Tender Mercies

As a young girl living in Japan, I remember my parents going out one day and picking up some free desks that someone was giving away to be used in our home. I thought they were the coolest desks, and enjoyed using mine all the way through high school. These hand-me-down desks weren't the fanciest, nor were they on the front cover of Better Homes and Gardens magazine, but they were sturdy, functional, and didn't put a big dent in the budget, if at all. And that's how I remember growing up. We almost always had second hand or homemade furniture, and my parents didn't buy a brand new sectional for their living room until they had been married for nearly 30 years. My parents taught me that money is better spent on wise investments, service, and family vacations.  And so I suppose this thrifty mindset is in my blood.  Adelai was so generously gifted with an entire wardrobe of clothing for the first 12 months, and 2/3rds of the clothes are second-hand, which I apprec...

Dear Adelai, Happy 5 months, sweetheart. This past month has been full of discovery! You've discovered your feet and your toes and love to stick them into your mouth whenever you have the chance, especially when Dad or I try to change your diaper. But honestly, you love to stick anything that comes within twelve inches of your face into your mouth, so your toes shouldn't be too surprising. You've also become more aware of faces, discovering that you have a tongue and smacking away with it and making adorable noises and a great deal of drool. You also love touching faces and putting your fingers into open mouths. I love the giggles you give when I "chew" on your fingers! I do not know why it excites you so much, but it sure is fun to find things to make you giggle. Speaking of giggling, you do it so often! I even managed to make you giggle in the same breath as a scream one evening. You were having a rough time as we were getting ready for bed and I...