Reverie Isla-Vale is Two

Happy Birthday, our miracle darling girl

”Bang bang bang!”

The sun isn’t up, but the sound of a newly two year olds fists against her door alerts the house, that she, in fact, IS - and was ready to greet the day.

“Moooooommmm!” “Moooooommmmm!”
”bang bang bang”

I scurried out of bed exhausted and wishing I had remembered to set the coffee on a timer I went to bed. I wiggle into a pair of jeans and throw on my sweatshirt.

“Bang bang bang” “Mooooommmmyyyy!”

I ran to the other end of the house to wake the older kids who begged me to get them before she was let out of her room.

The night before we blew up balloons, set out birthday decor, and laid a shiny silver and gold “red carpet” (dollar tree table cloths) leading to her big birthday present- a (nearly $300) horse I forced Justice to let us buy.

Ever since our trip to a Pennsylvania farm with ponies and miniature horses this year- she has been utterly obsessed with all things horses.

And of course, my inner child who had a similar obsession that no one nurtured- is absolutely giddy about it.

My heart wishes I could roll the red carpet out to our new land, complete with pastures, a small forest for exploration, a babbling brook out yonder, and of course- a real horse.

But the plastic dollar tree walkway to her ride-on faux pony would have to do.

All the kids leapt out of bed with tired eyes, smiles and anticipation.

There is something absolutely magical about gifting a child, especially a toddler- with what you just KNOW is the perfect gift for them.

I gave Natalie my phone to record, and we all took our positions.

“Bang bang bang! MommyyyY!!”

Creeaaak…. I opened the door slowly, “good morning, my Reverie! Happy birthday!”

She shuffled out, still in her sleep sack which I promptly unzipped so she could step out and run down the magical sparkly walkway to her new prized possession!

As soon as she saw what lay before her…

“BOON!” (balloon)
”Oh my gosh!”

She was suddenly far more enthralled with the dozens of balloons than she was my absolutely amazing perfect, (and expensive) purchase I was so convinced was my absolute DUTY as a loving mother to buy her.

Turns out, two year olds are really pretty easy to please.
Perhaps too easy.

I actually chuckled to myself- This is how we are with the Lord.

He lays out a red carpet (Jesus + bible) leading the way right to the very thing he knows our heart desires most (eternal life)- and we settle for the colorful latex, filled with…nothing?

Guys, we are so retarded.

Anyway, lets not get too deep-
After we dilly dallied letting her play with the balloons we proceeded with her adventurous day.

She got to go to Summer Moon (okay that first stop was more for me), Play Street Museum, Blazing Bouncers and the store to pick out her very own personal cake.
She had the BEST DAY. She was loved, doted on, and got to do everything fun I could thing of that our town has to offer a 2 year old. She never did take a huge interest in the horse for longer than a couple minutes. (But I’ll give it a few days before we send it back, just to make sure)

The evening ended sadly, as she finished her cake, took a bath and then started acting fussy. I thought maybe she was just over tired- but she quickly began running a fever and fell asleep.

She’s now resting quietly in her bed, and my heart is thankful God allowed her to enjoy her amazing day before her illness took over.

Justice & Rune have been battling something for a few days now with fevers off and on, so I’m unsurprised, but still sad another one is down. Rune began running a fever again before he went to bed too, so I’m sad and a bit overwhelmed at what Christmas eve and Christmas may look like this year.

But as I know better than anyone, it could be worse. So we will make do with whatever lot God gives us this year.

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This evening I got in the tub, wanting to soak and relax after a long day, but ended up wading through thoughts I knew would inevitably hit me today.

Valor.

“Hi baby.” My mind seems to say, as if greeting him.

Most days these days are so full to the brim, I don’t have “time” to think of him.

Of course he’s always there. But to really think… to really let my mind reach out and stroke his big cheek with the back of my fingers… it takes a lot.

Sometimes after only a few minutes of it, my body feels like it ran a marathon, or has the flu.

But with everyone sick with the literal flu, I found a moment to “go there”.

And there in the tub, my mind danced with the remnant of him for a brief moment.

I’m still so sad he’s not four.
Even if I’m so overjoyed that little darling Reverie Isla-Vale of ours, is two.

The two of them will always be different notes in the same melody that echoes in my heart. With every joyful milestone I share with her, I’ll always carry a quiet sorrow for him in the other hand.