Oh my goodness at the busy week I am having!  With a few smell-good candles lit, my favorite house cleaning tunes playing and a to-do list a mile long, I’ve been making our home sparkle and shine as we get ready for  a weekend full of guests.

 My Madeline is turning fourteen on Saturday and we are going to celebrate!  She’s my baby girl and growing up way too fast!

 

 

 

 

To celebrate her special day, we have family coming in (my parents from Tennessee) and of course she will have a few friends over!

I know we are going to have a grand old time and a memorable weekend full of laughter and joy.  Planning Madeline’s party has been rather simple.  I asked her what she wanted to do and of all the things she could have possibly chosen, we are going to Chuck E. Cheese for pizza and games.  I love the simple childlike heart of my little girl.

She makes me smile with all of her silliness and joy.

Madeline and I enjoyed a rare Friday night alone a couple of weeks ago.  We dressed up and went out to supper, then I asked what she wanted to do.  We spent an hour and a half in Michaels looking at yarn and playing with colors and textures until she found exactly what she wanted to make a scarf and hat to wear.

One of Madeline’s scarves

It makes me so proud to see how creative and busy she likes to be!

Oh, I am so thankful for the joy she brings into my world!

 

Spending time one on one with my children is just so important to them and me.  They need to know they are special and not lost in the bustle of a busy family or nutty world.  There is nothing more precious than to have that time to reconnect with your babies, to talk openly about what is on their hearts and minds, especially in this crazy world where so many kids love to hide from authority, deceive their parents, and in a world where even 8th graders are having babies!  I want my children to know that they can come to me with anything on their heart & mind and I will be there!

~Proverbs 22:6 NLT

Take some time to enjoy your children without the hustle and bustle of daily living.  Set aside some time without the television, a night off from extra-curricular activities, and keep (or make) a special connection with the special children in your life.

I promise you that you won’t regret it one little bit!

Now I’m off to design a cake for the birthday girl …. she wants a green one.

Only my child.