator magnets – notice in the plastic containers.) Lucas, the other toddler in the house, is still “cooking” magnets in a cupcake tin just behind the bassinet.
In this one, my photographer thought he was going to play in the playroom, but no; JJ is taking three “hot wheels” back to the kitchen… he then served them to Becky while Mandy explained that they were “chicken nuggets.”
So, just to satisfy your curiosity: no, your kid isn’t the only one to spend hours playing with kitchen tools instead of his or her toys. Your kid is just being normal.
A birth story of our little angel (and a slideshow of proud siblings & family!)
February 22, 2019
The Story of Baby Thea
If you’ve been following my blog, you know I was growing my seventh little angel.
Today, I get to write the story of her arrival!
On February 19th, a beautiful Tuesday morning, my day started normally. During my 32 minute drive to work, the Baby started thinking there was not enough room and my body did the stretching contractions (Braxton-Hicks) that is very normal for me in the last month or two before birth. I didn’t think much of it, really. After my boss left for appointments, one of my office companions, Lily, a beautiful brown and white pittie belonging to my boss, started laying at my feet and wouldn’t let me go anywhere without her! This was a bit of a warning to me because Sheba (my Aussie mix) always does this to me when I’m in active labor. I left at one (normal time) to get to Christina and then my midwife appointment.
Christina had been babysitting, finished some errands at the college so she would be ready for the summer semester, caught the bus to 207 (the road I take into town), and was waiting for me. Along the way, my midwife texted to reschedule the appointment to Thursday and I laughed during my voice-text because I was very tired and that worked great for me. I added, “or when Baby is ready,” as a joke because my babies have all come on or after the due date. Everyone had been rooting for a February birth since the official “due date” was February 24th, and except for Lucas, my wee ones were between 9 and 13 days “overdue” so I usually ignored the due date and just gave a general month (in this case, I’d been saying March).
I got Christina, teased her about driving (she’s recently received her learner’s permit), and we headed home. Sheba was acting odd, I was starving; Louis had made lasagna Monday so I ate a huge plate and took a short nap.
When I got to gym with Becky (her class is on Tuesday, the others are all Wednesday), the contractions were still there, but, like I said, that is normal for me. It had been happening off and on already for about a week and a half, so I just went about work because they were easy to ignore. Some friends and I chatted about babies as I was leaving, and someone said, “you know about your body by now, right?” I laughed, “each is different, but I’m still thinking March.”
Wow, was I wrong.
As Becky texted Christina and Louis to tell them we were off & headed to pick up Christina at CAP, Becky said, “Mom, I can’t drive us home, but if the baby keeps contracting like that, maybe Christina can.”
We laughed. Part of the driving restrictions on a learner’s permit forbid night driving for the first few months; but we always teased Christina that she’d have to drive home in the dark if I was in labor.
Home, I was starved, but my belly felt full after four strawberries. I took a shower and crashed. I kept waking up every couple hours, but I’m a light sleeper so that’s also normal. Each time, though, I noticed contractions. I’d check my phone just to see what time it was. Midnight. 1:40. 2:30. 3:50. At almost 4, I realized I was sweating and I decided to wait for fifteen minutes (so the water softener cycle was finished) and take a shower. The next glance at my watch showed 4:19. I took a shower and the first contraction after the water hit was very strong. I felt movement inside me. “Wow, you sure you’re ready?” I asked. I was sure that was just a fluke and usually the warm water calms contractions down. When the next two made my legs feel like jelly, I got out of the shower and crawled back into bed. The phone said 4:35. I wasn’t about to wake anyone or call Misti for three oddly strong contractions.
I tried to sleep. I had about two hours before I had to get ready for work.
At somewhere before 6am, I tried getting ready for work. I had to stop and breathe through contractions that were easy to time and I felt the baby moving slowly down inside of me. I was about to wake Louis but ended up stretching through a contraction. We have a mind link, I think. Louis woke up as I was stretching. He goes into mega cleaning and question mode. This is his serious mode. He has been through it enough to know we were going to have a baby this morning – or at least today. He told me to call Misti, he woke the kids up to help clean (normally, we clean before bed, but they had been in a non-cleaning mood the previous night), and directed the house with efficiency. I was restless, so kept walking around in between. Christina and Becky didn’t want to get out of bed. I went into the barracks to find out why not.
“Mom! You can’t have the baby in here!” Christina shrieked, covering her head.
“So, get up please and help Daddy with cleaning. Y’all should have done that last night. Once you finish, you can go back to bed, but he’s really stressing about the house and people coming so please help.”
No answer. I could feel another contraction creeping up. “Okay, you have about 20 seconds before I get another contraction and…”
Christina bolted, “MOM! I’m up! I’ll help Dad! GET CONTRACTIONS OUT OF MY ROOM!”
Becky was up too. Kimberly was definitely awake. Mission accomplished. I went back to the kitchen table. My “leave” alarm reminded me to text or call my boss. 6am though, I figured I should just text – plus I didn’t want to talk to anyone at the moment.
Misti showed up (can’t remember if the house was clean, but based on the voices and giggling and a movie being on, I’d guess it was straightened). Mom was on the way, she told us she had to be at one of my brother’s promotions at 8am. The girls had turned on “The Two Towers” and as Louis walked by during the Uruk-hai production scene and he ordered, “Turn that off, you can see a real birth soon enough.” I can’t remember if the result was “Wild Kratts” or “Dumbo” but there was something far less messy on the tv a minute later. (I did hear one of the teenagers or preteens quip, “Mom will sound like an orc.” Louis and I laughed. We’re nerds.)
By 8:30, I was immune to the world. I heard Misti’s voice, smelled Louis (I was leaning on him), and faintly heard background voices. I was focused on this job.
8:42am and our little one came into the world, veiled. Misti took the bag off and the Baby screamed to test the limit of her lungs! (We didn’t know Baby was a “she” just yet!) Baby opened her eyes fully and stared up at me. Then she screamed to rattle the roof again. The dogs were barking. We discovered our Baby was Thea!
Welcome to our crazy world, Theadora Taliesyn Tart. You are loved and cherished!
Theadora (after her great-grandfather Melvin Theodore Pearson) means “gifted by God” and Taliesyn (feminine form of your grandfather’s favorite character from a Celtic legend) means, “one with the shining brow, one who sings wisdom.” And Daddy chose the nickname “Thea” because he likes it. (Your uncle texted that he’d call you “3T” – yes, Daddy searched for two “T” names we both liked!) I kept both names the same length, since that’s what we’ve done – all of the children’s names have the same number of letters in the first name and middle name. Theadora 8 letters, Taliesyn 8 letters – told you we are nerds.
Mom (Grandma Joanne in the pictures) came back with a shower of baby girl goodies! (And, yes, this is why she’s in such cute clothes once we managed to get them on her!)
Theadora, I pray you always feel the love of your family as you wiggle your way up to adulthood. I pray you feel the warmth and see the light of God’s love reflected in the faces of your sisters and brother, mother and father, aunts and uncles, grandparents and cousins. We have accepted the honor of being your guides to lead you to Jesus, to raise you in love, and to give you room to find, develop, and follow the passion of life God has rooted within you. You are a daughter of God, a precious gift to us, and chosen to bring light through your smile.
Becky said I can’t post a baby story without her pictures! So here is a little slideshow:
Lucas kept trying to “pet” and “kiss” Baby Thea
Christina & Thea (oldest & youngest)
Lucas said “you are my love, Baby Thea!”
Grandma Joanne & Thea
Christina and Becky are already vying for who gets the baby
I’m a few weeks or so from giving birth to our seventh little miracle.
Lying in the bed (because of some biological oddities to hit just as this baby started, the cold that normally would take me two or three days to fight is taking a stretched-out time; I’m on day seven) Louis says, “if the afterbirth is harder each time, maybe we should stop with this one.”
I smiled, but since I was lying toward the wall, he couldn’t see. “I’ve always treated each time as if it may be the last.”
“Really?” I guess this shocked him a little because I love being pregnant, I love the infant stage, I love the growing independence of the toddler stage, I love each and every step so far in this journey. Although I’m fully prepared for God to say, “this is the last one” sometime, I’m also fully prepared to continue going through this amazing cycle of mothering a miracle.
Yes.
I guess it’s complicated.
See, about the time I was pregnant with Kimberly, I grew a great deal in my understanding of how to allow God to have full control in my entire life. I thought I trusted Him with everything but realized that I was quietly hoping to have a multitude of children and not really okay with less – or even three. But I asked myself, “What if God’s perfect number for you is three?”
I began to realize that God’s perfection was not limited nor driven by my wants. (DUH!)
I decided early during that pregnancy (with Kimberly) that I would savor every second, every feeling, every hiccup, stretch, movement, and challenge that came along as if this were the last time I would carry life.
I already loved being pregnant. I shared that love with my mother and Louis’ Grandma Honey (she told me once she would have been pregnant her entire life if God had allowed her!).
At that time, I had a shift of my mental state. Instead of trying to always project perfection, I wanted to savor life with my family. If this meant not fully finishing with a cleaning chore before we went somewhere, then okay. If this meant taking a break to look at a cool flower while I’m supposed to be hanging clothes, okay. If this meant letting someone else watch the kids so Louis and I could go out, then that was okay. I realized I was trying to follow other peoples’ ideas of what my life should look like and had unconsciously adopted those ideas as “perfection” – and yes, perfection as it was in my brain was never truly achievable!
My stress level fell so much in those few months while I grew Kimberly in my belly and started a new “temp” job. I may have looked busier, but I felt so liberated!
Even though what followed (from 5-weeks after Kimberly’s birth) was what I honestly believe was the most grueling, difficult 18 months of Louis & my married life, I was able to find a well of thankfulness to pull from when I felt so far down. Without my new understanding of submitting totally to God’s plan, I would have probably allowed the horrid miscarriage to drag me into the jaws of depression. I realized even as I cried in the stupid bulk-grocery-store bathroom, by myself, hundreds of miles from home, while I “passed” the fragments of what was once a life I felt and loved, that God had even this time in His hands. He knew all the whys and I wasn’t to understand them; just to trust Him.
So, fast forward almost 12 years and here I am lying with this little miracle kicking up a nice sensitive bruise under my right side. Life in its cycle, totally unexpected, another prime example of God’s timing and perfect wisdom (Click here for that crazy amazing story!). I’m rubbing on my belly because it makes the Baby move around and react to my touch – and I LOVE that. I’m playing with this little one before he/she is born!
God has done so much, so many unexpected things that have lifted us up despite the weird, harsh, and unexpected challenges this past year. God has taught me to savor all life – all stages and parts, from babies and pregnancy to friendships and siblings. Take time for and savor everything. There are miracles everywhere. Yes, I’m okay if this is my last pregnancy and birth. I’d long ago given all control to God. I mean, if I trust Him with something so awesome as my salvation and eternal life, how can I not trust His wisdom in family size?
New Release! The fifth book in the Devonians children’s series ~ check it out!
November 25, 2018
New Story Release!
Greetings! I’m so excited about the fifth book in the Devonians Series! One of my illustrators (Rebeccah) did an amazing job of sketching out a scene for cover art again! This time her scene sketch is within the village of Covenant instead of along the banks of the Creek. It’s currently available in ebook format on nook and kindle.
The Devonians are space castaways who have developed a colony on a strange new planet (they name it Devonia).
Michael Summers, who loves to go fishing, is listening to a Meeting lesson about Peter and the other fishermen who followed Jesus long ago on Earth. He starts daydreaming about going fishing. He knows they will have a long week or two of planting tubers so figures he’d better go fishing right now! But he doesn’t get permission.
For a peek into this newest story, read this excerpt from “Fibbing Fishermen!”
The big barn was open at the middle with the two big ladders and as tall as three houses stacked together! Michael had three fishhooks in his pocket. He always carried stuff in his pockets. He discovered a roll of the very slender braided twine in the big barn. While he was cutting two lengths of the twine that were twice as long as his arms outstretched, as his dad had taught him, Stephen Taylor showed up.
“What are you doing with fishing twine?” Stephen demanded.
Michael froze. He stammered, “nothing, why?”
“Nothing?” Stephen snorted, “looks like you’re going fishing to me.”
Michael didn’t say anything for a moment.
“If you let me go along, I won’t tell your dad,” Stephen offered.
“You don’t have permission to go fishing,” Michael said. He started looping the cut twine into a coil.
“Neither do you.”
Michael stammered, “I’m just fixing stuff.”
“You’re lying.”
Michael weighed his options quickly. No, he hadn’t yet left the meetinghouse grounds, so he wasn’t technically doing anything wrong yet. He could stop now and go back to listen with the others. But then he remembered how much work there was to come in the next week or two and how he wouldn’t get another chance to go fishing until all of the planting was done.
“I’m going to Ice Cube Creek to help with dinner,” Michael sighed, “two fishermen would catch more fish.”
Stephen smirked. He knew Michael didn’t have permission either.
The two boys sneaked off to the creek with their fishing gear.
Michael wasn’t sure what time it was, but his stomach was saying it was nearly suppertime. He’d skipped out on lunch, anyway. But they hadn’t caught any fish. His excuse didn’t really work without any fish. Michael was wondering if God had ordered all the fish to stay away from the two disobedient boys when a rustling disturbance pulled him from his thoughts.
… (be sure to find out what “disturbance” they encounter and continue reading Fibbing Fishermen here! Or browse all my titles and formats here!)
A childhood collection becomes a family tradition.
October 20, 2018
Birthday Dolls
Do you have something unique that you do and sometimes you laugh at yourself and think, “this is so silly!” but your family wouldn’t stop it because it means something to them?
For us, one of these “silly family traditions” that I accidently created is the Birthday Dolls.
We have a display of “Growing Up Girls” birthday dolls that represent each of the children’s ages.
Currently it looks like this:
Christina (15), Rebeccah (13), Kimberly (11), Jaquline (8), Jillian (6), Lucas (3), and Anastasia (5).
It started with my collection of age-dolls from when an aunt and cousin bought the first three each of my first three birthdays. I loved them and once I was old enough to make money babysitting and mowing grass, I started collecting the rest of the blonde ones.
Fast forward to when I have two young girls and we didn’t have much display space so Louis suggested I just leave a few out. I left Christina and Rebeccah’s ages. When Kimberly was born, we added the baby one. This became a tradition from then on.
Through twenty-odd years many have broken (by little siblings and my children! Super glue is a porcelain doll’s best friend) a few shattered irreparably, and since my girls are mostly brunettes, any replacements we tried to find with brunette hair. When Anastasia was about 2, she wanted to add her “age” to the dolls – so we added her age doll. Lucas came along and I discovered the same company made “Growing Up Boys” age dolls so we started collecting those as well!
I always check resale and thrift shops for any ones I don’t have (right now, boys from 7 up).
Just a cute little story about how a collection became a family tradition. (Yes, they have already planned that I’ll have to buy more of those to display my grandchildren’s ages someday.)
Dress Shopping for my eldest girl’s first dance. “I’m Losing My Mind!”
September 30, 2018
Dress Shopping
The alternate title to today’s blog could be: AHHHHHHH!! I have a teenage girl going to a dance! I’m losing my mind! (Yelled like the Dad in “Signs” as they are chasing the “Wolfington Brothers” out of the yard.)
Granted, she will be fifteen when she’s going. (YIKES!)
And, yes, that picture of her is my favorite. She dresses up and wins “best dressed,” but she’s way more at home in jeans, t-shirt, clean face, and some weapon strapped to her (jacket in the picture because it was literally freezing). So “I’m going to a homecoming dance” seems really foreign. (This is the same kid who built all of the Lord of the Rings weapons from wood 4 years ago… Gimli’s ax, Gandolf’s staff, Legolas’ bow, Aragon’s sword, etc.)
I’m a bit irritated that we allowed her to go thinking she could have an adult chaperone and the school doesn’t allow a parent or uncle to attend. (They will have to deal with Mom & 5 younger siblings watching every episode of “Torchlighters” and “The Greatest Adventure Stories” in the parking lot in the van – and likely having their own dance party like we do when waiting for her at CAP.)
You know, I’m just an overprotective parent who doesn’t like the idea of dropping a non-driving teen off at an unknown school 45 minutes from her house in an area that has no local cabs. I always had an “exit strategy” when I went somewhere by myself and unknown. Granted, I never had to use it, but always had it preplanned.
Since I can’t rent an apache helicopter for the night, my kiddie-loaded van will have to do.
Back to the shopping.
I’m not much into shopping – or thought I wasn’t. I go in with a list and nothing else touches my buggy. It better be on the list next time. Today, the list includes three burning words “Christina’s green dress.” (I should write to Professor VonDrake: Dear Doctor, HHHEEEEELLLLPPPP!)
Six thrift stores, lots of very helpful ladies, and almost three hours later, we find it – of course, at the place we originally thought would be most likely to have it. (Thank you, Betty Griffin Thrift!) Not only did we find the perfect dress, but also found the perfect shoes to go with it and a pair of sneakers for two who needed sneakers… and dresses & shoes were half off. (Thank you, Jesus!) Becky even found a “snake light” with gator-colored lamps and it was also half-off! (I instantly thought Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark and some snake-headed apparatus, but it seems “snake light” means the lamps are attached to the stand with bendable metal.) We have been looking for a lamp for the dining room for a little over a year and a half. I’m very happy leaving decorating up to Becky because she always finds stuff that Louis approves of. (My attempts at interior decoration resemble the outcome of Doris Day’s frustration when redecorating “Rex Stetson’s” apartment in “Pillow Talk.”)
Total damage at all 6 shops combined: 20 pencils, 2 expo markers, a sharpie, some crayons, 5 red pens, a school box, four pairs of shoes (three sneakers, one dress), five shirts, two skirts, one pair of shorts, formal dress, standing snake lamp, 5 extra bulbs, and one extra bowl (matched our current set). This ran us $38. I love thrift store shopping!
The girls used their own money to buy things like: a Barbie doll, two birthday gifts for Christina, four baby stuffed animals, a wallet, toys for the “Treasure box” at Sunday School, and some assorted other items.
Lucas was happy, showing everyone his “new shoes” through the last three stores.
I’ve discovered I do enjoy shopping, when I’m hunting something specific and spending time with my children. I certainly enjoy family time – even if the other girls are all constantly teasing Christina and a wee voice in my brain is screaming, “I’m not ready for a going-out teenager!”
One night of de-stressing by taking the kids to experience the beauty of the moonlit beach!
September 26, 2018
Oceans of Praise
It was a long, tired, stressful day. It was the kind of day when as I’m driving home, the “Mandisa Fun” Pandora station (Christian Rock with catchy tunes and uplifting lyrics) was blaring out the speakers, windows down, and I’m trying to drum the day out of my head.
It was also nearing the full moon. There were very few clouds, a refreshing warm-cool wind (I knew this would be “blustery” at the beach), and it was 86 degrees at almost 7:30pm.
I decided we’d go to the beach.
I got home to find Eddie and Louis watching football – only into the first quarter. They do so little father-and-son stuff because Louis is always busy that I announced, “I’m headed to the beach,” knowing that would be cool for them to have father-and-son time.
“You’re taking the kids to go shark fishing?” Louis laughed. “It’ll be dark by the time you get there.”
“No, we’re going to walk along the shore and play in the shallows,” I smiled, “don’t worry, they’ll all be back in one piece. There’s a beautiful moon out and it looks amazing.”
Lucas almost stayed to watch football, but then realized all of the girls, including Anastasia, were going with Mommy, and this meant Mommy would be gone a long time.
We showed up to see this:
And this:
And that:
God had an amazing light show for us! It was so bright they could see to build a tribal village with walls, huts, and fields.
Rebeccah took most of the pictures and her selfie:
She tried to get pictures of us, but really we look like black blobs amid the darkness.
This one was a little better:
We raced up and down the shoreline. The water and wind was warm, so Anastasia lay down in the surf to get covered in water. Jillian, Jaquline, Kimberly, and Lucas followed her. Each was completely soaked in the first fifteen minutes. I think it took Rebeccah a half-hour before she let her hair get wet. Our long walk ended up being over two and a half miles! (1.3 miles one way, 1.3 miles back.) We sang praise songs because the majesty of the night looked like it was praising God.
We had to leave when Becca texted saying she was almost done with work. Anastasia was giddy at the prospect of “beating Mommy home” so we trouped back to the van, cleaned up at Aunt Becca’s, and spent a few minutes after Becca got home chatting before my crew made our way home. (Sister time for us Mommies!)
Thank you, Jesus, for a wonderful, exhilarating night.
And yes, my devious plan worked… all of them got back on their good sleep schedule.
