New Year, New Year

Shouldn't there be flying cars? Weren't we promised easy space travel to Mars at least by 2014? I remember sitting in 7th grade science class hearing about the possibilities of the future, dreaming of what my life would look like. I had so many expectations for my future.

Expectations can be dangerous things. If met, we give ourselves glory for a job well done. If they are not met, our emotions are thrown into turmoil and someone must take the blame. Either way, expectations are selfish, one person or group of people's idea of how something should go or be.

This year I am throwing expectations to the wind, freeing myself from the human prison of "should be." As a mother, this will free my kids to learn and grow in their own unique ways. As a wife, I will not expect things out of my husband but love him with all of who I am. As a friend, I will allow each relationship to take its own shape and not fit it into a comfortable box. I will not let other people's expectations make me question who I am or what I do.

God expects nothing from me, He welcomes me to love Him and others. This is my goal in 2014, to devote myself fully to loving God and others. What an impact this will have on the relationships He has blessed me with. There is freedom in loving all people for who they are uniquely. 

The Holiday Season

The holiday season has always been such a special time for Barrett and me. We grew up with rich family traditions centered around grandparents and church. Since we've been married, our traditions have merged but it wasn't until we had Chloe and Reef that we have truly understood the meaning of family traditions. 

Now that Chloe is old enough to know what holidays are about, she knows the meaning of Thanksgiving. She enjoys being with cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. She is thankful for silly things like her Cinderella doll and for more serious things like Ms Gracie and Lauren. Christmas is more than a tree and decorations; it's about baby Jesus and angels and a promise.

As a mother the holiday season is easy to get lost in, especially as a working mom. But when I watch my kids singing together at church, their eyes twinkling in the glow of the Christmas tree, I am reminded to experience the holidays like a child. I want to live in awe of the blessings and I want to be crushed when I see injustice. I want to cry with excitement because of the love of others. Thank you God for giving us children to follow as examples for the holiday season.

What a Day

Anyone with children will agree that kids grow fast, and if you get too wrapped up in the day to day of obligations and jobs, you miss so much. But then there are some days that you live and wonder "Am I going to make it?" Today Team Freeman experienced the "Man Down" disease. During naptime, 3 year old Chloe injured her gum by slamming her mouth onto the foot of her bed. Covered in blood and screaming, we cleaned her up and cuddled her sobbing body for hours, waiting for the pain to subside.

Finally Chloe got it together and was ready to play. It didn't take long for her to forget the pain, especially when Reef came into the picture. Chloe was playing behind their playhouse when Reef came to the door, smiles abounding. Then the world slowed down, seconds turned

to minutes as Chloe yelled "NO!" and slammed the door literally in Reef's innocent face. Reef cried in pain, a large, black hill appearing on his forehead.

It took 10 minutes of ice and cuddling to stop the tears and another 10 for Reef not to be afraid of Chloe's apology..."Are we going to make it?"

Parenting is a daily adventure and while most days you sit and catalogue every movement and sound, there are others that you experience and learn from, that are emotional and unpredictable. The ones that you are proud to say "We made it!"

Random Summer Day

On this random Wednesday of summer we found ourselves on Franklin Street at the counter at Krispy Creme with a tough decision: original glaze or Carolina Blue chocolate covered. We got both, headed toward a couch and enjoyed Chloe's very first Krispy Creme donut. Reef was totally jealous. Fully loaded with sugar, we headed to Meadowmont Park to expel the induced rush of energy. By the time we got home Reef was passed out and Chloe was yawning and saying "I'm so tired Mommy." After nap time we hit up the pool to cool off. The joys of summer!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I can happily say that our first family garden is growing very well. It has been a family effort. We planted on Mother's Day weekend, as it was my gift, and we have enjoyed watching each plant grow. Barrett has gotten into it, watering the plants whenever they needed. Chloe's job is to talk to them and look for flowers. My job is to weed and pick. We just got our first cucumbers and they are delicious.there is something very special about growing your own food. God's creation is full of beauty and nourishment; He provides all of what we need...and more.

The building of pixie hollow

This morning Chloe woke up and said "Today we are gonna make a Berry House!" Yes, the meant fairy and yes, it was more of an ecstatic scream. So we made our way to our magical tree where we heard that a fairy needed a place to live and set out to create a pixie hollow complete with garden, owls, paths, and a pool. Here's how it went!

The Park

I thought I had posted our park pics from last month but...yeah I have a toddler and baby. My brain doesn't work as it should. Chloe loves the park so much. By the end of the day she had created imaginary rooms and princess scenarios and of course had gone down each slide a million times.