Sunshine!

I feel better! Even slightly sleep deprived (Marie is cutting her eye teeth now and woke up at 4am ready to party) my head is clearer and my outlook much brighter! It is amazing how not feeling your best can really mess with your head.

The above photo is of Josie, take in May 2007, its one of my all time favorites. I feel a little like that today, if I had a pretty dress on I just might twirl!

Marie, as I said is cutting her eye teeth now. I think they're hurting, but it's hard to say as she also got her RSV shot yesterday and that could be making her legs achy too. Either way, she was up at 4 and Luke and I did our best to ignore her until a more reasonable hour. At 6:30 I got up with her and she was all smiles and talking when she realized we were actually going to get out of bed! So much more vocal these days. Yesterday she interacted with the nurses for really the first time in a very long time, and it was neat to see her talk and smile with someone other than her immediate circle. It confirms my belief that Marie is very aware of whats going on around her. She did not cry when she got her shot, though her eyes teared and her face got red. Afterwards she nursed a bit and dozed off, then we headed home.

Josie is doing lovely as always. She is going to be the ball in the Christmas Pageant at church. They're doing a bit of a different story this year and it should be fun! She has also started planning her birthday party, though she won't be 5 until the end of January.

We're getting ready for Thanksgiving, Luke is busy fixing the garage roof (and then he'll probably be back in the field helping with corn harvest again). Part of it blew off in those 80 mile per hour winds we had a few weeks ago (imagine that!) and he's hard at work. Don't feel bad for him, he sort of enjoys this kind of thing.

All in all, we're good and the sun is shining. Last night I was completely overcome by a feeling of joy and peace with things. Josie was running around in her underwear before bath time and Luke was tossing Marie in the air to her delight and she'd squeal and do her silent giggle and I realized that life is pretty good. We don't' want for anything, if I was honest, I'm a little spoiled. My girls are happy, and while Marie's health is something that is a constant struggle she is full of joy and that's enough. That and Luke, well, I couldn't ask for anyone better. Somewhere between giggles and bath time, book reading and making our very own pinkalicious cupcakes, nursing, Josie writing Mommy on everything she can find, and lots of hugs, I remembered I am a very lucky girl and I'm glad God smacked me upside the head and made me realize it. Thanks for the tough love Father. Be patient, I know You're not finished with me yet!

And, since I posted an old picture of Josie, here is one of Marie about that time as well (so that there can be no jealousy between sisters both have been represented equallly).