sling diaries :: beauty

 sometimes, i look at our kids and panic about all the things they need to learn still;

i panic about all the things i still need to teach them.  i'm not talking about properly

conjugating verbs or geometry.  i'm talking about the real stuff.  

i realize emelia & evie are only 7 months, yet i can blink my eyes and our 9 year old

is 7 months again.  she is our only child & i sit on the floor playing with her and reading

to her for hours a day.  we then grab a snack & take a nap on the couch together.

for as long as we want.

8 additional children later and i certainly do not nap.  ever.

so how much more quickly will the next 9 years pass?  

there are things they need to know.
i want them to never fully trust the person who is rude to the wait staff.
to always keep restaurant gift cards in their car to give to someone who needs it.
to realize a book really can take them anywhere.
they should know that doctors just don't know things like a mama does sometimes.
that what we do is more important than what we say.

i want to teach them how to change the subject from gossiping.

how to believe the best about people.

that a brand new box of crayons and a roll of white craft paper is medicine.

i want them to know road trips really are more fun without that silly TV.
to know never to judge anyone--we can never know anyone's full story.

that His grace is unending.

they need to know that a person's heart is more important than any object.

that this journey doesn't have mistakes in it.  

i need them to know that beauty is found everywhere--

it's in them, in the everyday moments, in the heart of gratitude.

it is there--if only they choose to see it.

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this post is the last installment of Sling Diaries: volume II--chronicling the art of babywearing

in 15 families.  you can see more on the facebook page and pinterest.

i'm so grateful for this opportunity.  thank you, Sakura Bloom, for these gorgeous slings that keep

our precious babies close and for the push to chronicle these beautiful, all-to-quickly-gone moments.

photos by my friend, liz.