Thank you April

Thank you April for...

• a clear scan for our Gigi who fought and beat Pancreatic cancer. Above all April, you brought us this news and that could have been it and you would have won for the whole year. 

but you also gave us so much more,

• a much deserved and needed fishing trip for b who got to spend several days with his best friend in their favorite element. I beamed at the pictures he texted of his happy, huge smile holding another great catch. What a gift it is share in the joys of someone you love. 
• another fishing season for our whole family; spending the whole youth mentor day at fishing camp watching our kids get dirty, tired, and wet while splashing through the creek and reeling in fish together and with their cousins. 
• a birthday for our Greyson Rudy who turned nine this year! He makes us proud and crazy and we are so very grateful for this silly, funny, thoughtful boy.  While we have a nine year old child that means we also have been parents for nine years now! 
• Lots of sleepovers and fun with friends this month that had us surrounded with people we love and who make us laugh
• another scf happy hour in the books with my sister. There is something so comforting about being with your sisters who finish your sentences and thoughts for you; who can understand without you having to say, and who will accept you no matter what crazy theory, thought, or memory you might throw into the conversation. xxxox scf.
• a beautiful family-filled Easter with extended families on both sides. How incredibly lucky our kids are that we have so many cousins, aunts, and uncles that sometimes they lose track of their names and who goes with who.
• the close of another year of teaching 4th and 5th grade religious education classes at St. Greg/Barnabas. 
• the strength it took to be bold to opt out of standardized testing for our third grader after a lot of research and reflection. So thankful for other moms who have gone before me and offered advice - it can be so hard to swim the other way - but I am so content with our decision. 
• the opportunity to volunteer officially as a Lector at church. It feels satisfying to use my own personal talents to help others in a way that in no way feels like extra work. 
• the extra student time this month at the Spanish club dance (where I learned a new game: Fort Knox) and acting as a Reading competition chaperone at their spring meet. Being with kids outside of school hours really makes for stronger bonds with the students which always spill over positively in the classroom. 
• the view of our #8 on the baseball field again this year at the pitcher's mound and shortstop. He loves the game so much and it is inspiring to see how much sports motivate him in all kinds of ways
• the incredible coach that my husband is; I am so grateful that young kids get to learn from him and see his reactions. He knows that a loss counts too and from losing and making errors is the way you grow and get better. That no matter the call, you keep your head high and your mouth shut and you work harder so that no game will ever come down to a questionable call. I could go on for days, but he amazes me and I am so proud of Coach Daddy.
• soccer season that has us all outside moving and learning. Gemma has grown leaps and bounds in understanding the game and Violet has surprised us all with her little spitfire attitude on the field. I am learning and growing as the U5 coach and keeping my little Mighty Muffin team focused, learning, and having fun too. 
• the arrival of spring; all of our chickens are so happy to be free range everyday, our pups are getting walks in, we are all getting extra hours outside, the trampoline is in full effect, and although our house is filled with mud and grass - the windows are open and the sun is shining in! 

April you came in like a lion 

...and still kind of finished like a lion actually (hah)

but like a lion you were loud and proud and breathtakingly beautiful

you roared to us the news we had all been praying for and holding our breath for

you roared us out of the house and got us moving and really living after a long, slow winter

you were brilliant, April 

I love you.