Changes

Jon Kent, Zoey, and Nathan,

Over the next 2-3 years your life will be changing. I am back in school to get my teaching degree. I am finally striving to complete a dream I have had since I was in 2nd grade. I know days will be hard. I know my attention will no longer be soley on you. And that's hard for me to say. But it's going to be worth it. I hope you see I am doing this for you. To show you that when you have a desire to better yourself, you do it. When you feel led to go a certain way by God, you heed that calling. I hope I make y'all proud.  I hope I am setting a good example of hard work and determination. I love you and I am so thankful to have amazing kids like y'all. 

Love,

Momma

Grateful

Jon Kent, Zoey, and Nathan,

You are very blessed kids. Let me tell you.. You have parents, grandparents, and even great grandparents who love you so very much. We all want the very best for you. We want you to have nice things, have nice clothes, fun toys, and fun things to do. And while that is all well and good I am starting to realize it's becoming a problem. I don't want y'all to think you HAVE to have "things" to be happy. I want you to see that time spent with family, friends, helping others.. That's what brings happiness. Not stuff. And then on top of all that I want you to learn that you won't always be happy. Some days you will just be. I want you to be content in whatever you do. However life treats you, to just be content. And let me tell you, I am still learning that at 30 years old. I am hoping that by watching me you can pick up on it a lot quicker. I want you to be grateful for what you have. And when you do get something extra to thank whoever was responsible for giving it to you. Your parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and most importantly God. I am still learning and I promise you many days I get it wrong. But I hope through my process you will learn, too. And that we all come out in the end thankful for the lessons learned, things we were given, and even things we weren't. 

Love,

Momma

Happy 5th Birthday, Nathan!!

I guess with the arrival of Nathan's 5th birthday I have been overwhelmed that what was left of Nathan's "babiness" is now quickly fading.  He isn't baby talking hardly at all.  His sentences are coherent (mostly) and complete.  He knows his letters, their sounds, his numbers, how to write some sentences, and can even read a few words.  These past 5 years have happened so fast.  To think that so much has happened in his short fives years.  Moving, growing, losing a grandmother, starting school, more growing.. so much.  How it's been 5 years in what feels like mere months I don't know, but boy am I trying to squeeze every moment out of it I can while I still have him little.  Because I know how quickly they grow.

Happy 5th Birthday to my last baby boy.  The boy who still loves to cuddle with his mommy and give sloppy kisses.  Thank you for completing our family and filling my heart to the point of bursting.

Love,

Momma

Happy #7, Zoey-bug!

Beautiful, carefree, sassy, silly, out going, adventurous, loud, loving, forgiving, sweet, wonderful, giving...  All those words and so much more describe our Zoey girl.  If you've met Zoey once then you know exactly what I am talking about.  If you have been blessed enough to become a part of her life then you know that Zoey isn't someone you will ever forget.  She is just that kind of a girl.  Zoey was our surprise baby.  When her brother was just a few months old we found out we were expecting again and I can't tell you how overwhelming that was.  Here we had a colicky baby with acid reflux and I was staring at a positive pregnancy test.. AHH!!  But Zoey's surprise arrival was a blessing.  She healed so much of my heart (long story.. and only people who are the closest to me will ever understand why).  She was and is just such a special blessing.  God knows just what we need and He knew we needed Zoey.  So on December 2 at 7:07am we welcomed our first and only daughter into this world "sunny side up".  She was bright eyed and already soaking in all this world had to offer.  And ever since has been so full of life and soaking it all up with each new day.

Happy Birthday, baby girl.  Momma loves you more than you will ever know until the day you become a mom yourself.  Keep being you and you will be just fine!!

Love,

Momma

Happy 8th Birthday, Jon Kent!!

8 years ago at 5:05pm your daddy and I became first time parents to a beautiful, blonde hair, blue eyed, baby boy. Jonathan Kent Owens, Jr. (you) weighed a "whopping" 5 pounds, 8oz.  I was scared to death, but had such a sense of awe come over me knowing I was chosen to care for this little miracle.  Still to this day I don't have the words to describe my feelings and thoughts.  I think only other mothers would know my thoughts and emotions that day.

Happy Birthday to my tenderhearted, smart, charming, bashful little.. err.. big boy.  You will always be my baby boy and you will always hold my heart.  I love you to the moon and back!

Love,

Momma

First Day for Everyone!

Dear Jon Kent, Zoey, and Nathan,

Today was your first day of school. For all of you!  For the first time in almost 8 years I have all my babies gone for at least half the day to school.  It doesn't seem real that each of you should be toting a book bag and lunch box.  I pray for each of you daily to have safe days at school, to learn as much as you can, and to make Godly friends along the way.  I am so proud of each of you and look forward to hearing about each of your first days.

Love,

Momma

1st of 4K

1st day of 2nd grade

1st day of 1st grade

Annnd, they're off!

Stand Firm

Jon Kent, Zoey, and Nathan,

My sweet babies. You were each born into a Christian home.  A home where we believe the Bible.  We believe that we all deserve hell, but by God's grace each of us has the opportunity to choose Jesus and spend eternity with Him.  We believe that what the Bible says is what the truth is.

Right now our faith is under attack in a very public way.  This is not new news to Christians.  The Bible tells us that just as Jesus was persecuted, you will be as well.  It can be easy to lose heart and to take the easy way out.  To sit on our hands and say or do nothing.  But the Bible tells us to stand up for our faith and to do so with love.  It's hard though to not let our flesh take over.  The only way I know to live out the Bible in love is to pray.  Pray, pray, and pray.  Let God be my guide and stand firm in the knowledge that God will take care of His children.

My sweet babies, none of you have yet come to the saving knowledge of Christ.  My prayers are that you each will and soon, but only in God's timing.  That you will each know of God's grace and that it will be so rooted in your soul that you will stand firm for your faith when the time comes.  And it will.  It. Will. Not. Be. Easy.  Please understand that, but your reward isn't here.  Your reward is in heaven where rust or rot can't touch it.  Stand firm in knowing that this life is temporary.  Any pain (physical or otherwise) won't last forever.  Your joy can't be stolen from you, so press on.

God is always with you and my prayers are always for you.

Love,

Momma

Making Memories

Dear Jon Kent, Zoey, and Nathan,

This summer we had a lot of fun making memories and relaxing.  I am so glad I get to stay home with each of you and enjoy your childhood along side of you.  I truly hope that at some point when you are older you can look back on your childhood and pick through many memories of wonderful times.  I hope this summer you had just as much fun as I did.

Love,

Momma

Happy #4, Nate!

Nathan, today you are 4.  You were spoiled with whatever you wanted all day long.  You got Angry Bird toys from us and you got to eat at a Japanese restaurant.  You loved watching them cook in front of us.  And yes, we did embarrass you by having them sing "Happy Birthday" to you.  (We have to get our kicks while we can!)  You had a great day and I am glad that you enjoyed yourself.  You are growing way too quickly for my liking, but I am thankful that you ARE growing and are healthy and happy.  I love you my sweet baby boy.  I am so glad that God gave you as a gift to me.  Happy Birthday!!

Christmas 2012

Jon Kent, Zoey and Nathan,

Merry Christmas!  We have had a blast this Christmas season.  Baking, wrapping presents, opening presents, spending time with family in Alabama and spending time together just us.  It was a good season.  Thank you for making so many memories with me.  Thank you for going along with my family gifts and seeming to enjoy the time spent together.  I really hope that you made memories, too.  Memories that you will be able to look back on and cherish.  I love each of you my babies and I am so thankful that God gave each of you to me as the most precious gifts I will ever be given.  I love you!

Love,

Momma

Happy number 6, Zoey!

Zoey,

Today you turn 6.  How exciting and sad.  You are quickly growing up and staring to spread your wings.  It makes me so proud to see the little girl you are and the woman that I can see you becoming.  Each little step you take is another day that I get to see you grow, learn, love, dream and live.  I hope you have had a wonderful and that your coming year is all you want it to be.  I love you!

Love,

Momma

Happy Number 7, Jon Kent

Jon Kent,

Happy 7th Birthday to my amazing, wonderful, smart, loving, caring, cautious, DS playing, Auburn loving, silly, playful, tenderhearted, basketball playing, little boy!  I hope your birthday was everything you dreamed and w hoped it would be!  I love you!!

Love,

Momma

Disney!

Jon Kent, Zoey and Nathan

Our first family trip to Disney!  What a time it was!  We had so much fun at all the parks.  I was so happy to see how happy each of you were.  Granted, there were times of whining and tiredness and down right bratty behavior, but mostly it was a great family time.  I'm hoping each of you will remember this trip for the rest of your lives and that it won't be the last time we go.  I am so thankful to have been able to see your faces when we first saw the "Walt Disney World" sign.  Oh how excited y'all were.  I hope I never forget how when you go off a ride that was really fun or even scary how each of you would talk 90 to nothing about the ride over and over.  It really was a great week and I am so very glad I got to spend it with you!  I love you all so much!!

Love,

Momma

Just you & me

Nathan,

We are into our second week of spending the day together while you older siblings are off at school.  Can I just say how awesome it's been?  I was a little nervous about it at first because I thought you would be bored and lonely.  But you have really surprised me.  You have become my little helper.  You follow me around and we just have a really good time together.  The past couple of days I have been pushing you in the stroller while I do my daily jog.  Then when we get back we grab something to drink and take the golf cart to the park.  We play there for about 30 minutes or so (mostly me pushing you in the swing).  Afterwards, we will drive through the neighborhood for a bit and come home to rest for a few minutes.  I try to get a few things done (fold clothes, straighten up, unload the dishwasher, etc) while you play with Nova or your toys.  Then we will do school (read, color, draw, learn letters, shapes, colors, etc).  After that we go outside to play or play inside.  Then it's lunch and nap time.  You nap and I try to clean the house or do whatever I can before you wake up.  Once you wake up we go pick up Jon Kent and Zoey from school.  Our days vary some here and there.  We may go to the library one day or run some errands another.  But whatever we are doing I enjoy doing it with you.  You have really surprised me with how agreeable you have been and how well you listen when it's just you and me.  I am cherishing these days, because next year you may be in preschool half a day.  I am soaking up every second I can!  I love you my Nator Tator.  And I am really glad to have this period of time with you!

Love,

Momma

First Day of School 2011

Jon Kent and Zoey,

Happy First Day of School!  Today, y'all both started back to school.  Jon Kent you are in the 1st grade and your teacher is Ms. La Manna.  You've had a hard time remembering her name and kept asking us to tell you your teacher's name was "just one more time".  I think you were pretty excited about your first day back at school.  You were a  little worried though because you only knew of one other person in your class that you knew from last year.  But that's OK, I know you will make new friends and have a great year.  As for you Zoey, you started kindergarten today!  Yay!  Your teachers are Mrs. Holliday and Mrs. Arrington.  You were hoping to have them since Jon Kent had them last year.  They were both excited to see you this year.  Which made my heart very happy.  You were so excited about school that you had a hard time going to sleep last night.  I was excited for you, too.

I hope that both of you have a great year in school.  That you learn a lot and make lifelong friends.  I love you both and I am looking forward to sharing this journey with you.  I love you!!!

Love,

Momma