A year in review for Vi turning 4

So here it is, one year has flown by again, and our little Genevieve has decided to go and turn 4 years old.

 Again, as always...whoa!  Why is this going so fast?!

 Tyler and I tried to bargain with her, into turning 3 again, just for one more year...but she wouldn't have it.

 I remember writing last year about how it had become the year of questions...and this year...she still asks a million questions.  The questions are just getting harder to answer.

She has developed a deeper sense to herself, and I am loving watching her make decisions.  Harder decisions than last year, decisions on what kind of person she wants to be.  Choosing to be kind, and selfless when I know it's the harder choice.  

 She has a confidence in herself I love and admire.  She is girly, yet a conqueror and still, as always, an adventurer.

 She has always loved being outside and exploring, and taking her to Colorado this year filled us with joy and left us quite impressed.  This girly princess scaled the side of a mountain and it was STEEP, all while wearing her purple princess dress.

She is tender hearted and has one of the most sensitive spirits I have known.  Sometimes it looks like she is easily frightened, but what I see is a girl who loves what is good, and kind, and doesn't like what is bad or evil.  She doesn't live in fear, but doesn't tolerate watching something that might conflict with her soft spirit...and I love this about her.  

 This year I got to watch her develop her imagination.  She has always been rather literal, but I love watching childrens imaginations at work, and have been so excited to watch this grow this year.

 We wanted her to do soccer... I could see myself as a soccer mom.  She wanted to dance.  We tried soccer, she went, and had fun rolling around, and playing, but not necessarily soccer.  So we let her start dance, and she LOVES it.

She has always been independent, and watching that unfold at her school is great.  She doesn't feel the need to lead, yet at the same time, has no inclination to just be the follower.  She knows what she wants, and is confident in herself.

While I am excited to continue to watch her grow and develop, at the same time, Tyler and I are so proud and blessed by who she already is.  We just want to sit and enjoy this, but as it is, time keeps on ticking by quicker than we want it to.

So to end, we celebrated her birthday a day early and took her to Build a Bear.  Here's a few pictures from today.

Something about 50 Shades and Yoga Pants

Women.... we need some hobbies.  

I mean seriously.

Everytime I get on the Facebook all I see are the latest articles and blogs on yoga pants and 50 Shades and then there's a few recipes here and there.

Not that these things aren't important.   Sure they are, it's important that you have a stance on your morals.  It's important that you guard your heart and your eyes and your spirit.   I'm just not going to tell you how you should do that... I'll leave that to you, your spouses, and more importantly, the Holy Spirit.

But let's find some other things to share ok?   Let's make some mommy play groups, or coffee dates, or learn how to brew a great cup of tea together!

Let's try making new art and sharing the process together.  Let's take our pets for walks, and take stupid pictures of them and make fun of each other for being obsessed with our animals, but only in a loving way of course.   Let's debate about why Zumba is better than cross-fit, because when we care about getting healthy, really it doesn't matter which is best.   Let's put our passionate efforts into causes we all believe in and can obviously stand behind:  against abuse, trafficking, violence...
Let's quit standing on soapboxes with megaphones but claiming 'personal conviction'.

Don't get me wrong, I'm totally a pot or kettle here.  I can't help but share my strong opinions from time to time; I have shared articles about modesty as well as political opinions.  I'm starting to learn...no one has been swayed by this.  Not that I can tell anyway.

Let's have opinions, and encourage others, but let's find some other things to do as well.  Let's build community and spend time DOING THINGS!  

I for one am currently going to go be productive right now.

By productive I mean take a nap.