Dear Saint,

Today you rolled over for the first time. You rolled from your belly to your back and the look of pure joy on your face was worth the risk of letting you do it.  Like most things with you, there is no extreme, there is just you.

I marvel at how happy you truly are. You have this demeanor that is so calm and so beautiful and so angelic- your cause and effect is melodic. I hope, my sweet boy, that you always look at me the way that you look at me now. I feel like we have a secret that we aren’t telling. You’re all curves and soft edges, a type of quite power, a kind of rhythm that feels like when you hear your favorite song on the radio, louder, Louder, LOUDER until its energy becomes yours.

I could never have dreamed you up Judeboy. I could never have dreamed you up. You make life better. You make me better. You are a healer and a peacemaker and a silent scream. I close my eyes and thank God for the experience of you.

I am, everyday, thankful for my family.

I am thankful for my husband who raced home two days in a row this week, to care for our children because I was struck with the stomach flu. My amazing husband who has taught me over time to rely on him, and has never ever let me down or complained along the way.

Born first in my heart, then in my body, now we’re connected in spirit- my sweet Sunshine girl who is as feisty and fierce as ever. I love who she is and pray her spirit stays as strong in life as it does in this house. My wild card, my temper, my smart as a whip little girl who has just enough good to make her warm and just enough terrible to make her interesting.

This year, I’m most grateful for the addition of Saint Jude. My amazingly calm, happy, handsome son- who was placed on my chest just four months ago and somehow I have known him my whole life. I thank God everyday for this little boy, this sainted child.

When I hold them both in my arms I am reminded what I have been called to do, and who I’ve been trusted to raise, and oh how my heart sings their praises!

My two beautiful birds.

I love these three humans with my whole heart. Thank you God for these three and all the ones who love them and me.

A very Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

I bought a sign for my dining room.

It says: If you’re a bird, I’m a bird.

I bought it for my children.

Because whoever you 2 are, whoever you grow up to be, whatever you choose to do or not do, whatever you believe, whatever you support, whomever you choose…

If you’re a bird. I’m a bird.

This is the Halloween that wasn’t. We didn’t trick or treat. We didn’t smell feet. We didn’t even give kids something good to eat.

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy we did dress our little ones in their costumes and take a walk to Starbucks where half our town was warming up, stealing internet, and charging cell phones.

Our hearts and prayers are with the folks most effected by the hurricane. Thank you to all of you who so lovingly worried about each of us- we’re fine!

Clearly my kids didn’t miss a meal during this whole mess. Sunny went as “Pizza” who is her lovie ( a small gray donkey) and Saint went as a giraffe, because lets face it, I give birth to baby giraffes.