'our' nights in rodanthe {celebrating 14 for our Darcy Q}

We had a full day of celebrating Darcy Q, starting at sunrise.

She was well rewarded for her sacrifice of sleep, the sky put on a dazzling display of color and we saw so many dolphins surfacing, jumping and even body surfing (yes, one caught a wave and rode it nearly to shore just like we do) that we stopped counting after 20.

our budding photographer could hardly be peeled away from my phone she was so busy snapping shots of the ever changing light and trying to catch a dolphin in the sun's reflection on the water

Satisfied that we had caught the full splendor of the morning, there were gifts to shake examine back inside.

A 'school-cation' birthday oceanfront means ample time for photo taking between live class meetings.  I kept catching her out on the deck with one of the phones, snapping pictures of the water.  One thing she had been looking forward to on our trip was the turquoisy, clear water we had enjoyed during our trip to Kill Devil Hills back in October.  When we got here Saturday we admired the view from our deck, but noticed the water was more the familiar greenish-brown we're used to on the Brunswick County Coast.  DQ looked at me and disappointedly said, "the water is like we're used to at Sunset and Holden."  While breathtaking to be right on the water, I had to admit I was bummed about it too.  

And then today, her birthday, seemingly magically, the water was exactly that beautiful hue we remembered from October.  Her middle name in Mandarin roughly translates to "clear, still waters."  The ocean of course couldn't be tamed to be still, but today it has been clear!  What a sweet "God kiss" for my beautiful birthday girl!

It also mans that once live classes are done for the day, (our middle school schedule is the most flexible, live meets until noon and then the rest of the day free to complete assignments) there's plenty of time to search the sand for your heart's desire...a shark's tooth.  

She was out several times,

using several techniques,

sometimes by herself and sometimes with a partner.

I'm pretty sure she put a total of about two hours into the search, but eventually persistence paid off.  Another example of God filling in the details and desires of her heart that were out of my control!

even the tiny ones count!

Her birthday also marks a unique day for our family...'Triplet Day!'  We had to give name to the one day a year that our oldest two sets of "Irish twins" merge into triplets.  2021 marked the year I had three fourteen year olds for one day.  Since 2011, when they were four, tradition has been to a photo shoot of the three of them together on March 9.  

dq has a great relationship with all her siblings, but there's something especially fun about these three together!

As our beachy afternoon came to a close, it was time to get down to the business of the birthday.  

Her requested menu (instead of going out to eat ~ thankfully because not much is open on Hatteras Island in the off season) was garlic cilantro shrimp with roasted potatoes and a triple layer vanilla cake with buttercream frosting and macaroons.  

And while I was meticulous in prepping birthday cake ingredients from home (who wants to bring an entire bag of sugar or flour?) and even brought cake pans and my hand mixer to be sure I could pull off the cakes, it's possible that the cilantro for the shrimp *may* have gotten left at home causing a 36 mile round trip for a 99 cent package of cilantro.  What we do for our kids...

Four pounds of shrimp, three pounds of roasted potatoes and a quart of green beans later, it was long awaited presents time.  

Our little bookworm had requested several books and book sets for this year...some of which were given by extended family.  So it was time to get creative in addition to her Caravel book set.  Staying with a reading/book theme seemed to be a safe route.

She may be reading other fantasy series these days, but the Wizarding World of Harry Potter was her first fantasy love and Hermione Granger will always have a special place in her heart.  And if you have a Hermione quote about the library on a t-shirt...well that seems to be perfect in the mind of a teenage girl who loves books.

And for a girl who would often rather read than anything...and I do mean anything...else, a new chair  seemed like a good idea.  Judging by her reaction it was a good gamble.  I'm sure we'll find her positioned all through the house with a book in hand.

Dinner and gifts finished, it was time to sing to our girl and enjoy that cake.  

Another forgotten item was discovered at this time...a lighter.  We searched every cabinet and drawer in the house and ended up touching a paper napkin to the oven heating element to light the first candle...

Darcy, at 14 you are a ray of light.  I admire your strong sense of gratitude and your ability to keep your cool in all situations (even if I occasionally catch an eye roll that would have rivaled mine at 14).  While hugs aren't exactly your preferred love language, I deeply appreciate that you recognize they are mine and you'll tolerate hugs each morning and night...and sometimes in between.  Your quiet sense of kindness and compassion speaks so much louder than any words could.  It's so fun to watch you explore your creative interests including photography and design.  I pray you realize just how much you are loved!

[Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves]  ~ James Matthew Barrie

my *almost* freshman twins

 So this was just a hot minute ago...

I remember the day clearly, the feelings of disbelief that my (at the time) middles, 'the twins', were going for kindergarten orientation.  

'They're so big!'  I thought.

'How can they be growing up so fast?' I wondered.

Then I pulled one of my famous "I'm just going to close my eyes for five minutes" routines.  (the ones that make Ian chuckle quietly as our Transit heads down the road as he turns up the volume on NPR because he knows by now what that means.

In this case closing my eyes for five minutes translated to *just a wee bit* longer.  Because here I stand bouncing between 'the (older) twins' (cause yeah, since their kindy orientation we've grown by another set of 'twins') for their high school orientation.

HIGH SCHOOL.

What in the world?  

I guess they felt it was okay to follow in the footsteps of their older sister who has blazed the trail before them.  Or time just keeps marching on.  Something like that.  

Whatever it is, here we are nine impossibly short years later.  My big twins are on the brink of being high school freshman. 

It just doesn't quite seem possible...

(Covid times = virtual orientations)

a baker's dozen to DQ

Just over ten years ago she became part of our family as a three year old. She was timid and unsure of herself, content often to sit back and watch her older siblings explore and experience the world around them.  

A lot has changed in that decade...here we are at 13!

Over time, she's grown into a quiet sense of self confidence.  In her way she's more eager to get out there and make her mark on the world, even if she'd rather do it in a group setting than being the shining star.

And as has been true for years, if given the choice, she'd rather grab a cozy blanket and a spot on the couch with a good book than be out on the social scene.  (All she asked for this year for her birthday were book series...)

We are daily blessed with her presence in our home.

Her quiet sense of generosity and gratitude shape the attitudes of the rest of us.  Case in point, she was deeply touched that I sought out and bought a necklace she had pointed out to me months ago.  While we did buy her two of the three book series she wanted, it was fun to surprise her with a little something that she didn't think I'd remembered.  She instantly knew where and when we had seen it and was touched.

This sweet girl (admittedly a tiny bit spicy...her eye roll is solid game!) is gonna be a world changer.   She has big thoughts and deep thinking capabilities and I look forward to seeing how she uses those for the betterment of the world our God created.

Currently some of her potential future education/employment goals include graphic design...she doesn't know exactly what she would do with the skill, just that it looks cool...and being an archeologist.  It was fun for both she and I to discover we had the desire to explore past civilizations/animal life in common, I was near this age when I thought archeology was going to be in my future.

Speaking of the past, she recreated her own recent path in again requesting the Pioneer Woman's chocolate cake with Nutella ganache and whipped frosting.  It's been several years running...

The light and joy our DQ brings to our family can't be quantified, but can be glimpsed in her smile.

I love you Darcy Q!  Happiest of birthdays to you!

DQ for a decade

On February 20, 2010 she cautiously walked into a civil affairs office in Hangzhou, China and met her new family.  Unsure of the strangers reaching out to her, she hid her face, cried quietly and avoided all eye contact.

Until I pulled out the toy Cinderella phone.  The music it played brought the first timid smile and then a fit of giggles.  That's when I knew that while it would be a while until we'd feel comfortable together as mother and daughter, we were going to make it.

That link to Cinderella made it fitting that we spent February 20, 2020, her ten year Forever Family Day, in the Magic Kingdom.

While we were on a Make A Wish trip for Nicholas, we tried to shift the focus today to our beloved DQ.

Ten years into having her as part of the M family it is hard to remember what life was before she was with us.

When we can pull her away from a book she is a loyal friend and has an adventurous spirit.  Roller coasters are the name of her amusement park game.

 She has a strong sense of gratitude and a giving heart.  I will always be grateful that February 20, 2010 happened...

...because this girl is part of the team that completes me!

double doughnuts

Ky and DQ.  They're close (both in their sister bond and in age) and share many things (a love for books, introverted personalities, and many birthday and half-birthday celebrations).

This week saw our eldest halfway through her first teen year...

and our middle girl halfway through her last tween year.

She spent her actual half-birthday trailing around the middle school, introducing me to some of her teachers for open house night.

And her actual evening she danced her way through her new contemporary/hip hop class.

So tonight we paused to celebrate "the big girls," who are now 13 1/2 (and one day) and 12 1/2 (and two days) together.

Because of course double doughnuts are better than just one!

Let these last six months before your birthdays shine brightly girls!  We love you!

Meanwhile back home...

I have to take a hot minute to brag on these pretty amazing teen and tween humans that just so happen to be my kids. 

(photo taken on March 9, DQ's birthday but also "triplet day")

There has been the stress of Nicholas's upcoming surgeries, but also the feeling of dread of being away from the rest of our crew for a while. When I realized I'd be missing the elementary school musical that both Daniel and Nat would be part of, this crew volunteered to walk the mile from the middle school in 90+ degree heat (instead of catching an air conditioned ride home) to be there for their little siblings.  

I  this trio more than words can say...

chocolate for breakfast?

Early orthodontist appointments call for special treatment. Chocolate tartlet for breakfast? 
Yes please...

It's just what you do when your orthodontist is less than a mile from an "old world, German style" bakery!

Darcy 12

The last year before becoming a teenager.

I'm not sure how our third has reached this milestone.

That means the world has been blessed with this gentle spirit for a dozen years now.

"Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul." ~Henry Ward Beecher
Clearly gratitude springs from your soul my sweet DQ! Happy 12th birthday to our sweet prankster who quietly reminds us to practice gratitude each day. Continue to shine the love of Jesus to all!

And even though it drives me a little crazy...keep that sideways eye roll.

If that's the worst of your teenage rebellion, I'll take it.

At 12 you are crazy about all things Harry Potter.  I'll take it.

And if we can't find you quickly, we can assume that you are snuggled in a corner reading a book.

Pajama days are some of your favorites.

As you are one of mine...

Darcy Q, Darcy Q, Darcy Q baby I love you, Darcy Q!