On being terrified...

They say drowning is silent.  I've never experienced this particular fear.  There was one time, Ethan wasn't swimming well and slipped into the deep end.  He didn't see where the deep end dropped off and had to be rescued.  That was the moment I enrolled them all in swimming lessons.  I wasn't going to have that ever happen again.  Not for a moment if I could help it.  If we were to be near water, they would be capable of swimming.

Recently, it happened. It was silent, and there wasn't much time left.  He was three years old.  His mother was chatting and hadn't barely even turned her head to speak.  I'd done my "headcount" several times.  You know- 1, 2, 3, 4 children swimming and laughing. I thought to myself, Okay, we're good. I can see them. I can hear them. People who are really drowning cannot shout for help.  They are physically unable as their lungs are truly filling with water.

His mother was a stranger to me and obviously, loved her children...all boys 5, 3, and 1.  Before she came over to the pool, she had been pushing them on the swings and letting them play on the playground.  I had no idea he couldn't swim.  I'd heard her tell him that he could sit on the edge and touch his feet in the water, but no one heard him slip, quietly, off the entry steps.Then she looked over and shouted, "He can't swim!"

But there he was, silent, with terror in his eyes. Unable to speak. Unable to move. The water was at mouth level.  It looked like he was standing up.  But the fear on his face will be forever etched in my memory.  It happened so quickly.  One second he was dipping his feet in the pool.  And the next, he was minutes, seconds away from drowning.  Daniel was close by, so I screamed, "Grab him!  Put him up on the steps!" So Daniel picked up that frightened, precious, little fella and carried him to safety.  He came out sputtering, coughing out water.

Never have a few short seconds mattered so much. We could have been on the opposite end of those much needed moments. I shudder to think of how different that afternoon could have been.

My prayer is that God would be ever with us.  That He would help us to focus in this world full of distractions...

Beach Trip 2014: The Boys

Vacation 2014

We absolutely love going to Amelia Island!

Our kids are at the perfect age for relaxation at the beach.  They aren't begging to go places.  They are perfectly content to spend hours playing in the waves, perfectly content to spend hours catching little critters while the tide comes in and out.  Deron and I would help them navigate the waves.  We'd watch them play while we sat in our beach chairs, talked, planned, and enjoyed time together.  

We got to the condo Saturday afternoon, went grocery shopping, and walked along the beach to a restaurant our first night.  It's not as much fun walking along the beach in July as it is in May.  We were sweating and tired and decided not to do that again.  It's much hotter at the end of June/beginning of July than it is Memorial Day week.  

The entire week was filled with spending hours at the beach and hours at the pool...That was it.  Not much but just what we needed.

The fireworks on the fourth were amazing.  People were all over the place, shooting off fireworks...literally, everywhere...  Right beside us, people were shooting off very large, very powerful fireworks.  They weren't little sparklers.  They were huge; they were loud.  Grace was not impressed...

The week ended far too quickly.  I could have stayed a bit longer.

Beach Trip 2014: The Girls

Happy Birthday, Grace!

Dear Sweet Grace,

You are my littlest.  My youngest.  My baby who’s not such a baby anymore.  We sure are enjoying this season with you, dear one. It’s been fun and interesting and never, ever dull. 

This has been a year filled with new activities, new experiences, new friends, and giant leaps outside of your comfort zone.  What happened to my shy and bashful little girl?  You’ve turned into quite an expressive and confident young lady.  No longer a preschooler but a grade schooler who is trying new things, talking to new people, and cultivating facets of her personality I didn’t even know about.

You participated in a co-op this year and experienced the realm of an actual “classroom” experience.  You enjoyed classes in nature notebooking, geography, ballet, and sign language.  Next year, you’re voluntarily taking classes separately from Hannah.  Last year, you wanted her in all your classes, but this year, you’re looking forward to some classes based on interests all your own.  The jitters of being left there have turned into smiles and, “See ya later, Mom!” sentiments.

You're growing bigger and taller every day, and besides flu season and the health scare we had with your leg, you've had a relatively healthy year.  You are getting very tall!  You’re still skinny, minny, but your legs have grown at least a foot… And your eyes. Oh your eyes seem bluer than ever before this year.  Your bangs are finally growing out, and you've already gotten a tan this summer.  Just a beautiful little girl, inside and out!

Watching you grow up is exciting and bittersweet.  There are so many firsts for you, lasts for me.  Even with swimming lessons.  I thought we’d need one more refresher session for you this year.  Not so.  You proved me wrong with one cannon ball jump into the deep end.  Little did I know that last year would be our last year of real lessons.  You’re reading more and more, and while I’m still an active participant in that learning experience, you’re proving to be quite a natural in that area.

When did you grow up so much?  And while I want to encourage character and independence, I also want to foster a sense of family and togetherness.  I want you to know what is important and what is NOT.  I just love you so much and I’m so thankful to God that He would bless us with such a time as this.

Happy 6^th birthday, my girl!

Love, Mom

Kindergarten Graduation

My girl is growing up!