Thanks for the fun questions!
I now have blog material for the next 100 Fridays.
So let's begin with some easy ones:
Where do I go shopping for myself besides Etsy?
Old Navy, Gap and Target.
I'm a simple girl.
I pretend shop at Anthropologie and Land of Nod.
What did I want to be when I grew up.
A vet.
But then I figured out that lots of science and math was involved.
Science, math and I do not get along.
If I could only eat one thing for the rest of my life, what would it be?
Pizza.
Pizza.
Pizza.
Are my toenails painted?
Yes. Always.
NO matter what.
Either a dark red, or blackie gray.
What is my fave item of clothing?
Here is my uniform:
two wife beaters,
gap curvy jeans,
Every day.
How tall am I?
5 foot 2.
If I am standing up really straight.
My husband is a full foot taller than I am.
Halley is tall.
Lucy is petite.
Janey remains to be seen.
We all have really, really big heads.
How do we explain Joy to the girls?
I don't really know how we started talking to Halley about her big sister in heaven. It wasn't planned, we didn't discuss how we would tell her, it just sort of happened organically. We toted her along to the cemetery with us, in fact we stopped by there on the way home from the hospital. She always knew that she had a sister that lived with Jesus, and in fact I think she is the one that first told Lucy about Joy. They both call the cemetery the "baby Joy remembering park." It isn't a scary place like movies make them out to be.
Each time they get a ballon they send it up in the sky to heaven.
They have always done that and at Joy's birthday celebration we wrote notes on the balloons before we sent them up. Last year Drew brought us pink balloons and these sweet letters for our family pictures last year, without even knowing that we did that. Another reason why she is so amazing.
Anyway, because they know about Joy, they know about Jesus, they are excited for Heaven. I think as adults we bring all of our own fears and issues into what we think our kids can understand. Joy will always be part of our family and I really can't imagine not talking about her.
I believe that knowing they have a sister that is already there and who will show them around makes Heaven so much more of a sweeter destination.
More me. me. me. next week.
Love reading this, and I can't wait to keep reading your answers!
ReplyDeleteYou're an awesome mama, by the way!
I have the same uniform from the same stores. Oh and we pretend shop at the same places too! That's very exciting (for me).
ReplyDeleteI love that your girls know Joy the same as they know each other. It's the same for us. Samuel is a part of who we are as a family and I can see how important that is to my kids every time we talk about him.
What an amazing way for your girls to learn about heaven. God truly works in incredible ways. I love hearing about your family. Can't wait for more you. you. you. answers! Is it weird that I like hearing about you and your family and I don't even know you?!?!?! I guess I'm not alone!
ReplyDeleteThat last paragraph brought tears to my eyes. If only we had that same joy about heaven as children do!
ReplyDeleteI have stopped in here now and again. Tonight i took the chance to read Joy's story. My best friend lost a baby at 37 weeks. They have never been given an explanation. Thank you for sharing something so sacred. I learned from you. I cried and I felt God's hand touch my own heart. Yes, Joy has reached many, hasn't she!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to celebrate JOY's birthday!!!
ReplyDeleteI am going to take that idea :)
Hope you don't mind!!
This is fun
ReplyDeleteAbout your clothes- we have the same everyday outfit. Only I would trade you my ugly Long and Lean jeans for your cute Curvy jeans. And I'm an Old Navy flip flops kind of gal...Havianas are my "special occassion shoes". Truth.
ReplyDeleteAbout Joy- THANK YOU. Not sure where to begin, but Jesus seems like a good tie-in for the conversation with the kids. Your Glory Baby makes me so proud of my Glory Baby. So proud to be a mommy to more than just meets the eye.
Have a great weekend, Queen of Everything! Can't wait to read more answers. xo
Pizza, Old Navy, and red fingernail polish are my staples, too! :)
ReplyDeleteFun! Fun! Fun! Hey, we could see eye to eye. That would be nice to actually speak to someone w/o cranking my neck!
ReplyDeleteI'm loving all this posts!
ReplyDeleteI am so thankful to you for sharing Joy with us.
I also grew up knowing that I had an older sister, who I never met, in heaven. I have always felt very close to her.
Thanks!
I pretend shop at Anthropologie too! Your blog and your girls are gorgeous.
ReplyDeletewell, you've really got me now!
ReplyDeletei'm also 62 in inches
now i'll go read the rest of your post
;)
sorry to be DUMB but what are wife beaters cordys and the curvy jeans and I guess the "H" word describes your shoes? You look adorable just want to better understand how to "copy you"
ReplyDeletesharleymcm@verizon.net
Your blog is beautiful and your girls are so lucky. Thanks for sharing your story.
ReplyDeleteI'm a plus size girl and I need better fitting jeans! I think I'm gonna check into these curvy jeans at the Gap.
ReplyDeleteLove reading your answers! :)
Lump in my throat. Beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness I love this! :-)
ReplyDeletebeautiful.
ReplyDeletecaleb too is a part of our family. even our youngest who came after him knows and delights in having a brother who makes his home in heaven.
sometimes he comes up in conversation (they bring him up), they are curious about his appearance, his heaven filled days, just who he is...and i let them talk, and my heart aches, and longs, and DELIGHTS that he is waiting with our good God, curious, and longing to hold us too.
we send balloons too. we are coming up on 10 yrs of balloons.
i just KNOW his room will be full of them when we get home...with colors picked by little people (now bigger siblings), with lipstick kisses, and notes.
what a day that will be.
you are just so rad. really.
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog and really enjoyed this post.
ReplyDeleteWe lost our first child, a son named Isaac, just 16 minutes after he was born on October 7, 2008. I am due to deliver our second child, a daughter named Eliana, in about 2 1/2 weeks. I have struggled with how to maintain Isaac's place in our family, how to tell Ellie about Isaac, and I just appreciate what you shared about how you've continued to incorporate Joy into your family. :)
~ Stacy