The Streetpoet

He is a blessing beyond words. Literally. I cannot find words to describe our Ian. He has a unique personality with a slowly growing vocabulary, and quickly growing independence, a strong will and a great big heart. He loves balls, balloons, bubbles, anything that goes, dogs, babies, his brothers, and he adores his daddy! If he’s upset at Mommy he cries for “Ma Daddy!”. 🙂 His word for yes is “Da” and he puts a hard “H” sound at the end of words like “rock” and “truck” and “lock” (his word for shut). I look forward to his vocabulary growing, and I love to hear him try out (and make up) new words!

I think he looks a lot like Jerome at two.

My prayer for him is that as he grows he will see his great need for Jesus, that he would be a blessing to all those in his life, and that his life will count for God’s kingdom. Thank you, Jesus, for entrusting him into our care and blessing us with his life!

Here are party photos with a big thanks to all who could come and celebrate Ian’s birthday with us!

We are more thoroughly enjoying our Sonlight with every passing week, and are happy as can be to continue through the summer! Speaking of summer…Peter’s out of school! He hardly knows what to do with himself, but we’re keeping him busy. 🙂

You know I love sharing pictures of my boys for my family across the nation. Here’s a little glimpse into our house:

This is my treat. To enjoy a wonderful day taking pictures with family and actually post them on my blog the same day!

It was a beautiful day spent with Peter’s family…

I wanted to write a public note of thanks to my Mama. I am who I am today largely because of my mother’s influence.

When I think of you and who you were to me when I was little, words do not come to mind but feelings and pictures do. Some of my favorite times were when my head was in your lap and you would stroke my hair. (No one can stroke my hair as wonderfully as you do!) Watching you crochet, learning, and finally making art with you. Hearing your songs around the house and from the yard. Your singing is somehow a part of me. The smell of baking biscuits is a part of who you are to me. And your curls, too. Hair braiding was a fun thing for us to learn from you, and now it is a part of who I am. You taught me portraiture and gave me your camera. I’m so grateful for the lovely photos you took of my sisters and I growing up. Now I have a wonderful tool to document my own children and a love for photographing people. Thank you!

These are wonderful memories for me and they are what I think about when I think of you.

Thank you for allowing God to give us life through you, and for fighting for us. Thank you for being the godly wife and mother that we were to emulate. Thank you for the sacrifices, the songs, the training, the photos, and the hair stroking!

Happy Mother’s Day!

I love you!

was actually on April 29th, but her party was this Sunday!

How we all love you dearly, Mom…each in our own ways. That you understand and love us all back is remarkable.

My most favorite thing about you is your love of learning. You are curious of everything good and will take the time to read and discover and share what you’ve learned! And you don’t stop at things, you are curious of people, too! I remember one of the very first trips I made out here you sat down with paper and pencil to take notes of my favorite foods and to mark if there was anything I disliked. I have loved learning with you! You have touched and impacted my life deeply and I love you so very much. Happy birthday, Mom!