Abby's Journal

March 17, 2012

We have been blessed with an amazingly warm winter. All through January and February I kept waiting for winter to “kick in” and it never really did. Most days were at least 40 and we have had very little snow. Now that it's March, the skies are blue, the temps are in the 60s-70s and the grass is turning green! It's been awesome (though I wonder what this means our summer will be like?). You love going outside to concoct things in the “mud pie kitchen” or to ride your scooter. Sometimes I have to push a bit to get you out there but then you always enjoy it.

We are doing swimming lessons again. You are very confident but still not able to swim super long distances. You actually do better swimming UNDER water! The first day of lessons you refused to go to your teacher. I took you back to the locker room and told you that if you didn't do swimming lessons, you wouldn't be going to family swim nights with the rest of us. That convinced you and I've never had another issue with it. Often that's true of you – I only have to discipline/convince you once.

A lot of the conflict with school work is gone too. I think it is because you are now finding yourself able to read lots of words – everywhere – and that excites you! I also find you writing little notes to people all the time. You say, “I just love to write!” Your spelling is just darling. Two notes that I've got handy, “i love you isaac I love you vare much FROM Abby” and “Thak you FOR The Beds (beads) MOM FROM Abby”.

You were invited to the Fagreys for a Valentines tea party. Emma Jacobs was there too. You came home covered in make up and full of wonderful games you played – wedding and princess and such. I am so glad you have such sweet friends. I have always hoped you would be able to play the type of lovely make-believe things that I did growing up. It's hard being sandwiched by brothers! You and I have gotten in several good Barbie sessions lately, though, and I also set up playdates for you with a little friend from Bible study whenever Isaac was gone for the day skiing.

Daddy's been in Europe for the past ten days. The second day, in Amsterdam, he was accosted by a man with a knife who demanded his money. Instead of agreeing, Daddy knocked the man over, ran and got away. You were glad that we had prayed for Daddy to be safe. The first weekend he was gone we took an overnight trip to Brookings with Grammie and the Slacks to see Uncle Andrew, stay in a hotel (with pool!) and go to the Children's Museum. You were so precious to watch in the grocery store/farm area of the Museum. You had an apron on and you were harvesting fruits and vegetables with your wheelbarrow then restocking the shelves of the grocery store then going shopping – so intent for nearly an hour. We had to pull you away to “move on”. I laughed with Grammie that you would have had more fun if the museum were empty of other children – that way you could have had everything organized exactly how you wanted it!

I am so thankful for you – your sweet spirit and peacemaking skills are sunshine for me. I try to let you know how special you are and I hope someday you understand.