Dear Coranelle and Sheldon,
 Sweet, energetic, busy, loving, enthusiastic, athletic, sensitive, bright, fun, adventurous, bold and loyal kiddos- this poem is for you. These are not my words, as I don't have that kind of writing talent, but they give a voice to the feelings I have for you. And I sincerely hope that in the midst of my ranting, giving time-outs, taking away privileges, dishing out consequences and my dwindling patience- that you would know without a shadow of a doubt that this is how I feel about you both and this is how I will always feel about you.

So, without further ado- a poem by a fantastic childrens' author, Nancy Tillman.

Wherever You Are, My Love Will Find You

I wanted you more

than you ever will know,

so I sent love to follow

wherever you go.

It's high as you wish it. It's quick as an elf.

You'll never outgrow it... it stretches itself!

So Climb any mountain...

climb up to the sky!

My love will find you.

My love can fly!

Make a big splash! Go out on a limb!

My love will find you.  My love can swim!

It never gets lost, never fades, never ends...

if you're working...

or playing...

or sitting with friends.

You can dance 'til you're dizzy...

paint til you're blue...

There's no place, not one, that my love can't find you.

And if someday you're lonely,

or someday you're sad,

or you strike out at baseball,

or think you've been bad...

Just lift up your face, feel the wind in your hair.

That's me, my sweet baby, my love is right there.

In the green of the grass... in the smell of 

the sea.. in the clouds floating by...

at the top of a tree... in the sound

crickets make at the end of the day...

You are loved. You are loved. You are

loved, they all say

My love is so high, and so wide and

so deep, it's always right there, even

when you're asleep.

So hold your head high

and don't be afraid

to march to the front

of your own parade.

If you're still my small babe

or you're all the way grown,

my promise to you

is you're never alone

You are my angel, my darling,

my star... and my love will find you,

wherever you are. 

You are loved.

Love,

Momma

As I've read this story from the library to my kids this past week, I couldn't help but get emotional. How true these words are about the love I have for my kids. I know that I am not always the best at demonstrating or showing my love. But rest assured, this is how I feel. There is nowhere my kids could go, nothing they could EVER do, that would make me love them any less fiercely. And as the school year starts and my kids are away from me more often, the following verse really strikes me;

So hold your head high

and don't be afraid

to march to the front

of your own parade.

I hope my love for them helps them to be kind and brave as they begin to do their own things and make more and more choices independently. I hope they know that they don't have to be the smartest, fastest, strongest, or best at anything.... ever.  My love will never be conditional on behavior, achievements, or accomplishments. It will always be there. So, cheers to another school year and all that it will bring. And if my kids learn nothing else this year, I hope they understand fully the depth of the love that I have for them. 

Coming soon- some more thoughts, insights and inspiration that I have uncovered recently.