"It's A Good Thing...."

This post is going to be a hard one for me.  I have thought about it all day with impending doom.  However, when the statement came out of Cora's mouth I knew I was going to have to write about it. But writing about it will come with a price....a few tears....

I put a new pack of markers in Cora's basket in the car.  I haven't kept crayons in the car since July 2005 when we first moved here.  It was the first time I realized why you shouldn't keep crayons in the car.  :)  Lesson learned....now we only have markers and colored pencils.  This morning she was marveling at the new markers and she said, "It's a good thing I am not 3!"  She went on to tell me that at the bottom of the marker package it said "0-3 :( " and she knew that meant that anyone under the age of 3 should not use them.

I knew what she meant by saying "It's a good thing I am not 3."  But all I could think of was, "I wish you were 3".  The thought consumed me.  The thought brought me to tears.  We moved here right after Cora turned 2.  And the friends that she made when she was 3 are the very friends that she still has to this day.  The very friends that we will inevitably be leaving shortly. 

I long for the days when a peanut butter sandwich was good enough, when spanish was learned through Dora and Diego, Pocohontas and Mulan were the Princess' to be and every Friday we met our dearest friends for lunch at McDonald's.  That my friends.....was the good life.

This is what being 3 is like:

Celebrated Cora's 3rd birthday at Disney

By far my most favorite picture ever taken of Cora and Chloe

Cora and Nicholas playing at the Park

my favorite picture of Cora and her Granny

Cora and Uncle Zach and Aunt Kimberly in Virginia

Getting her hair trimmed by Mawmaw

Cora and her favorite goalie!  I <3 this pic!

Cora and Grandma Baker

Ice cream for dinner!

Cora with her sweet Godsister Mackenzie

I dressed her up like her daddy but she left the house with a purse and chapstick!

Pierced ears!

Dressed up like her favorite princess Mulan

Pickin' sunflowers at the West Farm

Christnas cookie making!

no words...

Easter Sunday

Sweet Eloise

"Cola" and "Larla"

Do you know how hard it was to only pick those pics?  That spanned the 12 months that she was 3.  Every picture that I looked at brought back memories of what she was like.  And if I am feeling this way now.....what will it be like when she goes off to college?  Will I  be ambushing her trying to put bows in her hair?

So I have come to the conclusion that it is only a "good thing" that she isn't 3 when it comes to Crayola Markers.  But in my world the year she was 3 was the best....and I would go back there in a heart beat.  I am not sure how I slow her down but I sure am going to try.  But for now....Steve is on travel....I am done blogging.....and we are going to go watch the Justin Beiber movie. And I am selfishly going to figure out a way for me to hold her! 

It's a good thing I am....

~Cora's Mom

"Child of God"

Probably one of the most wonderful things that ever happen to Cora when she was an infant was her baptism.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  Steve and I had made the decision to go back to Illinios to the Parish that Steve grew up in and that his parents still attend.  The baptizing honors went to Father Don Knuffman, my father in law's cousin and the very priest that had baptized Steve.  We had chosed two wonderful people to be her Godparents (Dave and Donna Goehl) and we were surrounded by friends and family.  But what I remember the most about that day were the words that Father Don spoke of after the baptism.  He said, "Now Cora is a child of God".  I still get goosebumps thinking about it. 

Anyone who has ever met Cora knows that Cora takes the role of being a "Child of God" very seriously.  She has been filled with God's love since the day she was born.  She has been raised in the Church.  She has been taught how to pray and loves to sing gospel songs in the car. 

Now for the most recent events.  Cora had her 1st Holy Communion this past Sunday.  I was very emotional.  It was a little over two years ago when our Deacon had to help me explain to a very frustrated llttle girl the reason why she couldn't take communion yet.  Cora waited and waited and last Sunday was the most beautiful day.  And tears flowed down my face when once again I heard some words of wisdom.  Our priest said to them "By taking the body and blood of Christ you are about to enter into a one on one relationship with Him".  For that is what my sweet girl had been waiting for her whole life.  I would even say she was "starving".  And Sunday.....she was made full.

Between the rehearsal and the actual day our priest thanked the parents several times for bringing them to CCD and for raising them in the Church.  The funny thing is...I wouldn't know my daughter without the Church being a part of her.  I wouldn't know my daughter without Christ's light in her.  She has always been a living, walking, breathing Christian.  Her faith abounds and I feel as though her praying is a direct line to God. 

So I guess I can say one thing for sure.....I am blessed to have this "Child of God". I am thankful that God is giving us help in raising this "Child of God".  She makes me want to be a better person, a better momma and a better Christian.

~Cora's Mom