My seven year old daughter, Lia, wants to change the world just as Dr. Martin Luther King jr. did. But she said she’s afraid that if she tries to do something good that something bad will happen to her. Like so many other people in history, Martin Luther king died doing something he believed in. I told lia that in his short life, he did more and lived more than most people who live to be 100 years old. He made a contribution to this world, and left his foot prints for others to follow. He was a soldier fighting a war and he won. I dont think he would have changed a thing about his fight. Lia, never let fear stop you from doing good in this world.

The other day Amir prepared a bird house project for the girls. They always see him doing work around the house, whether its building a shed from scratch, or building a bunk bed, or putting in new floors the girls always like watching the process and ask what can they do. This past Christmas Lia asked for her own tool kit so she could be like dad. So, since the girls have such an interest he figured he’d come up with a project that they could build from start to finish. He took lia to home depot with him and selected the wood, then with lia by his side he cut enough pieces to build three bird houses. He then had each girl step by step put each piece of their own house together. They each got a turn using the drill and they had so much fun. The building part was with dad and painting the houses was with me. They’re so big now that I barely have to do anything. I dont even get to decide on the color that they use. Basically, it’s not my project anymore. I had to hold back on trying to pick out the colors I liked when we were shopping for the paint. I’m so glad I didnt influence they’re choices, they put together great color schemes. As they get older I can definatley see them doing more projects with dad. They love to build things, even better if they get to use real tools.I can’t wait to hang these in our yard and meet our new furry neighbors.

When our oldest daughter was born, my husband and I made up our own lyrics to the well known childrens lullaby hush little baby. I made up a mother’s version and he made up a father’s version. Many nights were spent rocking our children to sleep to that song and tonight when I laid down with lia on her bunk bed I sang her my version.

Hush, little baby don’t you cry, mamas going to catch you a butterfly. And if that butterfly flutters by, mamas going to bake you an apple pie. And if that apple pie ain’t warm, mamas going to make you a cobb of corn. And if that corn ain’t sweet and ripe, mamas going to teach you to read and write. And once you’ve learned your abc’s mamas, going to teach you your 123’s. So hush little baby don’t you cry, mamas going to always be by your side.

Can’t believe the holidays are almost over. It feels like we just went out to look for the perfect tree and now the days are quickly approaching where it’s time to put it all away. We have had a blessed, happy, healthy, fulfilling 2018. Nothing big happened (maybe something in 2019) but every day had it’s own special moment with lots of little celebrations in between and little personal accomplishments here and there. Our chickens were the biggest addition to our family and the excitement of finding an egg in the coop never gets old. We’ve been in our new home for a year and half now and we love it more and more each day. The kids have adjusted well and we look forward to making lots of memories here. I’m excited for the new year to begin. I love a fresh start, an excuse to reinvent myself and things around me. I’m hoping to find more time for creativity and to write in this space right here. Happy 2019!

A few months ago I asked Lia what she wanted to be when she grew up and she quickly responded “I want to be happy.” What a wise little girl! I can’t imagine a better answer. All I want is for all of my children to grow up and be happy. Whatever they choose to do or be, happiness is the top requirement.

Our little ladies have begun to lay eggs (an egg)! Not these little ladies!
These little ladies!We think it was Minnie, lias chicken, the biggest of all four girls.  She’s been acting strange after she roosts herself for the evening, sitting at the edge of the front door of the coop. Usually she’s tucked all the way in the corner, but these past three days she’s been sitting with her body half in the coop and her head out almost like she’s on the lookout for something. My husband said that he thought she was getting ready to lay her first egg and he was right.

Waiting for the hens to lay an egg was almost like waiting for the arrival of my own children, it felt like it was never going to happen! The feeling of opening up the coop and finding that egg was so exciting! I wanted to share it with the entire world and I did share it with all of my friends and family, like a birth announcement! Reaction was a little different than announcing a newborn baby! Everyone started telling me how they liked their egg cooked!

when I noticed the egg I quickly ran into the house and told the girls “we got an egg!” I let Lia have the honors of taking the egg out because we all agree it’s from her girl! There was another cracked egg in the coop which we believe could have been from yesterday. So technically she must have laid her first egg yesterday! 

Another great summer is coming to an end. That’s just the cycle of life, everything comes to an end and then we hope and wait for it to begin all over again. I can’t believe how much these little ladies are growing, I think to myself, next summer they’ll be so different, bigger, wiser, will they still play with their little barbies and be obsessed with their little LOL dolls? Will their cute little summer clothes fit them next year? Will they still follow me around the house like three little ducks? Everything is a cycle, and yes, summer will come again but there will be change too. I’m saying goodbye to summer knowing that it will come again but these little girls will have shed some skin and have grown in personality and awareness. Of course change is good too but I’m hoping that they will not change too much too fast!

In a world of constant change I’m grateful for the seasons, for the predictability that they give my heart. As I put their bathing suits away I am sad to say good by to the girls of summer 2017 but I know summer will make its appearance again, and that gives me comfort. Their bathing suit size and interests might change, but I know we have many summers to look forward to together.