We have a big weekend ahead of us. The twins turn 15 tomorrow! How we got here, I am not sure. They should still be my little booger boys, my bo-bo’s, my little old men! They are now bigger than me! Jake and Ty bring me an unbelievable amount of joy! They are the best huggers in the world. It reminds me of hugging their daddy. He was the best hugger in the world before them. They have A LOT of Adam in them. They look like him. Are calm and quiet like he was. They love video games like he did. They are smart like he was. Jake loves to antagonize and joke like he did. Ty is very intellectual like he was. They have very similar sense of humor to Adams too. They love all things Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Marvel, DC Comics, and many other things, just like their daddy did. It has been such a gift to see so many reminders of Adam in their looks, mannerisms, personalities and interests as they are growing up. God did a beautiful thing in creating those boys very much like their daddy, that left us way too soon! I know one of God’s gift to us is those boys! They bring back so many of us beautiful memories of who he was. Now they have Matt as a father and we often joke about how much they are like him as well. They share interest in the same areas as above, include the theater. Then add in sports with Jake, Star Trek with Ty. He was a gift to all of us when he stepped in to be their dad and loves them like they are his own. God ordained him to be their father from the beginning of this whole journey.
One thing we like to do around here for birthdays is decorate the kids doors the night before their birthdays. I have been doing this for my kids since they can remember. When they were little I would do it after they were asleep and in bed so it was always a fun surprise when they woke up on their birthdays. Now they see it before they go to bed, because all these teenagers stay up way later than I do! HA! We also have a birthday banner that we put up on the mantle for everyones birthday. We have lots of little traditions like this in our house for birthdays, holidays and special occasions. It is one way we express love around here. Expressing love comes in many different ways. Sometimes it is words, sometimes it is hugs, sometimes it is traditions like birthday door decorations and banners.
How do you express love to yourself? Today, I have done some relaxing! I know I have a lot going on this weekend. Family coming to celebrate tomorrow and a small group of friends coming Sunday. This requires lots of planning and prep work on my end. I also know myself well enough to know I need some down time before all this. I will love every minute of the celebrations and people. But I have to prep myself so that I can be my best self throughout the weekend. Something that I am working on is talking to myself with self love and words of affirmation. I am often very hard on myself and my appearance. I am trying to do better and express love to myself! I am trying to focus thoughts on the positive attributes I have.
Remember that you are beautiful, you are worthy, and you are loved!
Psalm 139:14, “I will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made. Your works are miraculous and my soul is fully aware of this.”
Sowing tears and reaping joy 