Dear Future Alicia

Dear Alicia,

If you are reading this, it must be summer of 2014.  Perhaps you are looking for some encouragement now that you have a mobile toddler on your hands?  Remember how Miles would smile at you to grab your attention?  Or how he would grab your face with his sweaty fat baby hands and pull you to himself and with a wide toothless grin smother your checks with slobbery kisses?  I would also like to remind you of how he was such a snuggly little guy and was so content to sit on your lap.  I'm sure it must be hard emotionally now that he's more interested in exploring his world than sitting with you.  Does Miles still get wide eyed with excitement, or furrow his brow and breathe heavy when concentrating on a hand eye coordination task? Now Miles is starting to use the toilet more and diapers less.  I doubt that you miss having to wash those diapers every few days, eh?

I know it's hard watching them need you less and less, but it is a part of life.  Do you remember that Abi made pancakes from start to finish without needing you?  It was a proud moment for her (and you!), and if you'd admit it to yourself, a relief that you didn't need to be hanging over her shoulder the whole time making sure she measured everything properly.  You let her ride off of the block to go fetch the dog, and pick mulberries.  You were so nervous after twenty minutes, and look at her now!


Here were the things about Wesley that you wanted me to remind you about.  When asked how old he was he'd put his thumb and middle finger together and hold up the rest and say 'shree'.  You loved his prayers too 'Jesus, my food (and he'd list each thing on his plate), my free-unds, baby Mi's, AbiLizzi (because they were one in his mind), daddy, mama...A-MEN!'  You found it endearing how he was still too short to ride the bike, and grateful that grandma got him a balance bike to train on.  He loved to mow the yard right alongside Phil, and tinker with the tools.  Wesley loved to help in the kitchen and in the garage.  Whenever you couldn't find him he was usually in the garage 'fixing' Phil's motorcycle.

Remember how badly Lizzi wanted to be able to read?  She would check out books with CDs to follow along and try to decode the words.  She was so proud when she found one that contained first grade word lists and declared to you that she was going to learn new words.  She's come a long way since the primer 'A Cat and A Rat'!  She also loved fixing hair.  Remember when she figured out how to make hers curly by scrunching it up?  Then she went and had you spell out words so she could make the sign 'Lizzi Zlomke Curly Hair' and set up a beauty parlor in her room.

I'm sure you're even more busy now that you have a 9 year old, 6 year old, 4 year old, and 18mo old.  And that these memories seem so long ago.  Your babies are growing up into fine people of the world in spite of your worries about whether you are doing it right or not.  Breathe mama, you've done a great job thus far, and you will continue to do so with Christ lighting the way for your family.

Love,
Yourself from 2013