MONDAY WAS AN EARLY MORNING, AS THIS LITTLE GUY WAS UP AND AT 'EM AT SIX. SO, WHILE I FED MY SOUL, HE WILLINGLY FED HIS MOUTH. NOT A BAD WAY TO START THE DAY.
I HAD SENT OUT A TEXT TO TWO FAVORITE GAL PALS REQUESTING A MONDAY LUNCH MEETING AT McDonald's WITH OUR SWEET ONES. THIS HAS BECOME ONE OF MY FAVORITE MADISON MOMENTS, AS WE ALL GATHER AROUND ONE ENORMOUS TABLE IN THE CENTER OF THE ODANA McDonald's AND ATTEMPT TO SNEAK IN SOME MUCH NEEDED MAMA TIME WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY FEEDING THE TROOPS, KEEPING THEM CONTAINED, AND ENCOURAGING THEIR "INSIDE" VOICES. WE PLAN TO MEET NEXT MONDAY AS WELL, FOR ONE FINAL SEND-OFF MEAL. I WONDER HOW GOLDEN FRIES TASTE WITH A SIDE OF TEARS.
THE TWO Cs
BORN ONLY WEEKS APART, THESE TWO SHARE THE SAME AFFECTION FOR DIPPING SAUCES.
QUITE SATISFIED WITH HIS MEAL.
AFTER NAPS, THE LITTLE LADY REQUESTED A BIKE RIDE "ACROSS THE STREET," WHICH MEANS A BIKE RIDE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD POND. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND BREEZY DAY, SO IT SEEMED LIKE THE PERFECT WAY TO SPEND OUR AFTERNOON WHILE WAITING FOR JEFF'S ARRIVAL.
HEADING DOWN STARR GRASS DRIVE.
THESE PATHS HAVE PROVEN TO BE ONE OUR FAMILY'S FAVORITE STOMPING GROUNDS. PRIOR TO HAVING KIDS, JEFF AND I WOULD ENJOY EVENING WALKS AND GOOD CONVERSATION AS WE STROLLED THROUGHOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WHILE OUR WALKS LOOK SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT NOW, ABBREVIATED AND INVOLVING TYKE TRIKES, THEY CONTINUE TO BE A TIME OF PEACEFUL AND PLAYFUL REFLECTION.
ALL GOOD WALKS REQUIRE A WALKING STICK.
IT IS HARD NOT TO PAUSE AND APPRECIATE THE NATURAL BEAUTY THAT SURROUNDS US.
OUR "LAKE."
PLENTY OF ENERGY. PLENTY OF SPACE.
AFTER A FEW UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO COORDINATE SCHEDULES WITH TWO SPECIAL MILWAUKEE FRIENDS, THE LORD UNEXPECTEDLY PROVIDED A FEW HOURS FOR US GIRLS TO MEET MONDAY NIGHT. WE MET HALF WAY BETWEEN MILWAUKEE AND MADISON AT HI-WAY HARRY'S RESTAURANT NEAR JOHNSON CREEK OUTLET MALL.
THE LORD BROUGHT THESE TWO WOMEN INTO MY LIFE THROUGH THE HALLS OF HERITAGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL. LISA BECAME A CONFIDANT AND CLOSE FRIEND AS WE TAUGHT IN THE SAME HALLWAY, OUR ROOMS ACROSS FROM EACH ANOTHERS. I HAVE ALWAYS APPRECIATED HER STRENGTH, HONESTY, AND ABILITY TO MAKE OTHERS AROUND HER FEEL COMFORTABLE AND INVESTED IN. SHE HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE SUCH A STRONG SUPPORT TO MY FAMILY.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF TEACHING JULIE'S SON MY FIRST YEAR OF TEACHING AT HERITAGE. AND, JEFF AND I GREW CLOSE TO THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY AS THEY ENTRUSTED US TO WATCH THEIR THREE CHILDREN, AND AS WE BECAME INVOLVED IN THEIR YOUTH GROUP. I HAVE COME TO ADMIRE JULIE SO MUCH AS I HAVE WATCHED HER MOTHER HER THREE CHILDREN, MINISTER TO OTHER TEENS, AND WILLINGLY INVEST IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS. THE LORD HAS BLESSED HER WITH THE GIFT OF ENCOURAGEMENT, AND I HAVE BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF HER STRONG WORDS OF AFFIRMATION, AND HER PRAYERS OF SUPPORT. I HOPE TO BE THE KIND OF WIFE AND MOTHER SHE IS SOME DAY.
I'M THANKFUL FOR THIS TIME TO RECONNECT WITH WONDERFUL FRIENDS. AND, AM VERY THANKFUL FOR A SUPPORTIVE HUSBAND WHO PROVIDED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE THE HOUSE ON A BUSY MONDAY NIGHT TO MEET WITH THEM.
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