Clothed with Grace: April 2016

Thursday, April 28, 2016

My Greatest Accomplishment

Recently I was scrolling through my Instagram feed looking back a pictures from the last few months. My feed used to be filled almost solely with images of me in clothes or layouts of clothes or just clothes in general. Now, there are a few images each week of me in clothes and the rest are images of Hannah, Grant, and things we do as a family. When I started this blog over three years ago I was so focused on clothes and fashion and style. I was constantly trying to grow, one up myself, and build a bigger blog, as if this little space was being built to be my greatest accomplishment.

As I scrolled through my feed though, I realized my kids are my greatest accomplishment. Each day I am filled with such love for them, and that is pretty much bigger than anything else I put into this blog or the clothes I wear. And I'm totally ok with that. I few weeks ago I had a the day off, so I took advantage and snapped a number of outfit pictures, like this one below.  I'll tell you what though, it has been so nice not to "have" to monkey around with outfit pictures on Saturday mornings and to leave the house not caring if my outfit will look good enough to share on Instagram.  I really have so little time with my family, I really feel like I want to make the best of the time I get with them at home.

Don't get me wrong, I still love to feel good about the clothes I wear, but they are just clothes. I'd choose snuggles and giggles with Grant and Hannah over them any day of the week. So, this little blog will remain a fun little outlet for me, but never my greatest accomplishment, and I'm thankful for that. 


As for my outfit today, I recently got this top from thredUp with credits. It's my first piece from Zara and I love it! This top is pretty similar and on sale. I love the print and details here and it was only $10! Make sure to check out the picture below that shows the back of this top, so cute! I'd actually planned to wear the top with my white kick crops, but they were dirty, so I thought I'd try my white jeans instead, the kick crops can wait for another day. As for my shoes, last fall I scored these shoes from Ann Taylor for like $12, these are very similar (but man they are pricey). This style is perfect for spring and I find myself wearing them almost daily.  The low heel makes them comfy and perfect for being on my feet too. 

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Because Now Matters


Last week the World History teachers at my school did this brown paper bag activity with all the seventh graders.  It happened to take place the day after we wrapped up our kindness project.  The whole premise is that each kids gets a bag to decorate, then they are given two yellow slips of paper to write down two positive things someone in the class has done for them, two green slips where they write two negative things someone in the class has done towards them, then one other slip where they give a compliment to someone.  The teachers then sorted all the slips (what a lot of work!), then gave each kid a bag filled with the slips that pertained to them, taking out any that seemed untrue or were written in a hurtful manner.

 The next day all the kids got their bags, some with a rainbow of colored slips, some with lots of good, some with lots of bad, and some that  were nearly empty.  The teachers did an excellent job of talking about the contents of the bags with the kids, and it was clear that although some kids had a hard time processing the contents (they are 12), it meant so something to them.  I noticed an "electricity" in the air the rest of the day too, and you other teachers will know what I'm talking about.

The following day I also debriefed with the kids because it tied in so well with what we'd been working on in class. It was really interesting to hear the kids thoughts on the activity and either their joy, sadness, or disappointment at the bag's contents.  One of the things I really worked to drive home with that was that what we do matters, big and small. Each and every one of us. Also, for the kids with bags filled with the negative things they have done to others- what you've done in the past doesn't define you, it's what you do now that matters. We all make mistakes, no one is perfect, but if we let our past hurts and mistakes define us, we're missing the point.

As the week went on, I could see a number of the kids really working to make some positive changes, which is really cool!

I obviously couldn't bring up God's grace when talking with the kids in class, but there is so much hope there for all of us. When we ask, our past mistakes are not only forgiven, they are "forgotten" by God.  Through Jesus we become a new creation, no longer weighed down by our past mistakes. Jesus says: "Come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest." Maybe this is where you are today, if it is, come find eternal rest. Your life will be changed for ever.


This blazer from Jane.com is one of my favorite things. This blazer from Nordstrom is also pretty cute. The first time I wore mine with my pink dress, and today I decided to pattern mix a bit. I've had this top from Old Navy for a few years, but still love it. I paired it with my boyfriend jeans and wore it for casual Friday at work, although I think it would be great for a girls' night too.

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Life Lately

Here's an update of our life lately via pictures I shared on Instagram.

This last weekend was pretty relaxing, which is just what we all needed.  Here we are watching a movie together.  Grant never wanted to sit on my lap for any extended period of time, little sister on the other hand will happily hang out for quite awhile and I don't complain one bit. : )



Monday, April 25, 2016

Kindness Project Updated

A few weeks ago I shared with you all a kindness project I was doing with my kids. I was seeing so much negativity I really wanted to try to do something about it. I asked the kids to try to do one kind thing each day, then they'd come in and journal about what they did, how it made them feel, and how it made others feel.  I selected a few great examples each day and gave the kids pride cards they can turn in for treats at our school. I didn't push it, but encouraged it. Throughout the two weeks I saw some kids really rising to the occasion, some that are always nice who were excited to see others jump on board, and some not take it seriously.  After a few weeks I told them I wasn't going to ask them to continue each day and share with me, but I hoped they would continue.

I saved all their kindness journals and passed them back and had them take a look at what they'd written. Then, I had the kids fill out a little questionnaire  about if they think they took it seriously, if they felt kinder, if the school felt kinder, and it they'd try to continue to be kind. In general the results were kind of what I expected, some kids said they took it seriously, some said they didn't. Some said the both they and the school felt kinder, some didn't. My biggest reaction was to the last question though about if they'd try to continue doing acts of kindness.  99% of kids said they wanted to, because it made a difference and they wanted our world to be better. 

These results kind of gave me pause, even the kids who said they didn't take the kindness project seriously said they wanted to keep going and be kind. It's like they know it's important and valuable, but then they get so wrapped out in themselves they forget about others. I was hoping this project would help with that. I know for some kids it truly did, and I did see some big changes in a few kids, but we're still not all there yet. 

Unfortunately, I don't think my seventh graders are that much different than the rest of the world. We can get so caught up in "our" plans and "our" agenda we forget the one simple moral "rule" pretty much everyone agrees on- treat others as you want to be treated. But if we don't look up and take off our horse blinders we won't see how how we can treat others kindly. 

Ultimately I think it all goes back to Jesus, who did the ultimate act of kindness in sacrificing himself for us. John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world he gave his only son, and whoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life."  If we fix our eyes on Jesus I think he can help point us in the direction of those who need our help. Those who need our kindness. Our world will never be perfect, but we are here for a reason, or else the second we believe in Jesus we'd just drop dead and he'd cart us off to heaven. I alone may not be able to change the world, but I can do something, as we all can. 

I'm hoping to end the year on a good note with my kids and hoping the idea of being kind sticks with them. I'm working to make it stick with me too.


I recently got this elephant tee, and it's so fun and easy, it's really inexpensive, however it does only come in one size, so if you typically wear larger than a medium, I'd pass on this.  I thought it would be fun with my flare jeans, and wore this easy outfit last weekend.

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Binge Watching

I just finished watching One Tree Hill on Netflix, and it was pretty much amazing. I honestly hadn't even heard of it, but started it when Hannah was born and was hooked. Last year I watched Gossip Girl and it was equally amazing. I honestly don't know which one I liked more. I don't know about you, but there just aren't a lot of shows on t.v. right now I actually want to watch...other than Shark Tank, which I love and my husband hates. So, I need a new show, what should I watch????


This top just recently came from thredUp and I am in love! It's J.Crew and pretty much amazing. It retailed for $98 and was only $20 and I had credits. #winning. J.Crew factory has a similar version right now that I'm loving too. These heels are also a thredUp find from last spring. The came in like-new condition and were less than $20 too. If you haven't tried thredUp yet, use this link to get $10 off your first purchase.

Also, these boyfriend jeans from Old Navy are pretty much my favorite. I love the wash and they are get for dressing up, like I did today with this top and heels, or down too.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

It's Only a Phase

Last week I mentioned that Grant was seeming to go through a new phase where he was being too chatty during work time at school and starting to argue and not listen at home. It really caught us off guard, but luckily setting up a plan at school and home is really working and Grant has been back to his normal self.

Around the same time I think Hannah was having a growth spurt.  She had about a week or so when she was up five or six times a night either to eat or needing help getting back to sleep.  She is normally up only once, so I was feeling like a walking zombie. We ended up upping her bottle ounces at daycare and I let her nurse on demand during the growth spurt.  She has also seemed to level out now and is back to being up only once, thank goodness!

Even though both of these situations above really are minor in the big scheme of things, they definitely felt all consuming at the time. It can be easy to let these small things become big,  I'm reminded of Ecclesiastes 3, where we are told there is a time for everything.  If we didn't have times that were difficult, we wouldn't appreciate or recognize when time were good. "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity in man's heart." So, when times get tough, it's then we should remember the good we have and the eternal place God has set aside for each of us who believes in him.  After all, this life her really is only a moment in the realm of eternity.  Why let ourselves in bogged down in the small things.


I mentioned last week how much I'm loving my kick crops in red, so when I realized they came in white (off white, really) and were on sale for 40% off I knew I needed the white kick crops too. I kept this outfit pretty easy and added this top from Target I've had for three years or so. It's one of my summer favorites, and I adore the print! I love this one and it's on super sale right now too!

Unfortunately, after washing these pants they wrinkled terribly and I literally spent a half hour trying to iron them to no avail. I ended up returning them on Monday and am so disappointed. The red and black have been washing and ironing up really well, so I'm not sure what the probablem was with the white. Now I'm on the hunt for another pair, such a bummer.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Four Months Old




Hannah has adjusted to daycare really well, so that makes being away from here much easier, although I'm definitely counting down the days until summer break! Depending on when she wakes up from her nap at daycare depend upon if she'll take one more nap at home before going to bed for the night. Although it's easier to get dinner made when she's sleeping, I don't dare complain about getting to spend more time with here.  

Right now she is loving her bouncy chair, and laying on a blanket on the floor with a few toys.  I'm thinking I'm just going to sell her swing, she never wants to be in it for more than a few minutes and more space in the living room is fine with me.  

Hannah is also getting really good at grabbing and holding toys, and as you can see above, she can sit up on her own on the couch too. She now really likes her bumbo and sitting between my legs on the floor too. 

Every time Grant walks in the room she lights up too, in the picture above she's not smiling at me, it's Grant who came up to say hi. : ) She loves her brother and is all smiles and giggles around him. He loves her so much too! I can only hope this continues as they get older.

Speaking of giggles, she's definitely found her voice and will squeal, scream and talk to herself and us for what seems like hours. She does the same when she wakes up from naps too. It's really nice that she wakes up happy and will entertain herself until I get her up.

We have Hannah's 4 month check next Monday and I'm excited to see how much she weighs and get the go ahead to start giving her cereal. She's still up once at night, so I'm hoping the cereal helps her sleep through the night. Fingers crossed!

Over all I really am pleasantly surprised at how easy of a baby Hannah is and I am really looking forward to all the fun things Grant, Hannah, and I can do this summer while Dad is at work.

Monday, April 18, 2016

Friendships

I wore this outfit a few weekends back to take Grant to a friend's birthday party.  It was for a little boy he's literally been friends with since they were both less than two years old. Through the boys' friendship I've also gotten to be good friends with the little boy's mom, which is always the best.  Now, the boys go to separate schools, so they don't see each other as much, although we try to do playdates.

I'd prepared Grant that there would probably be a lot of kids he didn't know there, being they are at separate schools. Both Grant and I were pleasantly surprised when almost every kid there was one of Grant's friends from daycare-all who now have basically scattered to different schools and don't see each other regularly. But, man, they all picked up right where they left off and Grant had a ton of fun.  And to me, that's what friendship is all about.  I was also excited to get to talk to all the other moms I hadn't seen for most of the year either.

Grant has had a great year in kindergarten and I've gotten to be friends with a couple of moms, but I do miss seeing all those other moms.  Our kids were together for nearly five years and we had endless playdates. As the weather warms up I'm really looking forward to playdates at the park again and time with other moms.

With the combination of winter and Hannah's birth I really do feel pretty disconnected from friends. I love my family to the moon and back, but hunger to reconnect with my friends, in pretty much every facet of my life. I could sit and make excuses, but just this last Sunday it took the prompting of a friend's husband, who I haven't seen in forever because she also has a new baby and two other kids which keeps her hands full, to say "You two just need to make time to get together!" Why yes, you are right. So we made plans and are getting together this Thursday night for frozen yogurt. Actually talking instead of sending texts back and forth will be so nice!

Here's the thing, we can sit around and make excuses all day long as to why we do or don't do something, but what good does that do?  Yes, getting time to myself hasn't been a priority since Hannah's birth, but seeing friends a few times a month would not be that hard to figure out. I'm working to do a better job of reconnecting with those other moms in my life that "get it." If you're feeling disconnected, I encourage you to do the same thing. I know you won't regret it!


I have been on the hunt for a navy utility jacket for a few years now, so when I came upon this Sonoma utility jacket on thredUP for $9 I was super excited!  This one in navy is very similar and on sale now too. As for the rest of my outfit, these Loft jeans were also a thredUP find for $10! These are very similar and currently on sale.  I find as long as I buy my go-to brands on thredUp, I don't have to worry about fit, as I know how the sizes run. I didn't have a light pair previously, so these really fit the bill. As always, use this link to get $10 off your first purchase.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Uncomplicated

I've been seeming to have an affinity for all things floral this season and this Loft top I scored from thredUp is no exception. (Use this link to get $10 off your first purchase).

I got these jeans last year from Loft and they are perfect for work as well as the weekend. I also just got these kick crops in "popcorn," which is like a soft white, after loving them in red and black.

This necklace from Uncommon Goods is continuing to be one of my favorites. I love the uniqueness of it, it would be a great Mother's Day gift for your wish list too!

I feel like my style has been becoming more streamlined and less complicated in the past year and outfits like this are ones I feel great in. Uncomplicated and comfy are pretty much a winning combo. I look back at some of my old outfits in the archives and sometimes I think, "I need to wear that again!" Other times, I think, "Man, that's just not me anymore." Having a style blog is such a fun way to chronicle my outfits, but it's also a good reminder that clothes are just clothes. Not every outfit I wear needs to be photographed, nor should they all.

What about you?  Do you feel like you've nailed down a consistent style or is it ever evolving?

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

I Must Admit

I must admit I wore this outfit a few weeks back, but I'll you what, these kick crops from Loft have been on constant rotation around here. I also have them in black and white. When I finally find a pant I love, it's time to stock up. The red and white are currently 40% off too!

I must admit part of reason I'm wearing pants and skirts so much is because nursing and dresses don't go together well. I have so many dresses I'm dying to wear, but it's just so awkward.

I must admit my taste in jewelry has been shifting. Most of my bold statement necklaces are going unworn and I'm more drawn to long pendant necklaces or more dainty short necklaces, but this necklace from Stella and Dot is kind of the best of both worlds. I like the glam look of it, but it's not crazy and overpowering. I've had it for a few years now and it's still one I love to wear. It's pricey, but it can be worn five ways, which is pretty sweet!

I must admit I am VERY excited to have the day off Friday. Hannah is going to daycare and I have school. I don't really have anything planned, but I'm totally ok with that!

I must admit that devotions have not been happening consistently in the mornings. Hannah must be going through a growth spurt because she's been up twice most nights for the last week and a half or so. I've asked the ladies at daycare to increase her ounces per bottle, and she's drinking it, but still up twice. I'm sooooo tired most of the time and pushing snooze twice when I really need to be getting up. I'm really hoping that I can try a bottle with cereal once at bedtime once Hannah has had her four month check, and I'm hoping that does the trick like it did for Grant. I miss starting my day with devotions and really want to get refocused!

I must admit it's been really nice having a few days at school to get caught up on grading while the kids take there state test. The piles were mounting!

I must admit that even though I was gone for two months, it seems like this school year is going on forever. I'm definitely feeling ready for summer break!

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Life Lately

Here's a look at life lately, via Instagram!

For the record, if you saw me on a Saturday, I'd look like I was going to the gym, but it's a hoax. I haven't been to the gym since Hannah was born, I'm just boycotting real clothes on Saturdays, it just seems like too much work, quite honestly and this top and leggings, both from Target, are soooo comfy!

Monday, April 11, 2016

A New Phase

Grant has had a great year in Kindergarten, however, the week after spring break was a tough one for him. Evidently "Chatty Kathy" was spending his work time in class visiting and not getting his work done. The teacher emailed me and said he's very smart, but just too busy talking. Great job, Grant..... So, last week he was moved to his own desk for work time. Grant said he likes it, because he's distracted by his friends and wants to get his work done. However, the kid needs to have the self-control to work at his table with classmates like everyone else. 

His teacher set up a goal of getting his work done for the week, then getting to move back to his table starting today.  We also added an incentive at home. He's been begging for an ipod for music and I happen to have an old one that's been sitting in my desk. Meeting his goal at school meant earning the ipod, with the expectation that if bad behavior arrises again, he'll lose it until behavior improves. He earned it, which is great and I'm excited to hear how his transition back to sitting with the other kids works too.

As for at home, right about the same time Grant started to argue with us and try negotiate too. The tipping point was when he wouldn't listen to his Grandma when she game to visit. So, we added some new things at home too. Each time he argues means he has to go to bed 10 minutes earlier, and if he doesn't argue the whole night then he gets to go to school breakfast the next morning, which he loves. This is also going pretty well, but it's all about consistency. With Grant's spring break being nearly two weeks long (it included the Friday before Easter and the Monday after too), Grant had a lot of down time and a looser schedule between spending a few days with Hannah and I, a few days with Grandma, then a day at Kids Club. The lack of routine and consistency definitely didn't fare well for my kid. 

We're continuing to work on being consistent at home, and luckily I'm able to use some of my teaching experience as it relates to correcting behavior to help us at home, but it's not easy.  Just when you get into a nice groove, things change. I can only imagine how things will evolve as Grant gets older. I definitely feel a sense of urgency to do my best to take care of these "small" issues before they get big.


This shirt from Target a couple of years ago is one of my favorites for spring. I wore it last week with my red pants and today with white.  These white jeans continue to be a favorite.  A white skinny leg is not flattering on me at all, so this straight leg works really well and they don't stretch out through out the day either.

Thursday, April 7, 2016

#BecauseKindness

"The time has come when we cannot just rely on others to make the world a better place-each one of us needs to do our part." This quote is from an article I shared with my kids last Friday and it's the start to a kindness project we're working on during this next month.

What started this you might ask? Well, when I came back from maternity leave I noticed a shift in the kids. They were still being pretty good to me, but man, they were not being very nice to each other. This really bothered me, so I decided to try to do something about it. I found an article, with this quote from about in it, as well as the idea that kindness can make our world a better place.  I also show them this video, which is pretty sweet.

So often we are so focused on ourselves and what's in it for us, we don't think about how a simple act of kindness can change someone's day. So, we brainstormed and did some writing, then I encouraged them to do one kind thing each day to help make our school a better place. They are coming in each day and quickly writing the nice thing they did, how it made them feel and how it made the other person feel. I recognize great examples and am posting them in the room too. The kids are loving checking out the cool things their classmates are doing.

I'm really excited about this and hope it helps make a difference in our school! I've told the kids I'm in on it too. If we don't spend time looking for ways to help, we won't see them. I'm already noticing some kids getting really into it, but honestly if it makes even one kid think about the needs of others above their own, this project is totally worth it. Kindness is free, but the way it can make someone feel is priceless!


These kick crops are pretty much my favorite thing right now. I also just ordered them in white when they were on sale for 50% off last week. So excited to wear them! Today I paired them with this fun sailboat tee I got from Target a few years back, I love this tee shirt version

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

How I Shop

I recently had a reader ask if I could create a post about how I shop and keep track of things on my wish list and when I choose to buy.  I thought it would be a fun post to share with you all today.

Shop Online
First off, in the last year or so I've really had a major shift from shopping in stores to shopping online. Now I know this isn't for everyone, but it's the stage of life I'm in-with two kids I don't have a lot of free time to go out and shop on my own.

Know Your Body
I feel like I'm able to shop more online because I know my body and what looks good on it. I did a series of posts on this, you can check them out here and get some tips for how to dress for your shape. I do try to avoid buying pants or jeans online, though. They fit so differently, I will scope out what I like online, then try on in stores. I know some people will just buy two sizes online and return one, but often times its the fit I have to worry about, not just trying on two sizes.

Get Inspiration
I don't spend as much time on Pinterest as I used to, but I do pin outfit ideas there, you can follow me here. Pinterest can be a time suck, but I really only pin outfits if I already have similar pieces in my closet for inspiration or tips on how to style it.  Take these flares for example.  I love that flares are on trend again, but it's like I'd forgotten how to wear them, so I pinned some flare jeans looks to gain inspiration.

Shop ThredUp
If you read my blog regularly you'll know that I'm a huge fan of thredUp (Use this link to get $10 off your first purchase). It's honestly my go-to site.  I like that you can search by type, so if I need a "cream sweater" I can search that and it'll show me every one they have available, and the prices are so affordable too. You can also search by brand, which I like to do too. They also put the measurements of each piece, so I know if it will fit, since sizes can vary from brand to brand.  I created a post with shopping tips for the site here.

Stick to a Budget
In most cases I have an unwritten rule that I don't spend more than $30 on any one piece of clothing, that rule doesn't apply for shoes, or with purses, where I really look to use them for an extended period of time and will wear them frequently. However, with clothes I usually follow this rule.  To help me stay within that budget I sign up for emails to my favorite go-to places, like Loft, J.Crew factory, Old Navy, and Target.  Loft and J.Crew's clothes never fit my budget if I pay full price, but if I wait for an email blast with a sale, I can score what I want at the price I want.

Shop with Purpose
For me, a lot of shopping is about patience, as I want to get as much value for my money as I can. Waiting for sales really helps, and honestly staying out of the stores keeps me from shopping the sale racks and buying things solely because they are on sale and not because they fill a hole in my closet or are uniquely special or different. This is definitely a shift for me, because a few years back my closet was full of "it was on sale" clothes that didn't get worn.

There you have it, do you have an tips to help me shop better you think I missed? I'd love to hear them.


Sometimes you put on a piece of clothing and it feels like it was made for you, that was true with  these flares. I knew I wanted to get a pair of flare jeans, and found these at the Loft outlet for $20, sold! I love how they feel on and think the shape is very flattering too. For me, the best styling has been with a simple look on top to keep it fresh, no long cardigans or non-sense. I got this top last year from Target and it's one of my favorites! I love the ease of these pieces together!

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

3 Months Old (Almost 4 now!)


I'm a few weeks behind, but I wanted to share an update on Little Miss with you all.  It's hard to believe she's over three months old!  We are having such a good time with her!

Currently she is smiling and cooing like crazy.  She's definitely realized how to use her voice and will have periods during the day where she just talks and talks!  

She is also doing a pretty good job of sitting up with just a bit of assistance.  She think the Bumbo is ok, but prefers my lap, who could blame her. She also is completely content to sit on my lap for extended periods of time, Grant was definitely not like that. 

Hannah also is a big fan of the bouncy chair and love to bounce and kick her legs. She does want a captive audience, though. If not that, then she likes to be put in front of the the patio door, so she can look out at the world.

We also went to the park recently, really it was her first time outside, since it's been so cold. She was not a fan at first at all!  The wind and the sun were too much for her, luckily, once she got used to it she was good.  It's so different from Grant who was a summer baby and we were outside all the time.

I'm looking forward to Hannah's four month check up to see how much she weighs. She has grown out of most of her 0-3 clothes (except for the leggings), she is still waking up once at night though.  It's not awful for me, she eats for about fifteen minutes, then goes right back to sleep. I reallllyyy would like to get her sleeping though the night, though. Grant did at 6 weeks and Hannah has twice, but obviously they were flukes. I do remember Grant started waking up again around four months and we switched to a bottle of formula with rice cereal in it, and he was back to sleeping through the night.  I'm just waiting on the go ahead to try this with Hannah from her doctor once she's four months old. 

Overall, I feel like we've settled into a pretty good routine at home. It helps that she's pretty predictable and easy. Dinner is made each night, the house is (mostly) clean, and we are all pretty happy. Life is good!

Monday, April 4, 2016

Sibling Love

I wore this outfit to church for Easter and am in love with this blazer I got from Jane.com. The first time it was on there it sold out before I had a chance to buy it, when it showed up again I "favorited it" in preview (previews are live at 4:00 the day before you can buy), then bought it first thing the next morning.  I have a few outfits lined up for it and excited to give them a try.

As I was dressed up in church with the family, holding Hannah while we sang songs, Grant just kept hugging us and saying how much he loved Hannah and I.  These are the sweetest words and fill my heart with such joy, and I'd like to end the sentence there but everything Grant does is "big."  He is loud, can be rough, as well as up in your face. He's a boy and he's five. So, his words and his heart are so big, but I can find myself saying, "Use a quiet voice," "Be gentle with your sister," and "Not so close to her face," about a hundred times a day. 

However, as I stood in church listening to Grant's words all I could think was, "Man, I hope he always loves Hannah the way he does now." Grant had the lime-light all to himself for more than five years, now he has to share it, and I'm so thankful that he loves Hannah and has only complained a few times about not getting attention because I need to take care of her. I do think the age gap is to their advantage, they'll always be in different stages, but just like Grant loves Hannah, she is just infatuated by him and you can tell she is crazy about him too. 

So, even though everything Grant does is "big" and it can drive me crazy, I hope he continue to love "big," and I don't want to be the one to squash that by constantly correcting him.  His heart is in the right place, and that's definitely what matters!