My sleepless wonder, Isabelle made another video at 3am. She was wide awake from 11:55pm until 4:30am this morning. It was completely crazy. Here is a funny video I found on my phone while she was trying to keep herself occupied while not waking anyone else up.
You’ve heard Katy Perry sing her fabulous song “Firework”, but have you heard Isabelle Wegner? I much prefer Belle’s style and sincerity. She would love if someone leaves her a comment. She keeps checking You Tube every 10 minutes to see how many views she has. 
and if you haven’t had enough yet, here is a version of Belle singing “Firework” in her bed at 4am one time when she swiped my iPhone while the rest of the family was sleeping:
Belle came in our room three different times last night to tell me she couldn’t sleep. By the third time, I warned her that today would be very bad for her if she woke me up again. She waited until I was asleep and grabbed my cell phone. She then proceeded to make a half dozen spectacular videos of herself and her stuffed animals and dollies.
This one is of her singing Katy Perry’s “Firework.”
Appropriate, since Belle is our little Firework.
One of my good friends interviews incoming Kindergartners to test their “Kindergarten Readiness.” Every year she sits through the Q&A with them, never laughing or breaking a smile. She jots down their answers and shares them with me. They are so, so funny. In the spirit of all things funny and April Fool’s Day, I thought I’d share:
What does a fireman do?
From what animal do we get eggs?
How many legs does an elephant have?
What is ice when it melts?
What makes daytime warmer than nighttime?
What do fish have that help them swim?
What vegetable is used to make French fries?
What season of the year usually has the coldest weather?
What month comes after June?
If today is Sunday, what day was yesterday?
Our time at the SMT planning retreat in Mexico was nothing short of one of the most amazing gifts I have ever received. The gift of the place we stayed, along with a fully stocked refrigerator and free plane tickets to get to this amazing place has left me dumbfounded. How could people be so good and kind to get us to one of the most amazing places I have ever been? I will be asking myself that question for a long time.
I promised I would pray for you, and I did. I spent loads of time by myself, walking up and down the beach. While I was praying, I found some pretty interesting stuff…too interesting not to take a few pictures.
I have to admit I teared up when I saw the little baby sea turtle laying there on the beach. His baby turtle prints were so darn cute. Everyone let out a little collective sigh for this little fella. ((sigh)) .
We are not huge advocates of Santa at our house. We don’t particularly teach the girls that he is real, but we don’t tell them that he is really akin to Satan (which a little friend told one of my girls this week).
He is a wonderful idea. He is a story that may or may not come to life. He is both make-believe and real. The idea of him is what matters.
Well, this morning Isabelle woke up, danced and played around awhile like usual, then ran to the window and pointed outside while her jaw dropped to the ground.
“He IS real” she said. “He sent his deers to check on me!”
Right away she got out a piece of paper and pencil and wrote out her last minute letter to Santa and left it on our front porch, “Since he was in the area.”
She did a great job! I hope Santa can de-code this letter. Can you?
Here’s a minute of dog wrestling to brighten your day. Any bets on who will win? Winston, the white American Eskimo, is 13, and Ellie our Golden is 2.
One may think about us writer-types as wordsmith’s who sit down, hack away at a few ideas, re-arrange words on a page and cheerfully hit “send” as we go merrily along on our way, assuming all of our other responsibilities with true diligence because our call of duty is done.
Truth is, I used to think it was that easy-until I started taking it seriously.
My writer brain frequently gets interrupted throughout the day with what I think are fabulously creative, unique, thought provoking, and insightful words.
Sometimes I just stop and stare…rearrange words in my head while noise happens all around me.
My children pull on my apron strings (as if I’ve ever worn an apron) reminding me that the stew is boiling over, or the dog has the neighbor’s chicken in it’s mouth, or they don’t have one stitch of clothes to wear.
My writer brain wanders to imaginary places frequently throughout the day. Figuring, calculating, agonizing about how to say what is circling in my head in a way that is not only compelling, but illuminating, causing others to want to zip out and save the world.
Truth is, I zip in and out of that state a zillion times a day. Trying to keep all that balanced with what needs to happen around here can be challenging, but I am so thankful for a time in my life where I have the time to sort through some of the thoughts and words all jumbled in my writer brain.
If you are compelled to write…do it! Find time somehow, somewhere. It is such a powerful tool. Pick up a pen and change the world!
But if I say, “I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.
Jeremiah 20:9 NIV
Will she really kiss the frog? Watch till the end and find out.