Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Now We Are Six


My friend, Rebecca, gave us this book to welcome Davy into to our family.
Isn't it perfect?
I love every bit of it for so many reasons.
Especially because, now we are six.


The kids all came home from the grandparents' the Monday after Baby Davy was born.
Our house went from the calm of 3 people to the chaos of 6.
Instantly, there was more stuff everywhere, so much more noise, lots of people asking for lots of different things--just a whole lot more of everything.
Now we are six.

Of course, that night just happened to be the busiest night ever.
We don't often do activities at night.
Our kids go to bed pretty early.  I need them to, after a whole day with them.
But James' baseball team was having a pizza party and handing out trophies.
He's been waiting all year for that trophy.  We couldn't miss it.
It was also the last night of Cub Scouts.  Graduation night.
James was moving from Tiger to Wolf.  We couldn't miss that either.
So, we quickly got the boys into their Scout uniforms.
I packed snacks.
I fed the baby.
We loaded everyone in the car.
We got in.
We looked back at our minivan filled with kids.
Now we are six.


And, as we so often do when we look at our life, Aaron and I just laughed.
Thirteen years of marriage, of highs and lows, of some very rough parts, and really joyous ones, and there we were, together, with a mini van nearly full of the six of us.
We drive a minivan?
We have four kids and another in heaven?
It was hard to believe.
It felt a little crazy.
We high fived and Aaron said, "can you believe this?"
"We're off on the next adventure!"


There are not words enough to express how thankful I am to be celebrating 13 years with Aaron.  
And for it to be on that day, when we all together, the six of us, for the first time, made it that much more meaningful.
A new life in the midst of our new life.
It is so good.
These verses, again, take on such meaning: 
Isaiah 23: 1-2  "But now, this is what the Lord says--
He who created you, O Jacob,
He who formed you, O Israel:
Fear not, for I have redeemed you:
I have summoned you by name, you are Mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you:
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned,
the flames will not set you ablaze."

He does not say if you pass through rivers, or if you walk through fire, but when.
Because we will all face fire and water as we walk through this life.
We have.
And He was with us.
And here we are.
Now we are six.

Happy Anniversary to us!
Love from,
Greta
Now We Are Six
by A. A. Milne

When I was One,
I had just begun.

When I was Two,
I was nearly new.

When I was Three,
I was hardly Me.

When I was Four,
I was not much more.

When I was Five,
I was just alive.

But now I am Six, I'm as clever as clever.
So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.

7 comments:

Betsi* said...

Love! I keep saying the Now We Are Six poem to my family too! What a sweet gift and Happy Anniversary!

Pam... said...

Awesome.
Yes, 'when' we pass through the waters..not if. Thanks for that.
BTW, if you have just two more kids...just saying, not that you are up to thinking of such wild notions.
But if...
You can still say 'now we are six'. (speaking of children). I know someone with 6 kids that uses that phrase for her email. Just something to think about! Don't throw that boppy at me! lol!

Anonymous said...

LOVE it! So gorgeous, that book, and your lovely family of six!
And yes, thank you - the when, not if... he didn't say it would be easy, but He said He'd never leave us!! Beautiful xxx

Katie @ minivan diva said...

Happy Anniversary to you! I remember your wedding like it was yesterday! You are the most beautiful family of six. Many blessings to you, friend.

Grace Bradford said...

your family is just adorable!! love this post! happy anniversary!

grey rose (they/them) said...

hello, CUTEST family of all time!
i adore that book. (i am part of six, too, the oldest of four kiddos.) what a beautiful post. i do believe i have the warm fuzzies:)

xo

Anonymous said...

crying.