7 Years Ago...

Seven years ago, I was completely sleep deprived, living in my pajamas, eating as much as I could, hair stuck to my head because I hadn't showered in a week...and constantly in limbo between being unbelievable overwhelmed with parenthood and being totally head over heels in love with Trip Kuehn!!!  I know I say this every year, but I cannot believe Trip is another year older...7 years old!  And, yet, as I sit here writing this blog entry, I am overcome with grief and sadness as I think about the 20 families in Connecticut that two days after Trip turned 7, they lost their first graders, their 7 year olds!  How is that possible?  How am I so blessed that I still have another day with mine?  But, I do and so I vow to cherish each day with him, even though there are still days that I am unbelievably overwhelmed by parenthood.   I am overwhelmed with the responsibility to teach Trip about this world we live in, how it is only temporary and yet, we are called to be LIGHT while we are here.  I am overwhelmed with the responsibility to constantly remind him that he is and fearfully and wonderfully made by the CREATOR of the universe and that means he is perfect!  I am overwhelmed by the need to let him know every day that he is loved unconditionally by me, TJ and GOD.  And, I am overwhelmed by my desire to be a better person just so that I can live up to the task of being called his mother!   It brings me such joy to watch him everyday as he learns more and more.  He is so curious about the world, loving science and math, especially repeating the science experiments he learns at school for us when he gets home.  Trip loves to read, and he is reading more and more each day!  It is such a treat to walk past his room at night and hear him sounding out words, even if it is words in ANOTHER Star Wars book.  :-)  Trip is an amazing friend.  He is so kind and compassionate to everyone he knows.  He tries so hard to be fair and never leave anyone out.  When we visit him for lunch at school, he can pick a friend to eat with us, and he has a rotating list that he goes through so that all his buddies get a chance to eat lunch with us.  So sweet!  Trip always tries so hard at all he does and he gets frustrated by his failures.  But, he always gets back up again and tries some more.  He is the best big brother ever...doting on Mady and always eager to pass on his knowledge to her, whether it's math, spelling or Star Wars trivia.  Besides Star Wars, Trip loves his Legos, Super Heros, Transformers, throwing the football after school with TJ, playing the Wii, and most of all using his imagination while he plays with all of his stuffed animals.  The last 7 years have not always been easy, but they have been a gift from God, each day a special chance to know and love the amazing Trip Kuehn!  And, so I pray each morning when I get up (now more than ever) for God to protect him and I trust in Him knowing that He is my security and that Trip is His, a gift to me and a blessing to all he knows!

Below are some picks from his week long birthday celebration...ending with a fun sleep over party with 3 of his favorite friends!

12-12-12

Movie Time

Not asleep yet!