Little Rascals

While daddy was on a business trip in Naples this past weekend, mommy and I took a road trip of our own and headed to Atlanta. We visited with two of mommy's college girlfriends, Catherine and Jeanne, and mommy's best friend from camp, Lauren. Catherine had a baby girl this past summer, Anne Bradley, who is now 5 months old and Jeanne's son Sam is 15-months old. And believe it or not, Lauren's son is also named Sam, but he is 2 1/2 years old. I had the best time meeting Anne Bradley and "little" Sam for the first time and seeing "big" Sam again. While us little ones had so much fun playing, I know mommy and her girlfriends had an equally good time catching up. Thanks for the trip mommy!

Invention

Thanks to Ma-mere (Avery's mother) for passing along this StoryPeople Story of the Day to us...we had to share!

INVENTION

I always wanted to invent something that

would move around & make funny noises

& would change the world as we know it

& I forgot all about that until we had kids

& now I see I came pretty close.

by Brian Andreas

Motherhood

The following is an excerpt from The Faith Club, which I read during the Christmas holiday. As a "young" mother, it resonated with me and reminded me that by serving others, especially our children and husbands, we not only serve God, but also become more Christ-like. I hope you find it equally inspiring and encouraging. And while Thompson's not three yet, I look forward to the day when he thanks the Lord for his mommy and daddy.

"At the moment, my calling is motherhood, and motherhood is prayer. It's difficult to think of it that way all the time, given the quotidian life of a mother - the carpools, the cooking, the laundry, the shopping, the homework. But I have to remind myself that all of those labors are service to others and therefore service to God. Meanwhile, it is the most rewarding job I can imagine. What better way to end the day than lying next to a three-year-old saying bedtime prayers and hearing him say, "Thank you, God, for my mommy."

~Suzanne Oliver, The Faith Club

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

~Mark 10:45

26 Lbs 9 Ozs and 33.75" Tall

The title says it all! Thompson had his 2-year check-up this morning and received a clean bill of health. His stats keep him in the 30th percentile for both weight and height: a level he's been at since he was born. As I've always told the pediatrician the Jones and Harrelson families don't have any tall genes that we are aware of. Doctor's orders? Keep up the good work and come back in a year when he's 3!

"Snow Outside"

As I [Avery] ventured outside with Thompson at the crack of dawn this morning and with a wind-chill of "down right bitter" to play in the snow, I reflected on memories of my parents doing the same for my sister and me...and gave thanks. For they knew a warm house was better than the chilly outdoors, yet they bundled up so their daughters could frolic in the snow. I guess going outside in the bitter cold, too, helped us appreciate the warmth our home provided. So, I simply wanted to thank my parents for their selflessness when Graham and I were young girls. They imparted that value well...for I became a mother...and am doing just the same.