From My Heart

It's probably no surprise to any of you that motherhood has, for me, been an incredible experience, and "incredible" probably isn't an adequate adjective.  I remain on the fence about whether or not to try to add to our family of three.  (Nathan will tell you he's comfortable on this side of that fence, but he also said that on the other side of the fence we named "Garrett".)  I know that climbing over the fence I'm sitting on involves a whole lot more than merely wanting to.

Lately, I've struggled with the temptation to diminish my experience as a mother because there obviously isn't as much to juggle as if we had another child.  I wonder if I'll ever be able to really relate to my friends who have two or more children.  I imagine other moms - none in particular - looking at my life and thinking, "She has no idea.  One child?  That's a walk in the park!"  While there's certainly truth to that - our job as Garrett's parents has been relatively easy so far - we'll never again not be his parents.

I suppose I'm seeking some encouragement.  Can anyone relate?

Garrett Meets Madison

Last weekend's trip to the Riddles' in Madison was Garrett's first.  We hadn't seen Mike, Karyn, Owen, and Elliot since last September when we met them in Peoria.  We had planned on driving to Madison Saturday morning, but Mike talked us into heading their way Friday night.  We expected Garrett to sleep most of the way there since we were in the car for more than three hours past his usual bed time, but Garrett had other plans.  He may have slept 45 minutes during the entire four-hour journey, but aside from a few, brief fussing episodes, he was a happy traveler.  Just when we thought he was drifting asleep, he'd point out the window and say what we understand as "BIG TRUCK!".

Saturday, we went downtown to Madison Children's Museum.  What a wonderful place!  I could have easily spent an entire day there - by myself!  I loved the quotes on the walls throughout the museum.

"Childhood is the most beautiful of all life's seasons." -Author unknown

"Love all children of all species for all time." -William McDonough

Garrett's favorite exhibit was the water dome in The Wildernest, an area designed for children up to five years of age.



(Don't worry.  The water wasn't hot, as it appears to be here.)

A future scientist?

Sunday, we went to Henry Vilas Zoo - another first for Garrett.  We got to see a polar bear, a grizzly bear, prairie dogs, bison, otters, flamingos, giraffes (my favorite!), camels, and much more.

We finally found a place where we belong - the zoo!

After wandering around the zoo for a couple of hours, we enjoyed a delicious lunch nearby at ZuZu Cafe, where Garrett 'painted' his face with the peanut butter from his sandwich.  (Yes, that's Nathan using a potato chip to scrape some of it off!)

Between our excursions to the museum and the zoo, we thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with Mike and Karyn, watching our boys play happily together, playing Catch Phrase and Family Feud after the kids went to bed, and reaping the benefits of the Riddles' expert hospitality.

We're back to our reality now, which really isn't bad at all.  Looking forward to this Fathers' Day weekend!

Say what you will...

...but I love Richard Marx's music!  If you've never heard "Angel's Lullaby", I encourage you to take a few minutes to read the lyrics below and then listen to this beautiful song.

I was never alive
'til the day I was blessed with you.
When I hold you late at night,
I know what I was put here to do.
I turn off the world and listen to you sigh,
and I will sing my Angel's Lullaby.

Know I'm forever near-
the one you can always call.
Right now all you know to fear
are the shadows on your wall.
I'm here, close enough,
to kiss the tears you cry,
and I will sing my Angel's Lullaby.

So tell me how to stop the years from racing.
Is there a secret someone knows?
I'll never catch all the memories I'm chasing.
I'll never be ready to let go.

And when the world seems cold,
and you feel that all of your strength is gone,
there may be one tiny voice-
your reason to carry on.
And when I'm not close enough
to kiss the tears you cry,
you will sing your Angel's Lullaby.

Let this be our Angel's Lullaby.

(To listen to this song, click here.)

Me & our "Angel"



Treasure

One of Garrett's Christmas presents last year was a pirate ship that came with several accessories, including a treasure chest.  Before Garrett could open the treasure chest himself, he'd often bring it to me to open.  I'd open it slowly as Garrett anticipated what would be revealed, and I'd excitedly say, "Treasure!", to which he'd raise his blond eyebrows and open his little mouth in excitement.

The more we repeated this routine, the more I thought about what I hope Garrett will learn throughout his life about real treasure.  Real treasure is not found in a treasure chest.  In fact, for most of us, real treasure isn't tangible at all.

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Luke 12:34 (NIV)