The Lives of Langs: Daddy

I'm baaaaacccckkkk

A year and 2 months later....

Okay, seriously. The last time I blogged was March of 2010. I had 3 children then. Now, I have 4...and baby is nearing a year old!! Unbelievable. But I guess we have been a little busy. So, let's see, to catch up on our world...
Baby Georgia joined our family last August! She is so much fun. She brings incredible joy to our lives and is such a good baby! She endures being carted around the world to her siblings' activities, and she doesn't seem to mind. She has dimples that melt you like butter...she has blue eyes the color of the ocean. We LOVE having her in our family! What a blessing. She wants to keep up with the big ones...crawling, pulling up to stand, and trying to wrestle with Daddy like everyone else!
What a fun year....
Ella completed first grade. She had a wonderful teacher and really enjoyed it. She even won a math award at the end of the year. This is a feat in itself because math is not her mother's strong suit. She also danced in her ballet's production of Mary Poppins. She was one of the toys cleaning up the nursery. It was really fun to watch.
Owen completed preschool at our church. He loved learning and his teacher, Miss Tiffany. He is becoming more interested in letters and numbers now and constantly gives me a digital time update: "Mom, it's five two five (5:25). Mom, it's five two six. Mom, it's five two seven." Get the picture? I never need to wear a watch anymore...
Owie also completed swim lessons, along with Ella. What a fish. He would swim in our soft sided pool for 8 hours a day if I would let him. And some days I do! Let's just say he is sleeping well at night!
For some time we have been amazed with Owen's questions about heaven, God, and all things spiritual. He prayed today at lunch: "Thank you, God, for all the things you give us; for Your whole love; for Your Holy Spirit; and for giving us Your Jesus. Amen." Ella said, "Good job, Owie." Ava clapped. And Owen was basking in the praise, and said, "Thanks guys!" And Ella responded, "I couldn't have said it any better, Mom."
Ava is our sunshine. She will be 3 in a few months. So many funny things...loves Mr. Golden Sun....wants to know where he is if it's cloudy; loves to sing, dance, wear high heels, put on lipstick. But she also wants to be rough and tumble with Owen. I can't wait to see who she becomes!!!
Eric worked like a dog all year...short on staff....a very refining fire for him. I am so proud of his dedication and heart. I'm so glad he is my partner on this crazy ride we are on!!!

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Daddy

Today is my dad's birthday. I've been thinking about him all day, and I didn't even get him a card. I always get him a card. Sometimes I like those mushy Hallmark "You're a Wonderful Dad" kind of cards, and sometimes I like to get him a silly one with a ridiculous comment about tools or borrowing money or something. But, this year, this is going to be my card to him because there are no cards to say what I want to say! Which is....

Thanks, Daddy. For being my soft place to fall. For the oreos/milk/coke late nights. For the candy bars on a trip. For listening. For letting me still sit on your lap when I have 3 kids and I wish someone would not need me for just a minute. For understanding. For letting me be me. For supporting and being there. For quietly loving. For coming to every fantastic? piano recital, awards ceremony, play, orchestra concert, etc. etc. and being proud. For doing all the girl things on every trip because you were so outnumbered. For having funerals when our pets died. Some dad might say, "It's just a pet-get over it!" For the goose incident. I know how hard that was for you to do, but you did the right thing. For having a tender heart. I love that about you. Thanks for letting me wear your jacket when I was cold in church and playing games on the back of the tithe envelope. Sorry, Pastor G. For watching Monday Night Football with me. For playing basketball with me, trying to help me and Jamie play catcher/pitcher. You never said one disparaging thing about our softball ability, and I'm sure there was plenty to say. For taking me along when you had errands and holding my hand for no reason. For being so funny. For being so sweet. For making it so hard to choose a husband, because he had so much to live up to. For never yelling. For being gentle. For playing cars with Owie and tickling Ella and loving Ava. For never laughing at my stupid questions or dumb blonde moments (do you remember the Stillwater fiasco in college: oversleeping?). For being there to walk me down the aisle and being there to hold Mom's hand when Grandpa Tims died. For letting us see you cry. For showing me so much about being a good person, accepting people for who they are and loving them where they are at. For loving me & J & D so much that we were confident, strong girls. I know that that came from having a daddy who was there. Thanks for showing me about being a parent. I hope Eric and I can measure up. It'll be tough.

I celebrate you today. I love you with all my heart. When you get home, let's have an oreo and a coke. I'll be waiting.