It came it came, it finally really came! I am officially all clear from the doctor and free to lift Charis and anything else that I want to lift for that matter! I called so many people this morning just to tell them that I got the all clear! I am sure that everyone of them thought that I was a total nut job but that is okay because I am just so excited! I really had this secret fear that I would never ever again get the all clear but at last I am clear!!! Wouldn’t you know though the day that I get the all clear is the day that Charis does not really care to be picked up! I only got to pick her up to put her in bed for nap and get her up from nap but I must admit even that was sweet to my heart! I did also get to carry in Cai from the car in his car seat as well. It is a whole new day and a whole new world for me! I have to admit that it will take some getting use to though. I waited for Brad to come home to carry the laundry upstairs for me because I forgot that I could lift things…he would say that I “forgot” but I really honestly did! Oh the joy in my heart!

This morning we loaded up the car with kiddos and extended family in tow and we journeyed up to the mountains. It was so refreshing to breakaway from suburbia and be deep within the Lord’s creation. It was sweet to see Charis playing in the creek, to breath in the fresh air and to be at a slower pace enjoying all that God has made! I found my heart singing this hymn as the morning wandered on…

For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour
of the day and of the night,
hill and vale, and tree and flower,
sun and moon, and stars of light;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

-Words by: Folliot S. Pierpoint

Brad’s extended family have been visiting this week so he took the week off to spend time with them which in turn means that the kiddos and I have had more Daddy time as well. On Tuesday we went to the zoo which was really a lot of fun with the kids in tow! Charis is at an age where she can chat about the animals and really experience the zoo. We headed to Kid’s Cove (children’s play area) first so that Cai could have his morning grub while big sister played in the huge sandbox. Before I knew it Charis had the whole family in the sandbox with her! It was definitely a funny site to see…Miss Charis Queen of the sandbox! Cai napped pretty much the whole time which was perfect! He is a little trooper! Charis’s favorite animals were the Rhinos and Elephants probably. She liked seeing the Gorillas but I think that it kind of freaked her out as well. She really was not sure what to make of the creature! It was definitely a fun trip to the zoo and we are excited to go and see the animals again soon!

Bedtime Everybody by Mordicai Gerstein

This is a sweet little book that I fell in love with a few years ago when I was a nanny. It is fun to share it with Charis now and I look forward to the day when I can share it with Cai. It is the little bedtime adventures of a few stuffed animals that sit on a little girls bed. It is the kind of book that makes you think that your stuffed animals really are alive!!!