Sick Little Sunday

2 AM...crying..."mom, my forehead hurts."  Marley is in my room and feels like a properly heated oven ready for a turkey.  After an up-all-night kind of night, daddy left for church and the kids and I had a jammy day, sick little Sunday.

What happens when you have a sick little girl, who's temps have ranged from 102 - 104 all day, and pay little attention to your handsome boy with golden locks?

That's not dog hair on the floor.  Oh well, it was bound to happen one day.  Good thing he has enough to spare.  You can't really tell, the cut pieces are lost in all his layers, I hope he learned his lesson and doesn't keep up his wanna be stylist ways.

Five Minute Friday

Instead of complaining about how much I want to write…how sad I am that I am missing documenting the most precious time in our little tikes’ lives…how I think about writing all the time but never sit down to do it…I am just going to take 5 minutes today and rattle off {what I can remember} that is going on in our lives:

•         Marley has had some pretty severe Gastrointestinal issues.  We have had 20+ days of diarrhea, multiple accidents, an xray, blood work and appointment at the GI.  Dr’s say terms like Celiac Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Encopresis…and on and on.  Next apt is Dec 11 to try to get this poor girl some relief.
• Marley and Merrick both recently read their first words!  By sounding them out all by themselves.  Marley – FUN & Merrick – POP (from Skippy John Jones)
• We are still working on Merrick potty training at night…oh never mind…we gave up on that again
• Daddy is rocking at work…oh and I recently got a promotion to Director of Sales (September 1^st)
•  If you ask the kids what their favorite thing to do is…they will say “FAMILY DAY!”  Family Day is a new thing we created due to our busy lives.  Family Day is a sacred day where we just spend time together…weather it’s special time with just the gawrls with the gawrls and boys with the boys or all together…the kids have come to love it and ask for it every weekend. 
• This year for Halloween the kids school celebrated “Community Helper Day” as opposed to Halloween.  The kids had to dress as a Community Helper so they were the most adorable police officers ever.  Since when does Halloween have to be politically correct.  That night they ditched the boring costumes for an Astronaut and Aurora J
  
  
  
  
•  Halloweena, the kids Halloween fairy, of course came to exchange their candy.  They woke up to a spidy mask, spidy flashlight and spidy toy and a pink purse doodle book and snap beads to make jewelry.  No missing yucky food-dye ridden candy at our house!!
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• That's all for now...hey at least I got something down on paper...don't judge :)
  
  

Beyond Babies

Hiyah!  Merrick yells to Marley as he holds tight to her backpack.  She trots around with Merrick tailing behind her like a horse and her rider, cute as buttons in their first day of school outfits. 

“Be ready to cry” everyone told me.  Why?  Why would I cry this year?   I mean, they were in school last year, why is this year any different?

We pulled in the parking lot, one little blonde kid holding tight to the other as they gallop through the parking lot into their new school…it was then that it hit me.  Not that they were in a new class, with new friends and a new teacher to get used to.  Even after Merrick’s accident last year, I wasn't concerned with disasters on the playground or bullies in the classroom.  Nope, what brought that all too familiar sting to my eyes, that all mothers understand, was knowing that throughout their entire life they would have each other.  They might not always get along, but they know the other one is there. 

It was obvious to me as we sat waiting on their new teacher to come get them, that we were now beyond babies…I have little-big kids now…big 4 year olds.

We are leaving the three’s behind…God Bless!  Don’t get me wrong, three was a pretty good age.

While you were three, you learned to pedal a tricycle.

You learned to make new friends on your own – at church and at school – and you would come home and tell me about each of them.

You learned to play with each other, not just fight over toys, but really play and create and imagine.

At three you learned to write your name and count to 20, you could each throw a big fat daddy tantrum and then curl up in my lap and give me a hug.

At three you took 3 hour naps and loved your teacher, Ms. Jayne in the Bears Class.

It’s been a few month’s now at your new school.  You are learning leaps and bounds over last year and every single day you make me proud with the school work you bring home.  I never went to Catholic School but your new school reminds me of what that would be like, Christian based but disciplined…which I like.

As we work through our Pre-K year, Merrick you continue to be sweet, thoughtful, caring, a good listener (at home) and many times easily enraged.  But just as quickly as you can pick up the remote and throw it, you can run across the room and hug me…full of love. 

We are working on your agro-ness as well as using our inside voice and being a good listener at school.  Merrick you really love to learn. 

When you are sent home with “Practice Pages” aka homework (I KNOW!  At 4 years old!) you can’t wait to do it and show me what you learned at school.

Marley you are all things princess and girly; driven, ambitious and often times irrationally irate.  At school it is reported that you are such a good listener and I wonder if I should put your teacher on payroll at home so we can experience that too. 

You still have these crazy phases where you are testy and sassy and then as quickly as it began you are the sweetest, amazing, extraordinary child in the world. 

You like to learn at school and want home to be fun/play time (I can’t blame you girl). It's funny because sometimes I think your stubbornness is getting in the way of you learning and then you will haul off and recite a Bible verse complete with Chapter and verse number or recite the pledge of allegiance when I had no idea you knew even knew it!  You continue to amaze me every day. 

In your 4 year old class you have learned to choose your own centers.  Marley you love housekeeping and Merrick you seem to like them all but say your favorite is cars.  

You have almost eliminated nap time simply due to your school schedule being from 1-4PM. 

You know full well how to write your name, and in lowercase letters – sorry mommy & daddy screwed you up teaching you to write in all caps like we do.

You can count to 30 and write sooo many letters and color in the lines.

You are memorizing bible verses and teaching other kids that they shouldn't eat food dye (wink).

Just when I think I have been as impressed as I can be for the week, you run off and recite something new that you learned and I am filled with happiness all over.

M&M, parenting is not easy.  You push me and try me and sometimes I want to just shake the sense into you.  I don’t claim to be doing everything right, but I will tell you what…when you work together, protect each other, comfort each other or just beeline it to the door when I walk in yelling how much you missed me, it reassures me that our family is perfect just the way it is.  As you move on to the next class and the next…the next phase of your life and the next, I promise to be your passionate cheerleader and love you fiercely.  You are both perfect, just the way God made you.

“For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139 13-14

Preschool | August 2013

Oh look, a blog post.  Really this was just a test to see if I still remembered my password to log onto this site…turns out I do J

I just couldn’t resist the urge to document the most cliché day in a mom’s life…the day she sends her little ones off to school.  Sure, it’s “pre”school, but it was a new school…oh wait…you don’t know that do you…let me start from the beginning. 

Do you ever take a step back to realize that your life might not be just about you?  That there is a bigger plan and every decision and life event that happens is part of this bigger plan?  I have never been super fond of the twin’s school (3yr old preschool).  But, one – they only went two days a week, and two – it was affordable for two at once.  I brought up the option of changing schools about two months ago to hubby and the idea was shot down like a dove during hunting season.  And so, I licked my wounds and went on with life, accepting that they would stay put for the next school year.  Again, about 2 weeks ago, something nudged me to bring it up again.  And again, bird down.  The school I wanted only offered VPK from 1-4:15PM, this wouldn’t work for any of our schedules, particularly Stephie Ts so again I licked my wounds and went on. 

At the TWO end of the year parties last week, not a single parent showed up to support their kids with the exception of hubs and I.  So sad.  Our kids were elated that we were there for them and I was glad too because it was mass chaos with 12 kids.  As I was leaving the party, Ms. Jayne said to me, “Their new class has 26 kids…I would just ask the teacher how she plans to break out the kids during class.” Seth and I walked out of the class and he knew what was coming before I even opened my mouth.  I poured out my concerns with conviction…don’t you want to meet other parents, to have our kids in a class with other families that are like us and support their kids, that we can make friends with?  And how are our kids ever going to learn with 26 other 4 year olds?  All they are going to learn is to be louder than the others to get attention…and our kids are loud enough already!!

“Fine, look into it.” 

“so you’re sayin’ there’s a chance!”  success! 
And so the fun began.  My super duper best friend took time out of her day to call all of the preschools in the area.  Since this was Thursday and school starts Monday…they were all booked.  I could get on waiting lists, but if ONE spot opened I would have to decide if I wanted it…but I needed TWO.  I called the school I really wanted before, my first option, just to see…knowing they would be booked as well.  “We have two openings, but that would change within 24 hours.”  I called Stephie T…she agreed to literally change her entire school schedule to accommodate theirs…love her, so thankful!!  It wasn’t a done deal yet.  Still a lot to do.

Friday morning as I drove to work I said this prayer, “God, you are in control.  Although I want this change and I think it will be best for them, I know your plan is bigger than any plan I can come up with.  This is an impossible task to get everything done today; may your will be done.”

I wish I could say I was at peace…but I wasn’t, I was a basket case.  I had the busiest, most hectic morning at work and then left at noon to see about trying to work this out.  I went to the School Board, re-registered them with the new school, made it to the new school, registered them there AND was able to bring the kids and show them their new diggs.  That night I was blown away, did this really happen?  Did I REALLY  get everything done?  I was filled with extreme joy and thankfulness and excitement for what may lie ahead for the twins this year.

You may be reading this thinking, so what’s the big deal, you got them in a new school.  But to me, this is so much more.  This is part of a bigger plan.  Maybe that’s why I didn’t cry as I sent them off into their classroom with a teacher I’ve never met yesterday.  Of course I had a sense of nostalgia, longing for the days that I would hold two little babies at once.  But as I watched them standing in line, holding hands, I knew…they have each other and they are going to be fine.

 

 

Cathedrals

I can barely open the door as I walk in from work; half drank coffee cup in hand, purse, lunch box, planner…all the while trying to keep my cell phone from meeting the ground for the 50^th time.  The kids, who were previously engaged in some other activity, immediately begin…”moooommm, can I have a snaaack?”  The door hasn’t even shut behind me.  You were perfectly fine, playing by yourselves seconds before I opened the door…why the moment I come in does your world fall apart?  

“You may have fruit or applesauce or raisins, but I am about to start dinner. “  Queue whining.    “But I want goldfish, but I want crackers, but I want chips…”  need I continue?

I kick my heels off and start right in on dinner, still in my suit or dress complete with those dreadful pantyhose, before these ravished children starve to death. “moooommm, I’m thirsty.”  “moooommm, I need to tell you something.”  “moooom, I can’t reach the markers.”  “mmmoooooommm can you get me a piece of paper.”  “mooooommm WATCH THIS.”

“CAN’T YOU SEE I AM TRYING TO MAKE DINNER?”

Some days I feel like all I do is help.  All I do is…do.  All I do is complete tasks demanded by two four year old dictators.  I read a blog post the other day that that mentioned grand Cathedrals in Europe.                How there are no records of their builders names, how the builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished, who made great sacrifices and expected no credit, and who’s passion was fueled by God and for God who’s eyes see it all.

It went on to say that it’s almost as if God is whispering, {my adlib} “I see you.  I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one else is around to see them.  No act of kindness, no already-past-bedtime story, no new menu or creative way to get someone to eat their veggies, no last minute errand… is too small for Me to see.  You are building a great Cathedral, but you can’t see what it will look like right now.  Keep up the good work, my good and faithful servant.”

It was as if God knew that I needed a pick me up.  As parents (dad’s included), we should take a step back from time to time to see that we are building something grand.  Does it mean that we won’t get weary?  No.  Does it mean that the 1,000 questions the moment we walk in the door won’t annoy us?  No.  To me it means that I am so fortunate to have been given the opportunity to work on God’s precious Cathedrals, my children.  That I am to diligently mold them and structure them so that they will eventually stand strong and beautiful in the eyes of an almighty God. 

Like those builders so many years ago, I don’t know if I am doing it right, but my hope is that one day the world might marvel at these beautiful, kind, giving individuals that have been molded by the sacrifices of a mom. 

Yes please...

Daddy out surfing, zucchini cupcakes in the oven, kids happily painting...yes please.  

Trying to pretend I don't have a pile of laundry to do and a house in desperate need of cleaning.

#enjoyingsundayafternoon

Eat Your Plants

I used to think Vegetarians were all tree hugging, PETA loving weirdos.  I mean, my friend Jen has been basically vegetarian her whole life, but that’s because she just doesn't ‘like’ meat, not because of any over the top aversion to animal treatment and food.  I couldn't imagine being vegetarian…and hardly even knew what Vegan meant.  To me, vegan was just a weirder vegetarian. 

A few months ago I watched the documentary “Forks Over Knives” and it has completely changed my view and our family’s life.  FORKS OVER KNIVES examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases (particularly cancer) that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods and adopting a whole food, plant based diet. We are beginning to adopt somewhat of a Vegan philosophy and certainly a more holistic, plant based diet.   

This week we take on our first, all vegetarian menu.  We aren't quite willing to take on an all vegan menu yet, as this new way of eating is still in its infancy, but every day we are taking steps to vegetarian/vegan yumminess.

Where to begin?  Let’s talk about my relationship with greens.  I’m not talking about lettuce. I could eat a salad every day, but if we are going to be serious about this, I can’t eat salad for every meal for the rest of my life.  So  I’m talking about all those oh-so-good-for-you but sometimes too-healthy-to-eat greens like kale, collards, and Swiss chard, to name a few. Let’s just say that we’re still getting to know each other. 

So I am on a mission to find recipes with these super foods mixed in where you really don’t know they are there.  Greens without tasting the greens…win win.

This week I will try my hand at a Kale, Avocado & Black Bean Bowl below…yummo!  Here is our weekly menu…full of veggies and whole foods!

Sunday – make your own pizzas (a kid favorite).  Toppings include green pepper, onion, zucchini, mushroom, tomatoes & spinach with FRESH mozzarella and organic pizza sauce

Monday – Soy marinated Portobello mushroom burgers with ugly ripe tomato, red onion and spinach with ‘Simply’ brand French fries

Tuesday & Wednesday - Kale, Avocado & Black Bean Bowls with whole grain brown rice, fresh corn, tomato, cucumber & red onion

Thursday – Veggie loaded Pasta with zucchini, squash, onion, mushroom, broccoli slaw, organic pasta sauce (yes store bought) and regular noodles (fam isn't sold on the whole wheat ones yet)

Lunch – Veggie subs with cucumber, tomato, avocado, green pepper, marinated red onion & chive cream cheese spread.  Cucumber red onion dill salad.  Chick pea kale salad.

So…there it is.  Here’s to my Vegetarian/Vegan attempt this week.

Wishing

I am wishing it was still 2 weekends ago

I am wishing that I was still able to roll out of bed and walk upstairs and see my best friend and just chat over morning coffee

I am wishing that we still lived only several miles from each other rather than several hundred miles from each other

I am wishing our kids could grow up with each other

I am wishing that we didn’t have to leave…but we did

And now…now I am left with amazing memories from the weekend

Of this amazing city of Chattanooga (where we would move in a heartbeat if family was closer and we could ensure jobs) and of an unforgettable time with our friends

I am left with these photos of tiny friendships budding…the same way ours did all those years ago

I am left with memories that weren't Kodak moments…like our forever long bike rides up numerous hills including the one where we were laughing so hard I literally thought I was going to pass out

I am left with the reminder of the amazing lives we both have

The amazing husbands we both have

The amazing friendship we will always have

True Friendship isn't about being inseparable, its being separated and nothing changes.

We love you guys.  Thank you for such a wonderful trip, can't wait to come back soon.

Happy Birthday Stephie T

It’s 10:00 at night, my body is limp on the couch and my eyes are heavy.  It’s in moments like this, the quiet late night hours, kids tucked away in bed, run down and exhausted from the day, I often find myself the most thankful for our Stephie T.  Sometimes I come home to a basket of our folded laundry on our bed.  Some days I get a text message with a picture of both kids closets, completely organized – clothes hung or folded, and in perfect, color coordinated order.  Or the hall closet completely reorganized, everything with a home, everything with a place, everything…in order.  Which is NOT how my life feels most of the time…so to have these special moments where I can just look at a closet and feel ‘order’ means more than she knows.

~~~~

The clock is blue in the kids room (this means its bedtime).  Everyone is piled on Merrick’s bed.  We read a story, say our prayer and then start with what we are thankful for.  Most nights we are thankful for all kinds of things: food, our blankies, a bed to sleep in.  But more often than not, this happens:

“Bubba, what are you thankful for?” Marley asks

“I’m thankful for my Stephie T”

“I’m thankful for my Stephie T TOO!” she barks back

“I am thankful for Stephie T too.” Says daddy

This is truly a weekly occurrence.  To know that not only are we (daddy and I) thankful for everything Stephie T does for our family…the kids almost always recognize their gratitude for one of the most important people in their lives.  It’s these everyday moments that this mommy of two headstrong toddlers, steps back and sees the tenderness in their hearts.  These moments make me smile and promise to commit these conversations to memory in the sweet childlike voices with simplicity and honesty…of true thankfulness.

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It’s 11AM and my email and phone have not stopped since I walked in the office.  Meetings and contracts and people needing something…yesterday.  It’s not even halfway through the day and I feel like giving in.  My phone beeps…a text message.  I swipe the screen and see two beautiful faces light up the screen…usually from the back seat of Stephie T’s car, buckled tight in car seats.  Hands spread open-wide right above their heads with a caption: Do I look like a moose to you? 

Or a swipe of the screen brings me to a funny saying or story from the day.  It’s as if she knows just the right moments to send me a {hug} over the airwaves.  I smile to myself knowing they are in such capable, loving hands (with the exception of the fact that she is taking a picture while driving down the road {grin}).

~~~~ 

A trip to the store to pick up teacher appreciation gifts when I just can’t fit it into my schedule, a visit to get haircuts, many, many, MANY doctors visits.  I can literally go on for days because it is a daily occurrence that our lives are touched by our Stephie T.  At this point in our lives, it’s just not in our cards for me to be home with the twins.  Sometimes, my heart aches to do so.  But other times, I know…deep in my heart, that this is exactly what God has intended for our lives in this moment.  I was once told, “I just don’t understand how you can allow someone else to raise your kids.” (yeah, absorb that for a moment).  And I can do so with my head held high because I know THIS is exactly the person that was put in our lives for a reason.  When I see these little people bucked into their carseats in the back of Stephie T’s car, or still in their jammies watching a movie at 10AM on a Wednesday, or feeding Gerald the giraffe at the zoo, or playing at the park…I think to myself how lucky they are…how fortunate we are…to not HAVE to have them in a daycare all day everyday.  That I have just enough (ok, sometimes TOO MUCH) time away from them so I can appreciate the time I do have with them.  That we have someone we trust, and love.

 

Happy birthday Stephie T.  And thank you for being such an amazing influencer, teacher, family member.  We all love you so much!

Fourth Birthday Letter

Gone are the days of those teeny tiny little infants that would lay on our chests and sleep for hours.  No longer can I carry them in a sling, or place them in a bouncy seat to ‘get stuff done’.  I am sad that I can’t remember exactly what it feels like to hold those fragile little babies or smell that newborn baby smell.  I treasure the memories, old and new, of these special times.  I want to file away the times that you gazed into my eyes with a look that said “I trust you.  I need you.”   Those first few weeks were filled with nerves and anxiety, with hospitals, doctors and nurses…and with complete love and adoration. The four of us became an instant family. 

 

I remember how Marley screamed her head off the moment she was pulled from my tummy and Merrick was quiet and still, so much so that I yelled, “why isn’t he crying?!  Make him cry!”  {funny, this first day was a good indication of how your personalities would be}  It amazes me now when I look at your little personalities and think…God knew from the start who they were and who they would become.   When I finally (a day later) was able to meet my babies I cried quietly and softly said “Hi baby girl. I know you.” And although I couldn’t yet hold my critical baby boy, I reached my hand through that incubator hole and whispered, “don’t worry, mommy’s here.” 

So much has changed and you are now big four year olds.  My hope is that in the words of this blog, I can one day sink back into the memories of exactly what you were like at 4 years old and treasure those like I currently treasure the memories of the last 4 years with you both.

Marley still our little peanut, still our little organizer, still our little CEO

Affectionately refers to herself as “the little one” and talks about her “baby feet”
Lover of Butter noodles & Plain bread
26 lbs…of bossiness, decisiveness and beautiful spirited girl
Size 18 month shorts/jeans; 24month – 2T shirts & dresses
Perfectionist, opinionated

Likes alone time, although she doesn’t talk about it, you can tell in her actions she appreciates it

Loves to ‘play’ tea party with you, but doesn’t let you do anything, you more or less just watch her play…but she wants you there
Says some of the best prayers – thoughtful prayers
CEO of our nighttime routine.  She dictates the order in which we can say our prayers, “mommy, what were you thankful for today?”  “mommy, what is one thing that made you happy today?”  “mommy, who do you want to pray for today?”  The order typically goes…Merrick, mommy, daddy, Marley.  Marley always goes last.
Want your hair to be super long like Rapunzel
Is a ballerina…and LOVES it
Loves everything girlly…jewelry, painting her fingernails, princesses, dresses
Also has a tomboyish side and can toss Merrick on the ground when necessary
Wants to be a princess when she grows up
Favorite color is pink
Favorite phrase: thank thank thank (think think think); Mommy I need you
Can literally recite the entire book ‘Pinkalicious’ word for word
You are working on not sucking your fingers anymore…and you are doing really good!  You will wake up in the morning and say, “mommy, I think I accidentally sucked my fingers last night” in the saddest voice.

You are spunky, spirited and downright stubborn…and other times your smile can light up a room and your sweetness melt my heart.  Don’t EVER change your personality…over the years I pray that you learn to “let your speech be gracious, seasoned with salt” Colossians 4:6

Merrick  Has a thirst for knowledge
Loves playing board games and doing puzzles – favorite game currently is Chutes & Ladders
Lover of Mac n cheese & PB&J
Neevvaahhh (never…when he is trying to say no, he will instead yell neeevaahhh)
Loves to cook, I call him “little chef”.  Favorite things to make – Waffles & Zucchini Cupcakes  
Starting to like spicy things, or at least likes to try them – likes jalapeño chips
36 lbs…of sweet, sensitive boy

When he gets in trouble, it hurts his heart.  He gets really sad and upset when we are upset with him.
Pretty much size 4T all around
Loves his tablet – favorite games – Angry Birds Space/Star Wars & Subway Surfers
Favorite phrase: I love you (the boy tells me he loves me ALL the time!  And I love it!), keep it easy squeezy
Favorite toy: remote control car, board games
Savors alone time with mommy & daddy – we call it special time
Favorite color is blue
still working on potty training at night (sorry for documenting buddy, we might want to look back at this later)
Avid Christian…not sure I can say that yet, but he is already discipling at school so much that they have to redirect his conversations to not be about Christianity…{so proud}
Wants to be a penguin when he grows up
Wants to have 16 kids when he grows up
Lover of space, the moon and planets

You are rough and tumble and sometimes need help controlling your larger than life personality (no worries, you get it honestly from your daddy), other times your thoughtfulness and tenderness utterly amaze me.  Your heart is bigger than this earth and deeper than the ocean…please don’t ever change that.  Even when kids tease you and say you are a mama’s boy or too sensitive…know in your heart that it’s an amazing quality that your wife will one day cherish your kindheartedness!  “Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.” Philippians 4:5

You both

… love reading bible stories and singing Bless The Lord Oh My Soul

…have slept in the same room since you came home from the hospital

…Fight often and love each other even more

…Melt my heart when you help each other or encourage each other 

…are perfectly designed by God

…are loved {SO MUCH} by your daddy and I

Happy fourth birthday my love, my loves

Thankful.

The Boston explosions.  Such a tragic event.  The news stations repeatedly showing the bombs that went off at the Boston Marathon finish line.  This is the first time that we have had to deal with the difficult situation of how to explain to four year olds what happened.  Do you sugar coat it, and act like it isn’t a big deal and hope they just forget about it?  Or do you use this as a learning opportunity to explain how there is evil in the world? 

We chose the latter.  We tried to keep the emotion out of it as we didn’t want to over inform them, but we did say that there was someone that did something terrible in the city of Boston and that we should pray for those that are hurt and their families. 

Merrick: did that 8 year old girl die?

Mommy: lump in throat
Daddy: yes buddy, there was an 8 year old girl that died
Merrick: how did she die?
Mommy: there was a big explosion called a bomb, like a big firecracker
Merrick: oh, a firecracker?
Mommy: but that little girl is in heaven now with Jesus
Merrick: oh, ok
Conversation ended

Before bed every night we say one thing we were thankful for that day and one thing that made us happy.  Marley dictates the order in which we are able to speak {grin}. 

Marley: Bubba, what’s one thing that made you thankful today?

Merrick: I am thankful that, that, that that little 8 year old girl died (yikes. maybe it was too early to talk about this. I almost stepped in at this point, but I am so thankful I didn’t) and that today she is able to be with Jesus and with God in heaven.  I am thankful for that today.
Marley: And bubba, what’s one thing that made you happy today?
Merrick: I am happy that that little girl is with Jesus today

God we know you are in control of everything.  We pray boldly for your peace to fill the lives of those affected by this tragic event.  We pray that you forcefully eliminate the enemy in that city.  Thank you for the safety that we experience daily and that tonight we are able to sleep soundly at home with our children. Amen.